AN: I realize that Cecille is not the main character of my story, but I thought this chapter would be nice to put in before I build up to the climax. Thank you so much to the reviewers. You guys make me smile. Also, the song in this chapter has references to things that were not part of this specific time period, but I love this song and could not think of a better song to evoke the feeling I was trying to put forward. Please keep R&R!

Chapter 32. The Best Day Of My Life

Two days before the production…

Christian remained asleep on my bed, his script hanging in his idle hand that drooped off of the side of the bed. His hair had fallen over his face, and the sound of his breathing was as melodious as his songs.

"Isabel?"

I greeted Gregory's arrival in front of my bedroom door clad in only a robe, my hair tousled and tangled, and a bright smile.

"Good morning, Gregory." I leaned against my door as we stood face-to-face. "How was your day yesterday? Hopefully more entertaining than memorizing lines for a silly play, I'm sure."

"You are usually up and ready at this hour of the day," Gregory said in puzzlement. "Are you feeling ill?"

"No… no…" I shook my head, afraid he would send me to bed and wish to escort me in. "Certainly not. I just had a rather long rehearsal last night. I was kept up most of the night."

At least most of what I said was true…

"I suppose that means you are not available to go around town with me?" Gregory requested. "Keep me company as I bask in boredom with all the tittle-tattle of politics and financing and economics?"

"I wish I could…" I trailed off, knowing I was truly lying now. "But there are so many lines to know and perfect before the production of the play. There is much still to do. I could not possibly leave my… responsibilities… for a day of bliss."

"So selfless," Gregory pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. "My altruistic fiancé… mon amour."

"You flatter me too much," I pulled away as he kissed me. "I must go… there is much to do today and I have already started late."

"Falling behind in punctuality," Gregory teased.

"Just a bit," I provided him with a weak smile.

"You'll do fine, ma belle." Gregory promised. "Everything will turn out magnificent. You're in the play, remember?"

Never did I imagine that I would find Gregory at my bedroom door today.

Seeing him peek in shyly and watching his smile of relief appear at finding me before my vanity, brushing my hair, about to pull it up… never had I felt buoyant… so alive.

"Are you available today?" Gregory walked in hesitantly, not knowing if it were appropriate to enter a woman's room as she dressed herself up for the day.

"You can come in," I giggled as he grinned bashfully. "Yes… I guess I am not so occupied anymore. Now that I no longer have need to dally onstage, that is."

"Might you come and join me?" Gregory asked, nearing where I sat. "I have a reservation at a café and then I booked us a carriage to take us through the park. Isabel is busy today, and I was thinking that I should take this opportunity to spend some time with you."

"Isabel will always be busy…" I stopped my talk of Isabel when Gregory set his hands upon my own when I reached to pull back my hair.

"Leave it down," Gregory set my hands on the top of my vanity. "You have such lovely hair, Cecille. No reason to have it up and away from the world."

"Count on you to bring up my spirits."

"I did not know they were in need of being lifted up."

"Whether or not they need to, you can alwaysbring them up further."

"It is only because I love to see you smile in joy," Gregory released my hands and stepped back. "A rather warm day we have. Are you sure you want to venture out in a dress with such a high neckline?"

"It is no bother to me," I stood up and allowed my hair to fall down over my shoulders. "Just you wait, Gregory. High necklines will be in fashion soon enough."

"Anything you wear will be the fashion of Paris," Gregory complimented before holding out his hand. "Ready for the day ahead, Cecille?"

"What a ridiculous question!" I laughed. "I have been waiting for a day like this all of my life."

"How is life treating you, Cecille?" Gregory inquired over lunch. "Nothing too stressful? Too hard? Too hurtful?"

"Handling life the best I can," I reached for a croissant and picked at it. "Does not mean that all is going well, but I'm taking it as it comes."

"Anything you wish to talk about?"

"Nothing that I want to bring up."

"Any question you want to ask me?"

"Do you miss being young?"

"I like to think I'm still young."

"You are," I laughed, tossing back my head, and making many couples around us stare.

How I loved what Gregory brought out in me…

"I mean, do you miss when the worst thing there was to worry of was our parents finding out that we had snuck off with more dessert than we should?" I leaned over, not wanting anyone to overhear our talk, as ridiculous as it may seem to others. "Whatever happened to those times? To those days? When did life suddenly become so much… more?"

"I suppose everything that occurs was already around us," Gregory answered simply. "It is just that we end up changing, and noticing such things within life. We begin to see the broader perspective, outside of stealing cookies and begging the cook for more sweets at night."

"Well… I miss those days," I replied. "My life then seems to be completely different than what it is now. It seems as if I've died and came back. Nothing is the same."

"Is that such a dreadful thing?" Gregory looked over at a couple. "In exchange of our childhood, we get to experience more beautiful, wondrous things. I would not exchange the love I feel for an eternity of desserts now."

"Are you sure you're still young?" I teased. "You seem quite old to me."

"Only because you are still young," Gregory retorted.

"Oh, am I now?" I smirked in amusement. "How so?"

"You still look at windows that we pass and grin at your reflection. You still wake up early without an ounce of inclination to go back to sleep. You can still stand in front of your vanity staring at your reflection, contemplating what needs to be fixed to look presentable for the day, until I come in and tell you nothing needs to be fixed. You still carry yourself lightly, as if anticipating me to jump out from behind a corner and scare you senseless. You still have no shame in tossing back your head and letting out a good laugh when times call upon it, caring not what observers or passerby might think. You still choose to tear apart your meal before you eat it…"

"Oh," I looked down at the croissant that was shredded on my plate. "I had forgotten that I was doing it. I am so used to…"

"You do not have to remind me," Gregory chuckled and placed a hand on my chin, looking me in the eyes. "You are so beautiful, Cecille. Edmund is a lucky man…"

"I suppose so," I lowered my eyes, choosing to look away from Gregory's gaze.

"That is where you are different," Gregory remarked. "You were always so sure of yourself, Cecille. So confident. Ready to express yourself at every moment of the day. I do not know why you retreat whenever I bring up certain things."

"Times have changed."

"But does that mean our relationship must?"

I certainly did not want to have it make this turn, but I wanted our relationship to change nonetheless.

"Don't you ever wonder if things might have been different?" I said softly, keeping my eyes away from his. "If certain situations and relationships might have been entirely different. If it were possible that they still can be."

"I believe everyone feels that at times."

"Well… I feel that all the time." I admitted, pushing my plate away from me and standing up. "I have no appetite again. I am sure you remember my numerous meals never eating anything. I am ready when you are to leave."

"If Mademoiselle Cecille bids it so," Gregory stood up and bowed, holding his arm out to direct me to a carriage towards the park.

My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why I got out of bed at all

The morning rain clouds up my window and I can't see at all

And even if I could it'd all be gray, but your picture on my wall

It reminds me that it's not so bad

It's not so bad…(1)

Riding in the carriage with Gregory, our discourse and exchange of words never fully registered in my head over the rapid beating of my heart. Already, I could hear my soul singing, the only sound I could hear within the carriage.

I drank too much last night, got bills to pay

My head just feels in pain

I missed the bus and there'll be hell today

I'm late for work again and even if I'm there,

They'll all imply that I might not last the day

And then you call me and it's not so bad

It's not so bad and…(1)

"Favorite color?"

"Still red and pink. Usual day as Duke?"

"Nothingness with only boredom as company. Favorite part of working for Ziddler?"

"Seeing Giselle's face when another production is a success."

Our queries towards one another were shot as if tossing a ball back and forth. The scenarios of the park were dull in comparison with the splendor of talking and laughing along with Gregory.

I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life

Oh just to be with you is giving me the best day of my life…(1)

"Love?"

"Is more exuberant than words can describe. Edmund?"

"Is someone I would rather not talk about. Music?"

"I can see with even more appreciation after hearing Isabel sing. Favorite song?"

"Whatever song my soul might be praising today."

How easy it was to talk with Gregory. I could go on for hours, resting chin in my hand and gawking at Gregory with the serenity nothing else in the world might provide me with.

Did he not see how compatible we both were?

"Favorite season?"

"Spring because the dullness of winter fades away without a second thought once the flowers begin to bloom and the skies welcome the sun. Favorite food?"

"Whatever desserts our old cook might be able to conjure up from scratch. Best day ever?"

"Today without a doubt."

Push the door, I'm home at last and I'm soaking through and through

Then you handed me a towel and all I see is you

And even if my house falls down now, I wouldn't have a clue

Because you're near me and…(1)

"Any doubts of the past?"

"Not meeting Isabel earlier. Same question."

"Yes. Too many to name."

"Like what?"

"It's my turn for the question," I hit him lightly on his arm in a jesting manner. "Trying to cheat me now?"

"It's what I do," Gregory shrugged. "Like what?"

"What?"

"You already asked your question. I'm using the same question from before."

"I didn't ask you a question."

"Yes, you did." Gregory decided to prove his point by quoting me. "Trying to cheat me now?"

"I don't need to, you just did it to yourself." I grinned. "You just asked me a question."

"Sly you," Gregory laughed.

"The slyest of them all."

I want to thank you for giving me the best day of my life

Oh just to be with you is giving me the best day of my life.(1)

I saw Gregory's eyes drift outside where a couple walked hand-in-hand.

"Do you ever wonder if things might have been different?"

"Yes," Gregory pressed a hand against the window, as if reaching for a memory. "But I have nothing in life to want to be different."

"Do you think that the way things are might not be exactly the best thing for us?" I leaned towards him and set a hand on his against the window. "That there might be something better out there for everyone than what we already have?"

"It's quite possible," Gregory agreed, his eyes never leaving the window.

"I'm all out of questions," I released my hand and leaned against my seat, knowing well that the hope I clung to was nothing mutual. "Your turn."

"Questions?" Gregory breathed. "I believe I am done as well."

"Do you ever think that maybe we might…"

"I thought we were all done with questions."

I knew Gregory did not mean to say what he did to hurt me. He was so lost in his thoughts of Isabel and returning to her, that he found my talk droll, just as I found Edmund's somniferous. I would probably rather hear him say this than contribute to my hope with enthusiasm and reluctance in being with me. False hope got me nowhere, but the truth sure did.

The truth was that he loved Isabel.

The truth was that he had only asked me because Isabel could not come.

The truth was that Isabel could not come because she was not done with her affair with Christian.

"I believe we are," I moved my legs onto the cushions of my seat, leaning my back against the door, and waiting for when I would return to the Moulin Rouge and Edmund.

I had sacrificed a beating from Edmund for a day with Gregory, where he would only think of Isabel.

Not even Edmund's beatings hurt more than what I felt right now, knowing that no amount of joking and laughing and entertaining evenings with other women would soften Gregory's love for Isabel.

1. Dido "Thank You"