The Greatest Thing

Children of the Revolution

Estelle stifled a chuckle as he grinned up at her from below.

"I'll be down in a moment!" she softly called down.

"I'll be waiting, darling," he winked.

She shook her head as she blushed. She gently picked up her shoes from next to her door and crept out into the hall. Carefully, she peered around to make sure the rest of the lights were off in the house. Her foot stopped at the top of the stairs. They would creak. They always creaked. It would give her away in a heartbeat. Estelle let a soft sigh pass through her mouth before letting her gaze fall on the railing. It wasn't proper by any means. She hadn't done it in years. But, desperate times called for desperate measures. Estelle bunched up her skirts in her hand before swinging her leg over the side of the railing. Then, she tucked her shoes under her arms and let go, sliding down the railing until her back gently hit the newel post at the end. A childish smile formed on her face at the sheer rush she felt from doing such a silly and small action. She'd been prim and proper for so long that she had almost forgotten what it was like to have fun. Christian truly did bring color back into her life after having seen the world in black and white for so long. She'd forgotten what it was like to dream. Estelle leaned her weight to the side that was on the outside of the railing before swinging her other leg over and landing soundlessly on the floor. She smoothed her skirts out before moving on towards the front door. Slipping on her shoes, she snuck out the door and ran around the corner into Christian's waiting arms.

Despite the fact that he had just seen her a few hours earlier, he hugged her close and spun her around. In the dark of the night, they could just be themselves. Hidden in the shadows, they could leave society behind.

"What did you want to show me that I couldn't see in the daylight?" Estelle asked curiously, resting her hands on his arms as he held her.

"Well, I wanted to show you some like minded people," Christian replied with a blush.

"Then lead the way," she smiled.

Reluctantly, he let go over her waist, offering her his arm instead to escort her through the streets. They walked in a calm silence until they were a few streets away.

"Earlier... after the dinner. You seemed upset," he ventured. "Did something happen?"

"Oh, not exactly," she murmured. "I suppose it was something the ladies said after you all left. We were discussing your song and questions turned to our relationship and something that they said sent me into a world of my own devising."

"They say that thinking is a dangerous pass time," he teased.

"They may be right," she chuckled.

"What did they say?"

"They seem to think I could anchor you," she replied. "But, I think they're wrong."

"How do you figure?"

"I would never anchor you. Not when you've taught me how to fly," she smiled. "I'd sooner fly with you than ask you to be anything you were not."

A funny smile came over his face as he looked down at her. "You are everything one could ever want."

"About that song earlier," Estelle started.

"What about it?"

"Did you pick it for a reason?" she asked, blushing furiously.

"Of course, darling."

"Which was?" she asked turning to face him.

"Sometimes when you feel a certain way, you can't bottle it inside," he murmured, reaching out to cup her cheek.