Don't Miss a Step

[Elias Zaro E.Z.]

Normally, EZ would be nervous before a performance but right now he didn't care. He was in costume, ready to dance. His suit was black, his shirt white with silver buttons and silver tips on the collar. His black patent leather dancing shoes were shined to a brilliant sheen. All he needed now was his mask.

The black leather mask covered the upper half of his face, including his nose and upper lip but excluding his eyes. The only things visible on his face were his jaw, chin, lower lip and his eyes. He knew the woman on the other side of the stage whom he would be dancing with would be wearing a similar mask.

EZ looked through a separation in the curtain at the musicians getting ready to play. Perhaps the audience would get some entertainment other than laughing him and his dance partner off the stage. It wasn't that he could not dance. He danced very well in fact. He just made sure his dance partner didn't know the moves for the dance. It was supposed to be improvisation and she was to follow his moves. The problem was, he was not going to improvise. This was a protest on his part. He was going to dance the same dance he and his wife had performed at their graduation competition their senior year. It was also a tribute to her, to show her how much he missed her. Instructing was one thing, performing...he couldn't do it without her.

EZ looked across the stage and saw a masked face looking back at him. So, that was her...the little wave almost annoyed him. It was something Elaine would do. He nearly waved back by instinct but dropped his hand half way up and simply turned away, disappearing back behind the curtain. He wanted to get this over with...

When the music began, he cringed. It was his and Elaine's song. The one they fell in love to, the one the danced this dance to. Why had he let Drake talk him into this. He promised himself that he would not get emotional. He promised himself that he would dance the dance as perfectly as he could. If she could follow him, so be it but only Elaine knew the steps, only Elaine could do this.

He moved into place behind the curtain, his head down, hands at his side. He heard her move into place and heard the whispered, "Hey." and ignored her. 3, 2, 1, the curtain opened and the audience broke into applause. On his que, he began to move his feet in that very distinct way of his that always had the audience entertained. His head came up and his hand went out for her to take it, he was to spin her before doing a flip and slide to the other side of the stage while she did her moves. This was the moment of truth, would she kill it in the first few seconds of the performance? He almost held his breath...

[elaine]

She arrived at the new building and looked up slightly in awe. It was a magnificent structure. The name made her pause. How odd. ExpertEEZ. So much like Elias nick name EZ. Trying not to dwell on the past she entered and was soon ushered of to the stage area's where she could get dressed. The costume had already been made and was waiting for her, or so she was told. It was all most mysterious. The coach was very specific that this was how the owner wanted things done. Who was she to argue.

She had been taught the steps and found them hauntingly similar to one she had done before. She spent hours practicing to make sure her part was flawless. It was not how things were normally done that was for sure. Looking at the mask set on the little table she began to make assumptions of why it had been done. Was her partner disfigured? Horribly so enough that he could not practice with her. Was he extremely shy and did not think he had the talent. So many thoughts swirled around her mind. Each one more ridiculous then the last.

Elaine picked up the mask that would cover most of her face and frowned down at it. It was going to hide her identity entirely she mused. With a shake of her head she puts in on and tied the ribbons behind her head. An attendant came shortly after and escorted her back stage to her place. She spotted the other dancer and gave a little wave of greeting. When it was ignored, her temper blazed. How rude.

Her spine stiffened up and she squared her shoulders. Fine if it was going to be like that then. Elias would never have... Her thoughts trailed off. No now was not the time to think like that. She had no clue what possessed her to agree with this. She had not danced with a partner since, well in over to many years to count. Her one and only partner was gone. No one could take his place. Ever.

The music started and she gave a startled gasp. What the hell was going on. Was this some sick joke. Once in position she tried to get the others attention and was ignored again. Her body trembled slightly as it always did just before the curtain rose.

The applause snapped her into attention, and she waited tensely now for his hand. She did not want to do this. If only she had said no. She grasped his hand firmly and stepped into the first move, a spin. She closed her eyes against the tears that wanted to fall. Her moves flawless.

Her eyes remained shut against the pain in her chest. As she preformed. It was almost as if he was here. Even felt so real. A dream come true.... or a nightmare brought to life?

[Elias Zaro E.Z.]

EZ was going through each move with robotic precision. He was perfect, flawless but he had no passion of the dance. The audience was still captivated in the same way as the audiences he and Elaine had performed in front of. There was something there; something he could feel; chemistry he had only felt with Elaine. He never should have done this. It was a total mind fuck but muscle memory and some deeply embedded instinct moved in him.

Elias’s mind, body and soul demanded that he feel the same euphoric adoration for his dance partner that he used to feel with Elaine. It was as if his heart thought it was actually her. The way she moved didn’t help matters. She had the moves down perfectly. She had Elaine’s grace, same color hair only more vibrant, same skin tone only a little paler. He fought to put the thoughts out of his head and closed the distance between them with a leap, turning sideways and spinning in the air. It was a move that he had made up himself all those years ago. His landing behind her was flawless and the audience erupted in applause once again. His arms slipped around her waist in a movement meant to imply intimacy. His head dipped as if he were going to kiss her neck and even though it was part of the performance, he could not help but inhale her scent.

He nearly gasped as his senses screamed with the familiarity. This wasn’t fair! She smelled like…no she couldn’t! His senses were lying. Taking her hand, he spun away, spun her into him and spun her back out. He avoided her eyes; he didn’t want her to see his uncertainty and confusion.

[elaine]

Elaine wanted to keep her eyes closed. Prayed to God she could. Sadly he failed to answer her silent plea. With each note the ache in her heart beat. Like a living drum, banging out a slow dirge. If only... Part of her wanted it to be her lover. The other part knew he was gone forever. Moisture gathered in her eyes, and she was grateful at least for the mask. If they spilled over the fabric would catch them.

The feel of him against her back, caused her body to tingle with awareness. No. This was not. Him. Dancing focus on the dancing. Ever fiber of her skin prickled, expecting his caress. A soft brush of his lips that never came. Elias always kissed her, it was so special that one little moment. Lost. Pulling her back to reality.

Trembling ever so slightly she stepped into the next part of the routine. Completely rattled inside. Fighting with her self to continue and not flee the stage. Never would she give this stranger the satisfaction of seeing her fall apart. Later. Yes, later when she was alone would she give in. Her posture stiffened and she pressed on.

He took her hand and she could feel the cool caress of his skin. His hand engulfed her slender fingers. She had loved his hands. The versatility of them. Gentle and loving, yet so strong and capable of anything he set them to. Her dress flared out a brief whisper of fabric flowing around her legs as he spun her out and then in again. With a dizzying and disorientating madness. Her hand came to rest on his chest as he spun her in for that last time. His heart beat just as she did. Her eyes searched his face, what she could see of it. His eyes refused to meet her own. This close even for that brief moment. Her uncertainty crashed around her. "Elias" She sighed his name so softly, it was almost as if she had not even spoken aloud. Just a mere whisper of sound escaping her lips.

The routine was drawing to a close. She stepped away and started on the steps that would take her into a slow circuit around him. Each movement speaking without words. Her fingers barely brushed over him. It was as if he were Elias's twin. So identical to how she remembered his physical form. He had no twin. No blood kin either.

It was déjà vu. He was a perfectly sculpted replica of her only love. It was not fair. Her heart ached anew the way it had, when she first lost him. Her mind screamed that this was wrong. It was not Elias, though in her heart doubt bloomed and threatened to overwhelm her completely. The inner conflict was too much. Stepping into a leap that took her away from him, she turned slowly and prepared to come at him. Would he catch her? Would he drop her? He danced as if he were mechanical. A puppet even.

It was now or never. Taking her cue from the music her feet moved of their own accord. Her heart wanted to feel just for one moment, one second. That Elias was real. Just once more.

[Elias Zaro E.Z.]

Elias felt like he was losing his mind. Why did everything about her remind him of his wife? Why did she tremble at his touch, why did she have to move the same way? Her hand was strong, yet delicate and beautiful, like Elaine's, and fit in his hand the same way as Elaine's.

Her hand on his chest was so familiar, it made his heart ache. He had to push it away, he had to feel the dance, feel the music, but he couldn't. His moves remained flawless but without passion.

Elias' heart skipped a beat. Did she say his name? No one called him by that name anymore. Everyone knew him as EZ and only EZ. As many in show business had over the centuries, he had dropped the rest of his name in favor of the single nickname.

Only Drake and those who were there in the beginning knew his real name. He almost faltered but remained balanced and danced his way to the 3/4 mark on the stage and turned to wait. Would she leap? Would she trust him? Would she be able to pull it off the same way as Elaine? Would she have the same grace and style?

Then she gaited toward him with all the grace of a ballerina. He poised himself as she leaped into the air. He caught her at the right moment and spun in a circle. The audience went mad with applause. But then...he felt the smallest of things. It was something that some men would not remember, perhaps not many vampires either.

His fingers fit perfectly between her ribs as if his hands were made to hold her. It had always been like that. He had first noticed it at the prom and then every dance after. He used to laugh and say that was why he would never drop her. Because she fit him like a glove.

Suddenly he lowered her, bringing her down fast but ending with her cradled in his arms with her butt resting on the floor. He was on one knee with her leaned against it. His arm slipped up and supported her back and head as he searched her face. All he could see was her eyes. Those eyes...they were..."Lainey?" he croaked.

His free hand flew to her mask and pulled it up, verifying that it was indeed his soul that he held in his arms. His hand then moved to his own to tear it off and fling it from his face across the stage. The auditorium hung in dead silence as he gazed into her eyes, his own filled with tears of blood, "My god you're beautiful." he croaked.

His lips nearly leaped off his face to meet with hers as he pressed them hard against hers. His other arm slipped around her as he lowered himself the rest of the way to the stage floor and pulled her into his lap. His embrace was so strong, had she been human he would have crushed her bones. His lips refused to part with hers, all he could do was hold her and kiss her, his kiss drowning out the silent sobs of joy that racked his body.

The audience went mad once again and red roses showered onto the stage. No one ever saw the ancient Vampire King standing at the exit looking on. He smiled and walked away...his child was whole again.

[elaine]

Her eyes flew open wide. Startled at the perfect fit of his hands against her ribs. It was something they always joked about. One of those special things only the two of them shared. Her heart felt like it was breaking all over again. This dance was killing her slowly, as it made her relive all she had fought to forget and move on from; though she never could.

As she was lowered she met his eyes as they searched. Who was this? Why... Her nickname fell from his lips. A husky sound; that made her body tremble. Not even Jan Kai called her that. Only one person in all the world had ever used that nick name for her.

He wrenched off her mask and then his own. His eyes were filled with blood tears, identical to her own that she'd been fighting against the whole while as they danced.

She could only blink up at him, unbelieving it was really and truly him. Her hand reached up with shaky fingers and touched his cheek. "My heart..." she stammered before his lips came swooping down upon her own. He was real. Alive. No longer lost to her forever. Vampire same as she. Her lips quivered under his kiss before returning the same passion. The feel of his arms strongly banded around her was all she dreamed of. Longed for. She could feel the damp of his tears as it mingled with her own.

Her own arms found their way around him and she held on for dear life. Nothing existed any more then her true love in her arms. The audience was forgotten. There was nothing but him. His sobs matched her own. As a thousand and one questions rushed about her mind. How had he survived? She buried him.. had touched his face before.. before they took him to be buried. A soft cry of anguish left her only to be muffled by their kiss. All these years. He was alive.

[Elias Zaro E.Z.]

EZ rocked lightly with her in his arms, finally releasing her lips. He licked his own lips, just to taste her on them. He pulled her closer, resting his cheek against her. “My god, I thought you were gone.” His trembling voice choked out. “It all happened so fast, I was coming home to you, I swear I was.”

He had to see her eyes again so he pulled his back, shaking his head, “It all happened so fast, if it wasn’t for his majesty, I would be dead.” He stared into her eyes and went silent for a moment, “We looked for you. Oh, my god, how we looked for you.” He pulled her into a crushing embrace again, “I’m never gonna let you go again Lainey, never…” he whispered in her ear.

Elias was home, sitting right there on the stage with his wife cradled in his arms in his lap, rocking her out of instinct and pure joy. How could this be? He had so many questions but his mind could only grasp one thing at the moment, she was in his arms, whole, alive and his.

He never noticed the audience standing and clapping; he never noticed the thick velvet curtain drop; he never noticed the prop team coming out to wheel out the back drops. There was only him and Elaine on the stage. He could stay there forever and be perfectly happy.

All this time, Elias had felt dead inside; emotionless; empty. Suddenly he felt alive; more alive than he had ever been in his entire existence. This is where he should be, his hands tangled in her hair because it was so long it reached down her back, his cheek resting against her ear with her clinging to him for dear life and him clinging to her.

Her body was once again fitting perfectly against his. “Don’t let go.” He whimpered. He knew eventually he would have to, but for now, he just needed to hold her to know she was real and not some cruel dream.

[elaine]

Elaine savored the feel of his arms surrounding her. Pulling in a deep breath and holding it a long moment, her eyes closed. It was real; he was real once more. She could not stop the tears that slowly trailed down her pale cheeks. For so long she believed him gone. Understanding clicked into place. Like the tumblers of a mechanical clock. He had been buried while in his death sleep. It had all been done so fast. A rush to give him peace... she had no knowledge then of vampires. It was not till the end of the world that came later that same day. Well shortly after that, really that Jan-Kai found her.

"His Majesty?" she asked, surly he was not... her thoughts trailed off.

She was lost in his gaze. He had looked for her. All the while she had been hidden under a mountain of rubble on the base in that underground bunker. Her heart clenched. "I was on the base, we managed to take shelter in a bunker," She confessed quietly against his ear. Her own arms tightened around him as he cradled her so strongly. That bunker had saved and damned her in one fell swoop.

For a brief flickering moment she heard the air raid sirens going off and relived the ensuing madness that followed. The way the very walls trembled, and people screamed in fear that they would be crushed alive. How she prayed for death then, not wanting to live without him. It was so long ago but yet the memory lived within to haunt her to this day.

Nothing else existed in this moment but him. Everything else was ignored completely. Her heart stuttered with emotions. Elaine's hand stroked over his back and up his neck so she could thread them into his hair. It had grown out some. No longer did he have that sharp military cut. Every part of him was just perfect to her. How she dreamed of him, longed for him all these years. No one had taken his place. Her heart had remained determinedly empty with her longing for just him.

"Oh Elias.. my heart. Never will I let you go," she promised in a vehement whisper against his smooth cheek. She would not; could not bare the thought of letting go ever again. All the wanted in that moment was to bury herself against his chest and have him hold her for the rest of eternity.

[Elias Zaro E.Z.]

Things needed to be explained. Many things needed to be talked about but right now, Elias just needed to hold his wife. He knew he missed her, he knew his heart had been broken, he knew the agonizing pain of her loss but he could not even have imagined the actual pain he felt until that pain was lifted from his soul.

He knew she would not blame him, he knew she would understand because that was just her. He loved her more at that moment than ever before and he never thought that to be possible. He stayed there, rocking her, holding her, feeling her hold him back, clinging to him. Time had stopped for the moment, until he felt a hand on his shoulder. "EZ, we need the stage for the next act." he heard the stage managers voice. EZ knew it was time to move. But he would not let her go. His arm slipped under her knees, his other stayed securely around her as he stood and carried her off stage. He ignored everyone staring at them as he passed through the backstage area. The grins and smiles on the faces of people who had seen his agonizing turmoil that seemed embedded in his eyes who could now see pure unabated joy. His attention was only for Elaine.

It was a short trip to his living quarters among the dressing rooms. A simple maneuver had his door open and he carried across the threshold, just as he did the day he married her. He pushed the door shut with his foot and it automatically locked. He let her legs lower to the floor but never let go. His lips found hers once more and this time his kiss was filled with passion and need. He needed to feel her against him. He broke the kiss and looked at her. Even with smeared blood tears all over her cheeks, she was beautiful.

EZ reached for the box of moistened towels that were for removing makeup and he pulled one out. With a loving grin, he gently wiped the tears from her face, caressing gently, examining every inch of her face. She had not changed since the day he left her other than her skin was a bit more pale and smoother than before. She was always beautiful, there was not much improvement to be made by her transformation. "I love you." he whispered over and over again.

[elaine]

The same two lines kept repeating over and over again in her mind as they clung to each other.

He is alive.

I am whole again.

She had been living these last few decades half alive. Just going through the motions and moving by route instead of living. Her maker had given her a gift of eternal life. While she appreciated it and him, she was never felt whole. Not without this man in her arms, now in this moment. Her entire soul heaved a sigh of relief. To have her lover and husband once more in her arms was a wish come true without consequence. She silently thanked the gods for answering her most fervent prayer. One that she made each morning before falling into her death sleep, and as she arose each night. Longing for her love lost to her forever. Finally found.

Someone was speaking to him and although her hearing was keen, Elaine did not hear nor understand what had been said. Elias picked her up and her arms entwined themselves about his neck as he cradled her against his chest. His strength was always something she had admired and it teased a soft smile out of her.

He carried her though parts of the theater that she had not seen and into a room. His room. It was like their wedding day all over again. Her arms tightened a moment as the memory of that wonderful day washed over her. They were so young and carefree. So in love with each other they were blind to the poverty they grew up in. Nothing mattered to them but each other and dancing. As he lowered her and claimed her lips once more. She moaned softly against the onslaught of his passion. Returning it ten fold. Her chin quivered a little when he broke the kiss off to look at her.

She could see herself in his eyes and knew he would see himself in hers. The love for him filled her to over flowing. She could not help but lean into his hand as he wiped away her tears. Reaching up with her hand she brushed a lock of his hair from his forehead. So handsome. Perfect. Nothing marred his skin. His eyes held her as gently as his arms around her. Elaine's own soft voice echoed his endearment. It was if they were each trying to make up for almost a century of time spent apart.

She put a finger gently to his lips to still them. Not because she ever wanted to stop hearing him say he loved her. She needed those words like a flower growing needed water and sun. It was quiet. Her mouth opened to speak; she couldn't speak for the tangle of emotions that gathered in her throat to silence her vocal cords. Her hand cupped his cheek gently.

"I have longed for you Elias, so very much. Nothing of our time apart matters to me. All that matters is we are together at last."

[Elias Zaro E.Z.]

EZ could not stop looking at Elaine. He was so filled with joy, he felt as if his heart would burst. Was this a dream. Her finger pressed so lightly against his lips caused him to smile. She used to do that rather than tell him to shut up. It always worked to still his voice.

EZ leaned his cheek into her hand and closed his eyes. She was not a dream, she was real. She was not the apparition that stood at the end of his bed when he slept. She was not the image out of the corners of his eyes on a moonlit night, she was not the specter of a woman in white dancing in the rain during a summer storm, she...was...real.

Elaine's words sank into EZ's heart and he was suddenly filled with the memory of his pain. He had promised to come back to her before shipping out. He had tried to keep that promise but he had been to late, he had let her down and lost he because of it.

A stifled sob escaped his mouth and he squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth. He was suddenly racked with sobs again that hissed out between his teeth as he sank to his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist, clinging to her.

"I have been so lost without you." he sobbed with his cheek against her abdomen, "I thought I lost you." He whimpered as new tears fell from his eyes. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

[elaine]

His sobs tore at her heart and she held him tightly wishing to ease his anguish. Her hands soothed over his shoulders and back as she cradled him against her. Her own eyes seeped more tears as she buried her fingers into his hair. Here was the other half of her soul. She was finally complete now that they were together. She just needed him now to see that too. They were complete now. Everything that was the past needed to be let go of. She did not hold any of that against him. How could she. The whole world had literately ended in the blink of an eye... if it had not been for JanKai she would not be here now.. That little thought caused her breath to hitch slightly. He had given her such a gift that now she was able to be with Elias.. they had forever now to be with each other.

She pulled him back slightly and sank down to kneel in front of him. Taking his face into her hands she softly brushed away his tears and kissed him softly once, then twice before pulling back to look into his eyes; so he could see all the love that she held for him. Her total happiness and completion now that they were together.

"Elias." she said her voice soft as a lovers caress.

"You have found me now.. as I have found you." she told him and punctuated each sentence with a kiss.

"We. My love have eternity now to be together," and kissed him a little harder and longer sighing against the feel of his lips. They were so incredibly soft like the velveteen petals of a rose.

"Please.. take me to bed." her arms slid around him as her body pressed up against him, seeking his strength and touch. How she ached to feel all of him. To be able to have him hold her; touch her; fill her as he once had. She needed him so very much. Just as she felt he needed her. They had always been so complete together. Two souls had found each other. Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered. They had survived to find one another today. Now.

[Thor Ericsson]

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