(I would like to thank Jake mun for indulging this old romantic heart! )

JakeSteelsShade: It was very early in the morning, early enough that the sun had yet to break above the bayou horizon, leaving the sky outside their bedroom window black and dull, the only light coming from the reflection of the almost full moon against the roofs opposite. Standing at the foot of the bed, dressed in his terrycloth, toweling robe, dark eyes watched the sleeping form of Jade. Jake nodded silently to himself, observing the slowly drawn breathes that she took. His eyes darted up to her peaceful face, noting the flickering of her eye's beneath their fragile lids, signaling she was dreaming a dream of her own.

Jade MacCarthy: Standing in front of a wall of mirrors classical music played in the back ground. She raised her leg and set on the bar slowly lowering her upper body down her fingers curving around her foot. Lifting up on her toes her body: rose, with her leg outstretched she began to pivot, as the beat increase she moved freely across the floor. Her arms swaying as her feet moved in intricate patters. The fabric of her skirt flowed around her legs. She was twirling, and jumping a feeling of freedom filled her.

JakeSteelsShade: Letting his eyes linger on Jade's slumbering face for a moment longer, he took note of every line and curve that composed her being. Then, closing his eyes and letting darkness envelope him, he pushed his mind outwards like a bubble, his Seraphic ability enclosing the bedded Jade within an invisible sphere that spread from him. Suddenly he could feel the beat of her heart, slow and rhythmic, and hear the gentle swish and wash of her mind as it conjured her dream within her sleep. Like viewing it on a television screen, he could see the dance studio, he could hear the music that provided the beat.

Jade MacCarthy: Pirouetting she stopped in front of the mirror a smile on her face. Moving to the chair she picked up a towel and pressed it to her face, neck and chest. Walking over to the CD player she thumb through the selections. Finding the CD she was looking for she put in in the player. Sitting on the chair she put on her toe shoes. Pressing the button, Flight of the Bumble Bees began to play. Moving gracefully to the center of the room she moved up on point, and
began to Pirouette around the room her skirt swirling out from her body, her arms moving in close to her body and then out stretched.

JakeSteelsShade: Behind his facade of invisibility, he smiled to himself, content to watch his girlfriend dance. Though he had taken for granted the live she led before he met her, he had never seen the expression that was now on her face. Mixed thrills of pleasure and weariness, the perspirations on her body evident. His smile widened imperceptibly; though he was loath to cause such a joyous dream to end, he knew he had to make the alterations. With a slight push of his mental faculties, the changes began to take place. The wall of mirrors darkened slightly, as if the reflection of the studio in the mirrors were losing light. Light and hazy at first, a smattering of gray fog began to roll across the mirrors' reflection.

Jade MacCarthy: The twirling stopped taking a few steps to the side. Confusion crossed her face as she looked around slow steps were taken towards the mirror her hand outstretched trying to touch them finding nothing. Her arms crossing over her body she moved her hands up and own her arms. She slowly turned trying to find her bearings.

JakeSteelsShade: As the gray fog darkened and deepened, spreading to every part of the reflection, the music from the stereo began losing its volume, as if heard from a distance it got quieter and quieter. Suddenly, as if it couldn't bear to be contained any longer, the fog swelled slightly and burst from the mirrors, seeping and roiling across the walls and floors, rolling along the laminate flooring like waves of an ocean. All the while the music got quieter, until it was barely a whisper in her ears. Within moments Jade was surrounded by a featureless wall of dark gray fog, surrounding her as if in a bubble, everything beyond hands reach vanished from sight, her legs and waist similarly gone from sight in the murk.

Jade MacCarthy: She reached out into the fog taking tentative steps, her eyes darting from side to side trying to see anything hear anything. She felt lost and fear began to rise from deep within her. Hugging her body tighter she closed her eyes. She thought of Jake. He would know what to do.. "Jake... Jake.." she called out. He would know what to do. "Jake where are you? I need you!

JakeSteelsShade: For a moment there was nothing, just the whisper soft classical music that remained in the background, a theme for the fear of the fog she was experiencing. Then things began to shift again, a pinpoint of dim light appearing in the murk, slightly higher than her head, and somehow appearing to be as if shone from a great distance. With the advent of the light, the fog began to clear, becoming lighter and clearer. The first thing that became visible was the ground beneath her feet. Pale off-white paving slabs, perfect squares that ran in a grid along the ground, disappearing into the distance as the remaining fog enshrouded them. With the lifting and clearing of the fog, it became obvious after not too long that the light in the distance was the afternoon sun, shining through the murk.

Jade MacCarthy: Slowly she opened her eyes, trying to focus the room she had been in was gone. Brows drawn together she tried to make out where she was, but it was still to hazy for her see. She started to take steps forward in hopes the fog would lift.

JakeSteelsShade: With each step, the fog cleared that tiny bit more. Where the side walls of the studio had been, the fog lifted to reveal waist-high ramparts of almost-white design, intricate carvings covering the surfaces on either side of her. The barrier ran for as far as her eye could see, into the mist. At intervals spaced atop the wall were black iron lanterns, adding their meagre orange glow to the sunlight that was slowly winning over the grayness, penetrating through finally. The sound of the music had gone, replaced by the gentle lapping of waves, and in the distance the sound of city-life, mingled and uncomprehendable numerous voices calling to each other, as could be heard in any busy place. With the fig only remaining at the further reaches now, it was clear she was standing on a bridge that span for a long distance, a calm river beneath.

Jade MacCarthy: She turned slowly around taking in the sights. A smile crossed her lips as she moved to the side of the bridge to look down at he water below. A soft breaze blew a few strands of her hair into her face. She quickly brushed them
back as she pushed back from the edge and started to walk. She had no clue where she was or where she was going but she knew she had to go there.

JakeSteelsShade: In the distance a shadow appeared on the surface of the remaining fog. Stepping free from the clinging gray miasma, it wasn't clear whether he came out of the gloom, or it continued to recede beyond his stationary position. Coming towards her, the sunlight brining his features clear to her eyes, a familiar figure. Smiling slightly, Jake had his hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket, collar turned up against the
mildly warm breeze that lifted off the river. As if startled back into life by the appearance of another living being, the noise from the city beyond him sprung up in volume.

Jade MacCarthy: Squinting she watched as he appeared, at first she looked behind her incase she needed to escape. As he drew closer he became familiar and a smile appeared. Her pace quickened as she moved towards him. Sounds of the city dancing around her, she glanced down and then stopped. She was no longer in her dance attire but wearing a floral dress in blues, a scooped neckline and 3/4 sleeves, the skirt reached mid calf and flowed as she moved. She looked back to Jake.

JakeSteelsShade: A smile on his face, he had entered the dream fully, his mind merging with hers totally. Holding out a hand to her, he stopped walking about nine or ten feet away from her, eyes glancing up and down at her new fashion. He'd stopped walking as a ploy of his own devising, a test to see if she'd accepted the dream within her own mind. If she stepped toward him, accepting him as part of her consciousness, all was well. If she doubted and refused to approach him, it could go very badly indeed.

Jade MacCarthy: Her smile faded seeing him stop, turning her head she again looked behind her. The bridge was old and lovely. Slowly she turned her gaze to Jake. Her head titled as she moved hair behind her right ear. She looked down again at her dress, closing her eyes for a few moments.. She opened them to see him with his hand outstretched to her. She took small skipping steps towards him and took his hand. "Jake.. " She whispered.

JakeSteelsShade: With a slight sigh, he realized he'd almost lost her. Extending a second hand towards her approaching form, he cocked his head and grinned towards her, waiting for her to come close enough to be embraced within his arms. "Bienvenue ver Paris, mon amour," he said just loud enough for her ears to hear his voice. His normal slightly southern-states accent had adapted, an international lilt coming to his throat like he'd been born to the French region. As if she'd studied the French language for years, understanding of the foreign words came into her mind naturally, another gift of the dream he was providing for her. Like a little voice in her ear, “Welcome to Paris my love.”

Jade MacCarthy: She moved into his arms her face glowing with happiness as she looked into face. "Paris.." she let the word slip from her lips.

JakeSteelsShade: Pulling her body against his, he nodded at her, black and gray hairs trailing across his forehead as he did so. "Je vous ai apporte ici pour un cadeau," I brought you here as a gift, the unconscious voice told her, merging with Jake's own voice until the two were unpartable. Though he continued to speak in French, his lips forming the unfamiliar words, all she heard was his voice speaking as he always had. "Do you like?"

Jade MacCarthy: "Oh Jake I do... I can't believe I'm here... that we are here.." Her fingers reached up and caressed his face. "That we are in Paris.. " She looked around then back into his eyes.. "We are here right?"

JakeSteelsShade: He smiled again, the corners of his eyes wrinkling with tiny lines and creases. "But of course we are. Where else would we be?" Without giving her a moment to reply, he extended one arm, pointing back in the direction she'd come, indicating the bass relief carved barrier of the bridge. "This is the Pont Neuf, the grandest bridge that crosses the Parisian river Seine."

Jade MacCarthy: Taking his arm she was in awe of her surrounding. Her eyes wide as she tried to take in everything she saw. "What does Pont Neuf mean?" Her eyes moved to the barriers.

JakeSteelsShade: "Back in the 1600's, it was called the New Bridge, because construction of it had finally finished, a triumph of architecture at the time, and still a thing of glorious beauty." With their arms intertwined, he guided her in the: direction he'd appeared from, aware that his ability to appear and alter her dreams was limited.

Jade MacCarthy: "Oh yes it is.." Hearing a loud motor she tugged on his arm pulling him closer to the railing. "Oh Jake look a boat... " She looked up at him with almost a child like expression. "Do you think we could take a ride before we leave?" Thought of how she got there entered her mind, but looking at him as he watched her they were pushed a side.

JakeSteelsShade: "Maybe another time, my love. We have another engagement to attend." The words mon amour rolling off his tongue, as if he had said them to her a thousand times, while the truth was he had never used the word in her presence before. "We don't want to be late, believe me." Guiding her along, they came off the bridge and continued along the Parisian roads.

Jade MacCarthy: It was as though all the photographs she had seen had come to life. The smells of baking bread, people calling out each other, the narrow walk ways. For a time she felt as though her neck would break from her head turning from side to side and up and down. "Oh Jake, I wish we the Isle had this type of look. Look at all the flowers in the flowers boxes." She didn't find it strange that she could move pain free.

JakeSteelsShade: In the manner of dreams, they walked along roads that existed in Paris, and yet in an all too brief time they came to a road that should have taken over forty minutes to walk to from the river. It was a natural transition from one place to another, a glimpse of the eye, and the change of scenery forgotten as strange just as quick, if even noticed at all. Coming around the corner of an intersection of streets, the: emerged at the grand square in front of the magnificent building ahead.

Jade MacCarthy: Her pace slowed as the building came into view. The light hitting washing over it gave it a golden glow. Arched entryways and statues sitting atop the corners. "What is this building?" Her hand slid from his arm into his hand.

JakeSteelsShade: Jake squeezed her hand tenderly, eyes looking at the building just as hers were. Studying every detail of the view of the building, he was ensuring that it was picture perfect, the building drawn from memory, pulled from his mind and placed into hers. "It is the Grand Theatre, le Opera Nationale de Paris."

Jade MacCarthy: "Is this where we need to be?" pulling her eyes from the building to look up at him. "If it is I am not dressed to go inside."

JakeSteelsShade: He smiled warmly, the charm of his features almost making his face glow. "Yes you are, my love. You are more beautiful dressed than you can imagine." Indeed, in the fraction of time between one heartbeat and another, like a wash of gleaming emeralds, she was clothed in a voluminous dark green velvet dress, coloured perfectly to highlight her eyes and hair. The scooping neckline plunged low, but the unblemished skin of her neck and chest were brought to higher attention by the grand golden necklace that hung there, it lowermost pinnacle encasing a rectangle of shimming amethyst, purple light shining through to her skin beneath. In the same moment, Jake was dressed in a perfectly fitting dinner suit, top hat and black jacket with tails, ruffled black velvet cummerbund. Lifting a single finger to the rim of the top hat, he pushed it up and smiled.:: "See..? Now, we mustn't be late."

Jade MacCarthy: She looked down her fingers lightly touching her gown, she frown for a second wondering how this could be. But it passed quickly, "Jake you are....... are..... so handsome.": Reaching up she adjusted his tie. Then taking his arm she moved with him. Looking down she saw a pair of matching velvet shoes, she couldn't remember the last time she wore heals. They moved through the door.

JakeSteelsShade: Fingers encased in pure white opera gloves rested on her arm, guiding her across the Rue Scribe towards the Palais Garnier, a few people similarly dressed doing likewise, entering the beautiful opera house. Though no-one could compare to the perfectly tailored fashion that Jade and he wore. Inside, they were stopped only momentarily at base of the grand marble double staircase that rose to the second floor within. Pulling from inside his jacket a pair of tickets, Jake handed them over to the attendant, receiving in return the Programme de la Opera. La Cenerentola by Rossini, they were here to see.

Jade MacCarthy: The crystal chandlers glistened casting rainbows on the floors. She looked at all the elegantly dress people. She hadn't seen so many jewels in her life. She slipped her arm though his as he lead the way to their seats. She was surprised as he led her to the boxed seat. Sitting high above the crowd. "So what is this about? I really don't know much about opera."

JakeSteelsShade: Tugging at the fingertips of the gloves, he pulled them off one at a time, dropping them to the floor beside the seat. "It is a classical tale of love and deception. Very similar to Cinderella, but much more wicked and humorous."

Jade MacCarthy: The music started and she settled back in the chair, her hand reaching out for his. The hours past quickly and she was spell bound by the music dancing and story line. The crowd burst in a roar of applause, she was among them.

JakeSteelsShade: Hands applauding rapidly, he felt the pull of his own consciousness pulling him away from Jade's dream. With the sound of the rapturous applause still echoing slightly in his ears, he stepped mentally backwards, out of the scene, leaving her mind to continue without his assistance. Whether the scene stayed the same, or shifted, or the dream ended, was beyond his control now. Opening his eyes, back in his own body, he blinked and looked around the still dark bedroom.

Jade MacCarthy: She looked over and he was gone, she shift in her seat, and as she did she moved restlessly in bed. The crowd on their feet calling out "Bravo, Brovo" . She started to worry where he had gone. "Jake..? Jake?" Calling out her voice echoubg in their bedroom as she continued to move under the covers.

JakeSteelsShade: Jake moved around the bedroom, sliding his weight onto the edge of the bed gently. A hand moved out, tenderly touching the side of her face, his fingers caressing her cheek.

Jade MacCarthy: Her eyes fluttered open and there he was the warmth of his hand on her face. "Jake.." her voice deep from sleep. "We were in Paris." Her eyes still dreamy..

JakeSteelsShade: He smiled, leaning down to kiss her softly on the lips, his cotton robe hanging slightly loose where the cord had slipped. (s) "Honey, you were dreaming..."

Jade MacCarthy: "mmm was I? It was so real, and.. " she looked at him with a soft smile..

JakeSteelsShade: Kissing her again, his lips brushing hers with such affection, his dark eyes watched her in the bare light of the dawn. "What did we do in Paris, hun?"

Jade MacCarthy: 'We were on the Pont Neuf, and walked the city streets, then we went to an opera." their faces close "I think it was called 'La Cenerentola......" she paused "Surely you remember... you even called me love." Her voice was soft as she looked into his eyes.

JakeSteelsShade: Smiling at her obvious confusion, he shook his head sympathetically. "It was a dream, babe. I wasn't there. I've never been to an opera."

Jade MacCarthy: "Oh..! Of course it was a dream." She stretched "It seemed so real Jake.."

JakeSteelsShade: Turning his head, he looked out the window at the slowly brightening sky, dawn approaching slowly. "It's almost seven hun, I've gotta get up for work." Rising to his feet.

Jade MacCarthy: She rolled over and took a hold of his robe tugging on it.

JakeSteelsShade: He grinned, his arms slipping out of the robe. Abandoning the cotton robe to her, he made a swift exit into the bathroom. Pursing his lips together, he began to whistle, alternating high and low pitches in a quick rhythm. He whistled the tune from the thirteenth scene of La Cenerentola, where Don Ramiro and Dandini implore the chorus of knights to turn back.

Jade MacCarthy: She watched as he moved tot he bathroom and her brows raised hearing the tune. She scrambled out of bed and hurried into the bathroom. "Jake. .. That song.. what is it?"

JakeSteelsShade: Pulling his can of shaving foam from the alcove in the wall, he began to apply the white foam to his cheeks, turning at the sound of her entering behind him. "Pardon?"

Jade MacCarthy: "Jake why are you being like this.. What was that song you were just whistling?" She asked standing in the doorway admiring his form.

JakeSteelsShade: He shrugged slightly, grinning at the looks she was giving his now naked body, now that she'd kidnapped his robe. Using a finger, he spread the foam under his chin, and then pulled out his razor. "Dunno hun, just something I think I dreamt about."

Jade MacCarthy: "mmmm well, " she moved in and pressed her body against his her arms wrapping around his waist. "I wish it had been real."

JakeSteelsShade: He chuckled, turning back to the mirror with Jade attached to his lower body. He began to slide the blade through the foam, leaving smooth bare skin behind. "If it was a good dream, hun, it was real."

Jade MacCarthy: "I'm sure it will stay with me, but I wish you .. bah." She kissed his back, "Want me to make you some breakfast before you leave?"

JakeSteelsShade: "Sure.. Something big and hearty." Grinning at her in the reflection of the mirror, he continued to shave.