GO WEST

Chapter 12: "Dance with a Stranger"

The timing of the Fall Semi-Formal couldn't have been any worse than this, truth be told. The weekend after Thanksgiving wasn't an ideal date for any school-related function, considering that a good portion of the student body wouldn't even be in the area. Other events, however, had ended up taking precedence, with Homecoming and other mostly sport-related events filling the best weekends, leaving this last opening to the Student Activities Committee.

Nonetheless, the event had a fair showing, and with fewer people than would normally be expected, it was a cozier, more intimate function.

Of the seven residents of the McAudry house, only Doug and Marie-Ange were attending. Rahne wasn't good with crowds, Ric didn't like to dress up, Warlock couldn't quite grasp the concept, Dani had just plain declined (in spite of an invitation from Ben), and Sharon was not even in town at the moment. She'd vanished on Friday morning, and as yet, had not returned, much to Doug's alarm. Marie-Ange had assured him, however, that Sharon had a habit of disappearing during the holidays, destination and purpose always unknown.

This was not the first night out the two had shared since Marie-Ange's arrival in La Jolla, but it was by far the most formal. Doug had polished up the BMW, made reservations at a nice Italian restaurant by the ocean, and had found, to his relief, that he only needed to make a couple of small alterations to his trusty grey wool tuxedo to make it fit again. Angie had been mobbed by Dani and Sharon earlier in the week to go out shopping for a dress, and after much searching, found something in a shimmering black with deep crimson highlights, with long sleeves and a floor-length skirt. Though she refused any sort of makeup, she still spent a considerable amount of time with her hair (mostly because there was so much of it), tying some of it into a set of long braids, while the rest hung free, one braid crossing over the top of her head and keeping the rest in place.

So far, the night had gone very well. Dinner had been excellent, even if the portions had been a bit small. Afterwards, the two had gotten back in the BMW, and headed to the dance site, at the Holiday Inn.

There hadn't been any real dancing at first, of course. Pretty much every couple was having pictures taken by the professional photographers present, and Doug and Angie were no exception. Afterwards, they adjourned to the ballroom. Here, at one side of the darkened hall, numerous tables had been set up, and refreshments were being served. No one had yet gone out to the lit-up dance floor, in spite of the good, loud music supplied by the hired disc jockey.

For about the first half-hour, they found a table to sit at, waiting for the dance floor to gain a little momentum before daring to use it. Here on the outskirts, Doug was recognized and met by several of his friends from the Music department. He introduced them all to Marie-Ange (using her chosen name of Mireille Loiseau, of course), and they shared a lively talk, discussing upcoming performances and departmental news. Doug felt sorry for Marie-Ange, having to endure this conversation with a bunch of complete strangers, but she seemed to be enjoying the company.

Later, couples started making their way out to the dance floor. Songs of a variety of styles played, from the so-called cutting edge to classic rock to the occasional jazz or new age ballad.

It was during one of the lattermost, a Yanni piece with a nice, mellow horn playing the lead, that Doug finally stood, bowed to her, and offered his hand. She smiled and took it, stood, and arm in arm, they wove their way past the tables, out of the darkness of the outskirts and into the light of the central floor.

"It's not much like a dance at the Academy, is it?" Doug asked her.

"Non, not at all," she shook her head. "Everything feels so much more... alive."

Doug smiled and nodded at this. Then, in a lower, shyer tone, he added "Have I mentioned yet that you look quite stunning this evening?"

"Merci," she smiled back. "And you, mon brave, are looking... oh, shall we say... dashing?"

"I can certainly live with that."

Here, they reached an open spot amidst the other dancers (there were fewer now, as this song was too fast to slow-dance, and the style was wrong for the typical rhythmic gyration that passed for dancing at such functions as this), and without another word, joined them. After a slow start, they were able to respond to one another; Doug had taken years of dance classes before and during his time at Xavier's, giving him a good background, and Marie-Ange had learned formal ballroom dancing at age seven, giving her even more experience than he. They were excellent partners right from the start, Doug being a confident lead, and Angie being able to follow him both flawlessly and effortlessly, all but floating above the floor, through each step and turn.

During one of these turns, Doug watched her, letting her hand fall from his. The ever-changing lighting caused her dress to shine in rippling waves of light and shadow. Her skirts twirled around her ankles, and her hair fanned out, moving with a life of its own. He found himself simply mesmerised by the motions of her hair.

The song slowly faded, and Marie-Ange, having finished the turn, faced him again, giving him a curious look, her face half-veiled by her hair. "You're beautiful..." Doug tried to say, but he could not find his voice.

Then the next song kicked in: Michael Bolton's "Time, Love and Tenderness." It opened with a strong beat and lots of percussion, and Doug immediately let the music take him, spinning a full circle in place, stopping and bringing his hands together to clap on the downbeat.

Marie-Ange watched, surprised, as he started moving his entire body to the beat, turning this way and that, backing up a few paces from her as he went. Then, he all but leaped forward, went down onto one knee, and almost slid right up to her, arms spread to either side, hands raised toward her, looking up at her with a mischievous smile. She laughed at his display, then took his hands, allowing him to stand up beside her.

They danced on, never looking away from the other's eyes. Doug found himself thankful that Marie-Ange had worn flats; they were still the same height, making it easy to keep his eyes on hers. Those eyes, though a colorless grey themselves, seemed to reflect every color of every light, sparkling with life and merriment. Doug found that he was losing himself in her gaze, and also finding that he did not care.

They danced in a grand circle around the floor, heedless of anyone but each other. They took each step with grace and with confidence, leaving no place for shyness or self-doubt, not caring who would see them, or what they would say.

The song built toward its inevitable crescendo into the modulation.

It could not truly be said that their eyes met, seeing as they hadn't broken eye contact throughout the entire song. At that moment, though, they both became aware of a subtle change as they spun slowly to a halt, each now with both arms around the other. Doug took a deep breath, suddenly confused by the intimacy of the moment, but then, letting both the music and his heart be his guide, he leaned closer, turned his head ever so slightly to one side, and kissed her.

Marie-Ange hesitated, tensing just slightly in Doug's arms, but then she slowly relaxed, letting herself respond to the kiss, and letting her emotions carry her along for the ride. They held one another for a long while, and then, almost reluctantly, they broke, and looked once more into each other's eyes. Doug looked nervous for maybe only the second or third time since she'd met him: nervous that perhaps he'd done something gravely wrong.

She smiled at him, though, and lay her head on his shoulder, letting herself be held. They stayed like that for the rest of the song, and well into the next, swaying gently in place together, sharing a moment of peace under the lights.

McAudry house, La Jolla CA
Saturday, 27 November 1993 10:23 pm

Doug ended up parking the BMW on the cobblestone driveway outside the front of the house, seeing as the garage was already occupied by the van, the truck, and the bug. He pulled on the emergency brake out of sheer habit, switched off the ignition, and for a long while, neither he nor Marie-Ange moved. They just looked across the darkness and smiled shyly at one another.

"C'mon," Doug said at length. "Let's go in."

"Alright."

Still moving in something of a happy daze, seeing as they'd been dancing non-stop for much of the past two hours, they got out of the car, and walked up to the double front doors, their shoes clacking against the cobblestones. At the door, they both paused, and looked at one another.

"I've had a wonderful evening, Douglas," she said, softly.

"I'm glad. So did I, chère."

It was one of those look down to avoid the eyes and scuffle the shoes moments, and Doug did just that. "It's weird. I feel like I'm dropping you off at home, but I live here, too, so..."

She laughed at this. "Shall we go in, then?"

"Yeah, something like that."

Doug noticed that the alarm was activated, and wondered if everyone had already gone to sleep. He shut it off by keying in the code on the front-door keypad lock, and opened one door for Marie-Ange. "Après vous, mademoiselle," he bowed.

"Merci, m'sieu," she nodded back, with as much of a curtsy as she could manage at the moment. After letting her through, Doug quickly joined her, and the two clacked down the circular main hall together, still in step with one another.

The house was almost totally dark, except for the very small amount of light always present in the hallway. No one was in the living room, the kitchen, the dining room, or anywhere else, apparently. They took the spoke hall into the living wing, and here, too, there were no lights. Doug had intended to walk her to her room (formerly Warlock's room -- he'd graciously offered it to the two new arrivals, and had himself moved across the way to room with Doug), but the footing through the whatever-room was looking pretty treacherous with no lighting. They paused for a moment at the space where the hallway opened into the room.

"Um, I'll go first," Doug told her, a bit distraught at the complete lack of activity on a Saturday night. "Where's that light-switch, now..?"

The lights came on, then, before he could even look. "SURPRISE!!"

Doug and Marie-Ange could only look on, stunned, as Dani, Rahne, Ric, Warlock, and even Sharon leaped out from behind the furniture and walls. Warlock was holding up what looked like a large neon sign that blinked on and off with the word "SURPRISE!" (The sign was, of course, part of his own structure.) Dani and Rahne were wearing ridiculous pointed party hats, and Ric came at them with a handful of confetti, throwing it up into the air and showering them with it. Sharon came up to give Angie a big hug, and then gave one to Doug as well, as the others started singing.

"Happy birthday to you/ happy birthday to you/ happy birthday Doug and Angie/ Happy birthday to you!"

Marie-Ange gave a delighted laugh, smiling hugely. Doug, too, was smiling, but more out of surprise and vague confusion. "Ah, guys, I don't know how to break it to you, but hers was at the beginning of the month, and mine's in July."

"Ah, but redhair missed birthday, so must make up, yes?" Catseye grinned at them.

"And you, my friend, have missed two of 'em over the time that you were dead," Dani added, "so it's about time we caught up on some backlog parties."

"Now, you guys just siddown, an' I'll go get the cake," Ric smirked, stepping over to the kitchenette section of the room while Rahne and Dani led them to the couch.

"Ric baked the cake himself," Rahne grinned, looking as though she was both telling them a joke and giving them a warning.

"Only 'cause you dared me to, chica!" Ric shot back, pulling the cake out of the tiny oven.

"What, was everyone in on this?" Doug asked, amazed.

"Don't look at me, mon brave," Marie-Ange shrugged.

"Intent and greater part of plan may be accredited to friendCatseye," Warlock told them.

"Yeah, Sharon couldn't bear the thought of missing a party," Dani laughed.

"Merci, ma chatte," Marie-Ange said, reaching to take Sharon's hand. The two exchanged happy, knowing smiles, and Sharon rubbed her face against their joined hands.

"Hey, Warlock, could you gimme a light, here?" Ric asked, having placed two candles on the somewhat wobbly-looking cake.

Warlock extended one arm across the room to Ric, shooting a small jet of flame from one finger to light the candles. "Partytime, selfriends!" he grinned.

"More cake?" Ric asked, his mouth full.

Dani gave him a Look. "If I eat another bite of that stuff, I'll burst."

"You only had two pieces," Ric muttered, disgruntled. "Is it bad?"

"It's not... bad, as such," Rahne said, almost reassuringly.

"It's just..." Dani went on, but could not find the words.

"Well, it's..." Rahne tried.

"There's so much of it," Doug finished at last. "I think you might've been a little off on the proportions. It's really, really thick."

"Death by chocolate," Dani joked.

"Catseye does not see problem," Sharon shrugged, helping herself to more. "Is good, shakey! Catseye like much."

"Self expresses similar sentiments," Warlock agreed, transmoding and consuming his portion bit by bit. "Higher concentration of matter more sustaining to self's lifeglow."

"Finally, someone with good taste," Ric snorted.

Rahne gave him a bop on the shoulder. "Ye great silly. 'Tis verra good for a first try."

"Seriously, it is," Doug agreed. "A little just goes a long way. Still, we'll make a master chef out of you yet."

"Great," Ric moaned, sarcastically.

Doug cast a glance to his side to see that Marie-Ange was very daintily licking her fingers, being careful not to get any smudges of anything on her new dress. He smiled at her.

"Well, I can't stand the suspense anymore," Dani sighed. "Time for the presents?"

"Time for the presents," Rahne agreed. She nodded to Ric, and he got up to retrieve them.

"Oh, no," Doug grinned, putting his head in his hands. "You guys are gonna make me feel guilty, I just know it."

"Contradiction, selfrienDoug," Warlock replied. "Gifts are human tokens of affection, from self's understanding of the concept. Selfriend is not intended to feel guilty."

"I know, I know," Doug chuckled. "I've just never been good at the receiving end of things."

"Hey, look at it this way, amigo," Ric told him, emerging from his room with arms full of wrapped presents. "Most of these are from Roberto anyway, when it comes right down to it, no?"

Doug thought about this. "You've got a point. Still, like they always say, it's the thought that counts, right?"

"Yeah, I think that's supposed to be it," Dani nodded.

Doug and Marie-Ange joined the others in the floor then, gathering in an uneven circle. Angie had to sit somewhat sideways because of her dress, but that gave her the opportunity to lean on Doug a little. Ric and Dani tried to sort out who was getting what from whom, while Warlock and Sharon, drawing on their perfect memories, pointed out what was what.

"Okay, this one's to Doug from Rahne," Ric announced, picking up a small package and passing it to Doug.

"Hmmm, what could this be?" Doug wondered aloud, peeling off the wrapping paper. Once he had it unwrapped, he laughed out loud. "Oh, my!"

"What is it?" asked Dani.

Doug showed her the watch-case. "It's a Timex!" he grinned. "A nice one, too!"

"Oh!" Dani grinned, laughing along with him.

"Why so funny?" Sharon asked, giving them a quizzical look.

"You tell the story, Douglas," Rahne giggled.

"Well, I had this Timex watch for years," Doug explained. "It was one of those takes-a-licking-keeps-on-ticking kinds of watches, and I brought it with me everywhere, including on a lot of our adventures. That watch had seen Asgard, the future, the past, and I don't know how many workouts. When I was... temporarily incapacitated for that couple of years... who ended up with it..? Didn't you have it, Dani?"

"No, it was in storage," Dani told him, looking thoughtful. She then broke into another grin. "That was the funny part. Even though you were technically dead, a whole bunch of your stuff got put into storage, as though we were waiting for you to get back. Then Mr. Sinister blew up the school."

"I'll never forget it," Rahne giggled. "It was one of the only things we found intact amidst the rubble. An' it was still tickin'."

"So when I got back," Doug went on, "Dani gave it back to me. The stupid thing was outliving me. Then I wore it into the Danger Room once, and... kaput. I hit the floor wrong, and it stopped, beyond repair."

"Awwwwww," most of the others chorused in.

"Now ye'll have one that'll p'rhaps not need to be exposed to such an... adventurous life."

"I'll drink to that," said Dani.

"Okay, what d'we have next?" Ric went on, pulling out a long box. "This one's to Angie from Dani," he read off the tag.

"Wait, she needs to open the ones from me and Warlock together," Dani interjected. "It's a theme thing."

Ric shrugged and handed the box to Angie, then rummaged in the floor for the others. "Okay, a little one from Warlock, and another one from Warlock."

"The other one from me's in my room," Dani added, standing up to go and get it. She came back with a six-foot long length of wood with a small red ribbon tied around the middle. "I'm afraid it didn't lend itself to wrapping very well."

"A quarterstaff?" Doug asked, mildly surprised.

"Mon Dieu, it's lovely!" Marie-Ange smiled, accepting it from Dani. It was ramrod-straight, carved with twelve sides, enabling her to get a good grip on it, and was made of a darkly stained wood. "Is it oak? The weight is perfect!"

"Yeah, it's oak," Dani nodded. "I thought it should be something sturdy. Go on, open the other."

Passing the staff to Doug, Marie-Ange tore the paper from a non-descript white box. She opened this as well, and rummaged through the tissue inside. Her eyes widened as she pulled out a basket-hilt rapier in an ornate leather scabbard. She unsheathed it, and let the light shine on the polished steel blade. "Oh, Danielle," she whispered, "it's beautiful!"

"Doug told me once that you told him once that you'd really gotten into fencing and staff combat," Dani shrugged, smiling at Marie-Ange's obviously delighted shock. "But it's not just for show. It's tough enough to use, too."

"That's cool," Ric nodded, appreciatively. "This house needs more swords, man."

"Self expresses anticipation at reaction to gifts presented by self, friendAngie," Warlock said, then, handing the two other boxes to her.

"Merci, Warlock," she smiled back, starting with the larger of the two boxes. It, too, was non-descript and filled with tissue, but from this one came a large clear-crystal goblet. Upon closer inspection, they could see that a rearing unicorn had been delicately etched into one of the larger facets. "Oh, Warlock..." she whispered, turning it in the light. "Thank you!"

"Go on and do the other one," Dani suggested. "It'll complete the cycle."

More curious than ever, now, she attacked the smallest of the wrapped packages and brought out a small jewelbox, inside which she found two sterling silver earrings, each in the shape of a star circumscribed by a perfect circle. "Oh, merci," she sighed. "Merci beaucoup."

"Self understands that this symbol is one of great power, as told by arcane sources," Warlock smiled back.

"Anyway, Warlock and I teamed up on this one," Dani added. "We thought you should have a full set."

"What do you... oh!" Marie-Ange burst out laughing.

"I don't get it," Doug admitted.

Getting her laughter under control, she pointed to each of the four gifts in turn. "Wand, cup, sword, and pentacles," she grinned.

"Oh!" Doug nodded, comprehension dawning with a smile.

"Well, fill me in, 'cause I still don't get it," Ric shrugged.

"Those are the four symbols of the Tarot," Marie-Ange explained. "A full set, indeed. Thank you." She leaned over to give Warlock a hug, and Dani knelt down beside them to do the same.

Rahne looked mildly uncomfortable with the revelation, so she got the next package ready. "This one is f'r Douglas from Dani," she read. "Och, 'tis heavy, too!"

"Geez, it sure is," Doug agreed, setting it across his lap.

"I should warn you," Dani pointed out, "that when I give to multiple people, I go in themes with that, too."

"Aha," Doug nodded, tearing the paper away and opening the box. He very carefully pulled out a very large sword, and lay it across his lap, eyes bugged. "Holy smoke, Dani!"

"That," she explained, "is a genuine Asgardian hand-and-a-half sword. I've been carrying it around with me ever since I left Asgard, and I thought you might like to have it."

"Damn, it's... very big." He grinned at Dani. "This reminds me of the sword I completely failed to use that time in that meadhall."

"Yeah, you told me about that," she laughed. "But if you ever want to learn how to use that sucker, I'll be more than happy to teach you."

"Cool," Doug nodded, momentarily removing it from its back-sheath, then putting it away. "Pumping iron the old-fashioned way."

"Observation:" Warlock added, then. "Self's gift to frienDoug is also according to theme." He picked up another large box and handed it across the circle to his friend.

"Theme, huh?" Doug grinned, opening the box quickly and neatly. Inside, again wrapped in tissue, Doug found...

"A crossbow?!" he asked, amazed, even as he pulled it out. Sure enough, it was a genuine double-shot wooden crossbow, and appeared to be a replica of the type used in antiquity. "This is outrageous! Did you two raid a Renaissance fair, or what?"

"Is frienDoug displeased?" Warlock asked, looking worried.

"No, not at all! This is really neat! I've always wanted to learn to shoot one of these suckers."

"I can teach you that, too," Dani smirked.

"Self gained idea from watching movies such as 'Beastmaster' and 'Ladyhawke,' and hearing of frienDoug's interest in medieval weaponry."

"Thanks, 'Lock. Man, we'll need to make one of the guest rooms into an armory to keep all of this stuff in."

Rahne threw up her hands in a melodramatic way. "Enough a'ready with the weapons. Let's get on wi' somethin' more peaceful."

"Yeah," Ric nodded, eager to keep going. He seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. "Here's a bunch'a stuff for Angie from me an' Rahne." He passed her a series of packages.

"Merci, Rictor," she nodded to him, opening them one by one. They turned out to be a very complete set of art equipment, including an easel, a palette, a set of watercolors, some canvases, some charcoal pencils, and brushes of any number of sizes and thicknesses. "C'est magnifique! Merci! Oh, I cannot tell you how good it will be to paint again. Thank you both!"

"Y're quite welcome," Rahne nodded, though her smile looked a little strained. She kept the ball rolling, though, by handing another box to Doug. "This is from Ric, Douglas."

"She helped me pick it out, though," Ric added.

Doug unwrapped the package to find a very complicated two-octave harmonica, along with a neck-mount to allow it to be played with no hands. "Ric, this is awesome!" Doug grinned, picking it up out of the case. "It's got the shift button and everything. Coolness!"

"Now you can play along better with those Dylan songs you're always listening to," Ric smiled. "It's even got the Dylan thing for the neck."

"Now all I have to do is learn to play guitar, and Bob's in deep trouble," Doug chuckled. "Thanks, man."

During all of these exchanges, Catseye had been waiting patiently, but now that the others were done, she looked about ready to burst with excitement. "Is Catseye's turn!" she sang out, bounding out into the room she and Angie shared to retrieve the last of the presents. She brought out two small boxes, and one much larger package. The former two, she handed to Doug. "Goldenmane will go first, yes?"

"Thanks, Sharon," he smiled, unwrapping the two boxes. They were both wooden cases, and when he opened them up, for about the millionth time that night, his eyes bugged. "Recorders!"

"Like them?" Sharon beamed.

Doug pulled out a matching set of wooden soprano and sopranino recorders, and showed them to the others. "Wow," he said, simply. "How did you know I was looking for these?"

"Asked wishbringer for idea," Catseye shrugged with a slight sigh. "Was told that goldenmane might like something to go with Madrigal music class that goldenmane likes so much."

"Thank you, Sharon," he smiled, putting them away. "I can't wait to give 'em a try."

"And last, for redhair," Sharon announced, setting the last package before Marie-Ange with no small amount of reverence.

Looking almost dubious, but in a humored way, Marie-Ange tore off the paper, revealing an oblong black instrument case. Here, Angie gasped sharply, and her eyes got still wider. "Mon Dieu," she whispered. "Mon Dieu, mon Dieu..."

"Angie, what is it?" Doug asked.

With shaking hands, she fumbled for the latches and opened the case. From inside, she pulled out a beautiful antique violin. "Mon violon," she whispered, as though she could not believe it. She looked at Sharon, shaking her head. "How..?"

"Look inside," Sharon said quietly, pointing to the small compartment inside the case where one would normally find extra strings and rosin. Marie-Ange opened it, and along with the strings and rosin, found two bundles of silk, one black, and the other lavender. Setting the violin down very carefully, she unwrapped them to find two full sets of her own hand-painted tarot cards.

"Mes cartes," she whispered, still unable to believe it. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then looked to Sharon, eyes brimming with tears. "Sharon, how..?"

"Do not worry how," Catseye smiled softly. "Just be happy."

Quite suddenly, realization dawned, and Marie-Ange's face drained of color. "Sharon, you... you went back to the Academy?"

Catseye looked away. "Yes."

"Oh, Sharon, that was dangerous! Why?"

"Was not dangerous. Most people gone for turkeyday." Here, Catseye looked back to her friend and let the soft smile return. "Was worth it to see redhair happy, yes?" She leaned closer, and the two embraced warmly, Marie-Ange whispering thanks.

"I hate to ruin the moment," Dani said quietly as they broke, "but that's a Stradivarius, isn't it?"

Doug got a closer look at the violin. "Holy smokes, it is, isn't it?"

"Oui," Marie-Ange nodded, wiping the happy tears from her eyes. "It has been in my family for generations. I was so afraid I'd lost it..."

"Stradivarius," Warlock repeated, testing the word.

"What, is that good?" Ric asked.

"Well, if nothing else, it means that thing's worth somewhere in five figures at least," Doug nodded. "And you actually play it?"

"Oui, bien sûr!" Angie smiled, picking it up and testing the strings with her thumbs. "It has the most wonderful sound."

"Would ye play somethin' for us?" Rahne ventured.

"Yeah!" Doug agreed. "Come on, knock us dead."

Smiling almost self-consciously, she tuned the strings, then removed her bow from the case and tightened it. "I'm not certain where to start," she said, placing the violin to her chin and holding the bow at ready. "Mozart, perhaps?" She started with the opening bars of 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,' which even Ric recognized. "Non, non, perhaps Beethoven." She segued into the dramatic 'Da da da dum' opening of Beethoven's Fifth, then made a face. "Non. How about bluegrass?" Much to everyone's surprise, she started a very freestyle rendition of 'The Orange Blossom Special,' sounding as though she'd just stepped off the stage at the Grand Old Opry.

When she finished, she got a smattering of impressed applause from the others. "I don't suppose you know any Charlie Daniels?" Dani asked, jokingly.

"Bien sûr!" Marie-Ange replied, feigning shock. Without another word, she launched into the rather extensive violin part from 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia,' to Dani's extreme delight. She started clapping with the beat, and soon had everyone else doing the same. She, Doug and Ric started to sing the lyrics, but with liberal adjustments, such as substituting a girl named Angie for the boy named Johnny, and coming up with some other pretty bizarre words, turning the song into a mutant battle of a much different kind. Pretty soon they were substituting Magneto and Professor X alternately for the devil, and had a band of X-Men joining in, and so on.

When they finished it up, everyone clapped and whooped, except for Rahne, who looked vaguely confused, but quickly got over it.

"There's got to be something fundamentally wrong with playing a song like that on a Strad," Dani laughed.

"I thought it sounded great!" Ric put in.

"Merci," Marie-Ange panted, putting the violin back in the case to rest a while. "I have not played that one in a while."

"Where in the world did you learn to play Charlie Daniels?" Doug asked her, still astounded. "I mean, Elton John was one thing, but this..?"

"One grows weary of Mozart after a while, mon brave," she grinned back, then sighed heavily. "Thank you all so much. This has been such a wonderful night."

"Definitely," Doug nodded, getting his old mischievous look back. "In fact, at this point, I'd say there's only one thing that could make it better."

Dani recognized his look right away. "Jacuzzi?"

"Jacuzzi. Anyone want to join me?"

Once everyone had a chance to get changed, the party reconvened under the stars, in the open-air "hub" of the house. Doug was the first one out, and he got the pool and jacuzzi lights going, removing the cover from the latter to find it nice and warmed up. Gingerly, he stepped into the steaming water, and reached around behind himself to turn on the air jets. Soon, the tub was bubbling and foaming like a witches' brew.

Rahne was the next one out, wrapped in a huge beach towel. She gave Doug a soft, self-conscious smile. "How's the water?"

"Just fine, Rahne. Come on in."

She hesitated, and then sat at the edge of the tub, dangling her feet in, not yet unwrapping herself from her towel. "Are ye sure it'll fit seven?"

"It should. We'll probably need to get cozy, but we're all friends here, right?"

"Aye, I s'pose, but... F'rgive me, Douglas, but I dinna know if I'll e'er get used t' this California lifestyle of yuirs."

"Oh, just get in the water, Rahney. Trust me; it'll do a world of good, and you look like you could use the relaxation."

"P'rhaps so," she nodded. She then gave him a very meaningful Look. With a humored sigh, Doug averted his eyes. There was the sound of fabric shuffling as she slipped out of her towel and into the water. When Doug looked back, she'd let herself sink down to neck level.

"This is t'be relaxin'?" she asked, dubiously.

"Well, you're doing it wrong," Doug laughed.

"What d'ye mean?"

He demonstrated by sitting up straight on the concrete bench that circled the inside of the tub, and draping his arms over the edge, leaning his head back to look at the stars. "Like this."

She tried to mimic him, but with her concern over keeping as much of herself invisible as possible, she didn't quite get it. Still, the motion of the warm water was soothing to her tense muscles. "'Tis nice," she admitted.

"You should try it without the suit sometime," Doug suggested.

There was a pause. "I beg yuir pardon?"

"Uh, when no one else is around, that is. Seriously. California style hot-tubbing rule number one says no suits. It's far more relaxing."

"I dinna think we're all that good'a friends, Douglas," she shook her head.

"I don't know," Doug continued to tease her. "Talk about your bonding experiences..."

Rahne was rescued by the arrival of Warlock and Rictor. Ric eased himself in and quickly slid over next to Rahne, letting her tentatively lean on him. Warlock was dressed for the occasion, simulating nothing more than swim trunks for clothing, but chose not to get into the water.

"Aw, c'mon, 'Lock, it's fine!" Ric urged him.

"Negative response, friendRictor," Warlock frowned. "Since time of self's reconstruction, self has been more susceptible to negative effects from water. Immersion causes inability to maintain coherent form. Self will stay on edge of tub and participate in social gathering."

Dani, Marie-Ange and Sharon arrived last; Dani had supplied the other two with suits, considering that neither of them had brought any along. Dani and Angie were wearing one-piece maillots, and Sharon had been given one of Dani's old two-pieces, with a hole cut in the back to accommodate her tail. Dani slipped into the water between Doug and Rahne, and Marie-Ange carefully stepped in next, opposite Dani, so that Doug was between them.

Sharon, however, stood at the very edge of the pool and looked down at the frothing water with a mix of reluctance and dread.

"Come on, Sharon, you'll like it," Doug assured her.

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Catseye hates getting fur soaked." With the very small bikini she was wearing, the others couldn't help but notice that she had a decent amount of fur even in this form, and not just her mane and tail. She had thin, light traces of the same lavender fur over much of her arms, legs, and back.

Marie-Ange stood up on the bench and took her friend's hand. "Come. It's like a hot bath. And you'll get dry again; don't worry."

With an exaggerated sigh, Sharon grimaced at them, then lowered one of her long legs into the water, following it with the other one. She then dropped the rest of the way down and submerged herself completely. When she broke the surface again, her mane was plastered to her face.

Rahne giggled at the sight. "Now what'd ye go do that for, ye silly?"

Catseye shrugged. "If going to get wet anyway, may as well get it over with all at once, yes?"

"I guess that makes some kind of sense," Dani acknowledged.

For a while, the group just sat in silence, six of them forming a close circle inside the tub while Warlock reclined behind Dani and Rahne.

"You know," Ric pointed out at length, "I bet the X-Men never do anything like this."

This got a ripple of laughter, and Doug nodded. "And there, my friend, you have their problem. I tell you, if you put those guys in a jacuzzi once in a while, I think it'd solve all their problems."

"Sez you," Dani snorted. "I don't know about you, but I don't want to be the one to share a tub with Scott, Jean, and Logan."

"Somehow I canna picture, say, Bishop in swim trunks," Rahne shrugged.

"Did you guys ever tub together at the Academy?" Doug asked Marie-Ange and Sharon.

"Actually," Marie-Ange grinned, "we did, once or twice. We preferred the sauna, though, as Sharon would not have to get wet, and Etienne would not risk electrocuting us. We made several of our most important team decisions in that sauna."

"There, you see?" Doug laughed. "Now that's true team togetherness. You've got to respect that in a group."

"The group that sweats together?" Dani suggested.

"Self believes non-combat time spent in company of teammates and friends to be well-spent," Warlock added. "Self is pleased to spend social occasions with self's friends, as well as team activities."

"Actually, you're onto something there, 'Lock," Dani nodded. "We all pretty much got to know one another by fighting and adventuring alongside one another. Or in some cases, against one another. Sometimes it seemed we were thrown together by fate."

"There is truth in that, mon amie," Marie-Ange agreed. "Were we not mutants, it is unlikely any of us would ever have met."

"Ah, I don't know," Doug shrugged. "I guess I can't regret what's happened in the past, 'cause it's made us the people we are now. But I'll tell you what; I'd rather spend time with my friends in a jacuzzi than on a battlefield any day of the week."

"Yeah, better for camaraderie," Dani smiled. "We should make this a regular thing."

"You think so?" Doug chuckled. "Yeah, I guess; it gets us all in one place at once. I feel like I should call roll or something."

"This first annual Go West hot tub meeting will come to order," Warlock put in, in a stuffy, officious voice.

"There we go," Doug nodded. "What's on the agenda?"

"I haven't got the agenda," Dani shrugged. "Who had the agenda?"

"I think it was Rahne," Ric suggested. "Whaddya say, chica? What's first on the agenda?"

Rahne had been leaning on Ric's shoulder and about ready to doze off, but at his question, she blinked and straightened up. "Aye, the agenda... Ah... well, there is the matter of savin' the world yet again."

"Ah, yes," Doug nodded. "The world just can't bloody well take care of itself, and someone's got to save the day yet again. Do I have any proposals?"

"Yo," Dani said, raising one hand. "Right here."

"The floor recognizes Ms. Moonstar," Doug nodded.

"Thenk yew, Mr. Ramsey," she nodded back. "I move that we leave the world-saving and all of that to the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four, considering it's much more their... idiom."

"I second that motion," Marie-Ange laughed.

"The floor recognizes Ms. Colbert," Doug said, continuing to officiate the meeting.

"Say hello to the floor, Angie," Ric added.

"I certainly shall, M'sieu Torres. Hello, floor."

"Hi, Angie," Ric replied in a low, gravelly voice.

"If the floor is finished recognizing Ms. Colbert," Doug went on, "I believe we should take the matter to a vote."

"Excellent suggestion, selfriend Mr. Ramsey," Warlock put in, keeping in the spirit of things.

"You all pulling Catseye's leg, yes?" Sharon asked, giving the group a dubious look.

"Just run with it, Ms. Smith," Dani suggested with a wink.

"Very well," Doug nodded. "All in favor of leaving the saving of the world to those better equipped for the job, say 'Aye!'"

"AYE!" came seven voices in unison.

"All opposed?" Doug asked.

Silence.

"Very well, the motion carries," Doug smiled. "Let it go into the record that Go West has decided, by unanimous vote I might add, to leave the world-saving to the big guys. Should the world still be imperiled at our next hot tub meeting, we shall consider a recount."

"Excellent, Mr. Ramsey," Dani smirked.

"Yar, Ms. Moonstar," Doug smirked back.

"Score one for team unity," Ric nodded.

"Such as we are," Rahne pointed out.

From there, the conversation drifted for a while, and then the group once again lapsed into a long silence, and just soaked, enjoying the evening.

Eventually, though, there had been more than enough evening to be enjoyed. Dani was the first to admit defeat, standing up and making a great show of stretching. "That's it for me," she announced. "Good night, everyone. Let's do this again soon."

"Definitely," Doug smiled.

"Dani, wait up," Rahne said, then. She paused to give Ric a small kiss on the cheek, then slipped out of the water like a seal and followed the other girl back into the house.

"We seem to be losing our female compatriots, Mr. Ramsey," said Ric, still using his officious voice.

"Catseye not going anywhere," Sharon shrugged.

"Ah, well," Ric half-yawned. "Hey, 'Lock, what say we call it a night?"

"Self is functioning well within normal limits," Warlock replied. "There is no need for recharge at present time."

"Yeah, well, what say we call it a night anyway?" Ric insisted, with a not-so-surreptitious jerk of the head toward the others.

Warlock picked up on his meaning fairly quickly. "Perhaps self should assume dormant form and run self-diagnostics," he nodded. "Self wishes selfriends a good night."

"You too, 'Lock," said Doug, holding one hand out so Warlock could slap him five. Warlock then assumed a more mobile form and rolled out of the hub, followed by Ric. Before he left, though, Ric looked back at Doug and actually winked.

If Sharon or Marie-Ange had noticed Ric's furtive glances, they weren't admitting to it. For a long time, the three sat in silence and just looked at each other. Then, finally, Catseye seemed to get the implied hint.

"Sleepytime for Catseye," she sighed, giving them each a big smile. "Did redhair and goldenmane enjoy late birthdays?"

"Merci, Sharon," Marie-Ange said softly. "It was very thoughtful of you to suggest this."

"Definitely," Doug agreed. "One of these days we'll have to return the favor."

"Phaugh," Catseye snorted, waving his comment aside. "Catseye always happy to throw a party, yes? And was good to see redhair and goldenmane happy."

"If that was your intent, ma chatte, you've succeeded," Marie-Ange whispered, reaching to take Sharon's hand. "I... must ask, though. When you went to the Academy, did you... did you see Jennifer?"

"No," Catseye replied, shaking her head sadly. "Jennyluck and others gone for turkeyday."

Marie-Ange nodded, looking wistful. "Thank you for trying."

Catseye smiled again, and drifted across the water to Doug. Then, before he could even think of making a move to defend himself, she took his face in both of her hands and kissed him full on the lips, her mouth open wide. It was a nice, long, sustained kiss, and Doug was quite taken by surprise, to say the least.

He was even more surprised when, after they broke, Sharon turned to Marie-Ange and did exactly the same thing. Angie seemed far less surprised than Doug, however.

That done, Sharon gave them both a last smile and slipped out of the tub, dragging her wet tail behind her.

After she was gone, Doug gave Marie-Ange a wide-eyed look. "Um..."

"She... does that," Marie-Ange explained, smiling at his shock. "It's something to get used to."

"Uh, yeah."

"Think nothing of it. It's just Sharon being Sharon."

"Right." Doug was having a difficult time ridding himself of the image of the two of them kissing right there in front of him. "Can I ask a weird question?"

"Of course," she nodded.

"Is Sharon... bisexual?"

Marie-Ange opened her mouth to reply, but then hesitated, considering this. "I do not believe," she said, carefully choosing her words, "that Catseye has any sort of sexuality at all, at least not in the way you and I would understand the word. She is simply... very affectionate to those she cares for, and she shows her affection with no distinction between sexes. So... non, I would say that she is not."

"Uh huh. Well... can I ask another?"

"Please."

He paused, thinking of how to put this. "Are you?" he ventured at length.

She arched her eyebrows at him. "Aren't we all, to a degree?"

"That's not what I asked."

"Douglas," she sighed, "does it matter?"

"Not really," he shrugged. Either way, he'd still feel the same way about her, he imagined. "Still, I wouldn't mind knowing, if you don't mind telling."

She paused in reflection for a moment. "I have had... feelings... which I cannot dismiss, nor ignore," she said, delicately. "If you're asking whether or not I've ever been attracted to another woman, then yes, I have. But I am not ready to label myself just yet."

Doug shook his head slowly, but he was smiling. "You sound just like Dani."

"C'est vrai?" she asked, looking mildly surprised.

"Yeah. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I've just grown used to the labels, I guess."

"An unfortunate side effect of this society," she nodded.

"You can say that again."

There was a brief pause, and then Marie-Ange went on. "You and she are very close, n'est-ce pas?"

"Excuse me?"

"You and Danielle."

"Oh, yeah," Doug grinned. "Dani and I are buds. Best of friends."

"Is there... more to it than that?"

Now it was Doug's turn to hesitate. "Well, not now, no. There used to be." He let his thoughtful look slowly become a smile. "We got over it, though. We're still really close, but we're Just Friends."

"I see," Marie-Ange nodded, sounding perhaps a bit more relieved than she would have liked to have let on.

Doug laughed. "Now that we've completely bared our personal lives here... did you have a good time tonight?"

"Oh, bien sûr," she smiled. "Thank you."

"I wish I'd known there'd be a birthday party," he added, guiltily. "I'd have gotten you a present."

"Douglas," she whispered, "you've opened your home and your heart to us. You've given us a place to belong again. And you did so knowing..."

He nodded before she could finish the thought. "It's okay. You can stay here. You're among friends."

"Friends, then?" she asked, giving him a look of curiosity.

"Ah, well... yeah, I suppose so. Though I would..." he trailed off.

"Yes?" she nudged.

"I'd... like to see how this ends up. Do you know what I mean?" He gave her a desperate look, hoping that the meaning had been conveyed in spite of the syntax.

Smiling softly, she turned to him in the water, put her arms around him, and held him to her for a moment. Doug quickly got his own arms into place, and they shared the embrace for a long while. Then, she met his eyes, and gave him a small kiss on the lips. It was certainly not as intense as the one he'd been given by Sharon, but it conveyed far more by way of meaning.

"Good night, Douglas," she whispered, smiling shyly. She then slipped away from his arms, pulled herself out of the tub, and headed back into the house.

Doug watched her until she vanished from sight. He then brought the heel of his hand to his forehead and let himself sink beneath the surface of the water. This relationship was proving to be far more interesting than he ever would have guessed.
 
 

Next: "Stars Overhead"

Go West #12: "Dance With a Stranger"
by Jeremy Bottroff, 14 January 1994

This story (c) 1994, 1999 Jeremy Bottroff

"Dance With a Stranger," performed by Yanni, music by Yanni, (c) 1989, 1999 23rd Street Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP), from the album NIKI NANA

"Time, Love and Tenderness" performed by Michael Bolton, from the album TIME, LOVE AND TENDERNESS

Bevatron, Bishop, Marie-Ange Colbert (Tarot), Roberto DaCosta (Sunspot), Jean Grey (Marvel Girl), Logan (Wolverine), Magneto, Danielle Moonstar (Mirage), Douglas Ramsey (Cypher), Rictor, Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane), Mister Sinister, Sharon Smith (Catseye), Jennifer Stavros (Roulette), Scott Summers (Cyclops), Warlock, Charles Xavier (Professor X), Massachusetts Academy, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men (c) 1999 Marvel Entertainment Group

Ben Aldridge is still (c) himself.  Yo bass!

Timex... It takes a licking, and keeps on ticking.  Except in the Danger Room.

When in La Jolla, visit scenic La Jolla Shores and the La Jolla Cove