Disclaimer: I do not own the Mighty Ducks, or any of the characters. However I do own my characters Lis, Stealth, and Crystal. So please do not sue me.

Chapter Six

So that night, Crystal showed up at Lis's door and gave her a pretty black dress with a corset top.

"Why are you-?"

"It's obvious that I've lost Duke, so I may as well help you," Crystal told her in an apology as she helped Lis into the confusing, but attractive, evening gown.

"I hope we can be friends now," Crystal now said when they were finished.

Lis nodded, accepting the apology with great joy. It meant that she was finally starting to fit in.

Then Lis realized how tight the top had been tied.

"Is it supposed to be so tight?" She asked; but Crystal had already left.

Shortly after Duke came to Lis's door.

"Wow, Lis, you look great!" Duke told her as he felt his legs nearly give out on him.

Poor Duke had to hold on to the door for a moment before offering Lis his arm.

Lis blushed furiously while looking away for a minute, "Thank you."

Lis's gown dragged very lightly upon the floor, and the top was nearly skin tight. She had no jewelry or make up to wear; so Duke was able to see the natural Lis.

"Ravishing," was his first thought when he was able to stand up again.

Duke had never imagined that seeing Lis in a gown would make him feel a little weaker; but now he had regained his usual charm and strength.

Duke was dressed in a white dress shirt and black pants with a black over coat. He looked very handsome; and Lis couldn't help but want to fall into his muscular, but not bulky, arms. She felt nearly weak herself when he smiled at her and offered her his arm to escort her to the dinning hall.

Soon they were at the dinning hall table, sitting side by side, and near the leader of The Brotherhood Of The Blade.

It was when everyone was about to take a sip of their drinks, that Lis noticed that Duke's drink was darker than everyone else's. Something wasn't right, and she knew it! She nearly felt her heart jump up and out of her throat when he nearly drank the dark red liquid.

"Duke!" Lis choked out quickly, trying to breath and warn him all at once.

Duke, bewildered and concerned, put the glass down just in time. Then he looked at Lis with the same expression.

"Lis? Ya alright?" He asked her as he placed a firm hand on her's.

Lis then noticed the smirk on Falcone's face, who was sitting very close by; and then fade when Duke had out the glass of wine down. Then she was also alarmed when she found that she was now leaning tiredly against Duke.

"Lis, what's wrong?!" Duke exclaimed.

"I need to talk to you," Lis said in a tired and weakening voice.

Duke didn't wait a secant more when she answered so wearily. He immediately got up and helped Lis up as they went to another room and locked the door so they could talk alone.

"Lis, what's wrong hun'?"

By then it was too hard to breath, let alone talk, for Lis. It was too tight, and she had barely had the strength and breath to warn him early.

"I can't breath..."Lis finally said in a very raspy voice that alarmed Duke.

This time it was Duke's heart that nearly leapt to his throat as he saw his one and only friend collapsing against him.

"Lis, how tight is that thing?!" He cried out in worry, "Turn around sweetheart."

Lis did as she was told, and she heard him say, "No wonder ya can't breath!"

With that Duke untied the air tight corset top. He nearly recoiled when he was reminded of the deep scars she bared. Then he rubbed her back lightly to ease her breathing.

"Easy hun', you're okay now," he told her quietly as he now loosened the strings of her corset and retied the dress carefully.

Lis felt a rush of air go through her lungs as she turned to Duke, "Thank you Duke, you saved my life."

"No prob' sweetheart. Now what did ya need ta talk ta me about?"

"I think Falcone poisoned your drink; it was darker than the rest, and he was smirking when you were about to drink it; but when you didn't he wasn't happy at all!"

"Lis, are ya sure?"

"I wouldn't lye to you," Lis told him with sincereity all over her face and deep in her voice.

Duke smiled as he looked down at her; he knew that she had probably just saved his life.

"Lis, why did ya, I mean..."

"You're my only friend, Duke. I care about you, and I don't want to lose you when you're all I have!"

"Lis," was all Duke could say before he found himself holding her close to him, "You're not gonna lose me Angel."

Lis now knew completely that she loved Duke; there was no more avoiding it. For when she had nearly lost him just now, she had felt half of herself slipping away. She now held Duke as tight as she could. Duke even felt the closeness between the two of them as she held him. He felt her head pressed against his hard chest as she fought with all her might not to cry. He knew that she was trying not to cry; but he couldn't figure out what was upsetting her. Though for now he didn't ask; instead he just held her.

Soon after the two of them returned to the dinner, and Duke replaced his drink; which made Falcone look like he wanted to kill Lis. However, Duke noticed, and he glared at the falcon, warning him that if he lay even a single finger on Lis, he would pay dearly.

Shortly after Duke turned to me and asked, "Lis, would ya dance wit' me?"

Lis blushed as she nodded.

Then with that Duke lead Lis to the dance floor and they began to share their first waltz.

The two of them floated and soared over the smooth marble dance floor. There wasn't even a single mistake in their movements. The beauty of the two of them couldn't have been matched even if they were watching two Angels dancing; and some even wondered if they were.

Although Lis and Duke were seemed so different; they were the same in so many more ways. They belonged together in one another's gentle care. Everyone knew it; but did Duke and Lis know?

Lis noticed Crystal; she was glaring at her, as though she had hoped that Lis would have suffocated.

Duke noticed as well, and then he looked Duke at Lis. She was looking at Crystal, and Duke felt her trying to pull away; but he only held her tighter.

"Don't worry about her sweetheart," Duke told her as he gently placed a hand beneath her chin and had her look up at him.

Her eyes gazed longingly up into his dark brown eyes.

"Duke?" She asked in a voice mixed with pain, bewilderment, and desire.

For the first time Duke noticed her gorgeous blue, green, yellow eyes; and he found himself drawing closer to her.

Lis stared at him; feeling the begging for him to love her grow so far that she could no longer hold her heart in the cage she had tried to lock it in. It just was too painful to lock it away any more.

All she wanted, was Duke.

Just then she too felt that she and Duke were drawing closer and closer by each passing moment. Their arms wrapped around each other; one of her hands in his dark white streaked hair, and the other grasping his over coat just over his strongly beating heart. His hands; one beneath her gorgeous face, and the other pulling her closer to him. This wasn't a dream. They both knew it so well it was almost that they were very aware of what they were doing; but yet, at the same time, they were caught in a mesmerizing trance. Their hearts were beating so fast and hard, and warmth of their embrace made it as though they were melting into one another's captivating hold. Their lips just barely touching...nearly tasting the sweetness of what they both begged for. The wanting that weakened them, and the emotion that strengthened them as well. The pure passion of what was just about to happen.