RichardIII1955 - Thanks so much!

Oooh, I sense some drama brewing in Verona! Now, we're going to switch over to hear from Gabriel. I know he's unpopular, but I need to post this chapter from his perspective, otherwise it won't make sense. The ballet dance he performs in actually one of my favourites. I love the Matthew Bourne's interpretation. The shirtless male swans are so fit, it's unreal! If anyone wants, I can send them a link to some scenes.


"Lead swan, in five," called the technician, and Gabriel was ready. Slowly, he slid off the towel he used to keep himself warm whilst backstage, to reveal his bare chest and feathered shorts. He flexed his muscles, to make sure the blood was flowing and that he wouldn't pull any of them. He wrinkled his bare feet, trying to keep them warm.

Beside him, the boys playing his swan friends darted on and off stage. Gabriel snuck peeks at them through the curtains as they wove around one another on the blue misty stage. They looked at him enviously, but he ignored them all. This was his moment. The music rose in pitch, as it drew closer to his cue. Gabriel watched as the prince stumbled around on stage, waiting for the glimpse of his swan. He took deep calming breaths, feeling the adrenaline surge through his body.

He gave his muscles one last flex, and then it was time. It was his moment. His feet left the floor, and he soared onto the stage in a leap. The music dimmed from the crescendo as he landed. Gabriel looked each way beadily, embodying the movements. He flexed his shoulders, as if they were large feathered wings. The prince glanced over to him in shock, stunned at the sight of this beautiful bird, representing the freedom and about to give the love he so desperately craved.

Gabriel began to dance, darting around the stage, the ruffled feathers on his shorts swaying. The prince followed him, tried to mimic him, but Gabriel just glanced his way disdainfully, reminding himself of his sister, Rosaline as he did so. His swan friends gathered their leader, and they danced together, as a single unit, a flock. Gabriel was reminded of his old friends, as they pranced around Verona.

He was performing in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, which was famous for replacing the traditional all-female corps with an ensemble of menacing male swans. Gabriel was the Lead Swan, the lead danseur, at just nineteen years old. After returning home from Venice, he was approached by old ballet teacher, who was setting up a new company, who asked if he would like to join them. Gabriel accepted immediately – he could stay in Verona with Amparo, and he would earn far more as the lead danseur than as a member of the corps in La Scala.

It had been difficult to begin with. He accepted the role of the Lead Swan in this production over a more classical ballet role, because of how the dance focussed more on men, which was unusual in classical ballet. Gabriel was trained for classical ballet, and had initially found it hard to adjust to the looser, less controlled contemporary modern dance. But none the less, he had always enjoyed watching contemporary ballet, and he identified with and loved the role.

The build-up to the opening night had been immense, and Gabriel just knew that if he made his name with this role, then he would be famous. When the season ended, he would accept and retrain for a role in a classical ballet production. And then, with the experience of both, he could dance whatever role he wanted. The world of ballet was his for the taking.

As the act ended, Gabriel ushered offstage and back to his dressing room, to change into his outfit the next act. Like in the original Swan Lake, Gabriel would be dancing two roles tonight. He slipped off the ruffled feather trousers, wiped off the white make-up from his torso and face, and scrubbed away the black markings on his forehead which represented his beak. Instead, he slipped on a black shirt and black leather trousers. When he looked into the mirror of his changing room, he saw the son of von Rothbart smirking back at him.

"Young von Rothbart in five!" called the technician, and Gabriel sauntered out, feeling himself fall into character. Within moments, he was writhing around on stage, seducing the whole court, dancing with all the women, flirting with the prince's mother. This was his favourite part of the dance. All those sporty boys who'd teased him for being a ballet dancer hung around each other in tight shorts on a football field and in the changing rooms, and Gabriel got to dance with a hot older woman in a skimpy sexy dress. Yeah, sure as hell that made him gay. It made him laugh.

Although, he did dance with the prince as well, and he was the prince's love interest in the dance. But, in the words of Matthew Bourne himself, it was really a story about the need to be loved, which couldn't everyone identify with?

Gabriel finished the act, rejecting the prince and being accepted as the prince's mother's new lover. His on-stage father, von Rothbart, nodded his approval, as Gabriel handed him the gun the prince had just tried to shoot him with. Laughing manically, he pranced offstage.

And for the final act, Gabriel peeled off the leather trousers and black shirt. He patted white powder to his torso and face, and then pulled on his ruffled feather trousers. Sitting down at the chair in his changing room, he slowly repainted on his beak so he could finish the act as the swan.

Emerging from under the pillows on the prince's bed, Gabriel finished the act beautifully. He gracefully and sorrowfully nuzzled the prince as he collapsed onto the ground, and shielded him from his flock of swans after they turned on him for preferring the prince to them. But they won, and Gabriel fell, as they attacked him. The prince too collapsed again on his bed, dying from his broken heart. Gabriel and the swans disappeared from sight, but Gabriel darted around to the back of the bed, clutching the boy who played the young prince in his arms. As the prince's mother rushed into find her deceased son whom she had neglected, he rose above the bed, cradling the child in his arms like a baby. The curtains fell, as he paternally leant his head over the boy.

After the technicians had removed the props, leaving just Gabriel and the adult prince on the stage, the curtains rose again. He stepped forwards to take his bow, and...

The applause thundered throughout the hall. He'd been wonderful. There were even flowers being thrown onto the stage. Gabriel felt a tear sting his eye as he bowed.

This was what he had been born to do.


After the bows finished, Gabriel rushed backstage.

"Rene!" he shouted "Rene! How was I?"

"Your girlfriend call me!" cried Rene in his French-accented broken Italian.

"What? But Amparo's-"

"No, not zat girlfriend! Ze one before!"

"You mean Rose?"

"She 'aving baby!"

"What?" Gabriel spluttered.

"She 'aving baby! Right now! Ziz night! In ze 'ospital!" Rene continued to shout, "You vill be daddy in few hours! You vill 'ave duckling!"

"A duckling?"

"Yes! You are swan, you 'ave baby, it vill be duckling."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow, "Not an ugly one, I hope."

"You are pretty boy, vill be pretty baby"

"Did she say when? How far apart are the contractions? How dilated is she?" asked Gabriel, as the implications of what was truly happening hit him.

"She no say about 'er contractions, but she say zat ze baby vill be 'ere in few hours, so you must be at ze 'ospital to wait for it, like you agreed to be."

"I better go then!" cried Gabriel, "How will I get there? We were going to have an after party, Amparo was going to pick me up."

"I vill drive you and wait with you, if you want," said Rene, "You 'ave time for shower, and zen we vill go. I vill tell mon copane zat you cannot come, and zat neither can I. Go! Go! Ve must be quick!"

Gabriel turned and ran to his dressing room. He massaged in shampoo frantically, washing away the white powder and black markings. Then he rubbed in conditioner. He knew he didn't really need it, and that he was wasting his time, but he was about to go and meet his baby for the first time. He had to look his best – first impressions last, you know, and Gabriel had to look his best for his new baby.

He dressed in the smart Armani suit he had planned to wear to the after party, and quickly slid on a silver chain watch on one wrist, and a silver bangle on his second. He wore a pair of diamond earrings, but left his hair loose. Three quarters of an hour later, Gabriel emerged.

"You took too long, girlfriend's mummy call me, tell me zat she ez progrez-zing in ze labour! 'urry, 'urry, in ze car. I tell Silvio zat you vill not be zere – 'e understand but disappointed. Come, come!"

Gabriel followed Rene through the crowd, his heart beating wildly. He was finally about to meet his little one. The photographers outside flashed at him, but Gabriel simply smiled and nodded for them graciously. When Angelo had dragged him along to boring political dinners, Gabriel had become accustomed to being snapped whilst arriving and leaving.

"How did it feel to be on stage for the first time?" shouted a man.

"Magnificent!" Gabriel called over his shoulder.

"Do you think the opening night was a success?" shouted a woman.

"Oh, definitely!" Gabriel called back, as Rene tugged him onwards.

"We 'ave no time for zem. I tell Silvio to 'andle questions for you, and 'e 'as. Ziz ez your night, you must concentrate on you. Car ez 'ere, get in ze car."

Rene guided Gabriel into the front seat, and then climbed into the driver's seat. It was a warm summer's night, but they shut the windows and put the air conditioning on instead as the paparazzi were still shoving their cameras in their faces. Rene drove down the streets of Verona, and Gabriel looked out, remembering how, just a few years ago, he had pranced along them at night, going out to dance, never knowing just what he'd be doing in a few years...

"Gabriel! Which 'ospital ez girlfriend at?"

"Verona Community Hospital, it's on Montague territory. Well, I mean, the east side of the town. I don't know why I still call it that."

"Still used to feud. 'ow long 'ave we 'ad peace?"

"Um..." Gabriel broke off to count on his fingers, "Three years?"

" 'ez so nice, ez so quiet," said Rene, "Ah, yes, ziz place. I come 'ere when I 'urt my foot dancing once. Nice staff. Shall I get ze parking ticket, and you go in?"

Gabriel was suddenly nervous, "I'll pay for the ticket. And we'll go together."

They did just that, and by then, Gabriel was able to confidently walk into reception.

"Um...excuse me, my...partner is having our baby. Her name is Rose Spearings. Does she want me to go in?"

Gabriel nodded to Rene as he sat down.

"I do you favour, I wait for you, and I vill take you 'ome if et ez quick," said Rene, grabbing a magazine.

"Thanks, Rene," said Gabriel, pacing down the hallway to Rose's room.

Rose slumped up in bed, groaning. Her mother sat beside her. Nicole had never liked Gabriel. She'd always thought he was a 'weird boy' and had preferred Benvolio.

"Oh, hi, how's it going?" asked Gabriel.

"Shut up," growled Rose.

"I didn't say anything!" protested Gabriel, "I just asked you how you were. I thought that was a normal thing to do" he added, glaring at Nicole.

"There's only room for one dramatic person in this room!" yelled Rose.

"I wasn't going to be dramatic!" snapped Gabriel.

"Stop upsetting her," scowled Nicole.

"I wasn't doing anything of the sort," retorted Gabriel, "I asked her how she was, she snapped at me, so I retaliated. What did you expect me to do?"

"Gabriel, why don't you just go and wait in the waiting room?" sighed Rose.

"Why? You said-"

"Yes, I know, what I said," Rose closed her eyes, "But this will never work with both of you here. And I know how much you hate blood, Gabriel."

Gabriel flounced out, and slumped next to Rene.

"She didn't want me there," he sulked, "And I'm the father! It's my baby too"

Rene sighed sympathetically, "At least you can 'ave baby. I am gay – I 'ave no babies."

"You can adopt."

"Yes – ven daddy finally passes zat law. Ven vill 'e do it?"

"I have no idea," Gabriel rolled his eyes, "He doesn't want to wind up all the religious people. He's such a coward."

"I vill not vote for 'im, if 'e does not give me my rights!"

"Good. I want him to lose power. So then Amparo can take over. What Verona needs, is a woman in charge. To quote Margaret Thatcher 'Ask a man politician, and he'll have it said. Ask a woman politician, and she'll have it done' That's Amparo and Angelo sussed."

"I vill vote for girlfriend," nodded Rene, "Ven she is in charge of party."

Gabriel grabbed his bag, and pulled out his list of names.

"I have a feeling it will be a long night," he sighed, "So, if the baby's a girl, how about...Coppelia?"


Gabriel bent over the cot, and looked down at his little boy for the first time. It was as though he was looking back into the past. The baby had exactly his shade of platinum blond hair, the same face shape and eyes, a little nose, and pouty lips. He did not cry, but simply looked around curiously with big blue eyes.

Gabriel lifted the end of the blanket to look at the baby's feet. Unlike him, the baby's feet were soft and dainty, having never taken a step in his life. Gabriel stroked the sole, and it felt like velvet. The baby had high arches and a high instep – just like him. Perfect for dancing.

"Aren't you beautiful?" murmured Gabriel, putting back down the blanket, to stoke the baby's cheek. He ghosted his fingers over the blanket, wondering how to pick him up. Well, he could pick up his cat ok, and so a baby shouldn't be too hard. Gabriel tucked an arm under his torso, and used one hand to lift his bottom, and soon, his baby was in his arms.

The baby looked right up into Gabriel's eyes, as if recognising him for the very first time. He did not cry or whimper, but gazed straight into his eyes. Gabriel smiled delightedly. He turned to see Rene, standing outside, and beckoned him in.

"How do I look?" asked Gabriel, "Old?"

"No, you look nice. Very nice," Rene replied, "Should I be 'ere? I am not fham-eely."

"Whatever. Look at the baby's feet, Rene," Gabriel lifted the blanket, "He has my feet. He looks just like me, and he has my feet. Isn't he sweet?"

Rene admired the baby's toes, "Ven vill I be teaching 'im?"

"Well, I started when I was three," said Gabriel, "If the little one here wants to do ballet, then you'll see him when he's ready. Or maybe he might do something else. Drama is good for kids. It helps build their confidence. And being able to play an instrument is always a good skill. Did you hear that, baby? Daddy has so many wonderful things waiting for you to do."

"Vot vill 'is name be?" asked Rene, "You 'ave to chose boy name. Not Coppelia or Odette. 'ow about Siegfried?"

Gabriel lifted the baby so he could see his face clearly, "Alexei," he said firmly, "I will call you Alexei. It's Russian, and it means 'defender of mankind' I have always loved Russian names. I think it suits him, don't you?"

"Yes. 'e ez bey-oo-tiful baby. Like 'is daddy. I told you zat ze duckling vould be bey-oo-tiful."

"Can you take a picture of us? So I can show Amparo and the rest of the company tomorrow."

"Yes, of course. You are first person to 'old and cuddle leetle baby in 'is life."

"What about the midwives?"

"Yes, zey 'old 'im, but zey do not cuddle 'im and love 'im like you. You vill be better daddy zan zat idiot Angelo," Rene pulled out his phone, and Gabriel posed. He snapped a picture, and then sent it to Gabriel's phone. Meanwhile, Gabriel cooed over Alexei, who yawned and grasped hold of Gabriel's bangle.

"He likes my bangle, Rene! Are you a little mini-me, Alexei? You look just like me. Oh, the girls will all be clamouring over each other for you before you've even hit your teens!"

"If 'e ez anything like you, zey vill be old enough to be 'iz muzzer!"

"Oi," said Gabriel, "Amparo and I are made for each other. And she would have been fifteen when she had me. That would be wrong."

"Says ze boy... 'oo iz nineteen and 'as baby!"

"My mother was nineteen when she had me as well," retorted Gabriel. He gently rocked Alexei, "I ought to bully her contact details out of Angelo. I'm an adult now. I can do what I want. And I refuse to allow Angelo to deprive Alexei of a grandmother, as he deprived me of a mother. Although, I suppose I ought to call Angelo and tell him he's a grandparent. Ha! He's not even fifty – and he's already walked one child up the aisle and got a grandchild. I suppose the only bonus is that he won't look all wrinkly in the photo album."

Rene snorted, "Gabriel, you are funny boy!"

Gabriel smirked, but then turned his attention back to Alexei. He simply could not stop from turning to gaze into his baby's eyes. Alexei continued to reframe from crying and to gaze back up at Gabriel's eyes.

Rene yawned.

"I suppose we should go," said Gabriel, "It's so late. I feel bad, though, he's all on his own..."

"Maybe girlfriend vill change 'er mind?" suggested Rene.

"Unlikely," Gabriel sighed, "She didn't even want him in the same room as her."

"So sad. Girls get pregnant all ze time, and never want baby. But gay couples not allowed to adopt zem? Ez so unfair!"

"Oh, I know," Gabriel shook his head, "It's outrageous. I mean, I'd rather be brought up by two men or two women than a straight couple who didn't want me. Well, I was. I'm a broken condom."

"Do not say zat. You are wonderful person, deep down. I know zat. And you vill be good daddy to Alexei. 'istory does not 'ave to repeat itself. Ziz is your chance to make things right."

"You're right," Gabriel bent over, and kissed Alexei's forehead, "Rene, do you still have my document regarding my wishes for his healthcare?"

"Yes, I 'ave it 'ere, with ze names zat you vill not use."

"Thank you," said Gabriel, laying Alexei back down in his crib, and attaching the sheet to the chart at the end of the cot. Gabriel couldn't bear the sight of his son being left alone in the hospital, but he had to get back home to break the news to Amparo and to get himself organized. Paternity leave was out of the question – he'd barely broken big and couldn't stop now, so he had to arrange childcare.

As Gabriel and Rene left, and as Gabriel thought what a marvellous night it had been, Rene clapped a hand on Gabriel's shoulder paternally.

"Gabriel, not many men become daddy and ballet star in one night."

Gabriel smiled as he opened the hospital door, about to reply, when a million light bulbs flashed.