A Night to Remember (all the pretty people)

[Lyra Newbury]

"Not really," she lied, watching the men through the window as they smoked and talked. Lyra wasn't sure whether or not she was happy that Sam didn't seem to know about her latest fling with Julian. She had been certain Nicolas would have told her the second he found out. And if not then, then surely as a nasty side comment about Lyra when telling Sam about the kidnapping attempt. She was pleased he had kept the secret, though she wasn't sure why he did. But at the same time Lyra now had no one to talk to about the impending catastrophe were Julian to show up. Lyra was just about to inquire about Julian when Sam started on about the kidnapping.

Lyra looked at Samantha sympathetically, which was strange as Lyra had been the one attacked. But she wasn't the target. The man had come thinking it was Sam in the carriage with Nicolas. "I didn't get a single spell off," she said, frustrated with herself. "I just cried like a little girl. Me! Do you know how many times I've whooped Rabastan at dueling!" She turned away, not really wanting to talk about this tonight.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam laughed thankful for Lyra's light vexation. It was one thing to duel in a classroom and another to duel for your life. Sam had done both and found that dueling in a classroom had far too many polite rules that were not used in real life.

"Let's not talk about it tonight. You look beautiful, the castle is just perfect for tonight, your date is gorgeous you shall be the envy of society."

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra smiled dutifully as Samantha complimented her and Mason. She looked again to the men outside, Mason in particular. "He is unbelievably handsome," she said despondent.

Mason was practically perfect. He was everything that Lyra needed in her life; stability, strength, and support. Mason cared for her and not only did he say that he cared about her, he showed it too. He checked in on her frequently even going so far as to write her while he was away. He was tender without expecting anything in return, and he didn't push her into a physical relationship too soon. Mason didn't judge Lyra when she became sullen for no apparent reason and he gave her all the compassion and comfort he could without letting her sink too far into herself. Most importantly, he was honest with her about his feelings, once he let his walls down. Lyra understood his need for the emotional walls he had built up; people had tried to use him for his money and power. It couldn't have been easy for him to trust Lyra and she felt honored to be viewed as so trustworthy.

But Lyra knew she didn't deserve Mason. She had broken their unspoken agreement because of her feelings for Julian. Her actions didn't merit Mason's trust.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam agreed happily watching the men outside, but she noticed her friend's smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Is everything alright between you two?" she asked not knowing where Lyra's discontent was coming from. Lyra should have been bouncing off the walls, but she was subdued. It worried Sam.

[Lyra Newbury]

"He's just so perfect," Lyra complained, then turned to look at her friend. "But he's not..." Lyra made a face, hoping Samantha would understand her meaning. Mason was everything Lyra wanted, on paper. But he wasn't Julian.

Julian had his faults, but Lyra loved him in spite of them. She was discovering far too slowly that the Julian she had met a year ago was not the real Julian, but a plastic alter-ego; a mask he put on for the world. Lyra loved that Julian, as she loved the raw Julian she had seen more recently. He professed his affections for her and proved them in their most intimate moments. He doted on her and looked after her, making sure she was always taken care. But more than that, Julian seemed to be able to look straight through Lyra's pretenses to the heart of who she was. He read her like a book and called her out when she was putting on a show he did not agree with. Lyra could talk to Julian, really talk about anything and everything that popped into her head and he hardly batted an eye when she told the same story for the fourth time. And by Merlin, the man had the heart of an artist (and the skills to go with it). Julian was the most sensitive man she had ever met, but maintained an air about him that told Lyra she would always be safe in his arms.

She trusted Julian more than anyone else, but still she hid things from him. She had planned to tell Julian about Mason, but she never had the courage to follow through and he was always so delicious that she easily gave up every attempt to come clean in favor for more carnal desires.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"Julian." Sam finished for Lyra, her smile waning a little. "It was rather absurd for me to hope that you'd be able to move on so quickly." she said with a little sigh.

"I wish I could tell you what to do Lyra. Julian is..." Sam was conflicted not knowing how to explain, "He's very damaged. You know that. You know him about as well as I do by now, probably even more. What happened with Belle destroyed him. I'm not sure he'll ever be the man that you want or need. I thought he might have been, but..."

She shook her head, " We don't have to dwell on this tonight. If it's Mason you're worried about, tell him that he's moving too fast. He cares about you, but if you don't think you can feel the same it's best to let him go."

[Lyra Newbury]

Samantha told her the same things Julian had said. He couldn't be what she needed. How did they know he couldn't it, if she didn't even know what it was? But yes, he was damaged. Lyra knew that. She loved him in spite of being broken, though it hurt her terribly when the shattered pieces of his heart pricked her. She had made up her mind to leave Mason, she was choosing Julian. But Julian had yet to choose her.

Moving too fast was something Lyra had experience in, but an actual relationship with all the strings attached was something completely foreign to her. She found she liked it, though it was scary at times, but if she enjoyed the slow and steady of a romantic partnership maybe that was really what she wanted and it had now been confirmed that Julian couldn't give her that.

Lyra sighed, her head too confused and her body standing in the worst place for such confusion. "He introduced me to his mother," she admitted. "I don't know how to stop things now. I don't want to hurt him."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Samantha frowned. Mason had gotten carried away by introducing Lyra to his mother, that was bold and said a lot for where Mason intended to take their relationship.

"I know what you mean." she said sympathetically. Sam never intended to hurt the men she had hurt in the past. Rafe had been a Mason at one time before her mother poisoned him.

"Sooner, I think, rather than later. Before things progress any further."

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra nodded. Samantha was right, and simply reinforcing what Lyra already knew. She needed to end it with him before things went any further. The problem wasn't knowing when to do it, but actually having the courage to follow through.

She groaned. "Why can't men just be simple?" she asked, not expecting an answer. She looked around. "What time is it?"

[Samantha Montgomery]

She laughed, "I'm pretty sure they would ask the same of us." she replied.

Sam glanced at the diamond wrist watch Nik had purchased for her for her birthday, "Half past six, there's still plenty of time."

They had an hour to rehearse the evening's events and go over the who's who and why they were important information that Sam had prepared Lyra with.

[Lyra Newbury]

"We're delightful and straight forward," she teased darkly. "Come on, let's join them for a smoke. I need to settle my nerves." Really, Lyra needed Mason to calm her as she had worked herself up again. But after admitting that she planned to end it with him, she didn't want to let on to Samantha how much she relied on him. Sam might try to talk Lyra out of breaking it off with Mason, as he really was very good for her on so many levels.

[Samantha Montgomery]

As much as Sam did care for Lyra, she also cared for Mason. She didn't want any of them to get hurt. And while Nik blamed Lyra, Sam blamed Julian, and ultimately herself for bringing them together in the first place.

Mason was good for Lyra, he would always be good for Lyra, like Nik was for Sam, but Samantha knew there was more out there. She just didn't dare look for it herself.

"Splendid idea." she said taking Lyra's arm and walking outside.

[Lyra Newbury]

The garden was even more stunning at night than when she had seen it last. Under the blanket of stars and lined with glowing candles it was almost heavenly.

"Are you boys keeping out of trouble?" Lyra asked playfully, though her eyes lingered on Nicolas a bit longer.

[Nicolas Everhart]

Nik heard them approach and was the first to turn and greet them, Mason turning just after him.

"Looks like trouble just arrived." he said, his eyes on Lyra briefly before they moved to Samantha. He held out the cigarette that Mason had given him to give to her, and she took it eagerly.

Nicolas wasn't nearly the ass he had been in the past, his remarks were almost teasing in nature, though given their history it was tough to tell.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra attempted to be subtle as she studied Nicolas over a series of brief glimpses. She couldn't tell what his intentions were tonight, but he was certainly more pleasant than when she last saw him. Nicolas now had multiple secrets of Lyra's that he could divulge at will. The least of which was the foiled kidnapping attempt that Lyra hadn't spoken about to anyone outside of Samantha.

Deciding she couldn't read Nicolas, she turned her attention fully on Mason. Had Nicolas disillusioned him as he threatened or had the men simply shared stories of business, sports, and whatever else it was that they spoke of? "Got one for me?" she asked, eyeing his cigarette with a gentle smile.

[Mason Marlowe]

Mason seemed surprised, but only because she hadn't wanted one before. He wanted to apologize and put his out, fearing that perhaps they had unconsciously coerced her into one. He smiled then realizing that Lyra wasn't the type to succumb to peer pressure.

"Of course love." he said reaching for one of his specialty cigarettes and handing it to her.

[Lyra Newbury]

She thanked him and leaned in, allowing Mason to light the cigarette for her before she stepped back and inhaled deeply. She wrapped her arm across her stomach, propping her elbow on her hand and holding the cigarette delicately between her fingers.

Smoking in and of itself was calming, but Lyra craved the tranquility that came from Mason's touch. If she sought it first, Samantha and Nicolas would question her motives. She needed Mason to make the first move. It wouldn't be too hard. Lyra turned slightly toward him. She smiled, letting her eyes drag up and down his body, then allowed her smile to widen ever so slightly.

[Mason Marlowe]

It didn't take long, Mason quickly put his arm around her. It was hard not to with an invitation like that.

His actions did not go unnoticed, Nik's smile diminished slightly and he gave Lyra a small questioning look. He knew that Lyra hadn't told Mason the things she had intended to in her letter. He wondered when she would. He wondered if she had had the opportunity.

The ball was not the setting for her to explain things, it could wait one more night. But one more night with a man like Mason could prove dangerous. The man was passionate, they all were once you cut deep enough below the surface.

"Nervous?" Mason asked her.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra was ignorant to Nicolas' look. She was completely focused on the man touching her, taking the strength she needed from him to survive. They had been together for less than an hour and already she had required his serenity several times. If she did the math, which she fervently believed she was too pretty to ever bother with, she would have realized that there was no possible way to make it through the evening alive. Something had to give; her heart or his strength.

"Better now," she answered honestly. Lyra became a different person in his arms and it was evident to anyone watching that she was softer now. She was glowing as she looked deep into Mason's dark eyes, despite her fears for the evening she was at peace for the moment.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam recognized the look she gave Mason, it was the look she gave Nik. He gave her strength. He supported her, protected her, cared for her. How could she not adore him? But Sam also knew there was more. There was something else out there that broke a person or made them truly complete. She could tell her cousin was going through it now with the extremely good looking Auror who seemed too stiff for her adventurous cousin. She could tell Lyra was going through the same thing with Julian, who was too pig headed and stubborn to appreciate what was in front of him.

And Sam knew that there was something missing between her and Nik, but without the other component to cause that doubt, she was perfectly content in his arms.

She finished her cigarette and enjoyed the last few minutes of quiet outside. Soon the ballroom would be full and she would be in hostess mode. She had instructed Nik to always be at Lyra's side if she wasn't there, and to help Lyra remember who was who.

He for his part, promised to behave.