Moving Closer

By Donna and Ev

It wasn't far from Carol's farm to the party at the Manor, but for Dani, it seemed like it was on the other side of the world! Nickel had promised she would be there, along with the rest of the leprechaun dancers. He hugged the basket full of things for the second challenge that she had given him. Hopefully the third one wouldn't be too hard! 

He had even found a new shirt for this party and had Marie cut his hair so it was a little less wild.  He was so excited about seeing Nickel and finishing the second task that he couldn't even keep up a conversation.  He was barely aware that other people were talking to him.  

A band was playing "Daydream Believer", and seeing who it was made Carol and Marie's eyes light up. "It's the Monkees!" Marie said excitedly, grabbing Dani's arm. 

"Monkeys?" asked Dani. "Where? I thought we didn't have any of those around here!" 

Carol giggled at him and swatted his arm.  "The singing group, silly!"  

Marie laughed.  "It's a good thing you already brought your stuff over.  One of us would've had to put our stuff down to swat him.  So, Dani, will we really get to meet her tonight?"  

"Yes," he said, chewing his lip as he looked around. "She promised she would be here. He saw a couple of the leprechauns here and there in the crowd, so he had hope! 

He recognized them from the times he had been dancing with Nickel, so he headed in their direction to see if they knew where she was, while Carol helped Marie take her contribution to the food table and get it arranged.  Then Marie started scanning the crowd for a certain cute blonde guy who had promised to meet her.  

When she spotted MacGyver, her eyes lit up, and after giving Carol a hug, she dashed off to greet him. Dani, in the mean time, wandered off as well, heading the direction where he had seen Andrew and his family.

Now it was Carol's turn to go searching for someone in the crowd.  She flirted her way through the crowd until she found Wally.  He was helping Ev carry some baked goods over to the food table.  "Hi, stranger!"  She called.  

He grinned. "Where's the kid?" he said as he swept her into his arms for a hug. "Wanna dance?" 

"Oooh!"  She hugged him back enthusiastically.  "Mullard's going to bring her when she wakes up from her nap.  Won't be long.  Let's dance while we have the chance!" 

Marie and Mac were moving out into the dancing too.  The smile on Marie's face was dazzling and she snuggled into his arms.  They seemed to be doing a slow dance regardless of the actual music.  

After awhile, the Monkees finished their set of songs and left the gazebo where they had been playing for a break. No sooner had they cleared the way, little men converged on it, instruments in hand. A few minutes later, the air was filled with the toe-tapping sounds of Irish music, and to everyone's delight, a dozen lovely red heads filed out onto the dance floor, dressed in short, emerald green dresses with golden Celtic knots emblazoned across their chests. 

"Oh my god!  Look!"  Marie and Carol had drifted together, with their guys while they watched the leprechauns.  "One of them must be Nickel!  Dani's right there in the front!" 

"They're all really cute!  No wonder he's so excited about her," Carol smiled, happy for Dani.  

The diminutive dancers were a lot of fun to watch. Not a one of them was over five foot tall. Their feet moved in unison, with their arms held still against their sides. Then to Carol and Marie's surprise, Dani was one of the male dancers that joined the girls on the stage! 

Carol and Marie watched in awe!  Could this be the same Dani who tended to clumsiness around the farm?  "I've seen him trip over his own feet and look at him now!"  

Wally chuckled softly.  "He's in love."  

"And isn't it true that bein' in love gives a man wings?" a musical voice came from beside him. It was the tiny Queen of the Leprechauns. "Yer man there, he is a gud'un. Nickel will see him right." 

"He's been so different since he met her.  He's working extra hard and taking more care of his appearance all to be able to see her more often and please her.  It's been wonderful to see.  I hope we get to meet her tonight."  Marie smiled.  "I don't think I've met you before.  Welcome to Edan."  

"Me name is Mary. Mary Muldoon. Me man Seamus is the one with the beard and the jar of the creature over there drooling over the girls’ pretty legs," she said with a long-suffering sigh. 

Wally grinned.  "What creature would that be?"  He was more than willing to have a little, if they were willing to share. 

Carol rolled her eyes.  "Men are all the same, aren't they?  I'm glad to meet you, Mary.  I'm Carol.  This silly man is Wally.  I'm waiting for my other guy to get here, so we can dance a little.  He's waiting for the baby to wake up.  There he is!"  She smiled and waved at Mullard.  

"Such a grand little girl he is carrying in his arms!" Mary chuckled. "Isn't there a little tent over there set aside for them that be needin' to feed their wee ones?" 

"Yes, there is.  And I think I may be there a couple of times before the party's over," Carol smiled as she took a very fussy Fab from Mullard's arms.  "Excuse me, everyone.  I have a very hungry baby here." 

Marie hugged Mac and looked after Carol wistfully.  He couldn't help noticing and smiled.  He happened to turn and saw Wally grinning at him.  "What?"  He grinned back.  "Marie, we need to go for a walk."  They picked their way through the crowd hand in hand.  

Sometime later, the Irish musicians and dancers had been replaced by the Fab Four themselves! Taking Nickel by the hand, Dani led her through the mob of people to where he had seen Carol and Marie last. Leading her up to them, he introduced her proudly, holding onto her hand tightly, just in case she decided to disappear on him again! 

Marie and Mac had only gone a little way off and the instant she saw Dani leading one of the little redheaded dancers, they rushed back through the crowd.  She wasn't going to miss meeting this girl. 

Carol had just finished feeding Fab and was on her way out of the tent, when she spotted Dani.  She made her way out through the crowd as well as she could, with Wally clearing a path for her and Mullard at her side.  

Still puffing a little from his exertions on the dance floor, Dani pulled Nickel close to his side. "Carol, Marie, this is Nickel. I told her that we have something for her!" 

"Nickel!  I'm so glad to meet you!"  Carol reached out to touch her hand.  "Dani's talked about you so much and we didn't even believe him at first.  Now I see why he was so excited," she smiled. 

"How did you teach him to dance like that?  It's wonderful!  He has changed a lot since he met you.  All for the better,"  Marie smiled.  

Nickel smiled shyly. "He's a grand man," she said in a soft whisper. When Dani chuckled wickedly, she elbowed him hard in the belly. "When he isn't acting the boyo, that is! So, Dani, ha' ye gathered what I asked of ye?" 

"Yes, I have!"  His eyes sparkled with anticipation.  "I put it somewhere safe when I got here.  Let me get it."  He scampered off. 

Carol chuckled.  "So how do you like Edan?  Is it starting to feel like home?  I love it here, myself."  She cuddled Fab, who was smiling with interest at the new lady.  

"'Tis a grand place!" she said with a shake of her red hair, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Isn't she a little darlin'?" She closed her hand and raised it in front of the baby. "Here ye go, luv," she said, blowing on her hand. When she opened it, a dozen colorful butterflies fluttered out of her small palm. 

Fab cooed with delight and reached out a chubby little hand toward the bright things.  Carol was delighted, too!  "You've found a friend for life.  I wish I could do that."  

"'Tis no but a wee bit of Leprechaun magic!" Nickel said with a saucy grin. As Dani returned to them, a covered plate in one hand and a basket in the other, her face lit up with a bright smile. Behind him were Andrew and his daughter Angel, and the priests, who all wore amused expressions. 

The news of Dani's quests to win Nickel's favor had gone all through town over the grapevine.  This was attracting quite a lot of attention.  People had stopped even pretending not to be interested.  

Dani's face beamed with pride as he offered her these treasures.  "These are for my second challenge."  

Placing the basket on a nearby table, he held out the platter as he removed the cover. On it were several eggs resting on a bed of cherry blossoms. Around the flowers, several lemon wedges had been carefully placed. "You asked for fruit that grew in December. Connor and his crew found a grove of lemon trees on an island that month, and these were growing on them! A cherry when it is blooming has no stone, and a chicken when it is in the egg has no bone." As Nickel accepted the offered plate, Dani's face was absolutely beaming. 

Nickel smiled at him.  "And what about the rest, ye desperate little man?  Is it in the basket?"   She reached up and ruffled his hair affectionately.  

"Yes," he laughed. "I went to church and asked the good fathers here about the unshorn priest, and they told me that you are probably talking about Melchezidek that was talked about in the Bible." As Nickel nodded her head, she grinned at the priests, who were doing their best not to look smug. 

He presented the basket to her and waited for her answer, pride, love, and anxious anticipation all warring for control on his face.  Quite a crowd had gathered to hear what she would say.  The watching couples were hugging and smiling.  

A soft, knitted shawl rested on top of the basket. "Marie made it for you," Dani said proudly. "It was made with knitting needles, not woven on a loom!" 

"It's beautiful," Nickel said with sparkling eyes. "Now where is me bird without a gaul?" 

"Lift the shawl!" squealed Angel excitedly as she bounced up and down excitedly next to her father. 

Nickel laughed and did what she was told, and when the shawl was removed, a snow white dove flew out, circled around her and Dani three times, and then disappeared into the evening sky. 

The whole crowd uttered a soft "Ahhhhh...." and people discreetly crowded a little closer to hear what would happen next.  Except for Fab, of course, who chose that moment to do a very unladylike burp.  

"Well done," Nickel said proudly as Dani carefully placed the shawl around her shoulders. "Ye will be given the third and last quest with the rising of the sun on the day of the summer solstice. Till then, we dance!" 

There was cheering and applause and then people drifted off to their own celebrations, all smiling.  This was a story that would live on in Edan's history for a long time.  

Dani smiled down at Nickel, pleased with himself that he had accomplished this for her.  "I love you, Nickel."  He bent down to give her a kiss.