The worst part of that particular Christmas memory was remembering the morning after as well as the rest of it. Anya had rushed downstairs, her cheeks flushed and ready to face the day, a spring in her step, her mood the cheeriest of all.

Gloria was the first person she saw and gave her a big hug good morning.

"What's up with you?"

"Oh. Nothing."

Anya's wide smile revealed that she was indeed lying.

"Okay. Fine. Don't tell me."

"Have you seen Manny this morning?"

Gloria gave Anya a sideways glance before taking a deep breath to speak.

"He left. This morning. You just missed him."

Anya's mood deflated in an instant.

"What?!"

"The band has a gig out in Texas. They leave just before the New Year. He went to go stay at Tommy's to help get ready. Sorry, hun."

Gloria patted Anya on the shoulder and left her to try and figure out just what Gloria had just told her.

Anya could still feel like a bruise on her abdomen from where she had gotten punched in the gut with the news. She was rubbing it absentmindedly when Michaela appeared at her side. Reality making itself known once again.

"Hey, Cuz. You ready?"

Anya found her cousin dressed in a neat pantsuit of dark maroon with a bright white shirt buttoned to the top button underneath her blazer, her new name tag secured to the lapel.

"Let's do it."

Anya stepped forward and the sound of her heels resounded through the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Dinner is served."

At the word, the two servers standing by the dining hall doors pulled them open and the Holly Inn's annual Christmas Ball began.

The guests poured through the open doors, one after another, all dressed in their finest and, with the inn's upper-class clientele, it truly was. Anya and Michaela offered greetings and polite comments and waited until everyone had entered to do so themselves.

Anya had informed Michaela as to the traditions of the evening and she stood behind her chair at the high table just as Anya did behind hers. Eve appeared in the doorway just as the guests were settling in. Only a few years ago, Christopher had been at her side but that night, it was Frank who escorted Eve to her seat.

The room fell into a respectful hush, waiting until Eve was behind her seat, her champagne glass raised to the ceiling.

"Merry Christmas, everyone."

in return rang out a loud and clear resounding "Merry Christmas!", filling the atmosphere as chatter started up with the orchestra.

An underling appeared with a dilemma for Anya to solve and she was not given a chance to sit with the rest of the table. She won't get the chance all night, not even to grab a bite to eat but the pit in her stomach kept her from complaining.

The dancing started up once dinner had been consumed and couples filled the dance floor as the orchestra started in on a waltz. Space had been cleared, the tables just a few inches closer together that evening to allow for it.

Anya stood at the edge of the room, watching the dancers as the magic of the evening filled every corner of the room.

Franco deposited the boys at the kids' table and made his way to the head table, bowing before Gloria with his hand outstretched, the exaggerated gesture granting him a laughing response. Gloria took his hand and the two of them joined the rest of the dancers. Eve and Frank soon followed suit, swaying slow and out of time as they chatted softly back and forth.

Anya watched them as a bittersweet mixture of relief and sadness filled her chest. Her eyes caught sight of Luke's parents joining the fray, even his older sister, Jeanette, accepting her husband's offer of a dance.

The only people not on the dance floor were the guests under the age of twelve who were finding ways of causing mischief. Anya had warned the wait staff to keep a strict eye on the desserts and the stock of sparkling cider just in case.

Manny stood across the room, messing with the bow tie that seemed unable to lay straight. He hadn't arrived for dinner until the dancing had started. Anya could tell he had been wearing an apron and gloves only moments before and she guested he had stayed behind to help out in the kitchen so Gloria could enjoy her evening.

Anya was working hard not to meet his gaze and found a suitable distraction when she spotted Luke heading her way.

"Merry Christmas, Anya. Great party."

"Merry Christmas. And thank you. I hope you're enjoying yourself."

Luke's eyes glowed under the canopy of twinkle lights above as he looked up."

"It's the perfect way to end the holidays."

"Are you guys leaving tomorrow?"

Anya already knew the answer as she was aware of their reservation.

"First thing. My sister has to head back to the city and work starts back up after the New Year. Reality still exists, whether or not you want it to."

"I understand that feeling."

"It's been nice. Getting to see you again. Catching up. Finally figuring out what happened to you. Where you ended up."

His full attention was now on her. She met his gaze.

"It has been nice."

"You're doing a great job here, Anya. This place suits you. I can see why you stay."

"It's home. And I've got nowhere else to go."

"We both know that's not true. The way you run this place, anywhere else would be lucky to have you. Who needs a degree when you've successfully managed the highest rated country inn throughout the entire Northeast."

"I guess that's true."

"You're gonna do great things, Anya. Even if you just stay here and enjoy continuing your family's legacy."

His words sounded out with so much genuine conviction Anya wasn't sure how to respond and for a long second the only sound around them was of the party in full swing.

"I hope you come say hi. If you're ever in the city again," Luke said.

Anya nodded. "I will. I promise."

Luke looked across the room and Anya followed his gaze. Manny was dancing with one of the elderly ladies, the one who had been widowed for quite some time but still made the trip to the inn every year. She had been coming with her husband for as long as Anya could remember and still, even after he had passed.

"He's a good guy. You guys would be good together."

"Oh. We're not-"

"Yeah. I know you're not. But you guys stare across the room at each other too much not to make a good couple."

As if Manny had overheard, he lifted his eyes from his companion to glance over at Anya.

"Do you wanna dance?"

Anya was grateful for the chance not to respond to Luke's startling comment. She hadn't realized anyone else was aware of the tension between Manny and herself. But then again Manny had been one of the only things she had been able to focus on in the last three days.

"Sure. I'd love to."

They joined the rest of the couples, her hand on his shoulder, his on her hip at a respectable height with about three inches of air between them. They didn't dance long as Luke stopped dancing when someone spoke right behind Anya.

"May I cut in?"

"Of course."

Before Anya got a say in the matter, Luke had released her from his grasp and disappeared to find another partner. Stuck in the middle of the dance floor with Manny standing right in front of her, she didn't have much of a choice and placed her hand in his.

They moved without timing or rhythm, the music coming from the orchestra having little say over their movements.

"You look beautiful."

"Thanks."

"You always did know how to throw a great party."

"Thank you."

"So this is what we've been reduced to. Me giving genuine compliments on things you already know and you responding with 'thanks'."

"Kind of."

"I really screwed up, didn't I?"

"Yup."

"I'm sorry, Anya."

"So you keep saying."

"Please. Don't let my stupid mistake come between us."

"It kept us apart for four years. It's already come between us."

"Let me fix this. Please. I'll show you-"

"You can't fix this, Manny. There's nothing you can do. You leave in a few days and then that'll be it. You'll be gone again. Just like last time."

"Anya, please-"

The orchestra finished a song at the perfectly wrong moment and the crowd stopped moving to applaud. Anya found her chance to escape. With a weak excuse about needing to make sure the desserts were getting served, Anya left Manny there alone in the middle of the dance floor, not daring to look back as she knew her resolve would break with one look.

It was barely holding itself together. All that was left was her wounded pride not even strong enough to put up much of a fight. She knew if she spent any more time with Manny, she'd give in and forgive him.

And so she stayed away from him for the rest of the evening. The desserts were served, enjoyed, pushed aside and then the dancing once again commenced. The guests enjoyed themselves late into the night. It was well past midnight by the time the dining hall was finally empty.

Anya and every member of the wait staff worked fast to get the dining room back in order. The decorations wouldn't be coming down until after the New Year but the tables needed to be re-positioned and all the dishes cleared.

Most of the staff was working in the kitchen, putting away food and getting started on the mountain of dishes needed to be done. Everyone wanted to go home and so worked hard and fast to get things done as soon as possible.

Anya could do the dining hall by herself and so sent her two assistants to help out in the kitchen, guaranteeing they would be able to leave half an hour earlier with two additional sets of hands.

It would take her longer to put the dining hall back together on her own but Anya had thrown her shoes in the corner and tied her hair up. Eve and Michaela had been sent to bed but only after protests that they could stay and help. Anya craved quiet and a mindless task to do. She eventually convinced them to leave her alone.

The hum in the kitchen started to quiet soon enough as the staff slowly left, their portion of the work completed. A few stuck their heads out to say good night and a Merry Christmas to Anya before leaving but most left through the kitchen door, headed for their cars and their own families waiting at home.

When the kitchen doors swung open one more time, Anya raised her head, expecting to say good night to another one of the waiters. Instead, Manny walked through, drying his hands on a table, his bow tie long gone.

"Hey. Do you need some help?"

Before Anya could stop herself she answered "Sure" as her body knew she wouldn't be able to move the tables back into place on her own.

Without waiting for instructions, Manny started grabbing the empty bottles of champagne and sparkling cider from the tables. Anya followed behind to grab the centerpieces and together they folded up the table clothes that didn't need to get washed. Manny started a pile for all the ones that did, adding to it all the napkins.

The work went much faster with some help and soon all that was left was to start putting the tables back into the position.

Anya stood on one end of the table nearest the boundary of the dance floor. She waited for Manny to take position on the other side so they could lift together. Neither had spoken a word to one another, working in complete silence, instructions not needed as Manny had helped put the dining hall back together more times than he could even remember.

Manny rounded the table and stopped just inches from her, his hand outstretched.

"What are you doing?"

"Dance with me."

"We have to put the tables back."

"They're not going anywhere. Come on. Dance with me."

Anya found she didn't want to resist. She grabbed his hand and followed his out to the middle of the dance floor.

"There's no music."

"Who says we need music to dance?"

"Isn't that the whole point?"

"Maybe. Or it could just be a ploy to get you to look me in the eye."

Anya rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh when Manny started laughing at her reaction.

It was dark and quiet at the inn once again. Things between them always seemed to take place during that magical hour. Anya was trying to look past the wave of good memories to remember the bad ones, to hold on to the hurt that had been eating away at her stomach for the last four years.

As if he could read her mind, Manny said: "I really am sorry."

Her reply came out as a whisper that she knew he could hear.

"I know."

"Please forgive me. We could be so good together. And I know you know it too. Please don't let my mistake stand in the way of something really special."

"What do you expect, Manny? I'm just supposed to forgive you and then magically everything's fine, is that it? We love each other and so we're gonna be together forever."

"Yeah. I mean, that's what I was hoping for at least."

"Except you keep forgetting one very important detail. You're leaving. You're just gonna leave me all over again. So we're supposed to have, what, five magical days together and then you're off to who knows where?"

"No."

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"I mean no. I'm not leaving."

"But you have the festival in California. The band has to be there by the New Year. You told me this."

"I did. But it's not true anymore. I called Tommy and told him I wasn't going to be able to make it. I've got more important things to deal with here."

Anya couldn't close her mouth, even if she tried. One word finally escaped her shock.

"What?"

"Yup."

Manny's smile had erupted on his face at the sight of Anya's shocked expression.

"Why?"

"Because I love you, Anya. Haven't you been listening? The band can do without me for a while. I'm not leaving until I know that you and I are solid. Even if we're just friends. I need you to forgive me. I need us to move past this and I'm not leaving until we do."

Anya was moving forward before she even had time to think. Manny saw her coming and leaned down to meet her as she pressed her lips against his.

After the longest moment of her life, Manny finally broke them apart.

"Well. I guess that kind of settles things."

"You canceled. For me?"

"Of course."

"You're so stupid. They need you. What were you thinking?"

"Only of you."

"So you're really going to miss the festival?"

"I am. I mean, unless..."

Manny's words trailed off and his eyes grew bright with an idea.

"Unless you want to come with me."

A/N:

Alexa, play "New Year's Day" by Taylor Swift.