Chapter 28

New Year's Eve…

Matt was looking oh so handsome wearing his tuxedo as he waited in the den with the children for Ellen to make her way out of their room.

"So you and Mommy are going to the party thing?" Angel asked Matt as he fiddled with the black bow tie to his tux while she played on the floor with her brand new puppy Dexter.

"Yes sweetie we are, but between you and me Daddy really doesn't want to go," detesting the idea of spending the next few hours at the stuffy hospital staff party.

"Then why are you going?" stroking Dexter's curly coat.

"Because Mommy and I work at the hospital and because she's head of the ER she's a real important person there so we have to 'make an appearance'," Matt explained.

"We can't come?" she inquired of herself and Matty.

"No honey you can't come. But you and Matty can stay up even later tonight than you already have even when Mrs. Griffin comes over which should be any minute now," checking the time on his new gold watch compliments of Ellen.

"Mrs. Griffin is so old we'll probably be spending the night keeping her awake," Matty remarked of the mid sixty-ish widow.

"She's not that old Matty, and she's a very nice lady."

"Yes Dad she's nice, but she's still old. Why can't Dina come over and watch us?" Matty asked of the pretty seventeen-year old brunette that lived down the street.

Giving Matty a curious look, "Because Dina had previous plans."

"I like Dina."

"Obviously," Matt quipped on his son's apparent crush. "Sorry no Dina tonight, just Mrs. Griffin."

"Oh joy," Matty retorted.

"Daddy can Dexter…"

"No Angel Dexter can't sleep in your bed," Matt said answering the question before Angel had a chance to finish it.

"Aw," Angel groaned as she continued to stroke the puppy.

All eyes turned to Ellen as she entered the room wearing a to die for black evening gown with sequins adorning the low cut neckline and a satin sheath wrap worn just off her bare shoulders. Her hair was pinned in a gorgeous up do to show off the diamond earrings Matt gave her for Christmas.

"Wow Mommy you look beautiful," Angel said in awe. "You're shining," speaking of the diamonds and sequins that adorned her.

Matty agreed, "Yeah Mom you look great, but I think you always do," he added with a smile always willing to work the charm in hopes of getting his sweet mother to aid him in getting that raise in allowance he has yet to receive. Even Dexter barked his young seal of approval.

"Well that's three for four. What does Daddy think?" Ellen asked giving Matt an alluring smile.

His eyes shining with complete and total adoration, "Daddy thinks Mommy is the most stunning beauty he's ever seen."

If he thought he didn't want to go to that party before, Matt was certain he didn't want to go now. Coming over to Ellen he placed a kiss upon her hand and whispered just loud enough for her to hear, "You look dynamite in that dress Ellen, but I can't tell you just how badly I ache to rip it off of you and take you right here, right now," his desire for her blazing like a bonfire in his eyes as they continued to sweep over her.

Whispering back to him, "Matt stop looking at me like that, you know I can't take it and wearing that tuxedo does not help." Stroking the hair at his left temple, "You are just too sexy for words," doing her best to control the stirrings within herself that were growing more rampant by the second, as their eyes were firmly glued on each other.

"You are so incredibly beautiful. Baby I have to kiss you," Matt murmured softly as he brought her gently to his lap.

"If you insist," Ellen willing obliged.

The two engage in a very tender yet intensely passionate kiss.

"Oh brother, I should have known this was coming," Matty mused as he covered the eyes of his laughing sister. Moments later with the kiss showing no signs of ending Matty cleared his throat, "Excuse me! HELLO! There are children present."

Slowly breaking the kiss they continued to stare fondly at each other as all sorts of illicit thoughts continued to fill their heads. "Later," they both whispered to the other.

Angela and Robert were spending the evening in the Port Charles Grill at a party thrown by Jax Cosmetics to welcome in the New Year and Robert into the company fold as its newest chemist.

"Are you sure you don't mind being here at this party Annie?" Robert asked finding a moment alone after being introduced to scores of people and shaking dozens of hands. "It has to be pretty dull and seemingly gratuitous in regards to myself."

"No I'm enjoying this. It's the first black tie party I've been to in years where the person I'm with isn't being fawned over out of fear. People respect you for your creative genius and your decency as a human being not because you can have them taken out by batting an eye. I'm very proud to be with you," Angela shared.

"I'm glad you feel that way, because I'm always proud and honored to be in your presence as well."

The two enjoyed the warm moment before Lucy came over to drag Robert over to meet yet more Jax clientele.

Robert gave Angela what was a desperate look of 'help me' as she watched Lucy bestow more praise on the man that had stolen her heart years before and was still after all this time holding it captive.

Mike and Alice were enjoying a quiet evening at his place. He had prepared for Alice's delight a delicious candlelight dinner. The dinner was now over and they were sitting on the couch before the roaring fire listening to a medley of love songs from the CD player.

"Is this what enjoying the golden years entails?" Mike inquired, softly stroking Alice's hair as her head rested peacefully on his shoulder.

"I don't know. Why do you ask?" She returned feeling quite content.

"Because this is something I can get used to. Having a spirited, fun-loving, beautiful woman in my arms, sipping a wonderful bottle of vino and listening to great music after sharing a fantastic meal if I must say so myself," speaking of his culinary ability, "it's like heaven on Earth."

"I have to agree with you on that, except for the golden part. I feel about twenty-five years old right now."

"Is that the wine?"

"No sir, I believe it's the company," Alice sighed as she snuggled closer in Mike's arms as the very appropriate "You Make Me Feel Brand New" by the Stylistics crooned in the background.

It was now 10:30 and after being at the gathering of hospital staff in the ballroom of the Port Charles Hotel for half an hour Matt was now ready to go home. "Now Ellen," Matt whined as he took possession of her hand.

"Matt we just got here," Ellen remarked.

"We could be having so much more fun at home, this party is so dull although it is a plus that I haven't seen Ramsey. If you insist on staying in the building let's slip over to the Jax party at least it has some different people there. I work with these people; I don't want to socialize with them. You my dear being the one and only exception, I don't mind you at work or play," he shared with a smile.

"Well I'm glad I'm the exception and not the rule," Ellen replied in good humor, "this party is on the dull side isn't it?"

"Big time," Matt answered. "I just got an even better idea, this is a hotel, let's get a room. You look so incredible in that dress that I can't wait to get you out of it."

"It's a good thing you're not single-minded," she teased.

"I think we've greeted and been pleasant with all the department heads let's slip out of here. These people are so busy being boring I doubt they'll even notice the most beautiful woman in the place is leaving."

"Keep saying the right things doctor, flattery will get you everywhere."

"I hope so," Matt eagerly replied.

Matt and Ellen were just about to approach the door when Eve and Chris stopped them with Matt wondering why fate would be so cruel to him.

"Ellen that dress is gorgeous and you look absolutely radiant, motherhood definitely becomes you," Eve praised.

"Well thank you Eve you look very nice yourself," Ellen offered returning the compliment.

"What's little Matthew been up to, Chrissy can't stop talking about him?"

"Funny, Matty…" Matt began.

"Matty's been busy with boy stuff," Ellen interrupted pretty sure where Matt was headed, "basketball, video games and all that, he was just talking about Chrissy the other day and how they spend recess together."

"The other day?" Matt thought. Matty mentioned her over a month ago and him spending time with her at recess wasn't regarded in a warm manner, women and their way with words.

"We're having a birthday party for Chrissy in a couple of weeks and Matty was the first person she wanted to invite. So if he's not too busy she'd love for him to be there."

"To no doubt watch her jump rope," Matt mused as Ellen gave him a look almost as if she was reading him mind.

"I'll be certain to mention it to him."

"You two were leaving?"

"Yeah, I just got a page, duty calls and all that," Matt lied.

"Oh well then you guys have a Happy New Year."

"The same to you," Ellen returned.

"We'd better go now," Matt said to Ellen more than ready to get away from Chris Ramsey.

The women shared a friendly goodbye as Matt and Chris grumbled one.

"You could have been the slightest bit pleasant Matt," Ellen commented.

"Not with Ramsey around I couldn't, besides I thought I did really well. I didn't just leave."

"I guess there is that."

"Now that I know Ramsey is in the building I don't want to stay in it. Let's go into the Jax party and wish Mom, Robert, Kevin and Lucy a Happy New Year, and then go home. Is that a plan?"

"I can go for that," Ellen agreed.

"Then let's do it."

Matt and Ellen made their way into the Jax party with Lucy spotting them immediately and dragging them over to Robert and Angela. She tried valiantly to get them to stay but their minds were made up.

"They're leaving Lucy," Kevin explained to her after her last ditch effort to get them to stay failed.

After wishing Angela and Robert a Happy New Year and saying a final goodbye to Lucy and Kevin Matt and Ellen left the party just after eleven and headed for home.

The hour of twelve was rapidly approaching and Mike and Alice were still relaxing on the couch no longer conversing but just enjoying each other's companionship and listening to the music as it continued to play.

"You know I've never enjoyed doing absolutely nothing more than I do with you," Mike shared with Alice as his fingertips gently stroked her back.

"Me too," Alice said echoing his sentiments.

"I feel so comfortable with you, but at the same time I feel a little nervous, a good kind of nervous, but still nervous."

"I understand, I feel that too," Alice confessed.

"That nervousness keeps me grounded. Whatever this is happening between us, I don't want to mess it up. I've messed up before in relationships and I don't want to do that this time. You Alice Morgan are very important to me, and I don't ever want to hurt you."

"I'm a little gun shy myself Mike. I've been down the divorce route before and heartbreak ridge is not a site I'm in a hurry to see again. Oh, but God help me when I'm around you I feel this rush to take another look around the bend. I just don't want to get pushed off the edge while I'm enjoying the view."

"We can hold each other's hand and take a look at the view together. With a new year comes a fresh start, and I can't think of anyone I'd rather start over with then you."

"Then we're in agreement."

Raising his wineglass, "To starting anew," Mike toasted.

"To me and you," Alice added. They clicked glasses and at the stroke of twelve they sealed their promise with a kiss, the first of many they would share that evening…

The Port Charles Grill…

It was ten of twelve and Alice and Robert were on the dance floor with Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable" being played by the live band.

"Funny this song is being played right now, it sums up my feelings for you pretty well," Robert whispered to Angela as they continued their dance. "It's a dream come true for me to be able to hold you like this again. Even after all these years I never stopped thinking about you Annie, and as hurt and angry as I got thinking about how we ended forgetting about you is something I could never do."

No longer dancing they were now just holding each other in the middle of the floor. "You were never far from my thoughts Bobby. Living with Sal, being married to him made the longing I felt for what we had even more profound. I convinced myself that I loved Sal, but deep inside I knew that wasn't true. How could I give my heart to Sal when I didn't have it to give? When you left you took my heart with you, and now that you're back I feel alive again. Having Eric and his family in my life has brought me more happiness than I can ever explain but there was still something missing, but with you in my world that void has been filled just like it was all those years ago and my life is complete once again."

"I can't tell you how wonderful that makes me feel Annie. Not for the sadness that you had to endure because we were kept apart, but because those incredible feelings I've always harbored for you aren't and never were one-sided. I never stopped loving you Annie even when I drove myself crazy trying to."

"Same for me."

"I understand we can't just rush back into what we had, but knowing the love is still there and that maybe we're both willing to try?"

"We are," Angela conceded.

"Then I think this New Year is going to be one hell of a good one."

"Five, four, three, two, one, Happy New Year!!!!!" the crowd shouted as the band began to play Auld Lang Syne.

"Happy New Year Annie."

"Happy New Year Bobby."

They shared a kiss that marked a giant first step in their second chance together.

When Matt and Ellen got home it was just about 11:30 and to their surprise Matty and Angel were still awake.

"You're home!" Angel shouted running up to her parents.

"Yes we're home and you're still awake," Ellen pointed out.

"Daddy said we could," Angel said looking at Matt as Matty too shared those words of fact with Ellen.

"Mrs. Griffin said we could watch the ball fall down in the time square," Angel informed her parents.

"You could watch the ball drop in Time Square?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, Daddy, that," Angel said nodding her head.

"I hope that's not a problem, Doctors?" Mrs. Griffin asked.

"No, it's fine. I can give you a ride home if you're ready," Matt offered.

"Thanks for the offer Dr. Harmon but I live two houses down, I think I can make that trip on foot."

"I insist you let me escort you out then."

"That I will accept. Thank you," her old heart skipping a beat at the sight of Matt in his tux again. "Goodnight dear," she said to Ellen giving her a motherly pat on the cheek.

"Goodnight, Mrs. Griffin, thank you for watching the children and you have a Happy New Year." Ellen smiled at the kindly older woman.

"You too, dear. Goodnight children."

"Goodnight, Mrs. Griffin," Matty and Angel returned.

"I'll be right back," Matt said to Ellen as he went out with Mrs. Griffin.

Less than five minutes later Matt was back in the house and joined his family on the couch to view the ageless Dick Clark's New Years' Rockin' Eve.

Nestled between their parents the young pair was bound and determined to see a new year come in, certain that their excitement of the event would be a determent to sleep. However after asking a number of questions about their evening Angel's inquisition slowly trickled to nothingness as the youngster started to fade fast, even the usually vexing Matty and his nine-year old manliness was going down for the count. Young Dexter the pup had called it a night hours before, a new year didn't mean much to him.

Matt and Ellen gently shook them awake and they hung in there, for about a minute or two but before the countdown started Matty and Angel were already down for the count, their heads resting peacefully in the lap of their nearest parent.

"Sixty seconds to go and we'll be out with the old…" Ellen started.

"And in with the new," Matt finished. "That's appropriate, wouldn't you say," glancing over Matty's head and in the direction of Ellen's slightly blossoming midsection.

"Extremely. This year had its ups and downs, it was good, bad and ugly but we made it through."

"There was never a doubt. Our mothers are in town and with Alice insisting we not disturb her and Mike with New Year's well wishes I know they're both very happy, and with the added blessing of a baby to my already cherished family this New Year is going to be even better."

The Grandfather clock in the room's corner began to chime.

"Happy New Year, Ellen."

"Happy New Year, Matt."

"I love you," they whispered to each other as they reached over their sleeping children and shared their first kiss of the New Year. Secure in the knowledge that the days to come will be full of the same happiness and contentment they were feeling at that moment.