This story is over a year old, but I'm just now getting around to putting it up here. I want to leave a quick note about a minor character/OC.

'Dmitri' is the brainchild of dutchesscourtney (please see 'Cowboy, Take Me Away' on ) and is a bit of a running joke among several of us over on the shitennou_ai livejournal.

His creation came when we discovered a mineral called "cummingtonite" and thus Dmitri "The Russian Manwhore" was born. I often "borrow" him with Courtney's permission, and he's usually cast as Nephrite's brother. So that's his little story.

Of course in this fic he's Ukrainian because why not? Need to mix it up, right? (And I promise this is the last major A/N).

Kameron Ryan, former Australian DanceSport Champion, stared down at the staggering pile of bills on his desk and sighed.

When he had 'retired' at age thirty, it had been his dream to open his own studio. He had relocated from Sydney to London with his younger brothers in tow, and done just that. Elysian Studios was his pride and joy, unfortunately lately things had not been going so well.

Contracted dancers were at an all time low, the studio was in ill repair, and he knew if he didn't think up something soon he would be forced to file for bankruptcy and shut the doors for good.

The financial aspect didn't bother him nearly as much as the thought of closing the studio. Standing slowly, he moved to the wall of windows that overlooked the main dance hall. At some point within the last five years it had become more than just a place for dance classes. It had become a safe place for children to play after school; offering younger children freen ballet and tap classes, while older students enrolled in ballroom lessons. In recent years the studio had added a daycare, and was part of an outreach program for the local kids.

He loved his work, but he couldn't keep it up. Not without some big changes. He watched as a young child trotted across the floor in tap shoes, laughing happily while trying to copy the teacher's cross bar step.

Turning around, Kameron eased himself back into his chair and picked up the receiver of his phone. There were some calls he did not wish to make, but he had to ensure the success of the studio – whatever the means.

###

Three days after his big revelation Kameron sat at his desk again, this time ringed by the people he held closest in his life. His brothers, Jaden and Zander; their dear friend, Dmitri; and the young Edmond – Kameron's only contracted dancers at the moment.

"All right, ya lot, I've some news for you," Kameron said. He sank back into his chair and scrubbed at his face. Dreading what he had to do.

Jaden arched a blond eyebrow, leaning forward a bit. "Kam? Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?"

"Because you're not." Kameron took a deep breath. "Elysian is failing."

"How do you mean?"

"I mean there's more money going out than coming in. We're in debt. By a lot."

Zander, the youngest Ryan child, eyed his brother askance, "What's a lot?"

Kameron pinched the bridge of his nose, not meeting anyone's gaze. "More than you'd like to know. But I have some plans… some things I think should help us."

"We're not going to like this either, are we?" Dmitri frowned from where he leaned against the far wall.

"Not particularly." Kam smiled apologetically at the Ukrainian. "Firstly, Zander? I think it's time you stopped dancing and taught full time in the studio."

"Why do I have to stop!?" Zander leaped up from his seat like it was on fire, his abundance of curly blond hair bouncing with the movement.

"Because you don't have a partner now, and you're never happy with them anyway. If you teach here for a while, I can cut back on payroll. There's no way I'm shutting down the classes… not until the bitter end. Besides you love it, you know you do. The only time you're ever patient is when you're teaching someone to how to dance."

"Fine," Zander huffed, rolling leaf green eyes toward the ceiling. "I'll teach."

"Good." Kam offered his brother a small smile before turning to Dmitri. "You have your new partner, right? Things been going well?"

"Yes, she is good. I like her." Dmitri grinned, brown eyes mischievous.

"Please don't scare her off by hitting on her? You need a partner because you will be entering into the European Championship in three months."

"Three months is not enough time."

"Then you better work at it, the grand prize would be helpful plus you could get some good sponsorships."

"It all rest on my shoulder!?" Dmitri scowled deeply, arms crossed.

"We'll be doing our part, trust me." Kam sighed. "However, Dmitri, I won't be able to help choreograph or train either of you."

"I must do on my own?"

"No, I was hoping Neven might step in?"

The room went quiet at the mention of Dmitri's brother. Jaden gave a low whistle, which earned him a glare from Kam and promptly shut up, sinking low in his chair.

"You call and ask. He is different now… distant," Dmitri said.

"He might be different, but he's still talented. He knows what he's doing, and he knows you. Besides he understands what I did for him, right? He has to know he's part of the reason I'm in so much debt right now. And quite frankly I am not above using extreme amounts of guilt to get what I want right now."

"Okay, I will call. I will tell him what you say. Then we will see." Dmitri sighed and settled back against the wall, chewing his thumbnail while he thought.

"Edmond?"

"No." The twenty-two year old shook his head, thick bangs fluttering against his forehead. He'd come to Kameron when he was eighteen, graduating from the Junior circuits in France, and needing a new trainer for the pro circuit. Over the years he had become very close with all of them, blending in as if he had always been a part of the group.

"Yes, we all have a part to play… unless you would rather be on your own again?" It was a cheap shot, but Kam was far past caring.

"Fine, what am I to do?"

"There's no easy way to put this: Edmond, I'm whoring you out." This earned a muffled snicker from Jaden and Zander, and a cry of disbelief from the dark haired man in question.

"I'm sorry?"

"Over the last few years I've had a few different lords and ladies wanting private lessons. I have a certain lord right now who wants to hire an instructor for his daughter, before she's presented. She's some debutante, and it's her coming out soon, so she has to do all that high society bullshit. But her father is willing to pay a very large amount for private lessons. Apparently, this girl's dream is to dance the Viennese Waltz at her debut, and he can't deny his little princess anything. Since you mainly dance Standard, you get the job. Besides, you're young and handsome, I'm sure she'll eat it up."

"You really are whoring me out." Edmond looked at his mentor incredulously. "Pourquoi moi dieu? Quel est cet enfer nouveau."

"Oh, I know you're upset but please don't go rambling off in French, you know I hate it. If you have something to say to me, say it so I can understand it."

Edmond glowered at Kam, blue eyes narrowed. "Why me God? What fresh hell is this?" he said dryly.

"It will be all right, you giant baby! She just needs the basics, you can make anyone look good." Edmond didn't seem overly thrilled, but he nodded at Kam in understanding and didn't say another word.

"And finally you," Kam turned the middle Ryan brother.

"We're not done?" Jaden pulled up the hood of his sweatshirt and yanked on the strings until his face was practically hidden, eyes closed tight.

Kam rolled his eyes. "You're twenty-six, don't be a child!"

"I'm scared though," Jaden's muffled voice replied. "Just… just get it over with. Quickly."

"You're getting a new partner so you can compete in the Latin Championships."

"That's all?" One bright blue eye opened, surveying Kam. "That's not so bad, who is it?" Jaden let go of the strings on his hood and emerged slowly, much like a turtle from its shell.

"Ramona De La Vega."

Jaden sat in his chair, left ankle balanced on his right knee, back straight and scratched his head, ruffling the short blond curls. He stared at Kam's desk, eyes not really focused. He opened his mouth to speak, blinked twice, then snapped it shut. Jaden finally lifted his eyes to meet Kam's gaze, shook his head, and stood up; wandering out of the room without a word.

"He's taking that a lot better than I would've thought." Zander shrugged.

The four men fell silent and waited. After several seconds had ticked by the door burst open, rattling on its hinges. Jaden stood there, jaw clenched. "NO!" he bellowed. "No. No. No. Nononononononono. OH KAM? DID I MENTION NO!"

"Too late, I've called her trainer and manager. They should be arriving from Spain sometime tomorrow."

"How could you do this to me? We're likely to kill each other within five minutes! How the hell are we supposed to work together?"

"You'll have to be nice."

"I'm always nice!" Jaden placed a hand over his heart, the other waving wildly in the air.
"She's the barking mad Sheila who hates me for no clear reason!"

"I thought it had to do with–"

"No one asked you, little brother!" Jaden glared at Zander until he shut his mouth and turned away. Then he turned his glare onto Kam. "This is complete shit! You could've at least warned me."

"I did, they're arriving tomorrow," Kam said blandly.

"More than a day would've been good!"

"If I had you would've ran away."

"Whatever, you bastard." Jaden ran a hand through his hair. "And what will you be doing then? While I'm working with a person who can't stand me and Zander's forced into retirement. While Dmitri's trying to convince his brother to come here, and poor Edmond is a veritable whore! What are you going to be doing to save all this!"

"I'll be taking on a new dancer."

"Well, how terrible for you." Jaden rolled his eyes.

"I finally said yes to training Anton Cromwell."

"Oh." The others all breathed in unison.

"I told you, we're in debt, we all have a part to play. I won't let this place close, no matter what it takes." Kam stood up, hands braced on the desk. "Are you all with me?"

Jaden looked at the others, holding their gaze a moment before finally turning to Kam. "Yes, we are."