You'll be delighted to know I have mucho Otto/Laura and Nero/Raven with a smattering of Contessa/Pike fluffy bits in here...:D this is my fav. chapter so far and I hope you all enjoy it!

Nero stood by the main entrance to the cavern, his hands clasped loosely behind his back as he surveyed the room and the students. He had to admit that party had turned out well and he had a feeling that next year the students would be going on at him to throw another one, he viewed this with a sense of weary resignation then mentally shook himself out of it. That was next year. For now he should just get this one over with.

He looked up suddenly, a tall woman, probably one of the last year students, was weaving her way through the crowd. Nero tried not to stare at her but it was hard not to. She was wearing a long black dress which was tight-fitting until her waist where it started it to widen out. As she moved it shimmered in the light and Nero saw it was covered with a black glittery substance which caught the light. The dress was sleeveless with only a strap which wound its way around the woman's neck.
As she came closer Nero began to feel a little uncomfortable, he wondered if she was going to ask him to dance, not a scenario he wanted to be in with one of his students. A black cats mask covered the upper half of her face leaving the only clue to her identity in her short, neatly styled black hair.
The woman came to halt a little way from Nero who suddenly realised that quite a number of the students and also the security guards were stood watching the woman, a few gawping a little.

Nero cleared his throat, briefly wondering if he'd been looking a little slack-jawed before asking, 'Yes? Is there something I can do for you Miss…' he left the sentence hanging looking at the student expectantly.

The woman smiled, 'Miss Natalya, or Miss Raven, whichever you like, though to tell the truth I never have liked being called "Miss"'.

'Raven?' exclaimed Nero looking astonished.

Raven laughed and removed the mask from her face, 'The one and only,' she gestured to her dress, 'What do you think?'

Nero felt himself reddening as he quickly glanced at the low-backed dress, 'It suits you Natalya,' then added in a lower voice, 'You look beautiful.'

Raven looked momentarily taken aback before smiling again a little, 'Thank you Max.'

For a few moments they both stood there in silence until Raven looked around and realised that a number of people (all men) were staring at her with something akin to astonishment on their faces, 'So,' she asked, 'Are you going to get me a drink or ask me to dance as customary or shall I ask you as not so customary?'

Nero smiled and held out his arm for Raven to take, 'What would you like to drink then?'

Raven thought for a moment, 'Vodka, if you don't mind Nero.'

'Not too much now,' came the mock-severe reply.

Natalya laughed a little, 'I'm a big girl now Nero, I think I know what I can handle.'

Professor Pike sat at the table, slumped back a little in the chair, absently sipping at a glass of excellent red wine and reading the label on the back of the bottle at the same time, due to the fact he was a responsible adult he'd been allowed to take the whole thing.

'May I join you?' asked a voice from behind him.

Pike almost chocked on his wine as he turned and took in the source of the voice. The Contessa was stood behind him with a slightly amused expression on her face. Like Raven she'd changed out of her normal attire (if it could be called that) for the party, she looked like a completely different person for several reasons.

Firstly, her usual towering hair style had been replaced with a different one. Her dark hair had been curled and fell about her shoulders in long rippling waves, making her seem shorter and somehow making her seem a more relaxed person.
Secondly, she had applied a layer of make-up to her face which made her look younger, more like a woman in her late twenties rather than a villainous fifty-something Contessa.
The third and probably most defining feature (next to the hair) was the dress. It was dark pink and purple and unlike Raven's was close fitting and Pike realised for the first time that the Contessa had quite a nice figure.
Pike clambered to his feet and hastily held out a chair for the Contessa almost tripping over his own feet.

'Thank-you Pike,' smiled Maria gracefully sinking down into the chair. She placed a Rose Wine on the table with a tall wine glass next to it and poured herself a drink which she sipped at calmly.
Pike stared at her, still in a state of astonishment at the transformation of the (let's be honest) terrifying Contessa to a gorgeous looking woman.

'Aren't you going to sit down?' asked the Contessa arching an eyebrow.

Pike mumbled something incoherent before awkwardly sinking down in his chair and gulping at his wine whilst Maria looked on in amusement. Pike grimaced as he re-filled his glass. He could do with something stronger.

Otto and Laura both leaned back against the wall sipping at their drinks, Otto had a apple tango and Laura a lemonade.

'I'm glad HIVEmind got the job of DJ,' smiled Otto as he listened to the announcements and music blasting out over the speakers.

Laura nodded her agreement, 'Aye, it'd have been a bit disappointing for him if he didn't get anything to do.'

Otto nodded several times before falling silent, occasionally shooting a glance at Laura out of the corner of his eye before realising that she was doing the same thing. Their gazes met and they both flushed red.
As the song playing ended and dance partners started to drift away from the dance floor to be replaced by new ones. Otto lifted up his head as the song started: "Heaven" by Bryan Adams.

He turned to Laura, 'Would you like to dance?' he blurted out suddenly before he lost his nerve. Laura looked up, a wide smile slowly spreading across her face, 'Yes,' she replied softly.
Hand in hand they stepped onto the dance floor.

In another part of the room Nero was sat at a table next to Raven feeling decidedly uncomfortable and a little hot around the collar.
He hid his embarrassment by taking a gulp of his brandy, feeling it blaze a warm trail down his throat. He relaxed a little and taking another sip, took the opportunity to steal a glance at Natalya over the top of his glass.

She was listening to the music playing with a surprisingly relaxed expression on her face that Nero wasn't used to seeing. She shot a glance at him and smiled as she noticed him staring at her.
Nero hastily shifted his gaze elsewhere feeling another wave of embarrassment, Raven finished off her drink and rose to her feet, 'So,' she said, 'When were you going to ask me to dance?'

'Dance?' asked Nero.

She nodded, 'Yes,' Raven tilted her head a little as the song finished and a new one started, 'And I also like this one.'

Nero smiled, 'Heaven performed by Bryan Adams,' he remarked, 'I like it too,' he climbed to his feet leaving his unfinished drink on the table and took Natalya by the hand.

'Shall we?'

A smile touched her face and Nero thought briefly, how beautiful she looked when she smiled, 'Yes, let's.'

Oh, thinking about all the younger years,

There was only you and me,

We were young and wild and free!

Raven and Nero both moved across the dance floor in time with the music, hand in hand and staring deep into each other's eyes.

If they'd looked to the side they'd have seen Otto and Laura dancing past, surprisingly agile, this was due to the fact that since the announcement of the party by Nero two weeks ago the students had been holding impromptu dance lessons around the school and they had paid off well.

But Nero and Raven didn't notice this, something was happening between them as they danced. Nero listened to the lyrics and registered that he was almost singing them as he stared at Raven.

Now nothin' can take you away from me,

We've been down that road before,

But that's over now…

You keep me comin' back for more

Nero suddenly realised, with a mixture of shock and amazement that his respect for Natalya went deeper than he'd thought, she had become more than just his assassin, she was his friend, maybe even more than that…

Baby you're all that I want,

With you lyin' here in my arms,

I'm finding it hard to believe,

We're in heaven,

The dancing picked up a tone once the song hit the chorus and the tempo picked up. Nero spun Raven around in his arms, enjoying the sensation of being so close to her, the most beautiful woman in the room, in his mind.

And love is all that I need,

And I found it there in your heart,

It isn't to hard to see,

We're in heaven…

Laura looked up at Otto, suddenly aware of how tall he had grown in the past few years here at HIVE, now to mention how handsome he'd also become… She felt her cheek reddening…again and was glad of the flashing lights.

Otto had initially been slightly tense during the first part of the dance but had gradually relaxed and was now dancing more smoothly. Of course they did occasionally bump against each other awkwardly, but what did that matter?

Oh once in your life you'll find someone,

Who will turn your life around,

Bring you up when you're feeling down,

Laura smiled looking into Otto's blue eyes, how true.,,

Yeah, nothin' could change what you mean to me,

Oh, there's lots I could say,

But just hold me now,

'Cause our love will light the way,

Otto's grip on Laura tightened a little and he swallowed hard, realising how breath-taking she looked, why hadn't he noticed how beautiful her green eyes looked before?

Baby you're all that I want,

With you lyin' here in my arms,

I'm finding it hard to believe,

We're in heaven,

And love is all that I need,

And I found it there in your heart,

It isn't to hard to see,

We're in heaven…

As the song shifted to the bridge Otto and Laura's pace of dancing slowed down, Laura suddenly wrapped her arms around Otto's neck. Otto started, surprised but relaxed and gently slipped his hands around her waist.

I've been waitin' for so long,

For somethin' to arrive,

For love to come along,

Now our dreams are comin' true,

Through the good times and the bad,

Yeah, I'll be standin' there by you…

Both stood there, no longer dancing, just staring at one another. Otto hesitated then mentally shrugged. He leaned forward and gently kissed Laura on the lips.

Baby you're all that I want,

With you lyin' here in my arms,

I'm finding it hard to believe,

We're in heaven,

And love is all that I need,

And I found it there in your heart,

It isn't to hard to see,

We're in heaven…

Told you I'd have some Otto/Laura ;-) Of course there will be more romantic fluffiness coming up in later chapters including more NAVENNESS! *throws around confetti*

I may be able to get in another chapter before christmas...but then again I may not so if I don't:

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Hope you all have a great one!