He followed her down to third class, and he could hear the bagpipes and drums as they came down the last flight of stairs. Awaiting them was a crowd of passengers surrounding a raised wooden platform, where several couples were dancing. Glasses of beer were being passed around, and there was laughter and clapping as the music played.
This was indeed a party.
Anna Marie bustled up the skirt of her dress, and disposed of her shoes, casting a glance at Max.
"You might wanna hang that coat up, otherwise it'll get dirty."
He hung his coat on a nearby chair, and rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt. When he looked up, Anna Marie took his hand and led him through the crowd, finding Kurt already on the platform with a redhead, having a dance.
Kurt caught sight of his sister, and grinned as he and his dance partner made their way to them.
"Welcome to third class, Mister Eisenhardt!" He greeted. "Come join the fun!"
The music was loud, and Anna Marie looked up at him, holding out her hand.
"Come on."
He allowed her to lead him onto the dance floor.
"We're gonna have to get close."
"I am familiar with the intimacy of dance, Anna Marie. This is not a problem."
The years of lessons made his next movements second nature. He assumed the natural position, one hand holding hers, the other wrapped around her waist to rest on the small of her back.
His eyes were glancing at everyone else dancing around them.
"I'm afraid I don't know the steps."
"Neither do ah, sugah. Just go with it. Don't think about it."
The look of surprise and bewilderment on his face made her laugh as they moved, almost a fast paced waltz. He eventually became more comfortable with the music, and they were moving much like the others. She saw the smile come to his face, a more relaxed one. They were dancing to the music, and her laughter filled his ears as they moved to a faster pace now.
The music took a break, and they were breathlessly laughing. "See? You did great!" She praised.
He seemed both proud and bewildered, and followed her off the floor.
Within moments, she presented him with a tall pint of beer, and he raised a brow. "I can't remember the last time I had one of these."
"Well, drink up." She took a sip of the beer, and was slowly drinking…
…and watching as he downed the pint in a matter of seconds.
It was her turn to raise a brow.
"What? You think a first class gentleman can't hold his alcohol?" He smirked.
She accepted the challenge, and continued drinking just as a woman tapped her on the shoulder.
"Looks like a fun party you have here." Ororo's voice was unmistakable.
Anna Marie and Max both were stunned. "What are you doing down here, Miss Ororo?"
"I wasn't always a first class girl. I've come to join the party, if that's alright."
"Be our guest." Anna Marie responded.
"Splendid!" Ororo winked at Max as she went searching for a dance partner.
Anna Marie and Max shared a look before chuckling at this development.
They watched as Ororo's choice of partner was none other than Kurt, and he was sweeping her to the dance floor.
"Ready for round two?" He asked, extending his hand.
She was pleasantly surprised by his invitation, and took his hand as they made their way back to the dance floor, resuming the same position with his hand at the small of her back. His movements were more comfortable now, and she glanced to see Kurt and Ororo having the time of their lives.
An idea struck her, and she broke away from him, holding up her hand for him to stay there, and she proceeded to move her feet in the style of Irish step dancing, something she had learned at the orphanage.
He watched her movements with curiosity, and attempted to mirror it. She did the motion once more, and this time he picked it up much quicker, matching her movements as best as possible. She turned in a circle as she moved, and he quickly repeated the motion. She grabbed his hands, gripping them as she spun them in a circle. They moved faster and faster, the room spinning around them as they held on.
"Anna Marie….slow down!" He was laughing as he called out to her, and she squealed in laughter as the momentum gained. Eventually, she slowed down, feeling dizzy as she stumbled against him, the both of them swaying unsteadily as they laughed together.
Unbeknownst to them, Remy LeBeau was watching the exchange, watching as she was laughing and dancing with Max. His jaw twitched, and anger flared as he went up the stairs for air.
He made his way up to the top deck, needing air and a cigarette. He was coming up the stairs when he was almost run over by a bald man who looked in a hurry.
"Ah, pardon me, but I'm looking for a friend of mine….Max Eisenhardt. I think he may have gone below-"
"Yeah, yeah, he's down there. Dancin' the night away with Anna Marie." Remy's response carried a tone of bitterness.
"Ah…yes, I've met her. I take it she's a friend of yours?"
"Somethin' like that. Why?"
The man sighed. "I really shouldn't say….but Mister Eisenhardt is engaged."
When they had both tired themselves out, Max escorted Anna Marie to her room, his dinner coat over one arm, her hand hooked through the elbow of the other. She was leaning on him, and both of them had smiles on their faces, pure joy and bliss after the energetic evening.
"You know, you surprised me, Max."
"In what way?"
"In every way. You can dance, you can drink….are you sure you're not Irish?"
He laughed at that, a boisterous sound. "Germans drink and dance too, you know."
"Oh ah know….ah think Ororo and Kurt will keep goin' for a while yet."
They reached her cabin, and she turned slowly to face him, not wanting the night to be over.
He must have been thinking something similar, as he hesitated before speaking.
"Thank you….for a fantastic evening, Anna Marie." He spoke softly.
"And thank you, Max….for invitin' me to dinner."
He smiled, taking her hand in his, and bringing it gently to his lips as he held her gaze.
She felt her breath catch, and butterflies in her stomach.
Oh dear Lord, ah'm in trouble.
Slowly, he released her hand.
"Good night, Anna Marie."
He waited for her to enter her cabin and shut the door before making his way up the stairs to his own stateroom, a smile on his face that would be there come morning.
She leaned against the door, waiting for her pounding heart to calm down.
She was on cloud nine, and didn't ever want to come down.