something from the archives: say goodbye - part 43

catch up with parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,  31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 at the links.

part 43 dances on after the jump...

Part 43

Michael tugged at his tie for the fifth time in the past minute. He felt as if he was being strangled. And he knew exactly who to blame. Only she was late. In fact, everyone except him was late. And he’'d only been informed of the Charity Ball today.

He drummed his fingers against the counter at the Crashdown. They’'d all arranged to meet there, as was their custom. And as usual, he was stuck waiting by himself.

The door jingled and in walked Kyle, wearing the same look of abject suffering and the same constricting garments as he was.

"“Hey man. Isabel with you?”"

“"You kidding? I still wouldn’'t be here if I had picked her up.”"

“"True. Tell me again, how we got suckered into this?”"

“"Ha. I have no idea. In fact, even Buddha has no idea.”"

“"Really and I thought the guy had a saying for everything!”" Michael grumbled, "“Where are they? We’'re going to be late!”"

“"Relax, dude. It’'s not like you actually want to be there. They’'ll be here soon enough.”"

Michael grunted in response. In truth he couldn’'t figure out why he was so cranky. It had been a good day. He and Jeff had finished settling up the paperwork for the transfer of the restaurant and the building. They’'d gone over all the accounting procedures, and Michael found he had a natural knack for it.

“"You’'ve been away from her too long haven’'t you?”" Kyle asked suddenly.

“"What?”"

“"You get cranky when you’'ve been away from Liz too long. I think it'’s an alien thing.”"

“"Why?”" Michael asked curious as to the reasoning behind Kyle’'s supposition.

"“Isabel gets so cranky when we don'’t spend enough time together. I think it has to do with the lifemate stuff Liz was talking about today.”"

"“Really?”"

Kyle shrugged and smiled, “"Well, trust me Guerin, your mood is about to improve significantly,”" he said as he nodded towards the swinging doors by the kitchen.

Michael turned and his jaw dropped. There was Liz, his Liz, only she looked like a princess. Her hair was swept into a French twist and was decorated with tiny rhinestones that sparkled brightly against the rich espresso of her hair. Her dress was a strapless, floor-length white chiffon that clung to her curves as it draped her body. Swirls of red rhinestones patterned the fabric, adding a vibrant splash of color to the ensemble. Her neck bare, the only jewelry she wore was Michael’'s ring and a pair of small ruby earrings.

“"Hey sweetheart,”" Liz brushed her lips against Michael’'s in greeting, “"Kyle. Sorry I kept you guys waiting.”"

Kyle laughed, “"No problem, you look stunning, and we’'re still waiting for Isabel. Believe me, am I glad you’'re here, I just hope Isabel isn’'t as cranky as Mr. Sunshine over there.”"

"“It'’s Dr. Love, Valenti, don’'t you forget that.”"

“"You’'re cranky, sweetheart?”"

“"According to Buddha-boy over there, us aliens get cranky when away from our lifemates too long.”"

Liz turned to Kyle, “"Really?”" she asked.

“"You haven’'t noticed?”" Kyle looked at her quizzically.

“"Actually, it does make sense. I guess we don’'t usually spend time apart, the way you and Isabel have to.”"

"“Well, we’'re spending less time apart from now on,”" Michael said as he wrapped his arms around Liz’'s waist. Nodding meaningfully at Kyle, he pulled Liz into the breakroom with him.

“"What are you doing?”"

"“Greeting the love of my life properly without an audience. You’'ve got more lipstick right?”"

“"Yemmmph,”" Liz’'s response was muffled by Michael’'s kiss. His mouth plundered hers voraciously, his tongue tasting her as if for the first time. By the time they pulled apart, Liz was breathless and her cheeks were flushed the same shade as the rhinestones on her dress.

“"I have something for you,”" said Michael.

“"What is it?”" Liz asked.

Michael pulled out a long sleek box from his jacket pocket. “"I hope you like it,”" he said nervously.

Liz looked at him with her love and affection shining in her eyes. And pulled the narrow box from his hands. She gasped as she opened it, “"Michael, it’'s beautiful! Did you make this?”"

Michael nodded in reply as he helped her clasp the necklace he’d forged. Using metal parts left over from tinkering at the garage, he’'d managed to manipulate the molecules to form a beautiful strand of platinum that was decorated by rubies and diamonds that swirled in a pattern mimicking her dress.

“"How’'d you know?”" she asked.

“"I called your mom. Baby, you look beautiful,”" Michael breathed as she turned to face him. They kissed again, their ardor checked by Kyle’'s tap on the door.

“"Guys, Isabel'’s here. We should get going.”"

*****

The foursome walked into the main hall of the Roswell Convention Center. They were surprised to see it not looking like an alien freak show. Usually sci-fi type parties were held there, but this night it looked like a winter wonderland. Everything was white, the flowers, the candles, and the sparkling lights that decorated each table.

People were dressed to the nines, and Michael, Liz, Isabel, and Kyle fit in perfectly. They gathered by the small table assigned to them, and sat down. They were in high spirits, both Michael and Isabel’'s crankiness dissipated once they’d spent some time with Liz and Kyle respectively.

“"Isabel, how’'d you hear about this?”" asked Liz.

“"There were notices down at the AIDS hospice I was visiting last week I felt that this was a worthy cause, and that we had enough reason to get Michael to practice his dancing.”"

Everyone but Michael laughed at Isabel’'s sally. He just grunted and looked to the band that was beginning to set up its instruments, “They better not get fancy.”

“"I second the motion,”" said Kyle.

“"Isabel, what are we going to do with these two?”"

“"Dance their pants off.”"

“"Pants off?”" asked Kyle suggestively at his girlfriend’'s remark.

The band started to play, and Isabel elbowed her boyfriend into getting up and leading her out to the dance floor. Michael and Liz watched them from the table.

“"Shall we?"”

Liz smiled tenderly at Michael’'s tortured tone,  "Michael, we don’'t have to dance if you don'’t want to. I’'m happy to just sit here with you.”"

“"Well, actually I want to show you off. Besides I’'ve got a couple of moves up my sleeve.”"

“"Ok then. Lead the way Fred,”" Liz said teasingly.

“"Always, Ginger, always.”"

They moved to the center of the dance floor, and Michael wrapped his arms around Liz as they stepped in rhythm to the music. It was, he thought, a magical evening. And he couldn’'t wait for the time when he’'d be able to hold Liz in his arms all through the night.