Save the Best For Last
Crystal tears glimmered in her eyes, the words from several months before playing like a broken record in her mind, like a merry-go-round; she was unable to get off. She felt light-headed, her stomach churning. Over� over� over. A silent tear fell down her cheek. They stood waiting for the music to begin, yet she didn�t want it to be over. She could feel his eyes on her; she couldn�t look at him. She knew, if she did, she would break down. And she had promised herself that she would never beg. Yet it hurt� it hurt badly. After more than twelve years, she hadn�t been able to see it coming. She felt as though she were losing a huge piece of herself. Her eyes closed for a moment, in an attempt to black out the pain. One final skate remained before they called it quits. Less than five minutes before they never again gripped hands, never moved in unison, never skated a simple dance� never again stood on the ice together. She choked back a sob, willing herself to hold it together, determined to make it the best skate of their lives. �Ally?� Dominic�s voice was quiet, his hands reaching automatically for her own, worry evident in his tone. She shook her head; she was unable to handle his worry at that point. She had enough of her own. Biting her lip, she whispered, �Let�s do this.� His hands squeezed slightly, indicating his understanding. He had always understood her so well, sometimes better than she, herself, did. Silently, they waited. As the music began, they threw themselves into the program. The crowd, the cameras, they all meant nothing. There was only the feel of each other and the ice beneath their feet. It was their grand finale, and they had indeed, saved the best for last. Yet as the final notes of the program rang out in the silent arena, she felt the tears slide down her cheeks, uncontrollable. No matter how well they had skated, it was over. She stared into his face, trying to memorize every detail of the face she already knew so well� the image was blurred by her tears. His arms closed around her, and they stood at centre ice, oblivious to the crowd, who had risen to their feet, their cheers paying tribute to the duo they had once deemed inseparable. They, however, were aware of only each other. With shaking fingers, he reached up, wiping at her tears in vain. �Don�t cry�� He whispered, matching tears shining in his own eyes. �Please don�t cry.� He was fighting against the emotions rising from deep inside himself. �Thank you.� She whispered. �Thank you for thirteen years, thank you for the memories� for your friendship.� �You�ll always have my friendship.� He replied, feeling her pain as though it was his own. �Allison� I�m sorry.� She tried to smile, though she felt as though her heart were breaking, her tears continuing to fall. �Don�t be,,, you have to do what�s right for you.� She bit her lip. �Be happy Nick� I�ll miss you.� He hugged her again. �And I�ll miss you.� He blinked quickly, trying to rid himself of the moisture building in his eyes. And then they moved apart, facing the crowd to take their final bows. Looking into the crowd, it wasn�t hard for her to realize that her life was about to change - it could never again be the same. Her heart ached, knowing she would never fight his decision. And they joined hands for a final time, each lost in private thought, knowing still that it was over. �I love you.� Her words not audible over the cheering crowd. His eyes glanced down, questioning, but she shook her head. She could never tell him that. They glided towards the edge, her mind screaming at her to stop, to delay, to do anything to stop the end form coming. She didn�t - couldn�t - and they stepped off the ice. It was over. The memory had played over and over in her mind, the details blurring together, melding with ones from years before. And it hurt. It would always hurt. Yet she had to be strong, had to hold on to the rest of her life before it was scattered across an empty field. SHE felt empty. She glanced down at the skates in her hand, at the glittering dress. She didn�t see the point, didn�t see the magic, the joy, left in her skating. She shook her head. Why was she there? What did she really think she was doing? Her mouth tightened. She didn�t feel right on the ice without him. Yet she had made the commitment to Stars on Ice. She had to honour it. After that� she didn�t know. She wasn�t a singles skater. She didn�t want a new partner. She was alone. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dominic stared moodily at the screen, his eyes waiting impatiently for the image that was imprinted on his mind to appear. Yet he cursed when she did. That wasn�t Ally - not the Ally of a year before, not HIS Ally. His Ally smiled. His Ally had a way of lighting up the ice the moment she stepped onto it, a way of drawing the watcher in so that their eyes remained locked on her image. His Ally was magic; she sparkled. The woman on the ice didn�t sparkle. She was good. There was no doubt about that. But she didn�t shine. She had lost that magical aspect that invariably made her who she was. He missed her sparkle. Guilt closed over his throat. He had done that to her. Him. �Oh God.� He whispered. It was almost more than he could handle, watching her like that. He glanced over at the black tuxedo, hanging like a thundercloud over his head. It was such a joke� how could he marry someone when� he froze. When he was in love with someone else. He watched the scene on the screen play out, his mind almost numb with his own revelations. He watched them backstage, staring at her image, slightly out of focus in the background. She stood next to Andrei, his arm draped over her shoulders possessively. The listless expression on her face spoke volumes. And he loved her. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ She quietly slipped away from the cast and their playful bantering, moving to get ready for yet another show. She smoothed the skirt of her sparkling blue dress over her knees, bending to tie her skates. It was the final show of the tour - ironically in Vancouver, only minutes from Dominic. No. She couldn�t think of him, couldn�t let her mind wander. Was he standing at the alter at that moment? Watching Maija move down the aisle towards him? Or were they already married� dancing in each other�s arms? Stop it. Ironically, she had told Andrei it was over. Dominic had once said that they were too different. She had argued then, that opposites attract� but he had been right. A touch that had once excited her no longer held that same enticing power. That chapter, like many others in her life, was over. She stood then, moving to the door, stopping only once to stare at the changed face in the mirror. She no longer knew the woman who stood there. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ He stood in the shadows of the tunnel, unseen, waiting. He was wearing a pair of simple, black pants, with a white shirt that�s gleam he covered with a black coat. He sensed her presence before he saw her, moving deeper into the darkness, out of her line of vision. She was followed by Jamie and Jennifer, and though in the back of his mind he acknowledged their presence, his eyes were instantly drawn to her like a starving man to food. He saw her take a deep breath, vaguely heard the whispered encouragements of her friends, and watched her move onto the ice. Yet still he waited, waited for the cue of the lyrics, waited to go to her as they had planned for him to do. Quickly he shed his jacket, stepping out of the darkness. From the corner of his eye, he saw the shock on the faces of Jenny and Rebecca, heard their breath catch. He didn�t care. His mind was already focused elsewhere, on the ice, with her. Did you ever know that you�re my hero? You�re everything I wish I could be� I could fly higher than an eagle� If you are the wind beneath my wings. That was his cue. He stepped out onto the ice. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ She sailed across the ice, going through the motions that were engrained in her mind. She almost didn�t catch the gasps of the crowd. But she did, dragging herself out of her dream world to gaze across the ice. And she faltered, her heartbeat becoming irregular. Was she finally losing it? She had to be, she decided, she had to be cracking up. She did not see him there on the ice, moving towards her. She couldn�t. He was supposed to be at a church, getting married. No, he couldn�t be on the ice, she decided. It had to be her overactive, wishful imagination, once again dreaming impossible dreams. But he looked real. And he felt real, she thought, as his hand reached out to catch her own. �Is this a dream?� She whispered. She sailed across the ice, going through the motions that were engrained in her mind. She almost didn�t catch the gasps of the crowd. But she did, dragging herself out of her dream world to gaze across the ice. And she faltered, her heartbeat becoming irregular. Was she finally losing it? She had to be, she decided, she had to be cracking up. She did not see him there on the ice, moving towards her. She couldn�t. He was supposed to be at a church, getting married. No, he couldn�t be on the ice, she decided. It had to be her overactive, wishful imagination, once again dreaming impossible dreams. But he looked real. And he felt real, she though, as his hand reached out to catch her own. �Is this a dream?� She whispered. Her hand shook, and she jumped as she met the offered touch half way. He was real. �How� what? Dominic?� Tears misted her vision. �I don�t understand.� �Hush.� He soothed, a finger lightly feathering across her mouth. �I�m here Ally - you�re not dreaming. Let�s give the crowd something special, eh?� His smile� it reached his eyes. She realized dimly that it had been a long time since she had seen that smile� had seen him smile like that. Dazed, she nodded. It didn�t really matter WHY he was there. Just that he was. Yet still her mind struggled to grasp the concept. He was standing next to HER. Not Maija. The symbol of that was not lost to her. He was holding her� moving across the ice� together. Tears flooded her eyes, pouring down her cheeks. �Ally?� His expression was concerned. �Don�t cry� please?� She smiled through her tears, trying to reassure him. �They�re happy tears.� Her voice murmured in his ear, as he lifted her, holding her close. She loved the feeling of being on the ice with him, loved being able to improvise, so much in tune with each other that they knew without words what the other would do. It was d�j� vu, she reflected, glancing up at his handsome face. Yet it was so different. She didn�t understand why he was there, it didn�t make sense. But as she met his eyes, she felt a new warmth spread through her. Something WAS different - something had changed. He smiled again, and her breath caught with wonder at the magic lying there inside his gaze. �I love you.� Three simple words. Words she had never expected to hear from him. Had she imagined them? She closed her eyes. It wouldn�t be surprising, she mused; the whole night had been like a dream, almost too good to be true. Yet when her eyes opened, he was still there, silently waiting. Far a moment, all she could do was stare, dazed - words were impossible. �Nick, I-� She broke off as he cut in. �Shh.� He replied. �We�ll talk later, okay?� She could sense the nervousness in him, almost fear. She had paused too long for his comfort. He twirled her, making conversation impossible. They continued skating, yet she noticed that he was carefully keeping her at a distance. She fumed silently. �Screw this.� She muttered. She prepared he body to move into an intricately low hydro blade. He wouldn�t like it, but he would have to move along with her, or look like a fool. He moved with her. �I love you too.� She spoke into his ear as they moved low to the ice. His body jerked, his expression longing, as though he almost didn�t dare hope it were true. She thought they would fall� but they didn�t. And then, one again, the skate came to an end. And once again, the crowd surged to their feet, screaming� cheering. She had eyes for only him, and he for her. Their gazes held, a flicker of hope growing slowly between them. �Allison.� His voice choked, and he had to pause. �Ally�� He tried again. �Did you mean that?� Tears poured down her cheeks in rivers, and she nodded. She couldn�t speak, could only stare into his eyes almost in disbelief at what she could see there. Something she had dreamed of seeing there fro so long. Words were not necessary, for their hearts were finally willing to admit what they had struggled so long to hide. This time, when they glided across the ice, she knew, in a sense, it was not over. It was far from over. It was a new beginning. Something had ended so that they could move forward. And indeed, they had saved the best for last. They had saved it for always and forever. �Just when I thought out chance had passed� You go and save the best for last.� He glanced over at her, smiling softly. �You shone out there tonight - just like I always knew you would� and always will.� He squeezed her hand. She returned the gentle pressure on her fingers. �I could fly higher than an eagle, for YOU are the wind beneath my wings.� She quoted softly. �I am who I am because of you. Without you, your friendship, your love, I�m nothing.� Mindless of the crowd, he pulled her to him, kissing her firmly, tenderly. The crowd roared in the background. �I thought our chance had passed.� He admitted. �I never thought you would love me, not after all of this.� �How could I not?� She said simply. �Whatever happens with skating, happens. We�re moving forward, we�re taking the last chance we�re being offered.� �We�re saving the best for last.� His eyes smiled down at her. �I love you.� �And I love you.� Hand in hand, they moved off the ice, their lives taking new and brighter steps into the future. The end
