He paced back and forth in front of the book shop pondering what his first human words to her would be. He practiced different variations of greetings. "Hello Odette. Salutations, Odette. Nice day, don't you think Odette? Why, hello Odette." They all sounded so anticlimactic for the occasion of two species who had been the most unlikely of best friends for most of their lives communicating for the first time. He turned and saw his reflection in the shop window.

He turned from one side and then to the other; he was tall, with a tiny body and yet it had visible strength; his face still had a slight resemblance of a bird in the form of his slightly longer nose and black feather-like hair. He noted a few scars upon his very pale skin and chocked it down to the fall from his nest when he was but a chick…, when Odette had saved him. He was not bad looking in this form, yet he found himself to be a far more handsome raven. After all, before the events of meeting his mistress he was in the process of finding himself a mate for spring and already he had a gaggle of lovely female ravens lined up to be his mate. Now all it came down to was deciding after serving his mistress who would be the lucky she-bird.

At this moment he spotted three female ravens perched on the tree across the way, all making mating-calls, Diaval snickered and walked closer as they looked upon him. He looked around and made a soft caw of his own, despite the strange looks he received. Something brushed against his shoulder but in the heat of wooing he did not notice. He stopped briefly noting that he was not as attracted to these ravens as before. "Beautiful , are they not?" A soft, sweet sound came from beside him.

Diaval turned his face and jolted back. The sun behind her made the elegant angles of her profile more pronounced. Her cloak gently rested against long brunette tresses slipping down slowly, blue eyes full of laughter. Odette raised a nimble finger up towards the ravens, offering them perhaps the most loving perch they would ever know. Diaval was enamored; he had been in her presents before, but he had never actually seen her before this moment. Maleficent was the most beautiful of her kind; but Odette, Diaval thought, must have been absolutely stunning to the males of her species. She, in short, was beautiful.

Odette lifted her chin to reveal a long, slender, swanlike neck as she smiled at the ravens. The ravens turned and flew away without a care to which Diaval frowned. "Snooty little devils." He cursed. Another soft laugh came from beside him. "You can't get them all to come to you." Odette assured.

"Yeah, but they didn't have to fly away!" Diaval muttered.

"Wouldn't you?" Odette asked as they now faced each other head on; Diaval softened his expression. "From you? Never." He replied with a grin tugging at his lips. Odette raised an eyebrow at the stranger but smiled and thanked him with an awkward grace. He awaited her to continue the conversation as was her usual way, but she said nothing. "Whats the matter Odette?" he questioned, stepping closer in concern. "Don't you recognize me?"

Odette brushed some hair from her eyes and bit her lip hesitantly before replying. "No, should I recognize you?"

Diaval went to speak again only to be cut short by a barking dog bonding towards him. He coward backwards shielding himself as the mangy thing came closer, now at his leg. Odette got to her knees on the pavement summoning the animal to her. she looked up at the frightened man as she got the mutt calm by stroking it. "Its only Ludo, Mr. Parks dog." Odette assured. "He's a real sweetheart, let me show you."

"Here, give me your hand." Odette reaching up took his pale hand in a beautifully contrasting tan one, with such gentleness she pulled him near to the canine. A moments' hesitation and then…

"I'm petting it! I'm petting a dog!" Diaval announced with a triumphant laugh. "Oh Odette you always know what to do! You always have such away with-" he looked up and met her questioning eyes. "Animals, or so I can see." He cleared his throat getting to his feet and pulling her to hers.

"Thank you for doing that." He said awkwardly rubbing his arm; she now began to examine him. "Strange." She mused. "I feel like we've…."

"Met before." He finished. "We have, just never so… intimately." He rubbed the back of his neck. He then looked the basket she was carrying to see a book.

"The History of the Moors volume two?"

Odette blushed and nodded. "I've read it like twenty seven times over."

"Twenty eight actually." He corrected before putting the back of his hand to her forehead and cheek. "You must not be feeling well, you only read volume two when you are ill." Odette stepped back and stared; making him curse himself.

"I…I didn't think anyone knew that about me." she stammered uneasily.

Diaval smiled knowingly, meeting her curious eyes before saying. "I know you."

Odette lost her words momentarily and though unbidden, returned the sweet gesture before Odile and her senses called her away from him… "I'm sorry." She whispered.

Sorry its so out of order... I imagine Diaval as a real lady's man bird... next will be Aurora's 13's birthday or how Odette met Mal...or maybe post movie

thank you for the reviews