A week later Adrien stood beside his father, sheet music in hand, as he looked over the countless number of woman and men that were auditioning. He bit his lip until he tasted the familiar coppery taste of blood. Ever since that day in the office whenever he played it didn't feel or sound right to him. Now he was going play in front of the two hundred or so dancers that showed up. Most of the dancers wore serious expressions but he did see some with small smiles. His new fiancée stood in the front, her perfect blonde hair was in a tight perfect bun. All the girls wore their hair in the ballerina bun. His father cleared his throat and began to talk. "This concert hall will be like your new home for the next month or so. It took some convincing but the owners have agreed to let us practice here if it means the show will be produced sooner. Which means you will be working every day, almost all day, diligently. If you are not serious I suggest you leave now." Gabriel eyed the crowd but no one budged. "Auditions end at four o'clock sharply if you can't dance that long leave immediately. You will receive a break at two o'clock, that is when pointe shoes will be put on. If you do not stand out to me do not expect a callback." Gabriel took a seat and clapped. Some of the dancers began to warm up.

Adrien was shocked to the say the least. He approached his father cautiously. "You want them to dance for almost five hours straight?" Gabriel let his gaze off the dancers to look at his son.

"The ballet itself is almost two hours if I've calculated perfectly. I have no use for dancers who aren't willing to give me there all and have the stamina. A hundred or so will be left standing. The weak will fall first." Gabriel's eyes wandered back to the performers.

"Why do I have the feeling that Chloe will make it even if she doesn't dance all five hours?" Adrien grit his teeth.

"Simply because she is the mayor's daughter and your fiancée. Don't tell me you forgot?" Gabriel asked and Adrien wanted to roll his eyes. "Besides, she basically auditioned at the Christmas party." Adrien wanted to add that she practically used him to ensure a spot but bit his tongue.

"Let me guess, you're casting her as the lead?" Adrien let his gaze fall to the ground.

"How I cast my future daughter is not any of your business." Gabriel's voice lowered and his eyes held a hideous gleam. Adrien wanted to argue that it wasn't fair to the other dancers who were more experienced than the blonde. He wanted to tell all the dancers to leave but he couldn't. "Go play something for them so they aren't dancing to silence." Again it was a statement that doubled as a command.

"So I have to play for five hours too?" He asked sarcastically but regretted it when his father glared at him.

"Think of it as practice, Adrien. I need you to be at your best but lately all I'm seeing is your worst." His father's cold words stung worse than a slap. Adrien didn't say anything back and quietly made his way to the grand piano.

He didn't even notice that a certain ballerina in the back gave him a sad smile but continued to warm up. Adrien sat down and played. His fingers felt cramped and his pace was all wrong but he played.

Some dancers fell behind by the hour mark. They had to keep up with music and they fell too far behind. Their expressions broke his heart as they walked past and he heard the door open and close.

At two o'clock, just as promised the remaining dancers got a break until two-thirty. Most just ate something small and chatted amongst themselves. Adrien massaged his hands and watched them. His eyes skimmed over Chloe who was being fanned by another dancer but a certain ballerina caught his eye.

She was sewing her pointe shoes together. She had already taped her toes but continued to get ready. He watched as she laced the ribbon up her leg. Every movement she made was graceful and purposeful. She stood up slowly and balanced on one foot, she seemed content with the way the shoe fit. She tried the other but she frowned at it. She quickly beat the side of her shoe against the hall's seats. After a few hard hits she tried again. She seemed happier with the results and she quickly did a small little move. Adrien knew that process too well. The shoes had to feel right and support just right or the dancer might not be able to preform at their best. He watched in shock and with awe as she continued to dance in the isles of the hall. No one stopped her but they watched as she did. She danced to the silence of small whispers.

Her style was nothing he had ever seen before.

There was small hand movements that blended perfectly with classical ballet but also subtle hip movements. She seemed at ease. His eyes wandered to his father who was watching her intently. So Adrien did the only thing he could think off.

He turned and played so that she had something to dance to.

She seemed happy with the sounds he was creating and smiled as she danced. For some reason he forgot about everything but her as the music poured out of him, something it hadn't done in a week. His fingers stopped hurting and his pace was perfect. He sighed contently. This ballerina had given him his music back, his world back. But that world cracked and broke away and he watched it slip through his worn fingers as his fiancée sat on his piano bench and whispered to him.

"Marinette is just being a show off." Chloe scoffed.

His pace slowed and a dull ache settled in his fingers. He watched as the dancer called Marinette slowed with a small struggle before being able to match his rhythm again, she wore a serious expression. It mirrored his own.

His notes faded to nothing and didn't seem to reach his ears. His own music slipping through his fingers. There was nothing he could do about it.