"Did you enjoy your evening?" Oz said as he came into the garden.

I grimace grinned as my leg ached.

He sat down and tried to look at my sketch but I hid it from him and tucked the book in my bag. "It's a surprised." I said in answer to his raised eyebrows.

His smiled made me happy and he slid his right arm around my shoulders. "Oh, I don't know what I'm going to do without you over break." He said mournfully as I snuggled into his side.

"You'll wait for me to get back, of course." I said smiling.

Elise, after she finished berating me over leaving her team behind to go fight, told me that she hadn't forgotten her promise and that I'd be spending my break with her and Elin in their hometown of Vasilius.

"Of course I will." He said and I tilted my head up for a kiss.

Tuesday I would leave with the Thayet's for break. I would miss Oz so much. His closeness and his ever listening ear and his unending compassion and patience with me.

There was no one who made me feel so safe as Oz.

Ever since he rescued me from the Forest of Forever Fall, he had been my safe haven, always full of wise words, good advice and a shoulder for me to lean on.

"You're so unbelievably beautiful, Dahlia. How did I get so blessed as to have you in my life?"

I laughed. "And you say you're not a romantic."

"I'm not. I've never done this before, darling. I have no idea what I am doing so I'm going to keep going with what I've been doing till I make a mistake."

I kissed his cheek. "You're doing wonderfully."

He smiled.

His very presence eased the burden I had shouldered earlier that evening. Omar was going to come for me. He'd never let go of what was his.

But when Oz wrapped his strong arms around me, it didn't matter. I was safe. And when we kissed, I felt a fire building inside me.

"You shouldn't go looking for trouble, dear one." He murmured after our lips parted. I smiled at him saucily.

"What makes you think I look for it?" He laughed and pulled me closer.

"You wear trouble like a crown."

I smiled. It was pretty true.

I nuzzled his cheek and he sighed happily. I liked that I made him feel so good.

"I'm glad you're safe. You scare me whenever you do things like you did tonight. Though how you and the others knew is something I am most interested in." He murmured. I kissed him sweetly. "A magician never reveals her secrets. I don't know what you are going to do when I become a Huntress. Besides it'll take much more than those children in the White Fang and a crook like Torchwick to take me down. I've tangled with him before. He is... afraid of me." I said shrugging.

"Who wouldn't be afraid of being on your bad side?" He said chuckling. "Obviously the Winchester brothers. They have no problem being in my bad book." He shook his head.

He wanted to beat those boys but he wouldn't let his personal feelings for me affect his work. "They are fools." He said running his fingers over my upper arm. It rose goose bumps on my skin. "Very much so. Honestly there isn't much to say about how we knew. Just happenchance, I suppose." I focused on the feeling of his touch on my skin.

"Your sister said something of the same when I spoke with her earlier. Just in the right place, at the right time." He said. He was worried over me and Blake.

"You needn't worry about me, Oz. I'll always be okay." I murmured sleepily. He kissed my head. "I'll always worry. I can't help it. I worry for those I care about. Especially someone I care about as much and as deeply as I do you, Dahlia."

I smiled at his protectiveness. It felt nice to be protected.

"Go to sleep, darling." He said getting us both on our feet.

"I'll dream of you. You'll chase away my nightmares." I said as he guided me out.

We hugged, "Of course I will. And you mine." He said before we kissed. I never kissed him how I wanted to. He was still too reserved. But one day, I'd show him how I wanted to.

"Goodnight, Oz." I said, limping away. "Goodnight, Dahlia." He said before he slowly walked away.

When I went to sleep, I dreamt of Oz happily before the nightmares came. I knew they would, but the first bit gave me hope.

My life wouldn't always be a nightmare.

Monday I packed the three teams into a transporter and excitedly chatted as we headed to Daren's dance studio aptly name The Dance.

Everyone was smiling, never seeing before how excited I got over dancing. And everyone was curious as to who Daren Glass was.

Daren, Dahlia's personal pain reliever.

There was much speculation that Daren was the secret tryst I went to see last night. Elin had been awake, wondering at my empty bed when I came back in from my time with Oz. I hadn't even seen him before I toppled into bed.

I couldn't very well tell them that I had been canoodling with the school's Headmaster. That would be taken worse than the gay relationship in my group. No one would understand.

So I had kept my lips sealed, letting them make up their own theories since no one would ever think that young, vibrant Dahlia would be falling for the older Huntsman.

So I let them pander back and forth and prayed the Daren wouldn't mind playing the part a bit.

When we arrived, we were greeted by the dramatic Daren Glass. He had cleaned himself up and was prepared to show off.

"My dearest Quicksilver. These are your compatriots?" He said kissing my knuckles. I smiled. "Yes, These are my friends. Everyone this is Daren Glass, Dance extraordinaire. Daren, this is Elise, Elin and Peyton, part of my team. This is Weiss, Ruby, Yang and Blake of team RWBY and Pyrrha, Nora, Ren and Jaune of team JNPR." He smiled and bowed. "Welcome to the Dance. I have dance attire prepared for you in the back." I nodded and We entered his magnificent studio and I showed them straight to the back to dress.

The boys complained about having to dance but I stared at them till they did as I said.

We changed into the generic dance outfit. A plain black leotard and mesh skirt and black heels.

The boys were in something similar but they wore black pants instead and polished black dance shoes.

Ruby was unhappy with the heels but she'd never learn if she didn't practice. And they were short heels anyways.

There would be a dance before the festival and I was determined that Beacon would put on a good show.

Then I vanished behind a curtain and waited for Daren.

"I like your friends, Quicksilver. They're a good bunch. Athletic. They'll make fine dancers. I had some of my other students come to be their partners." He said sitting down next to me.

"I'm excited Daren. I want them to love dancing." I said as he placed his hand on my leg and eased the pain.

"I have a favor to ask you, Daren." I murmured. He smiled. "Anything for my partner." His said grinning.

Daren was a great guy but I didn't feel anything for him but friendship and gratitude. And thank all Gods, he felt the same. I had too many secrets for him. He couldn't figure me out. He cherished our friendship but he had never really cared that deeply for anyone and I certainly wasn't going to be the first. We were best friends and nothing more, which made the favor that much easier.

"I need you to let some of the people in the room think that we are having a secret tryst." His eyebrow went up and I felt his intense confusion.

"I'm seeing another man but it has to be kept a secret. It's not exactly a relationship people would approve of. And some of my friends won't stop trying to figure it out. They think it's you and I'm willing to let them think that to keep it that way to keep my real relationship a secret." Daren got an excited look in his eyes. He liked nothing better than a good drama.

"I'll do it. It won't be hard but... you have to tell me who it is."

I groaned. I had hoped he wouldn't want to know. "I won't do it unless I know who I'm helping you have a tryst with."

My leg didn't hurt and it was time to start. "I'll tell you after." I said defensively. I didn't want anyone to try to get to Oz. Our relationship was supposed to be a secret.

"Oh, yes you will." He said smirking before taking my hand and leading me out.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please take your seats." He announced. His students mingled with my friends, preparing to pair up.

Then the music started, fast and lively. Music from Vacuo always was.

My heels clicked as I entered, centered on both my legs, without pain, smiling at my friends. Daren came and took my hand with a flourish.

He pulled me to him and together we began the incredibly complicated footwork to the song.

I was spun around a lot and my hair was a silver blur.

It was exciting and fun and I smiled the whole time as I was thrown in the air, spun and flipped. I moved my hips and feet at blinding speeds, dropping into splits and back without a blink.

Fighting and dancing were exactly alike, except, no one had to died when dancing.

I hadn't even broken a sweat when we hit the finishing pose.

Elise cheered wildly, eager to try.

Her partner was looking a little nervous to dance with my little friend. Her enthusiasm was formidable.

The biggest girl took Peyton much to Elin's slight chagrin. I nudged Elin over with the girls so that he could learn the female role in the dance. He and Peyton would be partners together during the Beacon Ball and it made this much easier.

"Men on this side, ladies on this side. My students show them the steps. In ten, we partner up.

I accepted the water he offered. "I think before they leave we need to give them something more. I want to do In Noctem." That was the piece we had planned for the festival. It was a slow, sad , beautiful piece that spoke to the heart.

"Are you sure? They might not be ready for that."

But Daren was firm. He wanted to perform our piece and gauge the audience.

I agreed, more or less indifferent to his choice. Though, I did love In Noctem.

After ten minutes, everyone paired up and began to practice a dance similar to the one Daren and I had just performed, but much slower and less complicated.

There was nervousness and tentative enjoyment that blossomed into real joy. Even Ruby and Peyton who didn't particularly like dancing began to enjoy themselves once they got used to the movements. I loved watching Blake dance. She was incredibly graceful; a natural, just like her big sis. She smiled happily when she saw me staring.

Jaune was incredibly good, a testament to his seven sisters.

But Elise's partner had trouble keeping up. "Daren, I think you should take Elise. She's wearing your kid out." I said.

Daren gracefully walked over to Elise, eyeing her curvaceous figure with heat and smiled before cutting in and bowing to Elise who blushed.

Well, Daren was easy on the eyes.

Her partner took a break with me. "Jeez, that girl is annoying. Pretty but annoying." He whined.

I felt very cold and it showed in my eyes. "She's a wonderful girl, with incredible talents and a beautiful soul." I whispered. He snorted.

"She's my best friend, boyo. So you might want to reconsider your statement before I get angry." I murmured deadly calm. I could feel his mounting panic.

"I-I'm so sorry, Ma'am."

I nodded and turned back to the dancers, refusing to speak with the ill-mannered boy.

With Daren, Elise calmed and I could feel her happiness like a warm glow.

Daren even felt himself warm to the bouncy, blunt blonde girl with her big pretty brown eyes.

This was a good idea.

By the end, all my friends were proficient in the one dance. Once we all got back from break, we would begin them on ballroom dancing.

Then Daren called everyone to attention. "Dahlia and I will be performing in the Vytal dance Contest and we want to give you a sneak peek. Tell us what you think."

I had changed my heels into the flat ballet pointe shoes with ribbons winding up my calves.

In Noctem was a dance of love, life and tragedy.

It was dramatic and slow and graceful. It asked for forgiveness and spoke of the lovely night and touching the stars, speaking to the dark sadness that resides within all creatures.

It promised remembrance for all time.

In Noctem moved me to tears. Even after all the practice I did, when Daren and I finished with the last slow flourish, I had to wipe away a tear that sat in the corner of my eye.

I wasn't the only one.

I left with my friends chattering and smiling, everyone feeling wonderful, lifting my spirits. I almost forgot about the threat looming over my head.

Almost.