"Cheers then.  Some food and a game sounds wonderful.  What did you have in mind, George?"<br/><br/>Frederick clinked his glass against Vicki's while he watched George scoop up Beth, placing her in a firm bear hug.  He was still trying to figure out when George had become something of his champion, a man who wanted nothing but the best for his old college acquaintance.  The whole evening was bringing about things he had hidden away and creating new opportunities that he had never thought of possessing before in his wildest dreams.  Whatever magic was at work that evening was certainly making its way into his heart.<br/><br/>For once, everything was going his way and he was not about to rationalize away such mystical fortune.<br/><br/>He offered Vicki a soft smile at her congratulatory compliment and leaned down to kiss her cheek.  That brief brushing of friendly lips sparked something primal and physical in him, something that had never happened when he had done a similar gesture all those years before in college.  They had always been somewhat touchy-feely with each other but it had never gone beyond the simple things friends did.  He was reluctant to pull away but he did, yet not before whispering softly into her ear.<br/><br/>"God, I forgot how beautiful you were..."