Alex smiled as she moved among their guests, greeting those she knew. It was a wonderful party, one that she never expected that they'd have this holiday season. It was also a large one, with people in the drawing room, the conference room, the large hall, even on the upper landing. They had moved the piano out to the hall, and there was a large Christmas tree on the other side of the room. The smell of the evergreen wreaths and decorations added to the festivities. Gazing around the room, she once more marveled at how beautiful the castle looked. Lights adorned the windows and wove along the banisters, lifting her spirits, as did the Santa hats on the various statues. She touched the soft material of the one atop the armor. Even poor Edward the Black Prince had a bright red hat. Derek always found it...

Derek... What is the world was she going to do about her actions after he walked out of the house... Should she continue to try and pretend that it was nothing? She was simply very happy that he was alive. It was nothing more than that.

Right... He certainly couldn't know her feelings, especially after their kiss in front of the portal...

Alex knew she was a coward for not confronting him about it. For all she knew, he might see it as something not worth discussing. He was her boss; it was only their reactions to the events of the evening. But it was something that she'd been having trouble with since he emerged from the house that night. The whole night seemed like a nightmare at first. Rachel had helped her up from the ground and they had looked back and realized what Derek had done. She had been unable to breath, fearing the detonation of the C-4 at any moment. The brilliant white illumination that had exploded through the castle had briefly frightened her, dreading the blast she was sure would follow. Instead, Alex had soon spotted him walking down the stairs toward the griffin as if it were a normal autumn evening and they had a perfectly ordinary reason to be outside waiting for him.

Without thinking she had screamed his name and run into his arms. She had pulled back to look at him, to touch him, tears coming down her face. Then she had kissed him. She had thrown her arms around his neck and kissed him. Her face warmed again as she remembered. He had responded, returning her kiss, before the others joined them. Maybe she was just being foolish. After all, Rachel had kissed him too. All right, so it wasn't as... exuberant as hers. It was merely the excitement of the moment, of seeing him alive. Derek knew that. Maybe she might have dealt with it already, if not for these frequent trips to London. Why were there so many of them if he had told the Ruling Council what had happened? Was it because they didn't believe him? Did they question his survival? Or the way he did it...

She shook her head as she absentmindedly brushed at her red velvet dress. All that would have to wait for another day. Here she was at a marvelous holiday party, and she was worrying about things she could do nothing about. She walked into the conference room, and a grating voice assailed her ears. Oh, oh. Why Derek had invited that woman to the party... She noticed Bernard Maguire being corralled by Mavis Norwood. If she knew Mavis, the poor man would soon need rescuing.

"Hello, Bernard, Mavis. Are you enjoying yourselves tonight?" His eyes turned to her in gratitude. Mavis, however, gave her a stony glare. "I was telling Bernard about my trip to Paris."

"Now, Mavis, you don't have enough time to do that. Besides," Alex put her arm in Bernard's, "you don't want to limit yourself to one handsome man when we have invited so many." She smiled at the other woman as she led the young man away. "You really have to meet this friend of mine, Bernard. I think the two of you would hit it off."

"Thanks, Alex," he whispered to her as they moved through the crowd. "I was afraid that she would talk my ear off."

The dark woman giggled. "I know what you mean. She is a very smart woman and can be very interesting. It's just that she..."

"Alex!" Nick grabbed her elbow. "Sorry, Bernie," he said to the young man at her side, "but I need her for a few minutes."

"Nick, what's going on?" she asked as he dragged her along.

"You have *got* to see this." He had the most foolish grin on his face, one that she hadn't seen for a long time. "You won't believe it. It's almost blackmail material."

"Nick! See what? What are you ta..." she murmured until she heard music coming from the foyer as the Legacy members neared the drawing room. Whoever it was had damn well better have Derek's permission to...

"It is the night of our dear Savior's birth..." Her eyes widened in shock as they stopped a few feet away. Nick spun to her and gestured to the man in front of them. She knew he could sing; she had heard him on rare occasions. But to see him sitting there, playing as if it were the most natural thing to do at one of his parties...

Nick's laughter cut into her thoughts. "Who *is* this guy?"

Alex walked slowly toward the piano, and Derek smiled at her as he continued to play. "I thought this would be a nice surprise for our guests."

"They're not the only ones," she said softly.

The precept laughed and she had to laugh with him. "I take requests, by the way. Do you have one in particular you'd like to hear?"

It had been a long time since she had seen him so relaxed and happy, and she felt an incredible joy at the sight. "Are we going to play 'Stump the Piano Player?'" she teased. She thought for a moment. "How about 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen?' And what do I win if you don't know it?"

His eyes sparkled. "Oh, you'll get your prize later."

She reddened at the implications of his remark. He gazed at her as he began to sing once more, and she looked at him in amazement. Her precept was definitely startling her tonight... His voice was clear and strong as he continued, and soon she and others joined in. By the end of the carol a large group was singing:

"...To save us all from Satan's power When we were gone astray Oh tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and joy Oh tidings of comfort and joy..."

End part 2