Flash,

I'm here. I'm in Paris. If vague correspondence is all you'll give, then I'll take what I can. I will be attending 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at the Théâtre du Palais-Royal. Will you be there? I am extending my visit to Paris, for a month. I want to meet you. Perhaps that is forward, and forgive my bluntness, but I have the most irritating need to know who you are.

Your last letter left an impact on me, Flash. Never think you aren't good enough. I'm truly sorry for your family losing a child son young, but you must know that if anything, you brought new joy into their home rather than a set of expectations to meet. I am not familiar with your family, but they sound like lovely people, who care about each other. You should speak to your mother about your feelings. Love heals all wounds, sweetheart.

Why are you hiding from me, Flash? Why are you so afraid to trust me in knowing your identity? We are alike, you know. We're both searching for something. If you're afraid of my reaction, don't be. I'm not shallow. I have flaws…I have a scar on my side from an accident I had as a child. My older brother, Raphael, and I had taken down the decorative swords out of our trophy room. Needless to say, I ended up with a blade impaled in my side, though it luckily did not pierce me too far.

What else can I tell you to reassure you? Are you afraid I won't like Cleo? I adore animals of all species. I have a dog, you know. He's a hunting dog named Arthur. Strange name, I know, but he's so noble and loyal, I named him for King Arthur. He does like to believe he's king of my house.

Flash, please come find me. I am staying at the Saint James and Albany hotel. Room 226.

I will find you, Flash.

I have to find you…you aren't allowed to pull me in and pull away. At least give me a chance. Let me prove to you that you can trust me.

I don't want to return to London without at least knowing your name.

Please just give me that.

Yours,

Colin

Anna read the last two words of the letter once more. Yours, Colin. Yours. The tone of their letters had suddenly taken a turn. They were heading down the dangerous path of being romantic in nature, which had never been her intention. She had simply been curious about him. With each new detail that she learned about his life, she found herself more drawn to him. It had been a week since Esme's wedding, and Anna had been plagued every day with her last interaction with Colin Moreau. He'd invited her to the theater and she'd told him no.

Why?

She still could not determine what had made her tell him no. Even if she hadn't been writing to him, she was in no position to turn down invitations from gentlemen. Anna was twenty, which was still young, but she was the only twenty year old that she knew of who had never been courted. She certainly didn't want to be alone forever and could do much worse that Colin. As Anna Reynolds, she understood that. As Flash…she wasn't ready to reveal herself. She wasn't ready to give up their letters and found herself wondering if he would be so sweet in person. Would the reality measure up to the person he had portrayed himself to be in his letters. Especially this one.

A knock at her door made Anna jump and shove the letter underneath her pillow before straightening her dress.

"Coming!" She cried, hurtling across the room and opening the door to stare down at her mother, who was smiling.

"You have a visitor, Annie." Anna stared blankly at her.

"Who?" It came out as a murmur, almost afraid of the answer. Her mother's face broke into a sunny grin.

"Simon." Meg told her gently. "Were you expecting someone else?" Anna scowled.

"What does he want?" She muttered, following her mother down the stairs and into the parlor, where her brother was in full evening dress, looking somewhat apologetic.

"Annie, I'm desperate." He said, coming to her. Anna gave her brother a suspicious look, trying to smother her disappointment. "Julienne is not feeling well tonight and we were going to see A Midsummer Night's Dream." He sighed. "Will you come?"

"No!" Anna cried, remembering that she'd already refused one invitation to see it. She couldn't very well show up at the theatre anyway. Simon's eyes widened in surprise.

"Annie!" Her mother scolded, giving her brother an apologetic look. Anna sighed, feeling bad. "She would love to go." Knowing she had lost the battle, she slumped in defeat.

"Give me twenty minutes." She groaned, dashing back up to the comfort of her room with her mother close at her heels.

"You've been melancholy lately, Darling." Meg told her, shutting the door quietly. As always, she was calm, a soothing presence while Anna's mind was filled with chaos and panic. "I won't press you for answers…but you need to get out. You are twenty. You should be having fun, meeting young men…" Meg opened Anna's closet and threw her daughter an expectant look. "What color?"

"You pick." Anna said, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Grace thinks you're in love with someone. Are you?"

"Mother, I never get out as you said. Where would I have met said mystery fellow?" Anna pointed out, standing so that her mother could help her out of her day dress and into the light blue evening gown. It was one of her prettiest, matching her eyes exactly, made of silk and trimmed with white lace and beads. The neckline scooped low and the sleeves puffed off her shoulders. She had never had the chance to wear it. Flowing gently from the back was a train, also trimmed with lace and beads.

"You look like a painting." Meg gushed, pulling Anna's long golden hair back and carefully pinning it into elegant waves. To top it off, her mother placed a pearl headpiece perfectly over it. Anna allowed herself to finally look at her own reflection and was stunned by what she saw. A beauty stared back at her. That was a woman who knew what she wanted and how to get it. This was Flash.

"Perfect." Her mother assured her, handing Anna the white opera length gloves and helping her step into her silver slippers. "Oh, Anna." Anna hugged her mother tightly, kissing her on the cheek.

"Thank you for making me do this." Swallowing her pride, she forced herself to hold her head high. "Well?" Anna held her arms out and turned a circle before her mother to which she nodded approvingly.

Simon reacted similarly, both embarrassing and flattering her. His mouth actually dropped open when she came into the parlor where he was tapping his foot impatiently. Quirking a teasing eyebrow at him, she managed half a smirk.

"Yes?"

"Annie...when did you grow up?"

"At least two years ago, Brother." Anna informed him, shrugging. "You were busy chasing skirts and all that nonsense." Simon made a noise of dismissal.

"It seems we both had some growing up to do, yes?" His smile was in his voice as he offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

"I can't help but be mildly offended." Anna told him cheekily, unable to suppress a grin. "I was your last resort."

"No, you were my second choice." He corrected. "My wife was my first choice."

Anna frowned, thinking of her pregnant sister-in-law feeling ill.

"Poor Julienne." Her brother nodded regretfully.

"I can't help but feel it's my fault." Simon admitted, causing Anna to laugh at him.

"Technically it is." She agreed, squeezing his arm. "But I'm sure it's all going to be worth it."

"It will be." Simon sighed, before the pair said goodbye to their mother and Anna told her to give Papa her love. Even though she was a jumble of nerves regarding attending the play, she was also somewhat excited. She liked Shakespeare. The way the words flowed was a soothing, beautiful sound.

Anna felt like someone important when they arrived in front of the Théâtre du Palais-Royal. People turned to stare at she and her brother, golden haired and very similar looking. It was obvious that they were related. The building was lit spectacularly with candles everywhere. A brilliant crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, saturating the golden hued room with a warm glow. Anna found herself staring at everything with the reverence of a child.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Her brother observed, seeing her delight. She could only nod. "I've been here a few times."

"It's even more beautiful than the opera house, Simon." She breathed, hearing him chuckle before she gasped. "Oh Simon, look." Dragging him with her, she pointed up at the ceiling. Enchanted, she could feel a small smile forming.

"Oh thank goodness." A female voice came from nearby. Anna realized Nora Holden was standing there, looking gratefully at her…with her cousin, Colin.

Anna's stomach dropped. Colin was even more handsome than she remembered. His hair was the color of dark chocolate, neatly brushed. In contrast, it made his startling silver eyes stand out in his tanned face. He was dazzling.

"You have no idea what we've been through." Nora exclaimed, rushing forward to take Anna's hands. Distantly, Anna realized that she was supposed to be listening to her friend. Tearing her eyes discreetly away from him, she forced herself to look into Nora's blue eyes. "We drove with Giselle and Beau, who fought the entire way here."

"Over what?" Anna asked vaguely.

"Who even knows?" Nora looked back at her cousin. "What was she blathering about?"

"Something to do with him ignoring her and sending mixed signals?" Colin answered, looking unsure himself. "It was an ugly affair." He shuddered. Anna felt his eyes on her and forced herself to keep looking at Nora.

"To which the poor idiot was so confused he didn't know whether to apologize or burst into tears." Nora shook her head as the two men started a discussion about motor cars.

"Oh, here we go." Anna groaned, linking her arm through Nora's. "Don't get my brother started on technology."

"Soon, everyone will be driving them." Simon was telling Colin enthusiastically. "The need for horses is going to diminish."

"In America, they're already quite popular." Colin agreed. Nora let out a long exhale of irritation and swatted her cousin on the arm.

"It's pathetic enough that I'm spending my night on the arm of my cousin." She grumbled. "Don't make me listen to business."

"Habit." Colin shrugged; grinning at her while Simon gave him her card.

"Anyway," Anna's brother went on, "I'd love to have a meeting sometime. We are in the same field, after all."

"Oh absolutely, I'll let you know Monday." Colin told him, turning to Anna and nodding politely. "Miss Reynolds."

"Monsieur Moreau." Anna said, trying to remind herself that tonight she was going to be Flash. His eyes flickered with amusement.

"How nice of you to accompany your brother tonight." He told her, winking. Anna felt her face flush, remembering her rejection of him.

"Yes well, somebody has to tolerate him." She quipped, somehow feigning confidence. Simon gave her a look, chuckling.

"I heard that."

"You were meant to." She insisted, looking around as the lights dimmed to indicate that it was time to find their seats. They all said their goodbyes and parted ways, but Anna thought that Colin's eyes lingered momentarily on her.

Colin could see Anna Reynolds from his seat. She was just across the aisle from him, seated beside her brother. He'd found her to be attractive the prior two times that they'd met, but tonight…

She was unearthly.

Her golden hair waved delicately back from her doll-like face, creating a sort of blonde halo. It was topped with a pearl confection, making her seem some sort of lost princess. That color on her…cerulean to match those blue sky eyes she possessed. It made him wish that she had agreed to come with him instead of her brother.

Certainly she hadn't turned him down in favor of her brother. In fact, it had been indicated that Simon was supposed to have attended with his wife, Colin's cousin Julienne. She was under the weather due to her delicate condition. So why had she rejected him?

Colin for the life of himself would never understand the inner workings of the female mind.

Why had Flash not told him her name? How would she react to the last letter? Would she take his bait and come to find him? Perhaps she was in this very room…perhaps she, along with much of Parisian society had come to see the show, which he could not remember the name of presently. Looking down at the program, he read A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare.

Looking once more at Anna, he noticed her eyes were on him and gave her a smile, indicating that he had no idea what was happening. She reluctantly returned his smile and turned her face forward, looking very intently on the action. Colin tried to enjoy the play, he truly did. His mind was just everywhere else. It wasn't until it was over and the lights came up that he realized he could not remember one thing that had happened.

Nora looked somewhat soothed from her earlier sour mood. She was smiling, at least. That was a good thing.

"The colors were beautiful…and it was so romantic, don't you think?" Nora asked. Colin turned to her, bemused.

"What?" He asked. Her eyes narrowed at him.

"Oh, you are a detestable date, Colin Moreau." She informed him, but laughed despite herself. "Come on; let's go to the reception before all of the little old ladies steal the food." Colin gave his cousin his arm, leading her through the crowd. Simon and Anna Reynolds were just ahead of them, talking softly back and forth.

"I didn't understand a word of it." Simon was complaining, shaking his head. Anna chuckled melodically.

"It's poetry, Simon. You're far too literal minded a person to appreciate it."

"I just don't understand how putting some kind of magic nectar on somebody's eyelids will make them fall in love with someone else." Reynolds shook his head.

"It's a fairytale." Anna countered gently, knowing exactly how to speak to her brother. "It's beautiful." Somehow, they all made it out into the reception area.

"I'm going to find Giselle and Beau to make sure they haven't torn each other to shreds." Nora informed Colin once they had each accepted a glass of champagne. He didn't mind at all. In fact, it gave him the chance to scan the room for possible matches for Flash. The sea of gray hair was endless, it seemed. There were not as many young ladies as he would have thought. The first one who caught his eye was standing nearby, looking undecidedly into her own champagne.

"Miss Reynolds?" Colin asked, stepping toward her. Her shoulders jerked as she jumped a bit.

"Oh, hello again." She smiled warmly at him, sending a disgusting wave of euphoria through his gut. Her eyes were luminous in the dim chandelier light, casting a honeyed glow over her face and the exposed area above her lace bodice. "My brother has been sucked into the world of business, I'm afraid." She pointed to where Simon Reynolds was chatting with two gentlemen.

"And leaving you to the lecherous stares of all these old men?" Colin chuckled. Anna turned pink, but kept her smile.

"I'll survive." She assured him, sipping her drink. "As long as I don't go near the éclairs." She added with a wink. "My mother would certainly murder me if I ruined this dress the first night out in it." Colin laughed, feeling the oddest sense of déjà vu listening to her talk. The timbre of her voice seemed very familiar to him, though he couldn't think why.

"What does the 'C' stand for?" He asked, noting the initials on her satin reticule around her wrist.

"Sorry?" She asked, meeting his eyes in confusion. He slowly pointed to the embroidered letters. "Oh! Christine." She explained. "It's my middle name. For my Godmother, the Comtesse de Chagny."

"Ah." Colin acknowledged. "I wasn't aware that you were Lady de Chagny's Godchild."

"Yes," Anna remarked. "She and my mother were raised as sisters by my grandmother. Lady de Chagny was an orphan, and my grandmother was very good friends with her father. Since she had no one else, she took Christine in. She and my mother were extremely close."

"Well, that does make sense." He said, studying Anna's hair. "I never noticed before, but you have red in your hair." He told her. Anna smiled, blushing again. Colin thought to himself that there was really no lovelier sight than a prettily blushing woman.

"I inherited that from Grandmother." She admitted. "Still blonde, but just slightly different from the rest of the family. Like everything else." He heard her add under her breath. Attempting to steer the direction of the conversation elsewhere, he gestured to her dress.

"You know, if you don't mind my being completely inappropriate for a moment, I must confess that you should most definitely wear that color more often. It exactly matches the color of your eyes, you know."

"That's what Mother told me." Anna laughed, shrugging helplessly. "I can't tell her she's right. There will be no living with her."

"No, of course. Just between us." Colin assured her, seeing the fragile way she held the stem of her glass between her fingers as she lifted it to her lips for another sip. "It's my favorite color, you know." Her eyes turned up toward his momentarily, full of hesitation once again. Perhaps he had come on too strong.

"I didn't know that." She said, offering him another one of her porcelain doll smiles. His eyes fell to her free hand, which appeared to be nervously toying with the pearls sewn onto her gown.

"Yes, that exact shade." He went on, watching her reaction of mild surprise. At least she didn't look bored. "What is your favorite color?" He heard himself utter, thinking of Flash's initial description of her love of the color green. A cautious smile made her bite her bottom lip sweetly.

"What color do you think is my favorite?" She asked cleverly. Was she flirting or did merely not know how engaging she was?

"Pink?" He guessed, opting for the most common answer. Anna's attractive little nose scrunch up in distaste when she shook her head. "Purple?" Again, she indicated he was wrong. Taking a chance, Colin felt his heartbeat speed up.

"Green?"

Anna did not get a chance to answer, however, as her brother rejoined them wearily at precisely that moment.

"Apologies." He said, kissing his sister's cheek. "That man will talk for hours if you allow him. I had to hear stories about the war from forty years ago. He's nearly eighty, you know."

"Bless him." Anna said affectionately, staring after the elderly man. "We should all be so lucky to live that long." Simon grunted in response.

"Come Sis, dance with me?" He said, holding his hand out to Anna, who set her champagne glass down on the table and set her small gloved hand into her brother's, giving Colin a mock resigned lock.

"He's only asking me so I don't get asked by any other gentlemen." She grinned mischievously. "Overprotective."

"Trust me, sweetheart, you don't want to dance with these old lechers." Simon Reynolds insisted to his sister.

"Your brother is right." Colin agreed, unable to stop smiling. "Perhaps I should find my own date." He watched the pair disappear into the crowd and fall into the waltz easily, keeping up easy conversation with each other. Once more, Anna's eyes flitted back to his. Nodding one last time, he turned back to finding Nora.

I'm trying to pace things accordingly, but it's so hard when I just want to throw them into each others' arms for no good reason! haha...don't worry, I won't.

Thank you for reading. :)