Of course he'd make it good? She almost snorted. What was he even doing with his hands? One on her waist and one on her shoulder? "Where did you learn how to dance?" she asked with a laugh, grabbing the hand that was on her shoulder. He was supposed to hold her waist and her HAND. Dummy.

She SUPPOSED she would dance with him. SIGH. She was only here to look pretty and check out other people that looked pretty. "It's alright." she shrugged. "Cool place to have it and all... Were we supposed to wear a costume?" Or was there something in the water at the Ministry that made some of the employees have incredibly strange senses of fashion?

"Yes. Definitely, haven't done this before." he smiled, moving a little slowly - because of her dress. Of course, he didn't fear her tripping because if she did, she would trip right into his arms.

Fifteen years?

Cole's expressions were visibly shocked. "Wow. We are getting old, Alexandria" he stated, a nostalgic kind of smile lingering near his lips.

He couldn't help but agree with what she said. "You are right, madame. We certainly could not have," he said, suddenly giving her a perfect twirl. See when they were kids there were a lot of awkward stuff. Awkward feelings, awkward dancing, awkward kissing - not awkward awkward. They just hadn't been SURE of everything.

When the song playing turned a little slower, Cole didn't feel afraid of pulling her a little closer - well as closer as it could get with that hoop of a dress in between them. Nonetheless, it felt nice. "Did I tell you? You look really beautiful, Alex" She ALWAYS did. Whenever he asked her to dates like these.

Jamie was still so surprised that a girl, no, a person wanted to dance with him. For someone as good looking as Jameson Carmichael he really wasn't one to see if others noticed him. The thirty-three year old was very happy to have someone to dance with. Did she not know that he was a borderline horrible dancer. He could waltz but he could do the fancy stuff like Ballet or dancing to fast music. "Yeah, yeah lets try to." He beamed and agreed. Jamie would be perfectly find just as long as he didn't step on her foot. Jamie was confused. Was this girl flirting with him or just being nice? He wasn't one to tell the difference. As she took his hand he blushed a bit.

As Jamie walked he behind her he was trying to figure out who this woman was. He was pretty sure that he had never seen her in the Ministry but he mostly just kept to his department. There was no denying that this woman wasn't beautiful but she was also dance with a complete stranger and she seemed okay with it but he also seem okay with it too. "I'm Jameson Carmichael. You?"

Oh good. He got her sense of humor in that they hadn't done this before. But why the shocked expression? HMM? It wasn't that bad, was it? "Maybe so, but I'm like a fine wine. I get better with age." She winked at him playfully. At that was about the extent of her egotism.

She spun around with him to the music a moment - enjoying the silence - savoring it. It did feel nice. He was not her Australian mentor, but he was ... better... he was her knight, in every possibly lame pun of the word.

When he pulled her closer, she couldn't help drawing her eyes towards him, specifically at his lips. How long had that been? Staring at his lips, she barely heard him in telling her she looked beautiful. Her mind was elsewhere. It was even oblivious to the fact that her adoptive work sister (Jasmine) had found herself a dance partner. Instead, her lips parted slightly and quietly whispered just a few words. "I tell myself that I can't hold out forever ... cause I feel so secure when we're together."

Jazz smiled and was glad the guy accepted the invitation to dance. It seemed upbeat so there wasn't too much waltzing. As she looked over her shoulder leading him into the dance floor, she saw him blush. Now that was adorable. She looked away and grinned to herself. I guess she could have affect on men.

She noticed he was giving her quizzical looks. He would soon find out who she was eventually. Oh? His name was Jameson. That was interesting. She never heard of it before. "Nice to meet you Jameson Carmichael.." she said trying to be a little fancy. "I am Jasmine Lenkim or you can call me Jazz for short." she said while dancing a little bit. She was loving the beat of this music. "I am also from the Environmental Protection and Regulation floor." she said also including her department.

Dancing close he smiled at his date. She was the most beautiful woman there. He wasn’t able to take his eyes off of her. “You trying to butter me up for something?” His playful smirk on his lips. Spinning her and then pulling her close again he let his arms tighten around her waist. “They’ll just have to get over it now won’t they?” He leaned meeting her lips.

His brow raised as she said she would hold him to it. Pulling away from the dancing he grabbed her hand and made like he was going to leave. “Let’s find something now.” Taking few steps away before turning back laughing and wrapping his arms around her once more to dance. His laughter continued with her next statement. “Practice does make perfect they say.” Though his smile faltered a bit thinking about the words he said and then quickly spinning her to avoid any awkward they might bring. With the last few months so many things had changed between them.

New employees, it was that time of year for them he supposed. The ministry ran on such an odd schedule. Closing for weeks in December. He really wondered how well the MLE even kept things running while the employees were off on break. No wonder there were not captures of criminals. “I’ll just follow you around like a puppy then?” He didn’t do puppy, but he’d sit and have a drink while she mingled. His grin forming at her words, “I like the sound of that. I want you to have a good time.” Make this New Years better than the last.

Oh her friend and employee was dating, that was good. She was nice from what he knew of her, so it was nice he supposed to know she was dating yet again. Hopefully this time it would last. She had kids to different people if he remembered correctly. Did that say something about her? “Well being a single parent, I bet you’re right about needing a night out.” He couldn’t imagine it.

Harmony was currently doing something that was a mix between the funky chicken and the charleston as she watched the younger witch curiously. Seemed like a waste not to dance and move, especially when the music was as catchy as this particular tune playing was.

"AH! Evironmental protection!" The red had clapped her hands together, her smile radiant. "We share a level, then." Which meant they were neighbors, did she know? "Oh time is a very healing place, one in which you can grow." The department head waved her hand airily, quoting something she'd read that had resonated with her. "I feel like I've been there for years."

Ronnie watched in amusement as Harmony danced. She'd never seen a dance like that before, but she liked it! "I really like your dance, I want to try it!" she exclaimed, watching Harmony a bit more before she began to attempt to do the same dance. "That look about right?" she asked, laughing. Harmony seemed like a fun person. And she was a great dancer, too.

Oh yeah! They did share a level, didn't they? Ronnie had almost forgotten. Guess she still didn't quite know her whereabouts. That was alright though. But that quote Harmony said was quite interesting...she'd never heard it! "I've never heard that before, what's it from?" she asked curiously. Or was it even a quote? Who knew, Harmony could have just made it up right on the spot. That would be pretty cool.

"Really?" Ronnie asked, smiling. "I haven't been there for too long, I still don't know many people," she said with a sigh, glancing around herself at the people dancing around her. Yeah, she barely knew any of the faces in the room. Quite sad because she loved making friends. Perhaps she needed to get out and about more?

One thing that Jamie knew that he really didn't like about himself was the blushing. He just wished that he was able to control it. Jamie smiled as he was pulled out on to the dance floor. Part of Jamie thought that he had seen the girl before but he could be wrong. When he was at work he did see a lot of people but he still wasn't sure if he had seen her before. Maybe it was the color of her hair?

Introductions were important but he wasn't one to want to be called Jameson. That was what his mother would say to him when he was in trouble or when his older brother got him in trouble. Stupid brother. Jamie followed her lead as she started to dance. He had to follow someone while dance or he would be so off and possible hurt someones foot. "Nice to meet you Jazz. You can call me Jamie." Jamie smiled. What a fancy department she was in. Anything about important stuff like that impressed him but Jamie wasn't one for the smart people departments. He loved being in the specialty area it was fun and he barely had to act him age. "I'm from the Specialty Area."

Turning as Jorge spun her, Mariel moved back in close as they danced, chuckling a bit at his words. "Not necessarily," she began with a grin, "Though it is good to know that a few well-placed compliments could possibly lead a certain direction." Clearly joking, of course. "They will.. not much they can do about it anyway." Other than be jealous, she supposed, but where was the sense in that? Smiling, she leaned in closer to kiss him.

Her eyes widened as he suddenly stopped and started to pull her away, slowly grinning a bit at his words. Then she smacked him playfully on the arm as he laughed and she chuckled a bit, wrapping her arms around him as he put his arms around her. "I would have gone with you, you know.." she said with a smirk, her voice low as she moved in closer. But it was probably best that she didn't slip away too early, needing to make an appearance first until she could be unnoticed. "Later." Her eyes met his a moment as he spoke, then turned into the spin as he guided her. She bestowed a small smile on him as she continued dancing with him. Her thoughts veered slightly off what she had meant with his words, but she supposed it rang true in a way. No matter what the past was, it shaped the present which she was rather happy with.

Mariel looked at Jorge with something of surprise before laughing a bit. "I don't think I could ever see you as the puppy following type." And that's not something she would expect from him. "I just want to enjoy the night with you." And if some of her work duties came up, she was certain he could hold his own, not that it was her intention to abandon him. She frowned a bit, realizing something, then quickly pulled herself from her thoughts, smiling again. "We will have a good time together."

"I imagine," she said with a chuckle, remembering Halloween and how difficult she thought it must be to manage two on your own. But even not single, she knew she would need a night out once in a while if she had a kid or two. She glanced at Jorge a moment, wondering how a baby might change the dynamics of their relationship.

Her gaze didn't go unnoticed. He was watching. He saw that she was not really that present in the conversation anymore. She hadn't really registered that he had complimented her, because no witty response came out of her. She was thinking something else. And he knew her enough to know it was about him.

Because that look.

And that whisper.

Cole couldn't explain it but a warm feeling spread across his chest as he remembered the last time he had heard this song with Alex near him. The school dance. And they had ...

He was conflicted, but he knew he wanted to. But did she? Cole wasn't sure but she wasn't pulling away either. That wretched dress was between them, yet he knew he could easily lean in. His eyes tried to search hers but then he noticed they were cast downward - on his own lips, he figured. As soon as the realization hit, Cole's head cleared - and without hesitation, he leaned in, lips brushing against hers.

Oooohhh so the guys name was Jamie. She was surprised. She thought it was going to be something foreign....like Fernando or something like that. But she liked it all the same. She smiled her widest smiled and said, "Well nice to meet you Jamie.." She got his name down. That was step one in the flirting department. Now it was time whether to be bold or not. But before she could decided to take his hand and dance, she heard his department. Oh? He was from the speciality area! That was interesting....

"May I ask what you do in the speciality area?" Jasmine asked while playing with her hair. "You don't have to tell me everything but like a general idea?" she asked working on her flirting skills. Her best friend was better at this than she was that was for sure. But if her best friend could see this, she would be proud.

Jamie wondered if anyone at the Ministry knew what or where the specialty area was. He didn't think there were that many people in the department he was in. The thirty-three year old had never really wondered this before but it was interesting to think about. He loved the department he was in and he was never going to leave unless they fire him or unless he has to retire from old age.

"I'm a Nursery Healer there." He had been for the last almost four years. He honestly couldn't believe that he had been at the ministry this long. It felt like just yesterday he was just applying for a job and he didn't know where he was going to go.

Jasmine was surprised to hear he was a healer. "Wowww now that is cool. I am a Permitting Officer. So I do not think my job is that cool as yours. Maybe you can take care of me one day.." she winked. Wow...now that sounded cheesy. She couldn't take that back. She knew her friend would have rolled her eyes at this one. But she took the big step. Then she smiled and took his hands and held them and danced.

His laughter was full, “You know very well that compliments get you very far with me.” He leaned in kissing her cheek. Brushing his hand against her face. “They will have to get over it, because this beauty is mine.” He wasn’t talking about himself for once , just her. She was beautiful and he knew others had to be looking at her, but they could just keep looking.

She would have gone? Now this was not something to tell him. His eyes moved around the area. He didn’t know this building well enough to pick easily. “Oh you will go don’t worry.” His smirk playful and he dipped her for the end of the song. Moving her around the dance floor as the next song began a little faster tempo his mind was thinking of places. “I will hold you to it later.” He certainly will be waiting patiently.

“No? I think I could be really good at it.” Letting go of her he tried to make a pathetic face and put his hands at his chest with his wrist flopped like little paws. “This isn’t a good enough puppy?” His mood was playful and a side of him most in the room had never seen was showing this evening. He never cared what people thought of him so this evening was no different. Pulling her in again as they danced more. “I am enjoying the evening with you. Even at a stuffy Ministry event.” It wasn’t a bad event even if it was for the ministry that he didn’t care for.

"Thanks! Just a few moves I picked up over the years!" Not that Harmony dealt in anything as common as years. She was a firm believer that age was just a number and you were as young as you felt. Clapping her hands together, the red head nodded enthusiastically. "Right on! You're a natural."

The funny thing was that Harmony had no idea where the quote was from. She'd merely read it in passing and it had stuck the way things you related to often did. "The where is not important as the why." The department head grinned and tossed her red hair over her shoulder. "Just something I read once. I really should look into it, I suppose." Maybe send some hummus to the person that first said the quote, providing they were still alive. Who didn't love hummus, right?

"Put yourself out there!" Harmony encouraged, doing a little twirl as a new song came on. "Tonight is the perfect time to start meeting people and you're already off to a good start."

A natural? This made Ronnie beam. "Why, thank you!" she said as she continued to dance around with Harmony. She was a fun person, Ronnie loved being around her already and they had only just met!

"Ah, I see! Well, I was just a bit curious. If you do find out, let me know." she said with a laugh, when suddenly, a new song came on and Harmony told her to put herself out there. The red head nodded eagerly and began dancing more right in the middle of the dance floor with her new friend. Then Harmony mentioned how Ronnie had been off to a good start on meeting people. That made her happy to know, because she wanted more friends! Glancing around her, she looked for someone to meet.

His job was cool? Jamie had never heard that before. Now his co-workers were more than cool and same goes for his boss but Jamie did feel one of these days Creswell would put him and Brad in a corner for the way they act towards each other. "Yeah? So Permitting? Do you give people permits for stuff?" Jamie had no idea what that job was about or even for. Anything that dealt with politics or law just made Jamie's head hurt. Jamie blinked. "Yeah. If you're ever I can help." Jamie looked down at his hands as the woman held them, he began to dance.

His silence as he moved with her was just enough ... and for a moment or maybe more, Alex was sure that their heartbeats were beating in time ... and though she felt silly at first, feeling like she was back in sixth year (him in seventh), she moved with him.

And felt complete, for the first time in years.

For the first time since ... Australia. And at that moment she knew why she hadn't said yes; it had nothing to do with being too young, but had everything to do with that it never felt right. Kent had been romantic and done all the right things a boyfriend should do, but there was no spark. No contentment. No imaginary conversation. No awesome moments of silence.

And certainly, no kiss like that. Glancing into Cole's eyes, she leaned forward into him (because it was easier that way with her dress) and just rested her head on his shoulder. "Does this mean we're back together again?" she whispered gently.

Jasmine chuckled like she hadn't heard the one before. "Well I just have to check to see if they are harboring any illegal plants and give them permits to let them know. If they don't hand them in I confiscate them. Something along those lines." she shrugged. She wasn't the bad guy right? She was just doing her job. "Well I am glad you can help me if I need it.." she grinned and took his hands. He seemed to like it right? She danced some more before asking another question. "So where are you from? You from around here? I never seen you around.." She is trying to keep the conversation going ya know?

Her smile grew at Jorge's words and his kiss, her eyes soon looking into his. He really had a way with words to make her feel amazing. "Of course I am," she said, smiling sweetly as she moved in a little closer while they continued dancing, unable to take her eyes off of him. "I couldn't possibly be anyone else's." Knowing how she felt about him now, she only wanted to be his anymore. Everyone else was out of luck.

Gracefully falling into the dip at the end of the song, Mariel slowly grinned at him as she straightened up again, chuckling at his words. She would go with him, no question.. the thought of it was rather exciting. The next song a bit faster, though still not the Salsa she would have preferred at the moment, but she continued dancing with him, watching him with a playful smirk. "Have you been here before? Maybe I should find us a place.." It had been a while since she had visited the museum but she was at least familiar with the layout. And the more they danced, the more prevalent it became in her mind. "Certainly not much later.."

She looked at him curiously as he pulled a way for a moment, her expression soon turned amused as she laughed a bit at the sweetest, most pathetic puppy-like face. "Oh.. how could I ever say no to that face," she said, still grinning a bit as she took his face in her hands and leaned in to kiss him. "You could follow me around all you want." Of course she was joking, knowing he wouldn't really just want to tail after her while she did work stuff, but he was being so adorable. She put her arms around him again as he pulled her closer, dancing a little more. "I'm glad you are," she grinned. "We're not always so dull and dreadful at the Ministry," she added, with a joking chuckle.

Edward led Ainsley out to the dance floor by the hand. He loved the pressure of her hand in his. It felt rather comfortable and was an altogether pleasant feeling. As he stepped into the open space of the dance floor, he looked back to her and smiled. When he manuevered them to a spot he felt was suitable, he spun around and pulled her closer to him and placed his right hand on the small of her back and his left hand reached for her right and raised them both nearly even with her shoulder. He listened for the music and on the down beat he stepped off with his left foot while saying Follow along. It will be fun. He began to move in time to the music, a nice ballad that flowed beatifully except for the haunting tones of the minor chords. He smiled down at her as they danced and asked, How is this? Am I doing it right?

Ainsley let Edward take the lead. She liked a man that knew his way around the dance floor so she could hardly contain her excitement to see his moves. Finding a perfect spot on the floor, Ainsley returned his smile. As she was pulled closer, she noticed his eyes. They were twinkling from the lights, and for a moment she was mesmerized. "Your eyes are so pretty." she blurted out. They suited him well. Looking away for a moment she tried to play off her embarrassment. Not that she really had a reason to be embarrassed or anything. Her right hand locked with Edward's and her left found a spot on his shoulder.

The blonde followed along to the music and to Edward's sways. The music really was beautiful and she was enjoying herself. Once she was over the initial awkwardness she relaxed tremendously. Ainsley felt comfortable with Edward. "You're perfect." Err... "Your dancing, I mean," He knew that Ainsley. You don't have to explain every little thing. Merlin...

Edward watched Ainsley to see how she would respond to his lead. He was pleasantly surprised that she followed rather well. He was a little nervous when she stared at him intently, but then felt a bit of heat rush to his face when she told him his eyes were pretty. He was grateful that she looked away because he didn't really know how to react. It had been some time since he'd felt this nervous.

It was very comfortable, the two of them dancing like this. She seemed relaxed after the initial time and then she told him he was perfect and he chuckled as she added to the comment. I'm glad you added the last part. I'm far from perfect. I will say however you dance wonderfully and we seem to be doing well together. At that time, the music stopped and began to move to a faster beat that was more suited to dancing like the kids did these days. He asked her Ready to go back for that tea?

Was it just her or did Edward for once seem a little flustered? It was a nice change considering that she always seemed the one to wear her heart on her sleeve. She let her mind wrap around the music, and let the anxiety fade away. She could feel Edward relaxing too. Ainsley would just have to keep the little comments to herself. It was unlike her to be so bold in the first place.

"Nobody is perfect." She would never want to be perfect anyways. "What a boring life that would be." Human flaws were beautiful, and made a person stand out. "Thank you. I have to agree with you on that one. I think we do make a nice dancing pair." This time she was sure to be detailed in her comment to ensure no further embarrassment for the time being. Noting the change in the song, she nodded in response to Edward's question. "That sounds good. The tea should be perfect now."