iluvshinjimina - Oh, that's good then! I thought it seemed rather sappy.

DawnStar94 - Thank you! Keep enjoying the story, I'm really glad you like it.

Zelda12343 - Funnily enough, I don't think the vow will last the night...

Rosaline's made her speech and such. This chapter is probably the longest of the story so far. The pledge Gabriel says is adapted slightly from some Christian website and the scene where Tybalt and Rosaline go dancing was inspired by Katy Perry's video for 'The One That Got Away' I'm thinking of writing a song fic to that about Rosaline with the scenario if Tybalt was killed by Romeo as in the play. What do you reckon?


After her speech, Rosaline reunited with Gabriel and they stood in a line with the other participants. Rosaline was given a pure white rose, and Gabriel was given a silver ring, with a love heart engraved with the words 'True Love Waits' inside of it. Two of the friars stood in front of the crucifix holding swords in an arch.

They waited as the first father and daughter made their pledge, and then moved along. Rosaline played with the white petals of the rose. They felt like velvet. Finally, it was Gabriel's turn. He held the ring, and looked at Rosaline with a bored cynical expression on his face "I, Gabriel, choose before God to cover my...er, half-sister, as her authority and protection in the area of purity. I will be pure in my own life as a man, I mean, boy, maybe not a husband yet and half-brother. I will be a...boy of intergrity and accountability as I lead, guide and pray over my half-sister and my family as the high priest, as if Angelo would let me, in my home. This covering will be used by God to influence generations to come"

He slipped the ring onto Rosaline's wedding finger, and then she stepped forwards and placed the white rose before the crucifix. She rejoined him, and then they went to sign the pledge. After that was completed, they went back to their seats. They watched the other girls make their vows and sign the pledge. Dinner had been cleared away as they'd made the pledges and they waited as the last of the girls made their pledge. One of the friars thanked them for coming, and then they were allowed to get up and dance for the last hour. It was heading onto eleven 'o' clock, at which point the 'Last Waltz' would take place. Rosaline spotted the eight year old sleeping against her father in a chair and sighed.

"Don't worry. As your protector, I say, do whatever the hell you want. Because I'm certainly not staying pure to guide you!" muttered Gabriel.

"I have to say, there is a double standard going here. Why isn't there any of this for boys?"

"I have no idea" Gabriel rolled his eyes "And if there was, then I wouldn't let Angelo take me. In fact, knowing him, he wouldn't bother. And good. There are times like these when I'm glad he's such a shite parent"

"Is he really that awful to you?" asked Rosaline. She knew it sounded dumb and naive, but her daddy issues were still playing on her mind.

Gabriel glared at her "Yes! He slapped me around the face for the wedding dress thing. But it's ok, I got my revenge. I stole his laptop and sent rude emails to the Duke of Mantua"

"Has he said anything about what he thinks about tonight?" asked Rosaline.

"Nope. He doesn't even know we are here. He thinks I'm at Juno's and he doesn't know what you're doing. He did say to me, when it was mentioned amongst members of a different political party who are in favour of them, that he thought it was a load of nonsense and only the sex ed programs supported by his party would work. Oh well" Gabriel shrugged.

"I'm looking forward to getting out of here" said Rosaline "It's nearly eleven. Tibby will be waiting in the car. Will you need a lift home?"

"No. I wouldn't want to spoil your evening" said Gabriel "I can catch the train. I've got money"

"Are you sure?" asked Rosaline, letting him twirl her around.

"Yes. I thought you and Tybalt might want some time alone"

"Oh. That's ok then" the song finished. Rosaline smiled at her half-brother. He'd done her a big favour tonight, and she decided to make his evening for him "You dance wonderfully, by the way"

His little face lit up with delight. Rosaline got the picture that he wasn't used to hearing praise for his talents.

"Thanks" he beamed, and then they left. Tybalt met them at the door.

"Goodnight, Gabriel" said Rosaline "Stay safe"

"Bye, Rosaline. Bye, Tybalt" Gabriel disappeared into the night, his shoes clacking and his feather boa swaying.

"Have fun?" asked Tybalt.

"What do you think?" asked Rosaline. They started to walk away from the entrance. When they were out of sight he slipped his arm around her waist.

"Well, I guess this is all we can do now" he muttered.

"Didn't you understand what I meant during the speech?" asked Rosaline, turning to face him. She stroked his cheeks, and then straightened his hoodie affectionately.

Tybalt shook his head "No"

Rosaline shook her own head affectionately. He'd never been one for fancy words "I said, loving long-term committed relationship, such as marriage. But I didn't say marriage. And what do you think we have?"

Tybalt shrugged "We're going out?"

"No, not that!"

"So we aren't together?" Tybalt asked, feeling heat rise to his face.

"Yes! We are together. But we aren't just 'going out.' Look" Rosaline thrust her mood ring in his face "I've known you all my life. We have a loving long-term committed relationship. I don't want anybody else but you. Not Orlando, not Romeo, not any other prick on my estate, not any other rich young bachelor like Hermia claims I do. You! My Tibby"

He bent down and kissed her "Let's get out of here"

They climbed into his crappy old car, and then picked up a burger and fries each at a McDonald's drive through.

"I hope Gabriel's all right" said Rosaline, biting into her burger as Tybalt drove along.

"He'll be fine. You know who he reminds me of?" replied Tybalt, biting into his burger.

"Nope. Who?"

"Hermia"

"Don't ever let me hear you say that again! Hermia's a cow. Gabriel's...sweet"

"But seriously! I mean, both were conceived in extramarital affairs, except your dad married Gabriel's mum and my uncle stayed with his wife, both don't get on with their fathers, and Hermia is a tomboy, whereas Gabriel is a...tomgirl?"

"If Hermia wasn't such a whore, I'd think she played the other field"

Tybalt snorted so hard that coke shot out of his nostrils "Oh my God! If only! Then Uncle Egues would kick her out!"

They drove past a community centre. There seemed to be some sort of elderly dance function going on. Tybalt turned to grin at Rosaline "Let's have some fun"

They climbed out the car. Tybalt paid the bemused man on the door, and then pulled Rosaline over to spin her around the dance floor. Elderly couples watched them. Some were scowling, some were laughing, and others smiled on kindly. Rosaline let Tybalt pick her up, twirl her around, and at one point slid her underneath his legs. When they were both red and sweaty from dancing and laughing too hard, they waved goodbye like lunatics, before getting back in the car. Tybalt drove onwards, seemingly going in no particular direction.

Soon they travelled off the motorway and Tybalt led them along twisted, winding lanes into the trees.

"Where are we going?" asked Rosaline.

"Just somewhere I like to come" replied Tybalt. When they reached a silent secluded spot between trees, and facing a lake, he stopped the car. They finished the remains of their food silently, and watched the moonlight dappling on the lake. The stars smiled down at them. It felt like a typical teenage romance setting.

Rosaline smiled to herself, but then started to fumble with her purity ring. She twisted it around, so that it was loose. Tybalt looked down and watched her do so for a while, until she pulled it off and put it on the dashboard of his bonnet. Instead, she placed her mood ring from her index finger to her ring finger. She glanced up at him. A silent message was exchanged. Tybalt trailed his hand across the car, and then settled it on her knee. He gently stroked along her thigh, and listened to her sigh of pleasure.

"Now?"

"Yeah. Now"

They both leant over, parts of the car sticking into them, and began to make out passionately. Rosaline's fingers found their way to the zipper of his hoodie, and pulled it down. Tybalt ripped it off and started loosening the straps of her dress.

"The car's digging into me" complained Rosaline.

"We'll get in the back seats" Tybalt clamoured through the gaps in the seats, and pulled Rosaline after him. Her heart beat wildly.

"Mind my dress"

"Don't worry, I'll just buy you a new one" Tybalt unfastened the straps, and then unzipped the back. Rosaline pulled his shirt off. God, he was hot. He had abs that no other guy that wasn't in the back of a trashy gossip magazine had.

"Well, haven't you been working out" she purred, stroking his abs.

"It's all the Montague chasing I do"

"If he could see us now..."

"It would be awesome!"

"Hush, that's enough of that. I want to think about something else" She entwined her arms around him, and caressed his bare back, noticing a few bruises and scratches from where he had been in fights "Have you been fighting again?"

"Some prick tried to nick my mobile when I was walking around your estate without realising who I was. He came off much worse, trust me"

"Yeah, I can imagine that!" Rosaline kissed a bruise on his shoulder, and ran her hands up his muscled chest to cup his cheek in her hand and kiss him "You're so strong. And tough. And manly. But you need to be careful. I couldn't bear to lose you"

"Don't worry. I've never lost a fight" Tybalt nuzzled her ear "I'm not going anywhere. You sure you want this, Ros?"

"Yes" whispered Rosaline, reaching to pull down his trousers. She stopped, upon catching sight of something black and in a twisted shape on his skin "Tibby!"

"What?"

"What the hell is that on your leg?"

"Oh, it's my tattoo. Like it?"

"What the hell does it say?"

"It says loyauté. It means loyalty in French. What's the matter? Never seen a tattoo before?"

"You shouldn't have a tattoo! You're sixteen"

"I shouldn't be driving a car, shouldn't be smoking or or drinking or partying or fighting and you don't complain about it. Well, you do, actually"

"Why did you want that tattoo done?"

"Because I wanted it on me. It means stuff to me. And I want the Capulet family crest on my arm next"

"It's so cute how much you love your family"

The moon shone bright in the sky that night, and the stars twinkled above them. The air was filled with silence. A while later, Rosaline lay straddled across Tybalt, as he stroked his fingers through her hair. She was sleeping, wearing his shirt and boxers. Tybalt just wore his trousers.

"You want to know a secret, Rosaline?" he murmured, stroking his fingers through her hair "I haven't told anyone else this. I've had sex before, plenty of times, but this was the first time...I meant it. And you want to know another? You want to know why I'm so aggressive and fight the Montagues so much? When I was in my early teens, I realised that despite the fact that I cared for my mum for so long and I was the most loyal to the family, I found out that I wouldn't get anything. I'd never be Lord; I'd never inherit any money. I was just a minor ranking cousin and would have to find my own way in life, and it scared me. I hate school and I'm not clever or good at anything. I don't have a purpose. And so I fight the Montagues to try and...try and hold onto my place. In fact, I don't even acknowledge this to myself and I probably won't ever again. But still, I just wanted to tell you because you make me feel all right"