{Chapter VI "The Masquerade Ball"}

Unsurpringly, the Vargas' masquerade ball was as grand as ever. It was held in their large backyard that included a dance floor. Everything was decorated for Mardi Gras, people were dancing in humorous costumes, and the delicious aroma of New Orleans food danced around them. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, even Lovino who was selling his wonderful beignets. Everyone, that is, except Feliciano and the obviously missing Prince Antonio.

"Hand me those napkins now!" Feliciano exclaimed as he ran over to Lovino's table and grabbed as many napkins that could fit in his hands.

"Why?" Lovino asked slightly annoyed because he needed those napkins to hand out the beignets.

"I'm sweating like a sinner in church."

Lovino smirked. "Says the gay one."

Feliciano glared at him. "You're one to talk."

"Hey, we both know that I am not sure of my preferences because I've never dated anyone."

"Well none of that matters right now because the prince isn't here! My prince is never coming!"

"Feli, people are still coming-"

"I never get anything I wish for!" Feliciano ran up the stairs to the deck overlooking the entire party while Lovino ran after him, holding the crown he threw off. "Maybe I just have to wish harder!"

"Feli you can't expect to wish on a star and-"

"Please, please, please, please!"

"Feli listen to me-" Suddenly fanfares started playing.

"Ladies and gentlemen! His Royal Highness, Prince Antonio!" Someone announced as the Prince started walking forward. Lovino could have sworn that the Prince look familiar. Lovino gasped. It was that bastard who winked at him outside the café! He'd blown off a prince! But because Lovino was Lovino, he was more proud of himself than sorry.

Feliciano was watching the Prince with a slightly predatory glance that worried Lovino. He put back on his crown since it 'completed' his prince costume, and whistled so a spot light shone brightly down on his smiling face. The Prince stopped at the base of the stairs and offered a hand. Feliciano quickly ran down the stairs and tugged the Prince into a dancing position, letting him take the lead. Lovino walked down the stairs, humming along to the song playing as Feliciano waltzed with the Prince.

"Hello Lovino," someone said.

Lovino gasped and turned to face the Fenner brothers. "Hello Mr. Fenner and Mr. Fenner," he replied.

"Are those beignets I smell?" The shorter of the two brothers asked.

Lovino smiled and offered them the plate. "It sure is! These will be the house specialty once I sign those papers you brought."

"About that, you were out bid," the taller brother said and he took another beignet.

Lovino's smile instantly fell. "What?"

"A nice gentleman came in and offered the full amount in cash," the shorter one said.

"Unless you can top his offer by Wednesday, well you can say goodbye to your restaurant," the taller one explained.

"Do you know how long it took me to save that money?" Lovino exclaimed.

"Exactly! This is why a young man of your…background would have had his hands full trying to run a business like that. It's better that a fellow with more experience has an old place like that. You're better off where you're at."

"Now hold on a minute!" Lovino protested as he tried to grab onto the tail of the shorter Fenner's costume. The tail was not supposed to be pulled on and it popped right off, causing Lovino to stumbled backwards into the table he used for his beignets, and in the process getting jam, honey, and powdered sugar all over his Renaissance-era styled costume.

"Lovi!" Feliciano called as he walked over to the table still looking at the Prince. "It's time to give Prince Charming some of you…what happened?" He asked once he noticed Lovino sitting on the ground trying his best to get the stuff off of his costume.

"I just…fell," Lovino replied sadly.

"Oh dear, well follow me Lovi. I bet I have just the outfit for you!" Lovino followed Feliciano up the stairs, into the house, and into his room where he gave Lovino a prince costume, much like his but more realistic seeing as how Feliciano's seemed to have some sparkles on it. "Oh Lovi, did you see the way he danced with me? A marriage proposal can't be far behind. Thank you, Evening Star!" Feliciano told Lovino as he changed. "You know, I was starting to think that wishing on stars was for children and crazy people." He gasped when Lovino emerged from the bathroom. "Well look at you. You look even more handsome than the Prince himself." Feliciano grabbed a crown and put it on Lovino's head. "Doesn't it seem like only yesterday we were just little boys, dreaming our days away? And tonight both of our dreams are coming true." Lovino could only nod and stare down at the floor. "Well I best be getting back to the Prince. Wish me luck!" As Feliciano ran out of the room and back into the Prince's waiting arms, Lovino pulled out the picture Romulus gave him all those years ago and wiped the tears away that threatened to fall down.

"Almost," he sang sadly, his voice breaking at the end.

"Almost there

People would have come from everywhere

I was almost…there"

A/N: I always felt so bad for Tiana after watching that scene in the movie, and now I feel bad for Lovino even thought I wrote it! I didn't even feel this bad when I killed off one of my favourite characters in the "short" story I wrote for English. Maybe I just need sleep and tea. We ran out of tea on Christmas and I haven't slept at all in over 24 hours. Is that a bad thing?

Ciao, Athineath~