Part Six: Everybody Wang Chung Tonight

"So, are you having fun?" Nick asked as he spun Sara around again.

Sara felt like her smile would be permanently etched on her face. "I'm having a blast, Nick! How did you find out about this?"

"Contrary to popular belief," he said with a chuckle, "I don't spend all my time listening to country. I like this station's Way-Back Eighties Lunch Hour, and they've been advertising this night for the past month." He pulled her in close, dipping his head to steal a quick kiss. "Back when we first started talking about high school, I thought this would be fun."

Sara shot a quick glance around the ballroom. "So did a lot of people." She grinned, quickly counting the number of powder-blue tuxedos with frilly pink shirts in the room. "And thank you, thank you, thank you, for not dressing the era!"

He laughed. "I didn't even wear one of those to prom when they were supposedly in style!" He twirled Sara around again, loving the way her skirt flared, giving a hint at her long legs. "Besides, that would have given away the surprise."

She reached up to tousle his hair. "Explains the shaggy look, though." She grinned as he pouted.

"I thought you liked it longer."

"I do! It's just…different. You've had a crew-cut, or shorter, since I met you, and now it's…touchable." For emphasis, she ran her fingers through the longer hair at front, pushing it off his forehead before leaning in to kiss him.

The music shifted, slowing down, and Nick pulled Sara in close. Her fingers toyed with the ends of his hair, just above his collar. His hand was stroking the small of her back, fingers sometimes sliding up to touch the exposed skin above the dress. Phil Collins was crooning about a groovy kind of love as Sara met Nick's eyes, almost afraid to see the emotion there. His arms were warm and safe around her; she could almost feel his heart beating against hers. Nick rested his forehead against hers as they slowly swayed in time to the music. As Phil gave way to the Bangles and their eternal flame, Nick's lips met Sara's again. "Do you understand? Do you feel the same?" the Bangles asked, and Sara, lost in Nick's kiss, could only agree.

Lost in each other's arms, they almost didn't notice the music stopping. "Is everyone having a good time?" a voice rang out across the ballroom, startling them out of their personal world. With everyone else, they turned towards the stage, where a tall, slim, bald man in one of those powder-blue tuxedos was standing at the microphone with a woman who's big, puffy sleeves were only out-shadowed by her big, puffy hair.

"Hey, we're Mark Jones…"

"And Bobbie McCray…"

"From Mark and Bobbie in the Morning! We want to take this time to welcome everyone to our fifth annual Way-Back Prom!" The audience cheered and clapped.

"Also, it's time to announce our finalists for Prom King and Queen!" Bobbie exclaimed. "Online voting ended yesterday, the votes have all been tallied, and five couples have been chosen! When we call your names, please come up to the stage!"

"Oh, you have got to be kidding," Sara giggled. "Seriously? There's actually going to be a King and Queen tonight?" Nick just grinned.

"Our first set of finalists! Michael Collins and Samantha McKay!" The audience clapped as the couple climbed onstage.

"Second finalists! Tyrese King and Shireen Marks!"

"Third finalists! Bobby Ng and Takiko Ng!"

"Fourth finalists! Carlos Lopez and Jessica Smith!"

"And our fifth set of finalists, Nick Stokes and Sara Sidle!"

Sara's jaw dropped. Slowly, she turned her head to look at Nick. His grin had widened. "Surprise," he said, taking her hand. "C'mon, we have to go onstage."

"Nick…" Sara had no choice but to follow him. "Nick!"

She found herself onstage, next to Nick, as the two radio personalities went on to explain that the final voting would be done over the next hour, with the polls closing at eleven, and the results being announced at eleven-thirty. "Now, the couple that wins Prom King and Queen, in addition to the crowns, wins a great prize package from our sponsors, including a spa getaway, a weekend at this hotel, and one thousand dollars spending money!"

Sara chanced a glance at Nick. A getaway with him wouldn't be too bad. Maybe this isn't as weird as I thought.

"Thanks for your attention; the polls are now open! Enjoy the dance!" The music hummed back to life; the finalists started descending from the stage.

"Did you know about this when we got here?" Sara demanded.

"Okay, so I entered the contest online back when I ordered the tickets. But I didn't know we were finalists until they called our names." He touched the side of her face gently. "Are you mad?"

Sara just stood, looking into his eyes for a few moments. "No," she finally said, shaking her head. A smile started to spread across her face. "It's actually kind of…fun, I guess."

Nick let out the breath he'd been holding and leaned in to kiss her. "No matter what the results say, you'll still be my queen."

"Does that mean I get to boss you around at work?" She laughed as Nick growled and grabbed her around the waist.

"Dance?" he asked. She shook her head.

"No, I think I need to sit out a few." She looked in the direction of the tables. "Maybe get something to drink?"

"Sure." Nick led her to the tables, pulling out a chair for her. "I'll go get it."

Sara watched him walk towards the refreshment tables, foot tapping in time with the music. When he came back, setting a bottle of water in front of her, she was frowning, foot still tapping to the song.

"Something wrong?" he asked, sitting next to her.

"Huh? Oh, no. I was just wondering…how exactly do you 'wang chung'?" His eyes sparkled in the dim light as he leaned in close and whispered something in her ear that made her blush. "Nick!" she exclaimed, smacking his arm, laughing.

"You asked," he replied, the picture of innocence. "Oh, hey, guess what I saw when I was getting you this."

"Hmm?" She looked at him, taking a swallow of water.

"Photographer, set up to take prom portraits." Nick was looking at her expectantly.

"What? Oh, no. No. No. Nick!" she cried as he pulled her out of her chair.

"You don't want to get our picture taken?"

"No, it's not…it's just…aren't prom pictures always just so…cheesy?"

"Well, yeah, but that's part of the tradition." He grinned. "If we'd gone to prom together in high school, we'd already have at least five rolls of film filled, and we'd still have to get the professional portraits."

"Five rolls?"

Nick nodded solemnly. "My mom's a picture freak."

Sara laughed, then looked over to the corner where the photographer was set up. "I guess it doesn't look so bad…and it does mean I'll get a picture of you in this suit…."

"See? A plus side to everything."

They joined the line of couples waiting to get portraits taken, and studied the price list. Sara was all for the basic package, but Nick wanted a slightly bigger package.

"C'mon, Sar…don't you want copies for the team?" he nudged.

She rolled her eyes. "No, not really. Why, you think they'd want copies?"

"Cath would. And I bet Warrick would, just because." Nick grinned. "And I so want to send Greggo a copy."

"You just want to torment him."

Nick gave Sara's waist a one-armed squeeze. "It's only fair; you don't think he tormented me about getting to work with you so much last year?"

"That was work. It's not like I was dating him or anything."

"Yeah, well…I missed working with you." He leaned over to kiss her cheek. "It's not like we were dating or anything until just recently. Work was one of the places I was guaranteed to see you. Then the team was split, and I didn't get to see you as much anymore."

Sara blushed. "You're just trying to get me to agree to the bigger package."

"Is it working?" His lips were still dangerously close.

"Maybe." She turned her head to capture his lips with hers. "Yes."

He grinned. "Good. 'Cause it's our turn." He handed the order form to the photographer, who directed them against the backdrop.

Sara felt slightly silly, standing there as the photographer arranged them into the proper pose: Sara's back to Nick's front, his arms loosely around her waist, her hands over his hands.

"Turn just a little towards the camera," the photographer ordered them. "Just a little…there! Okay, now, smile, hold…." The lights flashed with a pop as the shutter clicked. "Okay, just once more, to be sure…" Another pop, flash, click. "Great."

Nick gave his information to the photographer. "Great. These should be ready in a week; we'll mail them right out," the photographer told him. "How long have you two been married, if you don't mind me asking?"

Nick shot a glance at Sara, to see if she'd heard the question. "Uh, we're not married, yet. We've just been dating for a few months."

"Oh, sorry. You two just had so much chemistry, I figured you for married." The photographer grinned. "Well, hey, this is Vegas."

"Yeah. Yeah, it is," Nick replied. He picked up his receipt and wandered back over to Sara.

"Dance?" he asked. The dj had just started another slow set, and after that conversation, he desperately wanted to just hold Sara close for a while.

She nodded, and they returned to the dance floor. Nick held her a little closer than before, wanting to feel her, smell her, know she was his. Her scent, clean, uniquely Sara, filled him. He let his hand trace up and down her bare back, feeling the softness of her skin against his fingertips, feeling her shiver as he grazed the sensitive spot at the small of her back. Her lips sought his, and he lost himself in her kiss, soft, slow and seeking.

They stayed close throughout the set, not talking, just content to be in each other's arms. When the dj fired up the fast songs again, Nick was reluctant to let her go.

She looked into his eyes. "Who says we can't keep slow dancing?" she whispered. He smiled and kept his arms around her.

"Good thinking," he replied.

-#-

"All right, everybody!" Bobbie McCray's voice rang out through the ballroom. "It's eleven-thirty, and that means it's time to crown our Way-Back Prom King and Queen!" The audience erupted in applause.

"If our finalists would please come forward!" Mark Jones announced.

"Showtime," Nick whispered to Sara as they climbed up to the stage.

"Our fourth runner-ups…."

"Tyrese King and Shireen Marks!" The crowd applauded as Bobbie gave the pair sashes and Shireen received a small tiara.

"Our third runner-ups…."

"Michael Collins and Samantha McKay!" More applause. Sara looked at Nick nervously.

"Our second runner-ups…."

"Carlos Lopez and Jessica Smith!"

Sara's grip on Nick's hand tightened. He glanced at her, noting the set of her jaw. Just two of us left….

"Let's hear a big hand for all our finalists, before we announce our King and Queen!" Mark said into the microphone. Sara felt like jumping off the stage and hiding somewhere. It's just a silly contest… she reminded herself.

"DJ, if we can have a drumroll, please?" Mark asked. The dj complied, and a very electronic drumroll filled the ballroom.

"This year's Way-Back Prom King and Queen are…."

"Nick Stokes and Sara Sidle!"

Sara found herself swept into a crushing hug and a mind-melting kiss. She forgot she was standing on stage in front of a large audience, forgot that the radio station was taking pictures for its website, forgot that two perky morning djs were waiting to give her a sash and a crown. All she was aware of was Nick, his arms around her, his lips on hers. When he released her, all she could do was look at him, smiling.

"Now that's a celebration, folks," Mark joked. Sara blushed as Bobbie fixed the crown on her head and draped the sash over her shoulders.

"Are you ready for the King and Queen's spotlight dance?" Bobbie asked the crowd. A round of applause was her approval. The lights dimmed and a spotlight fixed on Nick and Sara.

He led her to the center of the dance floor, wrapping his left arm around her waist and taking her left hand in his right. "Ready for this?" he whispered.

She just nodded as the music started. Nick's hand stroked the small of her back, and the crowd watching them was forgotten.

"I can't fight this feeling any longer, and yet I'm still afraid to let it flow. What started out as friendship has grown stronger; I just wish I had the strength to let it show," REO Speedwagon crooned. Sara let herself melt against Nick, lost in the music, lost in his embrace.

"And I can't fight this feeling anymore…I've forgotten what I started fighting for," she sang along softly.

"Hey, Sara?" Nick whispered.

"Hmm?" She looked up, meeting those soft brown eyes.

"Have I told you tonight just how much I love you?"

Sara blinked at him. "No…no, you haven't."

He pulled her closer so his lips were just against her earlobe. "I love you, Sara Sidle."

She swallowed back her initial reaction; his ear was just too close to her mouth for her to scream her joy. She settled for a matching whisper, "Then you're in luck…'cause I love you, too, Nick Stokes."

The song ended; the spotlight faded, but they remained on the dance floor, slowly swaying in each other's arms.

Before they knew it, the clock was striking one, and the prom was wrapping up. "So, Nick," Sara started as they collected their prize basket. "You've hit most of the prom traditions…corsage, limo, dinner, portraits…"

"Yeah…?" he answered cautiously.

"If I recall correctly, there was one other fairly standard prom tradition."

"Oh?"

She leaned in close, lips brushing his ear. "The hotel room for after."

He just grinned. "I didn't want to push my luck." He gave her waist a squeeze. "Disappointed?"

She made a mock-pout. "How is this supposed to be a true prom if you're not planning to lure me back to a secluded hotel room and attempt to seduce me out of my dress?"

Nick's voice dropped to a husky whisper. "It's not too late for me to grab a room, if you really want it."

In reply, she captured his lips in a steamy, smoky kiss. "Hurry up." She smirked a little. "I think I'm ready to graduate from high school."

Fin