Disclaimer: Let me checkâ€nope; still don't own it.

A/N: I've received requests to continue and even though I had intended for this to be a one-shot, I have decided to write this short follow up. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Also, sorry it took so long to write this, my muse has been elusive.

I can't imagine why she waited for me. I watch her face light up as she looks up at me and realizes who I am. She's beautiful. I can't imagine why she waited to dance with me. Surely she had many offers to dance these three years.

She's looking at me a little concerned. I guess I've been staring at her, so I try to shake myself out of my thoughts and reach out my hand hoping she'll take my offer to help her stand. She smiles shyly at me and takes my hand. Interesting, I never thought she was the shy type. Bold, Brave, but not shy and certainly not delicate.

She looks like a doll in the dress I knew belonged to her mother. So fragile, but not weak. I happened to know she could probably kick my butt if she felt so inclined. I half hoped I would give her reason to be angry with me; it would make it easier to leave her again. We both know I can't stay very long.

I lead her to the dance floor and take her into my arms. She feels like she's meant to be there, not too tall, not too short. Perfect. I lead her in a nice slow waltz. She smiles up at me.

"I'm happy you came back" she trailed off. I know she wanted to ask me where I've been, what I've done. She knows I can't tell her, which is maybe why she doesn't ask. I don't want any of my enemies and rivals deciding that they can question her about things like where I keep the objects I 'collect' from others.

We move gracefully amongst the other dancers who smile at us. Happy that Stir finally joined in the fun. It must have been so awful for her, so hard for her not to get up and join everyone. I wouldn't even have remembered if it hadn't been for the talk in a town I visited. They talked about how Mademoiselle Stir of Zaza waited in her beautifully embroidered gown for a mystery man to dance with her.

I looked into her eyes and savored the feel of her in my arms even if it was only for a moment.

"I'm sorry I kept you waitingâ€."

I feel myself smile as realize that it's Jing before me. My heart immediately jumps into my throat and I catch my breath, momentarily unable to breath around my fluttering heart. I can't help feeling a little fear when he hesitates and I almost blush as I realize he's staring at me. He reaches his hand out to me as I sit looking up at him and I smile and take his hand.

He leads me to the dance floor and the other dancers notice and smile. They assume that I have given in and am dancing with Angostura. My pulse speeds with the thrill of knowing that I dance with a thief in their midst.

We dance three dances together; one for every year he made me wait, he said. I meet his beautiful dark eyes as we dance and I can't breathe. I know I can't keep him; that he can't stay because of who and what he is, but I can't help wanting him too. I feel sorrow and joy fill me as we dance. Joy because I love him. Sorrow because we can have no future together.

As we finish our third dance, he takes my hand and leads me out into the gardens.

He starts to speak, but I stop him. "I know," I say. "I know you can't stay, lets just dance once more?" I asked him.

He nods and takes me in his arms, closer this time, holding me close. I realize, he doesn't want to let me go anymore than I want to let him go. As we dance in the garden to the last song of the evening, I lean as close to him as possible as if I'm trying to melt through him and maybe I am.

As I hold on to him, I realize we've stopped moving. I look up at him and I see all the things he can't say in his eyes. They say some things are better left unsaid, and I know that this is one of the times that expression holds true.

I smile at him and he removes his mask, smiles back.

"I can't stay much longer," he says. I nod and start to step away, but he jerks me back and catches me in a lingering kiss.

I am blushing when he releases me. He slowly steps away from me, replaces the mask and disappears into the darkness.

Maybe he'll come back, maybe he won't, but I will remember him for the rest of my days. My first love.

THE END