A/N: This is my Valentines fic for 2015

When the Stars Align in the Heavens

Two families, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene—whoa hang on a minute, firstly - Verona is anything but fair - and secondly - I, Elizabeta Héderváry, governess and closest confident to Louise Beilschmidt can recount to you exactly how Feliciano Vargas met my dear Louise, and how their relationship survived the Vargas-Beilschmidt feud.

The true beginning of this tale occurred sixteen years ago when both Louise and Feli were still infants. The late Ladies Beilschmidt and Vargas; who'd been childhood friends, decided to end the already fading family rivalry for once and for all. They had planned to make a statement by travelling in the same carriage to a garden party hosted by the Prince. However tragedy struck when one of the horses was bitten by a gnat and reared, causing the carriage to overturn, both ladies lost their lives that day. Lord Gaius Vargas was distraught by his wife's death and placed the blame on Lord Aldrich Beilschmidt, who in turn blamed Lord Vargas for his wife's death. Both lords cursed each other bitterly and attempted to teach their children to hate the other's family, but my Louise was always too clever to adhere to such ministrations, from what my fiancé Roderich; Feliciano's tutor, has told me Feli never paid them much heed either, but more so because of his lack of attention than anything else.

Having no wish to remarry, Lord Beilschmidt needed another way to ensure his lineage; while Louise is still very much so his heir, her heir and protector is her birth cousin and adopted brother Gilbert. Gilbert was born of a lesser branch of the Beilschmidt family and orphaned at a young age when his family's manor was destroyed in a fire, ever the mischievous child, he survived due to the fact he disobeyed his mother and climbed out of the window to meet his friends that fateful night. Lord Beilschmidt immediately adopted his nephew, and Louise, then five years old gained a seven year old brother with whom she was soon thick as thieves with. Since then Gilbert has always been protective of Louise (not that the young lady ever really needed much protecting), and that is how this part of their saga begin on the morning of Louise's seventeenth birthday.

Lord Aldrich Beilschmidt was to be hosting a grand party to celebrate his daughter's coming of age (an idea Louise riled against) that evening, and all of the important families in Verona - excepting the Vargas family - were invited.

Gilbert and his friend Francis Bonnefoy were walking down one of Verona's grimy streets, Gilbert was bragging loudly how magnificent his sister's party would be and how Louise would outshine every other lady there. Unfortunately Lovino Vargas, older brother of Feliciano, heir of the Vargas family and Gilbert's arch nemesis happened to be walking by. Never one for holding his back his thoughts, Lovino immediately unleashed a barrage of untrue insults about dear Louise which I will not repeat. Gilbert, sensitive to even the merest slight of his sister's honour, immediately responded by punching Lovino in the face. Lovino grasped his eye before kneeing Gilbert in the groin and despite Francis's best efforts to restrain both of them a full out scuffle ensued. This of course drew the attention of Prince Arthur and his law-men. Prince Arthur of the House of Kirkland is a fine, charming gentleman on his good days and an absolute ill-tempered miser on his bad ones. This just happened to be one of the bad days.

'What are you knavish fools doing! The streets of Verona are filthy enough already without any skirmishes from you lowlifes worsening our reputation!

'Francis, why am I not surprised to see you here...Alright, this has to stop. The next member of either of your families to start fight will be banished.'

With that, Prince Arthur walked away with a huff.

Gilbert sneered at a seething Lovino before making an obscene gesture at him and heading away in the direction of the Beilschmidt Estate. Little did he know of what Lovino had in mind for revenge.

Meanwhile, I was back at the Beilschmidt Estate, attempting to convince Louise into making an effort for her party.

'But I don't even want to attend,' Louise complained, ever the stubborn one. I have known her since I was seventeen and she twelve, and not a day has passed without her stating her mind about one thing or another.

'Louise, dear,' I said. 'Do it for your father's sake. You know how upset he is already about you cutting your hair.' I omitted the fact that it saddened me as well. A week ago Louise had cropped her beautiful, long golden hair to the nape of her neck. I am sure she did it as a form of protest...

'I know father is upset, but...' Louise trailed off before regaining her composure. 'I don't want to go, I know what he'll announce tonight...I have no wish to marry Francis Bonnefoy!'

This was exactly what my lady had cut her hair in protest of.

'Louise...'

'I cannot believe he somehow managed the ridiculous notion that I am in love with him. I cannot believe I managed to fall on him at that party either. Elizabeta, why did you make me wear those accursed shoes? You knew I would not be able to keep my balance with heels that high.'

'That is why I have chosen flat shoes for you to wear tonight; they'll go well with your new white gown,'

'I do not wish to wear white; it would make me look like a bride,'

'And a lovely bride at that, besides Francis is not a bad man - you'd do well in marrying him,'

This was true, I've done my fair share of delving into the backgrounds of all of Louise's potential suitors and Francis seems to have the clearest by far.

Louise's face was blank, and having known her for such a long time, I knew this meant she was upset. I cleared my throat and changed the topic:

'Let's look outside your window and see if any handsome young men are passing by!'

Normally this would cause Louise to laugh and mock chide me, before giving in and peering out while rebutting any comments I made about a passer by being a suitable match for her. But this time my lady's expression remained blank.

'What point is there,' she said in a monotone, body rigid in her petticoat. 'When after tonight I'll be a betrothed woman.'

A knock on the door prevented me from comforting Louise, and the servant at the door informed me due to the young Lord Beilschmidt having sustained facial bruises from a run in with Lovino Vargas, the party was now to be a masquerade.

'Is the party cancelled?' Louise asked, hope lightening her voice. I couldn't help but laugh.

'No, but it is going to be a masquerade! Isn't that romantic?'

Seeing Louise's expression, I quickly amended:

'Alright, I'll stop talking about romance, but only if you do everything I tell you to,'

An almost imperceptible nod told me we had a deal, I could barely withhold my excitement.

'My dear, you are to be the most enchanting lady at this masquerade. Now where is that crystal and satin mask your brother gave you on your last birthday, it'll go wonderfully with that silver gown your father gave you. It's slightly quaint as it was your mother's, but it's perfect for masquerade and will please your father so...'

An hour later I'd helped my lady into her gown and dusted silver powder over her eyelids, and she'd stepped into the soft kidskin slippers without complaint.

'Will you be wearing a different one?' I asked, indicating the silver cross pendant - a gift from her brother that she rarely removed - that hung at the base of her throat.

'No,' Louise replied with an air of defiance, one hand clasping the cross and the other closing the lid of her jewellery box. 'I will not be.'

'As you wish my lady. Now, close your eyes.'

Louise did as she was told and I tied the mask to her face.

'There, look in the mirror dear, you'll hardly recognise yourself!'

'I find that highly improbable,' Louise retorted. 'I am the only lady around with hair this short.'

'All the better to reveal your graceful neck. The party will be beginning soon now, best get ready to enjoy yourself.'

'I seldom find parties enjoyable,' Louise sounded even more disenchanted by the prospect than usual. A fact that twisted at my heart. I silently pledged to seek out Lord Beilschmidt during the masquerade and plead with him to at least delay Louise's betrothal.

That evening as I escorted Louise to the stairs then watched her descend as the crier announced:

'This masquerade is a celebration in honour of the seventeenth birthday of Lady Louise Beilschmidt. Please welcome the Lady as she enters!'

I had no inkling the world as we knew it would change within that very night.

Notes:

Okay, in case anything was confusing; yes this is a Romeo and Juliet crossover, but not really. The characters and their ages are:

Lord Montague – Lord Vargas (Rome), late 30s-early 40s

Lord Capulet – Lord Beilschmidt (Germania), late 30s-early 40s

Nurse (or governess in this case) – Elizabeta Hédérvary (Hungary), 22

Juliet Capulet – Louise Beilschmidt (fem!Germany), 17

Tybalt – Gilbert Beilschmidt (Prussia), 19

Paris – Francis Bonnefoy (France), 21

Benvolio – Lovino Vargas (Romano), 19

Prince Escalus – Arthur Kirkland (England), 25

Romeo Montague – Feliciano Vargas (Italy), 18

Basically I replaced the fight between the servants with a fight between Prussia and Romano. Hungary would be the best governess ever; she'd teach how to be ladylike and badass at the same time. She's also the source of all the gossip in Verona, knows everything about all the young men and approves of France as a suitor cos his rich and therefore not just after Germany's money.

I'll introduce the rest of the characters as they appear :)

(Btw I actually started writing this last year, before the Verona strip xD)