_~*{Hello everyone! As always i only own Rose, Luccus, and Nikki. Everyone else belongs to their origional owners. I also do not own the songs in this story. I hope you all enjoy the next chapter! I love you all! }*~_

Luccus had stared at her in confusion when she told him to go back to the cellars and wait for her. She told Luccus to explain the situation, so far, to her father and reassured him that she would come to him as soon as she was able. He left her with strong reluctance, he just got her back, leaving her alone again seemed an impossible feat. But after a few moments of contemplation he left for the cellars and waited there anxiously for her.

Rose was on her way back to the masquerade to find her mother, but it seemed that wasn't necessary because as Rose rounded a corner leading to the ball she was stopped by a woman of about the same height and posture, wearing an ocean blue gown and a white domino.

"Mother?"

Christine opened the door beside her and ushered her daughter through with a the door was shut behind them Christine removed her mask, Rose went to do the same, but realized that hers was missing from her face.

" You know..i knew in my heart that you would go to them tonight..I new it in my gut the moment you mentioned returning here. My husband was too blinded by the money to care of the dangers he was putting us all in by returning...but I knew. And look, you didn't even last an hour, from the time we walked off of the ship."

Rose cast a worried glance at the door and then to her mother.

"Oh please Rose don't look at me like that, you know I only want what is best for you."

"But mother, who is to say that they are not what is 'best for me?' What is so wrong with me loving them and wanting to be with them."

"Erik...your...father..he is a murderer, a genius, builder, designer, magician, and an extraordinary musician...but a murderer still. And that boy who stays locked away with him, has no doubtingly murdered his fair share of people as well."

Rose's fists balled at her sides as she stepped forward, "Luccus has never killed...not once. He may have been with papa and he may have watched the murders happen but he would never kill someone...he just wouldn't. "

Christine saw the fire in her daughter's eyes, bits of yellow that wove their way into her miraculous green eyes whenever she was angry or extremely sad. Erik's did it too, she backed away from her daughter and continued on with their talk.

"Very well, Luccus may not kill as you have said, but he still hides in shadows and resorts to trickery for a majority of his daily life, Rose, what kind of life is he able to offer you? Will you live in those cellars, shrouded in darkness with him and your father for the rest of your life? And a family? Will you raise children there as well? With Nikkoli you could be free to go where ever you wanted, walk through a market and not have to worry about the gazes you would receive, and your children would be able to live peacefully amongst others of their age...they wouldn't be locked away in a dungeon with two demons and their hypnotized flower..."

Rose was shaking at that point, her eyes, now a strange mix of yellow and green, were filled with tears of frustration.

"Mother please, whatever life Luccus and I have together will be wonderful to me...i just want to be with him...Nikki..he is a dear friend, but, I don't want to spend the rest of my life with him, as my husband, I want him there as my closest friend, like he has been since I can remember. I love him, I do, but he...he..isn't the one..."

Her voice trailed off into an inaudible whisper. Thoughts and memories whipping their way around inside her head until something clicked in her mind, bits of old stories her mother and father both had told her falling simultaneously in place. Her eyes moved and locked on Christine's, with no intention to break their contact Rose spoke.

" I would have thought, mother, that you would be a little more understanding of my situation.." Rose still had her eyes fixed on her mother's, which had a distant glazed look about them. "I would have thought you, better than anyone, would realize how trapped I would feel tonight. Split between my childhood companion that i grew to love above all others, and the man who had kept me safe and sane in my darkest of moments. You made that decision once too, did you not?" Christine was hearing everything Rose was saying but what she was seeing was not her daughter's unfaltering gaze, but the memories that she was hinting to. Christine watched as she, heard 'the voice' for the first time, she watched herself at one of her 'singing lessons', she watched as her relationship with Erik morphed from 'teacher and student' to 'awkward lovers'. Her eyes began to well with tears as she saw Raoul appear in her dressing room one night and then a flash of heart ache she had seen in Erik's eyes. She watched still as Erik gave her a choice, to stay with him or go with Raoul. She remembered the feeling of being trapped in a cage as she made her decision. She chose the one she thought would be easier, the one she thought would make her happiest...how could she have known that she had chosen wrong when she had left with Raoul? Raoul who could give her everything in the world except for the one thing she wanted most. His music, Erik's music, his tentative touch, and his unyielding adoration. Christine saw next the night shortly before her wedding to Raoul, the night she fled from her home and found Erik, hidden away at the time. When they saw each other no words were spoken, she ran to him, and he to her. That night she had came to the conclusion that her decision was wrong...she didn't want to marry Raoul what she wanted was Erik, but when she woke, he was gone. She threw all hopes of being with him again out the window and returned to Raoul, to start a life of lies she had created for herself, a life she didn't want, the one she did want was no where to be found. Christine was able to see her daughter once more, and the eyes that were a constant reminder of the life she could have had. The tears fell from her eyes as she went to speak, but found that she couldn't.

"How could you put me in this position mother...either way i choose...i can not win, for some one will have their heart broken."

Christine was still unable to speak, Rose's words and the memories they had caused had woken up a feeling that Christine had locked away for eighteen years. Christine was still fumbling with what to say when a voice sounded form behind both of them, the voice of someone she had forgotten was hiding in the inner room.

"Don't you worry about anyone's feelings dear Rose. Only worry about yourself, you deserve to be happy with whom ever you wish. I only wish you had been honest with me tonight, and had given me the real reason for your refusal to take my ring."

Nikkoli walked into the main room where the two women were conversing and rested his hand lightly on the sofa that Christine had sunk into the moment Rose had released her from her gaze to look at him. Rose was trembling with guilt and she lowered her head, refusing to look him in the eye.

"Nikki..I."

"Don't want to marry me...yes I know...i heard. Rose why couldn't you have just said no?"

Rose was still looking at the floor she wanted very badly to stop herself from speaking, to lock her words away like she always did, but her body was betraying her and her words tumbled from her mouth.

"I didn't want to embarrass you by just blatantly saying no. Nikki I may not want to be your wife...but it doesn't mean that i still don't have feelings for you...that I don't love you, because i do...its just..well i was stuck and the stupid competition was the first thing to swing into my mind...so I went with it."

Nikkoli shook his head a sad smile turning up the corners of with mouth. He left his spot beside Christine moved to stand right in front of Rose. He took her chin in his hand a raised it so that she had to look at him. When her green eyes found his blue he started to speak.

"Out of all of the years i have known you, not once before today have I heard you say those words to me...that you love me...is it true Rose, do you? Even though you do not want to marry me, is it true that you love me?"

Rose nodded slightly, unable to say it again, her body was finally slowing the amount of words she would say, finally letting her have a guarded conversation. Nikki's smile was a little less sad when she nodded her head, and his hands came to rest on her shoulders, keeping his eyes locked on hers. "Then I will continue on with the show tomorrow as planned, and I will play the part of the overly shocked lover when you choose someone else over me. You can have the life you want with him, but please Rose, please promise me something?"

She nodded again and raised a hand to rest against the one on her left shoulder.

"Promise me that you won't ever shut me out. I have prided myself on always being there for you, let me continue to be there when you need me, please don't keep me in the dark when it come to matters of...them." They way he said 'them' let Rose know he was speaking of her father and Luccus, the thought of having him know those secrets made her uneasy but still...she owed him this much. She could still see the pain that was being well controlled behind his ocean eyes and it was slowly started to shred her heart.

"I promise Nikki."

His smile grew wider and he pulled her into a tight embrace. After a couple seconds he pulled away and moved to the door to hold it open for her.

"Enjoy the rest of your night then Mademoiselle." Rose walked through the door with Nikki right behind her, Christine had waved him away when he had called to her and she looked to be very deep in thought so he left her resting there on the sofa. Rose turned in the direction of the spiral staircase, eager to inform Luccus of her plan for tomorrow but Nikki called from behind her.

"Rose? Aren't you returning to the masquerade tonight?" Rose looked back him for a moment and the shook her head.

"No I'm not, I have plans to make for tomorrow dear Nikki. And I have yet to see my Father." She did as she had promised and kept nothing from him, he had asked and she had answered, still his expression fell a bit as he gave her a small bow.

"Very well then Rose, be safe, I'll do my best to keep Raoul and Miss Christine off of your trail. Until tomorrow...Little Lotte."

As Nikki walked off towards the masquerade Rose couldn't help but stare after him. She knew that pet name had been given to her mother by Raoul when they were children, because of a story that her grandfather had told her parents when they were young. But this was the first time that the nickname had been given to her, and she wondered why Nikki had called her by it all of a sudden. Rose turned away from the puzzling question and headed back toward the spiral staircase.

Rose reached the corridor by the staircase and knew there was a pressure point near by that would open the wall of her to enter into the cellars below. It took all of two minutes for her to find it, and begin making her way down to her father's house across the underground lake. Rose was still easily able to navigate the ever confusing turns and drops on her way to her fathers home. She found her way to the shore of the lake and carefully made her way to the boat, making sure to stay clear of the traps that would inform her father of her arrival. She lowered herself into the boat and pulled the ore free and sunk it slowly into the dark water. She pushed away from the shore and started out onto the lake. A short while she found herself approaching a different shore and flawlessly docked the boat and made her way to her father's incredible domain.

Luccus was the first one to spot her, but he said nothing, just simply looked to where Erik was sitting, his back to both of them, concentrating on the organ before him. Rose kicked a small rock, sending it splashing into the lake behind her. The sudden break in silence caused Erik to turn, eyes falling on his daughter and staying there. He looked her over for a few seconds before calling to her in song.

Erik: Wandering child, So lost, so helpless Yearning for my guidance

Rose had heard this song before, re-sung for her during one of the stories her father had told her when she was younger, she smiled before continuing on with the lyrics changing a few to suit her better.

Rose: Angel or father? Friend or phantom? Who is it there, staring?

Erik: Have you forgotten your Angel?

Rose: Father, oh, speak, What endless longings Echo in this whisper!

Erik: Too long you've wandered in winter far from my fathering gaze...

Rose: Wildly their minds beat against you...

Erik: You resist...

Erik/Rose: and your/ but my soul obeys..

Erik/Rose: Angel of Music, they denied me/you! Turning from true beauty! Angel of Music! Do not shun me/My protector! Come to your/me strange Angel...

Rose: I am your Angel of Music...

Erik: Come to me; Angel of Music...

Erik's last words melted into delighted laughter as he spread his arms wide, welcoming his daughter who was running toward him. When she was safely wrapped in his arms he picked her up and twirled her around. Laughing and smiling so much that warm tears fell from his eyes running down his cheek and mask. Rose pulled away from her father just enough so that that she could kiss his cheek, but when she did she found his white mask in her way. When he had set her down she gave him a scolding look as she pulled the mask away without asking. Her face gained a red tint as she took in the sight before her. In the years she had spent with her father she had always made sure that his open wounds were carefully looked after, cleaning out the small bits of puss that formed in some spots, and putting special ointment on the darkest scars. She had made great progress with him, slowly controlling his deformity, to make it almost bearable for normal people to see...almost. But as Rose looked upon her fathers unmasked face she gave a little sigh. Her father was the smartest man in the world. He knew everything there was to know about medicine, he was the one who taught her all she new about it, but she could tell that loosing her all of those years ago had meant he lost any will to try to take care of himself. He stopped preventing the infections that caused the puss, and stopped all treatment of his face what so ever. She shook her head before leaning toward him again, careful to avoid any festering wounds and placed a small kiss on one of his scars.

"Papa, you really should take better care of yourself. You know better than I that you could die from those infections."

Erik looked a bit ashamed as his daughter fussed over him, what she said didn't hurt him, or make him angry, she was speaking the truth. His beautiful little flower and tried her damnedest to get back to him...only to find that she was lucky he hadn't died in the mean time.

"Forgive your poor father for rash decisions of grief sweet child. I could not look upon those ointments and cloths without thinking about how kindly you cared for me, they were far too often a reminder that you weren't here. So I shut them away in a drawer and haven't looked upon them since."

Rose giggled softly as she set his mask down on a nearby table looking quickly at Luccus who had hastily taken his mask off after Rose had removed Erik's. He would not dare wear his when his master had to leave his off. Rose looked back to her father and smiled.

"All is forgiven papa, if only you could forgive me for staying away for so long."

Erik pulled her towards him and kissed her forehead gently.

"I will never forgive you for such a thing." His voice was full of his normal sarcastic humor, and Rose relaxed completely at his words. The three of them stood in silence for a few moments.

Luccus was the first one to break the silence, they had all come to sit together on the sofa's and chairs Erik had set up in his 'living room'.

"So Rosey, what did you do while you were gone? What did you do to pass the time I mean?"

Erik cast an irritated look his way before answering for his daughter. "Well surely she composed something grand on that cello of hers, or perhaps something for piano or organ?" Rose looked between the two of them and let out a small sigh of sadness.

"Actually I didn't do any of that papa.."

Both pairs of eyes were resting on her as she took a great breath and told her story from start to finish of the passed four years, starting of course, with the banishment of any musical activity by Raoul. Erik sneered at that and Luccus sat back in his chair clearly upset. She told them of the boring pattern that Raoul and her mother quickly fell into. She spoke of all Raoul's most horrible drunken stupors. She spoke for a while on Nikkoli and how he came to be a true friend, keeping her company and cheering her up on the days that all happiness had been taken from her, which happened more often that not. She went on and on talking about an odd story here or and exciting thing there, all the way until her eighteenth birthday. She told them,then, in a very timid voice, about the festival she had stumbled upon and how her disappearance had not gone unnoticed. When she started the part of the carriage ride home both men moved in their seat uncomfortably. When Rose told them that Raoul had hit her, and then tried to her hit her again, only to be stopped by Nikki, she paused. Her father was considerably red faced and his hands were threatening to splinter the arms of the chair he was sitting in. Luccus, however, had gone very white in the face, like all of his blood had been drained and transferred to her father. Poor Luccus looked like he was going to be sick. He couldn't stand child abuse, no matter how old the child was. He had gone though too much of it himself in his early years before Erik, so hearing that Rose had gone through even the tiniest bit of it made Luccus tremble and his hands grow damp with sweat. Quickly sensing the disturbance that bit of information had caused Rose continued on with her story, about Nikki coming to her and helping her feel better, and about her first dancing lesson. Luccus was gaining some color back and Erik was loosing some of his when he spoke.

"He taught you well child. Your performance tonight was...exceptional, your singing entrancing, and borderline hypnotic." He thought for a second and continued, "Be careful with that last power, hypnosis can destroy a persons mind if not done properly." Rose nodded her head, she hadn't intended to hypnotize anyone but if her father told her to do something she listened without fail. Erik continued to think and then asked a very simple question.

"What are your plans for tomorrow night Rose? Surely you didn't get just the announcement in planning, you must have some idea, have you?"

Rose nodded and then turned slyly to Luccus, "I was hoping that a certain phantom would be there to whisk me away.." she watched as the color in his face quickly disappeared again.

"Rose, I can't sing and dance in front of all of those people, ever since I came to The Opera i have been taught to be a shadow on the wall, and never draw attention to myself." Luccus looked to Erik for support and the air caught in his chest as he realized he wasn't going to find any there.

"Oh think about it Luccus," Rose said, becoming very animated and excited, "Everyone will be in masks no one will know who you are, but you could blow everyone in that room away tomorrow, and you would be dancing with me...i would be with you the whole time. It would be so...so...romantic." Her last word was no more than the quietest whisper, but it seemed to echo off of all of the walls around her, and both her face and Luccus' were scarlet red. There was a far off throat clearing and distant words that pulled the two love birds back to reality.

"I think it is a wonderful idea." With those words Erik had sealed Luccus' fate. There was no backing down he would be singing for the first time in public tomorrow. The thought of it made him completely terrified but the look of excitement on Rose's face kept his nerves in check. The trio talked more about this and that until slowly, Rose began to drift asleep. Erik put a pillow beneath her head and let her sleep until it was late into the night and he knew that the masquerade would be ending soon.

"Boy." Erik spoke in such a commanding tone that Luccus looked away from his sleeping flower, and focused on his disfigured master.

"Yes sir?"

"Take her to her Mothers old dressing room, the one with the mirror entry, its where the managers intend to put her tonight it quickly before her mother starts to look for her." Luccus nodded his head slightly as he stooped to pull Rose into his arms, careful not to wake her and whispered, "Yes, sir.", before making his way up to the room Erik had spoken of.

When Luccus reached the double sided mirror he kept Rose cradled in one arm and hit the apparatus that caused the glass to move out of his way. He stepped into the room and noticed right away that all of Rose's luggage had already been brought here. He walked over to her bed and pulled back the many blankets and covers before laying her down. As had finished pulling the last blanket over her feet when he felt the floor behind him move, and his body went tense, knowing that there was someone else in the room with them.

"You are lucky it is only me Phantom...could have been her parents..."

"The Phantom is one of her parents...Nikkoli."

Nikki laughed a bit as he continued to walk toward Luccus. "Oh so it is you, i couldn't tell which one of you it was in this ill light." Just when he was finishing his sentence he turned the oil up in the lamp and the room was flooded with light. Rose stirred for a moment before rolling over and drifting back off. Luccus straightened to stand at his full height an inch above Nikkoli

"What are you doing in her room Nikkoli?"

"I am the one who should be asking you that question, also, how did you get into her bedroom? the door was locked from the inside."

Luccus cringed before turning to face him. He watched as Nikkoli took a step back, Luccus' hand instinctively moved to his face and found that he had neglected to put is mask back on. Nikkoli collected his composure, and a small bit of sadness swept over his features, his eyes moving to rest on Rose.

"Was she happy? To be back there?"

Luccus was startled by the gentleness of the question, and the lack of poking fun at his scars, hesitantly he answered.

"She was, yes, she talked and talked herself to sleep." Nikkoli moved to stand beside him as he spoke, and Luccus had to fight the urge to move away. Nikki let the back side of his hand brush across Rose's cheek, and Luccus' stomach knotted in a thousand different places.

"I could get her to smile, even laugh form time to time. But She was never really happy." Nikki looked up form Rose and met Luccus' eyes. "I knew she wouldn't be unless she was able to get back home, back to her father...and to you." Luccus was silent for a moment over whelmed by the sadness in his voice, thinking of something to say.

"While we were together tonight, she told her father and I about her life away from happened to mention everything that you have done for her...thank you...for taking care of her..."

"Yes well, I wasn't exactly doing it for you...I do love her..."

"So do I."

"And she loves you..."

The room was silent, save for the light breathing coming from Rose, for both men had stopped breathing. Nikki cleared his throat and straightened his suit jacket.

"We should go and let her sleep, am I correct in assuming that you will be there tomorrow night? As my 'unsuspected competition'?"

"That is what she had planned, yes."

"Until tomorrow then...friend." Luccus wasn't sure if Nikki had used the word 'friend' with sarcasm or not, but as he was watching him leave he called his farewell. After the door closed Luccus bent over Rose and kissed the cheek that Nikki had caressed and then exited the room, in the same way he came.

Rose woke the next morning in her mother's old dressing room, and had a fairly good idea on how she had gotten there. A quick inspection of the room told her that all of her things had already been brought in and put in their proper place. Rose walked over to her wardrobe and thumbed through the various dresses and outfits she could wear. As she was about to pull one out to wear there was a loud familiar knocking against the door. She quickly found her over wrap dress and moved to open the door. Roul walked in followed closely by her mother who, while she looked happy, seemed to be completely far away.

"Your mother and I have come to bring you your dress for tonight Rose."

"We now that green is your favorite color so..."

Before his wife could finish Raoul unzipped the bag to reveal a beautiful rose stem green dress with a matching mask, that seemed to be made of vines.

"Thank you both so much."

Raoul walked past her and set the dress on her bed, starting to laugh a bit, wich caused Christine to look away from Rose, with a sort of ashamed look on her face.

"It was nothing short of brilliant what you did yesterday Rose."

This caused Rose to glance at Raoul with confusion at the odd praise."I'm sorry?"

"The managers are beside themselves and have agreed to pay you a fair percentage of whatever they make tonight. Luring more people in the drama of your romance, they thought it splendid. I won't lie, i didn't quite get it at first, and was slightly infuriated. But when your mother explained that it was simply for publicity..well..i could not have come up with a better idea."

Rose's eyes shot toward her mother who was still not looking at her. "It was nothing father...really."

"Nonsense...and you even had Nikkoli in on the whole thing, perfect."

"Yes, I supose it was perfect."

"But enough of this for now," he laughed, "You should be getting ready Rose. You still have to practice before the doors open."

He walked to the door, after taking Christine's arm in his. "I'll send Nikkoli here in just a few short minutes, hurry." And then they were gone.

Rose shook her head, she couldn't be mad, she acted her part well last night, of course everyone would have thought it was all for show, but she hadn't expected the managers, or even Raoul to react this way.

Nikkoli had come to her bedroom shortly after her parents had left, just like Raoul had said. He escorted her to one of the open areas of the opera house so they could practice away from the eyes of everyone else. He was his relentless self, never letting her rest unless the last move was seemed to have changed between them over night. Hours sped by until it was time for Rose to go change into her gown and mask. When she was fully dressed Rose made her way to the ball room. Nikkoli met her there, wearing a suit similar to the one he wore yesterday, but this one had little bits of the same green Rose wore, woven into his suit. "Are you ready?" He took her arm in his as he spoke and scanned the room in front of them.

"Yes, as ready as i ever will be."

"And is he?"

"...I'm...I'm sure he is."

Nikki nodded and swept her into the room, applause roared all around them as he made their way to the center of the room. Music was playing softly and the two of them danced together until the first participant asked to cut in. Nikkoli bowed, and let the man take Rose away. Rose spent the remainder of the masquerade being passed from man to man. until finally it seemed like there would be no other man to take her hand. As the song ended Nikki was back at her side, wrapping and arm around her waist."Was he any of the ones who danced with you Rose?"

She shook her head slightly, "Maybe he...maybe this was just too much for him." Her voice was sad, her head was swimming with a thousand different thoughts as Nikki spun her around. The music around her swelled and an elegantly beautiful voice rang out from somewhere in the crowd.

Its sudden appearance had caused Nikki to miss a step, but he quickly recovered. Both him and Rose were glancing curiously around the room looking for Luccus, but whenever they thought they pin pointed where the voice was coming from, it jumped to the opposite side of the room. Eventually they both gave up and danced to his music and that had washed over them like a wave of the ocean.

Luccus:

A waltz when she walks in the room

She pulls back the hair from her face

She turns to the window to sway in the moonlight

Even her shadow has grace

A waltz for the girl out of reach

She lifts her hands up to the sky

She moves with the music

The song is her lover

The melody's making her cry

So she dances

In and out of the crowd like a glance

This romance is

From afar calling me silently

A waltz for the chance I should take

But how will I know where to start?

She's spinning between constellations and dreams

Her rhythm is my beating heart

So she dances

In and out of the crowd like a glance

This romance is

From afar calling me silently

I can't keep on watching forever

I give up this view just to tell her

That is when she found where the voice was coming from, the young man stepped from the shadows and walked straight for her and Nikki. When he reached them he stopped and bowed towards Nikki, who hesitated slightly before passing Rose's hand to him and backing away. As Luccus' arms wrapped around her, she was sure she could feel him shaking slightly. When he started singing again she felt him relax and begin moving her around the room with all of the grace of an angel.

When I close my eyes I can see

The spotlights are bright on you and me

We've got the floor

And you're in my arms

How could I ask for more?

So she dances

In and out of the crowd like a glance

This romance is

From afar calling me silently

I can't keep on watching forever

And I'm givin' up this view just to tell her

"I Love you Rose..." The words were no more than a whisper, and he barely moved his lips to say them so she was positive that no one else could have heard them. She looked Up at him as another song started to play, "I love you too." He began dacing her around the room again, everyone seeming to be lulled into staying where they were while Luccus danced her around the room. Even Raoul, who Rose could see from across the room, and who was reader than tomato, was not moving from his spot. Once again Luccus started to sing as they danced around the room.

Luccus:

Like the sound of silence calling,

I hear your voice and suddenly

I'm falling, lost in a dream.

Like the echoes of our souls are meeting,

You say those words and my heart stops beating.

I wonder what it means.

What could it be that comes over me?

At times I can't move.

At times I can hardly breathe.

When you say you love me

The world goes still, so still inside and

When you say you love me

For a moment, there's no one else alive

You're the one I've always thought of.

I don't know how, but I feel sheltered in your love.

You're where I belong.

And when you're with me if I close my eyes,

There are times I swear I feel like I can fly

For a moment in time.

Somewhere between the Heavens and Earth ,

And frozen in time, Oh when you say those words.

When you say you love me

The world goes still, so still inside and

When you say you love me

For a moment, there's no one else alive

And this journey that we're on.

How far we've come and I celebrate every moment.

And when you say you love me,

That's all you have to say.

I'll always feel this way.

When you say you love me

The world goes still, so still inside and

When you say you love me

In that moment,I know why I'm alive

When you say you love me.

Rose and Luccus:

When you say you love me.

Do you know how I love you?

As the last of their words rang around the room, Rose stood in her tip toes and kissed Luccus. The crowd around them started to go crazy with applause, not quite sure exactly what they had just witnessed or why Rose had chosen this man over her fiance, but the voices the two young people possessed were simply marvelous. The roar of the crowd brought Rose back to reality, as she glanced around the room she noticed that Niki was no where to be seen...and that Raoul was pushing is way through the crowd to get to her. Luccus had noticed him at the same time she did and he was pulling her toward the ball room exit. Rose couldn't help herself and as she ran, bells of laughter poured from her throat.

_~*{Okay everyone! Here is where i share a bit of interesting news for you. I have recently made a tumblr acount for the characters of this story. On that account you can ask all of the main characters any questions you would like and that character will answer your question. That is also a place where you as my readers can talk to me about anything you would like to. If any of you are interested in following that tumblr account or just asking a question you can copy and paste the url into your address bar and then delete all of the spaces:

ask - this - rose - can - bloom . tumblr . com

We hope to see you all there! 3 all of my love and as always, thank you for reading!}*~_