Disclaimer: Ma Belle Evangeline belongs to Disney and was originally sung by Jim Cummings

Again I changed the song a little, only the name from Evangeline to Jeanne, to fit the story line.

{Chapter XII "Learning from Each Other"}

"'We talk too,'" Antonio quoted and laughed. "Not only are you cute, but you're funny too, Lovi."

Lovino punched Antonio's arm to hide his smile. "I'm not cute, bastard. And stop calling me Lovi!"

Antonio laughed and was about to reply when they heard Alfred cry in pain. "Francis what happened?" he asked when he saw Alfred covered in thorns from a pricker bush.

"This idiot jumped into the pricker bushes to hide from the hunters," Francis explained as he pulled another thorn off of Alfred.

"You know what would make me feel better?" Alfred asked.

"Some swamp gumbo?" Lovino supplied as he tapped on a squash.

"That would do nicely," Alfred replied then screamed in agony again as Francis pulled out another thorn.

Antonio sat down and propped his feet up on a mushroom. "Sounds wonderful, but I would love something to snack on while I wait."

Lovino rolled his eyes. "Oh no, no, no, Prince Charming, you're going to mince these mushrooms."

"Do what now?"

Lovino handed Antonio a mushroom and a sharp rock. "Mince the mushrooms." He hopped off to gather more ingredients.

Antonio poked the mushroom with the rock. "How the hell…"

"Are you mincing?"

"Alright, alright!"

In the time it took Antonio to slice off one piece of the mushroom, Lovino had gathered the ingredients and lit a fire.

Lovino sighed and gently shoved Antonio aside. "Here," he said, took the rock, and quickly minced the mushroom.

"Wow, you're really good at that," Antonio told him.

"I have been doing it my whole life." Lovino gave Antonio another mushroom and stood behind him to guide him in cutting the mushroom. He watched as Antonio cut a third one, and then took the pieces to the squash he was using as a pot.

"You know, I've never done anything like this before," Antonio stated.

"Really?" Lovino asked sarcastically.

Antonio chuckled. "Point taken, but when you live in a castle they do everything for you."

"Poor baby."

"Alright, I admit it was a charmed life, but when they cut me off…" Antonio sighed. "I realized I didn't know how to do anything."

Lovino frowned and threw a mushroom piece at Antonio. "Well, you make a decent mushroom mincer."

Antonio smiled at him. "You think so?"

"If you keep practicing, I might just hire you for my restaurant."

"Really?"

"No." Lovino laughed when Antonio stared at him in a mix of sadness and shock.

"That was mean," he said but Lovino just kept laughing. Antonio wrapped his arms around Lovino and smirked as he tensed. "Maybe I should push you in for being so mean to me."

"I'll drag you in with me," Lovino whispered breathlessly.

"Yeah! Get some Antonio!" Alfred exclaimed.

Francis glared at Alfred. "Way to ruin the moment, mon ami!"

Antonio sighed as Lovino quickly shoved him off. So close, he thought then froze. Close to what? I can't be in love with Lovino! That's ridiculous!

Lovino mentally scolded himself for reacting the way he did. He knew Antonio could never love him, besides he will be marrying Feliciano anyway. "The gumbo will be ready soon," he whispered and refused to look at Antonio the rest of the time he was cooking.

The shadows sped through the bayou. One stopped at the remains of popped balloons, then called for the others when the strong scent of the frogs came through. As soon as they were all gathered together, they started off again in the direction of the frog prince.

Alfred, Antonio, and Lovino laughed as Francis told them another story about the trouble he and he friends would get into.

Antonio smiled at Lovino as he took the makeshift bowls from him and Francis. "That was amazing, Lovino," he complimented. "You truly have a gift." Lovino smiled but still avoided his eyes. Before Antonio could say anything else Francis gasped.

"There she is!" He exclaimed. "Jeanne!"

"Where is she? I wanna meet this girl!" Alfred exclaimed.

Francis looked at him in shock and pointed to the bright star that Lovino and Feliciano wished on. "How can you miss her? She's right there, shining beautifully like the amazing firefly she is!"

"That ain't no-ow!" Antonio cut Alfred off by throwing his bowl and putting a finger to his lips.

Francis sighed in admiration and then started singing. "Look how she lights up the sky

Ma belle Jeanne

So far above me

Yet I…know her heart belongs to only me

Je t'adore"

"I adore you," Antonio translated.

"Je t'aime"

"I love you." Antonio looked at Lovino's surprised face. "I'm just translating," he said quickly.

"Jeanne

You're my queen of the night

So still, so bright

That someone as beautiful as she

Could love someone like me

Love always finds a way it's true

And I love you, Jeanne

Ooh yeah"

Antonio smiled at Lovino as Alfred started playing his trumpet along to Francis' tune. Cautiously, he picked up Lovino's arms and held him in a dance position. Before he could start, Lovino looked at him in surprise again and jumped to another lily pad.

"I don't dance," Lovino explained. "I've never danced before."

Antonio's smiled softened as he pulled the lily pad towards him. "If I can mince, you can dance," he told Lovino as he placed them in a dancing position, automatically taking the man's part to Lovino's dismay. Francis and Alfred gave each other knowing looks as Antonio began spinning Lovino and himself in slow circles.

"Ooh…

Love is beautiful

Love is wonderful

Love is everything…do you agree?

Mais oui"

Antonio even went as far as taking an eccentric leap, getting Lovino laugh in delight.

"Look how she lights up the sky

I love you, Jeanne"

As Francis' song came to a stop, Antonio dipped Lovino and almost dropped him in surprise at the blissful smile Lovino was giving him. Instead, he slowly pulled Lovino against him, closed his eyes as Lovino cupped his face and leaned in for a kiss. Lovino opened his eyes, stopping himself and gently stopping Antonio by putting his hands against Antonio's chest. He had to look away as not to get caught by the want burning in Antonio's eyes, and took Antonio's hands off his waist.

"Feliciano's getting himself one hell of a dance partner," he told Antonio and then hopped off to where Alfred and Francis were.

Antonio sighed and looked down at his shadow. Suddenly, a shadow of a claw came out of nowhere and grabbed the leg of Antonio's shadow, pulling him off. "Lovino!" Antonio exclaimed.

Lovino gasped when he saw Antonio being pulled away. "Antonio!" He instantly started hopping as fast as he could to follow Antonio, Alfred and Francis right behind him. They all gasped when they noticed the shadows. Fucking Shadow Man, Lovino thought bitterly as they attempted to keep up with the shadows. Suddenly, streaks of light shot forward, hitting the shadows and causing them to disappear. Antonio sighed in relief as Lovino pulled him out of the water and onto Alfred's back.

"Not bad for a 197-year-old blind woman!" An older, feminine voice said cackling. A short, stout old woman walked out of the fog and glared at the strange quartet. "Now which one of you naughty children has been messing with the shadow man?" Alfred, Francis, and Lovino instantly pointed to Antonio.

"He was very charismatic!" He exclaimed as an excuse.

The woman sighed. "Y'all best be followin' me."

A/N: Hi everyone! I just want to mention this will be my last update for the evening. I hope y'all are enjoying reading this as much as I am writing it. This scene was a little difficult because I had to put the dancing in between the lyrics, but it was easier than I thought it would be. I really love this song and this scene because it's the first major point in them falling in love and gah I just adore cliche romance XD

Anywho, hope to be on tomorrow!

Ciao, Athineath~