Jingle Bells

Baby It's Cold Outside

I really can't stay, but baby it's cold outside...

More music floats outside from the party, and he realizes that they've been gone for a while.

"We should get back inside," he says, offering her his arm. She loops her arm through his (actually doing it right) and together, they walk back into the party.

Upon reentering the room, Ricky notices that the tense air has dissipated. There are couples dancing to the music, friends laughing together, and an overall feeling of ease in the ballroom. He leads Nina to the middle of the room and turns to face her, placing his right hand on the small of her back and taking her right hand in his left. She rests her free hand on his shoulder and looks at him nervously.

"I'm not the best at dancing... I'll probably end up embarrassing you again."

"Maybe if you follow my lead for once, you'll surprise yourself." He says.

He surely surprised himself at the slight teasing tone in his voice instead of the cold, bitter one he was aiming for. Nina blushes slightly.

They sway to the music for a while before Ricky decides to test his luck and twirl her. She seems surprised, but thankfully she doesn't trip. They dance until about halfway through the next song, when EJ approaches them again.

"May I cut in?" He asks Ricky.

"Of course." Ricky replies with a smile, handing a very nervous-looking Nina off to his friend.

"Don't worry," EJ jokes, "I won't try anything."

Ricky rolls his eyes and leaves the pair, walking over to the beverage table. Before he can get anything, he hears his father's voice behind him.

"She almost ruined that for you. Fortunately, I fixed it."

"I know, okay?" Ricky says. "Nina isn't one-percenter material. I should've told her what to do ahead of time. Thank you for fixing it."

"You're welcome. I hope she's just your date for this function, and that you aren't actually interested in her."

"Don't worry, dad. That's all she is. She's my assistant at work."

"Good. Keep her like that. Although she doesn't seem very efficient, what with her lack of common sense."

"She's perfectly fine. If you're just here to criticize me, I've done enough of that to myself, thanks."

Mike exhales, and takes a sip of his drink. "I have a piece of advice for you, son." Ricky looks at him. "Be careful who you are interested in. Because someone like her- " he nods to where Nina is giggling very un-elegantly with EJ- "is not the type of person who would be good for your career."

"Thanks," Ricky says, his throat suddenly tight. "I'll keep that in mind."

His father nods and walks away to mingle. Ricky continues watching Nina and EJ, finding himself slightly amused at how much she sticks out among the aristocrats at the party. It's almost like her unique personality is embodied in her unique dress, a literal representation of how different she is from everyone else he knows.

Christmas ghosts help him, he likes it.

Pretty soon, the party starts dying down and guests are dwindling. He's saying goodbye to the partygoers, Nina smiling and waving on his arm, thankfully not saying anything other than polite goodbyes. Once all the guests are gone, the three Bowen's let out a collective sigh of relief, and Nina just looks around the empty ballroom in awe.

"Woah. This room is huge."

"Yes, a little bit," Lynne says with an amused chuckle. "It was such a pleasure meeting you, dear."

"You too," she replies with a smile.

Ricky's father shakes the girl's hand wordlessly, and then the parents leave the room.

"So..." Nina says awkwardly as they stand together in the doorway. Ricky raises an eyebrow at her. "My cab's gonna be here soon."

"Cool."

"Thanks for inviting me to be your date," she says. "After all the catastrophes, this party was actually pretty fun."

Fun. Not pleasant, or enjoyable, or nice, or any other word anyone else he knows would've described it. But fun. Said by the only one in red, he figures.

"Yeah, I guess it was."

"And I'm sorry again. For y'know, almost ruining everything, like five times. Sometimes I feel like it would just be easier if you were inside me." He raises an eyebrow, and her eyes widen. "I mean, like, your brain! Like, if I knew your thoughts and knew what to say and do! Not... oh my goodness. No. I just- I just meant- no."

Her cheeks are as red as her dress, and she runs her hand through her now loose curls.

Ricky bites back the sarcastic comment he almost makes because this is his assistant, his coworker, and he's supposed to be bossy and rude anyway.

She dans her red cheeks and looks up at the ceiling, only to blush even redder and shut her eyes tightly. He knits his eyebrows and looks up too, only to see a tiny green plant hanging from the ceiling.

Even he knows the difference between holly and mistletoe.

Well, rules are rules.

But these rules? They're Christmas rules. And he doesn't do Christmas.

She opens her eyes to look at him, and then the mistletoe.

"That's- "

"Mistletoe. I know, Nina."

"Well, I'm just as unhappy about this as you are, but I am a firm celebrator of Christmas so just kiss me and- "

She's cut off by the loud beeping of a horn, and both of them perk up before exhaling sighs of relief.

"Taxi's here," Ricky says. "You should go."

"Right. Thank you. And sorry. Again. Bye." She grabs her bag and cardigan, waves goodbye, and hurries out.

Only she would get her heel caught in between the cobblestones of the walkway and nearly break her ankle.

"I'm okay!" She calls back to him, giving him a thumbs up.

He rolls his eyes and shuts the door, leaning against it and looking up at the ceiling, unable to contain a small chuckle and a shake of his head. He stands up again and walks to his car, driving home to get ready for bed.

He doesn't dream of sugar plums and fairies, but red dresses and mistletoe definitely dance in his head.
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Should I post another chapter?!