This was long! Finally it's done! That's the reason for the long update. I'm really sorry if you have to wait because my schedule is most definitely not flexible due to school work.

Fiske, Dan and Amy walked towards the line where people were waiting for their names to be checked. As they get closer to the entrance, they heard voices of people chatting and laughing. Amy could see the people inside, eating and some were dancing. She felt her stomach churn as she had a moment of déjà vu.

"Name, please?"

Amy blinked hard and looked at the man behind the table.

"Amy, Dan and Fiske Cahill." She replied.

The man looked down at a piece of paper that Amy presumed was a list of the guests. After a few seconds, the man looked back up to them.

"Okay. Please wait."

The man stood up. He returned with three bags in his hands. He handed it out to them.

"You will find your masks and bands inside. Please wear it at all times. Merry Christmas and enjoy!" he said with a smile.

Amy smiled back and returned the greeting. After slipping their masks and bands on, they proceeded to the entrance of the ballroom. Well actually, it isn't a ballroom. It was a Madrigal base that was decorated to look like a ballroom so that it will have this elegant feel. They entered the ballroom.

Everyone was busy doing their own things and since they couldn't completely see each other, they were all on guard. Fiske then excused himself. Amy watched as he got lost in the sea of people. So she and Dan continued to walk.

There was so little space. It was a miracle they managed to get to the bar. Actually, that was one of the problems. That's why they used the garden that was at the back. Though it was a good thing. Though they were all from different branches, they were still one family. It was a good thing they all finally settled their differences. The friendship that Gideon Cahill dreamed was finally true.

Amy spotted a group of people who were chatting and laughing. She smiled. Though they were all wearing masks, she knew it was the old gang. They all turned to look at Dan and Amy as they both walked towards them. She could see the look on their faces and Amy couldn't help but smile. She hugged them one by one as Dan bumped fists with them. After pulling away, Amy realized they grew few.

Hamilton was standing beside Jonah while Sinead was opposite them. Beside Sinead was Reagan Holt.

"How are you, guys?" Amy asked.

"Fine." Reagan said.

"Fantastic!" exclaimed Jonah.

"Dan." Hamilton nodded to him.

Dan nodded back. "Hamilton."

They just stared at each other for the next few minutes. Amy exchanged looks with the others but they all seemed just as confused as she is.

"Just give it to me." Hamilton finally said with a grin.

Dan groaned.

"You promised and a promise is a promise. Heat won. So?"

Dan scratched his head. "Why? Oh, why? Oh, Why?" He reached for his back pocket.

"Dan!" Amy said. "You had a bet and you never told me? You know that's bad!"

Dan raised his left brow at Amy as he opened his wallet."Do I really need to?"

"Of course! You're my brother!" Amy said.

"Amy, I'm 16!" Dan reasoned.

"But that doesn't change that you're my little brother!"

"I'm not little!"

"I'm still bigger than you." Then she realized he was actually taller than she is. "Well, maybe not bigger physically. But I'm still older!"

Dan just apologized. He knew he was never going to win. Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice call out to them.

"Kiddos!"

Amy quickly turned around and found Nellie standing right there, her arms wide open, with Fiske following close behind her.

She quickly ran towards Nellie who was wearing a big smile on her face. She hugged her tight.

"Nellie!" exclaimed Amy.

Nellie hugged her back.

"I missed you, Nellie!" said Amy.

"Me too." Nellie replied.

They then pulled away from each other. Nellie spotted Dan standing behind Amy. Nellie gestured toward him. "Come here, kiddo."

Dan shook his head. "No!"

"Oh come on! Come here!" Nellie insisted as she stepped closer to him. She hugged him tight.

Amy wanted to laugh as while she saw Dan's face as Nellie hugged him. She exchanged looks with the others who were clearly also trying to hold their laughter back. After a few moments, they laughed hard. When Nellie pulled away, she quickly faced them with her hands on her hips. Her eyebrows furrowed.

"What are you all laughing about? I know you're all as tall as me. I know we're not in the Vesper prison anymore but that doesn't mean you can all laugh at me!" she mock scolded them.

They all tried to contain their laughter and said. "Yes, ma'am!"

"That's better!" said Nellie with a big smug on her face but after a few seconds it was replaced by a big smile. "Come here."

Amy watched as Nellie hugged them. She smiled. She was happy to see them so relaxed like nothing happened. Even the mention of the Vespers never made any effect on them. That's what she envied them for. She was not like them. She still got the nightmares. She still has meltdowns. Especially Golden Eyes and Ian.

After his sudden disappearance, he was always there. He was always there, present in her dreams like it was supposed to tell her something. Maybe that was one of the reasons why she felt that he was still alive. She hopes he still is. She wishes he still is.

"Amy, want to dance?"

Amy looked up and found Hamilton's hand stretched towards her. She realized the others also went to dance together. She smiled.

"Why sure, Hammy!" she replied. She placed her hand on Hamilton's.

Hamilton frowned as they walked towards the middle where people were dancing.

"Don't call me that. It makes me sound giddy and all."

Amy spotted the others scattered. Jonah was dancing with Reagan while Sinead was laughing hard as a disgusted Dan was holding her. Nellie was chatting with Fiske while dancing.

Amy faced Hamilton and placed her arms around his neck. They started to sway to the beat of the music.

"Well, you are giddy and all. Are you not?" Amy asked.

"I am, but not all the time." pouted Hamilton.

Amy laughed then Hamilton laughed along.

After a few moments of silence, Amy spoke. "Ham? I need to ask you. How's your dad?"

Amy saw the smile on Hamilton's face faded. He lowered his head, averting his eyes away from Amy.

"I'm sorry, Hamilton. If you don't want to, it's okay." Amy comforted him.

Hamilton looked at Amy once again. "No. It's okay." He breathed deep. Amy waited for him until he was ready to talk about it.

"We were kind of left out. When dad heard about the Madrigals, he was angry. But when he found out that we were somehow involved with you, he was furious. Starting that day, the table only had three plates. Dad, Mom and Madison. They never really talk to me and Reagan anymore except Madison. Though she rarely gets to talk to us too because Dad and Mom separated her from us. They did everything to make us feel like outcasts except..." His voice faded.

Amy gave him a hug as they still swayed. Hamilton Holt may be big but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a heart. She knew how it felt to be an outcast but to be treated like that by your family? That's got to be triple of what she felt.

"...Except kick us out of the house. Even my Holt trainers were gone. Sometimes, I just want to get out of there."

Amy patted his back as she saw tears in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Ham, but you can't do that. It's just not right." she said.

"I know, Amy. I know." he sighed. "Let's just hope that Mom can influence Dad just a little bit."

Amy chuckled. "Influence? I can imagine your Mom, beating your Dad up."

Hamilton laughed. Amy smiled then laughed along. After a few minutes of dancing with Hamilton, she saw Fiske walking closer to them. He tapped on Hamilton's shoulder and flashed a smile. Getting the message, Hamilton faced Amy.

"Thanks, Amy." Hamilton said as he bowed slightly to her and gestured towards Fiske.

Fiske bowed and offered his hand to her. She took it with a smile. He was her guardian. He was only her uncle but he became like a father to her. He looked over them since the start of the clue hunt, where it all began.

"So how are things, Fiske?" she began.

"Fine. Everything's fine. Just relax. I'll immediately tell you if something's wrong." he replied.

"Well, I just can't help it. It's supposed to be my responsibility and you're the one who's doing it!"

Fiske laugh. "Sometimes I feel that you're older than me, worrying about everything. Don't worry. Again, if something happens, I'll tell you. Besides, life became better with the Vespers gone."

Fiske immediately regretted mentioning the Vespers. He saw the sadness in Amy's eyes. She looked down between them and all Fiske could do was just hold her as they swayed. Finally when she looked up at Fiske again, he couldn't help but note the tears in her eyes that were dreading to fall.

"Any news?" she simply asked.

Fiske knew what she was talking about and this was one of the things he was afraid of. He doesn't know how she would always react. Sometimes she would just simply nod and stare into nothing. Sometimes she would have a meltdown and tears would start to flow. And he hoped that would not happen now.

"Amy, you know what I'm going to answer to that question." he said.

"But I just want to be sure." she reasoned.

"Amy..."

"Nothing? Really nothing?"

"I'm sorry, Amy, but there's nothing."

Amy just nodded and said. "It's okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being like this."

Fiske could see the disappointment in her eyes. She had a sad smile on her face as she wiped a tear that escaped from her eyes. Fiske pulled her close to him. He wrapped his arms around her. She felt safe in his arms. She felt herself starting to calm down. After, she looked back at Fiske who was clearly worried about her.

Suddenly, they heard a pair of familiar voices.

"Ugh! Cut it out, Nellie! I don't want to dance again!" They heard Dan said.

"Oh, just do it! It's only once in a lifetime!" Nellie shot back.

"No! I won't do it!"

"Come on! You only live once! Now go!"

They saw Nellie pushing Dan through the crowd towards them.

"Fiske, step away! It's Dan's turn!" Nellie shouted.

Fiske grinned. He gave Amy a look then stepped to the side. Nellie then gave Dan one last push. He ended up holding Amy. Dan groaned.

"Oh, Dan! Am I really that bad?" Amy asked him.

"I'm tired! I don't want to dance anymore!" Dan pouted.

"Don't be such a big baby! How are you going to survive your prom then?"

Dan just stared at her blankly. She knew what he was thinking. At least, she thinks so.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine." she replied.

"Okay, if you say so."

Amy took a good look at her baby brother. He had grown taller, about an inch above her and she was wearing high heels. She could see a thin layer of hair under his chin. Though his hair was still as ruffled as before. She realized he wasn't her baby brother anymore. He was a grown man. She hoped so because she was sure he was still the same naughty kid inside.

"I'm sorry." she said.

"Apology accepted. Can I have my wallet back now?" he asked.

Amy suddenly remembered she confiscated his wallet a while ago.

"I'll give it to you later. It's in my bag." she said. "But that's not what I was trying to say. You know what I meant."

Dan did know what she meant. He knew she doesn't really want to do those things but it just comes naturally. He knew she was trying her best to get over it. To control herself and her emotions. Especially when you lose someone you love.

Basically, everyone knows those two have a thing for each other except for them. They just keep on denying that they really like each other. At the end, Ian probably got the message but sadly, not Amy. She kept on denying and when he went missing, she realized it or maybe she didn't. Dan wasn't sure whether she did finally know or not but he knew somehow she felt something for Ian Kabra though he was a 'Cobra'.

Dan always felt uneasy towards that guy but with the Vespers, he had proven himself though sometimes he can't shake the feeling that Ian was maybe doing something or maybe hiding something. After all, once a Kabra always a 'Cobra'.

"Dan?" he heard her call his name.

"It's not your fault. It was never your fault." he replied.

"But I'm the reason why I'm like this. I can't let go."

"No. Yes. Well, no. Maybe yes."

Amy glared at him. "Not helping."

Dan smiled apologetically. "Sorry. But what I'm trying to say is that it's natural. Of course when you lose someone you love, you tend to miss them all the time. It's completely natural. You can't control those kinds of emotion. No one can."

Amy stared at Dan in shock. Sometimes, Dan just have these sudden outbursts of intelligence. She knows he is intelligent but not in these emotional situation, not always. It just feels weird because it was she who usually tells him these things not the other way around.

"Wow, Dan... That was really...really..." Amy still surprised.

"Don't push it." Dan groaned.

"That was really cheesy and sweet." Amy smiled.

Dan rolled his eyes and gave himself a mental face palm.

"Aw! My baby brother does have a sweet side!" Amy teased him.

"Ugh! It was not sweet!"

"Yes, it was!"

"No! It was... it was..."

"It was what?"

"Um...motivating?"

Amy laughed then pinched Dan's right cheek. "You're so cute!"

"Ouch! Stop it, Amy!"

Amy just laughed without releasing his cheek. "My baby brother is sweet!"

"I'm not a baby! And I'm not sweet!" Dan shouted.

Amy felt the eyes of some people on them. Her face felt hot in embarrassment. But it felt good teasing Dan. Stuck between two decisions, she heard someone call her.

"What are you doing, Amy?"

Amy quickly turned around, unconsciously releasing Dan's cheek. Dan immediately backed away with a hand on his cheek.

"See you later, Amy." he said then ran away.

Amy frowned as she saw Dan got away from her. Then she turned back to the man in front of her. She stared at him for a few seconds. The mask made it hard for her to recognize the man but he felt familiar. This familiar posture. Her eyes widened. She realized it was Jake.

Jake smiled when she saw her face softened. He bowed to her. "May I have this dance, miss?"

Amy chuckled slightly. "Why, yes, dear sir."

She then took his hand. She gasped when he suddenly pulled her close to him. Her arms around his neck while his hands on her waist. Her hands felt sweat against his neck. Her heart was beating wildly. She just hopes he can't hear it. Their eyes met. She wanted to look away but she found herself staring back at him. His eyes made her feel safe. He made her feel so comfortable and secure. When he's there, she never feels alone because he's there.

"Hey." His voice resonating in her ears.

"Hey." she replied.

He smiled. "You look wonderful tonight."

Amy blushed a little at his comment. "Thanks."

Silence fell between them. Amy blushed harder when she felt his unmoving eyes looking at her keenly. Suddenly, his eyes softened. She felt his body tensed against hers. His grip on her tightened.

"What happened? Are you okay?" he asked.

Amy looked at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't deny it. You cried."

She looked away. "I..I just remembered something."

"Is it him again?" he asked.

She just simply nodded without looking at him.

"Amy."

She didn't answer him.

"Amy, look at me."

She didn't move.

"Amy. Please look at me."

There was something in the tone of his voice that made her follow. She breathed a sigh as she found herself staring back into his eyes. She felt safe again but it can't mask the anxiety she was feeling. She doesn't know what was coming next but it frightened her somehow. Sometimes, she just wanted to run away but she can't. She made a promise. A promise to herself.

"Amy, he's gone."

"No."

"Amy, listen to me!"

"No! He's not!"

"Amy. Just please listen to me." His voice cracked at the end as he saw tears fall down her face. He slowly pulled her into a hug. He sighed as she didn't pull away. "He's gone, Amy. We did everything we can do. We found nothing. I'm so sorry, Amy, but there's nothing we can do."

"Can't we just talk about something else?" she asked in a muffled voice.

"I'm sorry, Amy. We can but we'll always come back to this conversation unless we end it right now."

"Why? Why does this all have to happen?"

"I don't know. I don't know but you've gotta let go!"

"I can't."

"Amy, just let it all go.

"I can't. I see him everywhere. I can see signs and memories of him. I just can't."

Jake felt like vomiting. She really did love him but he's got to take his jealousy issues to the side. He needed to help her. He needed to help his love.

"Amy...I...I..." He can't seem to find the proper words to say. He held her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "You know what? What you need is a drink. Just stay here and I'll get you a drink, okay?"

Amy just stared at him blankly.

"Okay, Amy?" he asked as he shook her a bit.

"Okay." she said in a whisper.

She saw him walk and disappear through the crowd. It felt awkward standing alone in the dancing floor but she didn't care. She felt nothing. Her body was numb and so was her heart. She completely felt nothing. She doesn't know what to do nor what to think.

Suddenly, the music stopped and a voice rang out the room.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We shall start the highlight of the evening. Exchanging gifts. You are all aware of the bands that you are wearing, I suppose. Find your partner among the crowd and exchange gifts and some greeting. You might like what you find. As to how you will find your partner, I'm afraid you'll all have to find out by yourselves. Thank you and let the searching begin!"

With that, people started to scatter and find their own partners. Amy watched as people passed by her, asking her. But she just stood there. Somehow her legs felt heavy like she was stuck to the ground. So she just simply waited until her partner found her. After several minutes, people were still shuffling across the room trying to find their partners.

Amy still stood there, waiting, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She found herself in front of a young man, around her age. He was several inches taller than her. He has black hair that was pulled to the back. He was wearing the usual black suit and bow tie, making his blue eyes stand out especially, since the lights were a bit dimmed.

"Hello." he said in a deep voice.

"Hi." Amy replied.

"Amy Cahill, I presume?"

"Yes." She looked at him expectantly. She wasn't sure if she met him before. Though he was wearing a mask and it's easy to mistake him for someone but there's something about him that is awfully familiar to her. "Have you met?"

The man smiled. "I believe we haven't."

"Then how did you..."

"Well, you are the Madrigal leader. Of course, everyone knows you."

Amy blushed a little at the comment. "I don't think so."

"Oh, you've got to believe me. Anyway, can I ask you for a dance?"

"Um...well..."

"Please. Just this once."

Amy bit her lower lip and nodded. He flashed a lovely smile that somewhat triggered a feeling inside her. Butterflies started to flutter in her stomach. When he took her hand, she felt electricity course through her body. Her heart beat fast.

When he pulled her close to his body, Amy closed her eyes and bit her lip to prevent a moan from escaping. The way he held her teased her over the edge. She opened her eyes and saw bright blue eyes looking at her through the mask. Her heart almost stopped. Such intensity like he just lost her. Like he knew her so much.

"Are you sure we haven't met before? Because you look familiar to me."

"Wow, I'm flattered. The great Madrigal Leader tells me I'm familiar."

Amy looked at him weirdly.

"What? I'm serious! I'm not being sarcastic or anything." he said.

"Well, you sound like it." Amy replied.

He pouted. "Well, I'm not."

Amy laughed. She didn't notice the sudden softness in his eyes. By the time she looked back at him, it was gone.

"I'm Leo, by the way." he introduced himself. "Tomas. Just if you were wondering."

"Amy." She smiled.

"I know." He smiled back.

She looked down at his figure. "Tomas?"

"Why?" he asked in confusion.

"Well, I just expected Tomas people to be, you know, big."

"What? Being a Tomas doesn't mean you need to be big! I'm offended."

Amy giggled. "I'm sorry."

After a few seconds, he replied. "Fine." Then he looked at his watch. "Your gift, by the way." He handed her a small paper bag.

Amy gasped. "I'm sorry. Can you just wait here? I left the gift in my seat!"

Leo just chuckled and shook his head. "No. It's okay. I'm sorry the lift is waiting for me." He bowed slightly to her without breaking eye contact. "'Til we meet again."

He flashed that familiar smile again. Amy waved at him and shouted. "Thank you."

He saluted to her with a finger before disappearing through the crowd. She looked at the paper bag in her hands. She opened it and found a rectangular box inside. She opened it and she almost dropped it. A gasp left her lips. It was her pen. It was a Parker with her name engraved on it and there's the scratch after her name. She never forgot it because it was given to her by Dan as a birthday gift, sort of. She lost it when they were having their finals and she never saw it from then on.

She tried to look for him but he was nowhere to be found. She frowned.

"I'm sorry the lift is waiting for me."

She thought. Lift? Isn't that British?

Thank you to whoever pointed out my grammar errors. I'll try to correct them. So if you guys ever find any errors, please tell me so that I can correct it.

Thank you for the lovely reviews again! Please review! :)

*Editing is really tiring especially when there's a lot of errors. I'm not changing my writing style, guys, because I'm too lazy. I'm just checking for grammatical errors and inconsistencies which I have a lot. If I changed my writing style, it would take up most of my time and I wouldn't have the patience to finish it too.