Jules Verne sat in the library of the Sorbonne. The hour was late and he knew that he should be returning to his cheerless room, but the library was warm and the chair, while not exactly comfortable, was much better than the one that resided under the table he used as a desk. The pile of books beside him did not contain treatises on the law, for which he felt slightly guilty, but instead were the libraries reference volumes on that strange civilization that once ranged over large stretches of the country now known as Mexico, the Aztecs.

The pictures in this latest book showed sketches of devices found by explorers as part of that civilization. Jules was looking specifically for any mention of anything that might be a part of that strange vehicle he and his friends knew as the "Phoenix." This peculiar machine had the ability to move through time the way that Phileas Fogg's dirigible Aurora could sail through the air. He was about to give up on this one as well when he spotted a diagram that looked familiar.

He turned the pages of his own notebook to find his sketch for comparison. "Yes!" he said triumphantly. "They match!" He scribbled the name of the book down next to his drawing. When next he saw Phileas, Passepartout, and Rebecca, he would have something to report.

Suddenly, the hair on the back of his neck prickled. Someone was coming. Someone silent. A shadow fell across his notebook. He turned quickly to look.

The sound of the walking stick's 'whap' as it landed in the middle of his notebook, nearly made Verne jump out of his skin, if that were possible. In a spastic and badly executed defense tactic, the student attempted to both grab the notebook and retreat at the same time. This merely resulted in Jules dropping his book, overturning the chair, and soundly landing on his Nantesian rump.

Alas, his execution of such preservational tactics needed much work.

Verne's instinct for danger was considerably honed by numberous run-ins with the League of Darkness. Always, they sought to capture him, or his notebooks or both.

The voice that answered Verne's rather pathetic attempt at escape was cool, English, and slightly annoyed.

"For the love of God, Verne! Haven't your professors instructed you a million times to =pay attention=? Haven't =I= instructed you to do the same? Yet, here you are in some musty little corner, buried in a book, oblivious to the world..."

Verne attempted to staunch the forthcoming lecture from Phileas Fogg. However, that hope dwindled into nothingness as the Englishman stood glaring like Napoleon overseeing the troops... well, perhaps Mons. Bonaparte wasn't the best analogy.

"You really =must= be little more prepared."

"I know, Fogg."

"You could be grabbed and thrown under a pile of these dusty tomes for a century, at least, before anyone would even =notice=... let alone find you!"

"I know, Fogg."

"And then, =who= do you suppose would be required to dig under all these moldy papers in search of you?"

"You, Fogg."

Fogg laughed. "Of course not. Don't be ridiculous. I would have Passepartout do it!" he added matter-of-factly.

"How did you find me?" Verne asked his protector.

"I followed a trail of breadcrumbs..." the Englishman answered. "Somewhat stale, french, bagette breadcrumbs. Verne, if you are =not= in that hovel that you call your apartment, and you are =not= in that hovel that you call a bistro, then it stands to reason that you are...=here=. Now gather your papers and your wits and let's go. Rebecca is waiting outside."

Quickly, Jules grabbed his books together, wondering why Fogg was here to see him dressed in full evening wear. The Englishman's long stride made it nearly impossible to keep up without running.

Rebecca stood just inside the doorway looking at the carriage outside, but turning as she heard the footsteps approaching.

"Thank heavens you're here, Jules."

"Rebecca, what's going on?"

"Your presence has been requested, Verne."

"What, Fogg?"

"I think Rebecca can explain it. After all, it is her assignment."

"Thank you so much, Phileas. Um, Jules..." She stumbled uncharacteristically over her words. What was going on? "Well, as you may be able to notice, we were at a formal supper this evening. It was for the new Italian consul, and it seems he had heard of the mole incident. Louis Napoleon himself remembered your involvement."

"The emperor? He asked to see ME?" Jules said, incredulous.

"No. The consul's daughter wants to meet you. She heard how you helped save the emperor, and the queen. She's only fourteen, Jules, and I think it struck her imagination. Of course," Rebecca's blue eyes teased, "it may be that she simply wants the company of someone other than boring old diplomats and a young Frenchman suits quite nicely."

"How do you know the consul's daughter, Rebecca?"

"She's my assignment."

"Yes," said Phileas depreciatingly, "another difficult job for England's first female agent."

"Oh, hush, Phileas. I'm taking care of her until she reaches London so that the consul can conduct his business here and there unimpeded.

"Does her father know that I'm a student?"

"Yes. It doesn't seem to concern him at all. Of course, Miss Cinzia seems to get just about everything she wants. Ah!"

The girl, it seems, has gotten tired of waiting in the coach. The door opens, and out steps the consulate's fourteen-year-old daughter.

The young girl stepped smartly up to Jules, and looked him up and down. "You must be Jules Verne," she said quietly. "Yes, you'll do nicely."

Jules looked quickly at Rebecca, who immediately stifled her mischevious grin. "Ah, yes, I am, Miss..."

Rebecca stepped forward and announced formally, "Jules Verne, may I present to you Miss Natalia Cinzia. Miss Cinzia, may I present to you Monsieur Jules Verne."

Jules extended his hand, grasped Natalia's delicate fingers, and kissed the back of the young girl's hand. "Charmed, I'm sure," Jules said.

Natalia quickly whipped her hand back out of Jules' grasp. "How dare you touch me without permission?" she fumed.

Jules' eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I'm... I'm..."

Natalia started giggling. "Oh, don't worry, I'm only teasing. If I'd been upset I'd've had Daddy's soldiers kill you on the spot."

That did little to quell Jules' fears. However, he did manage to force a small grin. "Rebecca, how can I ever thank you enough?" he said through gritted teeth.

Rebecca started giggling herself. "Well, for a start..."

Phileas had seen enough. "Right," he proclaimed. "I'd say it's time to head back to the Aurora. Don't you think so, Rebecca?"

"Jules and I want to go walking, don't we, Jules?" Natalia said boldly, as she took Jules' arm in hers.

"No, you don't, Natalia," Rebecca chastised. "I am here to keep you safe, and I say we head to the Aurora."

Natalia began to pout. "No!"

"No!" reiterated the young Italian girl. "I want to look around Paris," She sidled up to Verne, putting both hands around his left arm, "which is, next to bella Venezia, of course, the most romantic city in the world." Deep brown eyes gazed into hazel meaningfully.

"That may be the case, Miss Cinzia, but WE have a job to do and that job is to keep you safe," explained Rebecca.

"Besides," Jules added, "you can see Paris very well from up in the Aurora. It looks..very beautiful at this time of night." He smiled, a bit uncomfortably, due to the continued proximity of the young lady.

"Nicely said, Verne," Fogg congratulated him, sotto voce, as he led the small group back to the carriage.

The four seated themselves, with Natalia naturally sitting next to Jules, and only slightly closer to him than she really needed to be. Rebecca's raised eyebrows spoke volumes as she sat down across from Jules, while Jules' expression replied in kind. Rebecca smiled inwardly. A short time ago, Jules would not have been comfortable, or even capable, of giving her such a dirty look.

"The Aurora, if you please," said Phileas, tapping the roof of the carriage with his cane.

"What is this Aurora?" Natalia asked of Jules.

"The Aurora is Fogg's...Mr. Fogg's dirigible," he replied nervously. This young lady had the worst habit of staring directly into eyes, at least Jules' eyes.

"Dee-ree-gee-bull? What is dee-ree-gee-bull?"

"A dirigible is an airship, Miss Cinzia," answered Rebecca. She noted a quick look of panic in the girl's eyes. "It's quite safe, actually. Much safer for you than traveling on the ground and by ship would be, and faster as well. The Aurora is the main reason we are the ones guarding you." Rebecca's eyes softened. The girl was only fourteen, after all, and in a strange city with people she didn't know.

"It is very safe, Miss Cinzia."

"Please, you may call me Natalia," she smouldered, "since we will be traveling together."

"Please call me Jules."

"Of course, Jules," she moved a bit closer to him, somehow batting her lashes and staring at him at the same time. He noticed that her gaze was just a bit below his eyes this time. Uh-oh...She giggled a bit as Jules began to blush. "It must be very exciting, traveling up in the air. I am looking forward to it, as I look forward to many new experiences on my journey."

This time the raised-brow treatment was for her cousin's benefit. The couple across the carriage seemed oblivious to them--the girl from staring at Jules, and Jules from distress at being stared at. Although, Rebecca noted, the young man trembled under the mesmerizing gaze, he did not flinch away from the girl's touch.

Phileas' reaction to Rebecca's silent comment was much greater than she anticipated. In fact, he appeared quite pop-eyed at the moment. What...?

**My God,** thought Phileas, **did she mean to do that?** He tried not to look down, even though Rebecca had noted his surprise. He didn't want to make a fuss, since it was quite possibly a mistake, but...Miss Natalia Cinzia of Venice, Italy, had just--or so it seemed--deliberately brushed her leg against his. Several times. Fortunately, they had arrived at their destination, and disembarked the carriage.

"What was that all about, Phileas?"

"What? Oh, nothing, nothing." He looked at Jules and Natalia, who were already nearing the airship. "I do hope," he added, "that her trunks have all been delivered and we can take off straight away."

"The staff at the embassy assured me that everything would be here. Now let's go, I'm sure Passepartout has some tea waiting for us."

"A spot of brandy would be preferable right now," and Rebecca nodded her agreement.

Jules had always been in awe of the Aurora, even after his experience aboard the Prometheus. He couldn't wait to see Natalia's expression when she laid eyes on it.The coach came to a slow stop, and Jules looked at her as Phileas climbed out of the carriage, Rebecca following promptly behind him.Jules quickly exited, and offered up his hand to help her out of the carriage.

The look in her eyes was the same he had the first time he saw the Aurora. Jules smiled as she stepped down beside him."This is your... flying ship?""Not mine, but Mr. Fogg's. But yes, this is the Aurora."

"It's lovely. Will you show me?" Jules swallowed as she took his arm, guiding her toward the awaiting Aurora.

Rebecca and Phileas watched, amused as the couple passed them, Jules casting an annoyed glance over his shoulder in Rebecca's general direction."I do think the boy is a bit peeved at you, Rebecca," Phileas stated with a hint of amusement.

"Excellent deduction, Phileas. You're good," she laughed in response as they followed the couple.Passepartout stood waiting for them, smiling and giving a slight bow as Jules introduced Natalia to him.

"It is nice to be meeting you." He accepted her offered hand, placing a quick kiss to the back of it, before Jules and Natalia entered the Aurora.

"Are we ready to go, Passepartout?" Rebecca asked, stepping up onto the deck.

"God, I do hope so. I need a drink," Phileas commented as he started to enter the Aurora.

"Miss. Cinzia's things have not be arriving, Master." Phileas stopped and backed out of the door, looking at Passepartout as if he'd grown a second head.

"Not here?"

"No, Master."

Phileas looked at Rebecca who only smiled smugly at him."I don't know why I continually let you talk me into joining you in your assignments. One of these days I'll say 'no'."

Rebecca laughed and took his arm."You don't say 'no' because you love me. I'm sure that we won't be long. Can we get
some tea, Passepartout?" Rebecca asked as she lead Phileas inside.

"Right away, Miss. Rebecca."

"I'll take a brandy, if you don't mind, Passepartout," Phileas stated, a bit miffed."Yes, Master. Right away."

"This is it??" Natalia asked as Jules finished her tour of the airship.

"Well, yes," Jules replied hesitantly. "Isn't she..."

"But it's so *small*!" the girl complained. "And where am I supposed to sleep? Surely not in one of those tiny rooms? It's...it's...disgraceful!"

Jules was becoming more and more annoyed with this child by the minute and it was all he could do to keep his tongue in check.

"Miss Natalia, the Aurora is...is the height of modern technology. If you could just..."

"No!" She turned on him with her dark eyes flashing. "I refuse to stay here. My things have not even arrived! How can you expect me to survive like this! I'm going back to Paris!"

Before Jules could open his mouth she turned her back on him and headed off the Aurora. The others were all inside waiting for the arrival of Natalia's trunks while enjoying tea, or brandy as the case may be. They were completely unaware of Natalia's mutiny.

For a moment Jules stood there staring after Natalia as she strutted across to the carriage that had not yet left. Should he run for Phileas and Rebecca? Or chase after this troublesome girl?

Too late. Natalia was already getting into the carriage. Jules surprised himself by swearing rather colorfully, then he ran for the carriage. He threw open the door before Natalia could signal the driver and didn't try to hide his irritation.

"Now look, I don't care who you are, you can't just go running off..."

Before he could finish the sentence Natalia leaned over, grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him into a serious kiss. Jules was too stunned to resist as she then dragged him all the way into the carriage.

"Driver!" she called. "To Paris!"

**My God, she must be nearly as strong as Rebecca.** Jules surprised himself by thinking this thought first. Actually, Jules was surprised he could think any thoughts at all due to his unusual position, both social and physical.

"Mmm, Jules, kiss me," whispered Natalia. She was seated on the floor of the carriage with Jules sprawled lengthwise across it. His head was pillowed against something very soft...He blinked in confusion.

"Jules?" Natalia obviously expected her request for a kiss to be met, and soon.

"Uhh, I'm sorry, Miss Natalia, I'm ah..." Jules stammered and tried to right himself. He twisted in an attempt to get his legs under him, overbalanced, and steadied himself with his left hand pushing on his former 'pillow.' The blush was instantaneous and brilliant red as he realized what he was doing, withdrawing the hand immediately. This caused him to fall back against the seat of the carriage with his head (of course) hitting the edge.

"Jules! Are you hurt? Oh, Jules," she did seem concerned, he noted.

"It's nothing, I'm fine. I certainly didn't mean to...that is..." **I am going to be put in jail for all eternity for molesting the consul's daughter, if Fogg doesn't kill me first.**

She giggled. "It's all right, and I know you didn't mean to touch my..." another giggle. She looked at Jules intensely for a moment, and then seemed to realize that they both still sat on the floor of the carriage between the padded seats.

"The floor isn't very comfortable, Miss Natalia." Such a talent for stating the obvious. "Why don't we get up and sit where we're supposed to: we need..." he broke off as the dark-eyed girl resumed her intense gaze. **We need to go back to the Aurora,** he thought.

"Don't you think I'm pretty, Jules?"

Natalia's eyes continued their gaze into his own until he had to break off. His glance moved from her eyes to her shoulder to...well...and then to her full lips. She's only fourteen, she's still just a girl, but she's so...

Natalia read his expressions, his discomfort. Life as a daughter to the consul had taught her many things about people. Sometimes a friendly nation had a bit of doubt about forming alliances. Sometimes, one stepped back and gave room to think. Other times, one continued overtures. **I know what you're thinking, Monsieur Verne, what you really want, even if you are too nervous to act. I am not.**

"You do think I'm pretty, I can tell," she said, and since Jules was literally backed against a wall, he really had no way to refuse another kiss.

Her hands felt very cool against his face; the blushing, you see. "Natalia.."

"Hush, Jules. You're so sweet." Another kiss. "I have heard so much about the French men, how they are so romantic. You are very funny, Jules. I so much like your name. Jules." She might look older, but she did babble like a young teen girl. "Yes, you are most funny. Why don't you kiss me back? I know you think I'm pretty, but you are not kissing me. The Italian boys are always begging for the kisses. Is something wrong?"

"Yes." He squeaked. "Yes." There, that sounded more normal. "We've only just met, Natalia, and you're fourteen years old."

"So? Some girls are married at fourteen, so what does that matter? And we are getting to know each other, yes?"

"Wouldn't your father be angry with me if he knew that I...I was taking advantage of you?"

"Ha! 'Taking advantage of me,' is a silly thing to say. You certainly are not doing anything of the sort. Hmph. Father knows that I am kissing young men, and he doesn't mind as long as I am not ruined for marriage." She smiled a very, very naughty smile. "You are not thinking of ruining me for marriage, are you Jules?"

"No! Of course not." Recovering from her continual gaze, he managed to get back to the storyline. "We should go back to the Aurora. You are supposed to be with Rebecca--it isn't safe for you to be running around Paris."

"Hm." She smiled at him. "We can go back, I'll tell the driver to turn around if..."

"If?"

"If you kiss me."

"I just kissed you!"

"You didn't! I kissed you. Now you must kiss me."

There are worse things in life than having to kiss a pretty girl, and Jules did his best.

"Oh! So sweet. Such a perfect, gentle kiss is like from a storybook. Thank you so much."

"Shall we go back to the Aurora now?"

Natalia giggled and shook her head. "I'm afraid I have changed my mind."

Jules frowned. "Natalia..." His voice was full of warning.

"Oh, but we are having so much fun," she said. "I do not want to go back now."

Well, maybe she didn't, but Jules certainly did. They had been gone far too long as it was. Alone...without a chaperone. Jules knew how much trouble he could get in.

"I'm sorry, Natalia, but we really have to stop this." He moved to get up and alert the coachman, but Natalia had other plans.

"Wait!" she exclaimed. "You must go with me to Paris, Jules, otherwise I'll...I'll tell my father that you tried to ravish me here in this carriage!"

Jules was horrified. "But that's not true!"

The girl just shrugged indifferently.

"Natalia, he'll have me shot!"

"Then go with me to Paris! Just for this one night."

"This is blackmail," Jules protested, wondering how many other men she had done this to. What a conniving little...

"Oh please, Jules, I do not want to be mean. I like you very much."

"You sure have a funny way of showing it."

"You must forgive me," she said, suddenly overcome with an expression of utmost sadness. "It is just that I never am allowed to do anything fun. I only want to go to Paris for one night. I promise. Look, we are already in the city. Is that too much to ask?"

"Well..." Jules glanced out the window and saw that they were indeed within the city limits now. He knew he shouldn't go along with this. He was only getting deeper and deeper in trouble with every passing minute. But, what choice did he have? Her father would almost certainly shoot him on the spot if Natalia told her lie and Jules knew she was serious about that. She had obviously learned early on how to manipulate men. Plus, what if he started an international incident?.

Besides, Natalia may have been conniving, but she was still *very* pretty and charming in her own devious way. Jules was finding her hard to resist.

"Oh, all right," he conceded with a sigh. "But just this one night. Then we go right back to the Aurora. Agreed?"

Natalia gave him a dazzling smile and threw her arms around his neck.

"Oh yes, Jules! Thank you, thank you!"

The dance hall was noisy, smoky, and filled with different colors of light. Natalia's smile was wild with excitment as she entered, which didn't really ease Jules' nerves any.

"Move right along, Mam'selle," said the man at the door.

"Of course, I'm so sorry," she smiled brilliantly in his direction and moved deeper into the building. She didn't notice the man give Jules a naughty wink. **Lucky b@stard, he is. Very fine young lady there.**

"Natalia--look, there's a free table," he pointed to a spot near the far wall. Natalia looked a bit contrary for a moment, she didn't want an out-of-the-way table! She relented when she realized how close to the dancing it was, and followed Jules through the crowd.

A waiter of sorts came over. "What will you have this evening?"

"Champagne, your very best please," Natalia ordered, and Jules blanched. He took a quick stock of the coins in his pocket and realized that he couldn't afford even the cheapest wine here.

"Don't worry, Jules, I will take care of it," said Natalia. "It is only fair, since I did drag you here. No--wait!" She handed him a fairly large sum. "It would not look right if I were to pay, so you can take care of it."

"But, there's enough money here to buy fifty bottles of champagne."

"Oh, keep it for now. You can give me what we don't use in the carriage later, yes? Good." The bottle arrived and the young Italian girl squealed appropriately as it was opened. "Wonderful," she said, taking a sip. Jules paid, and noticed several young men looking in their direction. He began to feel a twitch between his shoulder blades. **All from associating with the Foggs. I am getting as paranoid as they are.** His thoughts were interrupted as Natalia giggled and asked him to fill her glass.

The room was extremely warm and crowded. Most of the patrons seemed to be fairly well-to-do people. Not too long ago, Jules would have felt very out of place here but his experiences of late had changed him somewhat. He felt more uneasy about returning to the Aurora than about being in such a place. At least Natalia's clothing was properly upper class. He sipped the champagne sparingly, which caused Natalia to burst out in giggles again.

A figure approached their table, a silhouette against the lights. Jules looked up nervously, but fellow was a well-dressed young man, and probably not from Paris.

"Please excuse me," he said, "My name is Jean-Michel LeBeau and I am visiting your fair city from Tours. Had I known that there were such beauties in Paris I would have visited sooner." He acknowledged Jules' presence--barely.

"You flatter me, sir, but if you had visited sooner I would not have been here, and your travels would have been in vain."

"Ah, you are not Parisienne, either! No, not even French, although you speak it most beautifully. Please, I would like to get to know you...would you be willing to dance with me?" He gazed at Natalia most sincerely.

Another giggle. "It is an honor to be asked, Jean-Michel," she batted her eyes at him. A very accomplished flirt at the age of fourteen, to be sure. "Yes, I am honored that you ask me, but I am afraid that I cannot dance with you--as you can see I have an escort--Monsieur Jules Verne of Paris."

"Ah." LeBeau loomed over the table, looking more closely at Jules. "You are a very lucky man. I hope you know that. I am the only one from my table (he pointed to a group of young men-with a few scattered ladies-in the center of the crowd) yes, the only one who dared to even speak to you, miss...ah, I do not even know your name. Will you please at least tell me?"

"Of course. I am Natalia Cinzia from Venice, and am very glad to have met you. Perhaps we shall see each other again, yes?"

"I would like to think so, Miss Cinzia." He bowed to her, and turned to Jules, clasping his shoulder in a friendly fashion. "It is good to meet you, as well. If you would allow it, perhaps later I may again ask the lady to dance?"

Jules' eyebrows shot up. He had been expecting trouble from this young man and his large group of friends. Pleasantly surprised, he stood up. "Of course, but it is still up to Natalia to decide who to dance with."

"Oh, well said!" Natalia burst out. "Please do ask me to dance again--I may very well say yes, M'sieur Jean-Michel." She gave him a diamond-bright smile as he walked back to his friends, giving a little wave as they all looked at her. "Jules?" She turned her dazzling charms on him.

"Would you care to dance with me?" He asked very quietly.

"Of course!" She took a another quick sip from her glass and took his arm as he led her to the dance floor.

Several hours and bottles of wine later, Natalia had danced with Jules, Jean-Michel, and two others of his friends bold enough to ask her. Jules was pleased at himself--he had danced with Natalia and one of the other ladies, Therese, who was someone's sister. Her brother had laughed at him in a friendly way, saying that if he were to leave Miss Natalia for anyone, then little Therese was a very fine choice. Jules had smiled, as had Therese. Natalia looked a bit put out for a moment, but was only teasing, and tweaked the brother's nose affectionately.

***

"What a wonderful time that was!" Exclaimed Natalia as she and Jules returned to their carriage. It was that time that one calls very late at night or very early in the morning, and she and Jules were both exhaused from dancing and talking and laughing.

"Yes. Driver, to the Aurora," he said. "Oh, here's the rest of the money." He smiled wryly. "If we hadn't bought everyone all of those bottles...well, there isn't as much left as I thought."

"Don't worry, Jules. That's what money is for--to spend. We have had a wonderful time, and misers almost never do that." She looked at him, a bit wickedly at first, then through softer eyes. "So you do not have so much money--that does not matter. So I do, and that doesn't matter, either. It was a very most wonderful time, wasn't it?"

Jules was so tired that he could barely follow her words, but smiled at her to let her know that he was listening as best he could. She giggled at him, as she had been all evening. One lock of her hair fell down then, straight into her face and made her eyes cross. Jules began to laugh softly and Natalia giggled even more. Soon, they both were laughing so hard that their sides ached.

The carriage stopped. "We have arrived at the Aurora," said the driver. Jules sobered up quickly.

"Let me help you," he said, assisting the tipsy young lady out of the carriage. She clung to him, and planted a quick peck on his cheek.

"Thank you so much, Jules," her eyes held wet crystals. "I don't ever remember having so much fun."

"You're welcome." He tried to sound upbeat for her sake, knowing that he was the one that the Foggs would take to task for this little escapade. **It was fun, though.** He thought. **I hope it was worth it.**

The carriage drove off as the two young people entered the Aurora.