Author's note: Sorry again about another huge wait. My parents dragged me out to go camping in the middle of nowhere. Most people get to spend their summers going to beaches and traveling, I got to go get eaten alive by bugs and bored out of my freaking mind. Sorry about the gripe, but I'm still pissed about being away from my computer for so long.

What the Heck?

When the gang got back from the slopes, they all went back to their respective rooms to change into some dry clothes after being almost being crushed by a mountain of snow. Cedric finished changing and then went downstairs to go look for something to eat. He was chatting with Hugo when suddenly Grace came bounding into the room and looked at Cedric expectantly. Grace came over with a look on her face that made Cedric uneasy.

"You look like you're having fun," she said.

"After nearly getting killed, most people usually like to relax," commented Cedric warily. He knew from Grace's expression that she was about to do something mischievous, something that invariably drove him crazy.

"Just make sure you're ready to go by eight," said Grace.

"To go? Where?" asked Cedric knowing that he really did not want to know the answer.

"Don't tell me you forgot!" exclaimed Grace.

"Forgot what?" asked Cedric confused.

"You promised to take me to the New Year's Eve party down at Whistler village," she said almost disbelievingly.

"I did?"

"Yes you did and you better be ready by eight," she said as she walked out of the room.

"But...But...," stammered Cedric as she left. Confused he looked at Hugo.

"I never asked her out," said Cedric confused.

Sly, Carmelita, Penelope, Bentley, and Julie all burst in from the next room over laughing their heads off. Carmelita was laughing so hard she was almost crying. Hugo soon joined in.

"Now that I've amused everyone, could someone please tell me what's going on?" grumbled Cedric peevishly. Sly walked over to Cedric, still laughing.

"Cedric, allow me to introduce you to a bizarre but interesting species called women. They may drive you crazy, they may confuse you completely, but believe me, they're well worth the effort."

"I still don't get it," said Cedric.

Hugo finally took pity on him and said "Cedric, we both know that Grace is, well, somewhat proud, right."

"Yeah."

"Can you see Grace asking anyone out on a date by walking up and asking if they would like to get some coffee or something?"

"No, not really."

"Then let's just say she just asked you out without endangering her pride."

"She did?"

"Cedric," Carmelita stammered, still laughing, "You may be a great fighter and mage, but you apparently know next to nothing about women."

"Hey...," he started then stopped, "you may have a point there."

"Don't worry," started Sly, "You have to world's foremost expert on the feminine mindto help you."

"And an actual woman to make sure you don't make a complete fool of yourself by doing everything Sly tells you."

A few hours later, Cedric, dressed nicely for the party, waited downstairs for Grace to be ready. Suddenly, a figure began to come down the stairs into the hall. Cedric's jaw nearly dropped. He had no idea who this beautiful vixen was. Her light brown hair, fell beautifully across her shoulders, her purple eyes looked both shy and mischievous, and she was wearing a strapless red dress which hugged her curvaceous form. The eyes and the hair looked like Grace's but the Grace Cedric knew would have never worn a dress like that. Grace reached the end of the stairs and looked up at Cedric.

"So, how do I look?" she asked playfully.

Cedric's mouth worked, but no sound came out.

"Beautiful," he finally said.

Grace smiled and Cedric could almost feel his ears turn red.

He walked to the door trying to remember all the things that Sly and Carmelita had taught him.

"After you," he said he said with an almost cocky grin which he hoped concealed the fact that he thought he could hear his heart thumping.

This is ridiculous he thought. It's just Grace, there is no reason for me to be panicking like this. I've fought mob bosses, drug lords and madmen without batting an eye and Grace scares me? I've got to control this absurd emotion.

He opened the passenger door to his Lexus and closed it after Grace got in. Fighting to control his absurd fear , he opened the driver's side door, got in, and began the drive that would take them to the party.

Behind him, the others had all dressed up as well and jumped in the other cars to go. They were planning on watching Cedric bumble through one evening none of them would ever forget.