DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything…still…Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Also, please review. You can also email me at quidam05@hotmail.com and I'll try and respond.

----Gabrielle "Gabby" Andruce



Chapter One

A gentle breeze blew through their hair as they watched the people of the city buy their goods at the market. Two knights, one tall and lanky with golden brown hair, he was called Gregory. The other was shorter, and stouter with black hair, his name was Sampson.

"Gregory," Sampson remark in indignation, still continuing their conversation, "Upon my word, we'll not carry coals."

"No," answered his friend, "for then we should be colliers."

"I mean, and we be in choler, we'll draw."

"Aye, while you live, draw your neck out of the collar."

"I strike quickly, being moved."

"But thou art not quickly moved to strike."

"A dog of the house of Montague moves me."

"To move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand. Therefore, if though be moved thou run away."

"A dog of the house of Montage moves me to stand. I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's."

"That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest go to the wall."

"True; and therefore, women being the weaker vessels are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his women to the wall."

"The quarrel is between our lords and us, their men."

"'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant. For when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel to the maids and cut off their heads."

"The heads of the maids?"

"Aye, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads. Take it in what sense thou wilt."

"They must take it in a sense that feel it."

"Me they shall feel while I am able to stand. 'Tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh."

"'Tis well that thou art not fish, if thou had, thou had been poor John. Draw thy tool! Here comes two of the house of Montagues."

Both draw their rapiers and watched their two enemies.

"My naked weapon is out. Quarrel, I will back thee."

"How! Turn thy back and run?"

"Fear me not."

"No, marry. I fear thee!"

"Let us take the law on our side. Let them begin it."

"I will frown as they pass, let them take it as the wilt."

"Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them if they bear it."

Both the men from the Montague house were walking up, deep in conversation. The older one was tall and broad shouldered and looked to be a good warrior. He was the first to look at them, seeing Sampson bite his thumb. They both knew him well. His name was Abraham.

"Do you bit your thumb at us sir?" He asked.

The younger one looked at them both. He wasn't quite as tall as the other, but tall none the less. He was more lanky looking, more of a boy barely into manhood. They had heard of him, but not much. His name was Balthasar.

"I do bite my thumb sir."

"Do you bite your thumb at us sir?"

Sampson looked at Gregory and whispered, "Is the law on our side if I say aye?"

"No."

"No, sir, I don not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I do bite my thumb, sir."

Gregory smiled, knowing this was his line next. "Do you quarrel sir?"

"Quarrel sir! No sir."

"If you do sir, I am for you. I serve as good a man as you." Sampson said, trying to rile him into fighting and attacking first.

"No better." Abraham said, trying not to loose his cool, which was slipping from him and fast.

"Well, sir--"

Sampson began but broke off when Gregory whispered. "Say 'better' here comes one of my master's kinsmen."

Sampson smirked. "Better, sir."

Abraham snapped. "You lie."

"Draw if you be men! Gregory, remember thy slashing blow."

They began to fight, the sound of metal crashing and scraping against metal could be heard throughout the market place. Benvolio, from the house of Montague, ran up to them.

"Part fools! Put down your swords! You know not what you do!" He began to try and beat down their swords.

Tybalt, from the house of Capulet, had heard some shouts and instantly recognized three of the voices. Two were knights of his uncle, the Lord Duke Capulet, the other Benvolio, nephew to the Lord Duke Montague.

"What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, and look upon thy death." He said, sneering and mocking Benvolio with each word.

"I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me."

"What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word as I hate Hell, all Montagues, and you! Have at thee coward!" He said, diving to attack Benvolio.

They began to exchange blows, each one blocking the other with their rapiers. Tybalt was fighting out of anger, but Benvolio was fighting to save his life, because he knew that if Tybalt got the upper hand, even for a minute, he would kill him without a second thought.

Citizens began to cry out in rage. It was not the first time that this had happened.

One of the onlookers shouted out "Clubs, bills, and partisans! Strike! Beat them down! Down with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!"

Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet were walking together, looking at the beautiful city that they had first fallen in love in when they had hear shouts that belonged to two of their men as well as their nephew.

"What noise is this!? Give me my long sword!" Capulet shouted out.

"A crutch! A crutch! Why call you for a sword?" Lady Capulet asked her husband with interest.

"My sword I say! Old Montague has come and flourishes his blade in front of me." He said, letting his temper take him over quickly.

"Thou villain Capulet!——Hold me not! Let me go." Montague said, trying to fight away his wife's hands as she tried to hold him back.

"Thou…….shalt not…….stir a…….foot to……..seek……..thy foe!" She said, still trying to hold her husband back with all her might.

Lady Capulet gave her a sympathetic glance as she tried to calm her own husband, who was not near as hot tempered as the Lord Duke Montague.

The citizens had brought the Prince of Verona himself to interfere with the fight. For they all knew that the Watch would not be able hold the two feuding families back. Only the Prince, with all his mercy and wisdom, had enough temper to rival Montague, Capulet, and Tybalt together, and he the power and authority to do it.

He sat on his horse tall and proud, like a warrior going into battle, though that's exactly what some said he was going to do. He was young, yet wise and fair in his ruling. His golden hair was barely touched by the swift breeze that had swept through when he had arrived. His blue eyes sparkled with young life and energy, but also with something else. Anger. The air around him was so thick it crackled with it.

Glancing at the Prince, Both Lady Capulet and Lady Montague knew that he had already lost his temper.

"Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, profaners of this neighbor- stained steel --Will they not hear? What ho! You men, you beasts that quench the fire of your pernicious rage with purple fountains issuing from your veins, on pain of torture, from those bloody hands. Throw your distempered weapons to the ground, and hear the sentence of your moved prince. Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, by thee, old Capulet and Montague, have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets, And made Verona's ancient citizens cast by their grave beseeming ornaments, To wield old partisans, in hands as old, cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate. If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace. For this time, all the rest depart away. You Capulet shall go along with me, and Montague, come you this afternoon to know our further pleasure in this case to old Free-town our common judgment-place. Once more, on pain of death, all men depart."

Everyone left, leaving Lord and Lady Montague with Benvolio to stand and take in all that the Prince had said.

"Who set this new quarrel a broach? Speak nephew, where were you when it began?" Montague asked his sister's son.

"The knights of Capulet as well as the knights of yourself were fighting when I first came here. I drew them apart and at that instant that fiery Tybalt came, with his sword unsheathed, which, as he through insults cut the sir above his head. He hurt no one while he scorned and mocked. We began to fight, more people came and fought for our part as well as their part, until the Prince came and stopped the brawl."

"Where is Romeo," Lady Montague asked, think of her son, "Have you seen him today? I am glad that he was not involved."

"Madame, an hour before the sun peered over the eastern border of the earth, a troubled mind bade me to walk abroad. Where, underneath a sycamore grove on the western part of the city, I saw your son. I made to go towards him, but he saw me and fled. I, thinking that he simply wanted to ponder something, did not pursue him."

"He has gone there many a morning since our arrival. He has added tears among the dew and made more clouds with his deep sighs. But, as soon as the sun begins to come up he returns home and keeps to his room, instead of seeing the grand city, and it''s preparations for the up and coming festival. He makes his room as dark as he can, almost making like night." Lord Capulet said, his brow frowned in deep thought.

"Do you know the cause?"

"No, nor will he tell me."

"Have you asked him?"

"Yes, both myself and many friends. But he will tell none. He keeps to the dark and will not allow the sun to shine upon him. If we knew what troubles him so, we would gladly help."

"See where he comes……If you would like, I will try and learn what grieves him so. But you must step aside."

"We will leave you to him, so you may give counsel. Come love," he said, taking Lady Montague's hand and leading her away.

"Good-morrow cousin!" Benvolio cried cheerfully.

"Is the day so young?" Romeo said, his voice full of depression.

"It is nine."

"Ah me. Sad hour seem long. Was that my father that went away so fast?"

"It was. What sadness lengthens my cousin's hours?"

"Not having that, in which, makes them short." He replied, his voice heavy with sorrow.

"In love?"

"Out--"

"Of love?"

"Out of her favor where I am in love."

"Alas! Love, seemingly so gentle should be so tyrannous and rough in reality."

"Alas, that love, whose view is muffled, should, without eyes, still find his mark so exact. Where should we dine? What fray was here? Tell me not, for I know already. Here was a fray that had much to do with hate, but more with love. Love of brawling and love of hating. Misshapen chaos in well seeming forms: feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, and sick health. That is not what it is! This love I have, do not love to feel. Dost thou not laugh?" Romeo cried out in anguish.

"No Romeo. I''d rather weep."

"Good heart, at what?"

"Thy good heart's oppression."

"Why, such is love's transgression. Grief of mine own lie heavy in my breast, which thou wilt propagate, to have it pressed with more of your. This love that thou hast shown doth add more grief to too much of mine own. Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs. Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes, being vexed a sea nourished with lovers' tears. What is it else? a madness most discreet, a choking gall and a preserving sweet. Farewell, my cousin."

"Wait! I will go with you! If you leave me now, you will do me a wrong."

"I have lost myself. I am not here, not Romeo. He is elsewhere."

"Tell me in sadness, who is it that you love?"

"What? Shall I groan and tell thee?"

"Groan? No. But sadly tell me who."

"Bid a sick man to make his will. That's an ill word to one so ill. In sadness cousin, I do love a woman."

"I aimed straight when I supposed that."

"A right good mark man! She is fair."

"Again I aim straight. A fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit."

"In that hit you miss. She will not be hit by Cupid's arrow. She hath Dian's wit and, in strong proof of chastity well armed, from love's weak childish bow she lives unharmed. She will not stay the siege of loving terms, nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes, nor open her lap to saint- seducing gold. O, she is rich in beauty, only poor, that when she dies with beauty dies her store."

"Then she hath sworn that she will live chaste?"

"She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste, for beauty starved with her severity cuts beauty off from all posterity. She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair, to merit bliss by making me despair. She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow Do I live dead that live to tell it now.""

"Listen to me, forget about her."

"Teach me how to forget to think."

"Give liberty to thy eye. Look upon other beauties."

"'Tis the way to call hers exquisite, in question more. These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows being black put us in mind they hide the fair. He that is stricken blind cannot forget the precious treasure of his eyesight lost. Show me a mistress that is passing fair. What doth her beauty serve, but as a note where I may read who passed that passing fair? Farewell! Thou can not teach me to forget." Romeo said, making his way from Benvolio.

"I'll pay thee doctrine, or else die in debt." Benvolio muttered walking in the opposite direction of Romeo.

(A/N: I don''t exactly know what actual words they would say, so they're going to be speaking in modern English. Also, I thought I might use some of the names from Shakespeare''s other works)

Four pairs of eyes had watched the morning's events. They had heard everything that had passed between each family and between all friends, as well as all enemies. To everyone, each one seemed like a boy around thirteen. Though if anyone looked closely, they would have been able to tell that they were most definitely female. But, they were dressed in a common boys garb, so no one looked at them more than once, if at all.

"It's getting worse. What do we do?" The steal gray eyed one said. Her chestnut brown was hidden well under her cap.

The tallest of the group looked at her with kind brown eyes. "Don't fret. We're going to help you. I have a plan that Mercutio himself would be proud of." Mischief glinted in her eye.

The shortest one chuckled slightly. "My brother would probably fall down dead if he knew you were being sneaky."

"I can see him now if he ever heard about you with a plan. Shock would be too much for him." The other girl said. Her blonde hair was hidden under her brown cap well. All of them caught the wistful looking in her eye when she thought of Mercutio.

"Come on, let''s go somewhere so that we won't be bothered." The one with the brown eyes said.

They walked toward the orchard that belonged to the Prince. They sneaked to a tall apple tree and sat down, not knowing that they had been seen.

The prince, who was walking on the pathway between the apple trees had seen four boys, probably no older than fourteen, sneak into his orchard and sit down under the ancient apple tree, near by. He decided to tell them that if they wanted to get some apples then just ask. He walked over, though unnoticed, he was about to open his mouth when one of the 'boys' said in a very feminine voice, "Now, we can talk privately."

The Prince decided not to say anything, but instead began to listen intently.

"What's your plan Hero?" The steel gray eyed girl asked.

"Juliet Capulet, what would you say to becoming a squire to Lord Montague? You could become friends with the Montagues and maybe……eventually, let it slip that you were friends with the Capulets. When they got used to that, you might could break it that you were actually a distant relative……" She said quietly.

"And then after that break it to them that I'm the Duke Capulet's only heir. And then after they're done chopping me up into little pieces, I could come back and haunt you for the rest of your life." Juliet said, her steel gray eyes showing her irritation.

"I'll be there backing you up." She said with a small smile.

"You're insane. But it is a good idea, except telling them about the whole Capulet thing. All four of us could simple go as squires. My name will be Angelo." Juliet said with confidence.

"I'll be Sebastian." Hero said, then she looked at the other two girls. "What about you Olivia and you Helena?"

Olivia was just watching them while Helena tried to push her falling hair back in her cap.

"I'll be Sebastian." Olivia, the blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl, said.

"My name will be Demetrius." Helena said, hunter green eyes sparkling. She pulled her cap off, letting auburn hair tumble down her back.

"Help me please." Olivia scooted over to her and began to pull and twist her hair until it became a bun. Taking a thick lock of hair, she wrapped the bottom of the bun so it wouldn't fall. Olivia placed the cap on her head and then sat back in her original spot.

"You can back out of this if you want to. I''m not holding you to this." Juliet said to all three of them.

"You never once backed out on us. We're not going to do that to you." Olivia said, embracing the girl that was more of a sister than friend.

"You guys are wonderful."

"Don't get all mushy on us." Helena said, squeezing her hand gently.

"Come on, we better get going. You nurse is going to worry about you, and lord knows mine's already got the Watch looking for me." Hero said, sending her a smile.

"Let us go to my home...Perhaps we shall see my brother. What do you think Olivia?" Helena asked the girl, chuckling slightly at the girl's embarrassment.

"Let's go before we got caught." Juliet said and made her way to the hidden door that they had found three years before.

"Yeah," Olivia said, suddenly remembering something, "Maybe Benvolio will be there Helena."

Now it was Helena's turn to blush. She tensed up and felt the heat rise into her face.

Hero simply giggled. "Looks like someone is getting a taste of their own medicine."

"Hush. Don't even get me started on the way you blush ever time you see Prince Escalus."

Now, the Prince himself blushed. His mouth opened a little in shocked surprise.

"I-I do not!" She said, but still not able to hide the burring red on her cheeks.

"Too late...You took too long in answering, your face is crimson, and...you stuttered."

"Can we just go?" Juliet said, trying to hold in her laughter.

"Yes...Lets." Olivia said, pushing Hero away from Helena before she could kill her.

"Oh no! I forgot! Tonight my family is holding the Feast of the Purple Moon. I have to go home. I'll see you at the party!" Juliet said, scampering off towards her home.

The Prince just stood there, not knowing what to think. A girl, who he had grown up with, had admitted to liking him and she was planning to stop the feuding between the Capulets and the Montagues. What was more, was that she was Hero of the Waterfront. Juliet Capulet was more than willing to help her, as well as his cousin Helena, who was in love with Benvolio Montague. And Olivia, who he knew was his cousin's friend and now, his other cousin's secret admirer.

He sighed into the wind. "This is too complicated. I need some rest."