Originally, this was posted all at once. I broke it into chapters.
Chapter Two, Secrets: Simply Ballroom 2
The next morning, Jess walked into the hub and did a double take. The hub appeared to be doubling as a dance floor. Abby and Connor were jitterbugging, not exactly ballroom, but it was cute. Emily was waltzing, but not with Matt. She danced in the arms of a technician. Matt had his arms crossed, leaning against a desk, smiling as he watched. Lester was in his office, on the phone and looking displeased. '
Matt saw her approach. "You've started something. I hope you're pleased with yourself," he said with a grin.
"I don't know if I am, yet. I reserve the right to postpone that decision until after the dance," she said.
"Becker giving ya a hard time?"
"He's alright," she said simply.
Matt responded with a questioning glare.
"Jess!" cried Connor. "I want to wear a top hat. Tell Abby I can wear a top hat. A big stovepipe one, like Lincoln. Oh, and I want one of those long coats that cover your bum."
"A coat with tails?" asked Jess. "Really? I wouldn't have thought you'd like anything so formal."
"I'll look brilliant. I can't wait. This is going to be brilliant. I want to do a sexy dance. Don't you want a sexy dance, Abby?"
"This your idea, Jess?" asked Abby, her voice low and kind of accusing.
Jess smiled. "We're going to have a great time."
"Indeed," said Emily. "I do miss dancing."
"You know, if Matt doesn't want to dance, there are people there by themselves who will be your partner," said Jess. "Actually, they'd be fighting over you," she said with a wink.
Emily smiled, confidently. "Matt will dance." She approached Matt and draped her arm around his shoulder. "He will dance," she stated to no one in particular, as Matt looked on with amusement.
"Miss Parker!" boomed Lester's voice. "Would you explain to me why my wife is currently spending hundreds of pounds, dear Lord I hope it's only hundreds, on a dress she will never wear again, if I have anything to say about it, and why I'm going to wear a tuxedo this evening when I should be home behind the telly with a wine glass in my hand?"
"It's fun."
"Oh, jolly good. It's fun. By all means let's all get dressed up like rejects from a television reality show and jump around like dying beetles. Yes, that the ticket!" He looked at Jess and sneered. "You're fired, by the way," he said to Jess as he walked away. He yelled over his shoulder, "If you lot think you're getting off work early to get dolled up, forget it!"
"Don't worry," said Jess. "I know just the place to get everything you need: dresses, shoes, tuxes, any kind of dance wear. We can stop by on the way home."
Abby frowned. "I am not wearing high heels, or a short, feathered, sequined dress. I am not."
"That's fine Abby. Anything goes anymore. We'll find you something that's you." she said with a smile.
Jess hadn't seen Becker yet, and it was nearly noon. She hoped he hadn't gone back into being angry. She also hoped Connor and Matt weren't ribbing him too much. She decided to tiptoe into the armory and check on him. The scene that greeted her had her nearly running to commit herself into a psychiatric ward.
Connor was in Matt's arms and the two were dancing around the armory.
"That's good Matt, nice and fluid. Watch his feet, good," said Becker, "You don't want to step on Emily's feet. Long strides, legs together. Connor, long strides, you're not, hold it... you're going to..."'
Connor's feet tangled with Matt's and they fell to the floor.
"Trip," he said.
"This is bollocks!" yelled Matt.
"It's not my fault. You've got two left feet," said Connor.
"Okay," said Becker. "Let's try it again."
Connor whined, "I'm tired of being Emily. Why can't he be Emily?"
Jess was about to risk a step closer to see who Connor pointed to when she heard a voice.
"I'm the boss. I don't have to be Emily, ever and I am still planning on killing your girlfriend, Becker," said Lester's annoyed voice.
"She's not my girlfriend."
"She is most certainly your girlfriend," said Lester, "after getting us into this racket, she had better at least be your girlfriend. If I believed that we were making fools of ourselves out of mere friendship on your part, I would walk over there, take that large EMD, and shoot you right now."
Jess felt embarrassed. She had actually begun to think Becker fancied her, and here he was making a public denial.
"No one is twisting your arm Lester. Don't come, but let me make this clear. There will be no harassing Miss Parker or threatening her in anyway. You want to tease me? Go ahead, but leave her alone. One last thing, sir, whatever Miss Parker and I are to each other is none of your business." said Becker firmly.
Jess' heart beat fast. That didn't sound like a flat out denial, and Becker never talked to Lester like that ever.
"While I am glad to see you are a gentleman and protecting the girl, she is currently, not my favorite person, but I'd never hurt her. Secondly, ever talk to me like that again and you can hold hands with Miss Parker at the unemployment office." said Lester. "Now get over here and waltz with me. It's my turn."
Jess tried, honestly, not to burst out laughing. She was eavesdropping after all, and that was a good way to disclose your presence. She simply couldn't help it.
All four male heads snapped in her direction as Lester moved into view. They all looked mortified at being caught. Jess continued laughing, gasping for air, and trying to stop the giggles.
"I'm sorry," she said finally. "May I be of assistance?" she asked, walking in. "I could play Emily and let Connor have a break."
"Thank you," he said bowing to her. "While Jess dances with Matt, you can show me the samba, Becker."
"It's my turn Connor. I am not looking like a fool tonight. Becker teach me to waltz."
"Hang on," said Connor, and the two of them started to argue.
"Stop it!" yelled Becker. "Lester, watch Matt and Jess. Then you switch with Matt. Connor I'll teach you the Samba, but go and get Abby and Emily so they can dance too."
Connor nodded, and obeyed.
Lester turned to Jess. "It's your fault, you and all women. Why do you always want to dance?"
Jess chuckled.
Lester sighed. Then looked around. "Where are all your men?
"Training hard. Keeping up their reflexes and military skills," said Becker.
"Paintball?" asked Matt as he and Jess waltzed by.
"Paintball," admitted Becker.
"Oh, glad to hear it. Good job," said Lester. "We're in here dancing the day away, while our security forces play paintball. Won't the minister be pleased?"
Somehow they survived the practice at the Arc. Becker had picked his mother up and they were waiting inside the foyer of the ballroom building. Becker paced.
"You do that a lot, honey," said his mother.
"Only since you've made me come here."
"I made you?" she asked pleasantly, but with a raised eyebrow.
Becker smiled. "Yes, by being a perfect mum. I'd do anything for you, including public humiliation."
"I thought you were enjoying yourself. You seemed to be, since Jess joined us."
Becker glared.
She smiled and chuckled. "When are you going to give up this charade and admit," she came closer to him and whispered, "that you like Jess Parker, and far more than as a friend?"
He smirked. "When are you going to get dad to be your dance partner?"
"That's completely different. Your father's an idiot. You are only half an idiot."
The doors opened and in walked a small group of people. Becker introduced his co-workers to his mother, dodged the killer glare of Lester, complimented Emily and Abby on their attire, and shook his head in amusement at Connor. He got his stove piped hat. As the chatter died down the blood drained out of Becker's face.
Jess was not there.
"Easy, Becker," said Abby, grinning. "Jess is outside. Her heel broke so she's changing shoes."
"She has back-up shoes?" asked Matt.
Becker laughed. "Doesn't surprise me. Mum, will take them in? I'll get Cinderella."
Becker heard humming as he reached her car. The car door was open. Jess sat on a seat strapping one silver sparkling shoe lace up her legs.
'Those legs will be my downfall,' he thought to himself.
"You all right?"
"Hi!" she chirped happily. "Yes. My stupid shoe. Luckily silver goes with everything." She finished putting on the shoe and stood up. "How do I look?"
She was wearing sunny yellow. The skirt ended halfway up her thigh. It was tiered, and each tier composed of confetti-like fringe which shimmied as she moved. The top was simple, sparkly, low-cut but not raunchy, and ended in spaghetti straps on her shoulders. As promised she wore a bright orange tiger lily in her hair.
Becker took a moment to stare.
"How do you look, Jess?" whispered Becker. "Like you belong in the royal garden."
Jess blushed. "Wait. You didn't even ask why I have an extra pair of shoes."
Becker chuckled. He held her hand as they walked to the dance studio. "Let's see, why would Jess Parker have extra shoes in her car? She either just bought them, or decided they really didn't go with the outfit she bought them for after all, or was keeping them in case she ever found an outfit that complemented them perfectly, or..." he said, winking, "she's just nuts for shoes."
Jess smiled. She was surprised he was still holding her hand. They were alone in the car park so there weren't any male dancers to scare off.
They walked slowly, the gentle evening breeze playing with the dress confetti.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Fine. Good actually. I'm at a dance with the prettiest girl."
Jess blushed. "Stop it."
He cocked his eyebrow, "Do you really want me to?"
"No."
"I am very sorry about getting so worked up the other day, Jess. I'm glad you joined me and mum, and I'm even glad you brought the team all here."
"You are?"
"Yeah, because I've just realized something," he stopped, and faced her. "My life is a lot less boring and far more...sparkly," he said, looking at the crystals on her dress, "when you are around."
She smiled.
"I don't think I can take it anymore."
She looked up, "Take what?"
"My life, without you in it," he said, and he moved his head down. Jess' eyes grew when she realized what he was doing.
Their lips met in a sweet, gentle, easy kiss. Becker pulled back briefly, saw her smile, and put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He hoisted her slightly off the ground. This kiss was deeper and more passionate. It was needy.
They almost forgot why they were standing in the parking lot.
"Oi! You brought us here, now get in here and bloody dance!" cried Abby.
Becker and Jess broke apart, laughing. "We'll uh, continue this later?" asked Becker.
"Definitely," said Jess.
They both smiled, and hurried into the dance, holding hands.
End of Chapter Two