Mabel had organized her staff early on Sunday morning, not long after dawn, getting ready for the clam bake, the prospect of which had the guests excited and most of the long term residents hatching plans she was unaware of, but that wouldn’t have surprised her at all. On Saturday Julian had helped Xavier dig the pit on the beach and then prepare it, layering the seaweed on the bottom and sides. This morning she bullied Julian into helping again, to lay the firewood and charcoal over the lining of stones and then when it was ready, she placed the grills down and then food and seaweed in alternating layers before covering the whole with canvas, drenched in seawater.

Julian had also placed a parquet dance floor just outside the pool area with a second floor laid down for the band he’d promised to provide but had refused to explain. She’d narrowed her eyes at him and he’s whined about her trusting him. But he also knew what would happen if he proved untrustworthy in the matter.

 l

They’d set up tables on the opposite side of the beach in front of the pool, with candles.

Then Xavier and Asher, aided by a giggling Celie and Leslie had strung Chinese lanterns placed to illuminate the beach in front of the house. He then rolled kegs into place in shallow ice filled tubs next to the main bar in the pool area.

The official start of the clambake was five o’clock. Michael and Azael arrived at about four o’clock, bringing some of the host with them, who immediately began to set up in the band area. They ran through some sound checks and then, satisfied, headed off to swim until it was time to play. Meanwhile, Michael, Azael and Julian got drinks from Xavier and settled in to wait…and chat…and plot and plan.

Azael sighed. "It's been done to death," he announced after one plan was considered.

Michael reluctantly nodded.  Julian frowned harder and thought more.

Meanwhile, as the light  began to fade into a glorious salmon-coloured evening, more guests not staying in the hotel began to arrive. Some were well known to the regular guests of the hotel, others, not so much. Some were more than welcome back, others... well, met a somewhat murkier welcome.  Stephen and Doni arrived together, Doni glowingly.  Melly and  Reno arrived shortly after them, greeted enthusiastically by a bikini clad Jolie and a board-shorts wearing Spence. Stephen and Doni's security were already in place. Tobie, Laszlo, Chance and Natha had already scoped out the area and set up a perimeter.

Michael, eyeing the arrivals, said suddenly, "Polo, didn't we play polo that time in the Canaries?  On that field there, Julian?"

Julian nodded and considered the possibilities and the increasing number of bikinis around the pool.

Marc arrived next, along with Cassidy, Jordon and Irisa.   His bodyguard Paul was right on his heels. Tommy had begged off, pleading tiredness.  Dinah, watching for him waved and went back to helping Celie with the buffet.

Suddenly, back at Julian's table, he looked up and grinned.  "I've got it," he said.

There was a chorus of "Uh ohs" by those who knew Julian. Some others who knew him too, sat up expectantly. Julian looked at Azael. "You know Neptune."  Azael allowed as how he did. "Sea horses," Julian said. Azael's eyes lit up. I'll see what I can do."  He winked out.

The Vidya popped in in time to see him leave. She, filling a bikini quite convincingly, but with the mind, sort of, of a computer, looked around interestedly, and marched over to stare at Millicent, the only woman in sight not in a bikini.  The last two visitors arrived as the last of the sunlight faded.  But it wasn't Nicco who brought the Prince of Italy. Instead it was a pleasant looking young woman with long dark hair and freckles across the bridge of her nose. She smiled delightedly and rushed over to hug Mabel.

"Oh, I've missed you!" the woman said.

Mabel poo-pooed her and turned to where Jeeves was assisting her in setting out snacks. "Jeeves, meet Miss Adele Blakesley.  Adele, this is Reginald Jeeves."

Adele gave him a delighted grin.

Carmine looked around and considered all the bathing beauties, frowned at where Julian sat and greeted Laz who'd looked more than pleased to see the vampire with a hearty hand shake.

As they were shaking hands the twins arrived, with a miniature version of themselves in tow, laughing and talking without pause.  Bobby Jo had on a lemon yellow bikini, while Betty Jo had donned a hot pink number.  But the miniature, whom those in the know knew as Billy Jo, the youngest and most fatal of the three sisters was clad in emerald green, a color that matched exactly the color of her eyes.  Paul took one look and gaped at the three of them, familiar from Hoolihan's, but more visceral.

The twins and Billy Jo scoped out the field, without a worry that it was obvious and emitted the same yelps of delight elicited by lacy underthings at the prospects before them while the field returned the favor.  They shared dazzling smiles among themselves and then spread out, targets in sight.

The band on the beach struck up the first few notes, and the party began in earnest. Drinks flowed, people cruised (Adele more accurately zoomed) around the group, greeting current friends and doing their best to make new ones.

Stephen, who could hardly bear to let Doni out his sight these days let alone the reach of his arm, obtained a scotch for himself and a soda water for her, and led her over to where Carmine had Nicco in his sights making something plain, while Jolie and Spence watched, grinning.  As they got there, Nicco was nodding rapidly, impatient to get away and saying earnestly, "Si, Si, Carmine, mi fiduci" before dashing away to the pool and AJ.

Carmine bent a charming smile on Doni, gave her an effusive greeting and raised an eyebrow at the possessiveness Stephen was making no attempt to hide.  Natha joined them, recalling with amusement her first encounter with the Italian vampire.  "Ah, Signorina Nazareth, my heart sings to see you again."

Natha laughed and surrendered the hands he was reaching for, arching a brow as he kissed them.  Jordon, watching from a table with Reno and Melly took a large swallow of beer.

Irisa found herself cornered by Azael, who'd mysteriously reappeared. One look had pinged The Vidya away as he leant forward to whisper something in Irisa's ear.

Jolie and Spence had a pad in front of them taking bets on who would bed who and in what order. There was an animated line up waiting patiently for their turn.

Michael headed straight for Adele who with a giggle feinted. She joined the Jos hoping to discourage the angel.

"So, honey," Billie Jo asked, "Are you with that long tall drink of dark and sexy watah?" she asked nodding at Carmine.

Adele laughed so hard she got her drink up her nose. "I'm with long and tall and dark and sexy, but a slightly different variety of vamp than Carmine. So I'm on my best behaviour, dammit."

"Oh, honey," Betty Jo said, "that don't mean we can't have some fun.  Trust me, ah know.  Now, which one have you picked out to tie in knots? Ah think that one, over there, with the dimples and the tan is just perfect."  She didn't quite point at him but it was clear she meant Paul, who blinked and grinned, before starting to saunter her way.  "Why Ah think he'd be just more fun than water slide, honey."

Adele giggled and considered.  Paul arrived and Betty Jo bent her amethyst  gaze on his blue one, her smile lighting up the town.  "Mah name's Betty Jo.  What's yours, honey?"

He chuckled, not at all taken in by her and said "Paul, darlin'...My mama calls me Paul.  What would you like to call me?"

"How 'bout I call ya sugah, since I think you must be just the sweetest thing here.  Maybe, if you help me ah'll be able to tell whether you're the refined or the raw sort."  She peeked at him from under lashes and smiled an intimate little smile, laying a soft hand on his arm.

Adele choked on her drink.

Business at the betting table slowed a second as they considered that development and others, and then resumed in earnest, especially as Azael led Irisa out to the dance floor, the two of them the first couple out there.

Michael, not one to give up on seemingly lost causes, circled the Jos still eyeing Adele. Julian, watching, hid a grin behind his hand.

The twins (and Adele) were attracting even more attention, even Laz's gaze seeming glued to curves covered with tiny bits of bikini.   He watched for a few minutes from the other side of the pool and then strolled in their direction, heading Michael off at the turn and sliding in next to Billy Jo.  She dimpled up at him and turned the emerald orbs up to sizzle.  "Hi there, and who might you be, darlin'?"

"I'm Laszlo and you, I think, must be Billy Jo, the baby sister."

"Why ah sure am, and isn't that the sweetest thing, you taking the trouble to find out who ah am before coming over to talk to me." she said, lavishing the smile wattage on him.

He smiled and took her arm, drawing her away from her sisters.  "Oh, no, angel.  It's my job to know these things.  Wasn't nothing special about it at all." he finished grinning.

She eyed him, a different sort of interest lighting up the green.  "Is that so?  I think I'd like if you bought me a drink and told me some more," she said, the accent gone and the smile of a different calibre.

He was pleased to oblige.  As he did, Lisandro, invited by Julian arrived and spotting Bobby Jo steamed a straight course towards her, veering only slightly as he passed the bar.

Cassidy, who'd also observed the occupation of his current interest, finished his beer and pondered his options.  Dinah, finally free of the buffet table went looking for Marc.  She'd just spotted him when a face emerged from the hotel, the body attached to it pausing in the doorway, another behind her, as petite and as fair as she was dark.  Jolie saw them at the same instant Dinah did and twin gleeful shouts of "Casey! Reilly!" rang out, alerting the punters and the prowling eyes that more bikinis had arrived.

Jolie abandoned Spence with hardly more than a smack on his lips with hers and Dinah gave Marc a wave that he translated accurately to mean soon, but not yet.  They converged on the pair of women waiting for them at the patio doors, all four hugging, and laughing and talking simultaneously, while drawing each other out of the way of the stream of people trying to go in or come out.

Reno and Melly were deep in a discussion on angels, fallen or otherwise, ignoring Jordon utterly.  Jordon, considered possible approaches and decided on the sideways.  He plotted a course that would intercept his target as she reached the bar and executed it, his tangent accurately calculated by a few of the punters.  He ended up standing next to her and gave her his best smile.  "Hello."

"Hello to you too," Natha said, raising a black brow slightly.  Enjoying yourself?

"Absolutely" he said, taking the beer Xavier was handing him.  "It was really nice of Dinah to invite us all.  How about you?"

"It's a nice party.  And a nice change from the Refuge."

"You must travel a lot working for Laszlo..."  Jordon said, letting the question trail off as he scanned the crowd.

"Usually, it's one of the things I like about the work.  Jobs like this are rare though, and a nice change of pace."

So," Jordon asked, "How'd you end up working for him?"

"We worked together at the agency for a while before he quit and set up his own operation."

"The agency?"

"Yeah, we were in black ops at the CIA."

Jordon just nodded and swallowed some beer, giving her a smile meant to encourage her to continue.

Nicco and AJ streaked by headed to the water to dance in the waves and squeal. Carmine sauntered out to the darker ocean after them, just to keep a fatherly eye on them, so to speak.

As Carmine arrived a shape began to emerge from the waves, picking bits of seaweed from his hair and off his crown, while muttering curses at the jelly fish oozing and sliding amongst his toes.  Behind him arose a veritable legion of the Ondine, each leading a bridled and prancing sea horse forward from the ocean, Nicco and AJ following and almost sick with excitement, dancing among them.  Silence began to spread slowly across the party, as one frolicker started nudging the next and pointing.  The crowned one, satisfied that he'd beaten back the attack of the seaweed and the jelly fish, looked up and started scanning the crowd after bowing slightly and saying by way of greeting, "Prince Carmine."

Carmine smiled and returned the courtesy, saying only, "Your highness."

His highness looked at the bar and he fell into step beside Carmine the two of them chatting away about politics, and how neither nationality nor state of existence much mattered, it was all wretched.

Azael waved from the dance floor and told Irisa, "Neptune. He owes me a favour or two."  "Does Michael?" she asked. "No," he replied. "I'm in debt to him, but hope to alter that minor detail later tonight."

Lisandro, delivering a drink that looked lethal to Bobby Jo bowed and introduced himself. "Lisandro Patricio."

"Oh, honey, ah remember you well. Very well indeed." She reached up and toyed with his too long hair, before she reached for the drink.  They clinked glasses and walked off toward the beach.

Jazz, arriving back to the hotel a bit late after a call on some of his hippie friends, peeped out the door toward the mob and whispered, "Whoa!"  He hurried off to check on the state of flowers in Leslie's hair.

Marc, abandoned before he'd been found for more than an instant, wandered over to sit with Stephen and Doni.  "I don't see any bruises," he commented, studying Stephen.  "Although I do seem to detect a more spritely glow," he added to Doni.

Dinah left Casey and Reilly in Jolie's hands for the moment, promising to return shortly and found the object of her interest where he was talking to Stephen and Doni, arriving in time to hear Stephen say, laughing and looking as smug as a man like him could, "No bruises, but I'm going to need a best man.  Think you're up to it?

Marc looked a bit taken aback for the first few seconds than said, "I'll do my best so long as I get a kiss from the bride."  Dinah, grinning from ear to ear, joined them. "I heard that right?"  Doni, laughing, replied "You did. Should I hold out to be a June bride do you think?"  "And wear white!" the two women shouted together.  Marc and Stephen exchanged a commiserating  look.

Irisa had finally been freed by Azael who joined Neptune and Carmine at the bar.  She then wandered over to join Reno and Melly.

Azael freed Neptune from Carmine's clutches and led him over the man who'd had the idea.  Carmine, abandoned at the bar considered possibilities. His eyes lighted on Dinah, laughing up at Marc.  He gathered up his glass of bloodwine and headed over.

Meanwhile, Michael, seeing the conference starting at Jules' table, abandoned his pursuit of Adele, for the nonce at least, and joined them.  Adele, breathing a sigh of relief, decided that it was time put Betty Jo's advice to work and viewed her options with a discriminating eye, finally settling on the corner where Chance was standing with Cassidy, both of them watching Irisa without letting the other know.  Adele flounced over that way, a difficult thing to do in a minuscule bikini but she managed it nonetheless.

"Hi, boys. I'm Adele."  Chance sat up and tried on a smile. "I'm Chance. This is Cassidy."

"Someone care to buy me a drink?"  She squeezed in between them.

Irisa looked around and saw Cassidy suddenly looking like he was enjoying himself. Good, she thought, he deserved to.

Carmine arrived in time for the laughter to fade and bowed to Doni, and then to Dinah. "Cara... Signorina Dinah.  May I steal you for a dance?"

Julian, watching the by-play leaned over and whispered something to Michael who laughed and nodded, and then went to have a word with the host.

Dinah, unaware of Julian's planned machinations chortled and said "for that Signore, I am always steal-able.  But first, call me signorina again like you do so well so I can tingle some more while we wait for the music to start again."

"Con piacere, signorina," Carmine said as he took her proffered hand and pulled her up into his arms.  Everyone was watching as they walked out to the dance floor. Even Marc.

The music began innocently enough with a nice techno salsa mix, the two of them moving easily to the complex rhythms.  The crowd, guessing cleared a space for them and the host added a low, sultry counter point.  Julian just sat back smirked.

Dinah and Carmine flowed like one, adapting without thought, interweaving the themes of the counterpoint into their movement.  As the music flowed further from techno and deeper into the romantic heritage that produced the salsa, so did the pair on the floor, their movement a graceful, innovative expression of the fire at the heart of the Latino culture.  When the music slowed, so did they and as the rhythm moved inexorably into the tango so did they, unconsciously and perfectly.

Dinah lost herself in the music and the motion, as she always did, while Carmine, aware of the possibilities abetted her, pulling from her the passion so perfectly expressed by the music.  Dinah, set free, oblivious to the crowd that had cleared the floor, and the hush that had fallen, reached deep within herself and flung into the dance every tangled, confused and conflicted feeling of the last days and even weeks and used them, translated them into a sensual flow.  She followed Carmine perfectly, haughty and unattainable, pride in every line, every sweep and turn, holding her self back from his temptation, aloof and coolly serene, her head arched back and her throat curved in defiance.

Carmine swept her up into it, his hand on her back signalling every subtle movement.

The crowd, watching, saw reflected in their movements the heat and passion of Latin America, the lush sensuality of the dance a seduction and a dare, conveying a promise as steamy and mysterious as the jungle that shaped its history.

Marc's eyes were locked on Dinah. Nearly every male in the place suddenly wondered why the hell they hated to dance.

Irisa was suddenly dreaming romantic thoughts, something not usually given much space in her brain. Adele was grinning, having seen Carmine dance, and having danced with him before.  Reno gaped. Spence laughed.  Julian raised an eyebrow at Neptune.

Even the twins and their baby sister were enthralled.

Carmine moved her flawlessly across the floor, draping her over his arm as she leaned back fearlessly, her hair sweeping the floor as he spun her, before drawing her up again and moving from an open style of dance to a closed style, her chest brushing his,...one still haughty and arrogant, but now also intimate and tempting, translating desire to movement and back again.  As the music moved to it's culmination so did they, the synchronized movement suddenly a pulse beat for the spectators.  Carmine swept her through a final series of turns, and then into a breath stopping drape over his arm again, shadowing her and spinning her around, ending with her perfectly draped, the ultimate expression of untamed sensuality, unconquered passion as the music ended.

When it did he held her there, posed her there for a heart beat and then drew her up, presenting her to the crowd with a flourish and a bow, his teeth gleaming white while he laughed.

When the applause stopped the host moved without hesitation into the pop and excitement of swing, a dance of totally different sort, and Carmine laughed again and sent her into the steps of the jitterbug spinning her and then drawing her back.  If the tango was passion, an expression of heat and sensuality, the jitterbug was laughter and fun, the paradigm of play...and that's what they did, they played, her hair flying and her hips swinging with abandon and he matched her delight.  He lifted her and flipped her and pulled through and she handled it all, her face alight and teasing, laughter the currency between them.

When it ended he presented her again, this time breathless and laughing like a child, to the crowd, ending his flourish with a graceful bow that thanked her for the dance and her willingness to trust herself to it and led her back to the table.

"Wow," Irisa breathed. Stephen goggled and cocked an eye at Doni, who had been transfixed. Marc took a stiff drink.

Millicent sat with her mouth hanging open and David's eyes were wide with a longing difficult to address. Leslie stood in Jazz's arms as they had been throughout the performance. Julian clapped languidly.  Carmine when he passed him, threw him a look that clearly said, if Julian had thought to unsettle him it had not worked.

Jeeves looked at Mabel and said, "I'll take the job."

She nodded and said, "No doubt."

Azael, at a signal from Julian, headed for the band area and waited until he had the attention of the crowd.  "Ladies and gentlemen, while we can not hope to equal the thrill and excitement of the performance we were so privileged to witness, we...Julian, Michael and I have had an idea for your consideration."

Spence looked at Jolie and grinned, "Here we go."

"We would like to propose a challenge to those willing to accept it.  What we are proposing is a game of water polo, ladies against gentlemen, played in the ocean and mounted on the sea horses so thoughtfully provided for the occasion by his Highness, my good friend King Neptune.  Those of you who like to play, please raise your hands."

Laz, Chance and Paul looked at each other and raised their hands in unison, their actions followed without hesitation by the twins, all six of whom yelled, "we're in."  Tobie and Natha, across the way were a split second behind them.

Stephen looked at Doni and followed suit.

The punters flocked to the betting table and Doni, who'd no intention of playing, saw her duty clearly before her and moved over to help Jolie and Spence take bets.  Spence called out, "I'll keep score" and David, thwarted, yelled, I'll play line judge," and moved towards Julian, leaving Millicent gasping and glaring without a backward glance.

Cassidy, Adele, Lis, Marc, and Carmine with a daring glance thrown at Marc, and even Irisa raised their hands and moved to stand with their teams.  Excitement spread through the crowd as the seahorses began to snort sensing they were finally going to have some fun.

Reno looked at Melly first and then Jordon.  All three raised their hands and joined their teams.  Jolie, laughing, counted noses and looked at Casey and Reilly, and then Dinah and all four raised their hands and moved to stand with the ladies.  Jazz and Leslie shook hands, kissed and moved to join their compatriots, Jazz flip flopping and saying "whoa."

Azael was also counting noses and when he finished he whispered something to the Vidya who also moved to the women's side and the teams were even at fourteen on each side.  Doni walked over to Azael, getting ready to leave the band area and said a few words.  He laughed and nodded and turned back to address the crowd.  "The usual rules will apply, His Highness has agreed to referee, his decisions are final.  The first aid station is adjacent to the betting table and will require a donation of ten dollars per minute required payable to Spencer who is also keeping score.  Ten percent of all bets will be added to the funds collected for first aid and will be donated to a charity of the winning teams choice.  The Ondines will assign mounts, which are not negotiable.  May the best team win."

There was a cheer and a mad dash toward the seahorses.  The horses thought about turning and running, but instead stood steadfast. Ondines helped seat riders with scant clothing more than willing to be helpful. A few slaps were heard.

Once everyone was seated the horses moved to take their places on the proper side of the field of play.   Taunts crossed the lines, and dares were made, and something was said about penalties for cheating. No one cared.

The ladies settled their bikini strings securely and then leaned forward from the waist as one, cooing in the ears of their mounts.  On the other side of the line jerked reins had the seahorses rearing and the men swearing while the Ondines scolded.  The ladies smirked and chalked up the first point on their own private score card.

Neptune took to the sea, his mount magnificent, a ball in his hand and a net arose from the waves, woven with shells and secured by the sea urchins at each end of playing field and a white capped wave rose and held position marking the center line for the tip off, while more of the host, summoned by Michael took to the skies, lighting the playing field.  The Band struck up the tune to Anchor's Away.

Spence, using a spare bikini top of Jolie's raised it to signal a start to the play. He counted down, and dropped the bra at "GO!"

And they were off, David providing color commentary as he helped officiate. Spence watching closely as the ball whizzed around the field of play. The host switched to "We are the Champions of the World."

One over-eager male, who looked suspiciously like Paul, took a swipe at the ball and instead connected with a boob. A slap shortly followed and he ended up in the drink.

Natha, a true competitor, recovered the ball as Paul tried to recover his mount and sent it flying parallel to the net, where Melly picked it up and sent it arcing over the heads of linemen and straight to Irisa who'd have had if Julian hadn't leaned over and blown raspberries at her. Real ones.

"Cheat!" yelled the crowd.  But Adele was on the case, and tried a sideways shot that Marc did his best to block but missed

"Goal!" yelled the crowd.

And the ladies were ahead, publicly, one nothing and privately, two nothing.

Neptune ignored the demands for a penalty against Julian, possibly feeling that the goal was enough and the teams formed up over the center line again.  The ball went up and was recovered by Laz who set off galloping in tandem with Stephen and passing the ball back and forth as they moved forward.  The ladies whirled on the tails of the sea horses and followed, trying to block the passes.

It was Jolie and Casey who saved the day, as Jolie stood up in her saddle and the sight made Laz put just a hair too much spin on the pass to Stephen. The ball careened off wildly and Reno gave chase as Casey recovered the ball and drove towards the left side, Reno right behind her.  Melly, saw him coming and moved to block blowing kisses and distracting Reno, giving Casey room to pass the ball to Dinah who saw an opening to the right and headed for it, while Leslie moved into position to receive it, flowers flying behind her from her hair.

Jazz was too busy watching the flowers to be of any damn use.

But Carmine was right behind him and did an acrobatic whirl in his saddle to knock the ball out of Dinah's hand at the last possible second.

She hissed at him and watched as Jordon swooped it up, giving an Indian war whoop while droving towards the ladies back field, Natha hot on his tail for a change.  He passed it to Azael who zigged and then zagged, confusing The Vidya's logic circuits and dodged Billy Jo only to fall afoul of Betty Jo and Bobby Jo, who'd paused in just the right spot to adjust their tops.  Reilly retrieved what he dropped, winked at the twins and passed the ball off to Jolie.

Jolie, seeing the field ahead of her clear made a mad dash toward the goal. Jules swooped down from above, his steed having suddenly gone airborne.  He grinned at Jolie and made a great turn and broke for the open field. That was when the twins got their horses in order and caught him in a pincher move. He gasped as boobs hit his cheeks from both sides.

The crowd wanted to scream cheat, but were afraid Neptune would penalize the twins.  Meanwhile Melly recovered the ball and sent it high and flying, causing the host lighting the field to suddenly break for cover and giving Casey time to catch the ball and sent it straight and true into the goal.  The crowd roared it's approval and the band struck up Angels We Have Heard on High as the light holders lodged their protest that this wasn't covered in their union contract.  Micheal told them to shut up, pointing out they didn't have a union.

It was desperate times for the guys, now. The ladies were ahead 2 to zip officially and 3 to zip unofficially. Julian was still seeing double. The host were still griping, and the band wanted to play the theme song from Animal House but thought better of it at the last minute, wanting to avoid getting clobbered in a food fight.

The ball shot up into the air again, this time not so high as to threaten a Guild strike, and the boys, with renewed determination drove after it, a phalanx of pure masculine testosterone, determined to show these wimmin what they were made of.

The band went into A Night on Bald Mountain and Julian hissed at them.

The ladies spread out, strings at the ready and just as Michael was about to shoot, jiggled their tops in unison.  Neptune, goggling, couldn't call the foul and David was laughing so hard he lost track of his reins.

The shot went wide, but recovered by Carmine who leap with breathtaking agility to knock the ball back on course and into the goal.  The guys looked smug and exchanged high fives and they trotted their steeds back to the centerline.

The girls looked at each other and nodded, all knowing now was the time to deploy their best strategy.  The ball went up into the air and Laz drove up after it, slamming it straight to Chance. He hit a perfect bender that Beckham would have been proud of straight to Cassidy who was more than ready for it. He punched it up into the air and it was retrieved there by Jazz who was actually not staring at Leslie this time. He sidearmed the ball to Stephen who had a clear shot on goal.

Stephen dodged the sudden frantic attack on both his flanks by Leslie and Irisa and lofted the ball into the goal.

The score was tied and the crowd roared, sending the punters back to the betting table where the odds were shortening again.

Confidence was running high among the guys as they took their places opposite the ladies who were totally unconcerned, the twins and Billy Jo examining their manicures and Jolie, Casey and Reilly suddenly discussing the merits of french cut versus underwire bras, while Melly fell in with Irisa and Natha who were exchanging tips on managing a hostile press, describing widely variant methodologies while The Vidya calculated the odds of success of each.

Neptune called them all to order, the band played 'Take Your Best Shot' and then the ball was in play again, recovered by Jolie for the ladies and passed with precision between her, Casey and Dinah, while Reilly slipped behind the boys to the right and Natha to the left.  Billy, Betty and Bobby covered the three passers and Leslie and Dinah blocked as Marc and Stephen, followed by Michael and Carmine tried to interrupt the passing sequence.

Irisa came out of nowhere and fielded the perfect pass. At the last minute Cassidy made a diving intercept depriving her of a goal. She growled at him, which made him bobble the ball and there was a scrum in the water after it, six players diving off their mounts to retrieve it.

Neptune blew the whistle and halted the play, the players remounted and the ball was brought back into play in the ladies back field.  The guys recovered the ball and formed a flying wedge, determined to score on the attempt.

The ladies deployed, their most determined in front, with Natha leading the charge right at the heart of the boys' wedgie, er wedge.  Lis was at the front of the wedge for some weird reason known only to the gods of Chance, er, no the gods of chance. He took one look at Natha and went down low on his saddle.  As she went by, after the ball, he reached out and, uhm, squeezed. She gasped in fury and pulled up, letting the rider to Lis's right get past, and away cleanly.

She forgot the game and went after him, conjuring up a rope and lassoed him, then looped it around the saddle horn and dragged him off behind her to continue the game, while the Band played Blazing Saddles and the crowd roared, the odds shifted and the ladies played catch up.

Lis managed a circus feat and ended up straddling the saddle in front of Natha. The horse had enough and bolted, throwing the both of them onto the sandy shore. Neptune shrugged, and since the sides were still even decided not to blow the whistle.  Besides, Lis looked rather blissful where he lay with Natha atop him.

Jordon looked back and saw them, missing the pass Azeal was sending his way, leaving Cassidy to scramble after the ball as it was recovered by Irisa.

Irisa gave a cheer and the ladies formed up, while Natha struggled to get up off of Lis, or so it seemed except to Millicent.

Irisa passed the ball back to Melly and turned to block Cassidy who was heading straight for her,  He must have lost track of the ball because as he passed her he reached out as if to tip it out of her hands and instead tipped her into his arms and across his lap.

She yelped and tried to break free but he had her in a death grip.  Neptune sighed. Sex, always with the sex, ruining a perfectly good game. Still, the sides were even so he let the game go on, as Cassidy's horse trotted off out of the lighted field.

Meanwhile the missed pass ended up bouncing off of Millicent skipped over the pool and crashed through the glass into the dining room.  Everything ground (er sea-ed) to a halt. Mills, her dignity ruffled, stood and smacked her cane against the concrete in fury.

Jeeves, feeling he was now on the pay roll handled the situation with aplomb.  He helped Millicent to a new seat, bowing her into it and then, removing her cane gently from her grasp while she was still distracted, retrieved the ball, tossed it in the air and hit it with the cane.  The ball flew in a perfect arc, landing the boys goal and confounding the crowd.  Neptune paused to think and Jeeves handed Millicent back her cane with a bow, his aplomb unimpaired.

The crowd was utterly silent. Would Neptune let this interference stand?  "Goal!!!!!!!!!!!" he shouted, starting a knock down drag out fight in the ring. Seahorses were abandoned, and bikini bras flew.

Neptune roared and the ocean surged and the players broke from the clinch.  The Ondines rehorsed them as Neptune moved into position and the ladies re-braed, while going into a huddle.

Neptune about to loft the ball made an executive decision and yelled, MATCH POINT and they were off...or at least the boys were.  The ladies, who'd only seemed to re-bra dropped their tops, the boys jerked on the reins, the sea horses reared, the crowd stormed the water and Jolie grabbed the ball and sent it straight in.  Julian goggling was too stunned to even yell cheat, his eyes glued to the spectacle.  Neptune blew the whistle and the ladies smirked, chortling "we win" to each other.  Millicent fainted and David made plans.