This is Prompt No. 62-Music

Shane was the first to pull away from the kiss, smiling as he did so. He pulled Mitchie close and held her tightly. "I love you," he told her seriously. "I've loved you since I met you in France."

Mitchie, still recovering from all the delightful feelings Shane's embrace had invoked, answered by snuggling into his arms and whispering, "I've loved you since France too." She smiled up at him. "I was sure that you were going to be a fairytale, though."

Shane hugged her tightly. "I assure you," he promised her, "I'm real and I'm not going anywhere."

"Good," Mitchie replied.

They stayed that way for a very long time before the sky began to grow darker, the light fading rapidly due to the time of year. "We'd best be getting back," Shane regretfully said.

Mitchie nodded sadly and sat back up, brushing off her skirts. "Today has been wonderful," she said with a sigh, thinking back over the whole day, one part of it under the tree in particular….

Shane grinned, knowing what she was thinking. "Yes," he agreed, "it has." He offered her his arm and then began to walk back to the theater.

As they passed one street, Mitchie stopped, pulling Shane to a stop. "Shane," she breathed, "look!"

The street looked like something from a painting. The tightly spaced houses created only a narrow alleyway between them, but a group of people had strung lanterns with candles in them across the small street with clotheslines, keeping the lanterns suspended by clothespins. Though the street was uneven, the cobblestones old and easily breakable, there where couples whirling around in the small space while a trio of little musicians played. The three players were sitting on crates, happily playing away at their instruments as they watched their friends, parents, and neighbors whirl to the beat of their music.

"Oh!" Mitchie exclaimed, enraptured by the scene. Shane stepped behind her silently, watching her expression as her deep eyes examined every aspect of the little scene, committing it to memory.

One young woman on the outskirts of the party turned and saw the young couple standing there at the end of the street and beckoned for them to come closer. "There's plenty of room!" she called. "Come join us!"

The cry was taken up by a few other people and Mitchie turned pleadingly towards Shane, begging him for a few more minutes in this happy atmosphere. "I suppose we can stay for a few more minutes," he conceded and led her over to the group. "I thought you didn't like to dance," he teased.

Mitchie smiled up at him, knowing that he was teasing. "That was before I met you."

They moved into the center of the little group, and the people moved aside good-naturedly to watch this new young couple dance. Shane took Mitchie's right hand in his left, and then circled his right hand around her waist, pulling her closer. The musicians elbowed each other and whispered, soon starting to play a slow, romantic ballad. Shane chuckled and shot the musicians a smile and a wink.

As they swayed to the music, Shane bent low so that he could whisper in her ear, "This is the first time since France that we've danced."

Mitchie smiled up at him and nodded. "It's just as magical," she remarked, looking around at the tiny little street.

Shane smiled back. Only Mitchie would compare a quaint little street with the overdone finery of France and find them equal in charm, if not a little more charm for the alleyway. "You're right," he said softly.

The music slowed even more and finally stopped. Mitchie and Shane stopped swaying and turned to look at the musicians to see if they would continue playing. The girl stepped down from her crate and literally and figuratively jumped into a quick Virginia reel. Mitchie wondered if the others would oppose the music selection because of the war, but they cried out excitedly, clapping their hands and stamping their feet.

"Would you dance with me?" Shane asked humorously, grinning as he held out his hand to her.

Mitchie sank into a curtsy and smiled back. "Sure."

Together, they flew through the steps, whirling around and around to the music of the little violinist and the friendly clapping and cheering. When the music ended, the clapping multiplied into applause and Mitchie glanced around, her cheeks glowing with exertion and happiness. She glanced at Shane and saw that his expression was very much the same.

As the people began to dance again, Shane gave Mitchie's sleeve a tug and whispered, "I think we should be heading back now. It'll be late by the time we get back to the base."

Mitchie nodded regretfully and waved goodbye to the young woman that had invited them over, and turned with Shane to leave. They walked slowly together back to the theater, slipping into the dark place and creeping soundlessly up the back steps to the prop room to disappear back into the long tunnels of the UUS.

A/N: Sorry that it's rather short. Hope you still like it! Let me know, please! :D