Hey everyone,

I still don't own anything to do with Dirty Dancing. Too bad though...

Thanks again to all who have reviewed, I love to hear from you.

Chapter 17

"Kellerman's we come together singing all as one,

we have shared another seasons talent, play and fun.

Summer days will soon be over, soon the autumn starts,

and tonight our memories whisper softly in our hearts."

I heard Neil beginning to sing from where I stood backstage, I felt a little bad for not telling him that we were going to interrupt his solo almost before it began, but somehow the temptation to irk him just a little bit was too overwhelming. So I'd kept it a secret and as I stood there watching Max step out onto the stage stealing Neils spotlight I could see the look of confusion on his face and I couldn't help but smile just a little bit.

"Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls," Max began as he stepped out into the spotlights in his black tuxedo with a bright white carnation on the lapel, "welcome to Kellerman's." He paused taking a deep breath and smiled, "I'm so glad that you are all here tonight because as I'm sure many of you know, this years final show will be unlike any you've ever experienced here at Kellerman's before!"

The room filled with modest applause and Max waited for it to finish before he went on, "Neil I'm sorry for interrupting you in the middle of the anthem but this year we're going to try something a little different. I could stand here and explain what you're about to experience but I figured it'd just be better to show you all, so without any further ado, ladies and gentleman please sit back and enjoy the wonderful evening of entertainment that we have put together for you!"

Applause filled the room as Max headed off the stage with a disgruntled Neil in tow. As they approached I quietly peered around the curtain to look out into the crowded hall, partially wanting to see how many people had showed up and partially hoping to avoid Neils wrath for having his solo cut short. I couldn't believe how many guests there were, the room was packed, much more so than the previous year. I think we'd really accomplished that part of our goal, I mean, I didn't know if we would manage to save Kellerman's or not, I really had no idea what would happen to the resort after the evening was over, but I knew at least we'd tried our best and no one could ask for anything more than that.

The hall was filled with wall to wall chairs, barely leaving space for aisles in between, the previous year there had been tables lining the walls where my family had sat, but we'd known early on that we wouldn't be able to do that this time. Our only option if we wanted to fit all the guests and their family members, would be to eliminate all the tables and just have chairs filling the room and even at that I could see some people standing out in the hall near the door where there was some spare room.

"Hey," I felt Johnnys' warm body press up against mine as he came up behind me hugging his arms around my waist to look over my shoulder at the stage, "how you holding up?"

"I'm good," I smiled up at him, "much more relaxed, I think it's going well so far, don't you?"

Johnny looked out onto the stage where Maria and Eddie were performing a modernized version of the Pachanga, "yeah they're doing great, I think everyone's loving it so far, but the nights not over yet."

"Not by a long shot," I mumbled knowing full well that I wouldn't be able to truly relax until my part was done and unfortunately I knew I was going to have to wait until the very end for that.

"I'm gonna go check on Penny alright?" Johnny released me from his hold and turned to go find her.

"Where's the magician?" I whispered loudly back to Billy who stood behind me sorting records for the upcoming numbers, "he's supposed to go on next."

"Calm down Baby," Billy smirked over at me obviously amused at the tension he sensed in me, "he's in make-up he'll be ready."

I wasn't amused by his humor at the moment, "well where's Lisa? She'd better be ready to go on after the magician's done his act; I'd better go find her."

I quickly turned and headed into the back to find Lisa, Billy reached out grabbing my arm to stop me, I imagine he wanted to tell me to calm down and that it would all be ok, but I pulled out of his grip and continued on my mission to find my sister.

"Lisa!" I cried out in relief when I saw her across the room fixing her hair and straightening her dress, "thank goodness you're ready."

"Baby calm down," she smiled over at me with that same little smirk I'd seen on Billys' face only moments earlier, "we still have the entire magic act before I sing, don't worry I'll be ready." She reached out stroking my hair with her hand before rubbing it gently on my back trying to help me relax.

"I know, I know," I sighed, "I'm just nervous, I'll see you in a bit ok?" With that I turned and walked away, my stomach was in knots and I didn't know how much more I could take, the sooner the evening was over the better as far as I was concerned.

"This'll only hurt for a minute, you've got Blue Cross right?" The magician paused with a smile down at the young girl we'd gotten from the games department to volunteer to be sawed in half for his act. She only looked up at him with an unimpressed glare that told me she was seriously regretting volunteering for this job in the first place, I was just glad that I hadn't been suckered into it once again.

He slid the shiny saw down into the blue box until it had passed right through and then proceeded to split the two pieces in half rolling the tables off in different directions thus proving he'd actually sawed a person in half. The audience erupted in applause at his trick and watched in anticipation for him to magically put her back together.

After the magician had finished Lisa took the stage singing her rendition of "I feel pretty," which she'd wanted to do so badly the previous year but had been talked out of at the last minute. I'd hoped that the past year had possibly improved her singing abilities so that it might be a little less painful to listen to her, but I wasn't so lucky. The entire room endured her song and responded with a polite but obviously forced round of applause. I peeked out from behind the curtain to see Mom and Daddy both looking on with a smile that was doing its best to hide the looks of anguish that were trying so desperately to escape.

After Lisas' song Max and Tito did their famous tap dance routine followed by three more couples from the staff that performed modified versions of the cha cha, the fox trot and the mambo also between the dance numbers we'd arranged for a couple of soloists to sing and had one skit arranged as well.

Finally after and hour and a half of waiting, not including all the waiting I'd done all summer long, it was time, we were next and I was nervous as ever.

"Baby you ready?" Johnny reached out taking my hand as we prepared to take the stage.

"I think so," I whispered with uncertainty.

"Don't worry," he smiled down at me, "you're gonna be great, we're gonna be great."

Johnny, Penny and I all stepped out onto the stage and into the bright spotlights, the room immediately filled with cheers and applause, mostly from the back of the room where the majority of the staff stood.

Only seconds after we'd taken our places music began to fill the air with the soft notes that I knew all too well, "I know this," I whispered to myself as I smiled across the room at Johnny who stood directly opposite me and then over at Penny who was waiting in the middle of the stage for Johnny to come and lead her in the opening steps. I was almost instantly filled with the confidence and courage I'd been lacking all day and I knew that we were going to be great.

Johnny slowly danced his way over to Penny who stood awaiting him at centre stage, his talent and flexibility as a dancer was evident just in the way that he moved his hips rotating them in a tight little circle and eventually meeting them with Pennys'. The two circled around the stage using only basic steps at first until eventually Johnny found his way over to me. He spun Penny off into a turn that carried her to the opposite end of the stage then grabbed my hand pulling me into some basic steps back and forth. He then turned me under his arm and I followed by turning him the same way. Then grinding his hips into mine we danced rather intimately for a moment until he grabbed my hand twirling me in multiple spins around him and showing off my light blue dress as it flowed beautifully around me.

The three of us moved effortlessly around the dance floor Penny and I each taking turns on Johnnys' arm as he dipped, turned and picked us up off the stage in breathtaking lifts! The room was filled with awes as he'd lift us up so high in the air and then gasps of relief when he would bring us to rest back on the stage floor.

My heart raced as I danced across the stage swinging my dress at my sides as I approached Johnny, who stood with his arms outstretched and his face consumed with a welcoming smile. When I was close enough his strong hands grasped my waist tightly and he picked me up raising me high in the air so my shins rested on his shoulders, he stepped carefully around the stage so as not to drop me while I swung my dress from side to side still perched in the air above him. Finally with a little hop I pushed myself off and he caught me in mid-air lowering me safely to the ground, then quickly grabbing my hand turned me spinning off to the opposite side of the stage. Penny and I passed on the way and when I came to a stop over near Billy and the record player I watched as Penny leapt up into the air where Johnny caught her without so much as the slightest hesitation and raised her up only let her drop back to the ground. But just before she hit, his arm hooked in back of her knee and his other hand grabbed her elbow stopping her just short of the floor in an amazing stunt that wasted no time in getting everyones' attention.

I watched silently on the sidelines for a moment as Johnny and Penny stepped forward and back then quickly glided across the stage kicking their heels from side to side in an almost Cuban style motion that Johnny had come up with only days earlier. As they glided passed me I slid in beside Johnny and joined them as they proceeded around the stage.

I'd been consumed by and was enjoying the dance so much that before I knew it the song was nearly over and I couldn't even remember what I had been so worried about earlier, everything was going flawlessly and the audience seemed to love us. But then, almost as though he'd been reading my mind and somehow knew that I was finally comfortable with the way things were going, Christian appeared. He stood just off stage next to Billy watching us and for a moment I wondered what he was doing there. I hadn't seen him in days and he certainly hadn't made any effort to talk to me, so why was he there now? But then all my questions were answered. Just as Johnny, Penny and I prepared for our finale, which had been downgraded to a mere spin and a bow since Christian had left our group, he looked at me. Christian actually looked me in the eye as the three of us continued around the stage heading toward him, he hadn't looked me in the eye in weeks so the fact that he was finally doing it immediately got my attention. Then before I knew it he gave me a wink and began motioning with his hands slightly. I wondered what on earth he was up to but Johnny seemed to know, he glanced down at me quickly giving me a little nudge in the side as he smiled and then I realized what they had in mind.

I quickly nodded back at Christian letting him know that I knew what he wanted and that I was ready for it. Johnny turned Penny away and she skipped her way toward Christian who had now taken his place just on stage. Johnny and I stepped lightly across the stage, turning each other as we went until we reached the long velvety curtains opposite Penny and Christian. We only stood there for a moment and then with only the tiniest nod from Johnny and Christian, Penny and I ran across the stage passing each other on the way until I reached Christian and Penny reached Johnny. Then with a leap we were both lifted high into the air above them in what I can only describe as probably the most amazing double lift ever performed! Christian and Johnny held us there for what felt like forever as the crowd erupted in applause, cheers could be heard from every corner of the room and I found it impossible to wipe the smile of joy off my face.

Finally they lowered us down and I felt my feet lightly touch the floor, the music came to an end and Christian and I joined Johnny and Penny at centre stage to take a bow. We received a standing ovation and the cheers didn't seem to stop for quite some time. Billy quickly slipped on another record and the staff began clearing the chairs from the room to make space for everyone to dance. And there was no hesitation, the room was so full of energy I think you almost could've reached out and grabbed it, everyone seemed to be grabbing partners from every corner and the room was instantly filled with people of all ages dancing all kinds of different dances. There were no rules or obligations at that moment, everyone was simply having fun and I think it was at that moment that I knew we had done it.

"Well missy," I heard Max approach from behind me, "looks like you've done it."

I turned to look at him and was surprised to see him wearing a cheerful grin, "what's that Mr. Kellerman?"

"We're completely booked up for next season and the one after that as well," he reached out placing his hands on my arms that hung limply at my sides.

"Well?" Johnny came up next to me and looked Max straight in the eye waiting for whatever he might say about the nights events.

Max slowly let his hands slip down my arms then turned to face Johnny doing the most amazing and unexpected thing, "Johnny," he began slowly, "I never thought I'd say this but," Max hesitated for only a second, then reached out his hand to shake Johnnys firmly and finished, "thank you."

Johnnys' look of astonishment quickly faded then curled up into a smile as he squeezed Maxs' hand in return and replied, "anytime Max, anytime."

After that Max went off to schmooze with some of the other guests leaving Johnny and I standing backstage wondering what to do next, "may I have the honor of a dance Miss Houseman?" Johnny asked with a smile as he reached out taking my hand in his.

"Absolutely!" I replied grasping his hand and following him out toward the dance floor.

"Not so fast!"

Johnny and I both turned quickly to see who was trying to stop us, "Christian?" I said in surprise to see him standing behind us, "what are you doing?"

After we'd all taken our bow on stage Christian had run off somewhere alone and since I'd been chatting with Max I hadn't really given him a second thought. But now that he was back and seemingly trying to stop Johnny and I from dancing together, I was a little leery of where this conversation would lead.

Christian looked down at me with complete seriousness, "I need to talk to you," he said without so much as a smile, "it's important."

I wondered what in the world could be so important that he had to talk to us now and that he would be so serious about.

"Baby look," he began slowly as the seriousness on his face began to fade being replaced with something that looked more like sorrow or guilt, "I'm really sorry." He stopped, looking over at Johnny then back at me, "I never meant for any of this to happen, I never meant to come between you two and I'm sorry I've been treating you so badly the last while."

I felt a smile creep over my face; that was the best thing that he could've ever said to me. I'd never wanted to be on bad terms with Christian, I'd always hoped that we could be friends and at that moment it really seemed like that could be possible for us.

"It's ok Christian," I smiled, "really." As I stood there looking up at him I truly didn't think things could get any better. I mean, we'd performed flawlessly, we'd managed to save Kellerman's, Max and Johnny seemed to be reconciling their differences and now Christian and I seemed to be patching things up, I couldn't think of a single thing that would make the evening more perfect.

That is until Christian introduced us to the special guest he'd invited...

Sorry for ending you on yet another cliff hanger, but this chapter was just getting WAY too long so I had to cut it somewhere. ;o)