LazyCat, I started on this chapter just for you. You have inspired me to write a new chapter. And as for who Danielle is going to get with, I'm not sure. I've talked to the actual Danielle and asked her, but she said she didn't want a lover, but I will give her one anyway. Perhaps I will rip one of my friend's characters, eh? I think I shall ask him. Anywho, this is the next chapter. Chapter 13! Am I superstitious? Why yes I am! Enjoy!

Almost a week later, Nicole was up on the stage, parrying with the Vicomte again. Now, she didn't even need to go through the steps in her head. She knew Raoul's movements now and could easily match him in any fight. Her strength was slowly coming back to her and her weight was coming back. She wasn't a frail and fragile figure like she had been when she was sick. All of this was thanks to the Opera Ghost, and if he would ever show himself to her, she would indeed thank him for what he had done.

Elsa and Danielle were sitting in the front row of seats in the theater, looking up at their two friends and whispering amongst each other. They were mostly making fun of them.

"Raoul's cheeks jiggle when it does the hopping thing to move in for a slash," Danielle giggled to her friend as they watched.

"Which Raoul? Junior or Official?" Elsa asked, chuckling a little.

"Both."

"Yeah, and they make funny grunts and yells. It's like they are… never mind."

"No bathroom jokes or sex jokes! That's absolutely disgusting! I don't want to think of Nicole and Raoul… like that. Ew!" Danielle shuddered at the thought.

Elsa rolled her eyes and looked over to her friend, "I wasn't trying to picture them that way. Though they would be cute together… even if he is a full foot taller. Yet, they remain just friends. Jeebus."

"Eventually, I'm going to force their faces together and make them kiss if they don't do it soon. Chrissy is gone, so we don't have anything to worry about. No one can be jealous. Honestly, who would even have enough guts to go after the Vicomte of Paris besides Nicole?"

"No one, that's why they would be so good together. I mean look at them. You can tell that they like each other. We both know that Nicole like Raoul, that's a no shit on our part. Look at the way he watches her when they fight though."

Raoul did keep a close watch on her, being extremely careful not to hit her in anyway that would hurt her, and a lot of times that was why he lost. The way he did look at her was not out of desire or lust, but a favorable liking and caring blue gaze that observed every move that she made.

She looked at him in the same way, but she had no lack of aggression when she fought with him, her arm swinging as hard as possible at him when they battled. They only fought with foils, so it's not like they were going to hurt him, so she held no great concern. Every once in a while, Raoul would walk away with quite a few bruises on him, only wishing that she would hit a little softer when she did.

After a few more moments of clashing, Raoul knocked the foil from Nicole's hand, sending it flying backstage through the curtain. "Wow… I never knew that foils could fly," Nicole said as she disappeared through the curtain.

Her dark brown eyes looked around for a moment or two until she shouted out, "I can't find it." Raoul quickly advanced through the curtain to help her look for it. The pair looked around before they found it under a table that was for the stage hands to break at. Nicole crawled under the table and came back a few moments later, flicking the sword up in the air, "I found it."

Raoul moved out of the way of the upcoming pointy object, stopping it with his hand before it came to his face. Nicole had accidentally done this, of course. She didn't want to harm him, but her clumsiness could easily hurt people at times.

He was now looking down into her eyes, seeming to get lost in them. His other hand wrapped around the foe blade and set it upon the table before coming to rest on Nicole's hip. Raoul's other hand came to her cheek, his slender thumb caressing gently as they stared into each other's eyes.

A nuzzle given to his warm hand from her cheek would give him the signal that she was comfortable at the moment, though a blush came to her cheeks as she closed her eyes for a moment. Her eyes immediately snapped open again at the feel of soft, thin lips against hers, but she only closed them again.

Unlike Erik and Elsa, Raoul and Nicole did not have anyone to worry about being jealous. Both of their heart rates rose to beat a tad faster as they both worked into the kiss. Nicole was standing on her tip toes; Raoul had a hand on the small of her back for any support if she needed it. The pale fingers of her right hand were entwined in his honey hair, twirling a strand or two around her finger. Her other hand was resting on his upper arm, squeezing gently, also for support, for her knees could get very weak at times.

"Umm… de Chagny…" Elsa cleared her throat as she spoke, looking at the couple in their lip lock. Danielle was behind her giggling.

Once they heard the voice, they immediately broke apart, and Raoul stepped back a good distance, straightening out his shirt to act as if he had done nothing, though he knew it was already too late to pretend.

Nicole looked over to her two companions, who were returning the look. "You got some 'splainin' to do," Danielle said comically.

"What? I got squished in between the table and Raoul," Nicole replied innocently, knowing that that certainly wouldn't be an effective cover.

"Uh huh, and that's why you were back here so long, because you got stuck?" Elsa looked at her friend mischievously. She knew what had been going on. Anyone who couldn't figure that out was a fool. It only brought back memories of the night not too long ago when she and Erik had exchanged a kiss. Her amusement almost instantly turned to guilt with Danielle standing right next to her.

By this time, both Raoul and Nicole's faces were blood red as they exchanged glances to each other. "Alright. Yes, we kissed. Is that honestly so bad? I think I've fallen in love with her, and I couldn't help holding it back any more. I've had to wait for so long now, and it was just the perfect moment for it."

Elsa shook her head, a confused look on her face, "No, it's not bad, why would it be bad?"

"Ah, yes. Must explain social etiquette. In this day and age, it is extremely rude for a young gentleman to just go and kiss a young lady. It's highly looked down upon, though I couldn't tell you why. I couldn't keep myself any longer."

"Ohhhhhhhhh," a unified sound of understanding came from the three girls.

All this time Nicole had been standing there, amazed at the fact that Raoul had admitted that he loved her to Danielle and Elsa. No guy had ever said such things. Not even her boyfriend back in 2005, which she had chosen to forget about. She was in absolute awe and stood like that for a few more minutes until she snapped out of it.

Raoul, feeling that he had just embarrassed himself beyond belief, chose to break the awkwardness. "So, now that I've made an absolute fool out of myself in front of you ladies, how about supper?" He began to walk towards the door, grabbing Nicole's hand on his way, which made her blush at the gesture.

Elsa sighed and rolled her eyes again, "Supper. Always supper. Is that you're solution to everything? You must be one hungry Vicomte."

"Well, I do get quite hungry throughout the day, and I don't eat much considering I'm here at the Opera House all the time now thanks to Nicole," he replied, looking back to Elsa as he walked, "I can't cook, much less boil water. I might set something on fire. So yes, I am a hungry Vicomte. Very hungry. But I also enjoy sitting around a table with you fine ladies and socializing."

Who knows how long Raoul kept talking? He always talked when he was nervous or embarrassed. He was glad that Elsa and Danielle had found them kissing because now he felt he could express his love openly.

Elsa only wished that she could do the same with Erik. She didn't want to hurt Danielle though. Besides, she and Erik were not officially a couple, were they? All they had done was kiss, but that's all that Raoul and Nicole had done also, but now their hands were clasped together and showing their care for one another. Could she and Erik be considered a pair at this point? He did disappear for days on end without notice. Would he turn out to be a horrible lover because of that? Oh, she was so confused!

My longest chapter ever! Woot! I tried not to condense anymore than I could. Ha! Condensed… it's like soup! Hope you all liked yet another mushy kiss scene. Review please!

R.C.-Nicole-Fizz-