A/N: Hello everyone and here's the next chapter I promised I would upload. It's long, quite long. Now I read the reviews and I will put like a cheat sheet on all the Phantoms' and their wives/lovers probably put it next after this chapter. I'll think of how to arrange for you guys and will upload it either tomorrow or the next day.

So I hope you guys enjoy the chapter and I will try and upload the next one very soon.

Chapter 34: A Dance

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Meg asked as she sat down next to Christine. The celebration had gone on for a few hours now and there was no sign of it dying it.

"Very much." Christine answered. "I'm glad you told me to come."

"You're welcome." Meg said proudly. "Have you seen Erik at all?" She asked, making Christine shook his head.

"No I haven't. In fact, I don't think I've seen him since yesterday. I know he's been basically avoiding me since the day with the bath tub." Meg's eyes narrowed.

"What with the bath tub?" She asked. Looking at her friend, Christine wondered if she should tell Meg.

"It's nothing really. We just…shared a bath together." Meg's eyes widen as her mouth dropped. Apparently to her, it wasn't 'nothing really'.

"You shared a bath with Erik?" Christine nodded. "As in no clothes, in a tub at the same time?" Again, she nodded. "Why the bloody hell didn't he tell me? Nach math àrdanach rag-mhuinealach ...(that no good arrogant stubborn…)" Meg went off, making Christine laugh. "When I get my hands on him…" She groaned. Christine couldn't help but laugh and almost feeling bad for when Erik will see Meg. "Anyway…alright, I want all the details." Christine was always wondering how she would switch that quick. She certainly would need to get stories from Mackay before she leaves.

"There's really not much to tell. We shared a bath together, he washed me…then we just laid or sat there, however you put it." Glancing away, her mind recalled the memory of that day. The feeling of his arms around her, skin against skin…how gentle his touch was. "It's something I will never forget."

"And I'm sure getting a glimpse of his body was a plus." Meg winked, making Christine blush. Yes, that was a plus. She would never forget how he looked and the feeling of that hard muscular body against hers.

The sound of the music picking invited the crowds to join and some to dance. Standing up, Christine walked over to watch as people began to dance to the music. Watchers sometimes clapped to the beat or cheer on the ones dancing. A Scottish yell was quite different from most and could be recognized anywhere. As the music picked up, so did the dancing. Her eyes watched the movement of the women's dresses, the distance between the ground the feet of the people at how high they could lift their feet. It almost made her want to try and dance, but she didn't know any of the steps. She would only be able to watch and wish she was dancing.

"Christine, come dance to this one." Meg took her arm and practically dragged her out with the other people as the music started to change to another song.

"I don't know the steps." She tried protesting, but Meg wouldn't let her go.

"They're simple." She began to show Christine the steps as Christine watched and tried to copy them. One has to be very coordinated with oneself to dance this and have very good balance. Attempting again, she was slightly getting it. "You're getting it."

"Barely, I'm afraid." She sighed. "Perhaps I should just watch."

"No you won't. You will dance and have a good time. I will not have my best friend be by herself." Shaking her head, Christine tried again. Each time, she got it and better. "See? You're getting it." Smiling, she was getting it. Suddenly the music changed and a few men joined in. Mackay came over to Meg, taking her hand before starting the dance. Just as Christine was about to walk away since clearly this was a partners dance, a hand took hers. Looking up, she saw Malcolm.

"Malcolm!" She smiled, happy to see him.

"May I have this dance?" He asked.

"Of course you may." She answered, smiling at him. As they danced, Christine couldn't help the smile on her face. At this point, she didn't care who was watching or if anyone would object. She was having fun dancing with Malcolm and no one, not even Erik could ruin this for her.

Finally making his way through the crowd, he was starting to regret his decision to come to the celebration. At first, he was planning on hiding away until the celebration was over. However, after a talk with Tor, Erik decided to show his face. Skipping the meal, he ventured out to where the music and dancing was taking place. Walking through the crowds, his eyes glanced towards the dancing. He stopped when he saw Christine dancing…dancing with Malcolm. A surge of jealousy ran though him. What is with you? She's not yours! She can dance with whoever she wants! He tried telling himself that, but it wasn't working.

"Ah look who finally showed up." An arm hung across his shoulders as MacGregor greeted his fellow warrior.

"Sod off, Arrow." Pushing MacGregor's arm off, he watched Christine dance.

"Aw come on, Phantom. Lighten up." He slapped Erik's arm. Rolling his eyes, Erik tried to ignore MacGregor which was usually hard.

"I'd watch it, Arrow. Erik hasn't been in the best of moods lately." Seten commented.

"Sod off the both of you." Arrow rolled his eyes, mumbling something in Gaelic. "I heard that." His head turned towards the younger warrior. "Just because you have a godlike face, doesn't mean it's protected from my fists." Erik threatened. Though women loved it, MacGregor hated his godlike face with his tawny locks that could rival a lion's and green eyes.

"Let it go, Phantom." Seten said to the warrior. "It ain't worth it." Erik glanced at his partner, knowing he was right. Though it would feel good, he already was on Tor's bad side. Turning away from the handsome warrior, he looked back at the woman who was slowly capturing his heart.

With the song ended, Christine thanked Malcolm for the dance as she left the space considered the dance floor. The song had changed to a much slower dance and Christine needed a moment from the dance. She didn't realize dancing could be like a workout. Off the dance floor, she let out a breath.

"Surely the princess has danced before." Looking up, a woman by the name of Janet Lamont, wife of Ewen Lamont who could out hunt any man or beast.

"I have, but not quite like this. Dances in London are a bit…different." Christine answered.

"I gather they are." Glancing around the crowd of people, Janet noticed Erik in the crowd. "I see Erik finally made an appearance." Christine looked out, finding him almost right away.

"Does Erik dance?" Christine asked Janet, making her shake her head.

"No, he doesn't. And no one can persuade him to dance. Rhona has even tried and failed. At this point, we all gave up hope on trying to get him to dance." Janet explained.

"Why do you want him to dance?" Christine asked.

"There is this dance that has been sort of a tradition here. All the warriors and their wives, or their woman if they unmarried, dance together. They form a large circle and dance around a woman in the middle. She first will dance with her husband and then man opposite. After they circle her again, she dances with two other men before it's another woman's turn." Janet explained as Christine listened with interested. "There's a sort of order or ranking as you might call it."

"A ranking?"

"Aye. You see, all the warriors have a certain ranking."

"I see. I know Tor is the chief."

"Aye he is, so his wife would go first."

"And then whoever the second in command's wife goes?" Janet nodded.

"After all the women go, it is the men's turn."

"It sounds like fun dance."

"Oh it is, Christine. It's a shame Erik has never joined the dance." Christine glanced as the masked warrior.

"Yes, it is a shame." Looking at him, she wondered why he never danced. Maybe he wasn't good at dancing, or may he was. However, it was hard to imagine such a warrior dancing around. Though it would be something she would have love to see.

When the music stopped, Christine could hear someone shouting something over the chatter. It mustn't have been something bad since no one was in a panic. Instead, everyone cleared the dance floor. She wondered if that dance that Janet was talking about was about to happen. Sure enough, all the warriors and their wives walked out onto the dance floor. All, but one. All eyes glanced at the masked warrior, waiting to see if maybe he'll dance this time. Everyone watched as he walked through the crowd, not giving any indication if he was going to dance or not. Christine watched him, noticing that he was getting closer and closer. He stopped when he stood next to her, not saying a word. Her eyes glanced up at his, wondering what he was doing. All eyes kept on him, still hoping this time would be different. His eyes glanced down at hers, locking with them.

"Dance with me?" He asked softly. Christine's mouth parted, more surprised that he was dancing her to dance with him than the fact that he was going to dance.

"Of course." She answered. She saw the hint of a smile as his hand rested on the curve of her back, leading her onto the dance floors. Gasps left people's mouths as Erik and Christine took their place in the circle. The conductor signaled the musicians and they started to play. Now she was panicking; she didn't know this dance. After a bow, they danced around in a circle one way and then the other way twice. Christine was trying to predicted what the next move was, though she wasn't expecting Erik's arm to wrap around her waist at one point. Glancing at what everyone was doing, she knew she looked so lost and unsure of what to do. Erik didn't give her any hint of what to do. Just go with it. You are dancing with Erik…

She remembered what Janet said about everyone dancing around one person in the middle, starting with the women first. Sure enough, Tor's wife was first. Watchers cheered on her name as she danced in the middle before first dancing with her husband and then the man across. She wondered who would be next, well whoever is the second in command's wife. As Tor's wife was finishing, Christine glanced around to see who would be next.

"You're turn, Christine." Erik said, making her eyes widen.

"Wait, what?" No time to get a reply, Erik gently pushed Christine out into the middle. With a deer in headlights look, she stood there for a moment as they circled around her.

"Dannsa! (dance!)" Meg shouted out, somehow snapping Christine out of it. Remembering some of the steps she learned earlier, she decided to do that as they all circled around her. When they stopped, she was facing Erik. Dancing first with him and then another warrior, she was remembering what Tor's wife did. After the first round, they circled her again as she danced in the middle. After two mare dances with two more men, her turn was up and she went back to stand Erik and MacSorley whose wife went next.

Remembering that Janet said it goes by rank, she realized that Erik was second in command if she went after Tor's wife. Glancing at him, she couldn't believe that he had that much power. Though she knew every respected him and now she knew why. That meant if something had to Tor or he decided to retire, Erik would become Chief. She still didn't know of what exactly, but she was determined to find out.

"You did well." Erik's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"I am still new to this dancing." She said to him. He only nodded as to they had to circle around Meg. A few men cheered Meg as she danced, making her smile and giggle. During her turn, she ended up dancing with her. Though Christine would normally be jealous of another woman dancing with him, she knew Meg's relationship with Erik and had no fear at all. And technically, Erik didn't belong to Christine. However, he almost seemed to making some sort of claim on her. It would be interesting to see how they all treat her now, though she knew Rhona might hater her even more now.

As each woman danced, Erik would tell Christine who they were and who their husbands were. She had known a few from talking with them earlier, but the others she didn't know. Like Anna Campbell who is married to Arthur Campbell whom Erik said is one of the best scouters in all of Scotland, almost could Ewen Lamont, Janet's husband, a run for his money. The last woman to dance was Mary who was Kenneth Sutherland's wife and also Janet's sister. With all the women finished dancing, it was the men's turn and first was Tor. As he dancing, Christine was amazed that such a man could dance. Many cheered him on as he danced. When Tor was finished, it was Erik's turn. It seemed the who camp cheered and yelled during his turn. Christine couldn't help but smile as he danced. Dancing first with her, she noticed a bit of a smile as he danced with her and many of the warriors noticed it, as well as their wives. After Erik finished, next was MacSorley, followed by MacGregor, Mackay, MacLean, Lamont, Campbell, MacRuairi and Sutherland. So this is the ranking among the warriors? Christine kept track of who went in the ranking. When all the men finished, they repeated the movements at the beginning. Christine remembered those steps and danced along with Erik. As the music stopped, her foot decided to trip over her other. Thankfully, Erik was quick and was able to catch her before she would have fallen. Pulling her up, he had pulled a little closer to him than he had intended. Slowly her eyes made their way up to lock with his, her lips slightly parted. Their mouths just inches from each other, their bodies practically against each other. They just stood there, ignoring what was happening around them. For a moment, Christine thought he was going to kiss he for he had leaned in slightly. Tilting her head back slightly as if waiting for the kiss, but it never came. He pulled away like he was forcing himself to pull away from her. Stepping back from her, she noticed the pained look in his eyes. He was about to say something but didn't and turned away to walk away, disappearing into the crowd. Standing there for a moment, she was both confused a little hurt at his actions. Pursing her lips together, she went after him. Too many times she had let him walk off with an explanation, but not this time. This time, she would get him to talk to her no matter what.

First dance goes to Christine, that truly does say something, doesn't it? We finally get them interacting again : D

Interested to know what will happen now, find out soon

Reviews are welcome : )