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With a huff, Henry pulled on the skinny jean pants.  They restricted the movement in his legs and clung to the muscles in his thighs uncomfortably.  He constantly pulled at his crotch as the space there felt like it was always shrinking. He did like them on as they drew attention to the back of him rather than to his front zipper. He felt like a gazelle when he walked down the staircase. Each step was such a struggle to coordinate his tightly bound limbs. These stairs were often used as a place for weddings and gala photographs so they were made for an entrance. He did not feel grand at all down a staircase that bore such a name.

Below him in a small conversation nook, Ellie had been perusing her phone with the newly installed wifi (courtesy of his staff), when his squeaky dress shoes alarmed her. She looked like a fairy with her lithe features framed by half tied back hair. The ends of her hairs were delicately curled so her hair looked like a cascading black waterfall down her shoulders.  Her top was a nude material with bell sleeves that showed the delicate bones in her shoulders as that was where it was cut off. The matching earrings and pendant set were teardrops that made him wonder how such large freshwater pearls suited her elegant beauty. An immortal like her didn't belong with a common fool.

She turned up to look at him—a gazelle coming down from it's enclosure at the zoo. Maybe a clown who trained a gazelle to try to walk down the stairs like a human for money in a hat?  Her smile was automatic as her eyes trailed from his feet to his guilty expression. "You're a sight for my sore eyes, Mr. Henry Wong. I can't believe that I won a bet with Michael that you would actually wear them. I will use that money well for probably groceries as I can skip the ATM run this week. How exciting. But you're the true star of my show Wow. What a handsome young British boy band member!  Shall I go get you a mic and a guitar? Are you a singer or a drummer? I can't imagine you dancing in those."

"I can dance with you in anything.  Even though it's probably going to be in a gay bar or with the gays at the town bar. I am starting to get used to them." He swept down to give her a teasing kiss on the nose before touching her lips. His lips were soft and gentle. She had expected his anger at her prank to seep through but he had taken the jest lightly. Character growth, how interesting. As he pulled away his eyes looked dreamy. "I knew you just wanted to see my behind in something fitted so I am being kind. I'm not going out like this."

Ellie smile grew mischievous. "What would I have to do in order for you to wear those out and about for the whole day?  I'm very open to possibilities. The pants look incredibly flattering on everything. It's showing off all those hours at the gym."

"Do you want me to be sexually harassed by older women?  I have no problem showing myself to you. You try to understand me as I am. I'd like to have some privacy with just you for once. These pants are going to do the opposite of that and attract a lot of attention. I can imagine all the headlines. The British tabloids are worse than ours." He tried to explain weakly.

"Or is it that you're worried about your sexuality?  That's a very bad reason you're saying."

"Ok. They're on. I know I'll hate taking them off more than on. If I lose a testicle than you'd better pay me back. I don't know what type of payment plan would work for you."

"I'll pay the amount off with some cars. I have too many. I need to get rid of some."

Henry's voice caught. "Ellie you can't give me an eight figure car for an organ. I need more than that.  Also, I would never take your things. I can live with one testicle. I'll manage."

Ellie rolled her eyes and then gestured at the email that was open on her phone. He had wondered why she had been reading so intently instead of paying attention to him. His clown act had taken a bit for her to notice. "This was just sent from the New York City Courthouse where my favorite couple just got hitched. Janna and Nolan sent a photo as well but the email is hilarious. They're also honeymooning in Wu's home country. Apparently they were nobles so they're a big deal in Asia."

"Huh!  Small world I guess. We're all nobles now with ties to an old world idea of wealth. Titles that mean nothing, but cone with some perks. Aside from Nolan getting a title, what made them get hitched so quickly?  Did Nolan knock her up? Am I going to be an uncle for a couple months? That would be fun."

"Oh stop it. She's a doctor and he's well probably going to be a business owner. They've got no reason to have children right now. Well anyways let me get onto the email:

Ellie, my dear miracle sister, I apologize for having such a small wedding with no reception. I know that you missed your own chance at having the bombing affair that you wanted. I will marry you better at your second wedding as I will walk you down the aisle. This is a great time to get cheap tickets to Thailand and Bali. The idea of Janna Wu showing me around how she grew up is an excitement I cannot contain. I promise to bring you dirt from all these places. It's amazing that you have the use of ur legs again as we run in opposite directions again. But I know we'll take the opposite way back so I'll visit dad on the way home to get his blessing. Hope you have killed Henry by then."

"No. I'll be right here, Nolan Chen. He's still the same even in newly wed bliss. But that's all fantastic to hear, even in these abominations of pants. I'm happy that they've got a good plan there. I'll forward some details to Wu about a resort as my gift . . . our wedding gifts to them.  I would have liked to see what my brother considers to be proper for a courthouse wedding."

Ellie turned the phone so Henry could see and he nodded his approval. Nolan wore one of the suits that Henry and Michael had picked out for him. A green velvet number with a sharp black waistcoat. His bowtie was littered with a small DNA motif. It was very Nolan.

Henry laughed when he saw it in a good natured manner. "Definitely not my taste, but Nolan is one of a kind I expect. This is why I presume Wu must adore him as much as we do. I'm glad that they found each other. Look how the green tulle Giambattista Valli compliments his suit perfects. Only she would have that in her closet. This is just two peas in a pod. I'm so happy that they found each other. Nolan is going to organize all that brilliance of Dr Janna Wu into a way we can all appreciate."

What about me?  Ellie wanted to ask. She wished these anxieties could be spoken instead of bubbled up inside of her under lock and key. She knew that he would leave if he really pressed him and her heart wouldn't be able to take it without crumbling.

They both got up and ate a light meal before departing. Ellie had chosen to wear a long white lace skirt, so she often had to catch it so it would not end up places she didn't want it to. There were holes in the bottom where she knew Henry could see slivers of her legs as his eyes kept darting down. Henry was the pire gentlemen as he held open the front door and helped her make sure the skirt didn't get caught in the hinges. She couldn't look at him as her mind drifted. She felt jealous of Nolan and Janna still. She wished that she felt secure in her own marriage as her sibling felt in his. She wished that her match had the quality of something other than desperation. Her marriage was nothing like his. She was the older sister so she should be his example instead of what he should not do. Nolan and Wu were like each other's perfect halves. They understood each other instantly very deeply. Henry was so far away from her. He was always hiding his feelings somewhere dhe couldn't reach. Often times she felt like a fisherman with a net trying to catch a single fish in a mound of eels. Did she even have a chance?