Just as Marcell left, the ballet began.

Anastasia sat watching the show as she took the last bites of her chocolate while Maria daydreamed. She knew she should be watching the ballet, but she couldn't clear her head of Marcell.

He was tall with broad shoulders. His hair was light brown and reached just at his shoulders in waves. He was well-groomed and looked to be Maria's age, although she didn't know for she didn't get a chance to ask.

It only took one meeting for Maria to know she was madly in love with him. She hoped he would return to their box so they could chat.

Act one passed and the sisters watched as the ballerinas twirled in their elegant tutus. They marveled at the world-famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova who was playing Odette. Anna leaped across the stage with such grace that she made ballet seem effortless.

In the middle of act two, a tiny knock on the door was heard. Maria silently stood up, hoping it was a certain someone.

It was Marcell, a huge grin on his face. Maria walked past him and closed the box door, leaving the two outside in the hall.

"You don't know how happy I am to see you," Maria whispered.

"So am I," Marcell took her hand from her side and kissed it. He hoped she wouldn't be disgusted at his little act but she blushed, her cheeks turning pink.

"Come on," Marcell led her down the hall away from the box.

"Where are we going!?" Maria asked, a rush of excitement and adrenaline running through her body.

"I have a good view of the stage that I know you'll want to see." Marcell smiled back at her as they ran.

Marcell walked into the opera house's lobby where he ran toward the marble wall. Maria didn't know what he was doing until he revealed a secret staircase that was built into the wall.

Somewhat nervous and scared, she was glued to Marcell's side as they walked up the stairs. They climbed the stairs for a few moments until they came to a closed door. Maria pushed it open and was blinded by light. They were in a hallway she had never seen before.

"This is the secret employee hallway. It helps us travel the house without the public seeing us." Marcell whispered.

Marcell led her down a circular-shaped hallway until they reached another door that Marcell pulled Maria into.

A blast of cold air hit the two as they walked. Maria could hear that the music from the orchestra was close. The two climbed a ladder which led them onto a platform. Maria gasped in horror and delight as she realized where they were.

"We're-we're standing over the stage!"

Maria looked over the railing to see the dancers twirling below them.

"Wait- can the audience see us?"

"No, no. We're good." Marcell reassured. "I like to come up here when I don't have work, or to watch the performance."

"It's a very clever place. A bit scary but nice." Maria chuckled.

"I have one last place to show you. Would you like to see it?"

They made it back into the secret hallway and entered another door. Both squinted as they entered. Maria realized they were standing under a huge spotlight.

She saw they were in the theatre; across from the stage. Marcell led her further until they reached another spotlight. There Marcell sat on a blanket on the ground.

"I also like to come here to rest during shows. I draw a lot too. Would you like to see some?" Marcell held up a sketchbook.

"Yes!"

"I drew this a few weeks ago. There's a ton of statues around so there are lots of busts to draw!"

"It's magnificent!" Maria gasped.

She had never seen such beautiful drawings done by hand.

"Show me more!" she pleaded.

As Marcell turned pages in his sketchbook to find a drawing to show her, Maria spotted someone familiar as he turned.

"Go back, please."

Marcell quietly sighed. He had hoped she wouldn't see that drawing.

"Is that me?" Maria wondered as she took the book from Marcell's hand and looked it over.

"Yes," Marcell admitted. "I hope you don't think it's weird. Your formal photos from nineteen-fourteen were published in newspapers all over the world so I decided to draw you. It was years and years ago."

"No! I love it! I was fifteen in those photos." Maria remembered.

"It's super funny now." Marcell said.

"What is?"

"That now I've met you in person all these years later." Marcell gazed into her eyes.

"I suppose it was fate that brought us together." Maria concluded.

Marcell flipped a few pages more and showed her a picture he had drawn of thirteen-year-old Anastasia.

"That's stunning! Anastasia will love it! We have to show her!"

"Well, the thing is i've never shown my drawings to anyone. Not even my friends. But...something is different about you. I just know it."

Maria smiled at him. "I would never judge your drawings, they're so pretty."

"Shall we watch the ballet now?' Marcell asked, getting up.

"We shall." Maria answered.

They both watched the show for about a half-hour until Maria decided it was time to return to her sister. The two walked, Maria's fingers laced between Marcell's.

Once they had made it to the box door, it was time to say goodbye.

"Thank you for this incredible night. I'll never forget this." Maria beamed, her eyes glittering with delight.

"I'll never forget you." Marcell bent down to kiss her hand again.

Instead of letting him, Maria bent down to his level and found her lips on his. They both stood up in unison, their lips still together. Marcell had never been kissed before. He was overjoyed his first was from Maria. He was enchanted by her sweet personality.

Maria was so glad he loved her. She was still shaken by Valentin's actions, scared he would turn on her but Marcell was different. He was kind, shy, and funny. These traits she immediately noticed about him.

As they kissed, Marcell held her waist and pulled her closer, never wanting to end this moment. He had fallen in love with her newspaper photo when he was sixteen. Now he was thirty and with her in person.

"I have loved you ever since I have laid eyes on you," he whispered in her ear once their lips had parted. Maria swooned.

"I never want to leave you." she smiled, her forehead on his.

"But we must stop now." Marcell said frantically as he stepped away from her.

Maria stepped closer to him."Why must we stop?"

"I hope no one has seen us. I can get in serious trouble for doing this."

"I understand," Maria said, stepping back.

Marcell put two folded pieces of paper in her hand and after one last kiss, Maria ran into the box where she saw Anastasia looking back at her, an angry scowl on her face.

"Maria Nikolaevna, I know you were with that boy! This was supposed to be our night! Just the two of us! The ballet is over! You've missed it all!"

Maria was too distracted thinking about Marcell to pay attention to her sister. She took the pieces of paper and unfolded them, smiling to herself when she saw they were the pictures he had drawn of the sisters.

Marcell also smiled to himself when he stood alone outside of Maria's box.

With a burst of happiness, he sprinted down the hallway trying to find his buddies.

He couldn't wait to tell them all about his night.