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"It's never too late, Robert." Clarice said fondly, "You know I'll always be here when you need me. And of course she likes you, you've got so much to offer anybody lucky enough to be in your life." She reached up to clean a bit of lipstick off his cheek. "You're going to make her so happy, just give yourself the chance to."

Then she pinched him, "Just be sure to watch that language, you."

Caelius managed to fussily adjust both Harrison and William's collars regardless as they protested, and was just about to frown and talk about the sequins when thankfully Velda showed up and literally picked him up in a princess carry reminiscent of that one time when Aria and Herman hadn't rescued him and hadn't actually got past the shadow run part of the Miss Taken tower due to gender differences, leaving him stranded on top of the tower for five hours until he had finally managed to bribe Velda with promises of hair combing and presents. Truth be told, he was a little upset at William's epicurean life, but when push came to shove, there were more things to be upset with, and ultimately, he would support their life decisions. People could think for themselves, they didn't need him. And he was fine with that.

On the way to the balcony, he thought for a second, he saw someone, just a friend, and she might have waved, and smiled, and time might have slowed down -

- And then sped up back to reality. It was too bad they hadn't had a chance to talk, but he was fine with making such time later.

Making sure the Life lead got the jollies out of her as they arrived at the balcony, he pried himself off - though the whole thing for anyone who didn't know any better just looked a little ridiculous - and then bowed. "Something for the new years for you."

Out from the bottom of one of the balcony benches was a small box, because Velda liked theatrics, it was a jewelry princess box, and inside was a silk shawl, a fine semi-transparent crystalline fabric. At some point between lecturing Rep about family, and thwarting Ben off, he had somehow changed into the sequin thing that Velda had been talking about, and it looked ridiculous, but so was everything she did. A hand was was offered for her, even though technically he was her princess, even though technically she had saved him.

And he was fine with that too.

"Awww yeah, you go, you two!" Inspired, she began to dance even harder if such a thing was possible.

Yes perfect go, beautiful back up dancers, gooooo~ Lina laughed as Justin got really into it with some . . . interesting moves. But hey, it attracted another person, and what had started as an impromptu number had become almost choreographed genius (clearly). She'd almost forgotten she would get money for this.

Almost.

"Oh, it's nothing at all~" she answered airily, grinning at the kiss but missing the opportunity to return it as Gale pulled her along. "But there's nothing more dashing than a guy who can keep up~"

She swayed in place as their dance was interrupted, giddy and eager to keep going--how romantic would it be to start the new year off caught up in the music playing in her head, dancing away like nobody was watching with her boyfriend! Ben's gift was given a curious look, and while the instructions were to wait until after the countdown was finished, her inquisitive nature simply couldn't wait.

Gale's return was hastened by a tug of her own, pulling him into a more intimate but no less energetic dance. "So, should we see what you got?" she asked in a lower voice, grinning.

The flush of her anger quickly dissipated into something softer and infinitely sweeter as Velda took the box and then looked back at Caelius, who shimmered under the moonlight. For a moment he seemed beautiful and otherworldly, he was a lovely sight to charm anyone, but then he looked into her eyes and there was the gentle humanity she had fallen in love with years ago. She'd felt a quiet desperation for this man when he was still a boy, and it had only grown with time. Cheeks burning, and eyes stinging with an almost unbearable happiness, she lifted the cover of the box with a happy gasp.

Lifting the shawl out, she let it billow prettily in the wind before bringing it over both their heads, drawing Caelius down for a brief, secret kiss under the shimmering cloth. "Thank you," she whispered, voice hoarse and breathless.

And if she couldn't clearly explain that he was and always would be her favourite gift, it was fine. She would show him every day of their life together, with everything that she was and everything he made her feel she could be.

Clerise clutched Clarice, grinning, and oh, there Robert was, coming at them like a man on fire. With him was his ever persistent daughter-shadow, but with him was an unusual addition. Her own cousin.

Her smile grew brittle at his hands on her waist. It wasn't that she was deliberately protective; Mimsy was a grown woman and capable of all her decisions all on her lonesome, but. Clerise had been there to pick up the pieces for quite long enough, and was very familiar with what might happen if someone pulled the wrong jenga piece out from the stack.

I think she likes me.

"Dating?" she asked, her right eye twitching. "Are you. Now."

Clerise separated from her wonderful pair, deliberately disentangling her fingers from Clarice's, taking a singular step towards Robert as soon as Mimsy was back on the ground. "Surely, you'll be very careful. It would be a shame if something were to happen," she paused, smiling larger than before, and with teeth. "To you."

(Images of Mimsy and all the ways it could all and very well might go so wrong flashed in her mind. It was not a guarantee. Robert was a good man. A stupid man, bless his heart, but a good one. The road to hell was paved with good intentions.)

Clerise turned to Mimsy, taking a deep breath. It was so hard to forget that she was built on a house of cards. Otto was made of sterner stuff, but... Well. Robert was certainly no Taym, and Mimsy looked so happy.

"We can talk later, and I can give you dating tips," she offered, and took her cousin's hands in hers. "I've always got your back, and I'll be with you. Forever, for every step of the way. There's no getting rid of me, yeah?"

Nothing pierced through Moon Defenses, not even an Edith stare - it was true, that was how they tested new barriers and trainees. John just smiled back at her as he took one of the glasses from her. "Playing Baseball until you can't walk anymore?" he suggested as a way to start off her new year properly.

Once he was appropriately crowned with his top hat, he straightened up, and held his statuete of a date up with his arms curled around her tight. Clerise was upon him then, somehow managing to loom despite her comparative size. He shrank down for just a moment, because Clerise had that power. It was both literal, and figurative, for Robert to be careful with Mimsy. His hands tightened, forcing themselves steady.

But as soon as Clerise threatened him, specifically, he sighed with relief. That wasn't really the response she'd probably been going for, but he was far more frightened over the idea of hurting Mimsy, than the idea of his own injury. Besides, Clerise was only doing what Lucky had done just a few minutes ago - and just as it had then, it warmed Robert to know they cared about her that much.

Nobody cared about people who didn't deserve it. Mimsy deserved it.

Clerise was grabbing Mimsy's hands, and Robert made sure to lower her enough to reach back, going so far as to shift the woman in his arms until she was facing Clerise. But his face tilted to look at Clerise, mouthing out two simple, but earnest little words.

Thank you.

He turned his head to Jerry and offered a belated smile. "Thanks, Cosmo. You cut it close. We're almost to the end!"