Author's Note: This is the first of a series of vignettes (most of which will be longer than this one, I hope) which will take a slightly more in-depth look at the various relationships in the Parker-James family; before, during, and after the film. I adored this movie as a kid, so now I want to explore those characters a little.

If I may be so audacious as to give a silly little fanfic a dedication, I'd like to dedicate this series of vignettes to the late Natasha Richardson; our Elizabeth James within "The Parent Trap", and a beautiful and talented woman in her own right. I don't know about any of you, but for me, her portrayal of Liz stayed with me from childhood as the idealized image of a mother. R.I.P Natasha.

And of course, the mandatory disclaimer that I do not own "The Parent Trap"; Disney does.

Where Dreams Have No End

"Delivery for you, Mr. Parker. Nothing big, looks like just a few bottles to me."
"Thanks Roger. That'll be my latest win from one of the auctions."

Nick was glad to be able to pass those arriving bottles off as some small matter, just the idle purchase of a man for whom wine was a career, a passion, a way of life.

"Careful with those auctions; you're liable to waste your fortune collecting dusty bottles!"

He chuckled at that as the worker strolled off; it would require some concentrated spending to squander the fortune he'd made in Parker Knoll. Nick didn't expect many people to understand how much he got out of collecting vintage wines, each with their own history and significance. And now that he was alone and unobserved, Nick had no reason to hide his eagerness for this newest arrival. It had been greatly anticipated.

Lifting the box and cradling it carefully in his arms, the man made his way downstairs to his own private wine cellar. Only the best and most significant bottles made it into this collection, the rest he stored elsewhere in Parker Knoll's cellars. Placing it down in front one of the smaller wooden cupboards, Nick paused for a moment, wiping his hands on his jeans. It was stupid, but he felt almost nervous to open the package. As though on the other side of those wrappings were more than just a few bottles of wine.

Nick lifted out one bottle, and breathed out slowly as he turned it over in his hands, letting his fingers glide over the dark, cool glass.
Where Dreams have no end 1983

The feeling was difficult to describe. Although filled with a sudden rush, Nick also wanted to stand very very still, and hold on to that bottle for dear life, to protect it from the terrible possibility of shattering on the floor. That would be an unspeakable loss. For there, in his hands, was time in a bottle; weeks and months and one particular night in the ballroom of a grand ocean liner, a night soft and heady as a woman's perfume. And whatever else he'd lost, he could find it here, hold it, lock it away as the jewel of his private collection.

Maybe some night in the future, when it was especially dark, he might find the courage to open one precious bottle, and savour the bitter-sweet bouquet. Maybe, when Hallie was old enough, he'd present her with one of the bottles…But to his daughter, it might just be another bottle of wine...and, heck, hardly enough to make up for a missing mother. Would Annie grow up to like wine, he wondered? But there was no point in wondering, he could never know…

No, all Nick Parker could do was lock away his few bottles of Dreams. Save them for a rainy day. And without Liz, there were bound to be many of those.

I hope you liked that, short and rambly as it was. It just struck me as sweet that Nick collected all those bottles, and I could see why he would. If you have time, please leave a review!