A/N: *Taps on director's stand* On the second day of Christmas, this writer said to youuuuu, how about a Chapter number twoooooo?

(PS – the "First" day of Christmas chapter has been added to a different story of mine…)

THE MUSE HAS STRUCK! WITH FLUFF! Think 'Uptown Funk' by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars. Why? Because that's what is playing on repeat in my head (and on my laptop). And according to the music video has precisely the kind of basic dance moves I am envisioning. HA. Just read on and it will all make sense in time. LOVE YOU ALL, BUNCHES AND BUNCHES!

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Cain was feeling content and happy.

He was also still feeling embarrassed and perhaps still a little buzzed from the drinks being placed in his hand all night.

Having taken over the dance floor with his fellow ex-Tin Men as they did when they were younger, Cain and his comrades had entertained the crowd with an old routine. The yearly Tin Men Yule Ball was in full swing, and their show had left the crowd rolling with laughter and more than ready to dance…if for nothing but to get the Tin Men off of the dance floor to stop embarrassing themselves.

At one point in the routine, the men pulled their lady of choice onto the dance floor with them. And while most of the Tin Men chose their wives or girlfriends, Cain knowing few of the women available, grabbed a surprised DG, who struggled to stifle her laughter the whole time he danced with her. She was a good sport about it after all, and even playfully danced back at him much to the amusement of the crowd. They spent the rest of the night catching each other's eye and sharing a laugh whether they were right next to each other, or they were across the room from one another.

He was currently in one of the instances of being right next to her. They were standing out on the patio, taking a break from the sweltering heat inside, and watching the falling snow. DG had her back against the building, and was looking out at the garden, while Cain was leaning one shoulder against the wall as he faced her. Someone had opened the doors to cool down the room and they could hear the party inside was still going strong.

They were talking about inconsequential things. Catching up over the past few months, and sharing the latest news of their mutual acquaintances.

"So how boring is this party?" He asked with a smile.

She grinned back at him, genuinely.

"It's fun," she claimed.

He was not convinced.

"Not what you were expecting?" He sounded understanding. She laughed.

"Well I was expecting dancing, but I was certainly not expecting a show if that's what you mean."

He laughed, ducking his head in embarrassment.

"Yeah. We haven't done that in annuals." He followed her gaze and looked off into the garden. "Hopefully it's quite a few more before it happens again."

Before she could respond, a voice from just inside floated out to them.

"I think the routine went rather well, didn't you?" The first voice queried.

"Oh it was outrageous!" The man's friend answered with a laugh.

"Didn't think we could pull it off! But by Glinda, I think we managed!"

Cain recognized the voices immediately, but he could tell from DG's amused yet polite smile at him before looking out at the garden again that she did not.

"I thought Daniels was going to throw out his back!" The two men shared a laugh.

"And Cain! Did you see him with the Princess?"

DG was suddenly very interested in her shoes. Cain was staring out at the snow with the most concentrated look of neutrality he could muster.

"Oh, the poor Princess. Probably embarrassed to death!"

"Poor Princess? More like poor Cain! I mean I heard they knew each other, but you don't seriously think he believes he has a chance with her, do you?"

Her head lifted at that. He knew she was listening just as intently as he was.

"I can't imagine how he could manage that."

Even though he felt like he should be blushing he did manage a glance at DG to find her giving him a look that expressed both her sympathy towards him and how unimpressed she was with their comment. He returned a tight-lipped expression and flexed his jaw and looked out into the darkness of the night behind her.

"She's so much younger than him!" The first man continued.

She looked away and let out a long sigh through her nose. Cain shifted uncomfortably and stepped away from the wall so that he wasn't fully facing her anymore.

"Yeah that would be all sorts of weird." The second man agreed.

"Ok," Cain muttered impatiently under his breath. "I should go," he told her, turning to go end the drunken conversation going on inside.

Her hand on his elbow stopped him.

"They're wrong, you know," she said in a nervous rush. He looked back at her surprised.

"What?" He was very articulate. A strange rush of adrenaline shot through him and he felt caught off guard. Suddenly it was very easy to tune out the conversation happening in the doorway.

"Contrary to popular belief," she said with a nod to the door behind him and a shy smile, "you do have a better chance than most people think." He puffed up a little at that bit of ego stroking, and shifted to face her more fully.

"I do, do I?" He asked her almost flirtatiously as he sized her up.

She blushed and looked at his shoulder before looking back up at him.

"Sure," she said quietly with a hint of a smile. He could tell despite her outward confidence that she was ready to bolt at any moment.

He found himself smiling at her. Such a declaration required an action from him of some kind. Or something. And maybe it was the warm fuzziness that he was feeling from all of the alcohol he had consumed throughout the evening, but he felt just bold enough to respond.

Smiling knowingly at her, he leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers, bumping their noses together. Her blush intensified and she grinned back at him with her eyes nearly closed.

"How interesting," he rumbled quietly at her. She breathed a laugh at him. And after a moment of taking in his closeness, she angled her head to briefly press her lips to his.

Another wave of adrenaline mixed in with some other pleasant endorphins washed over him.

When she leaned back after a moment, everything had shifted. The air was charged. Their smiles were fading and their breathing slowed as they nearly held their breath.

He looked in her eyes and could see that she felt it too. They leaned towards each other at the same moment and his brow furrowed in concentration as he returned her kiss with fervor. Her arms slid up around his neck and his encircled her waist. She whimpered and he struggled to keep them upright as they were suddenly off balance.

A piercing wolf whistle interrupted them.

"I say! Cain! Is that you?" queried the first man.

"I see you found a - " The second man stopped abruptly when Cain and DG broke apart and he turned to look at them. He realized that, with his back to them, she had been mostly hidden from view. "- a uh…umm."

Cain still had his arms wrapped lightly around her waist while hers had slid down to his chest.

"Gentlemen." He nodded at them.

The two men seemed to have swallowed their tongues. DG tugged on his collar and he looked back at her.

"I think we should find an empty balcony…" she said in a stage whisper. His eyebrows shot to his hairline. She looked towards the two still gaping at them. "Unless that would be too weird for people to deal with…"

He shot them an amused look at their stricken faces before looking back to her.

"I think they'll get over it."

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A/N: Happy Holidays, m'dears. I've missed you all terribly.