Disclaimer: Berusaiyu no Bara & all characters © ® All Rights Reserved Ikeda Productions 1972-1973, Tokyo Movie   Shinsha Co. 1979-1980. DEDICATION: The *wonderful* quote below was a gift to me from Maritza (another *wonderful* fanfic writer) who pushed me to do fanfic in the first place and guess what? I'm dedicating this to her. Thankee for all your help! One by Aria(crune@coqui.net) "Dance like no one's watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like no one's listening, live like it's heaven on earth."      -Wiliam Pukey       Sometime after their lovemaking, Oscar lay on her stomach, hands in the water of the lake, causing ripples in the surface, how simple yet how complicated.  Like her life she thought ,there were so many things to think about--the revolution, Andre's imminent blindness. . .but at the moment she was content.       "Penny for your thoughts," she heard him say.       Oscar sat up and he laughed, her eyes widened self-consciously:       "What?"       "Your hair is. . .messed, you have leaves on it."       "Oh," she said feeling embarrassed.       Andre leaned towards her.  "And still," he whispered, "I've never seen you look more beautiful." He leaned close enough to kiss her.       Oscar was feeling quite confident at this point and pointed out with a beatific smile:       "Then again, you've never seen me naked."       "Good point," he said. He leaned closer but before he could seal the kiss she stood up and moved away.       "Oscar!", he protested, "don't go." Andre knew he was whining--worse Oscar did too, which was probably why she looked as if she would burst from laughter at any moment.        This time Oscar did laugh, a sweet, bell-like sound which never ceased to warm his heart, she did it so rarely. . .         "Come on, Andre," she offered her hands.       Grinning wickedly to himself, he grasped them and pulled her to him.       "Andre!" she said as she fell, laughing.  He kissed her this time and held her close.  Head cradled against his shoulder, Oscar spoke again:       "You asked what I was thinking."       He nodded.       "I was thinking that I danced with Fersen," he stiffened.  Why did she bring this up now?  But then heard her continue, "but I didn't love him, still at the time, he was important enough that I took a woman's role."       She paused and Andre sensed she was fumbling for words, he let her continue.       "It seems wrong--how I didn't love Fersen as much as I love you or perhaps I didn't at all and still, I danced with him, wore a dress, was whole lady."      "Well if it helps any, Oscar, you were *very much* a 'whole lady' from my point of view."       "Andre!" she gave him a playful smack laughing all the while, "If I knew you were this perverted some time ago--"       "We'd have done this sooner, right?" he cut her off, earning himself another smack and another bell-like laugh from Oscar.       They lapsed into comfortable silence, hearing only the rustle of leaves in the wind.       Andre broke the silence:       "And?"       "And what I wanted to say is--that I want to dance with you."       "Now?"       "Andre dear, the boys might be happy that we're together, but watching their commander dancing might be pushing it."       "I dunno--it might be fun. . ."       "Andre I want to dance now," she said in a tone that didn't invite any questions.       He stood along with her.       "There's no music, Oscar."       "So imagine there is, in your head."       "Oscar, we're naked."       "So?"       "So we could be doing better things."       "Yes and the sooner you stop winning and dance with me, the sooner we will get to those 'better things'."       Andre was silent.       "Well?"       He clasped her waist with his left hand and let his right hand trail its way from her shoulder to her hand gently, feeling a shiver run through her body.  He felt an answering one in his own.       "Ready?" he asked slightly breathless.       "Yes."          And he danced with her, both in perfect unison despite the fact that they had never danced before.  It didn't matter.  Nothing really did.  Except that they were together, as one.   END Yes, it's incredibly sappy--so shoot me, sap happens. write to me!