'Another night, another charity gala,' Aiden thought to himself while pretending to listen to whomever was talking to him.

At this point, they were starting to bore him.

"—sure we'll have something worked out in no time, isn't that right, Aiden?"

Aiden focused on the present, giving Justin his best 'I heard every word of what you just said' look. "Absolutely," he said smoothly, giving Justin's companion a charming smile. They were oblivious to the fact that he hadn't been listening and gave a hearty chuckle, followed by a pat on the shoulder.

Aiden was about to ask to be excused when he caught sight of a familiar form wrapped in green silk across the ballroom.

'So, Stark got dragged along, too,' he thought. 'Maybe tonight won't be a total waste after all.'

Aiden cleared his throat. "If you'll excuse me, gentlemen," he said, giving Justin's companion another grin before wandering away from them. He was calculating his chances of at least getting a blowjob in the bathroom when he got a good look at her.

His thoughts ground to a halt.

In Aiden's not-so-humble opinion, Stark had always been one of his more attractive acquaintances. Even after being permanently crippled, she managed to hold herself like royalty.

Tonight, though . . . . . .

She looked like something out of a fairytale.

Aiden swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and pushed the warmth he was feeling down. His usual cool mask was in place by the time he reached her side.

Her reaction upon seeing him was the same she always had—disdain and irritation, with a tiny spark of interest.

"Hammer," she greeted coolly.

"Still not using my name, I see," he prodded, and he mentally winced.

That wasn't what he'd meant to say.

"Only the half that matters," she shot back. "For a second there, I thought you were going to ignore me all night."

So she'd been watching him, too

Interesting.

Aiden did his best to look unaffected. "Careful, Princess, or people might start to think you care."

Here eye roll was predictable. "As if."

They lapsed into silence for a while, then a thought gripped him. It dug its claws in him and wouldn't let go until he turned to her and offered his hand. "Care to dance?"

Erika narrowed her eyes. "If you think you're being funny, you're not."

It was Aiden's turn to roll his eyes. "I'll go slow so you won't look like a complete clod. Unless, of course, you're scared."

There it was—the spark in her eye that he identified as her needing to always show him up. She set her drink down on a passing waiter's tray and fiddled with her leg brace. A spark of light jumped from her fingertips to her leg before she gave her foot an experimental tap.

"Sometime this year?" he prompted.

"Don't make me regret this," she shot back, taking his hand and letting him lead her out to the dance floor.

You're in my arms, and all the world is calm.
The music playing on for only two.
So close, together.
And when I'm with you
So close, to feeling alive.

Even crippled, she was still every inch the graceful Stark heiress he'd met years ago. She followed his movements perfectly and not once did her step falter.

She was breathtaking.

So close to reaching
That famous happy end.
Almost believing
This one's not pretend.

Why were they always at each other's throats? Because their dads were rivals? They were perfectly in synch right now—why couldn't it be like this all the time? Aiden had genuinely wanted to befriend her when they'd first been introduced, but her disdain for his family name had stopped anything before it even had a chance to start.

And now you're beside me,
And look how far we've come.
So far we are. So close...

Tony and Justin were no doubt fuming. They'd be furious if they knew their children had been fucking behind their backs if they ever found out.

That's all it was, after all—enemies using the other to let off steam. His spur of the moment dance with her would end, and they'd go back to getting each other off in broom closets and employee bathrooms. Even that would end when she found someone better than him—someone she actually liked.

Except . . . . .

He didn't want it to end.

Oh how could I face the faceless days
If I should lose you now?

They couldn't keep this up. They couldn't keep fooling themselves into thinking that this didn't mean anything.

Something must've shown on his face, because she was looking at him with wide eyes and her mouth formed a small 'o' of surprise.

He hoped she understood—he couldn't keep pretending.

She backed away from him, shaking her head slightly before running from the ballroom.

He wasn't brave enough to go after her.

We're so close to reaching
that famous happy end,
And almost believing,
this one's not pretend.
Let's go on dreaming
for we know we are...
so close, so close
and still so far...

Erika's dress - art/Elven-Bridal-Gown-538651602