INSIDE THE BALLROOM...

Suzaku looked around the crowd of faces that surrounded him as he plastered on a smile and had a few conversations with the nobles. Some congratulated him for getting this far without anything drastic happening. He shrugged off some of their rude comments and took a small sip from his wine glass. His gaze soon fell on his Emperor who was surround by his adoring subjects. Lelouch smiled kindly at them and soon locked eyes with Suzaku. He gave a sly wink in Suzaku's direction causing a faint blush spread across his cheeks.

He quickly looked down embarrassed and took another sip.

"Well! There he is! Man of the hour!" Gino said and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

He looked up and smiled. "Where's Anya?"

"Hmm? She's around." Gino chuckled and grabbed the empty glass and replaced it with another.

"Thank you." He chuckled and took another sip. He wasn't planing to get any kind of drunk, and then end up making a complete fool of himself in front of everyone here.

"Hey! Here comes Princess Euphemia." Gino said and nudged his shoulder.

Suzaku looked and smiled brightly as Euphie came closer and smiled back at him. Gino bowed slightly and kissed her hand lightly. "Suzaku." She said softly and smiled still as he took hold of her hand.

"Princess." He said and bowed also and lightly brushed his lips against her hand.

She chuckled softly and smiled. "There's no need for 'princess' just call me Euphie. It's perfectly fine."

He chuckled and nodded. "Alright then Euphie."

She smiled still. "How are you enjoying your evening so far?"

"It's been great since nobody has treated me like dirt for almost an hour after the Knighting." He chuckled softly.

She giggled. "That's a good thing."

He nodded again and looked around. "Did you come here with anybody Euphyie"

She shook her head. "Just with my elder sister Cornelia and with Nannullay." She raised an eyebrow at him curiously. "Did you come here with anybody special Suzaku?"

He couldn't help but blush a bit again as he shook his head. "No, nobody special."

"Hmm." She hummed softly a small smile playing on her delicate pink lips.

"Yes?" He chuckled and looked at her, a hint of amusement forming in his eyes.

"Oh nothing." She giggled.

Lelouch's eyes wondered the room aimlessly as his gaze soon fell on Suzaku talking with his sister Euphie. For a strange reason he couldn't help but feel a twig of jealousy form in the pit of his stomach. He saw as Euphie flirtatiously flip her hair back and battered her eyes at Suzaku who just kept smiling with a hint of bush in his cheeks.

"Are you okay big brother?" Nannullay asked as she gave his hand a light squeeze bringing him out of his thoughts.

"I'm fine." He chuckled softly and kissed her hand lovingly.

"Good." She smiled up at him. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

"Somewhat." He chuckled softly. "Are you? It must be a bit of a nice change of scenery for you Nannu." He teased and kissed her cheek lightly.

"A very nice change." She giggled.

"How about you Lelouch? Would you like a change of scenery?" Asked a deep voice from behind.

Only one person would creep on me like that...' He thought and turned around too see that is was an amused Schneizel. He smiled slightly. "I'm perfectly fine here, thank you for the offer."

"I'm only kidding little brother." Schneizel chuckled and grabbed two champagne glasses and offered one to Lelouch. He though about it for a second and shook his head.

"I shouldn't...I've never been much of a drinker..." He said slowly and looked at Schneizel.

"What? It's a party." Schneizel chuckled. "You shouldn't be so serious. It's not like I've done something wrong." He laughed quietly.

That simple comment made Lelouch skeptical about the thoughts going around his sibling's mind and made him not want to lose his guard around him for a second.

"Come on. Let's go have a nice conversation with are family shall we? Or is the Emperor of Britannia too cautious about his own flesh and blood now?" Schneizel teased him.

"No. Lets." Lelouch said through gritted teeth and waited for Nannullay to come and join them. She slipped her small hand in his in a comforting gesture and smiled softly at her big brother.

Suzaku couldn't help but feel extremely happy right now. Maybe it was his new position he gained...or possibly that he and Euphie talked for more than three hours about their likes, dislikes, hobby's, future goals in life. He's heard many things about Euphy, but it made him flutter with happiness inside of him to see that there was at least one kind-hearted Britannian who hopped that later in life the Britannian's and Japanese would live together in harmony instead of all the fighting and anarchy.

"I quiet enjoyed are conversation Suzaku." She smiled.

"Me too Euphie. You are quiet the visionary." He chuckled softly and blushed a bit.

"You are too." She giggled and kept smiling. "Dance with me before I go?"

"It will be an honor and a privilege." He smiled and offered her his arm.

She giggled again and took it as he led her to the dance floor. There were soon whispers among the crowd as Suzaku gently put his hand on her waist, and took hold of her hand with the other. She smiled as he slowly started to follow the beats of the music. It's been so long since I last danced.' He thought to himself as he brought Euphie closer to him and twirled her around. She giggled happily and smiled brightly.

The nobles stopped talking among themselves and stared at the pair in amazement and other disgust. Many thought how could a princess be anywhere near an Eleven?

"Awh! Look big brother!" Nannullay gushed happily.

Lelouch looked at them and saw Euphie's radiant smile as she danced with Suzaku who also smile happily. Again he felt that small pit of jealousy form in the pit of his stomach. "On second thought Schneizel. I'll take that drink now...and maybe something a bit stronger instead?"

Schneizel raised and eyebrow at Lelouch's is sudden change and shrugged. "As you wish little brother." He chuckled and smirked slightly inside as he walked to find a bottle of Pinot Noir.

Lelouch nodded as he tried to lose himself in what Cornelia was saying about the Britannian Armed Forces and how their progress in Area 11 was going. He nodded and attempted to listen to his sister. Schneizel came back with a crimson colored wine in hand.

"Here we are. The finest wine there is." He chuckled and poured Lelouch half a glass.

"Um. A little more please." Lelouch murmured and held his glass, beckoning him to add more.

"As you wish." Schneizel said and filled up the whole glass and poured some for himself. "How about a toast?"

"Sure..." He muttered and raised his glass.

"To my little brother. May your rule be continuous until your last breath." He chuckled and took a sip.

Lelouch didn't seem to hear the toast Schneizel had made about him as he brought the cup up to his lips and took a big drink.

"Careful Lelouch." Nannullay said a hint of concern in her voice.

He nodded and kept chugging down the rest until it was all gone and held it out for another serving. Schneizel was more than happy to refill his cup up all the way again. "Thank you." He said softly and took another drink. After four glasses of wine Lelouch started to feel a bit light-headed. At the same time he felt a bit happy for no reason. He didn't even remember why he was upset about earlier to make him take the wine in the first place. "Can I have some more?" Lelouch slurred and clumsily held his cup up to Schneizel to fill up again.

"You sure you haven't had enough to drink?" Schneizel chuckled and put down the bottle on the table.

Lelouch shook his head. "I can handle more." He said as he stumbled forward a bit.

"Looks like are little brother is going to have quiet a hangover when he wakes up tomorrow." Schneizel chuckled as he walked towards the exit, enjoying the image of drunken Lelouch who could barely stand up straight. "So easy." He chuckled when he was alone outside.

Gino walked up to Suzaku and Euphie with a concern look on his face.

"What happened?" He asked as he let go of Euphy.

"It's Lelouch. Look's like he's gotten really drunk. Were trying to convince him to go upstairs to sleep off his hangover, but he's not listening to reason. You try to convince him that he should rest." Gino said as he pointed to a chuckling Lelouch. "And hurry before he makes a scene."

Suzaku nodded and looked at Euphie apologetic. "I'm sorry. Looks like duty calls. I had a really nice time." He smiled.

She nodded. "I understand. I'll come back tomorrow to check on Lelouch. Take care of him for me and Nannullay."

He nodded and kissed her hand. "I promise." He said and walked towards Lelouch. It was clearly obvious that his Emperor had way too much to drink. "Your Highness?" He asked softly and placed his hand on his shoulder.

Lelouch turned around slowly and chuckled. "Hey." He slurred. "How was dancing with Euuuuphie?" He slurred even slower and chuckled.

"Come on. Let get you to get." He said softly and placed his arm around Lelouch's waist and the other around his shoulder. "Lean your weight on me so you can walk and not fall."

"I don't wanna leave." Lelouch pouted a childish pout as he started to walk out of the ballroom.

"Your drunk sire." He said softly as he walked through the hallways practically dragging Lelouch until he came upon the grand staircase."Hmm looks like I'm going to have to carry you."

"I can walk." Lelouch chuckled and tried to take a step forward.

Suzaku stopped him. "Your going to end up hurting yourself." He said and picked Lelouch up bridal style in his arms.

"No I wouldn't." Lelouch muttered a faint blush creeping into his cheeks. Not sure if it was because of how light headed he was or being carried off by Suzaku.

When Suzaku came in front of Lelouch's is room he opened the door carefully making sure that he didn't fall and sat him down onto his bed. "There. Now get some sleep so you can feel refreshed in the morning." He said softly as he turned to go he felt Lelouch is hand on the side of his face making him look at him before Lelouch crashed his lips against Suzaku's.

He blinked confusedly a bit trying to wrap his mind on what was happening just now until Lelouch brought him down more causing him to be on top of him. Suzaku could taste the after taste of the wine in his mouth, he felt his body tremble with both pleasure and confusion. Instead of kissing back he pulled back a small trail of saliva formed across their mouths as Lelouch panted softly under him. "Why did you stop?" Lelouch asked softly and kept panting in his heat.

"Your drunk your Highness. It wouldn't be right of me to take advantage of you like this. Especially when your like this." Suzaku told him softly and got off from him. "Here" He said and tucked him into bed. "Good-night. I'll see you in the morning" He said softly and quickly made his was towards the door and closed it softly behind him. He placed his hand over his mouth. Wow... Suzaku thought and made his way towards his room.

End of Stage Four

Well here it is finally! Chapter 4 :D It took a while to write but thankfully it finally started to come alive! -chuckles- I don't know how many times I had to rethink this chapter over and over until I found the right words to say -giggles- Anyways I'd like to thank all of you who's reviewed, you guys are all awesome! And thank you all to those who also read this story and waited with me to respond -chuckles again- All of you are amazing! Remember always review and tell me what you think! Until next time!

-Max-Nightmare-