Disclaimer: I don't own William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet or Midsummer Night's Dream

Ch. 15: A Reason To Recite

"Tristan," Luka called out loudly. Gabriella was sitting in the kitchen, watching as little Luka paced back and forth waiting for Tristan to come down. "It doesn't take that long to get dress," she heard Luka mumbled.

"Where are you two going, Luka," Gabriella inquired. Tristan told her that he couldn't leave the Castle so it brought curiosity to her.

Luka looked at Gabriella, "We are going to the meadows that are within the Castle grounds. We do this trip occasionally. It's my day with Tristan, if he comes."

"I'm here," Tristan appeared. He smiled at Gabriella, waving at her slightly before Luka looked at him.

"Tristan, let's go," Luka grabbed Tristan's arm. Tristan smiled and stopped the little boy before he pulled away for a second from Luka and approached Gabriella.

She felt a blush takeover her face as she stood up and immediately hugged him. He kissed her cheek and the corner of her mouth before whispering, "I'll be out for a bit."

"I'll be up still," she whispered back.

Luka rolled his eyes slightly, "Tris, there isn't a lot of time."Tristan pulled back and smiled before walking off with Luka.

They walked outside to the stable as Tristan climbed onto his horse and pulled Luka on the horse with him. They rode off further onto the castle grounds, moving toward a meadow that was isolated. Luka immediately jumped off the horse and tagged Tristan, "You're it!"

"Wait, what," Tristan chuckled before he jumped off the horse and began to chase after Luka.

Luka enjoyed these times with Tristan, being alone with him was different than being with his mother and father. Tristan acted like an older brother and an uncle at the same time for him. When he was born, Tristan took care of Luka for a bit at age fifteen when his curse first came. Luka was never scared of Tristan's scars but embraced them, every time he would get a cut, he would always say, "I got one like Tristan." He said it was such pride that Abby told Tristan that he would always look up to him no matter what.

Luka hid from Tristan waiting for him to find him. Hide and seek was his favorite game especially when playing against Tristan for when Tristan hid, he hid in some interesting places. Luka hid in a tree, standing on a branch until he saw Tristan walking under the tree branch. "Where are you, Luka," he called out.

"Right here," Luka suddenly jumped on Tristan's back with Tristan letting out a loud humph from the impact. Luka giggled as Tristan spun the little boy on his shoulders. "Tristan, you are going to get me sick," Luka laughed.

Tristan stopped spinning placing the boy down. "Your fault for jumping on me," Tristan told him.

"I know."

A light chuckle came from Tristan as he lower the boy down to the ground. Luka took his hand, "I'm hungry."

"I figure. Come on, let's see what your Mama packed for us." Luka lead Tristan back to the horse, going into the satchel pulling out two sandwiches. He handed Tristan his food as he sat down next to him, looking up at the sky.

Tristan laid back as Luka looked at him. "Can I ask you something," Luka wondered. Tristan looked at Luka and nodded. Even thought Luka was six, he understood many things for his age. Luka looked at Tristan, "Do you think Gabriella is staying here forever?"

Tristan was caught off guard by the question. He wasn't sure if she would stay forever, she decided to stay now but it was possible she would go. "I'm not sure, Luka," he answered.

"I hope she does. I really love her. She can be your wife right?"

"Luka…it's not that simple."

Luka looked at him confused, "It sounds simple. You tell Gabby I love you and she does the same and then happily ever after like the stories." Tristan sighed softly seeing the innocence in the statement and Luka went into Tristan's lap, he hugged his best friend.

Tristan hugged him back, kissing the top of his head as he sighed, "I have an idea but I need your help. Can you help?"

Luka pulled back and gave a big grin to Tristan before he nodded enthusiastically.

Luka entered the Castle first, running into the kitchen. Abby looked up when her son entered and smiled, "Did you enjoy your day with Tristan?"

Luka nodded as he sat down in a seat, "Yup. I lost a couple times when he found me but I won a lot too."

"That's good sweetie," Abby smiled at her son. She walked over to her son and ran her fingers through her son's hair. "Anything else?"

"I was wondering if you knew where Gabby was? Tristan and I have a plan," her son replied.

Abby raised an eyebrow before smiling, "Do you need help?" Immediately Luka nodded as his mother bent down so her son could whisper in her ear.

B&B

Gabriella was in the rose garden, just admiring them. A day without Tristan or Luka nearby was quite different. The Castle was somewhat quiet besides Constant and the General arguing about the same old things. They were definitely husband and wife but you can see also love within those words. She sighed before she felt two arms hugging her, she giggled before she turned to hug Luka back. "How was your day with Tristan," she asked.

He smiled up at her, "It was good. We had a lot of fun."

"That's great."

Luka smiled, "Gabby, can you come with me?"

"Sure," Gabriella looked at the little boy confused. Luka took her hand and began to pull his friend, leading her back inside the Castle. They quickly walked up the staircase until they reached Gabriella's room. They walked onto the balcony with Gabriella looking at him confused, "Why are we on the balcony?"

"You'll see," Luka giggled before running off.

She gave a confused look for a moment, walking up to the railing. Suddenly she noticed Aaron on the square below with Luka with him. They were dressed differently and giggled as Aaron adjusted his hat that had a feather on it. He looked at Luka with a confused look, she could see that he wasn't happy with the hat as he pulled it off, handing it to his son.

Suddenly Abby came into the room, Gabriella turned, "What's going on?" Abby simply smiled before handing a book to her, Gabriella looked down at it to read the title, Romeo and Juliet. She smiled softly, remembering something that happened earlier in the week.

B&B

Gabriella was sitting in the library, reading intently in Tristan's chair. She was so immerse in her book that she did not hear the footsteps entering in the room. She was so engross in the book that she began to read the lines aloud. "Nay, good Lysander, for my sake, my dear, lie further off yet, do not lie so near," she read.

"O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence," Gabriella quickly turned to see Tristan at the ladder. He was looking at the bookcase with his glasses on. He continued to recite the line as he looked for his book.

"Love takes the meaning in love's conference.

I mean, that my heart unto yours is knit

So that but one heart we can make of it;

Two bosoms interchained with an oath;

So then two bosoms and a single troth.

Then by your side no bed-room me deny;

For lying so, Hermia, I do not lie."

Gabriella looked astonished, "You memorized that."

Tristan looked down at her and shrugged, "Unfortunately."

"Why so unfortunate? You recited it so wonderfully," Gabriella told him.

"It was part of my teachings. It was never fun to memorize Shakespeare, the poet puts too much."

"I love his poetry and his plays. I love Romeo and Juliet the most, it's so beautiful," she confessed to Tristan. "I'm surprised you can recite so well."

"There are many things I can recite."

B&B

She held the book tightly as she heard Aaron cleared his throat. She looked down as he spoke loudly, "Ladies and gentleman, I present you a scene of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet."

Tristan then walked out. He wore a blue cape with a dark blue clothes, he cleared his throat as he looked up at Gabriella.

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."

He smiled at her as Gabriella looked for a moment confused then looked down at the book to see a rose in it. She opened to the page that he was reciting as she read it reciting back.

"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,

Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,

And palm to palm is holy palmer's kiss."

Tristan smiled as he began to climb up the ladder that was close by, climbing up slowly, "Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?"

"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer," she replied as she walked closer to where he was climbing. He finally reached the balcony, he stepped onto the balcony as he pulled her closer, "O' then dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."

"Saints do not move, though grant for prayer's sake."

She placed the book down as she wrapped her arms around his neck as he held her close to him, "Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."

Suddenly unexpectedly he leaned down and kissed her cheek, she kissed his cheek back then the corner of his mouth immediately then she pulled back smiling up at him, "Then have my lips the sin that they have took."

Tristan smiled back as he whispered, "Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again."

He then leaned down and gave a small kiss on her lips catching her off guard as she wanted to kiss back immediately but he pulled back quickly. Gabriella felt a blush take over as she replied softly, "You kiss by the book, Tristan."

Tristan smiled, "I told I recited but I never really had reason too."

"What's your reason to do that now," she wondered.

Tristan hugged her softly as he whispered to her ear, "I have someone to recite it to." Gabriella smiled against his chest as she leaned up to kiss his chin. Tristan looked up to see Luka at the doorway with thumbs up as Tristan mouthed to him, 'Nice work, Luk.'

"So when do we go?"

"You said her friend is ill, correct?"

"Yes, why does that matter?"

"It might be useful for our advantages."

I'm the biggest sap on Earth but I love to be a sap LOL…Review, PM, etc.