Soooooooo sorry for the long delay, but I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 11: A Christmas Rose and a Snowflake Ring

Nora was back to her old self after a month and was ready to go back to dancing. Nora was happier than she had ever been, according to everyone that noticed, and many said that Victor was the reason for that.

Victor felt the happiest that he had ever been in his life and he thought of making it official.

Nora was thinking the same thing, just official in a different way. After her rather upsetting incident with her father, Nora was continuously thinking about sex. It was odd, she did have to admit it, but she had to admit that once she was freed from her father's seemingly never ending hold, she was free to think of herself in Victor's arms.

Melissa says that it is all right to sleep with a man after three dates, and it has been eight months since they started dating, Nora felt like it was past time to think or even want to have sex.

She pour herself into Giselle, not just to keep her mind off the death of her father, but also to release some of the sexual tension she had built up inside.

She wondered if Victor had noticed, or even more, if Victor felt the same, since he too seemed to plunge himself deep into work as of late. But then again, he could be close to solving the answer to his research and he wasn't going to stop for anything. Well, when Giselle premiers, he will stop for her.

Victor hated to lie to Nora about working late, but he knew it would be worth it to see her face when he sprung the surprise on her. He went to his boss, Mr. Wayne, hoping that maybe he might know how to plan something romantic, since he seemed to be a ladies' man.

Mr. Wayne was a really nice guy, but intimidating for Victor, he has all the confidence that he doesn't and he hardly talked to Mr. Wayne, so he wasn't sure how to approach him.

"Come in." Victor walked in timidly, but felt more at ease when Mr. Wayne smiled at him and stood, extending his arm out. "Ah, Mr. Fries, how are you today?"

Victor shook his hand and responded silently.

"How is the project going?"

"Very well, um, we believe we may soon be ready for some tests."

"Good! You know, out of all the workers here, I must say you are one of the hardest working scientist that I have here."

"Thank you, sir."

"But I have a feeling that is not why you are here."

Victor sighed and then said, "Um, well. Gee, this is a bit embarrassing, seeing how you and I are not that well acquainted."

"Try me."

With an intake of breath, Victor said, "Well, uh, sir, I wanted to know, um, say if you were to charm a lady, if you were to, let's say, propose to her, and you wanted to make it rather special, what would you do?"

Mr. Wayne smiled at Victor, not in the mocking sort of way, but in an older brother helping younger brother sort of way.

"I gather you are planning on asking Miss Fields to marry you?"

"Yes. I will be the first to admit it, I am not sure what she sees in me, compare me to you, I am not the sort of man she would be seen with. And I have no idea how to be as charming as you are with ladies, and well, I am at a loss."

Mr. Wayne leaned in and said with all the tender firmness like a father, "Nora likes you because every other man who is near her is a fool. You may be silly and shy around her, but you are no fool. You love her and treat her the way a woman like her deserves to be loved and treated. She loves you because you are the best. And I am sure that whatever you do for her she will love, because you thought of it."

Victor felt a breath leave his body, and his stress left him.

"Thank you. I-I needed to hear that."

Victor stood ready to leave, when he asked, "Have you any suggestions as to where to shop for a ring?"

"Let me call around. Have you any idea what kind of ring you want to get her?"

He chuckled and said, "My dream ring would be to get her a snowflake ring. But I suppose I will have to settle for anything within my price range. I really do appreciate all of this sir."

"Bruce, please."

"Thank you Mr. Bruce."

And with a feeling of embarrassment, Victor hurried out of the room, just missing Bruce pick up his phone and said, "I need you to look around and find snowflake engagement rings for me."

Victor felt it necessary to ask the parents for their blessings and permission. He barely got out his wish to marry Nora when Susan started to cry and run up to give him a great big hug.

"Oh! I am so happy!"

"Oh! I can't breathe!"

Susan let Victor go and simply kissed his cheek. John hugged Victor and said, "You had to have known, we wouldn't refuse you."

"Oh, when do you plan to ask?" Susan asked most excited.

"I had some ideas, and I am thinking of the opening night of Giselle. Here is what I think I might do." Victor explained his plan, watching their faces as he explained. Once he was done, John smiled and said, "Brilliant. The only thing is you will need to get Melissa to help. She will be able to give you access without Nora knowing."

Frank was bursting with excitement to be a part of plan, and also enjoyed the idea of being in cahoots with Melissa.

A week before his plan, he was called by Bruce to speak with him in his office.

"You wanted to see me sir?"

"I have finally gotten around to that ring business for you."

"Oh! Good!" Victor couldn't believe he nearly forgot about the ring, that was the most important part. "Thank you, do you have the address?"

Bruce pulled out a box and said, "Better."

Victor looked inside and gasped. "Oh, sir, you didn't have to."

"I wanted to."

"I am sure I owe you too much."

"Victor, I want to do this. I am a bit of a silly romantic, I know it doesn't seem so, but I am. I have known Nora for a while and she is one in a million. As are you. You both are very lucky to have found each other. Let me help you in what way I may."

Victor was sure he would never be able to repay him. He was grateful by the wonderful people who were in his life; it all seems to be a way to make up for his terrible upbringing.

Melissa was "tickled pink" as she put it to be of help to Victor. Melissa was dying to tell Nora, but what stopped her was Nora's dirty little secret.

The day before opening, Nora and Melissa were taking a coffee break when Nora announced, "I am going to sleep with Victor."

Melissa gagged on her coffee in shock. Once she recovered she teased, "Well, took you long enough."

"I know, but I just wanted to be sure. First loves shouldn't be rushed. And I have to admit, I have been feeling a bit, well-"

"Horny?"

"Romantic, as of late."

"Horny." Melissa teased.

"Ok, fine, horny. But I think I am in the right."

"Do whatever you want girl, just wait until after the show, I can tell you have been blowing off your horniness through dance. And I have to say, Josef seems really happy with your work for this show."

"I'll try and keep Josef happy, and then I'll go and make myself happy."

~~~~~~~~000000~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tonight, Victor would be watching the show from the wings. It took some time to make sure that everything was ready for him to set up, knowing timing was everything.

Victor sat impatiently in his seat, waiting until the "white act" as it has been known, where Frank would be waiting for him outside.

Nora looked up at her man sitting in the box, looking especially handsome tonight, and while she was meant to dance with Brad, she imagined herself dancing a different kind of dance with Victor, one that the world wouldn't watch and one more satisfying than dancing at present.

Everyone could tell that Nora was showing a new side to her, one that evokes more passion than innocence, and they loved it, but none of them knew what caused it, and would they have been jealous to know.

As the white act came up, Victor went to leave the box, but not before Susan gave him a hug and whispered, "Good luck." John hugged him as well and said, "It'll be perfect I am sure."

Victor nodded and then went out to set his plan in motion. Melissa was waiting for him at the backstage door, letting him through to the back door, where Frank waited at the truck.

"Operation Snowflake is set in motion."

"I thought we weren't using that?" Victor asked.

"It sounds cool." Frank said, sounding like a little boy.

"Whatever, I gotta go get Nora. Victor, wait for my signal." Victor followed Melissa back into the hallways, peeking his head around the corner, waiting for Melissa to get Nora out of her dressing room.

Having a moment to himself, Victor silently prayed to God that this would all work.

He watched Nora hurry out of her dressing room, with Melissa trailing behind, giving him the ok. Victor went into Nora's dressing room and sent a text to Frank, letting him know he can come. They both took turns going back and forth, bringing and watching out for anyone coming.

Victor went back to the truck finally to grab a long white box, looked inside and smiled at how perfect it looked. He sighed and went back to Nora's dressing room to make sure everything was perfect.

"This is rather romantic, Victor."

"Thanks. And thanks for helping."

Frank shrugged, "Hey, what are friends for?"

Victor hugged him and then with a pat on his back, said, "You can go to the box, and watch the rest of the show."

"Yeah, ballet, what I always wanted to watch on a Saturday night." Frank muttered walking away.

Victor went back into the room to check himself in a mirror and after fixing a loose strand of hair, he went back up to the stage doors, where Melissa waited again, and pulled him to where he could stand without being too noticed.

Watching Nora dance was almost calming for Victor. Victor always knew that ballet was Nora's life, as was science was his, but somehow, they were and have been able to live in both worlds without losing one or the other. Victor admired her work, and loved how happy and how at peace she seemed to be, as if she was meant to be there, like a plan on a map.

With this in mind, Victor felt even surer that this would go just fine, as it was meant to be.

Nora had returned to the stage, and was shocked to see Victor was not in his box, and to later find Frank in his seat. What on Earth was Frank doing there?

No sooner as she spun around, but was Victor there, at the sidelines, holding a long white box, and looking handsome. He was watching her dance, and she was sure she saw a look in his eyes that she was hoping he'd have, the look of intense interest, and Nora again let herself go, back into her fantasy, into the dream that would be a reality soon, as she hoped.

Nora let her passion be morphed into the most incredible melancholy that it caused some people in the audience to burst out into sobs, and even made Victor shed a few tears. Victor caught at times a look from Nora, a look at seemed almost animalistic and unreal.

Could it be possible, he thought, that she is dancing this way for me?

When Nora made her final exist as Giselle, she leapt into her lover's arms and kissed him. She kissed him with a passion that Victor was quick to return, as she had hoped.

"That was for you."

"The dance or the kiss?" Victor laughed.

"Both. And more."

Nora whispered to him, "Meet me in my dressing room, and be prepared for some alone time."

Nora went off to receive her final bows, as Victor slipped away.

Nora barley heard or cared about the crowd's applause, all she cared about was that her boyfriend was waiting in her dressing room, alone.

Once she was able to, she nearly ran to her room, filled with excitement and a bit of nerves. But she allowed her adrenaline to take over and diminish those nerves once and for all.

She opened her dressing room door and was shocked to be greeted by bouquets of red roses. They were everywhere; on her table, on her chair, even on the floor. And there was Victor, standing there, smiling at her, and still holding that white box.

Both started to walk up to each other with Nora asking, "You did all this?"

"With Frank's help." He chuckled. "You deserve the best Nora. And I know red roses are not you favorites, but I got them so you can see, that whether it is out on that stage or out in the world, you are one in a million, a snowflake against mud, and a Christmas rose against red roses."

He handed her the box, to which Nora opened to find a beautiful Christmas rose laying inside, with a pale blue ribbon tied around, and tied to it was a beautiful snowflake diamond ring.

Nora looked at Victor, who now had kneeled down before her, taking her hands.

"Nora, the only reason I have kept going this far in life is because of you, for you are my life, my heart and my soul, and I am asking you, my one and only, if you could possibly accept me and give me the greatest honor of being my wife?"

Nora smiled, letting out a gentle sob out and nodded. "Yes. A thousand times yes."

Victor let out a sigh of relief and practically leapt to lift her into his arms and swung her around, kissing her lips, face and neck, as she laughed in happiness.

When he set her down, he took the ring out of the ribbon and on to her ring finger, making it official.

Nora loved her ring, and she wanted to ask him how he got such a ring, but decided to wait on that, not wanting to spoil the moment.

They simply hugged each other, blissfully happy, until they heard the door opening and saw the last person they expected.

"Boyle? What on earth are you doing here?"

Boyle was looking around the room, grim, and perhaps even envious of the romantic mood that was not including him.

"I came to offer my congratulations; everyone is abuzz about your performance. Some say it may have been your best yet."

"Well, I suppose you better offer a different kind of congratulations." Nora gloated as she held out her hand for him to see the ring.

Boyle turned pale at the sight of the ring, and then looking back at the two of them he asked, "So, you are going to be Nora Fries."

"Nora Fries," sighed Nora, "How perfectly wonderful."

"Very well, enjoy it. Enjoy being Mrs. Freeze Fries. Instead of tomatoes being thrown at you, you'll get French fries."

Victor nearly pounced on Boyle for saying such a thing; it was one thing if he was made fun of, but not Nora. Nora luckily stopped Victor, and said proudly, "I will be known as the happiest woman, and if people throw fries at me, I'll simply dance my way out. And if you don't mind, please leave, we were having a rather romantic moment before you kill it."

Boyle only glared at Victor before storming out and slamming the door behind him.

Nora turned back to Victor, who looked a little downcast. Nora snuggled against his chest and sighed. "Mr. and Mrs. Fries. I love it."

Victor returned the embrace, kissing her forehead. If anyone were to tell him as a boy that when he grew up he would be a scientist and an engaged man, he would never have believed it. But it is real, Nora is here, loving him, and if it was a dream, Victor was content with simply letting it be so.

Victor gently took her face into his hands and kissed her. They were interrupted with a loud and deliberate "AWWWWWW"

They all were there, John, Susan, Frank and Melissa. Nora buried her head into Victor's chest laughing, while Victor smiled and blushed. "Hello."

Then they all flew right in, cheering and congratulating, and observing the ring.

"Oh girl! That is one special ring. If I were you, I'd never let this one go!" Melissa teased.

"I intend not to."

John pulled Victor aside and asked, "How much was the ring?"

"I don't know. It was, I suppose, a gift. From Mr. Wayne. Could you believe he is a romantic?"

"We ought to celebrate!" Susan cried out.

"Ok, but can I please change first?" Nora asked. "But Victor, you can stay."

"Nora." John put on his fatherly tone.

"Dad, don't worry, we're engaged."

"Engaged is not married." He warned, giving a slight smile, as everyone left the room.

Nora opened the bathroom door and said, "I wanted to talk to you about something."

Victor watched as she walked in and asked worried, "Is it about our engagement?"

"If you think I am backing out that isn't it."

"Then what?"

Nora slipped out of her dress and stuck her head out of the door, looking at Victor. "Do you want me?"

"I just proposed to you-"

"No I mean, want me. Do you want to have sex with me?"

Victor was so startled by that question; he nearly knocked down a vase. "Uh, I, it, um, it has crossed my mind."

Nora said before disappearing again, "I want you too."

There was a slight pause and then Victor asked, "What did you want to do?"

"Well, honestly, I was intending to do it tonight." Victor turned red at the thought. "But I have to admit, now being engaged, I feel conflicted. On one hand, I want to wait, be old fashioned, but also, I really want…" Nora trailed off, coming out of the bathroom, in now jeans and a t-shirt. "I am not sure what I want. I only know that I want you."

Victor stood and went to her. "Nora, I am just happy you want me, so I don't care if we make love now, when we marry or never, it is just whenever you are ready. We don't have to figure it out now, but whatever you decide I will be ready."

Nora leaned against Victor and said, "I think, I want to wait. I want to be officially yours, and you mine. Silly I know, but." She finished with a shrug.

Victor kissed her forehead and said, "All's well for me. Come on, everyone is wait for us."

Nora didn't let the flashing lights or the presses bother as she walked hand in hand out with her fiancée, and she didn't care that they saw or knew, she would have shouted to the whole world that she was the luckiest and most happy girl ever, all thanks to Victor.

I am sorry for the lateness but some things stopped me, one, I had to think of something rather wonderful for the proposal, two I went away for a bit to Boston, and three, work and school. I am trying my best to keep up with this story, and not make you guys wait so long. Thanks to scribblescribblescribble, Gcucullu-0, Doxxie22, Autumnmissa, grapejuice101, phantomess212, .Ass, Ella1995, LightAngelStar, bookworm196994, nicole rae, bluebelle94, LlamaPug and lastly, babacakes. I really hope you all liked this, and please remember to review and to be patient with me.