"Don't you think it's a little too daring for me?" Kiris asked the question while crinkling her nose up in scrutiny. The mirror reflected someone she wasn't familiar with. The woman in the mirror had her face and hair, but was dressed with complete abandon.

       "I think it's fabulous and think Methos is going to have a hard time keeping his hands off you," Amanda answered with a sly smile and raised eyebrows. This comment brought color to her friend's cheeks. "For someone who's older than dirt, you embarrass far too easily, my friend."

       "Stop that," the ten thousand-year-old chided with a giggle. She had only been married for a few months and still even the thought of her husband set her cheeks a flame. "Do you think red is my color though? I mean, I'm more of a blue girl. What am I talking about? I'm more of a baggy sweater and jeans girl."

       "Red is great on you. It brings out the highlights in your hair. Besides we can't both wear blue and I've got dibs."

       Kiris looked at herself again and cocked her head to the side. It really would knock Methos' socks off for her to show up in this outfit. She smiled to herself. They were to meet Methos and Duncan at the New Year’s party later that evening.

       "Blue is absolutely stunning with your hair that color," Kiris told her much younger friend. "Duncan will love it."

       "He'd better, after all, he's paying for it."

       "I wonder were the girls are?" Duncan looked perplexed and Methos shook his head. Amanda had said that they would meet them at the New Year’s party at 10pm, but they were already over a half-hour late.

       Just then, Joe came walking up to them.

       "Hey, you guys, your women are here and all I can say is WOW," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

       "It's about time," Duncan replied, almost irritated.

       As they re-entered the ballroom they noticed with surprise that people were staring and if it hadn't been for the band it would've been completely silent. Looking in the direction of the front entrance Duncan and Methos suddenly realized that it was their dates causing the stir.

       The blue, sequined dress Amanda was wearing set off her nearly white hair perfectly. Her dress was very short and very fitted and every man in the room started drooling.

       Kiris felt a thousand eyes on her and began to bit her lip. Where was Methos? She had rarely been so uncomfortable and had to dismiss thoughts of running and hiding in the coat closet. Amanda, on the other hand, was enjoying herself thoroughly.

       Methos stared in awe at Kiris. She had been radiant in white at their small wedding, but nothing he'd seen had prepared him for seeing her tonight. The red dress had spaghetti straps attached to a fitted bodice with a filmy skirt that stopped just above her knees. The material of her dress had a sheen to it that made jewelry unnecessary so she wore only her wedding ring and diamond earrings for accent. The ring itself was over seven carats and sparkled so brightly in the spotlight that it nearly blinded the onlookers. Her floor length hair was curled in tight ringlets that cascaded down her back. A few tendrils fell over her forehead and down her cheek. Methos thought his heart would stop. Jealousy swept over him as he realized that every man in the room was looking at his wife and to his dismay he found that his legs had stopped working. After a few moments the feeling came back to his extremities and he followed a few steps behind Duncan as they made their way to claim their partners. The women were still at the top of the short staircase that led to the ballroom floor. Coming to stand directly in front of his wife, Methos stared up at her.

       When Kiris finally spotted Methos she started to relax just a little. She fought the urge to run down the stairs and throw herself into his arms. He looked incredible in black tux and had just gotten his hair cut very short. She followed Amanda’s lead and deliberately walked down the stairs slowly to take the hand her husband offered. Duncan took Amanda’s hand and they swept their way onto the dance floor.

       "You look...Wow!" Methos was having a hard time forming complete sentences.

       "I feel conspicuous and chilly," she told him in a whisper and bit her lip again. She was squeezing the life out of his hand.

       "I think you look wonderful."

       "Really?"

       "Incredibly lovely, amazingly beautiful and absolutely stunning!" Methos gushed. Kiris smiled and relaxed. Impulsively she stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek. Methos took the opportunity to pull her into his arms.

       "Dance with me," he murmured against her ear. His warm breath on her neck made her feel slightly weak in the knees.

       As if on cue, the band started playing again. Joe Dawson stood in front of the microphone and started to sing.

Never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight
Never seen you shine so bright
Never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance
Looking for a little romance
Given half a chance

I have never seen that dress you’re wearing
Or the highlights in your hair that catch your eyes
I have been blind
To the

Lady in red, is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There’s nobody here
Just you and me
It’s where I wanna be
I hardly know this beauty by my side
I’ll never forget the way you look tonight

       "Mind if we cut in?" Duncan asked facetiously knowing what the answer would be.

       "Yes," the five-thousand-year old replied firmly and spun his wife away. The younger couple laughed and continued their dance.

       Kiris glowed under Methos' tender gaze. He couldn't keep his eyes off her and didn't bother even trying to hide the fact. He realized that he and Duncan had become the most envied men at the party and the knowledge made him smile with pride. It also made him have the most juvenile impulse to stick his tongue out and call teasingly, "Na, na, na, na, I’ve got her and you don’t," but he decided against it.

       Kiris’ thoughts were of her husband and how different this New Year was from all the others she’d celebrated. Other New Year’s she had spent with close friends and people she called family, but this was the first one she would spend with the man she had loved for 5000 years. Methos hummed softly along with the music and it sent shivers up the ten thousand-year-old’s spine. She closed her eyes, pressed herself closer and lost herself in the moment. Joe continued singing.

Never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight
Never seen you shine so bright
You were amazing
Never seen so many people want to be there by your side
And when you turned to me and smiled
You took my breath away

I have never had such a feeling
Such a feeling of complete and utter love
As I do tonight

       Methos sang the words against her ear and their feet stopped moving. Kiris clung to him and held her breath.

Lady in red, is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There’s nobody here
Just you and me
It’s where I wanna be
I hardly know this beauty by my side
I’ll never forget the way you look tonight

Never will forget the lady in red
I love you

       Methos whispered the last words as their eyes met.

       A few minutes later Duncan and Amanda looked around to find that the world’s oldest couple was nowhere to be found.