Let's Start the New Year Right
AN: I own nothing that you recognise, neither do I own Ivan, Irina's brother, as he was created by my friend Katja. The name of this chapter comes from a song sung by Bing Crosby, and I hope you enjoy it. Please review, as that will make me feel much better.

Previously:
Irina herself was delighted with how well everything had gone, but she said thoughtfully, "If only my brothers could have been here."
She then turned to chat to Sapphire, who was enjoying a glass of orange juice nearby.
"Did you enjoy the ceremony, Sapphire?" She inquired, and she smiled warmly.
"Oh, it was absolutely beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and guessed that the theme was "A moonlit wedding on a beach."
Irina nodded with a warm smile. "You're absolutely right about that, and you look very lovely in your blue dress."
"Why, thank you, Mrs. Spaskya, you look ravishing yourself."
Irina's eyes twinkled, and she gave the girl a hug.
"So, are your brothers joining us?" She asked, and Irina's smile vanished, and she sighed unhappily.
"If only they could. But no, they are on official business in Austria. Don't ask me what it is, for they wouldn't tell me," she added as Sapphire opened her mouth to speak.
Chastened somewhat by the brides tone, Sapphire took a sip of her orange juice, and then her brow furrowed as Irina moved away to talk to Anna.
She wasn't annoyed with Irina, but she was perplexed about the sudden buzzing sound that had filled the air.
She spotted Katja talking to Amy and walked over to her. "Do you hear that buzzing sound?" She asked, and both girls stopped talking and tilted their heads to the sky.
Instantly, they heard the noise, but it wasn't so much a buzzing sound, but more a whirring sound. Thoroughly confused, they looked up further and gasped in astonishment as they spotted a familiar aircraft, the name of which would make one think that it was a boat of some kind.
And rightly so, as it was called "The Shark." But it was an aircraft, simply painted to look like a terrifying black shark.
By now, no one was talking. They were all staring at the familiar aircraft, and Nataliya smiled broadly.
As the shark came into land, two middle-aged men climbed out, a small crate in the hands of the younger one.
They both had hair the colour of corn, blue eyes the colour of the sea, and wearing tuxedos.
Irina let out a delighted cry, and ran towards her brothers, laughing for joy.
"You made it!" She cried happily, throwing her arms around them.
"Of course, Irina. We wouldn't miss your special day for all the world." Alek told her cheerfully, and, upon taking the crate from Ivan, he opened it, and placed a small box into his sister's hands.
Curious, she opened the box and then let out a cry of delight again. Just before Nikolai was born, and shortly after she'd gotten married the first time round, she and Nivalona had gone to Austria for a holiday.
Whilst there, she had had a precious necklace, an amethyst locket with a picture of her mother, stolen. Now, somehow, her brothers had tracked it down and had given back to her.
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There were stories exchanged about Irina and Nivalona, some had them howling with laughter, others had them making slashing movements across their throats.
After the stories were over, dinner was served. It consisted of either caviar or a delicious steak, smothered in garlic butter, and mashed potato.
Sapphire, having never tried caviar before, but not wishing to waste it either, went for the steak instead. Katja also opted for the steak, as well. Nikolai, Anna, and Nataliya, on the other hand, went for the caviar, as did Irina and Nivalona.
"This steak is utterly gorgeous, Irina. Good work on your choice of caterers."
"Oh, Spaciba Sapphire, and you're absolutely welcome."
They talked for a bit longer about Christmas and what their plans were for the following year.
"I'll be doing EFES, of course," Katja said, and everybody, Sapphire included, looked baffled.
"What's EFES?" Anna asked.
"English For Exchange Students," Katja explained, causing Sapphire to look slightly confused. Kat raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What didn't you understand?"
"Well, your English is good for someone who doesn't speak it as their first language. Heck, you write well in English."
Katja smiled, and said, "While that is true, I do want to learn it until I can speak it fluently."
"Fair enough, I know you can do it," Sapphire said smiling, as the wedding cake was brought out.
"Hehe, that reminds me of a joke," Sapphire said and was emplored by the others to tell it.
"I attended such an emotional wedding once that even the cake was in tiers." She said, and everybody chuckled. It was a good joke, they thought, as Irina and Nivalona stood up and had several photos taken as they stabbed the knife into the first tier.
There were four tiers in all: a chocolate, white chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet. There was also ice cream and cream to go with it.
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After another hour of mingling and socialising, the bride and her father were ready to do their dance. Sapphire recognised it as "Once Upon A December" from Anastasia. It was in Russian, which had to be one of the most lovely versions of that song she had ever heard.
She heard someone sniff behind her and turned to see Nataliya standing behind her, tears coming down her face.
"I've always liked that song, even if I wasn't a child when "Anastasia" came out."
When their dance was over, and the clock struck nine, everybody knew that there were three hours left of the year. Without knowing why, they all cheered, and for the next two hours and fifty-nine minutes, they dance away to a number of songs, which included YMCA, Don't Stop Me Now, We Will Rock You, Happy, Summer of '69, Grease Lightning, Summer Nights, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Time Warp, Moves Like Jagger, Let's Get It Started, Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Party Rock Anthem, Night Fever, and Pour Some Sugar on Me.
When they'd stopped dancing, they all could see that there were but ten seconds left.
"TEN!"
"NINE!"
"EIGHT!"
"SEVEN!"
"SIX!"
"FIVE!"
"FOUR!"
"THREE!"
"TWO!"
"ONE!"
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" They all choroused delightedly, before they all joined together in singing "Auld Lang Syne."
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After singing that song, everybody was feeling rather knackered to do anything but crawl into a bed and sleep.
Irina had organised for her family and bridesmaids to stay at a nice hotel not too far away.
In the morning, Sapphire and Katja, waking up first, saw that the wall in their bedroom was swirling. They left a short note to Irina, thanking her for her kind invite, and to explain that they had gone home.
With that, they left that world behind for some time to come, not sure when they'd be back.
Once back in their world, Katja watched as the wall stopped swirling around, and said, "I thoroughly enjoyed both times we went there."
Sapphire nodded in agreement, just as her mother walked in. "You two have been quiet," she remarked, and the two girls smiled at her.
"It's not a bad thing, mum." Sapphire said cheerfully, accepting the pile of washing in her mother's arms.
"Yes, well, I hope you two are ready to dance the night away till midnight." She said, and they were.
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It wasn't long, however, before there was but a minute and a half to go till their new year.
"It's been a nice year," Sapphire said smiling thoughtfully.
"I quite agree, and Christmas certainly was special." Katja said.
"Are you ready to chant?" Kat's mum asked, and once again, they counted back from ten, and bellowed out for the second time, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
AN: So, after seven months, this story has come to an end. Thanks to those of you who followed, reviewed, and favourited it. Well, it's time to lay old ghosts to rest as they say, and enjoy it for all time, completed.