Author's Note: Thanks to all who reviewed! Those notes really keep me going, and they really help me shape this story to what you all want to read! Keep 'em coming! This gets a little... not lemony but definitely limey? I guess? I've updated the rating to reflect that because I don't want anyone to get offended! Please let me know what you think of this chappie, and what you think should happen next! xoxo - E
Rosaline
"Ros." Livia's quiet voice sounded a bit apprehensive as she pulled me aside after dinner. "We need to talk."
"Of course! I'm afraid I haven't been a very attentive sister, with everything happening, I just-"
"Not that. I understand you've been busy, I just don't understand why."
"Well with our finding the Montague's innocence, and needing to ensure peace with Paris's father, and my betrothal-"
"I'm not an idiot, Ros. I know what's kept you busy. But that last thing you mentioned, that's what confuses me. Weeks ago you told me you were falling in love with Benvolio. You told me you didn't trust Escalus, and you didn't love him, and I watched as you lit up for Benvolio - who by the way you haven't called 'the Montague' in ages! - but Ros, I saw how you felt about him. You loved him, deeply and truly and in a way that you never had Escalus, and most certainly don't now. I know you don't care about the money, or power. So what is it? Why have you agreed to leave Benvolio for him?" I froze. I couldn't tell her. The more people who knew, the more danger Benvolio was in. She didn't- I couldn't tell her, I just couldn't.
"It's more complicated than that, Liv."
"It's not, actually. Do you love Escalus?" I couldn't lie to my sister, but I couldn't tell her the truth either. Evidently my silence was enough to answer her question. "I thought not. Do you love Benvolio?" My frantically wiping tears from the corner of my eyes answered more loudly than I ever could. "Why are you doing this then?"
"It's complicated, Liv."
"Ros-"
"Don't. Please don't ask. Isabella knows, all right? We've thought of every possible outcome. This is what's best."
"Best for you, or best for Verona?" I took a deep breath, and shrugged.
"Neither, actually."
"Ros."
"Please. Let it go, Livia. This is hard enough."
"I hate to see you this miserable."
"I hate to see you so worried. Cheer up, my dear sister. Seeing you happy will make me equally so."
"I expect it wouldn't, actually." She replied dryly.
"Please, Livia. Let's just... let's go for a walk. We have an hour or more before we must be ready for the festivities tonight." She nodded and took my arm.
"Shall we go home?" She asked teasingly, motioning towards the path that took us back to our parent's home.
"No." The answer came too quickly and too sharply and I knew Livia knew something was wrong, but she had the good sense not to mention it as we made our way, one of us in tears, towards the garden path's instead.
The hour passed far too quickly and it was too soon when I found myself being prepped and readied for my engagement ball. Isabella was hosting it. She swore to make it as painless as possible. One toast, no speeches, just dancing, and drinks, and food, and a good time. She even promised she'd find a reason to make us dance with other people so that I wouldn't need to be glued to Escalus the whole time. She was a good friend. She always had been.
Benvolio
"You're drunk." The accusation came quickly and bitterly from my uncle's lips.
"Am I supposed to deny that?" I asked. Then I burped. Denying really wasn't going to work for me now.
"This is our debut back into society. Sure the prince patched things up so nicely for us, but if we behave like boorish idiots tonight, our family will-"
"I'm going to celebrate the engagement of a gold digging whore I used to love and the bastard she's going to marry. It's a happy occasion uncle! Why should I not enjoy myself! Celebrate with a drink!" I burped again. I really needed to get that under control before we got to the castle.
"You will not call her that." He hissed. "She will be a princess. You will do all in your power, to remain friends with the pair of them."
"I will do a great deal for the House of Montague, uncle, but you ask too much."
"Then you will at least remain cordial."
"I will do my absolute best." Burp. Damn. He looked at me like one looked at a man relieving himself in the street.
"Get the smell of you. And drink some water. You need a break before we leave."
Rosaline
Escalus had invited the Montauges?! Not just Lord Montague, or some cousin Montagues... no. Escalus had thought it wise to invite him. Was he just trying to hurt me? Was this some kind of game to him?
"I couldn't leave one of the House of Lords out of the invitations." He protested after my hissed accusation. "How would that look? Like we were punishing the Montagues for some slight, or transgression. And you were the one who insisted that Benvolio remain unscathed after his stint in prison. I thought he would gracefully come up with some excuse, and his uncle might attend in his stead."
"Benvolio is not exactly what some might call graceful." I shot back, through clenched teeth.
"Ignore him, love. This is all for us." For you. This is all for you, you selfish son of a bi-
"Dancing!" A voice called out as a group of stringed instruments struck up a chord. Isabella rushed to the center of the room, her magnificent gown drawing all the attention her mere presence could not muster up. She described the dance in question and I bit back a smile when she spoke of partner changing. After each set, we would move in the circle, and find a new partner. To 'encourage friendship and peace throughout Verona' or something she said. To keep me away from Escalus she meant. We took the floor first, and others lined up around us. The steps were basic. I didn't need to pay much attention to them as the music swung by. Escalus looked... happy. He looked truly happy. He really didn't understand what was going on, did he? I was passed from one Lord, to the nephew of another, and so on, making my way back towards my fiance. I reached out towards the practically ancient Lord of House Venetti when a different hand swiped in to claim mine. The overwhelming scent of liquor hung in the air as warm hands gripped mine, pulling me into the next set.
"B- Lord Montague." I stuttered out. "I did not know you danced." I hissed.
"And I didn't know you were a whore." He growled back. He instantly seemed almost startled by the words, and his face fell.
"Odd. You are no stranger to whores, I thought you might recognize me instantly." I spat back, accepting the accusation, as I had no way to dispute it without endangering him.
"Rosaline, I didn't mean- It just..."
"Came out? Yes. Words have a way of doing that when you're plastered drunk."
"Why are you here?"
"At my own engagement party? I think even drunk off your ass you might be able to come up with a reasonable answer to that. But while we're on the subject of attendance, I meant to ask you the same question." I returned. "Why did you come?"
"My uncle insisted."
"Ah. Yes, well if your uncle insists, it I don't see why on Earth you might consider-"
"You talk a lot." He swallowed hard. "I miss that. It's too quiet with you gone."
"Lower your voice, you fool. You don't want everyone to hear-"
"To hear what? That you talk a lot? Or that I miss you? Because you do, talk a lot, except when I have my tongue down your throat. Although I suppose that's what you really don't want anyone to hear, especially not your little prince. Does he know? I knew you had loved him, but tell me Ros, does he know that you told me you loved me? Does he know that we kissed more passionately than he could ever hope for?" I didn't think Benvolio even realized I was dragging him out of the room at this point. He was far too gone for that. "Does he know that if those damned bars weren't in my way I'd have made you my wife then and there?" I flushed deeply, his words pulling deep inside of me. Oh God, if you exist, have mercy on me.
"You need to go." I replied. "I'll call you a carriage." My grip on his wrist was tight but it needn't have been. He was following me regardless. I could let go if I wanted and he would-
-take my hand in his. I had let go, and he had reached out and taken my hand.
"I wanted to. I wanted you so badly, Rosaline. Want you. All the time. Not just... I don't mean-" He sighed, and he slowed down, his grip on my fingers slowing me in the process.
"Not just what?" I asked, in spite of my own common sense. I wanted him too. And I needed to hear him say it once more if I wanted to keep even a slight hold on my sanity. Oh God in Heaven, I might go mad with this rush of feeling.
"I wanted to kiss every inch of you. I wanted to worship your very being. But it wasn't just that moment, Rosaline. I wanted every minute of your future. I wanted to belong to you, to be your husband. I needed you for every single heartbeat I have left. I need you, for every heartbeat. They are empty without you, Rosaline. You have consumed my soul, and I need you. I need you to be my wife, to be the mother of my children, my best friend... I- we belong to each other Rosaline. We did in that moment and we still should." I couldn't even take a breath before his lips were on mine. His hands, one interwoven with mine, the other on the back of my head, cushioning it as he walked, pushing me backwards with his lips until I backed into a wall. His body enveloped mine, and I could feel how hot he was against me. Beneath the reek of alcohol I could still smell him and I could feel the hot tears rising in my eyes, at the overwhelming hurt and healing I felt in this single moment. His tongue begged entrance and it did not occur to me to deny him.
He was drunk, and half mad with anger and bitterness, but he loved me still, I could tell. I wanted him, I wanted him to have me before Escalus managed it. No. That wasn't it. I wanted him before I had to retreat to Escalus. There wasn't enough time. We'd be missed. It was my engagement ball after all. The room we were in was dark and empty, but how long before a servant happened through, taking a shortcut to the kitchen, or Escalus wandered after me and reneged on our deal, killing him on sight? This was dangerous. This was wrong.
I could feel his arousal pressed against me and I very suddenly didn't care.
I reached for the laces of his pants and did my best to undo them.
"I love you." He murmured against my skin, as his lips attacked my neck. I had freed him in an instant and when I took him in my hand, he stilled, groaning into me.
"Faster." I muttered back, aware that we had less than no time. It didn't take much to hike up my skirts, and pull down my underthings. I was bare to him and I should have felt some sort of embarrassment, but all I felt was an intense desire that I knew would never stop. We fumbled in the dark as he reached down to position himself. I was dripping with desire, and he said as much, his voice filled with wonder, as his fingers touched me for the first time. I gasped, thrilled at the feeling of his touch.
"Please." He begged. "Run away with me."
"Benvolio hurry." I begged.
"Rosaline, please. Marry me. We can run away together. Friar Lawrence, he helped Romeo, he'll help us! Please."
"Benvolio I need you." I whined. His erect cock was touching my entrance and I was almost humming with desire, but he stilled.
"Why won't you say it?" He asked, his words blurred and his hands shaking on my skin. "You can't... are you still planning on marrying him? Even after we-"
"I don't have a choice, Benvolio, but I want you. Please." I begged. I needed to have him be my first. He was my first true love, the only one I'd ever have. I needed him to be the one to whom I gave my virtue. I couldn't bear it if it were Escalus.
"You'd still marry him." He repeated bitterly. And then his fingers were gone from my entrance, and he was stepping back, leaving me standing cold, against the stone wall.
"Benvolio!" I cried out, begging him to return to me.
"You don't have to worry about seeing me again, Princess." He spat out bitterly. "You wont." And with that he stumbled away from me, and into the darkness.
"Benvolio!" I cried out again, righting my skirts and chasing after him. But by the time I'd fixed my clothing and followed him out the door, he was long gone. I collapsed on the floor, and wept.
It was in this position Isabella found me 20 minutes later. She pulled me to my feet, and told a servant I'd twisted my ankle falling down some steps, explaining away my tears with a more physical pain. A footman carried me up to Isabella's room where I would spend the night, haunted by the touch of my soul mate, a touch I knew I'd never feel again.