He looked around the table, and walked around to the white cue ball. Leaning over he prepared to shoot as the door behind him swung open suddenly. He sighed, annoyed at the interference, he longed for peace of mind… Something he just couldn’t get today, or any day for the past week for some reason. Even he had his patience limit…

"Sir there is a Lady Une to see you,"

He waved his hand absently, glad it was only her, and relieved it wasn’t some insolent insubordinate or diplomat here to bother him with speeches and battle plans. Behind him he heard her shoes on the floor, coming toward him, he wondered curiously at the sound. They sounded like heels, she always wore boots… and if that wasn’t strange enough he caught scent of her sweet perfume, and then sighed in frustration as he missed the shot, and so he turned to face her.

He wasn’t prepared for the sight before him as he finally caught glimpse of her. She was dazzling, her hair lay down about her face and off her shoulders. The satiny red bodice sat off her shoulders and a twin sweep of a skirt fitted down the rest of her frame. A long, seductive slit up the left side of her dress revealing the matching red heels he’d heard earlier. His eyes finally found their way up to her face, he grinned at the light blush that covered her cheeks at his stare.

"I’m sorry for interrupting you Mr. Treize, there was a messenger for you after you’d left and he deemed it urgent. I told him I’d deliver it to you immediately," she said and held out a gloved hand. In her thin fingers was a medium, off white color envelope.

He reached out, grabbing her entire hand in his, rubbing her fingers in his, as their eyes remained locked. The envelope slid easily from her grasp and he released her hand, and if fell straight to her side, lifeless. And then, as if she’d waken from a daze she turned suddenly, feeling she’d overstayed her welcome.

"Wait!" he called out softly to her.

She stopped walking, still facing the doorway.

"Lady…?"

She turned back to face him as he stuffed the paper back into the envelope and tossed it over his shoulder where it landed preciously on a tabletop.

"Do you play?" he asked motioning toward his billiard table.

She shook her head. "No,"

"Would you like to? It’s getting quite dull playing alone," he said walking back around his table.

She visibly hesitated, as he walked back to his table.

"You don’t have to… I don’t want to deter you from something… or someone," he said, glancing over her formal attire once more.

"I’m not going anywhere… I mean, not anymore,"

"Why?" he asked, and then looked up at her again. "If you don’t mind my asking,"

"No, not at all, it was cancelled,"

"Are you certain you don’t want to play?"

"My father used to play this… but he always said it was a gentleman’s game," she recalled softly.

He smiled. "So did mine, but I had an aunt, who every once in a while would come down to the game room and play my uncle…"

"Well… I guess I could, but I don’t know how to play it though," she said pulling off her long, white gloves and setting them carefully on one of his spotless tables by the door.

"That’s not a problem,"

Lady Une sighed in frustration. "I hate this game," she mumbled angrily to herself.

Treize over heard her and laughed, he himself was enjoying it heartily. He especially like when she leaned over the table, his eyes drifted from the table to the low neckline of her dress, and then casually away as she looked up from her turn. "Not your type of game hmmm?"

"Pardon my saying… I think it’s kind of boring, " she said, watching him make the final shot, winning the game.

"Well… since you’re all dressed up, why don’t you let me take you out?" he suggested, leaning back the wall, waiting for her reaction.

She turned toward him and shook her head. "That’s completely unnecessary,"

He grinned again. "You don’t like my company?"

"I didn’t mean that-"

"Then that’s a yes?" he came forward taking her soft hands in his and grabbing her gloves off the nearby table and assisting her in sliding them over her slender fingers and up her arms. He smiled locking eyes with her, bringing her left hand up and kissing it softly.

"My Lady…" he escorted her silently through his lavishly decorated home out to his car.

Lady Une’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise as they entered the restaurant Treize had chosen. It was beautiful, and secluded. It had a pleasant, elegant yet quaint atmosphere to it…

"You like it?" he asked.

"It’s beautiful," she said her eyes darting around the room in wonder. Elegant, heavy draperies covered the windows that matched the vases of roses on every table. Treize watched her, his lips turning up into a small smile.

"Where were you planning to go before you came to deliver the message to me?" he asked, suddenly curious.

She looked down at the table. "I was going to dinner,"

He nodded. "A significant other?"

She shook her head. "No, Lt.Col. La Roe, he’s an old acquaintance of mine,"

"Do you always dress so gracefully for ‘old acquaintances’?"

She smiled, tearing her gaze away from him, down onto the center of the dance floor. She watched as the couples twirled around, it all seemed so surreal to her. It seemed only months ago she’d been back at the Academy, of course it had been in fact much longer than that. She’d been a solider for… well as long as she could remember leaving home.

"I’ve heard of him," Treize said, looking away.

She blushed. "Yes… he-his reputation proceeds him in most cases. But I’m obligated to treat him with respect… his father and mine were friends,"

"I understand," he said, satisfied she was not associating with the man of ill repute of her own choice. Family obligations were entirely different and he’d not ask that she violated them.

They gave their orders to the waiter a few minutes later, who bestowed a charming grin on Lady Une. Despite himself, Treize found it unamusing, wondering how he could have come to be so possessive of her in such a short time.

Of course, he couldn’t really wonder why, she was a beautiful woman, one he considered to be solely his. Although the title applied to her only professionally, he found the prospect of her with someone else unappealing.

Lady Une however wasn’t disturbed, but turned her attention back to the dance floor. He watched her carefully; something about her… something about her eyes was different. He could have sworn it was longing or loneliness, but before he could analyze the situation she’d locked it away again. He glanced once at the dance floor, but found the subject before him much more interesting.

"Do you like classical music?"

"It’s lovely," she replied, not turning her gaze away, as the music stopped and all the couples vacated the floor. "What’s going on?" she asked.

"Just watch," he pointed back to the floor as the lights went out and a spotlight lit the center, and a couple walked out to the center.

"A floor show?" Joy sprang to life in her warm auburn eyes.

"Do you ballroom dance Lady?"

"Yes, my father made me take lessons when I was younger."

Treize once again found himself engrossed in watching his counterpart across the table. She’d spent the entirety of dinner staring down at the dance floor, and he’d pretty accurately concluded she’d like to be down there as well. So, pushing aside the salt & peppershakers he sat down his napkin and stood up. He held out his hand chivalrously and spoke. "Care to dance My Lady?"

She shyly accepted, tossing her own napkin onto the table as she pulled it casually from its place on her lap. He draped his arm around her waist, tucking her securely next to him as they descended the small flight of stairs down onto the main floor. A smile sprang to life on her delicately featured face, his arms tightened involuntarily around her drawing her closer. His fingers entwined themselves in the soft strands of hair that fell gracefully down her back.

I never would have guessed I would end up with such a charming young woman to be my aide… not only is she a sight to behold she’s a very capable military commander and strategist. She truly is a blessing… both to myself and Oz. Treize thought to himself.

Treize smiled thoughtfully as he recalled that evening, as he leaned back in his leather office chair staring aimlessly out his office window. Things were just short of chaotic everywhere and there was no longer the time for such things, he was really quite trapped in his work schedule, and Lady Une was just as unavailable. Making time to get away was difficult, and it was even more difficult to get her away at the same time, especially since she was his second. If he was away, Lady Une was necessary to run things… and he couldn’t very well leave his office in disarray. He was the head of the entire Specials Division, which at times was a terribly inconvenient position, especially when it came to dealing with his relationship with Lady Une.

He got back to thinking about that night… after they’d danced he’d taken her back to his house, and some how or other they’d ended up back in his game room. There he’d found comfort and relaxation in the arms of his beloved Lady, her soft lips pressed against his… he groaned thinking about the events that had taken place afterward, a phone call. ‘Damn Oz’, he’d thought then, he thought it just the same now. He’d reluctantly departed from her, and she’d gone home directly leaving him to his business, much to his dismay. He sighed, propping his elbow up on his spotless desk, why couldn’t things be like that now? He wondered as his office door swung open.

"When did you approve this?"

He didn’t even need to turn his head he knew it was her. He could hear the rustling of the papers she was shaking, somewhat frantically in her hands although her tone was calm, or trying to remain calm.

He stood up, clearing his throat; he pried the papers out of her gloved hand and tossed them disinterested, over his shoulder onto his desk. He took her hand leading her from his office.

"Do you still have that red dress?" he asked as they exited the office, pulling the door closed behind them. This time he’d make sure there weren’t any urgent phone calls… or any other interruptions!