So happy to get reviews! I'm easily pleased with these sorts of things.... The beginning of this is sort of background but it's necessary so stay with me in order to get to the yummy stuff!! ^_^ Also- "Sisi" is Elisabeth's pet name given to her by her friends and family.... I hope you enjoy it! Please Read & Review it'll make me upload them MUCH faster!! Alrighty- on with the story!!!!!

Chapter 1

Munich, 35 years prior

"Sisi, will you sit down so I can finish?"

The bouncing, rambunctious ten years old ran over from the window, away from the beautiful day just beyond its panes. It was a beautiful May morning. The perfect day when one could just simply lie down in a field of soft, green grass and gaze into the blue heavens and allow the sun's warming rays to dance across their cheeks. Listen to the wind through the blades of grass. Ride your bike through the park. Climb a tree and peer off into the horizon. Not a day to done a pretty white dress with frills and lace. Not a day to wear ribbons in your hair or stockings. And certainly not a day to go to a church picnic.

"Mom," the child asked in a disgruntled voice, leaning against the vanity that came up to her chin. "Do I have to go?" As she spoke her chin bounced against the cherry wood and her chocolate curls atop her head danced around her porcelain face.

"Sisi," her mother sighed, holding out a light blue silk sash. "You know we already discussed this."

The little girl stood before her mother and held her arms out to her sides. As her mother tied the sash around her tiny waist she exclaimed in a hopeful attempt:

"But Daddy isn't going!"

"Your father has to go away on business, Sisi," she answered as she finished tying the sash into a bow. "If he didn't have to leave, he would be going to the picnic as well. It's only going to be for a few hours, I'm sure you will have fun."

Once free of her mother's grasp, the ten year old bounced away out the room, down the hall to the foyer. There, Maximilian, Elisabeth's doting father stood surrounded by suitcases. He was talking on the household's phone, waiting for his taxi to arrive. As he heard the sound of footsteps coming down the grand staircase, he glanced up. His old, weathered face brightened at the sight of his little girl. While she looked like a doll in a pretty Sunday dress, all clean and polished, he couldn't help but laugh. Poor Sisi! This look did not suit her. She was much more comfortable in a pair of shorts, bare feet, hair pulled in a ponytail, and dirt on her knees.

"Daddy!"

Hearing his little girl's voice, brought Max back to reality. Elisabeth stood at the foot of the stairs, her arms crossed. She looked like a little woman.

"Do I have to go?" she asked as her stance went from a strong young lady to a slumped, defeated child- like one as she walked over to her father and hugged him around his waist. Her arms were much too short to be able to clasp her hands, so she simply held onto his shirt.

"Oh, Sisi," Max sighed. "You'll have a great time!"

She simply looked at her father. They both knew how wrong that idea was. Neither ever wanted to go anywhere near church gatherings. However, when the occasion arose, they were always there to entertain one another—but this was the first time Sisi would have to fend for herself against the kisses from the old women, the bad jokes from the men, and the snotty little girls.

"But can't I go with you?"

Max sighed. He could refuse his little princess nothing. But he couldn't take a ten year old girl to France on a business trip.

"You know, your mother won't like it."

"I want to travel the world, just like you daddy!"

Max laughed whole- heartedly. "Oh you will someday Sisi! You're young! You have your whole life in front of you!"

But what Max didn't know, was that his little girl was about to have her life cut very short…..

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Time had seemed to slow down at a painfully slow speed. Elisabeth was stuck sitting next to her sister, Helen, at a mock tea party with two other girls from their congregation. They were chatting away about this boy and that girl's Sunday dress. Looking over her shoulder, Elisabeth noticed three boys playing baseball.

Jumping up in glee, she ran over to join in their game. Elisabeth was respected among the boys for having a good arm. They willingly allowed her to join in on their game.

They played for only a few minutes when one of the boys released the ball too soon, and, as a result, it went flying off in the wrong direction.

"I'll get it!" Elisabeth cried. No one argued seeing that it was a well known fact that she was the fastest in the group.

She had seen where the ball had landed- in the field just beyond the street. Without thinking twice, Elisabeth darted across the road, her eyes on the little white speck in the middle of the sea of green. She heard the car horn and screeching tires too late.

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Elisabeth's body was writhing in pain and felt hot and heavy- as if a pile of red hot coals had been dumped all over her small form. She gave a pained moan and could not seem to open her eyes. The heat was growing unbearable. At the moment when she thought she could no longer handle the agony, a cooling sensation flowed throughout her body. She felt strong, cool arms supporting her from underneath her frail body. She could feel the paces of footsteps and a man breathing lightly. And within his breathing, she could swear that she heard him softly singing her name.

"Elisabeth….."

At that moment, Elisabeth's eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she could only see the darkness. After a moment, the scene began to unfold before her blurry eyes. A beautiful young man was leaning over her as she was lying in her bed. He was brushing a lock of hair away from her face and had not realized that she had awakened. His lips were mere inches away from hers and if she hadn't known any better, she would've believed him to be on the verge of kissing her. Sensing her eyes on him, the beautiful man turned his blue eyes to meet hers. He stared deep into her eyes for but a moment, sighed, and kissed her on her forehead.

"Wait!" Elisabeth whispered, as her Dark Prince was turning to leave her. He was dressed entirely in black- black pants, a black shirt, black boots, a long black coat reaching down to the floor, and a black glove on each hand. He appeared as if he were attending one's funeral. His hair was the color of gold shimmering in the sunlight and fell to just above his shoulders. He had a perfectly upturned nose, and was lean but his shirt revealed that he was also strong- very strong.

The young man stopped and slowly turned to face the little girl, his coat swinging along his ankles. He simply stared at her, waiting.

Elisabeth hadn't expected him to obey her command. Perplexed by this stranger's actions she asked in a quiet, dry voice, "Who are you?"

The god- like man standing before her smiled slightly and responded, "Der Tod."

The little girls eyes widened and her jaw dropped unconsciously. Der Tod… Death. She mouthed the word with awe and disbelief. Could she truly be staring into the cold eyes of Death?

Seeing the fear on the girl's face, Death began to turn away once again. He stopped short and looked down. A small, warm hand clung tight and fast to his cold, black gloved hand. His eyes traveled from the small hand to the large eyes of the child on the bed.

"Don't leave," she cried out, tears welling in her big, brown eyes.

Death knelt down beside her bed.

"You're not frightened?"

The little girl shook her head, causing her curls to bounce around.

"Why?" he asked as he moved a curl out from in front of her face. She knew he was Death. All fear Death… all but this little girl.

"I feel safe with you."

Death raised his eyebrows at this remark. He had never heard anyone say that they felt safe with him around.

"And…" Elisabeth began in a shy, meek voice.

"Yes?" he asked. His voice sounding truly like a Prince's. He stared into her face, waiting to hear her soprano voice once again.

"I just don't want to be alone," she whispered, her voice trembling. Death knew that she must have realized that she had been mere moments from Death.

"And," the little girl continued, avoiding her Prince's eyes. "I like you."

Death looked at Elisabeth for a moment, put his hand under her chin, making her look into his icy stare, and said, "I will never leave you, Elisabeth. Never."

And with that, he faded along with the darkness as Elisabeth's mother, sisters, family, and friends came rushing into the room. Elisabeth thought that she must have been dreaming of her Dark Prince. But if so, why was the place where his hand had been resting on her chin deathly cold?

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