Chapter Fifty Eight - Dancing partners

***9:08 PM***

 

Nicholas whispered to Sharon worriedly after they got back from the mingling…"It’s sure taking a long time for Cole to find Dad"
Sharon looked at him, her eyes wide "You don’t think he left, do you?"
Vicki interfered, "Dad wouldn’t do that, not today"
Nicholas whispered back "I’m beginning to wonder, maybe he left because he didn’t want to ruin it for all of us with his mood"
Victoria said stubbornly "I’m telling you, he wouldn’t just leave without saying goodbye"
Nicholas said "I don’t know, he and mom had a serious fight right now, it really affected her, I mean, look at her!"

Victoria turned to look at Nikki, she stood a few ft. away from the corner the kids huddled in.
Vicki frowned in concern.

Nikki was half leaning on the wall behind her, as if trying to blend in it so no one would be able to tell she’s there.
She’s barely spoke with a single person in the party unless approached to, as a few people did before, and as Luan and Jack just did…
 

 

Nikki said with a smile as she saw them approaching her, straightening "Hey you two…"
Luan squeezed Nikki’s hands with her own "Nikki, congratulations on your son release"
Nikki smiled at her "Thank you very much Luan"
Luan asked her "Where is he? So I could give him my blessing in person"
Nikki pointed out Nicholas to Luan, who smiled "Such a handsome young man"
Nikki grinned, "He sure is. Where is Keemo, By the way?"
Jack said, "Talking to a girl, I hope"
Jack and Luan exchanged amused glances and Luan said "He is a bit on the shy side"
Nikki said with a smile "Trust me, being a mother to a young skirt chaser isn’t much better"
Jack said sarcastically "Yes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree"

Jack was sure Victor has done something to hurt her again, and wasn’t ready to let the issue drop.

Nikki’s expression grew colder, she didn’t need Jack reminding her, even without meaning to, of Victor’s talk to Hope.

She said in a huff "Thanks a lot Jack, just what I needed to hear right now!"
Seeing the hurt expression on her face, Jack regretted saying anything at all and said "Nikki, I’m sorry"
Nikki cut him off "Yes, I know, you’re sorry, everyone are saying things they have no right to say and then say they are sorry, well, I’m so sick of it, why don’t you watch your mouth for a change, okay Jack?"

Jack was so shocked he said nothing, as Luan exchanged looks with him and asked Nikki "Nikki, are you okay?"
Nikki shook her head "No, I’m not, I’m really *not* okay" She sniffed and looked away, trying to control tears.
 

Nicholas looked at that little display and told Victoria "I wonder if we should go over there, I hate seeing her like that, it's suppose to be a happy time for her now"
Victoria shook her head "No, she’s more likely to tell Jack what’s going with her than to us, but I’m beginning to be really worried… I think it’s not just about a fight with Dad, I think it’s something else, too…"
 

Luan said, "I’m going to tell Nicholas how happy I am for him"
Nikki nodded and said, "I’m sure he would like that"

Nikki wiped a tear and looked at Jack, she said wearily "Why don’t you go with your wife, Jack, just leave me alone"
Jack asked her "Why, so you could play hide and seek?"
Nikki pursed her lips and titled her head to look at him, annoyed.
Jack said pointedly, "If you’re trying to blend into the wall, and hope no one would notice you, this red dress isn’t helping"
Nikki rolled her eyes at him and said dryly "What do you suggest I do, Jack? Take it off? Do you think it would help me blend into the crowd a little better?"
Jack tried to suppress a grin "Ever the biting sense of humor…"
Nikki said wearily "I’m not trying to be funny"
Jack nodded "I know, I just want to know…"
Nikki completed the sentence for him "What is wrong’" I know! Victor asked, And so has Victoria, Catherine and the rest of my family. Tell me, what do I need to do for people to just ignore me tonight and leave me the hell alone?!"
Jack said "You can’t, people care too much about you to see you obviously so broken up about something, or should I say – someone"
Nikki groaned "Why do you automatically assume it has something to do with Victor?"
Jack replied simply "Because it does… Nik, I don’t get it, I thought things were going in the right direction for you two"
Nikki sadly replied "They were… they still might, I just can’t know what would happen right now"
Jack frowned, "Isn’t it up to you and Victor and what you’re feeling toward each other?"
Nikki shook her head "Not this time, there are just too many variables"
Jack stared in confusion "You’re not making any sense, can’t you tell me what’s bothering you?"
Nikki said in a choked voice "No, you wouldn’t be able to help me…Jack… the less questions people ask me, the better chances I have of solving this"
Jack just stared, he was even more confused than before.

Nikki pleaded "I know you can’t understand this, and I can’t explain it to you, Victor has to hear this first, and I can’t get into this with him right now"
Jack narrowed his eyes "Tell me it doesn’t involve Brad"
Nikki said "Yes, but not in the way you mean…but…"
Jack asked "But what?"
Nikki replied "Victor think that it does…Jack, I really don’t want to talk about it anymore"

Jack was about to ask another question but than closed him mouth and shrugged "Okay, Okay, just know that if you need to talk, I’m here for you, okay?"
Nikki nodded and they hugged.

***9:20 PM***

 

Victoria and Nicholas watched as Luan walked toward them, Luan smiled at Nicholas "Nicholas, I am very happy for you, as does Jack"
Nicholas smiled "Yes, I know he does, I knew I could count on his support"
Luan said "Jack thinks very highly of you"
Nicholas said, "I feel the same about him, he is a great guy. Hmmm, Luan?…do you happen to know what’s bothering my mother?"
Luan shook her head "I have no idea, she didn’t seem to want to tell me, or Jack"
Nicholas said decisively "I’m going over there to figure out what’s going on with her"
And without Vicki having a chance to stop him, he walked toward his mother, his face set.
 

When Jack pulled back he gave her a long look "Hey, are you okay? Physically, I mean. You look… I don’t know, tired"
Nikki tried to smile "My head hurts a bit, I’m fine… but I really want this to be over"
Jack gave her a sympathetic smile "I know, look… whatever it is, I’m sure you and Victor can get through this, I know he loves you, and I know you love him"
Nikki nodded "I do… so much…"
Jack said to her "Do me a favor, stop moping and go back to your family, and save me a dance on your dance card"
Nikki chuckled sadly "That would be no problem, my dance card is blank"

Nicholas, approaching them, caught the end of that conversation, said "Not anymore"

He offered his hand to his mother and said to Jack "Sorry, Jack. I think I, being just released from jail and all, should get the first dance"
Nikki started to say "Nicholas… I…"
Jack told Nicholas pointedly "Don’t take no for an answer from her"
And glaring to Nikki, he said "Think about what I’ve said"

They both watched Jack leaves and than Nicholas said "He’s worried about you"
Nikki said, "I know that"
She said to her son "I know you are too, but really, you needn’t be"
Nicholas put his hands up to stop her from talking "Mom, I didn’t come over to grill you… just to see if you feel like dancing"
Nikki glared at him "The first part of what you’ve said - I don’t believe. And as for the second, angel, I’m not in the right mood for that"
Nicholas didn’t listen. Instead, he took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor "You’re always in the mood to dance, and I thought you liked that song"
Nikki followed her son reluctantly, unable to refuse him "Okay, Okay…goodness, where did you get to be so stubborn"
Nicholas stopped in the middle of the dance floor and as they started to dance, and said, "You"
Nikki glared at him and he quickly added "Along with my good looks, charming personality and amazing dancing ability"
Nikki laughed softly and than louder as Nicholas insisted of spinning her "Nicholas, you’re making me dizzy"
Nicholas protested "Hey, you’re the one who taught me that move"
Nikki nodded in reminisces "I remember that, you were probably half my height back then. And look at you now. So tall and handsome, sometimes you remind me so much of your father… whatever happened to that little boy I’ve raised?"
Nikki smiled but tears clouded her smile.
Nicholas said softly "He’s still there, and he still hates seeing his mom so unhappy, especially cause I expected you to have fun tonight, you love parties"
Nikki looked at him guiltily "I’m sorry, I know I must be spoiling things for you"
Nicholas said "Mom, I was given back my freedom, nothing can spoil that feeling for me. But It doesn’t mean I don’t wish you were feeling happy and fulfilled"
Nikki opened her moth to reply but Nicholas interrupted her "No, don’t say anything… I said I wouldn’t grill you, but if its about dad… Mom, sometimes you need to let go, even if you still care. But whatever it is Dad is mad about, I’m sure he would calm down at the end, he always does"
Nikki sighed, he had no idea how wrong he was interrupting what was happening ‘Oh, maybe it’s just as well’ she thought.
She blinked on tears as she tried to smile at him, Nicholas’s face clouded "Mom, I…"
Nikki stopped him mid sentence "Nicholas, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. You asked me to dance  - so lets just dance"
Nicholas nodded "Sure mom" and gave her a hug before they started dancing again.

Nikki, hiding the stubborn tears that didn’t seem to want to stop on her son’s shoulder, tried to take a deep breath and collect her thoughts, but the baby was all she could think of.
Nicholas eyes -  over Nikki’s head - met the question sign in Victoria’s eyes, to which he replied with a head shake – he wasn’t any closer in finding out what happened either.

Victoria sighed and said to Sharon "I knew she wouldn’t tell him anything"
Sharon said to her "I don’t think really he asked her, Victoria, He probably just let her know he’s there for her…He didn’t go there to question her"
Victoria glared at Sharon "Like I did, you mean?"
Sharon raised her eye brow at Victoria "Those are your words, Victoria, not mine"
Victoria’s eyes narrowed "You know next to nothing about my family, Sharon, so do me a favor and stay out of it"
Sharon raised a hand defensively "Hey, I was just making an observation"
Pointedly, Victoria said "And I was just making a statement, so take it to heart"
Sharon replied "As you said Vicki, it’s your family, not mine"
Victoria scowled at her "Remember that, and we’re fine"
Sharon sighed and simply walked away from her, she was not in the mood for a fight…and then she stopped, and stared at the man who was approaching Nikki and Nicholas with an eager, nervous expression on his face.

Something told her she was about to get her dancing partner back.
 

***9:31 PM***

 

Brad noticed Nikki and Nicholas talking and dancing on the dance floor, they looked like they were discussing something that had made Nikki emotional. Well, it wasn’t surprising, Nicholas was just released from prison.

He looked at Nikki and thought again how beautiful she looked, and how much he longed to hold her in her arms again, dance with her, and make love to her. He thought back about their time together, it looked so far away now – but he knew he could have that again, she already seemed to be softening toward him.
He caught a glimpse of that ugly fight with Victor, and her bad mood that followed and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try and get to her.

He was about to ask her to dance, but Nicholas beat him to it, and now he was in a problem.
He had no idea if Nicholas was even aware they had been seeing each other, he didn’t want to interrupt the dance and have him flip out – dealing with one of the Newman brats was bad enough.
But as he gave it some thought, he realized Nicholas couldn’t possibly known about them.
He wasn’t aware of the relationship before he got into jail, and it would have been the last thing Victoria would have revealed to her brother while he is behind bars.

So he approached Nikki and Nicholas, and tapped on Nicholas shoulder "I don’t mean to interrupt, but may I have a dance with the lady?"
Nikki pulled away from Nicholas "Brad!"

Nicholas looked at the tall man in surprise, he didn’t knew Brad Carlton well, and knew him mainly as one of his father’s key people, he heard his father say in the past he was a good, hard working business man –which was a rare compliment coming from his father.
Plus, his mother desperately needed something to *distract* her from whatever it was that’s bothering him.

Nikki blankly stared at Brad, why oh why he was doing this to her?  Dancing with him was the last thing she wanted to do, but how was she going to say a no without coming of as rude and heart-less? All he asked was a dance, not a roll in the hay.

She started to protest "Brad, I’m a little tired, maybe later?"
Disappointment set on Brad’s face, but a clueless Nicholas did not get the hint.
He would not have her moping for the rest of the night, maybe someone less close to her would be able to brighten her spirits "Come on, Mom, you only had ONE dance… Brad, she’s all yours – as long as you cheer he up!"
Nikki’s mouth opened, she was trapped, no way out now.
She looked up at Brad "One dance, because I really am tired"
Brad grinned widely "That’s all I’m asking for"
He turned to Nicholas "Thanks"
Nicholas grinned "No problems, but you owe me another dance, mom"
Nikki said, smiling "Go dance with your girlfriend, for a change"

Nicholas kissed her on the cheek and headed toward Sharon….

Brad took Nikki into his arms as another song started playing in the background, they danced silently for a while and than Brad said "You didn’t seem to eager too dance with me"
Nikki looked at him, a bit irritated "I just don’t see the point"
Brad calmly asked her "Do I need to have a point of asking a beautiful woman who – up till a month ago was my girlfriend - for a dance?"
Nikki titled her head "Brad, I *know* you have some agenda"
Brad laughed shortly "Agenda? Nikki, I think you had me confused with your other ex, it’s not an agenda, just basic human need to be with the woman I love"
Nikki closed her eyes and said in a strained voice "Please don’t"
Brad asked "Please don’t – what?"
Nikki replied, realizing that no matter what’s going to happen, she has GOT to make him realize they have no future together "Please don’t love me, Brad, you deserve someone better than me…someone who can return that love, I can’t"
That time, Brad’s eyes showed the hurt he was feeling, and for a moment, he said nothing…
 

***9:39 PM***

"Nicholas did you lose your sanity in jail?  What the hell is WRONG with you?!" Victoria cried out when Nicholas reached her, looking smug.
Nicholas stared at his sister in confusion "What do you mean"
Victoria’s whisper was closer to a yell "Why did you let mom dance with him?"
Nicholas looked even more confused "Who? Brad? Why shouldn’t I?"
Victoria went on, not listening to him "Oh god, Nicholas, this is the last thing we need, if dad comes back and see Brad dancing with mom he would flip out!"
Nicholas looked at her in complete lack of understanding "Why? I mean, Brad and Mom are friends, sort of…"
Sharon interfered, "Victoria, It’s not fair, Nicholas doesn’t know that Brad and your mother have been seeing each other "
Nicholas mouth opened "WHAT?!"
Victoria quickly corrected her "*Had* been seeing each other, mom dumped him"
Nicholas stared at his sister "Vicki, what are you saying? Mom and Brad DATED?"
Victoria groaned "Yea, for a while"
Nicholas asked her in horror "For how long?"
Victoria cringed "Ah, about 6 months"
Nicholas was shocked "What? How come I don’t know about it?"
Victoria muttered "You do now"
Nicholas exclaimed "Vicki!"
Victoria explained tiredly "Nicholas, no one knew, only me…well, and Jack"
Nicholas asked her "How come you didn’t tell me?"
Victoria explained, sighing "Nicholas, I didn’t think it would last! I mean, Brad and Mom? They have nothing in common! I didn’t want dad to find out, and mom didn’t either"
Nicholas says, offended "So you didn’t tell me because you thought I would tell Dad? Do you really think I’m that clueless?"
Victoria said angrily "I don’t know, you might have let it slip – you and mom were not getting along at all back then, you were living with Dad part of that time. Mom did her best to keep it a secret and I had to go along with her, I was the only one who knew! If you said something to her, or worse – to dad, she would have known I told you and all hell would have broken loose"
Nicholas shook his head " I can’t believe I didn’t know anything about it…. Wait a second, the night I got arrested, when mom was no where to be found and dad got all upset over it…."
Victoria rolled her eyes "Yea, she was with Brad, Dad didn’t know it back then though"
Nicholas said, upset "You should have told me, I wouldn’t have kept something like that from *you*"
Victoria sighed "Trust me, it was for the best, it was bad enough I had to put up with that jerk, I wasn’t going to upset you when you were in jail!"
Nicholas glanced toward Brad and Nikki, who were dancing "He doesn’t seem like such a bad guy"
Victoria’s glowered at him "Nicholas, he is a first class jerk, trust me on this, okay? He and I can not exchange one civil word, out of all the people mom and dad were ever involved with – he is the worst! He is arrogant, cocky, and smug!"
Nicholas stared at her "Wow, you really do hate him, don’t you?"
Victoria took a deep breath "You have no idea how much"
Nicholas looked toward Brad and Nikki again and asked, "You said *mom* broke up with *him*?"
Victoria nodded "Yea, shortly after you got in jail. She never said why, though, and I didn’t push.
When I implied it was because she still have feelings for Dad she got very emotional and upset, it was an upsetting time for all of us as it is – so I was just glad he was gone from our lives…"
She paused and shook her head in disgust, and Nick asked "What?"
Victoria said "He told dad anyway, he has this ridicules notion mom was really in love with him and that she was ending it just because she didn’t want to upset the family while you were in jail"
Nicholas winced "I don’t even want to know what Dad said when he heard"
Victoria shook her head "I don’t know what he hated more, that mom was dating at all, that she was dating one of the people who works for him - again, or that she kept the truth for him for so long"
Nicholas’s lip curved up in a smile "Combination of everything, I guess... Dad would never change on that one, he never liked seeing mom with other men"
Victoria sighed "You think it’s not so bad now, you weren’t here, worrying who you’re going to spend Christmas with!"
A flash of understanding went through Nicholas’s eyes "So THAT’s why you thought the family wouldn’t be together on Xmas eve. You were very evasive about that"
Victoria said guiltily "I didn’t want to tell you, you were in a really bad state of mind… I couldn’t burden you with this"
Nicholas said, shrugging "I know, but I don’t like being so cut off from the family"
Victoria sighed, "With this family sometimes it’s for the best"
Nicholas asked her "So, if mom left him, what’s your problem?"
Victoria exclaimed, "Because he won’t leave her alone! he keeps making moves on her! He showed up on Christmas eve, supposedly to wish her merry Christmas, but I just know he did it for show – to prove Dad he doesn’t own mom"
Nicholas knew he probably shouldn’t say it, but he did anyway "Vic, mom can date with whoever she wants to, mom and dad aren’t together"
Victoria rolled her eyes "I know, but Brad doesn’t have to rub it in"
Sharon thought of something "Vicki, are you sure it’s over between them?"
Victoria asked, confused for a moment "Them, meaning?"
Sharon replied "Your mom and Brad"
Victoria cried out "It better be, why?!"
Sharon said carefully "Well, you said Brad wanted to get back with your mother, they are dancing now… and your parents had this big fight before– are you sure it wasn’t about Brad?"
Victoria’s eyes widen as she realized Sharon might have a point "Oh GOD, I hope not… I really, really hope not…."