with amusement as the couple on the floor ripped through the energetic Charleston. He shook his head and laughed, imagining himself on the floor. It was too funny. When the music changed to a slower tempo (more his speed, anyway), he saw K.C. take Lady Reylari on the floor. Yui Be promptly sat herself down on the table and began picking through the food close to her, sampling the many delicacies she found. He thought he saw Kiki glance at him, perhaps a bit shyly?

"May I have this dance, Kiki," John asked.

"Of course, monsieur," she replied in her slightly accented English. "I'd be delighted."

John took her hand and led her to the dance floor. As they moved to the music, neither one of them spoke, each lost in their own thoughts. Perhaps it was the music. Or maybe it was the perfume Kiki was wearing. A chill run down John's spine as he felt soft, silky hair touching his cheek and a soft voice whispering in his ear, "Je t'aime, mon chéri." He rested his check against her temple and whispered, "Je t'aime, ma chérie."

No longer was he holding a petite brunette dressed in light cotton veils, but a willowy, dark haired, black eyed girl with a light laugh and eyes that sparkled when the light hit them just so. John James felt his heart stop as he looked at her, just as it had when he had first met her. Lynette. Lovely, lost Lynette.

John was brought abruptly back to the present when Kiki, who heard his whispered words, pulled back from him and looked him sternly in the eyes. She was about to say something when she saw that he appeared confused, almost lost, as he looked around the Blue Lotus. It's almost as though he's looking for someone, she thought.