Friday December 18th, the day before the Christmas ball:
"Daddy, I know you probably had a long day but could you help us out please?" Paige asked as she walked into his study.
Ralph looked up from his paper and smiled.
"What do you need, pumpkin?" Ralph asked as he put the paper down.
"Walter is still having some problems with this one sequence of steps, I think the video might be throwing him off as the camera angle keeps changing. With the dance tomorrow I thought if you could move through it with me once it might better click for him." Paige explained.
Ralph smiled as he stood up.
"I think we can do that." Ralph stepped around the desk and walked with her to the den. He smiled seeing Walter blushing. "Don't feel bad Walter, dancing isn't as simple as it looks. I mean I watch you play chess and I think how simple, but then trying to counter you is a nightmare."
Walter laughed nervously.
Paige restarted the record player even as Ralph stepped up behind her. She smiled at Walter and winked at him as she took her Father's hands. As the music began Ralph took a step back followed by Paige. Walter stood transfixed watching them move seamlessly through the dance. His eyes watching and his mind calculating each movement.
"What do you think Walter?" Ralph asked as they came to the end.
"I think I understand it better." Walter told him as Paige stepped up to him. Ralph reached over and reset the record player as Paige took Walter's hands and then they watched as Walter nearly, flawlessly, reproduced what he saw Ralph do.
Ralph began laughing and clapping as they danced.
"Most impressive Walter, well done." Ralph clapped his shoulder as the song ended.
"What did I miss?" Megan asked as she walked in after trying on the dress for the final fitting.
"Walter was still having some problems but Daddy came in and helped him to see what to do." Paige told her.
Saturday December 19th, shortly before the Christmas ball:
Walter stood in the front room of his parents' house nervous. His Mom had already taken an entire roll of pictures of him in his tuxedo and Megan in the beautiful gown. Everyone was making a big ado over him and Megan. His Uncle Tobin especially was enjoying teasing him. And they were shocked at how easily Walter was taking it.
"Okay, that's enough. Leave my brother alone." Megan finally told them all. "We've got to go over to the Dineen's and go to the ball."
"You look so beautiful in that dress Megan." Louise nodded and grabbed the extra rolls of film.
"Not to mention much too old for a sixteen year old. That Marine better remember you are underaged and that he is married." Sean complained.
Megan just rolled her eyes even as they all left to go over to the Dineen's.
Paige greeted Walter as he knocked on the door. Louise was busy snapping pictures. Walter, reluctantly and with great nervousness in front of his family and her parents pinned the corsage on her beautiful gown. Megan smiled as Staff Sergeant Aaron Wilmore slipped a corsage on her left wrist as Louise took pictures of them. After about the fifth roll of film his Mother shot, Walter escorted Paige out to the SUV that her detail was waiting in. They were followed by Megan and Aaron.
A familiar face got out of the SUV's passenger side and just smiled at Walter. Walter was clearly shocked to see Cabe but Walter nonetheless opened the door and held it for Paige.
"You did good, kid." Cabe winked at him after he closed the door.
Cabe half turned in the front seat to look past Aaron and Megan and directly at Walter and Paige.
"Now remember son, there are a lot of dignitaries at this thing. And some of them have teen boys and it will be expected of Paige to dance a little with them. So I want you to be on your best behavior. Just remember, you asked her to go to this and she said yes to you, not them, so you don't have anything to feel jealous about. Okay?" Cabe reminded him.
Walter had frowned. He wasn't sure why but ever since Mr. Dineen had talked to him about it; he found the whole thing insulting but he slowly nodded.
To Walter and Megan's surprise as they pulled up outside of the Embassy it had begun to snow. Paige was thrilled to see the fluffy white flakes falling to the ground.
Walter stepped out of the SUV and walked around. He was a little distracted by the flash bulbs as the photographers covering the arrivals began snapping his picture. As he opened Paige's door the people moved in closer to see who was in the vehicle and instantly Cabe and another protection member stepped out and forced them to back away. Paige gave Walter a smile and winked at him before she slipped her legs out of the SUV and took his hand and stood. After linking her arm in his she paused and posed for a couple of pictures with him.
"Okay, we can proceed inside now Walter." Paige whispered without moving her lips. "A bit slower than we walked out to the car though, don't be afraid to smile a bit more if you enjoy being here with me."
Instantly a smile erupted on Walter's face and Cabe had looked back at the right time and saw it and he grinned, ticking his head.
"Boy, that kid has it bad. I wouldn't want Paige to be my daughter around him." Cabe whispered to his partner. His partner nodded and laughed as they followed along behind them.
Megan blushed prettily as the photographers were taking pictures of her with her escort.
Walter's stomach was flip flopping as they moved through the structure of the building to the large ballroom that had been lavishly decorated for the ball. Walter was a bit embarrassed as Paige made introductions that most of the people already seemed to know who he was.
"Don't sweat it Walter. They've all read my report, that's how they know you." Cabe whispered to him after he stepped up a bit closer to his back as they stood there and leaned into him.
Paige wasted no time getting Walter to dance and they enjoyed two songs before the first boy stepped up and asked for a dance.
Walter tried to act fine with it but all he really wanted to do was pull her tightly to him and say no.
"Don't worry Walter, you are the only one I see." Paige stepped in and kissed his cheek and ran her hand down his jaw on the other side before he left the dance floor.
Walter sat watching Paige as she danced with the young man and before the song was half over another young man stepped up and cut in. Walter looked to Cabe but Cabe just smiled and shook his head slightly. Walter sighed. He looked over and saw Megan dancing with Aaron and he was at least happy that she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Ralph and Veronica stood off a ways from where Walter sat, talking with some of the dignitaries when he saw Walter sitting there looking miserable.
"Excuse me, my love." Ralph whispered to Veronica and walked over and sat next to Walter.
"Sucks doesn't it son?" Ralph asked him quietly.
Walter nodded.
"You know, while I was so grateful to you for being there to protect Paige that day, I still wanted to hate you." Ralph told him.
Walter looked at him in shock.
Ralph nodded.
"I could see how your eyes were spinning for my little girl and more importantly I could see how hers were spinning for you. And not because you had been there for her. Something about the two of you just clicks. That is both a Father's greatest fear and desire at the same time for his little girl. Do you know if anyone else was to have come up to me and asked me to let them take her on a date at any age, let alone twelve, I would have handed them their backside. But I meant what I said to you Walter. I've grown to love you son, don't let this sour your spirit. She might enjoy dancing with these flakes, but there is only one person here who is making her flaky. And that's you." Ralph clapped his knee and stood up and walked out onto the floor.
He gently cupped Aaron's shoulder as he passed by him dancing with Megan and smiled at Megan. He stepped up behind the young man dancing with his daughter and perhaps with a bit more force than needed poked his shoulder. The young man looked back a bit annoyed but only saw Ralph's chest and his head slowly tilted up until he was looking up into Ralph's face. Ralph could almost see him swallow as he let go of Paige and stepped out of his way as Ralph cut in to dance with his daughter.
Paige grinned and smiled as he bowed to her and she curtsied back to him and they began dancing to a slow waltz.
"I think that is enough time apart for you two, young lady. Give Walter some more dances before accepting anymore of these yahoos." Ralph whispered to her.
"Thank you Daddy." Paige grinned as the song came to an end.
Paige ignored several boys who came over as she walked away from her Father and sat next to Walter. She saw one of them was walking slowly their way so she half turned and threw her hands around Walter's neck and kissed his cheek.
"Those boys dance okay but none of them are you Walter." Paige told him loud enough that the boy heard and seemed to rethink his decision before he moved off towards the refreshment table.
They sat for a couple of songs just enjoying holding hands and watching.
"Megan really looks like she is enjoying this." Paige said with a huge smile. Walter nodded even as he stood up.
"May I have this dance?" Walter asked as the band got ready to start the next song.
Paige grinned and nodded as she stood up. Walter copied the bow her Father had made to her and she giggled and curtsied to him before they began dancing.
Walter found the whole exercise intriguing. The mathematical expression of the music, the precise movement that the beat of the song called for gave him a lot to think about as they danced. All the while his eyes were lost in hers.
Cabe stepped up to Veronica who was watching her daughter truly enjoy the ball. She had fun at previous ones but now she was with someone she was actually connecting with and it made a huge difference for her.
"Excuse me Mrs. Dineen, but may I have this dance?" Cabe asked, suddenly shocking her back to the present.
"Well, of course, you are the first person besides my husband to ask me." Veronica smiled as he took her hand and walked with her to the dance floor and began dancing.
As they moved close to Walter and Paige, Cabe leaned over towards Walter.
"Relax son, you are too stiff." Cabe whispered to him.
Paige frowned at Cabe.
"Don't you worry about that, Walter you are doing a great job. Keep being you." Paige told him.
Walter nodded but now he was over thinking, trying to figure out how to relax. Each time he did he lost count of the rhythm and nearly stepped on Paige's foot.
Paige smiled and kissed his cheek before leading him off the dance floor and towards the refreshment table.
Megan and Aaron walked over to the couple as they left the floor.
"Walter, what happened? You were doing so good." Megan asked.
"Cabe happened, causing Walter to worry about looking stiff on the dance floor. Walter, you were doing fine before Cabe said that to you, so put it out of your mind. I like you for you, not for anything else." Paige told him after he gave her a cup of punch.
"Listen to Paige Walter, you were dancing well earlier." Megan told him.
"I have to agree with the ladies Walter, you were doing fine before you started thinking about it. Try your best to put it out of your head and do what you were doing before." Aaron told him.
Walter smiled as he considered their words when he thought of something Megan had taught him as a possible surprise for Paige.
"Excuse me for a minute Paige." Walter whispered.
Paige smiled and nodded. Then she watched him walk over to the band and began talking to the drummer and guitarist as they were taking a five minute break. They both began laughing and pulled the keyboardist over and talked to him and he nodded and shook Walter's hand. She watched as they had a quick conversation with the rest of the band and they all walked over and picked up their instruments as the guitarist stepped up the microphone.
Megan frowned, wondering what he was up to.
"This is a special request going out to someone very special." The guitarist said and then he did a quick shred on his guitar that sounded like a cat growling before the drummer began playing. Walter had jumped up on the stage and his foot and leg were keeping beat and Paige was trying to read his lips. She frowned as it looked like he was saying "Black Cat".
"Oh my gawd, he's doing it!" Megan nearly screamed in excitement.
"Doing what?" Aaron asked in a mix of concern and curiosity.
"You'll see." Megan told him even as she grabbed his hand and started moving around the floor to get a better spot.
The guitarist joined in playing and Paige gasped as Walter leaped off the stage and landed on the dance floor. The other instruments came in as they were playing Janet Jackson's "Black Cat".
Walter began pop locking the moves that Megan had taught him from Janet's video. Paige screamed in excitement as she began mirroring his moves as best she could. Ralph stood with the Ambassador grinning at Walter dancing across the floor making his way slowly through the people standing there staring at him as if he was insane. Moving ever closer towards Paige. Suddenly Megan let go of Aaron's hand and ran out and joined Walter and the two of them continued moving across the floor dancing towards Paige.
As they got closer to Ralph, Ralph stepped out on the dance floor with a scowl on his face and just as Walter was about to falter he began mimicking the moves Walter and Megan were doing and the trio continued to move across the floor towards Paige. Aaron shook his head but quickly moved out and joined them smiling the whole time.
Cabe and Veronica looked at each other and grinned before they began dancing with them all the while continuing to move as Paige was just laughing harder.
About ten feet to the end of the dance floor Paige ran out and began dancing with them. The seven of them formed a small circle and were having a great time laughing and dancing. Slowly the other kids began dancing along and it seemed to continue filtering out until even the Ambassador and his wife were dancing along.
The band was enjoying it so much that instead of stopping, they transitioned the song from "Black Cat" to "Miss You Much" and everyone broke up laughing and continued dancing. As the second song came to an end Paige jumped into Walter's arms and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Walter, that was the best thing ever." Paige told him and kissed him on the lips.
Cabe's eyes went wide and he turned and walked away just before Ralph cleared his throat. Megan grinned while watching them kiss and then frowned at Ralph for interrupting them.
Walter instantly broke the kiss a bit bashfully while Paige just glared at her Father.
"Now, I've been pretty tolerant of you two, young lady. The cheek is fine, pumpkin, keep the kiss there." Ralph told her with a smile.
Paige huffed at her Father and turned and walked away pulling Walter along behind her. Paige found a slightly quieter spot and sat down with Walter and they smiled at each other.
"That was really something Walter. I've never seen an Ambassador out on the dance floor before. Let alone dancing to Janet Jackson. Thank you." Paige told him again as they just sat there.
Walter smiled. For some reason his heart felt really warm but he wasn't sure why.
Paige looked around and saw most everyone seemed to be deep in conversations or dancing and she leaned over.
"Walter, have you ever heard of seven minutes in heaven?" Paige whispered into his ear.
Walter frowned but shook his head.
"Good. I have heard about it and I want to try it with you." Paige grinned and grabbed his hand before slipping off her chair and moving back behind some different decorations. She paused and looked about and pushed through a side door continuing to pull Walter along behind her.
After passing through several passageways and going through different doors they ended up in the Embassy garage.
"Where are we going?" Walter finally asked, a bit confused.
"Someplace a little more private and quieter." Paige told him before she opened the door to one of the Ambassador's cars.
Walter slid in behind her and Paige reached across him and closed the door. She paused even in the act of sitting back down. Her left knee was on the seat and she was half across Walter's body. She licked her lips as their eyes met. Walter swallowed even as he licked his lips. There was something about Paige's demeanor that had changed. She seemed more like a predator and she made him feel like he was her prey. He noticed it was making his breathing increase in respirations even as his stomach rolled a little and his heart began beating faster.
Megan sat smiling with Aaron. She was sipping the punch he had brought to her when she frowned. She looked around but didn't see Walter or Paige.
"Did you see where my brother and Paige went?" Megan asked Aaron.
Aaron frowned and shook his head.
"They were right over there when we were dancing that last dance. And my back was to them when I went to get the punch. Maybe one of the members of her detail knows?" Aaron answered.
"Paige?" Walter barely questioned nervously before her lips pressed into his. Walter felt her hand come up and touch his neck. Walter's eyes were closed as he enjoyed the feeling of her lips and hand touching him. His eyes opened as Paige's tongue pushed past his lips.
His right hand was on her hip as his eyes closed again enjoying the feeling of her tongue caressing against his. His eyes opened again as he felt her weight shift and her right leg came up and she was now straddling his lap. His left hand came up caressing along her right arm until it reached her neck and he cupped the back of her neck tenderly. His eyes closed again even as his right hand came down to feel her left thigh through her dress.
"Cabe." Megan called out as she walked over to him. Cabe looked over and smiled. "Where is Walter and Paige?" Megan asked.
Cabe frowned as he looked around. He reached up and touched his coms.
"Who has eyes on Cinderella?" Cabe asked.
He frowned as he got nothing but negatives back from all checkpoints.
"You stay here with Aaron, I'll go look." Cabe told her.
Both of their breathing was increasing as they continued kissing. Walter's right hand moved down and he felt her bare calf and mostly without realizing it, his hand was sliding back up along the flesh of her leg under her dress. Walter hadn't really touched Paige beyond hugs and holding hands and something about his palm on the outside of her bare thigh was causing him to feel like he was on fire.
Walter's eyes opened again as he felt the stirrings below his belt and it began causing him to panic. He remembered what Megan had talked to him about last weekend just in case something happened. He was trying to think of what Megan had told him if he wasn't comfortable and about how to stop things from going too far so he wouldn't embarrass Paige in case she was happy with what they were doing. His brain was overloaded with sensory information making it difficult to think clearly.
Paige moaned as Walter's hand was caressing her thigh and then realized how excited she was becoming. Then as she realized what she felt below her body, her eyes opened and they were staring into each other's eyes as their tongues froze in place. Paige was nearly captivated by the feelings and her desire to continue with Walter caused her to struggle as she put it in perspective.
"Maybe, maybe we better stop now. I think we might have spent more than seven minutes in heaven anyway." Paige whispered as she broke the kiss.
Walter nodded quickly.
"I'm not sure I want to but I think that might be a good idea." Walter told her.
Paige smiled as she reached over and hit the door release and pushed and the door opened just as Cabe stepped up outside of the car.
Cabe closed his eyes and shook his head.
"We weren't doing anything wrong, Cabe." Walter started. Cabe just held up his hand.
"I had wondered where you two ducked out too, I had just hoped it wasn't for something like this." Cabe said as he took Paige's hand and she slipped out of the car. Seemingly unaffected by his arrival.
Walter sheepishly slipped out of the car while trying to adjust his pants.
"Wait a minute." Paige said as she reached into the small purse that was on a chain around her waist and pulled a kleenex out. She smiled at Walter and wiped the more obvious signs of her lipstick off of him. "There." She said finally.
"Come on, let's try and get you back into the party without anyone noticing." Cabe told them. Cabe walked out before them and would gesture as they followed along until they got back inside of the ballroom.
They sat back down and Walter watched Cabe walk away but it was clear that Cabe was paying closer attention to them now.
"I hope Cabe doesn't tell Mr. Dineen." Walter felt extremely nauseous now.
Paige smiled and shook her head.
"He can't. Members of a protection detail can't discuss a protectee's behavior. It sets a bad precedent, and can lead to the protectee skipping out on the detail, if they feel like they are being spied on." Paige told him.
Walter breathed a bit easier.
"Merry Christmas Walter." Paige said dreamily to him.
"Merry Christmas Paige." Walter said and meant it for the first time in his life.
Greetings! I hope this finds you all well! So happy so many of you are really enjoying this story. It has really taken on a life of its own. At the moment it is choking out all the other stories so...We'll have to wait and see. There is 6 more chapters in this leg of the story, so that will take us into January when I hope to post my story Layla if I get the time to finish it. After that I'd hoped to get back to Knight's Tale and then a few chapters of Lady Knight and then back to this story. Right now I already had chapter 11-16 of this story written along with a number of later chapters. So all I can say is, hang on, it is going to be a ride!
RoMitri - Thank you! So glad you are enjoying it and that it is filling a niche you've been pinning for!
Railman - Thank you! And as you can see, Walter was doing good until Cabe had to open his mouth! lol
Sigrun - Aww, thanks! I think I'd have gladly worked for just room and board! lol
Carol - Thank you!
Cat - Thank you! As I've said many times now, this has easily been one of my favorite stories to write. So glad you are enjoying it!
Margaret - Thank you! Glad you love it! Well, as a US diplomat, Ralph and his family are potential targets of bad people in general, not to mention terrorists and so on. He knows Walter's picture will be taken and posted in the papers and they will of course do some research and find out who Walter is and that of course opens a door to potential danger. Forewarned is forearmed as the saying goes.
Guest - Thank you! So glad you are enjoying it! It definitely is endearing to me! lol
Susan - It certainly has been a lot of fun for me! lol So glad you have enjoyed it! I'm on the fence about being young again...I mean it sounds positive but...I think about how wishes go wrong in Lady Knight and I'm like...I foresee disaster in this. LOL
Dean - If you are reading this story too, I do hope to get back to the Secrets story line following the short 2 chapter Happy Secrets. I do plan to see them married as well as his parents visiting. I just have to wait until the story speaks loudly enough to write. Right now this story has all but consumed my time.
To the Adventure! -Tim