A/N: I know this puppy is short, but I have so little time to write these days, I figure you'd all rather I spit out short bits more often, rather than longer chapters over a period of time. If I'm wrong, please let me know! xoxo - E

Rosaline

Marry Escalus, or watch Benvolio die. It wasn't even a question. I had said I would do anything and I meant it. So why did my heart hurt so much? Why had I vomited half a dozen times just today? I loved Benvolio, with all my heart, and doing this, sacrificing my own happiness for his life? I would do it a million times over.

The dreams I'd had, of marrying him, of giving him a child, of being his best friend for the rest of our lives, they had all disappeared like a thin sheen of smoke in the breeze the moment the words had been out of Escalus's mouth. 'Marry me.' It wasn't a request. It was a choice. Marry him. Or watch Benvolio die for a crime he didn't commit. Oh God. I think I might be sick again.

Escalus

She was going to marry me. It would be just like it used to be, before I had tried to put my country before her. I wasn't going to do that again. She would come first now, always. I wasn't going to repeat my mistakes. I'd forced her to be close to the Montague, I'd forged their friendship in their joint terror of being together. It wasn't real. I'd remind her what it felt like, being us. Already, she couldn't explain them, and that made sense. They'd panicked. They'd been the only ally to one another. It made sense that she fancied herself in love. But it wasn't real. None of it was real. I would make the right choices now. I'd do the right thing by her. She would come first. And together we would rule my country.

"Your Highness," A voice called out. I turned to the man, dressed in nondescript clothing.

"Allistor. What have you discovered?"

"What the girl says is true. He leads them, Prince Paris, and he intends himself for your throne."

"And?"

"The trap is set. He will be apprehended in the act, no way for his father to claim his son wasn't breaking the law, or that we were unjust."

"Are you certain?"

"Quite. This coup will end, and you can go back to planning your wedding."

"You make it sound like I am a useless ruler, one who cares more for parties than politics."

"Not at all, your highness," I glanced at my friend who smiled at me kindly. "I know how long you've been waiting this moment. I am glad it will all work out for you." I grinned. Allistor was the guard who had accompanied me to the Lady Rosaline, back when her parents yet lived. He knew my longing for her, and my struggle when it became clear we could not be together. And now... yes. He was right. I would look forward to this party, just this once.

Benvolio

She loved me. I could die tomorrow and I would die a happy man, for she loved me. It was a mantra I'd been repeating to myself as I paced this dingy cell. Two days since she made me the happiest of men. Two days since we'd kissed, for real this time. Two days since we'd sworn our love for one another and changed the course of fate. Two days. I sighed. They'd been part the most thrilling of days, knowing that she loved me in return, and part agony, waiting for her to return, or to secure my release so we could be together. I wished to hold her in my arms, without these damned bars in my way. I wished to kiss her in the sunlight, letting all the world know that I held her heart. I wished to marry her as soon as possible, and make her my wife in every way. I knew my men would still be working on my project. When my chief servant had come visit me, after my imprisonment, I'd made it clear that the house, the servants, all of it was to be finished as I'd requested, even if I was killed, and that it was meant for the Lady Rosaline. There was nothing my uncle could do about that, even if I died. The house was to go to Rosaline and her sister, the Montagues had no ownership of it, no matter how much money I was putting into its restoration.

But none of that mattered anymore. She held proof of my innocence, the prince would let me out, and we would live there together, hang tradition of moving into the Montague manor. After all I-

Oh god. My mind began to swam and I had to sit down to process the sudden realization. She held proof of my innocence and was taking it to the prince. The very prince who had written to her two days ago to tell her he still loved her and wished to wed. The same prince who could hang me for a crime I didn't commit no matter the evidence if I stood in his way. And I certainly stood in his way.

Surely he wouldn't... surely he would see that if she loved me as she swore she did, his killing me would forever tear them apart, and he would never win her then. Surely.

Then again, I wasn't about to continue this dancing around my cell, feeling safe in the knowledge that our dear prince was wise enough to understand that after all. No. No, after all of this, I refused to be torn away from her. I had found my other half, and death would not stop us. Nothing would stop us. Fate couldn't be that cruel.

At least that's what the romantic side of me swore. But the realist part, the side which was growing ever more dominant with every death I saw, with every ounce of heartbreak and sorry I faced, that side was thinking heavily of my friend Romeo. He had loved another Capulet. He had loved her beyond words. I'd laughed at him at the time, but now... I understood him better now. He had loved her and fate had brought them together, only to tear them apart with horrid timing and families who wouldn't leave well enough alone.

No, I couldn't count on Fate any more than I could count on the Prince's intelligence. Fate was a right bitch.