A/N: I'm so sorry this is late! I went to my grandfather's house yesterday and totally forgot to post the next chapter. Here it is, a day late, but here nonetheless. I'll try to get the next one up on time, I promise!

Anyway, here's where my story starts to differ from Shakespeare's. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Four

It took Romeo a few moments to remember why he felt so happy when he awoke the next morning. He blinked, a little surprised to find that the sun was higher in the sky than it usually was when he rose each day. And then an image of Juliet filled his head, and he smiled.

He stood up and shook the loose grass from his dark coat. "Well, well," said a voice nearby, and he looked around to see Benvolio watching him, an amused smile curving his lips. "Good morning, sleepy-head. I was beginning to wonder if I should wake you."

Romeo chuckled. "Good morning, Benvolio. Forgive me, my sleep was…peaceful…"

And filled with pleasant dreams, he added silently.

Benvolio's eyes widened. "I see," he said, stepping closer to his friend. "And what, pray tell, made it so peaceful? Would it perhaps have anything to do with the party last night?" His smile widened. "Were we successful? Did you meet someone?"

Romeo hesitated for half a second before he grinned and replied, "I met several someones last night, Benvolio. There were a lot of horses at the party."

Benvolio rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean, Romeo," he said. "Did you meet a mare?"

Romeo chuckled. "Yes, I met some mares."

Benvolio groaned in exasperation and said, "For the love of…! Romeo, did you meet someone special? That was, after all, the whole point of you attending the party!"

Romeo's smile faded. How much should he tell…? "Well…" he said slowly. "Yes…I did meet…someone special…"

Benvolio's ears perked. "Now we're getting somewhere!" he said triumphantly. "Who was it?"

Romeo cracked a smile and answered, "A mare."

Benvolio blinked and then threw his head back with a half-irritated, half-amused grunt. "You're impossible, Romeo!" He shook his mane. "Fine, if you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask."

Romeo chuckled.

"Romeo!"

The two friends looked around in surprise to see Paris approaching, his chestnut coat gleaming in the morning sunlight. "Hello, Paris," Romeo said curiously. "What can I do for you?"

"Cut the pleasantries," Paris snapped, coming to a halt as he neared them, glaring at Romeo. "I want to know why you were at Capulet's party last night when you knew you were not invited."

Romeo blinked, stunned. When he didn't answer immediately, Paris growled and demanded, "Well? Why did you insult Capulet by attending his party? What kind of joke were you trying to pull?"

Romeo shook his head, bewildered. "I meant no offense, Paris," he replied. "I never meant to insult anyone, and I had no desire to pull any kind of joke. I merely wanted to have a good time, that's all. Is it really such a crime to seek out some fun for an evening?"

Paris snorted. "It is when the party is hosted by your enemy."

"My father's enemy, Paris," Romeo corrected him, a little coolly. "I have no quarrel with Capulet."

Paris blinked, momentarily surprised. Then he growled, "Regardless…you had no business—"

"Actually, Paris," Benvolio interjected, stepping forward, "he did. I invited him. Romeo was there as my guest."

Paris's eyes narrowed slightly. Angry though he was, he didn't dare contradict the son of the herd's leader. He snorted again and turned away, but then he paused and looked back at Romeo. "And one more thing: in future, stay away from Capulet's daughter! Juliet is off-limits to you. Do you understand that?"

Romeo stiffened noticeably but his voice was calm when he said, "What do you mean, Paris?"

"I mean that I saw you dancing with her!" Paris snapped, his eyes blazing. "She is my mare and I won't allow it! Stay away from her!"

Romeo stared at him for a long moment. His heart felt as though it had forgotten to beat, and his breathing did not seem to draw in enough air to sustain him. Benvolio was looking from Romeo to Paris and back again, brow furrowed.

After a long silence, Romeo said quietly, "We just danced, Paris. That is all. It is not a sin to dance."

Paris studied him for a moment, perhaps considering whether there was truth in his words. Then, apparently satisfied, he nodded and said, "Very well. But don't do it again." And he left, swishing his tail in agitation.

When he had gone, Romeo lowered his head. Juliet, he thought, his heart pounding hard enough to shatter, do you belong to Paris? Are you truly his mate? His betrothed? Why…? Why didn't you tell me…?

"Romeo?" Benvolio asked, frowning in concern. "Are you okay?"

Romeo looked up at him and blinked away the moisture that had gathered in his eyes. "I…" He hesitated.

"Romeo, what is it?" Benvolio took a step closer. "What's going on? Why did you look that way when Paris mentioned Juliet? What is this all about?" He paused, and when his friend gave no reply, he continued, "You know you can trust me, Romeo. If it's something you want to keep a secret, you know I won't tell a soul."

Romeo pondered for a moment, and then he sighed. "All right, I'll tell you."

And he did, leaving no detail out. As he spoke, Benvolio's eyes grew wider, and when he brought up the late-night confession and proposal, his jaw dropped in shock. When the story was done, he continued to gape in silence. Romeo couldn't help but grin weakly. "If you're not careful, a fly will land on your tongue," he remarked.

Benvolio blinked and snapped his jaws shut. "Oh Romeo…" he sighed. "When I said I would help you find a mate, I didn't mean…I never thought…Capulet's daughter, Romeo?! Have you lost your mind?!"

Romeo sighed and nodded. "Perhaps I have. I certainly can't explain what happened last night. And…" His breath hitched. "…and perhaps I am being played…if she is indeed Paris's mare…"

At this, Benvolio snorted. "Don't believe everything you hear, Romeo. I have a feeling Paris is exaggerating a bit."

"But what if they are betrothed?" Romeo asked, fighting to keep his voice level. "Benvolio, I love her! If…if she…if they…" He shook his head. "What am I going to do?"

Benvolio considered him. "Didn't you say you were to meet her again tonight?"

Romeo looked around at him and nodded.

"Then talk to her about it," Benvolio suggested. "See what she says about it. For all we know, this might surprise her as much as it surprised you."

Romeo smiled. "I will," he said. "Thank you, Benvolio…thank you…"

Benvolio grinned. "Don't mention it," he replied. "I want you to be happy, Romeo. And if it means maintaining a secret relationship with Juliet…" He shrugged. "…I'll help in any way I can."

Affection for the paint colt made Romeo's eyes water. "Thank you," he said again. "You are…you are a true friend, Benvolio…"

…

Meanwhile, across the clearing, Juliet was trying to graze, but more often than not, she caught her mind wandering back to her meeting with Romeo, and she would find herself gazing absently at nothing. Once, after coming out of her daydreaming for what might have been the fiftieth time, she sighed and glanced up at the sun, which was almost directly overhead. "The night cannot come fast enough," she muttered.

"And why is that?" someone asked, and Juliet jumped. Spinning around, she saw the Appaloosa mare Rosaline gazing at her with a small smile on her face.

"Rosaline," Juliet sighed. "You startled me."

Rosaline laughed pleasantly. "Forgive me, my friend," she said. "I thought you might have heard me approach. Then again," she added with a giggle, "your head is in the clouds today, so I doubt you heard a thing."

"Uh…" Juliet blushed and grinned sheepishly. "No, I didn't…"

Rosaline shook her head. "Okay, out with it. What's going on?"

Juliet hesitated and looked away. "Ah…well…"

Rosaline smiled. "Look, I can put two and two together, Juliet," she said. "I saw the way you and Romeo were acting together last night, and by the way you are so distracted today, it's obvious that you have feelings for him. So tell me, what happened? What did he say to you? What did you say to him? What happened after you danced? How—"

"Hang on for a moment!" Juliet interrupted, shaking her head in amazement. "Aren't…aren't you the least bit concerned that he is Montague's son, and I am Capulet's daughter?"

"No, not really," Rosaline replied with a shrug. "The feud is stupid and needs to be forgotten. I'm much more interested in why you're so ready for night to come." Her eyes sparkled mischievously.

Juliet felt herself blush deeper. "Well…" she said slowly. Then she smiled. "It was…magical…the party, I mean…"

And she told Rosaline everything. Her friend eagerly drank in every word, and when she had finished, the Appaloosa squealed happily. "I knew it!" she said, nudging Juliet playfully. "I knew there was something between you! I could see it in your eyes last night!"

"You…you approve?" Juliet asked nervously.

"Of course I do!" Rosaline laughed. "Not that you need my approval, really. It's your happiness that matters here, Juliet. And if you're happy, I'm happy."

Juliet smiled. "I am happy, Rosaline," she said, looking around toward the other side of the clearing. "Happier than I've ever been in my whole life." She sighed and looked back at her friend. "I love him, Rosaline. I love him more than anything on earth. I know it sounds strange say that of someone I've known for less than a day, but…"

Rosaline smiled. "Love isn't known for making sense," she said wisely. "It is a confusing, chaotic, and often contradictory thing."

Juliet nodded. "It is…" She sighed, her smile fading. "I don't know how we're going to make it work…with our fathers hating each other so much…"

Rosaline shrugged. "You'll figure it out, I'm sure," she said. "These things have a way of working themselves out, one way or another."

Juliet's smile returned. "Thank you, Rosaline."

"You're welcome," Rosaline replied. "And don't worry, it will be our little secret."

Juliet nickered gratefully.

…

Romeo was the first to reach the little glen that night. All throughout the day, he had watched the sun with impatience, convinced that it was fixed in a single position and refusing to budge. Even after the sun had finally set, he'd had to wait for his father to finally settle down, and Romeo had wondered if Montague was purposefully staying awake to keep an eye on his son, determined to remain conscious until the younger had fallen asleep.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Montague had said good night, and the moment Romeo was certain he was indeed asleep, he had taken off for the trees, nodding once to Benvolio, who watched him go with a small smile on his face.

Juliet was not there when he reached the tiny gap in the trees, but he patiently waited, gazing up at the few stars he could see in the sky above. The night was cloudless, and the moon bathed the forest floor with a faint blue glow. There was no wind: not a leaf twitched nor a branch sighed to interrupt the silence of the evening as he waited, his heart hammering in his chest, his breathing a little quicker than normal from anticipation and excitement.

"Romeo!"

He looked around, his heart leaping at the sound of Juliet's voice. She stood between two thick tree trunks, gazing at him with a joyful smile and sparkling eyes. She ran to meet him and buried her face in his chest.

"Juliet," he sighed as he nuzzled and caressed her. "Every minute, every second away from you feels like a lifetime. I have lived a thousand full lives since I last saw you, and not one of them was eventful or worth the time."

"Oh Romeo," Juliet murmured, drawing back to look him in the eye. "In you I have everything I could ever want. My treasure is as boundless as the sea, and my love is as deep. The more I give to you, the more I have, for both are infinite. I am the luckiest mare in the world, to be loved by such a devoted and wonderful stallion as you. I love you, Romeo. I love you more than life itself."

Romeo smiled down at her, but her own smile flickered as she detected something in his eyes, something off. "Romeo, what is it? What's wrong?"

Romeo hesitated. "Juliet…this morning, a stallion named Paris confronted me…he…" He sighed. "He saw us dancing last night. He said that…that you belonged to him. That you were his mare, and that I was to never to try approaching you again."

As he spoke, Juliet's expression changed from confusion to shock and then to anger. She'd had to deal with Paris's affections for several hours that afternoon, for he'd approached her not long after she'd confessed her secret to Rosaline. She'd been patient with him at first, though the tension between them had only risen when the conversation turned to the party, particularly when Paris mentioned Romeo. "I gave that scoundrel a good talking-to," he'd said proudly, clearly under the impression Juliet would be impressed by his bravery or initiative or whatever. "And I can promise that he will never bother you again, Juliet."

"Bother me?" she'd said, unable to stop her eyes from flashing angrily. "Romeo didn't bother me, Paris. In fact I rather enjoyed dancing with him. And he's as far from being a scoundrel as a horse can be. He was quite nice to me, I assure you."

Paris's smile had slipped, and Juliet had silently chided herself. She needed to be careful about what she said around Paris. The last thing she needed was for him to find out about her secret romance by a careless word from her lips. If he reported back to her father, if Capulet learned that his only daughter was the mate of his enemy's only son, there was no telling what would happen. But it certainly wouldn't be good.

"I'm glad you had fun," Paris had said, and there was a definite cool note in his voice, "but I would still watch out for him. He's Montague's son and shouldn't be trusted. You know how your father feels about Montague…"

Juliet had resisted, but only barely, the urge to retort and settled instead for simply nodding. To her relief Paris had let the matter drop there, but he hadn't left her side until the sun kissed the treetops on its downward journey through the sky.

So naturally she didn't need much to flare up in anger against him now. "He…he said that?!" she asked Romeo, her voice shaking. "The nerve of that stallion…!"

"Juliet…" Romeo said, and Juliet blinked, startled by the hint of sadness his voice betrayed. "When he said that…that you were his…did he mean…are you and he…"

"No!" Juliet cried, and then she continued in a softer tone, "No, he and I are not mates, nor do I have any intention of becoming his mate. How could he possibly think…"

But she faltered when Romeo pulled her to him and nuzzled her. "That's all I needed to hear, my love," he nickered, his relief filling every syllable.

Juliet sighed. "Oh Romeo…" She pulled away gently and looked him in the eye. "My parents want me to accept Paris as my mate, but it's not going to happen. And the sooner he figures that out, the better." She nuzzled his cheek. "Never doubt that I love you, Romeo. You and you alone. There is no other horse in all the world that could replace you in my heart."

Tears of joy were welling in Romeo's eyes. "Juliet…" he moaned, touching his nose to hers. "You are the center of my world. There is nothing I wouldn't do for you. I'd even die for you. I love you, Juliet. I love you more than my own life."

"Oh Romeo…" Juliet sighed, her eyes closed in bliss.

After that, not many words were exchanged. They simply basked in the glory of their togetherness, reveling in their closeness and rejoicing in their devoted love as the moon slowly worked its way across the starry night sky.

A/N: As always, please leave a review and tell me what you think! I hope you're enjoying it. The next chapter will (hopefully) be up on Friday.