Rosalie walked downstairs to breakfast, tying the dark purple sash of her floor length dress. She looked in the mirror as her green eyes shined in the sunlight. She pulled her hair in a low ponytail, dusting off her long purple sleeves. She heard laughing coming from the dining hall as she walked in, she smiled as she heard Aunt Nellie's laugh.
"Aunt Nellie I-" she immediately rolled her eyes "Oh… Good morning."
Nellie was sitting in the middle of Ratigan and Bernie, as they enjoyed their breakfast "Rosalie, have you met these two! They are an absolute riot!" she giggled as Ratigan made eye contact with Rosalie, who crossed her arms "Yes.. We've met." She sat down on the far side of the table, Nellie scoffing "Oh Rosalie, really. Your father told me the day you had yesterday.. you really need to let go." Nellie smiled at the Professor "Don't mind her, she was always this stubborn.. especially when she would wet the bed as a toddler-"
"Nellie!" she slapped her head as the professor snickered "Where is Elijah."
"Right here!" he said as he entered the doorway to the dining room, He kissed her on the cheek "And now I must be off."
"Come home safe darling.. I can't do wedding planning on my own." She grabbed him by the collar, passionately kissing him making Ratigan's blood boil "My dear, I promise I'll be back before Christmas day." He grabbed a piece of toast as Bernie's blue eyes widend at Ratigan sending him an evil glare, who nodded uncomfortably. Elijah stopped at the doorway "Good day Professor, Mr. Bernie.." he sent an unsettling look to him as he left through the door.
Elijah boarded one of the human carriages, placing his bags on the small loading dock. Before he left, he whispered to one of his thugs "Vlad."
"Yes sir?"
"Keep an eye on Rosalie for me.. and.. keep an eye on those two gentlemen. They may want to interfere with my coming nuptial."
The grey mouse nodded "Yes sir."
"Ignore him." Nellie said "He is a very passionate man, especially to things he claims is his."
"I heard that." Rosalie crossed her arms "Now if you don't mind I'd like to be taught about the piano now.."
Bernie's eyes widened "Oh, right away Miss Rosalie, I just need a word with the Professor for a hot second." He sat up, waving him to come into the other room "Do you have any idea how to play piano?"
He adjusted his suit "I am fluent in harp.."
"She likes piano!"
"I'm sure it is the same concept." He walked out as Bernie chuckled nervously "Exactly! Just win her over with a few notes and everything is back to normal…" Ratigan motioned to the ballroom "Shall we Miss Rosalie?"
She nodded and sat on the long bench near the piano, Ratigan sat next to her, a little too close for comfort. He smiled as she scoffed "Hey, there is an entire bench.. have you heard of personal space?"
He scooted over on the bench and muttered "Sorry." They stayed silent for a moment, until Rosalie spoke "Are you going to play?" he chuckled and cracked his fingers "Of course, I will go.. right now.."
Bernie hid around the corner, watching the two, mocking Ratigan's confidence "IT's the same concept…" he reached into his bag, pulling out the gold magic dust and blowing it to the couple. Once Ratigan's hands touched the piano, he started to play a beautiful tune, his fingers flying all over the black and white keys. He watched Rosalie smile wide as his fingers flew everywhere. Bernie spun around in glee, watching him end the song.
Rosalie applauded him "That was wonderful! I'm sorry I doubted you.. " she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear "Can you teach me?" she smiled as Ratigan nervously looked behind him at Bernie, who dug through his bag and ran to the Professor "If you will excuse me Professor, but you forgot your student's gloves!" he pulled out a small pair of gloves, putting them on Rosalie's hands. Bernie smiled "I know it seems ridiculous, but many of the greatest pianists use gloves! They help the fingers roam around faster.." he nervously chuckled as Rosalie nodded softly "I think I understand."
When her back was turned, Bernie blew dust on her, watching the gold sprinkles dissolve into the gloves. "Alright, I guess I'm ready."
"Excellent." Ratigan said "After you."
Once her small hands touched the keys, she began on a spree, she began to stand up, as Ratigan joined her, roaming around the keys and at a point of almost dancing around the keys. Ratigan grabbed her hand, spinning her around to the other set of keys. They started laughing as the tune got more and more elaborate. Rosalie turned around, starting to play with her hands behind her back. Ratigan did the same motions, suddenly grabbing Rosalie's hand, spinning her around again as the song stopped. The glow faded out of the gloves, making Bernie snap his fingers "So close."
Rosalie noticed Ratigan's arm around her waist, and how close their faces were. She broke away and chuckled awkwardly "Didn't know I had that in me.. Thank you. For teaching me." she took off her gloves, setting them on the piano. She laid out her hand as he grabbed it, shaking it up and down "We got off on the wrong foot.. Can we start over?" she curtsied in front of him "Nice to meet you, I'm Rosalie Hampstead."
"Padriac James Ratigan." He bowed and picked up the piano bench, sitting at it, continuing to play. Something impulsed him to play the first few bars of a familiar song Rosalie first sang in Ratigan's lair. Before she walked away, her ears perked up as she faced him singing along:
"The sweetest sounds I'll ever know..
Are right inside my head..
The sweetest sounds ill ever know…
Are waiting to be said..
And the sweetest love in all the world
Are waiting somewhere for me..
Is waiting somewhere, somewhere for me.."
She smiled at him and quirked an eyebrow "How do you know that song? I thought I was the only one.."
Ratigan shook his head "I just.. well… pretty common song.."
She nodded softly, absorbing that thought "Yeah.. common." She started off "Well, thanks for the lesson.. I appreciate it." she patted him on the shoulder as he grabbed her hand, gently shaking it.
"It was my pleasure.." he softly pulled her closer, his eyes closing, ready to kiss her when..
SLAP! Ratigan touched the slap mark across his face "What are you doing?! Did you actually think we were going to KISS? I'm engaged!" she walked away and turned back "Just when I started to think you weren't as creepy as I thought you were.."
"No wait! I-" he huffed and sat by the piano. Bernie came out of his hiding place and leaned on the piano "Take it easy Casanova.. How long did it take you to fall in love with her before?"
He rolled his eyes "Longer than three days…"
"No pressure sir." Bernie sympathetically smiled.
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