HOLY SHIZZ! Two reasons for that statement. 1. I'm actually friggin updating. HOLY CRAP! And 2. This chapter is…the final chapter of this fanfic. –Pushes button and you hear an audience go "awwwww"– I know, it pains me too. We've had some good times with this fic. Good times indeed. However, when a fanfic is nearly four years old and it is not finished, you gotta try and see it through.

So, enjoy this chapter. This is for the fans who actually stuck it out through four years of infrequent updates. You guys rock! …and when the hell did this become a cheesy speech? NYEH! Ok, to break to spell…ONWARD! (Yeah, that felt good)

Disclaimer: I don't own the Emperor's New School or Romeo and Juliet.

Chapter Eleven

Eureka…My Heart

"There they are! Our superior, incredible leading actors!" Mr. Malaguaco announced, earning a series of applause from the entire cast and drama department of Kuzco academy. Malina and Kuzco, both still in costume, blushed and waved, sheepish smiles on their faces.

"You guys were awesome!" Kronk said, hitting Kuzco square on the back, causing the smaller man to cough. He cleared his through and pat Kronk on the shoulder.

"Thanks. Your acting wasn't an embarrassment to me, ya big lug."

"Aww, thanks Kuzco!" Kronk lifted him up into a tight hug, causing Kuzco to turn blue and choke.

"Choking…me…" he said in a strained voice.

"Whoops!" Kronk dropped him and Kuzco twitched on the ground, gasped for breath. "Ha, sorry buddy." Malina giggled slightly and shrieked as someone grabbed her by the arm and yanked her aside. She stared into Yatta's beaming face.

"How was it? Was it magic? Did he tell you he likes you yet?" she asked at full speed along with about twenty other questions all jumbled together and pretty much incoherent to Malina. She blinked, opening her mouth to answer when Yatta spouted off five more new questions.

"Yatta…Yatta!" Malina said. She shut her mouth and stood there, eagerness on her face. She resembled a cute little puppy or a child wanting a piece of candy, making Malina smile.

"So did he say he likes you as more than a friend or what?" she asked. Malina sighed and ran her hand through her bangs.

"No. I'm not really sure he does."

"Oh come ON, Malina. Look, if he doesn't say anything by the end of the night, he's a chicken without feathers. Just you wait, he is going to tell you."

"Oh Yatta…"

"Don't act annoyed. You know you want him to, so why keep trying to tell me I'm wrong?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips. Malina massaged her temples, frowning at Yatta.

"I'm trying not to set myself up for disappointment is all."

"That is a weak excuse, Malina. If you live your life that way, you get rid of all of the joy in living. Not everything is setting up for a fall, and you know what my mamma used to say? You always gotta fall a few times before you can really fly." Malina cocked her head to the side.

"…that's actually pretty nice."

"Mamma didn't raise no fools because she certainly wasn't a fool herself. Now, I'm gonna go and get me a drink. You chill, try to get Kuzco by himself so he'll feel more comfortable and just let the chemistry flow." She made a flowing motion with her hand before skipping off, red curls bouncing behind her.

Malina sighed and stood there, amidst a crowd of theatre kids in all black of Shakespearean costumes. The DJ (some kid another kid in the drama club knew) was starting to play music, causing students to flock to the dance floor and attempt to dislocate various limbs as they did strange movements that did not resemble any forms of dancing known to most humans.

Kuzco stood near the punch bowl, sipping at his drink. Yatta and Kronk met up near the emergency exit.

"Kronk! He's just standing there! Why doesn't he go and talk to Malina?"

"I don't know! He hasn't said much since he got here."

"Go over there and get him to take a drink to Malina!" She shoved him and Kronk stumbled over to the punch table and nonchalantly took a cup and started to fill it with punch, trying to play it cool.

"Hey Kuzco."

"Hi Kronk."

"Don't mind me. I'm just getting a drink for…Yatta. Yeah, girls love that kinda stuff." Kuzco looked at him.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! Hey, here's a crazy idea. Why don't you take some punch to Malina? I'm sure she'd really appreciate that. And then maybe you two can chill and talk." Kuzco looked thoughtful before he took another cup and started to fill it with punch.

Kronk grinned victoriously and sauntered back over to Yatta and gave her the cup of punch.

"Gee, thanks Kronk." She took a drink and they both watched Kuzco take the punch over to Malina.

"Hey, Malina." She tried not to blush and smiled casually.

"Oh, hey Kuzco."

"I brought you some punch." He offered her the cup and she accepted it, trying not to turn red as her hand brushed his and sent sparks flying everywhere.

"Thank you." She took a drink, hoping to calm herself down.

"So, uh, dancing not your thing tonight?"

"What? Oh, yeah. It's not as much fun dancing by yourself." She watching him through the corner of her eye, hoping he would take the hint and ask her to dance. Kuzco watched the crowd of students, his mind flickering with confusing thoughts.

"Does she want me to ask her to dance? Should I? What if that's not what she meant? What if it weirds her out?" These thoughts and about 500 more of the same nature flew at him at a thousand miles an hour. Malina watched him warily, wondering if he would ever ask her.

Finally, Kuzco looked at her and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Would you want to…dance with me, then?" he asked awkwardly, hoping she wouldn't reject him. A smile lit up her face, causing his heart to leap in his chest.

"I'd love to."

"G-great!" They set down their drinks and set out for the dance floor, joining the beginnings of a rave of students to insane techno music.

Malina laughed at Kuzco's crazy dance moves and her stomach flipped whenever they touched. Finally, the music stopped and changed to a slow song. Couples connected and began to move to the rhythm, leaving Kuzco and Malina standing awkwardly in the middle of the dance floor.

"Um…did you want to sit this one out?" Kuzco asked.

"I…I don't know, do you?" she asked, feeling stupid and pathetic. Why couldn't she say what she really felt? "No! I want to dance with you! I want to slow dance!"

She expected him to walk away from her and was caught off guard when he took her hand and placed his other hand on the small of her back, pulling her close to him.

The electricity was going crazy between them. It wasn't just sparks, it was like lightening was sizzling all around them as he led them into a slow waltz, causing her face to turn cherry red. She wondered if he could feel her heart hammering in her chest as they danced.

Finally, she wound her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder, feeling his hands on her waist and sighing quietly as she let her eyes drift close. It was like they were the only two people in the world – enveloped in the soft, romantic music and in each others arms.

"I love you, Kuzco…" she thought.

She was so warm in his arms and her hair smelt of lilacs. He wished she could be here in his arms forever. It felt so right, holding her and dancing with her.

Nobody else existed. Right now, it was only about him and Malina. After all of these years, he finally felt happy and…

Was it…loved?

Did he love her?

"Yes…" He held her a little closer and closed his eyes, engulfing his senses with her presence. "She is the only girl I can't stand to see sad or cry. I want to make her smile. I want her to laugh. I would do anything to make her happy. I love her…"

These words rose and pressed against his lips and he almost whispered them into her ear, but something stopped him. He wasn't sure what it was. Fear? Perhaps.

But one of the things that he came to regret for many years was that he did not say he loved her at that particular moment.

They continued to dance together, no words exchanged. Until,

"Kuzco?"

"Hm?" She looked up at him.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked.

"Sure." They stopped dancing and she combed some hair back behind her ear, looking a little embarrassed.

"Um…you always used to say you liked me. And, uh, I always wondered…if you just thought I was pretty…or if you really liked me…" She wanted to smack herself. What kind of question was THAT? Who cared about what he used to feel? She wanted to know what he felt now! But the words got all jumbled in her throat and didn't come out right.

He blushed and rubbed that back of his neck. "At first, it was because you were pretty. But, after we became friends, it started to change and I saw you were smart and sweet and funny and…"

"And what about now?" she finally gasped, a strained tone in her voice. He opened his mouth to answer when two arms grabbed him and dragged him away. "Kuzco!"

He thrashed and was yanked to the side by two of the most popular guys in the drama club.

"Yo, Kuzco! Way to go tonight, man!"

"Yeah, you were great. You should totally hang with us!"

"Uh, yeah, maybe later guys. I need to talk to Malina!" he said quickly.

"Whoa, whoa, what's your hurry? All the ladies want a piece of the leading man!" the taller of the two boys snapped and a group of squealing girls ran over to Kuzco. He winced as they squealed and all tried to get him to dance with them.

Malina watched this and shook her head, feeling hurt as those girls yanked Kuzco out to the dance floor as soon as the song changed and she shook her head and stomped away. She went to her dressing room and changed into her normal clothes before taking the roses Kuzco had brought her.

Frowning she tossed them in the garbage and turned off the light, leaving the room.

"Malina!" Yatta yelled as she walked outside. Malina quickened her walking pace, nearing the bridge. Yatta ran after her and caught her shoulder. "Sweetheart, what happened?"

"You were wrong, Yatta! Ok? Kuzco doesn't care about me! He only wants a pretty girl on his arm and doesn't care if they are a real person! He is dancing with a group of girls right now and I'm sure one of them will be his new girl by tomorrow. I'm done wishing and hoping for a stupid, selfish little brat! It's not worth my time and energy anymore!"

Yatta stared at her, a pained look on her face.

"Aw Malina…"

"I'm going home!" Malina turned on her hill and stalked away, wiping the tears that were starting to form in her eyes.

"Kuzco!" He turned around in time to receive a slap from Yatta.

"W-what was that for?" he asked, rubbing his cheek.

"Malina! How could you do that to her? She went home! She thinks you don't care about her!"

"What? That's not true!" he blurted.

"Then why were you dancing with all of those other girls?"

"They practically jumped me! I couldn't do anything about it!" he cried. "I was trying to get away so I could talk to Malina and I've been looking for her everywhere."

"She went home, like I said. And you better hope you learned a thing or two from Romeo, bucko, and fix this!" Kuzco didn't say anything. He ran away from her and Kronk walked up to Yatta.

"That was good." She smiled.

"Thank you Kronk."

"Wanna dance?" he asked. She blushed a little.

"Um, sure." Kronk smiled and led her out to the dance floor.

Malina sat on her bed, brushing out her hair. She braided her ebony locks and wiped at her eyes, feeling frustrated over her tears.

"Who needs guys?" she asked, going over to her bed. Her mom was out, working late that night, so she was home alone. She was kinda relieved to be alone so she didn't get an interrogation over her tears.

Malina crawled into her bed and tried to go to sleep.

She was finally starting to dose when she heard a clicking sound.

Click

Tap

Click

Tap

Click

Tap

Grunting in irritation, she threw the covers off and marched over to her window and could se Kuzco down below, throwing pebbles up at her window.

"Kuzco?" she squeaked before frowning. "What are you doing here?" she asked, frowning.

"I need to talk to you."

"I'm not interested. Good night." She turned away from her window and he frowned. She stood, her back to the window, arms crossed over her chest when she heard soft grunting and turned back around to see Kuzco climbing the ladder-like wooden ornament her flowers grew on that was leaned against her window.

He gasped slightly for breath.

"Well, I am interested in talking. You don't have to, but I'd like you to listen." She frowned, but figured she couldn't do much if he was this persistent. "I'm sorry about what happened. But I didn't want those girls all over me. I didn't even know them! They grabbed me and forced me to dance."

"Yeah right!"

"Malina, you're the only girl I want to dance with." Her cheeks grew warm and she looked at him, seeing sincerity on his face.

"…ok. I believe you."

"And…back to what we were talking about before I got interrupted. The truth is…I don't just want to be your friend. I want more than that. I…I love you, Malina. You're the only one for me." She could feel her eyes well up with tears and Kuzco immediately grew alarmed. "Why are you crying? Did I upset you?" he asked.

She shook her head and walked over to him.

"You dope! I'm crying because I'm happy. I love you too." She leaned over and softly kissed him. He started to kiss her back when he noticed her was falling backwards. Eyes nsapping open in alarm, he yelped at the ladder gave way to gravity and he landed in a bush.

Malina gave a startled shriek and raced downstairs and outside to Kuzco.

"Are you alright?" she asked. He laughed.

"Never better!" She sighed in relief and hugged him tightly. He smiled and kissed her softly. "Eureka, Malina…" he said softly. She cocked her head to the side.

"What have you found, Kuzco." He put her hand on his chest and she could feel his heartbeat.

"This. It is with you. And it always will be." She couldn't speak. She could only kiss him again.

Annnnnnnd…THAT'S ALL FOLKS! I could not bring myself to come up with a funny end credit skit, so I'm leaving it at this.

BUT, because I love you all so much, I'm considering doing an epilogue if enough reviewers want it. So review if you want an epilogue!