Thank you so much to the readers. The few there are. You guys keep me going. Please review and tell me what you guys think. Suggestions. Criticisms. I'm all up for anything.

Chapter 7. The First Chip Of The Wall

"Hello?" I feared to knock, not because I was unsure that no one would answer, but because there was no door to knock upon. "Is anyone here?"

"Come in!"

"Are you ready?" I entered to find him fumbling with a tie, his face red with frustration.

"So sad her eyes
Smiling dark eyes
So sad her eyes
As it began
On such a breathless night as this
Upon my brow the lightest kiss
I walked alone
And all around the air did say
My lady soon will stir this way
In sorrow known
The white queen walks and
The night grows pale
Stars of loving mess in her hair." (1)

He sang at my sight, forgetting his tie that hung still around his neck limply. Smiling to contain my laughs, I entered his home and clasped my hands together, remembering to stand straight and keep my head up without holding any snobbish airs.

"Need help with that?" I directed his attention to the tie.

"Do you know how?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't, now would I?" I laughed and perfected the act for him. "I've seen numerous men do it back at the… at home."

"Really?" he grinned. "You must show me sometime when it is imperative to tie a tie."

"Is tonight not so important?" I questioned coquettish.

"Why would I need to know tonight, when I have you to do it?" he inquired playfully. "It seems you possess quite… inimitable… skills, my dear."

"I wouldn't go as far as to say that…" I blushed.

"That is why you have me to say so."

"Must you treat me like some prima donna?" I asked, getting rather annoyed at his stares and smug expressions.

"You sure look the part."

"Can a lady try to look her best without being jested at?"

"I would not deny you look your best."

"That is it!"

Without another word said, I gathered up my skirts and ran out, being sure not to trip upon another jacket of his. Past the buildings I ran, my hair falling out of the curls and becoming tangled. When I reached my destination, I set my jaw in a fine line, ready to bear the mortification that was sure to come after I…

"Isabel!" his eyes went wide when I dove into the public wash-pool that was filled with frigid, bone-wrenching cold water. "What are you thinking?"

Tossing back my hair and running my hands over it, I beamed at him, awaiting to see him stare at me in disgust upon the make-up that ran down my face and the tangled mess of hair that seemed more apt to be a jungle ofknotsthan much of anything else.

"Do I look my best now?"

Silence only replied to my question.

Dropping my gaze when his passive expression did not alter, I did not stir for a few minutes until I heard a large splash beside me and looked up to see him staring at me, his wet hair plastered over his eyes.

"You look ridiculous," I commented with a laugh, brushing aside the hair that covered his mesmerizing eyes from my view. "Better now."

"Much better," he grinned. "Might I make you a bit better as well?"

"You'll be here for a long time…"

"Not really," he set a hand upon my cheek, and wiped away the remains of my make-up. "There… much better."

"I doubt it."

"Why would you say that?"

"Because no amount of make-up or curls or fancy attire shall hide my plainness. My lack of beauty."

"You look your best, now." He looked at my eyes, a question hanging between both of us.

"Would you dance if I asked you to dance?

Would you run and never look back?

Would you cry if you saw me crying?

Would you save my soul tonight?" (2)

I sang with wonder and trepidation. My heart pounded in my head, a drumming louder than the sound of my voice that sang in such a soft tone, as if whispering a forbidden secret. Perhaps, deep down, I was.

"Would you tremble if I touched your lips?

Would you laugh?

Oh please tell me this.

Would you die for the one you love?

Hold me in your arms, tonight." (2)

My words hung in the air, intoxicating me with apprehension for whatever would come. He stirred and removed his hand, setting both atop my shoulders and bearing down upon me with those eyes. Eyes I could stare at all night. All week. Maybe forever.

"You're my piece of mind, in this crazy world
You're every thing I've tried to find
Your love is a pearl
You're my Mona Lisa
You're my rainbow skies
And my only prayer is that you realize
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes..." (3)

"You are too kind…" my voice faltered, as I choked back the silent tears that possessed me.

Never in my life had I heard such… resplendent, gorgeous words directed my way. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that someday I would…

"The world will turn
And the seasons will change
And all the lessons we will learn
Will be beautiful and strange
We'll have our fell of tears
Our share of sight
My only prayer is that you realize
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes...

You will always be beautiful in my eyes
And the passing years will show
That you will always grow
Ever more beautiful in my eyes.

And there are lines upon my face
From a life time of smiles
When the time comes to embrace
For one long last wine
We can laugh about how time really flies
We won't say goodbye
'Cause true love never dies
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes...

You will always be beautiful in my eyes
And The passing years will show
That you will always grow
Ever more beautiful in my eyes

The passing years will show
That you will always grow
Ever more beautiful in my eyes..." (3)

"Just one night, give me just one night…" I replied, pleading him for a companion. "In the name of love. One night in the name of love." (4)

"You'd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs," his voice took on a melancholy tone. "Some people wanna fill the world with silly love songs."

"Love lifts us up where we belong. Where eagles fly on a mountain high."

"Love makes us act like we are fools." his voice shook, a sorrowand shadow that seemed to consume hisdemeanor, making me only want to hold him in my arms and never let go."Throw our live away for one... happy day."

"No…" I reached out when he was the first to lower his gaze.

Setting a firm hand upon his chin, I looked at him with a smile, so completely and utterly lost within the splendor of the moment and the hope that something might yet be there between us. Putting a finger to my lips to silence him, I took a step back, making sure to take in everything of him.

This wall between us was waiting to be broken down. He had taken the first steps. True. And now it was my turn to give this wall a nice chip as well.

"Look into my eyes- you will see. What you mean to me. Search your heart- search your soul. And when you find me there you'll search no more. Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for. You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for. You know it's true. Everything I do- I do it for you." (5)

"You don't want me… I can't… I…"

"Shhhh… it's my turn to talk." I brushed my fingers over his lips, and was surprised that I did not tremble from my valor and intrepidity. "Look into my heart – you will find. There's nothin' there to hide. Take me as I am- take my life. I would give it all – I would sacrifice."

"Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for. I can't help it- there's nothin' I want more. Ya, I know it's true. Everything I do- I do it for you." He responded to my words, stepping forward and grabbing my hands, awaiting for our voices to finally unite.

"Oh- you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for. I can't help it- there's nothin' I want more. I would fight for you- I'd lie for you. Walk the wire for you- ya I'd die for you. Ya, I know it's true. Everything I do- I do it for you."

"I'll be your dream. I'll be your wish. I'll be your fantasy. I'll be your hope. I'll be your love, be everything that you need." (6) I promised him.

"We could be heroes… just for one day." A whisper, but a consent nonetheless.

My heart sang its own tune of love at those words.

He smiled to himself before stepping forward and planting his lips upon mine tenderly.

As tenderly as the words we had exchanged only moments before.

I only hoped that he would remain tender far after this moment…

1. Queen "White Queen"

2. Enrique Inglesias "Hero"

3. Joshua Kidison "Beautiful In My Eyes"

4. Ewan McGregor & Nicole Kidman "Elephant Love Medley"

5. Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You)"

6. Savage Garden "Truly Madly Deeply"