"Wow, this place is beautiful," Iris smiled as she and Barry stepped inside the hotel followed closely by Joe and Cecile.
"Isn't it," Cecile beamed, turning to Joe, "So romantic. It was nice of Tina to invite us tonight."
Barry chuckled, "I thought we were just here to make up numbers."
"Who cares why," Iris rolled her eyes at him, "Just go and sign us in so we can get to the party."
While the two men went to get their room keys Iris and Cecile moved to look at the ballroom, seeing the people already there. Iris tapped the other woman's arm when she spotted two people standing near the bar deep in conversation.
"Is that," Cecile smiled, "Michael and…"
"Gideon," Iris replied nodding, "I suppose it makes sense they're here since it is a Mercury Labs function."
"Speaking of, here's our host," Cecile noted as Tina appeared wearing a long black and white dress.
A smiled covered Tina's face when she saw them, "It's good to see you all. I'm so glad you could make it."
"I see you've got some familiar faces," Iris nodded over to the former time travellers, "Are they actually a couple? Cisco didn't think so the last time I asked him."
Tina rolled her eyes, "Not yet but I'm hoping this place might start something. Honestly the pair of them are utterly useless."
"How couldn't they fall in love here," Cecile sighed, "Even with today's weather it's gorgeous. It must be amazing on a day when the sun is actually shining."
Tina nodded in agreement, "It is. I'm just hoping that the rain doesn't get too heavy tonight, otherwise we'll end up with a lot of people staying here who weren't meant to be."
x
Rip smiled as Gideon checked which table they were seated at after they'd made a few circles of the room. Rip loved how she liked to know the layout of everywhere she was going to spend time in. And was always more than happy to walk with her so she could make herself comfortable.
"This is such a beautiful place," Gideon breathed as they took their seats, "Michael, you should see the room I have. It has a small balcony which overlooks a rose garden. I wish the weather was nicer so I could stand and simply look at it."
Rip grinned at how her eyes lit up with such enthusiasm for something so simple. Gideon had such a different way of looking at things than anyone else he'd ever known. In some ways he found her to be as innocent as Jonas while in others she could be positively wicked.
"It sounds lovely," he told her.
Gideon beamed at him, "Oh, it is."
Rip chuckled sensing another presence nearby and glanced round surprised at the two couples who were walking towards the table.
"Mr Hunter."
"Detective West," Rip greeted the other man.
"Don't you two know one another well enough to use first names," Cecile rolled her eyes at them before smiling, "It's lovely to see you again, Michael."
Rip nodded, "And you Cecile," catching the look from the woman he turned to his companion, "This is Gideon Ryder. Gideon, this is Joe West and Cecile Horton. The other two I don't actually know."
Joe smiled amused introducing, "This is my daughter, Iris and her husband Barry."
"Nice to meet you both," Rip smiled, as did Gideon before noting, "I didn't realise you'd be here."
Joe chuckled, "Well, Tina is a friend so she talked us into coming tonight and I am glad she did."
"As am I," Cecile said as she took her seat next Rip, "The rooms are amazing. Are you staying?"
"Gideon is," Rip replied, "I'm heading home afterwards. I don't like to leave Jonas overnight unless it's not possible to get home."
Joe nodded, "How is your boy doing?"
"He's fine," Rip grinned, "The cast came off earlier this week and he is just as boisterous as ever."
Iris chuckled, "How old is he?"
"Five," Rip's pride came through in his voice.
"Joe said he goes to Westbrook," Barry noted, "That's a really good school. I know a few people who went there."
Rip frowned when his phone began to buzz interrupting their conversation, "Excuse me," he said moving away worried that Katrina was calling, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing too bad," Katrina assured, "But Jonas can't find Boo Bear. Tell me you know where he'll be?"
He frowned slightly, "Try in my bed. Jonas came in beside me this morning. If Boo Bear isn't in there then try the cupboard in the hall. That's where he 'hides' when they're playing hide and seek."
"Thanks," Katrina replied, "I'll let you get back to your evening with Gideon. Which I assume is going well."
Rip rolled his eyes hearing the question in her voice and ignoring it, "Call me if you don't find him."
Gideon watched the couples' dancing around the floor to the band playing. They'd had an incredible meal and she had truly enjoyed the company of the other two couples who had been seated with them. Michael was getting them both another drink, so she sat and watched the dancing, trying not to think about how much she wanted to be in his arms.
She had come to care about Michael so much, and she adored Jonas, but it was clear that Michael had no interest in being anything other than her friend. Despite Tina's teasing Gideon knew he didn't think of her like that. He had loved his wife so deeply that Gideon doubted he would ever see anyone in that way again.
"Here," he appeared at her side placing a glass of wine down in front of her.
Gideon smiled at him, "Thank you."
"Would you like to dance?" Michael asked, shrugging when she looked uncertain, "No point in coming to something like this and not." He offered his hand to her, "I promise I'll try not to stand on your toes."
Taking his hand Gideon allowed him to lead her onto the floor, smiling softly when he rested his arm around her waist while taking her other hand. Gideon closed her eyes, resting her head against his while he held her close moving slowly to the music.
"This is nice," she breathed, lost in the moment.
"Yeah," Michael murmured softly before he pulled back slightly when the music stopped, their eyes locking and he whispered, "Gideon, I…"
"Sorry to interrupt the evening, folks," the singer of the band said, "But we've just heard that the roads have been flooded. I'm afraid everyone is stuck here until morning. Anybody who is not already booked to stay tonight, don't worry the hotel will be able to find a place for you to sleep."
Michael grimaced, "Oh, no. I need to call the girls and let them know."
"Of course," Gideon squeezed his hand.
Watching him head to find a quiet place Gideon saw that it wasn't easy, as those who hadn't planned on staying were all trying to check with the reception desk where they'd be sleeping.
"Michael," she moved to his side and pressed her room key into his hand, "Use my room to call and check on Jonas."
He gave her a smile before squeezing her hand, "Thank you."
x
Rip stared in amazement when he opened the door to Gideon's room. It was luxurious with a large bed in the centre of the room which gave whoever was in it a view of the rose garden outside the patio doors. He could understand why Gideon was so enthusiastic about the room. Shaking himself from the thoughts that were suddenly sliding through his mind, Rip pulled out his phone and quickly called Katrina.
"Michael?" Katrina answered, "Is everything okay?"
"Not really," he sighed, "The roads are flooded, I'm stuck here all night."
"Oh, so…"
He cut her off before she could say anything, "Is Jonas sleeping?"
"Yes," she replied, "He fell asleep about ten minutes ago. Do you want me to wake him?"
"No," Rip told her, "He won't go back to sleep if you do. Just tell him in the morning and I'll call you when I get up."
"Okay."
Rip grimaced hearing the rumble in the distance outside the room, "Was he scared of the thunder?"
"A little but Ali tucked him between us during a movie and he seemed okay with us both being there," Katrina assured him, "Giddy is still in the cupboard though."
"She'll come out when she's ready," Rip chuckled, "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Only drive home when it's safe," she told him firmly, "Jonas will be okay with us until then. Promise me."
Rip smiled to himself, "I promise."
x
Walking back down the stairs he saw there were still several people lining up at the reception to work out where they'd be staying that night. Rip could hear the thunder getting closer and the rain getting heavier outside, as he passed a window a flash of lighting lit up the gardens just before the lights in the hotel flickered.
"Is Jonas alright?" Gideon asked coming to meet him at the bottom of the stairs.
Rip nodded, "Already asleep."
She squeezed his hand, "And you were worried."
Giving her a quick smile Rip handed her the key back, "Thank you for letting me use your room. It is as nice as you said."
"Well, the band are taking a break just now," Gideon told him, "While those who were not staying originally are given places to stay. Tina sorted one for you while you were checking on Jonas.
"And I believe I have a change of clothes in the car," Rip said as they walked back towards the ballroom.
Gideon looked at him confused, "Really?"
He laughed, "When I took Jonas to the zoo a couple of months ago there was an ice-cream incident. He had a change while I spent the rest of the day in a complete mess. Our last visit I brought a change which I didn't need and forgot I left them in the car."
Gideon chuckled frowning when thunder rolled, the lightning flashed and the lights flickered once more.
"What's wrong?" Rip asked.
She shrugged uncomfortable, "I just do not like this weather."
Reaching out Rip gently rubbed her arms, "Really? Personally, I love thunderstorms."
"How?" she breathed.
Resting his arm around her shoulders he moved her back towards their table in the ballroom, "When I was a child, just after my mother adopted me, I couldn't get rid of the fear she would give me back so I used to hide in the attic to make sure I never got in trouble. One night there was a thunderstorm and I was sitting watching it, curled up in a corner terrified but I didn't want to leave my hiding place. My mother appeared suddenly, wrapping a blanket around me and told me that I was home. She said that nothing could make her not want me."
"And that is why you love thunderstorms?" Gideon asked a little confused.
Rip nodded, "Because they remind me of that moment and how much my mother loved me."
A smile touched Gideon's lips before she shuddered when the lights flickered again.
"Do you want another drink?" Rip asked her.
Gideon nodded, "Please."
Giving her hand a quick comforting squeeze Rip headed to the bar. Joining the queue he turned checking on her and saw she was talking to Cecile again. She was standing beside the large speakers for the band, sitting beside a large statue which they'd heard earlier was heavy and expensive sitting on a platform Rip hadn't liked from the beginning. Rip frowned as he watched one of the hotel staff wander behind the equipment while he carried a tray of empty glasses just as the lights flickered once more. Unconsciously Rip began to move seeing the man turn slightly, catching his foot on the wires which pulled the speaker which fell hitting the statue and that began to fall.
Towards Gideon.
Running towards her Rip managed to push her out of the way, putting himself in the path of the falling chunk of heavy solid stone coming at him.
