I do not own Dirty Dancing.

Chapter Twenty Eight

POV Johnny

Secret Rendezvous

The evening went on at the party, and on, and on, and on. Hours passed by, what felt like hundreds of Bungalow Bunnies, and I hadn't had one dance with Baby. Not one, even though she was the only one here that I really cared about, seeing as Penny was still on bed rest. I couldn't dance with her. Doctor Houseman would recognize me, and no one knew Baby could dance, which would make Max suspicious.

Besides, I didn't want to give Neil an excuse to tell me to stay away from her. He seemed to be under the impression that he had a shot with Baby, despite the fact that she had expressed no interest whatsoever in him and that she was very taken. Not that he would know that, though. Not that anyone would know that.

The night wore on, and guests slowly trickled out the doors to their respective rooms for the night. No matter who I was dancing with, I always managed to keep a close eye on Baby. Her Mother and Sister had left somewhere around 10:00 p.m., and it hadn't escaped my notice that Dr. Houseman silently disappeared around 8:00. Even Max and Neil lost the battle against tiredness and retired to their beds, leaving Baby and I unsupervised with a handful of other guests gathered in a small crowd on the floor

Deciding that it might finally be time to dance with her, I silently walk up behind Baby and tap her shoulder. Baby turned. "Johnny," She grinned

"Would you like to dance?" I asked her smoothly, offering her my hand.

"Absolutely," Baby beamed and taking hand. I felt a rush of pleasure in knowing that I'd made her smile like that.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it to you sooner," I apologize, leading her through an underarm turn. I would have, had I thought I could've gotten away with it, but I doubted it would've been possible, with Max and Neil and Baby's Father

"It's fine," Baby insisted, with a shake of her head while we completed a cross body lead. We couldn't be too flashy with our dancing, lest we draw attention to ourselves. Lord knows we didn't want that to happen. "You were working," Baby continued, "I understand. Besides, Neil and Max were watching us all evening. The only real break I got was when my Father left early tonight."

"Is he still upset?" I ask nearly immediately. Baby hadn't expressly told me what had transpired between her and her Father after they left Penny last night, but I could assume that it was nothing good, judging by his manor with her all evening and his leaving early.

Baby eyed the floor, which was answer enough. Things were still as bad as they had been after they left. The worst part was that I was to blame. I'd let Baby fund Penny's abortion, I'd taught her to dance so she could fill in. And if I hadn't done that, their relationship would be fine right now. "He hasn't spoken to me since last night," Baby answered softly. "This morning, he said he wanted to leave early."

"I'm sorry," I tell her, as we did a spot turn.

Baby shrugged as best she could while holding the frame. "He'll get over it," She said with a touch of bitterness that didn't belong there.

The longer I spent with Baby, the more I risked someone discovering us. We couldn't dance for very much longer without catching someone's attention, someone who might report us to Max. And as much as I worried about that, I couldn't seem to make myself leave her.

"You look beautiful tonight," I tell Baby in a hushed tone. She was gorgeous, in that lovely yellow dress that made her look oh, so innocent, and the pink flats she wore the night we met.

Baby blushed shyly. "Thank you," She said through a smile. It occurred to me then that that had been the first time I'd ever told her that she looked beautiful. Sure I'd thought it- more than once, in fact, regardless of the situation's appropriateness.

"I wish I could risk kissing you in front of all these people," I tell her softly. The only thing that kept me from doing that then and there was the thought that it would get me fired faster than you could say Mambo. I didn't know why I felt this pull towards her, stronger now than it had ever been. I had been able to go without kissing her fine before last night: now all of a sudden I was thinking about doing it less than twelve hours after our last one.

"Me too," Baby sighed softly, in a very resigned voice.

How long will this last, I wonder, before one of us cracks? How long could we go without hand holding, and kisses? Without talking to each other in public? How long would I be content to let her sneak into my cabin at night before realizing that she shouldn't have to do that? How much time would pass before I realized that I didn't want our relationship a secret, existing only behind closed doors?

And then I realized, that it may very well be past when I get off. I hadn't worn my watch tonight, and there was no clock in the ballroom. But Baby had a watch on. I grinned at her, hoping beyond hope that it was past eleven. "What?" Baby inquired, seeing my smile, not understanding what it meant.

"Do you know what time it is?" I ask her dryly, hoping I don't sound too eager.

"It's ten after," Baby answered after a glance to her wrist. "Why?"

"Oh, it's just that I get off at eleven," I answer nonchalantly, smiling even bigger. I could've kissed her out of joy then. "Meet me outside, next to the steps," I instruct her. "I'll be there in a few minutes. Okay?"

"Okay," Baby smiled.

With only one thing in mind, I hurry down the steps and round the corner to the steep walls of the main house where Baby stood. No one would see us here at this point. Which meant we were free to do nearly anything.

The first thing I did was kiss her for all it was worth. My arms curl around her waist tightly, never wanting to let her go. Baby deepened the kiss, holding onto me just as tightly. I kiss her again, wanting this moment to last as long as possible, but before I knew it, my lungs were burning for air, and so I pull back a few inches, enough so that we can breathe. "It's been too long since I've been able to do that," I tell her quietly, through heavy breaths, my forehead leaning into hers.

"That was this morning," Baby reminded me, laughing a little.

"Too long," I decide with a tone of finality. "Are you really complaining?"

Baby thought about it, and I see a grin curl onto her face. "No," She answered. Good,I thought affectionately, lowering my mouth to hers for another kiss, this one far slower and a great deal more innocent. This one was meant to last, where the other had been rushed and passionate.

"Come back with me," I ask her quietly. "No one would ever know. You could say everyone was asleep by the time you got in," I say. I want to be with her tonight, and what's more, I could see that Baby wanted it too, only...

"I can't," Baby answered, shaking her head. "Not yet anyway. Someone will notice. Who's going to believe that I was out late enough for everyone to be asleep when I got in?" She asked. "Just give me ten minutes, and I'll be there. I promise you, I will be there."