Disclaimer: 
	I'd, uh, love to say this is mine, but uh, the idea of getting my 
worthless butt sued, is uh, not so good.  So let's go through this, folks--
one more time repeat after me:

not Aria's--Ikeda's
not Aria's--Ikeda's
not Aria's--Ikeda's

	Yeah that's it, keep repeating it to yourself.

feedback welcome: 	 		




Figures in the Moonlight
by Aria(crune@coqui.net)

 
 
	 Rosalie looked out the window and sighed, contented, then, at 

realizing that she had been happy, she frowned and bit her lip.  She 

had no right tobe happy, her mother was dead...the memories surrounded her

and she felt suffocated by a tumult of feelings: the sadness, loss, and an 

anger so hot it boiled in her veins.  Her mother hadn't just died, she could

bear it if she did, no, she was murdered.

	The woman's words echoed in Rosalie's ears--"If

you have any problems come to Versailles..." 

	But Versailles wasn't going to bring her mother

back...and Versailles wasnot going to protect that woman

if Rosalie saw heragain.

	Looking at the Jarjayes courtyard once again,

Rosalie's lips formed a soft smile--Andre was putting

the horses away.  They had done so much for her...

Lady Oscar...and Andre.  She felt inadecuate, she

could never pay them back and Oscar had even offered

to help her find her mother's murderer.  With this last thought

Rosalie exited her room and wentdown the stairs. 

	She found the young commander in the kitchen

table, a sight that never failed to surprise her,

she had always assumed that nobles would distance 

themselves from servants.
 
	"Did you sleep well, Rosalie?" she asked.
	
	Rosalie bowed her head in a nod--"Yes, very well,

can I get you anything?", she reached for a cup.
 
	Oscar stood up. "Rosalie, you aren't a servant in

this house."
 
	Rosalie stared at the floor,"I am not a noble,
Lady."
 
	"That doesn't matter here, as long as you are in

this house, you will serve no one, you had your share

of that when you lived in the streets."
	
	Rosalie couldn't help it, tears started rolling

down her cheeks and she left the room running.

 				*******
 
 
	A few moments later, Andre came in.

	"Rosalie was crying", he said simply.

	 Oscar sighed,"I imagine its not easy for her to

get used to kindness when all her life she has been treated 

as if she's worthless, the only person who apreciated her was

her mother,and well... she needs a friend."

	 There was a brief silence, then Oscar spoke

again,"Well it might be hard for her to confide in me..."

She looked at her childhood friend pointedly.

	 Andre leaned against the wall, knowing well what

Oscar was going to ask him and Oscar certainly knowing

that he knew, went on.

	"Andre, you know its true, she'll never ever

confide in me, she considers the gap in the classes too great."

In a desperate attempt to convince him, she spoke again, " Andre 

she needs a friend, why would you have a problem with that?"
 
	He had been looking at the floor, but when she

said that, Andre looked up.
 
	"I don't, but Idon't like the fact that you seem

to order me to do that," he said softly.

 	Defensive, Oscar's eyes narrowed.
 
	"I'm not, can it be so hard for you to devote a

little of your time with Rosalie?"

 	"Forget it Oscar, never mind, I'll be her best

friend, if that's what you want--I won't argue with you, after all you never

lose", he turned to leave.

	 "Andre!", Oscar yelled, "I don't understand! 

What's the matter with you!"

	 But he was gone and all Oscar could think of was

his last words to her...
 
 	"after all you never lose..."
 
	What did that mean?

				*******
 
	 Andre didn't know what had gotten into him, but

the idea of Oscar throwing him out as a peace offering to 

Rosalie didn't seat well in his mind.  He hadn't liked what

he said to her, she had been sincere in her motives, he

had just twisted her words...But anyways there he was looking

around the Jarjayes courtyard trying to find Rosalie.

	 He found her near the fountain, she had a calm

expression on her face, when he got near her he saw her eyes were closed. 

	He sat next to her.

	"I love this place", she said startling him.

	 "I thought you were sleeping", he said.

Rosalie opened her eyes and laughed.  "In the morning, 

no never! How can a person sleep in the morning, the sun is bright and

everything is happy and bright and--"

	 Andre interrupted her witha big yawn.  Rosalie

playfully smacked him and then started to laugh.  Seeing how laughter is

contagious, in no time Andre was laughing as well.
 
	Some minutes later Rosalie was wipping tears from

her eyes.

	 "I never knew that a person could cry, if they

laughed hard", she said smilling, then seriously, "she turned to Andre,"

thank you, I needed that."

	 There was silence.

	 "Tell me about yourself."
 
	 "Huh?"  
 
	Rosalie smiled.  "I like to know a bit about the

people that are kind to me."

	 Once again there was silence.

	 "I came here when I was around six years old",

Andre said.
 
	"Why?", asked Rosalie.
 
	Andre sighed. "Both my parents are dead they died

of a plague, I think, when I was really young my Grandmother raised me,

she was Oscar's nanny, she pleaded my sake and the master let me become

Oscar's servant."

	 Rosalie stood up. She extended her hand.

	 "Nice to meet you, Andre."

 
 				*******
 
 	Andre hadn't really talked to Oscar  since that

argument and she felt a vague discomfort, they had argued before and it had

never been like that. 
 
	Oscar didn't know what was wrong.  He had become

friends with Rosalie, though, like she had asked, she could see then

walking around the courtyard during the mornings. She wondered why he 

had beenso angry...

	 Rosalie was happy, Oscar could see that and it

erased a little bit of the hurt she felt from Andre's words, she 

may not have understood them clearly, but she was sure that it was 

not flattery and they had been in her mind constantly--day and night.At

that moment Rosalie came in and found her in her room distracted by her

thoughts.

	 She spoke quickly and exitedly, "Lady Oscar, Andre

and I are going out to the fields, it's very beautiful, come with us."
 
	Oscar's face lit up, but catching a glimpse of

Andre through the window, her face shadowed.

	 "No its fine, you two go along without me, I'm not

feeling that well."
 	
	Not wanting Rosalie to see her regret and hurt and

partly because Oscar herself didn't want to see Rosalie's hurt

expression, she turned around. 
 
	Rosalie hurt and puzzled by Oscar's actions, just

left.
 
				*******
 
 	"I'm very worried about her", she told Andre that morning.
 
	Andre got quiet, but then again he always did

whenever she brought up Oscar and it always confused her.  This time he

answered.

	 "She's probably just tired that's all."
 
	"I don't think so, she's more depressed than

anything."
 
	"Why would she be depressed?"
 
	"I don't know."
 
	And Rosalie left it at that--she knew that Andre,

like all of them had his own private demons and that she wouldn't push him.  

She began to realize how important he was to her. Even though her

mother's death still pained her, somehow Andre's presence dulled the 

pain and she began telling him of her childhood in the streets and how 

hard it was on her mother...and her.

	 They came back late to the Jarjayes mansion.
 
	Before going inside though, Rosalie turned to face

Andre.
 
	She smiled gently at him, "Andre," she said

softly, "thank you."
 
	"For what?"
 
	"For being here...with me." and saying this she

leaned toward him and their lips met.

				*******
 
	 Oscar was gazing out the window and coincidentally

saw two figures, together in a kiss.  The first thought that 

went through her head was--how beautiful.  

	And it was, but the glow of the moon enveloped both of them in

silvery light revealing Rosalie...and Andre.
 
	The sight of their kiss, was still undeniably

beautiful, but Oscar took a step back, put her head in her hands and wondered why

she was expiriencing such a sharp pain...

***************************************************************************				
				
				Finis

"Love--ain't it a kick in the balls"
		-some wierdo I know


repulsed? horrified? angry?
Let me know!!!! 

write to Aria!(crune@coqui.net) 

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