-Dixie finally put the finishing touches to her portrait of the naked Nikolas, having gotten over her shyness of seeing him naked for her art class. Mrs Barone’ clapped her hands, to signal that the class was over for the day, and many of Dixie’s classmates started to pack away their equipment, while Dixie reached down for her bag, to gather up her art case and follow suit. Nikolas bent down and picked up the sheer robe, placing it back on, and stepping down off the podium, to go get dressed again behind the screen. The scrapping of chair legs on the wooden floor boards, created a din, with the rise of voices, as many now headed out the door, and out into the College grounds. This was Dixie’s first and only class for the day, and content with her work, she handed in her portrait to Mrs Barone’, with a quirky smile, before heading out the door.
“Dixie….wait up.” The voice came from behind her, none other than Nikolas, who was now dressed once again. Dixie stopped on the request and glanced back over her shoulder. “Never thought I would be so happy to see you with clothes on, Cheddar. That…was awkward.” Nikolas jogged to catch up with her, and patted her shoulder, before following with; “Hun, I had no idea you were going to be in that art class. I figured you would be resting up and getting things ready for the baby. You are what…three months gone now?” Nikolas wasn’t bad at all on numbers, and in fact, Dixie was pleasantly surprised by this. “Yeah, about three months. But to be honest, what with everything going on at home, I really need to get out and return to my studies, even with a baby on the way.” The pair started to walk along the pathway together, and Nikolas kept a fond eye upon Dixie, like she was his little sister. Nikolas was curious about how things were progressing with the plans of Alexandros and Demetrios in regards to the efforts to rescue Mia from the Russians. “Have the boys left yet, I was really wanting to ask. I mean, after everything, do you really think it’s safe for you to be out and about in public, with those crazies around?” Dixie sighed, and shrugged her shoulders, knowing in the back of her mind, that she was probably not safe, but her fierce independence streak meant that she refused to be cooped up in the garage. Stopping for a moment, Dixie faced Nikolas to answer his questions.
“As far as I know, the boys are organizing meetings to co-ordinate their efforts. But other than that, they have pretty much left me out of it. I am sure they have their reasons….but..” Dixie paused for a moment, then rubbed her swollen belly. “I am so…hungry.” She changed the subject rather quickly, and smiled up at Nikolas, asking. “Wanna go grab a bite to eat? I don’t think that Demetrios is going to be home tonight, and there is a nice restaurant over the road.” Nikolas then remembered he had forgotten something back at the studio class room. “Okay…deal. I don’t think Maggie is going to be home till late, with her new job and all. Just wait here, and I be right back.” Taking off in the opposite direction, Dixie was left on her own, and she contemplated heading over the road herself. Surely he could catch her up. She started to walk for the curb and step out, when suddenly a black sedan, revved its engines, and took off at speed. It was racing directly for Dixie, as she started to cross the street, turning a split second as she is hit from behind, by none other than Nikolas. “LOOK OUT!” – he screams, and the two of them tumble along the road, as the car swerves around them and speeds off before either could get the licence plate. Stunned and in a panic, Dixie tries to get up, her hands cut and bleeding from the road’s surface. Nikolas is much faster, getting up and quickly wrapping his arms around her and picking her up, to carry her to the other side of the road. On reaching it he puts her down gently, and starts asking people if they got the licence plate of the car. None seemed to know, but they were curious to see if Dixie was alright. Dixie’s breath was labored, and she nodded, though shaken.
“I’m fine…my hands took the impact, and I managed not to land on my tummy. Phew. Who the hell was that?” Dixie’s voice was a bit shaky, and Nikolas brought her into a gentle hug, while staring off down in the direction that the car had gone.
“I don’t know, but I do know one thing. I am not letting you out of my sight.” <3>
A grey sky, with its darkened clouds releasing a torrent of rain, was what met Dixie when she awoke the morning of her ultra sound. Demetrios had headed off to Russia, on his bid to save Mia from her captors, and whilst she wished she could have gone along with him and Alex, she knew that she would just get in the way. Dem would never consider allowing her to go, especially since she carried their child. A child; who was growing rapidly. Dixie was now twenty weeks pregnant and doing more than showing. A night on the couch came after she could not get comfortable in their bed. Waking with a yawn, she could hear the repeating ping of rain falling upon the roof of the garage. Yes, she was still living in the garage behind the tattoo shop. It was home after all. Their home. The alarm clock flashed it was after nine am, and groaning, Dixie had to push herself up, cushions falling on the floor. A light stretch then rub of her swollen stomach, she swung her legs over and sat up, and blinked a few times.
There was suddenly a mad banging on the garage door, followed by a whine. Then a dark chuckle, obviously male. More voices and then a chorus of “DIXIE…WAKE UP!” Dixie pushed herself up, and strode over, her night shirt, which was one of Alex’s black shirts, hanging down over her ass. She pressed the button to open up the roller door, only to see Betty, Nikolas and a very sophisticated Maggie, all waiting in the rain with their umbrellas up
“It’s fooking raining cats and dogs…open the fooking door, ya silly moppet!” Maggie was still the same Irish gal, no matter how dressed up she appeared. With her hair styled into a loose bun, with curls that fell about the curve of her face, she was the epitome of style, but shivering from the cold blast that the rain gave off. She trotted in, lowering her umbrella and shaking the water from it, eyeing Dixie’s bare legs. “Get some fooking pants on….and the kettle…No wait, I do that..you get dressed. NIKOLAS..get in, the gal ain’t dressed yet.” Stating the obvious, Nikolas wiggled his eyebrows, and sauntered in, wolf whistling at Dixie, who was gripping the edges of her oversized T shirt, trying to pull it down. “I slept in…okay? We got time.” Dixie muttered, scurrying off, while Betty practically skidded in on a wet patch caused by Maggie’s umbrella being closed. Betty, was dressed in bright red leather pants, and a bizarre oversized jumper made from wool, and various strips of leather, in a mad pattern. One of her creations, she was beaming, her hair in twin ponytails. Colourful, would be how best to describe the ensemble. “Crikey…the floor is like glass, almost went ass over tit! Tea for me, Mags. Two sugars. Not sweet enough…ha. Oh this is …nice.” Betty said with a quirky expression checking out the interior of the garage. The crazy Aussie tossed her bag on the couch, and flopped down, admiring Nikolas’s ass as he checked out Demetrios’s Ducati. “Okay…Dem has taste. Bitchin’ Check it out. Mag’s…buy me one of these babies.” Nikolas joked, tempted to straddle the bike and take it for a spin.
Dixie must have had a sixth sense, as she took a shower, and you could hear her sing out to Nikolas.
“Touch the bike…you die, Cheddar. That’s Dem’s other baby.”
Dixie turned off the shower taps, and she rummaged about, you could hear her muttering and trying to get dressed in the small bathroom. Not feeling comfortable about getting dressed in full sight of her friends. Dixie finally exited the bathroom, wearing black jeans and a skivvy, which pulled tight over her baby bulge. Brushing up her hair as she walked, she had her hair tie clenched in her teeth, and came to stop near the TV, setting down the brush, and tying her hair back neatly in a single ponytail. She wore only the lightest amount of makeup, already having a natural glow to her cheeks, after being in the hot shower. Her baby bump really was noticeable, especially with her light frame. Nikolas who had been touring the side of the garage that had Demetrios’s tools wandered back over, accepting a cup of coffee from Maggie, who was fussing about like a Mother Hen around Dixie.
“Coffee for me…”
Dixie sung out, fixing her hair and smoothing it back with both hands. Maggie instantly snapped her head around and waved a tea spoon.
“Tea…green tea. It’s good for the baby. I brought some.”
Dixie pulled one hell of a face. ~No coffee?~ Nikolas bit his lip and Betty suddenly noticed a crack in the ceiling.
“I never thought of you as living in a garage unless you married…a roadie or something Dix.”
Betty chimed, being handed a cup of tea from the dutiful Maggie. Nikolas watched on fascinated at the red haired Irish lass, fussing and trotting around the garage like she owned it.
“Being a PA suits you, hun. Just…you know you’re off the clock.”
Maggie had been putting in a lot of hours, working for the mysterious Midas; who was currently overseas, and she was having to do all her correspondence to him by phone and email. Nikolas wasn’t too sure if he liked the new Maggie, actually preferring her to be busking; doing what she loved. But with the Death Club closed, they did need the extra income, and this paid very well indeed. Maggie placed down a hot cup of green tea before Dixie on the coffee table, and then placed her hands on her hips.
“Someone has to take care of her…make sure she doesn’t go harming her body. Demetrios isn’t here, so…we step up and take care of her.”
This was delivered with a firm nod of the head, while Dixie stared down at the green tea. Truth was…she hated the stuff. Coffee was her morning fuel, and she was often a bear with a sore head without it. Betty chuckled and then brought her finger to her lips, out of view of the feisty Maggie, and withdrew a can of red bull from her large black leather handbag. She tipped the can back and forth and laughed silently, only to quickly shove it back in her bag, when Maggie turned around to Betty and Nikolas.
“Come on..get it in yas…we gotta catch the next taxi to the clinic. Her appointment is at ten am.”
“But…but…but..”
Dixie protested, but to no avail, Maggie had already started cleaning up the garage. Picking up scattered cushions that Dixie had used on the couch, and placing them back on the couple’s bed in the corner. Nikolas nudged Dixie playfully, in the midst of Maggie’s cleaning frenzy.
“Play along for now. I can get you a nice coffee after art class.” Nikolas whispered, as Dixie tipped the green tea into her one and only living pot plant, before handing Nikolas the empty cup. “Mmmm….had no idea it was so good.” She lied, going to get her bag, while Betty took the remaining cups to the kitchenette. By this point, Maggie had started picking up the wet towels in the bathroom and cleaning up. Nikolas was already getting the garage door, when he sung out to Maggie.
“We be leaving you behind, and you can spend the day here playing Demetrios’s Xbox, instead of seeing the baby.” Nikolas chortled, seeing a flustered looking Maggie emerge from the bathroom; clattering of heels on the concrete floor. “Wait for me, you ungrateful fooks!”
Arriving at the specialist clinic that Demetrios had arranged for prior to his trip to Russia, Dixie had a dreaded feeling, alighting from the taxi, and seeing the very place that had been a centre point to lives of the employees of the Death club. After the attacks and bombing, this is where they ended up. Could the clinic offer them a happier visit, seeing as this is where Dixie was going to be having the baby. Nikolas paid the taxi driver, while Betty slipped her arm around the nervous Dixie.
“Come on…it’s just a scan. You look like they are about to amputate your leg of something.” Betty playfully hugged her bestie, as Dixie showed a fake smile. Maggie was on her cell phone, fielding a call from Midas, her employer. “Yes…I made sure you had the Armani. Tickets are on the dresser. NO…the blue. You look good in the blue. NO, I am not going over to your apartment now. The grey is too subtle. Yes….I know but…Ugh..give me an hour.” Sliding her finger across the pad, she pocketed the cell phone, and hurried to catch up with the others, that were making their way into the receptionist desk. There were three nurses behind the station, one of which was Nurse Lola, who remembered Dixie right away. With her blue uniform hugging her form and accentuating her mountainous breasts, she leant forward and spoke into the mic.
“Doctor Walsh to scans. Paging Doctor Walsh.” The nurse flicked the switch and with her right hand gestured which way the group should go. “Down the hall, second room on the right. That is the waiting room for the Ultrasounds. Dixie, hope you had kept your fluids up. Just go down and the Doctor will be with your shortly.” Nurse Lola said with authority, before she advised the group. “Oh..and please make sure all your electronic equipment and cell phones are switched off when entering. Have a good day.”
“That means you, Mags.” Nikolas said, casting a look at her, knowing full well, it would be still turned on. Maggie shrugged and took the cell phone out of her pocket and made sure it was turned off. “There…see, I do listen.”
Nikolas slapped Maggie’s ass, and the four entered the waiting room; a sparsely decorated room, with eight chairs that went around the walls, and pictures of happy children and rainbows. There was a coffee table with magazines spread out, along with brochures for health insurance. The four had not even found a seat, when Doctor Walsh, a sombre looking chap in a white lab coat entered, holding Dixie’s file underneath his arm. Seeing that there was others present, he tipped his head forward slightly, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose. “Are you all here to see the scan being done? The room is not very big.” Doctor Walsh said, as Betty smiled brightly. “YEP!..Wouldn’t miss this for the world. I’ve come all the way from Australia. I want front row. I’ll even squirt on the gel if it helps.” Nikolas let out a loud laugh at Betty’s enthusiasm, which got the Doctor’s attention. “You must be the father, nice to meet you.” The Doctor offered his hand to shake, and Nikolas looked confused by this. “Errr..no, I am a very close friend. Not THAT close, Maggie would kill me…come to think of it, so would Demetrios. I’m…..the support crew.” He beamed, as Maggie popped her head out from behind Nikolas. “Oi…I’m not waiting outside. I have been waiting to see the baby. “All three were so eager, and Dixie felt herself shrink down at all the attention. “I could wait outside.”- She offered, to which the three chorused. “No!”
The Doctor waved his hands for all to settle, and offered to walk Dixie into the ultrasounds room, to help her get ready on the observation table near the machines. The three amigos…as Dixie now thought of them, filed in and huddled together, so they could get a good view of the monitor. The Doctor drew back Dixie’s skivvy, and then squirted the clear gel upon her rounded abdomen.
“Oh look…she has an outie.” Betty teased, as Dixie closed her eyes and wondered how much longer this would take. Truth be told, she really wanted Demetrios to be there at her side, but unfortunately, he had committed himself to saving Mia. The lights turned off, and the glow of the monitor illuminated Dixie and the Doctor, as he placed the wand on her belly, and you could hear the woosh woosh of Dixie’s own heart, while the image on the monitor showed the insides of Dixie’s belly. As the Doctor started to move it around, pressing it in deeper, there was the faint sound of a second heart. And then…on the screen, you could see a leg…then another. Moving further, the body of the tiny baby came into view. The sound of the baby’s heart was beating fast, and Nikolas, Betty and Maggie were all in awe, of the new life that was being seen for the first time.
“Look…the baby is sucking its fist.”
Maggie was the first to notice, while Nikolas was trying to see if they could tell what sex the baby was.
“I think I see its willy.”
Nikolas cried out, pointing and Betty put her glasses on, trying to get a better look.
“That’s its foot…silly.” Betty replied, pushing her glasses up her nose.
The Doctor turned the monitor so that Dixie could see for herself. Dixie reached out with her right hand, and touched the screen, where the baby was moving around, coming in and out of focus, due to the pressing of the wand.
“So beautiful…” Dixie uttered, feeling the first tears roll down her cheeks.
“Very healthy too. Just the right length for a baby of twenty weeks, so whatever it is you are doing, keep doing it, Miss Chix. I have made a copy of this, so you can take it home for your partner. And I guess you want to know what sex the baby is?” The Doctor asked, as the other three got closer, hoping to hear the news too. Slowly, Dixie nodded, and the Doctor moved the wand as the baby turned away and then around, showing off the tell tale sign.
-Reaching one of the outdoor tables just outside the restaurant, Nikolas guided Dixie to a seat and then bent forward, reaching to cup her face with his hand. “I will go in and get an order. Coffee? Water?…anything you feel like?” He asked, concerned about her. Dixie’s hands were trembling, and she reached for a napkin, to soak up the blood from the cuts to her hands. Feeling Nikolas caress her face, she felt a pang of guilt, allowing another man to touch her this way. But after he just saved her life, she owed him thanks. “Err…flat white…maybe a glass of water.”- Smiling at her answers, he withdrew his hand and headed inside, as Dixie continued to pat her hand with the napkin. The scratches were mainly superficial, but with her hands trembling from the shock, Dixie began to worry of what may have happened if the car had hit her, or if she landed on her stomach.
Nikolas emerged from the entrance to the restaurant, slip in hand and sat himself down opposite Dixie, with a concerned look upon his face. “They said it would only take a few minutes, Dixie.”- Seeing the napkin that Dixie was holding to her hand, Nikolas concern grew. “Should I take you to a hospital to get your hands looked at, or just a check up on the baby?”- It was truly heart warming that he was so worried about her, and truth be told, that was a nice feeling. Dixie on the other hand, knew that the baby was fine. “I’ll be alright. One cup of coffee, and everything is right in the world again.” This was a wonderful ideal, but we all know coffee is only good when you are waking up. The pair sat together quietly, Dixie seemed to keep looking up and down the road, obviously worried, whoever tried to run her over, was still around. Nikolas caught sight of this and reached for her hand that was not so sore. “It’ll be okay….I will make sure you get home safe and sound.” Now, to anyone passing, they may well have looked like a couple. And to the girl that approached the table, this is exactly what she presumed.
“Dixie…you didn’t tell me you were meeting your boyfriend after class.” Dixie quickly pulled back her hand, as her head turned to see Betty, standing just shy of the table, beaming like a Cheshire cat. “He is kinda cute. Where can I line up for one like him?” She was certainly not backward in being forward, and this brought an amused chuckle from Nikolas. “I think you are mistaken. I am Nikolas, Dixie’s friend and colleague, from the Death Club.” He rose from the table, and offered to pull out a chair for Betty, who was quick to take it. If it was one thing Betty loved, it was gossip. Betty became starry eyed, when it was now out in the open, that Nikolas was not Dixie’s boyfriend. The wicked Aussie stylist may be in with a chance. “Ooo so your single? This is a good day. And so muscular, you work out. Ooo let me feel that arm.” Betty reached across and gave his arm a squeeze, while mouthing to Dixie. “So firm….” Dixie tried very hard not to laugh, since she knew jolly well that Nikolas was not single at all. Surprised by Betty being so forward as to touch his biceps, he chuckled and wiggled his eyebrows playfully. “I work out, and my girlfriend Maggie appreciates them too. Just not so hands on as you, Miss.”- Betty took the hint, right away. Drawing back her hand and giving herself a smack for her troubles. “My mother always taught me to check and see if something is ripe. Sorry, I am a touchy feely. Oh…how embarrassing. “ She picked up a serviette to hide behind, as her cheeks flushed red. Dixie found this too cute and typical of the old Betty she knew back in Melbourne. “Oh don’t mind Nikolas, he is used to being pawed over at the bar where we worked. One old lady lost her front teeth to him one time. Heh.” Yes the memories of that night were still fresh in her mind, of how the old crone tried to pay for Nikolas to come service her in one of the sex suites. Maggie, who was so jealous, sprayed the woman fair off the barstool, using the soda gun. Nikolas was now the one with cheeks aflame and he even muttered. “Must you bring up that story? She had to have been 80 not out. I don’t do wrinklies. That’s just ew.” This brought peals of laughter from Dixie and Betty, who found his expression for disgust to be priceless.
The waitress came out with the tray of coffees and a bottle of water, complete with clean glasses, setting them down, while Betty took out her purse and asked for a cappuccino, no sugar. Dixie put down the blooded napkin and this was when Betty noticed that Dixie was injured. “What did they do to you in that art class? Let you play with razors?” She went to snatch Dixie’s hand to get a better look, when Dixie promptly drew her hands under the table. “I…took a fall on the road. Nikolas was able to help me up.” – Nikolas frowned, knowing that she was almost hit by a car, but Dixie seemed to implore Nik with her eyes, not to make a fuss. Nikolas tried to finish the sentence. “I think she was still dazed from seeing me at her art class.”- He smirked as Dixie rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair. “Art class? Seriously? You don’t look arty, no offence.” Well she was right about that, and to humour her further, Nikolas decided to spill the reason he was there. “I was the model. They needed someone to pose nude.” At the word nude, Betty’s jaw dropped. The very idea that Dixie enjoyed her morning class, staring at a nude Nikolas was just too much. “Where can I sign up? Do they have a sculpture class too? I can imagine what I could do with clay staring at your body.” Nikolas roared with laughter, both at Betty’s candour, but also Dixie’s embarrassment. Either way, it was getting Dixie’s mind off the accident, and hopefully keep her in good humour, till it was time to take her home to the garage. The waitress returned with the second cup of coffee and sat it down for Betty, who paid her promptly. “Well…how about a toast?”- she raised her steaming cup of coffee and urged Dixie to do the same. “May we be…the new three musketeers of Prague, to do wicked things at nightclubs, across the city, and care for the delightful Dixie….who I just noticed is PREGNANT?!” She did just notice Dixie’s small belly and Dixie simply couldn’t hide it. “How far are you, Dix?” – Dixie shrugged lightly and then did a quick mental tally. “Bout…three months?” This set the wheels in Betty’s mind turning and she suddenly slapped Dixie’s arm whilst setting the coffee cup down. “Well, if the real father ain’t around to help. Can we be your birthing partners? We can teach you to moan and breath…right Nik?” Betty shot him a glance, nodding, and urging him to agree. “Uhm…well I don’t know a lot about…” even before he had finished, Betty had signed him up. “No arguments, Dix…we are going to stick to you like flies on cow’s ass.”
-Dixie finally put the finishing touches to her portrait of the naked Nikolas, having gotten over her shyness of seeing him naked for her art class. Mrs Barone’ clapped her hands, to signal that the class was over for the day, and many of Dixie’s classmates started to pack away their equipment, while Dixie reached down for her bag, to gather up her art case and follow suit. Nikolas bent down and picked up the sheer robe, placing it back on, and stepping down off the podium, to go get dressed again behind the screen. The scrapping of chair legs on the wooden floor boards, created a din, with the rise of voices, as many now headed out the door, and out into the College grounds. This was Dixie’s first and only class for the day, and content with her work, she handed in her portrait to Mrs Barone’, with a quirky smile, before heading out the door.
“Dixie….wait up.” The voice came from behind her, none other than Nikolas, who was now dressed once again. Dixie stopped on the request and glanced back over her shoulder. “Never thought I would be so happy to see you with clothes on, Cheddar. That…was awkward.” Nikolas jogged to catch up with her, and patted her shoulder, before following with; “Hun, I had no idea you were going to be in that art class. I figured you would be resting up and getting things ready for the baby. You are what…three months gone now?” Nikolas wasn’t bad at all on numbers, and in fact, Dixie was pleasantly surprised by this. “Yeah, about three months. But to be honest, what with everything going on at home, I really need to get out and return to my studies, even with a baby on the way.” The pair started to walk along the pathway together, and Nikolas kept a fond eye upon Dixie, like she was his little sister. Nikolas was curious about how things were progressing with the plans of Alexandros and Demetrios in regards to the efforts to rescue Mia from the Russians. “Have the boys left yet, I was really wanting to ask. I mean, after everything, do you really think it’s safe for you to be out and about in public, with those crazies around?” Dixie sighed, and shrugged her shoulders, knowing in the back of her mind, that she was probably not safe, but her fierce independence streak meant that she refused to be cooped up in the garage. Stopping for a moment, Dixie faced Nikolas to answer his questions.
“As far as I know, the boys are organizing meetings to co-ordinate their efforts. But other than that, they have pretty much left me out of it. I am sure they have their reasons….but..” Dixie paused for a moment, then rubbed her swollen belly. “I am so…hungry.” She changed the subject rather quickly, and smiled up at Nikolas, asking. “Wanna go grab a bite to eat? I don’t think that Demetrios is going to be home tonight, and there is a nice restaurant over the road.” Nikolas then remembered he had forgotten something back at the studio class room. “Okay…deal. I don’t think Maggie is going to be home till late, with her new job and all. Just wait here, and I be right back.” Taking off in the opposite direction, Dixie was left on her own, and she contemplated heading over the road herself. Surely he could catch her up. She started to walk for the curb and step out, when suddenly a black sedan, revved its engines, and took off at speed. It was racing directly for Dixie, as she started to cross the street, turning a split second as she is hit from behind, by none other than Nikolas. “LOOK OUT!” – he screams, and the two of them tumble along the road, as the car swerves around them and speeds off before either could get the licence plate. Stunned and in a panic, Dixie tries to get up, her hands cut and bleeding from the road’s surface. Nikolas is much faster, getting up and quickly wrapping his arms around her and picking her up, to carry her to the other side of the road. On reaching it he puts her down gently, and starts asking people if they got the licence plate of the car. None seemed to know, but they were curious to see if Dixie was alright. Dixie’s breath was labored, and she nodded, though shaken.
“I’m fine…my hands took the impact, and I managed not to land on my tummy. Phew. Who the hell was that?” Dixie’s voice was a bit shaky, and Nikolas brought her into a gentle hug, while staring off down in the direction that the car had gone.
“I don’t know, but I do know one thing. I am not letting you out of my sight.” <3>
-After a long day, busking on the streets of Prague, Maggie headed back to Nikolas’s apartment in the Apartments Attic Olivova, Prague 1, Hlavni Mesto Praha. Carrying her worn guitar case, that was covered in stickers of all the places she had been, she certainly did look every bit the musician. Long flowing skirt, that swirled when she walked with a quickened step, dying to just get up the stairs, open the door, and collapse on the couch. Maggie had done a good day’s takings, for the many songs she sang. Some were special requests, others were some from the heart.
Maggie was back to busking, since the Death Club had been closed to give SOME members of staff a holiday. But to those that relied on the Death Club pay cheques, the fact they were going without, meant they had to either go back to what they had done before, or…find another way to make ends meet. Maggie, had been fortunate. Nikolas had been kind enough to take her in, and now, she had a roof over her head, till she got on her feet well and truly. The night of the party at the club, where Dixie had arranged for Maggie to sing, had given her hope she would be noticed by a talent scout or agent. But alas, that was simply a dream, for now at least.
Arriving outside the Apartment building, Maggie stared straight up, wondering if Nikolas would be home, or out doing his modeling work for the catalogues, he is supposedly famous for. Patting her chest with her free hand, she could feel the key to his apartment, on the chain around her neck, and breathed a sigh of relief. Maggie was always incredibly forgetful, like remembering where she put the TV remote, or who was the last one to use the computer. Heading in the foyer, she nodded to some of the other tennants, all gave her smiles, even one older gentleman, tipped his hat. Reaching the lift, she pressed the button, and waited patiently, till the light pinged on the up arrow.
Maggie had already planned out her night. TV dinner, a copy of Riverdance, and her fluffy slippers, with jammies. It was a night in, on her bed, the couch. It was going to be perfect. Or…so she thought.
On reaching the door to Nikolas’s apartment, Maggie could hear raised voices coming from within. Maggie bent her head to the door, to listen, and it was Nikolas, and he seemed to be on the phone to someone. “Tonight?…Are you sure?…But I didn’t get the call from my agent. What?….Alright, I be there in an hour.” The phone was slammed down, followed by a lot of excited chatter, and the stomping of feet up and down the hall in the apartment. Rather than bother Nikolas further, Maggie got her key and unlocked the door, making her way in,and setting down her guitar case, near the front entrance closet. Nikolas was in his bedroom, and Maggie could see that whoever called, had interrupted Nikolas from what he was doing. Coming around the corner, she took one look at the television, and it was playing a a hentai movie. “Ugh…No no…not watching that.”- Maggie said, groaning as she picked up the remote and turned it off. The room went quiet for a few seconds, and then a voice sung out from the bedroom.
“Maggie? That you? Shit….I gotta go to the Fashion show. Damn agent never gave me the message and just got a call from the venue manager. Apparently the designer is having some sort of fit. By the way, have you seen my boxers with the red hearts?”
Maggie froze in her place, holding the remote and trying to take in everything he just said. First off…Fashion show? That was good news. She knew he had been doing some modeling work, but to do a catwalk modeling gig, well that would pay big bucks. Maggie had to wonder, who the fashion designer was, that was having a dummy spit. Lord knows why, but for some reason, they all seem so high strung. Nikolas had told her over dinner, about some of the back stage disasters that happened at these gigs. Maggie thought Nikolas should get danger money, just for showing up. As for the boxers…..
“The red ones? With…hearts?” -Maggie sung out, biting her bottom lip, since…she was wearing them. “I think I seen them…but you might not be happy with meh, when you see where they are.” The door to Nikolas’s room swings open, and he strides out in his towel. Seeing Maggie in her street wear, he asks. “Where?” Maggie slowly pulls up her skirt, to reveal that she is wearing them. “Sorry….I thought they were nice, and they look a lot fookin’ better on me…bit loose though.” Nikolas groaned, and stomped back up the hall, dropping his towel as he did so. Typical, always dropping his towel, so Maggie had to stare at his goods. Seeing him without clothing, was something he did frequently. If Maggie had been living with a girl, its one thing. But with Nikolas….well, he was hung..hung very well.
Nikolas went on with getting ready, and you could hear him rifling through his closet, and not being able to decide what to wear. Maggie, made her way into the bathroom, since she was wanting to enjoy a nice shower, and then settle for her DVD night in. But just as she turned the taps, she could hear Nikolas pounding on the door. “Maggie…I want you to come with me. I’m nervous as hell. These fashion shows are a big deal.” Maggie, well she got the shock of her life, and quickly had a shower, one of the fastest in history. Turning of the taps when she was done, she reached for a robe. Opening the door to the bathoom, the steam billowed out in a glorious sight, Nikoals was in his suit, The look in his eyes, desperate. “I need you there…you don’t understand. The designer. He..he…*Nikolas leans forward to whisper it*…he think’s I’m Gay.” Maggie could barely contain her laughter, doubling over, her wet hair dripping all over the floor. “You? Gay?…Ahahahaha. That be right. Mista Dick…Nik the Panszy….Gay meh arse you are. I seen the stash of porn mags under ya bed…..AND…*she points at the big wide screen TV*…Hentai when I come home. If you’re gay…then I’m fookin’ gay.” This made Nikolas wonder for a moment, and then he asked. “Been with a woman?”- Maggie, suddenly became flustered, and she found an urge to get dressed, rather fast. “So…what time we suppost to be at this…show?”
At the Fashion show, designer Andre Massomo, was fussing back stage, wringing his hands, as the audience was filling in. Fashion editors, from Vogue, Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, Glamour, Marie Clarie, In Style and W, had all been out in the foyer, prior to the show. This was to be Andre’s big night, launching his new collection, and yet the star models, were boycotting, due to a strike on some Fur products that had been used in the making of his hats. Desperate times, had called for desperate measures. And with the big names scratched off the list, he needed whatever models he could find, to do the show, and help sell his designs to the world. Already he had a few models, but there was two spots left, and the chairs were still empty.
“I should have listened to my Mother, when she said…HAIR…be a hair stylist, Andre. People are always growing their hair.” Burying his face in his hands, one of the production team members, Joel, came out from behind the black curtain, hooked up to the sound team up in the main control, for all the effects. “Got twenty minutes….twenty minutes, Andre….The guests are already starting to take their seats.” Joel quickly looked at the empty seats and grimmaced. “Models running late?”- he asked, as Andre whapped him with his felt hat. “Get out there…and get my show ready!…GAH….Waaaaaah…I’ll be ruined….Waaaaah!”
Just outside the Events centre, Nikolas, was flashing his pass to the security officer, a large Tongan, who stared oddly at Maggie. Maggie was wearing a Frankie Goes to hollywood retro T shirt, and torn jeans. “Sup?” Maggie said, wiggling her fingers, and the Bouncer snarled at her, before Nikolas dragged her inside the doors. By now, Andre was doing his block, and he was short the two models, for his latest creations. But as luck would have it, he caught sight of Nikolas. “NIKOLAS…GOD BLESS YOU…I MEAN IT…YOUR MOTHER IS A SAINT TO PUSH YOU OUT…Now…get ready over in makeup!”- Nikolas was led away, leaving Maggie standing awkwardly all by herself. Andre….nearly died. “Wait… I Know you…YOU…Oh my god and in my fashion show. Tell your agent, I will never forget this. Quickly, over to make up, and I get your clothes. There is a GOD!”- Maggie glanced around behind her, and then looked at his strangely. “What the fook you on about, ya Gammy Gimp.”- but seems his staff were right on the ball, escorting her over to makeup. The hairstylist team were there too, and as Maggie wailed and protested, they got her ready….for her first ever fashion show. Now, Nikolas could hear her, from across the room, but was too busy being penned into his suit, to deal with it. Did Andre realise….he had just picked an Irish busker to show off his latest collection?
Maggie’s hair was curled, teased, and with the make up artists doing her face, she was virtually changing from the other side of the mirror, so when they all stepped back, she looked exactly like Karen Elsen. The world famous model for such big names as , Jean-Paul Gaultier, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, YSL, Alexander McQueen, Dior, and Gucci. Dressed in a stylish black cocktail dress, she was hustled up the stairs, where Nikolas was just about to his catwalk run, dressed in a dapper black suit. He could not believe that the amazing beauty beside him was actually Maggie. “My God….Maggie?”
Then the curtain opened, and Nikolas did his thing, walking out as hundreds of flashes went off, and the crowd clapping as he owned the stage. He was a true professional, in every sense of the word. Maggie was so nervous, she thought she was about to pee herself, and as Nikolas did his turn, giving the cameras a demure look, she was praying to God, she didn’t wet herself. How on earth she got tied up in all this was to be seen, but as Nikolas headed back, she got a small push from behind, and Maggie….started to walk down the runway. The audience, were stunned to see the Red headed beauty, and all applauded wildly, much to Andre’s delight, who was jumping up and down out the back, seeing it all happening on the cameras, that were beaming it around the world. Maggie reached the end of the runway, and having watched Nikolas turn, she followed suit, stepping side on, and placing a hand upon her right hip, staring down the cameras, with no expression on her face. No smile. Models, don’t smile. The audience all rose to the their feet, and Maggie’s heart was about to jump out of her chest. She lowered her hand from her hip, and then both arms free, she twirled back to do the walk back, as she couldn’t help but smile. Maggie, had just fooled the world.
-A rainy evening in Prague. The city lights seemed to bend and mix with the wet roads. Wind wipers sweeping back and forth, as a black sedan pulls up outside the smoking remains of the front entrance of the Death club. Inside the car, sits Inga and Kraus. Inga was actually devoid of makeup, her hair which is usually teased and preened, tied up in a bun beneath a scarf, and she wore a long grey wool coat. The busty Swede found difficulty in facing this place once more, but the four had agreed to meet here, after they had all been released from hospital. Seeing the massive hole in the entrance way, where the bouncers were just checking the patrons as they entered, Inga coughed and tried to suppress her tears.
The club had lived up to its name. The Death Club. Eight people had died in the attack, by militia from the Russian mob, run by Yuri. And to top it off, the sparkling diamond of the Club; Mia had been kidnapped. Such heartache and sorrow befell the staff and crew, the dancers and bouncers. And to think, this was the same place where Inga herself had been attacked by the knife wielding Lucy, Kraus’s ex. Only one word came from Inga’s mouth, as she sat in the front passenger seat. “Why?” Kraus reached over with his arm, and placed it around her shoulder’s gently. “How do we explain evil? We simply can’t.” Kraus let out a sigh and then turned off the engine, the windscreen wipers stopping, and now the windscreen was smattered with rain drops, making it harder to see. Looking past Inga at the darkened hole, that was bigger enough to drive a bus through, Kraus frowned.
“I knew I should not have let you return here to work. The Death Club is cursed. All the vices and debauchery; sex and sin. The Devil’s playground, and look at what happened?”
Leaning back, he runs his hand through his hair and then slams it down on the steering wheel, in a fit of rage.
“YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!”
Inga sat silently, and allowed Kraus this moment, to show his true feelings. She was not about to argue, he had a point. Swallowing hard, she was about to respond finally after a few awkward moments of silence, when there was a tap on Inga’s window. A bright green umbrella, held aloft by Maggie, and standing in behind her was Nikolas, who was also dressed in a long coat, his hair wet and plastered to his head.
“Come on…get out of that car, Ingeh.”
Maggie could be heard to say, stepping back so she could give Inga room to open the car door. Kraus’s pursed his lips, still annoyed, but he then waved his hand to Inga.
“Out you get, might as well.”
Both Kraus and Inga opened their car doors, as another car pulled in behind them. A Small silver Porsche, driven by Sven. He waved madly seeing the others on the side walk, and hurried Dai to get out of the car, also grabbing their umbrellas, and popping them up. Dai had his right arm in a cast, and Sven had bandages on his forehead, obviously they had received injuries in the attack.
“INGA…KRAUS…MAGGIE…NIKOLAS! You are all okay. Oh..my gods…I am so relieved. We were taken to Prague Memorial. Where did you all get to? Where are the others?”
Naturally Sven was full of questions, while Dai was warmly shaking hands with Nikolas, who had water dripping off the edge of his nose. Sven took one look at Inga and gasped.
“Inga?..No makeup? You look so…normal.”
Inga rolled her eyes, and then bopped his shoulder, which made him wince.
“Dat hurts! I have bruising on that shoulder from the rubble, when that rocket…thingy came in the club. I shielded Dai…I could not let him get hurt.”
Dai nodded and then said on the side to Nikolas.
“He tripped and fell on me. That is why I have a broken arm.”
Sven frowned and then became rather animated.
“I was saving you…it could have been much worse. A woman could have fallen on you instead.”
Just then a groan could be heard coming from the rubble of the Death Club itself. The movement of a hand beneath bricks and fibro sheeting, and a loud coughing. Kraus and Nikolas, ran in and then tried to get over the mounds of debris, and pulled the bricks and bits of wood away, to reveal none other than Corsica Chisolm. Surprisingly, she was still wearing her iron cross lieutenant hat though crooked, and had streaks of blood down her face. Seeing the two men trying to help her out, as she tried to push up, she uttered.
“Anyone get the number…of that bus?”
“It wasn’t a bus. The Death Club was hit by a rocket attack.”
Kraus explained to Corsia, as he pulled the woman to her feet. For such a petite lady, she was pretty raunchy, even after surviving the bombing. The two men helped guide her out of the rubble, and back to the foot path where the others were standing. Corsica’s leather outfit was ripped, her stockings torn, and her left heel on her boot was missing, so when she walked, she appeared to have a serious limp. Seeing the others, she recognised the bartenders.
“I remember….I remember I was wet, and one of the kind escorts was…eating me out. Then I think, I had the most earth shattering climax of my life…or the wall fell on me, not sure. “
Staggering around, she looked back in to where the BDSM section was, and remembered she had left a chap tied up on a chair and hooked up to some sort of battery. The realisation that he may well have died in the attack, finally dawned on her, and she caught herself before she go in any deeper. Inga, Maggie, Kraus and Nikolas, watched on as she rabbited on, while Sven was gushing.
“You survived that, and no one bothered to rescue you? Fabulous. Tell me, do you have an agent?”
Sven could picture making a bit of money off Corsica’s dramatic tale, but Corsica was not at all interested in letting the world know who she was and how easy it would be to find her. She patted the young man’s arm and with blood staining her teeth, she grinned.
“When I write my memoirs, I am sure to give you a call. You’re very funny, and I like that. But first, I think I will go back to my humble hotel suite, and…collapse.”
Turning on her good heel, she limped down the street, passing a girl who was approaching the group, the rain starting to fall a bit harder now. As she got closer, Inga spotted her and then squealed, as she let go of Kraus’s hand and ran the few steps, to envelope Dixie in a power hug.
“Skippy!…You are okayz. We all been zo worried. Yah?”
Dixie smiled as Inga more or less smothered her in the bear like hug, and had just stayed holding her, actually enjoyed the feeling that the closeness of her friend gave her. Finally pulling back, Dixie was surprised to see Inga without her makeup, and the way her hair was, under the scarf. Inga finally let go, and started to fuss. It didn’t escape her that what she suspected the night of the bombing may well be true.
“What did Doctor Warehouse say? Oh Skippy, you are so luckyz. Those menz could have hurt you. Yah?”
The rest of the group came over, Maggie instantly reached out to stroke Dixie’s hair. Kraus and Nikolas held back, while they watched on. Kraus then drew Nikolas aside and spoke to him in a hushed voice.
“I don’t want to see the girls go through anything like this again. Especially my Inga. I think it’s time they gave up on this place. Enough is enough.”
As serious as Kraus was, Nikolas had other ideas.
“Shouldn’t we let the girls decide that? I mean, Dixie is Demetrios’s girl, and I know how much the club means to her, and to Maggie. It’s like a second home. Its early days, Man. Give the investigators time to do their job, and the guys to find out what happened to Mia. Not only that, with Demetrios and Alexandros going to go find Mia, we need to be supportive of Dixie. I am pretty sure they are not going to take her with them.”
This was true. Demetrios had made up his mind, and though Dixie protested, his word was law. Dixie finally was released from Inga’s hold and she wiped back a tear, seeing the club, where once again, Death had been the star of the show. Dixie hugged each in turn, from Sven, and Dai, to Kraus, and Nikolas, before the group all stood before the hollow shell of the club. Nikolas was the first to ask.
“How is Demetrios?”
Dixie knew it was time to let her friends in on the private world of Dix and Dem finally. There seemed no reason not to tell, and these people were her best friends. Taking a deep breath, she said;
“He is very unhappy about the club, and of course with Mia being kidnapped. But something else has happened in our lives, and oddly enough it is a blessing.”
The other members of the DeathClub bar staff all looked bewildered, except for Inga, who had her fingers crossed out of sight.
“We’re going to have a baby. *she paused for a moment, as she watched their reactions* “ I’m pregnant.”
Sven was the first to react. Slapping his hands to his cheeks. Wide mouthed, and looked like he could catch a lot of flies. Inga burst out laughing and uttered that she knew it, after seeing her the other night. Nikolas came over and kissed the top of Dixie’s head, and then tweaked her cheek, making a small joke.
“They know what causes that you know.”
“It’s called rubbing uglies.” – Sven said with a wink.
“Speak for your own ugliez, Sven” – Inga said, slapping his shoulder again, causing him to yelp in pain.
Kraus had held back long enough, and coughed, which got the others attention. He decided that now was as good a time as any, to tell the others of his decision.
“With all that has happened, and only just getting back from Japan, I have decided that Inga and I should get married as soon as possible. It’s going to be on Valentine’s day.”
Inga looked at Kraus stunned, and then the others. Was he serious? The wedding was not suppost to be for months, and now he was bringing it forward? Dixie was actually thrilled by this news and replied;
“Least I won’t be some fat preggo in a frock. Seriously, if was going to the wedding half way through the year, I would be huge.”
The very idea that Dixie could ever look fat was something that no one could imagine. Course, all the bar staff would be invited, but Inga did look sad about one thing. Mia was missing, and Inga actually wanted Mia to be in her bridal party. The busty Swede tried to hide her disappointment, and then said:
“Let us hope that Demetrios and Alex bring back our Mia, and we can get on with our lives in peace.”
All nodded, and then Nikolas suggested they all go over to the coffee house across the street, to discuss what to do next. Each had a job that they could go to….all except Dixie. The group decided then and there, that they would help protect and see to getting Dixie a new job in Prague, while her love was away, for there was nothing worse, than spending your days alone, and waiting for your love to return.
As they crossed the street, a black Mercedes was parked just a couple of hundred yards up the road. The headlights turned on, illuminating the group as they made it to the other side. A man in a black hat, who was smoking a cigar, watched them enter the coffee house, then got on the radio.
“No sign of Ayalah. No word at all. I am sure those people are the last to see her. Yes…yes I will follow them”
Who was watching the Death Club staff now? And why?
