Author's Note: This is a continuation of the John and Alex Wedding Dance series of chapters. The bunnies are still running rampant...
Remembering How to Waltz
Genre: Family, Friendship
Pairings: Phillip and Jackie, Greg and Molly
Main characters: Phillip, Jackie, Greer, Ciana, Johnnie, Scott
Phillip and Jackie Anderson were getting tired.
The day had been full enough, and that was fine. Child minding was voluntary, and besides, they had Greg and Molly to help with the task. Ciana and Greer would have no less of him and Greg. It was fortunate for the two of them that Greer Lestrade had found herself drawn to little Ciana. Jackie and Molly, for their part, recognized the earmarks of lifelong best friends and soul sisters in the making.
Phillip might grudgingly forgive Greg for caving to pressure and picking up his guitar for another 10 or 15 or 45 minutes, though this left him with his favourite little girl, second only to his own adored daughter.
Still, that particular little girl wasn't getting any smaller, or any lighter. Nor was she, apparently, getting any less fond of her Uncle Phillip.
Neither, however, was Ciana getting any lighter, and for as much as Phillip Anderson wisely wanted to keep both girls happy, even a man who had endured the things that Sherlock Holmes had put him through, for two years, no less, had his limits.
Phillip was always grateful for Jackie, but never more so, at this moment, than for her extra set of willing hands… and willing arms… and feet.
He looked at Greer Lestrade square in the eye from level.
"Lady Greer, you are perfectly capable of dancing on your own two feet, aren't you?"
Greer gazed at him impishly.
"Maybe," she said, from her spot in his arms.
"Perhaps Milady would like to show Uncle Phillip and Auntie Jackie how to… what is this called?"
Greer smiled bashfully. "Don't be silly, Uncle," she chastised.
"Well still, Uncle forgets…" he encouraged her.
"It's a WALTZ, hasn't Uncle Sherlock taught you anything? It's EVER so easy."
Jackie locked eyes with her husband and shifted Ciana as she grinned knowingly.
"Well," Jackie hinted softly, "Uncle Sherlock taught me, but perhaps Uncle needs to be reminded."
Greer wiggled impatiently. "REALLY, Uncle Phillip. It's NOT that hard!"
Barely able to contain a sigh of relief, as his arms had just started to go numb from fatigue, Phillip dropped Greer to the floor, gently and on her feet. "Show me then Milady," he said with a laugh.
"Well, you go like this," she said, raising her hands up and stretching his arm to her waist – which, given how tall he was and how little she still stood, in spite of appearing to take after her father and being just a bit taller than the average five year old girl - was a bit of a stretch. "THEN you go like THIS," she said, grasping his free hand. "THEN your feet just go like THIS," she concluded confidently, pulling him into a waltz.
He glanced partly with relief, partly with apology, and partly with amusement, at Jackie, as he allowed Greer to dance him around the floor.
Jackie watched them with a warm smile and a soft laugh, as Johnnie and Scott, seeing her now without a dance partner, sidled up to her to take over where Uncle Phillip had left off.
She may have had her dance with her husband interrupted, but for her part, didn't mind in the least.
"Do you remember how to waltz, Auntie Jackie?" Scott asked her curiously. Jackie turned her attention to the handsome, dark eyed twins.
"I think so… but perhaps you might remind me?"
The boys looked at eachother, grinning. "May we have this dance then, Auntie?" Johnnie asked, as he and his brother bowed in unison.
"It would be an honour," she said, as she allowed them to lead her and Ciana to the dance floor.