Dear Gentle Reader, the current trip to Berlin got This Author in an obsessive behavior of walking too many steps per day, which made it way too hard to write everyday. But nevertheless I am still here to deliver this new chapter to you and soon enough I will be back to my beloved Vienna to continue satisfying our common needs each day. This Author as sure are many of you, have been left mesmerizingly terrified while still excited for the second part of the series after short snippets we were given not that long ago. This story though is based only on my imagination of how things might go, or shall I say I would like them to process.

With all of that, I wish you a delightful read.

Time has frozen. It seemed Eloise was walking to them in slow motion.

Step. Dear Lord, why does she look at them so fiercely?

Step. Is she planning to tell him now? It's not midnight yet.

Step. It felt like Penelope's heart going to stop right there and then.

Step. It almost looks like Eloise is not really mad. Is it curiosity? Is that a regret in her eyes or is a forgiveness?

Step. She heard Colin say something

*blurred "What…?" somewhere on the background. She felt a pull on her arm*

Step.

Heart stopped.

Eloise is saying her greetings.

Penelope forgot how to breath. She feels like fainting. It was so hard to breath.

"Pen, are you okay?" Colin looked really concerned. Deep worried eyes were looking at her with such concern. He held her hand close to his heart. She was in too deep, in too deep with her own thoughts.

"What's wrong?" Eloise also was looking worried now, while Pen felt completely paralyzed, when suddenly something awoke her. Was that…? Was he…? He hugged her. Warm embrace was the one thing that actually did bring her back to her senses.

"Sorry, I simply got lost in my thoughts." She managed, clearing her throat.

"You looked so pale, we were worried for you for a moment there, Pen." Colin said still holding her hand near his heart.

"Can we talk? Alone?" Eloise asked, not even waiting for Penelope to reply to last comment. Shame and care mixed in her glare.

"Sure, sure, yes." Pen quickly answered, nodding at Eloise. She reassuringly smiled at Colin, noticing he hardly wanted to let go of her hand. She simply squeezed his hand a bit and added "We will be a moment."

And they left the ballroom, straight though the corridor, to the left. Eloise was leading, while Pen willingly following, prepared to be destroyed with her own happy ever after.

"You told him." Eloise said. Was it a question, or a statement indeed? – Penelope thought.

"Are you asking or…?" Penelope was so confused and lost, still getting over last few minutes.

"Yes. Of course I'm asking. We have an agreement. Did you tell him or should I?" This pressure awoken sudden feel of self-esteem in Penelope, which switched her inside feeling of value in seconds.

"I am completely aware of your ultimatum. It's not midnight yet." Penelope's back straightened, voice sounded too confident now, which set Eloise a bit aback.

"It's not an ultimatum. We both agreed he needs to know..." Eloise started to say.

"I never said it. You set the rules, that you well know will destroy any kind of future, we could've had with Colin. You threw me a ticking bomb, Eloise. But, yes, answering your question, yes, I will tell him. I am well aware I have time still, though. So don't go taking my last happy moments from me." Penelope was hurt and mad at the same time. Finishing her little speech, she turned to leave.

"Pen… No, Pen wait." Eloise grabbed her hand to stop her, but Penelope just pulled her hand away and asked.

"What now? Decided it wasn't enough? What now you want me to tell everybody?"

"Pen…" That indeed sounded pleading now.

"I am tired. I am so tired for your envy. I always was there for you. I always wanted you to be happy. I don't deserve this. I don't deserve any of this, Eloise. You went too far. But if you must know, I will tell him, even if it means being buried alive, because that's exactly how it will feel for me." Penelope's words really got to Eloise now, was she ruining her friend's life? Was it envy indeed? Did she overstep in concern for her brother?

"I'm sorry. Please, wait a moment. Listen." Eloise started and somehow it worked. Pen stopped. Half turned she let Eloise continue without saying a word. A silent permission to speak was given.

"I am truly sorry. Maybe that is wrong of me. After all I still care about you. But you must understand… He's my brother. I want him to know. Isn't what we read together in all of those books, Pen? Trust and truth they go together. You cannot marry a person while keeping such a big secret from him. What do you think will happen if he finds out from somebody else?" "I care about you, Pen. I was mad. I am mad at you for keeping this from me. But I truly indeed want you to be happy. But I care about him too. And I can't let him go through the same confusing feeling as did I. Surely you must understand."

Did it truly make sense or was Penelope delusional? Of course, Colin deserved to know. But why did it still feel like Eloise wanted to ruin her? To ruin her the way Pen did to her friend last season.

"I will tell him. Tonight. Don't you worry about it for a second, dear friend." Heavy feeling on their hearts became so much heavier now. For both of them.

And with that Penelope left. Running through the corridors, like in a hedge maze. Ballroom. Here he is. Talking to Kate and Anthony. Now. Now's the time. She walked slowly, almost tiptoeing to them.
"Colin…" She started.

"There you are, I was afraid you might miss our first dance of today." He sounded cheerful, while sparks of concern still were visible in his blue eyes.

Invitation to dance indeed took Penelope by surprise. "Dance? But I…"

"Will you do me an honor and dance with me, Pen?" He handed her his hand, waiting for her answer.

"Sure thing, my Lord." And they went to the floor. The dance was beautiful. Never did they take their eyes from each other. After each turn eyes were looking for familiar view like the strongest magnet ever made. They didn't need any words to fill the silence. Just the idea of being close felt more than enough.

As soon as dance ended, she took a step closer to him, almost too close for society's liking. Deep breath and she said "There's something I must tell you."

"There's something I like to share with you too. We should find less crowded place. Follow me." What was so important that he wanted to share with her? She finally had a courage to tell him, and every time something got in a way. But less crowded place surely was a great idea after all. She followed him, leading her outside to the backyard. Fresh air felt like heaven on her hot skin.

And the he stopped. It was so hard to see his eyes in this dark, but she was sure she felt him shake. "Colin…"

"No." He took a deep breath looked up at her and there she saw a slight fear… was it a reflection or his own fear, in his voice, in his glance? "No, let me go first."

"Okay. Yes. What is it?" She was a bit scared herself now. Not for her own secret, but for the whatever thing that got him so insecure.

And he kissed her. Why did it feel like a goodbye? Was it her perspective or he already knew?

Suddenly just as quickly as he started the kiss, he ended it. They both were breathless. Intoxicating love can do it to you – she thought. "Pen," he started, his hand on her cheek, touching her carefully, almost ghostly "you are my best friend."

The shock on her face couldn't convey even half of the feeling she felt, hearing that. Back to friends? Was he regretting everything… every moment they shared, was it all a game?

Her mouth opened as he continued "I never have thought that we could be more than friends." A regret indeed – she thought. She closed her eyes in a painful bliss. "I don't know how or when … But I know that it changed." Her eyes flew open, mouth trying to form an Oh involuntarily. "It didn't change. It grew and I cannot be more grateful for that. I simply want you to know that what I am offering… what I feel… is much more than that. I hope you feel the same way." Smile started to appear on Pen's pale face. "I am so grateful for you, Pen. I think this is exactly what I have been looking for all those years in my travels." Penelope was mesmerized now, while Colin was holding on for the last drops of air saying those words. "All those years, I was writing to you and I cannot believe I was so blind to not notice what has been so near all this time." He looked down and the suddenly looked up deep into her soul, it felt crystal thin, invisible like air, and powerful like an unannounced tornado. "I realized recently something important that I want to share with you, because truth to be told, I think it's your prerogative to know." That caught her breath away. "I love you, Penelope. I am in love with you."