Hello everyone! Yes, I know, it's finally here! So sorry for making you wait, but I couldn't help it!

To CarolNJoy: I know that you haven't give me my 'official' beta feedback, but I felt like I finally found a way to fix up that little thing you mentioned, so I hope you don't mind that I decided to post it even though you hadn't given me the 'official' feedback.

Please enjoy the first chapter and REVIEW!

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Chapter 1:

To Love Again

Babette rolled her eyes with a small smile as she listened to Angelique's reprimanding rant that evening. She made wide gestures with her hands as she spoke, "I mean mon Dieu mon ami! Have you lost your mind? I thought it was you who once assured me that you were never going to fall for him? Now look at you!"

"What about me?" questioned the younger woman, pretending to be offended.

The castle decorator continued, "You have already fallen so much for his charms that you actually said that you loved him!"

Babette countered, "He actually confessed to me first, mon ami. Like I have told you, he came in and confessed that he had fallen in love with me…"

"Oui, but then you did the same!" interjected her friend.

"It felt right," replied the chambermaid.

Angelique placed her hands on her hips, "Does it still?" she asked.

The younger woman answered, "Mais oui. I have never had a doubt."

The blonde sighed melodramatically, a smile playing on her lips, "Oh, alright, I believe you. Lumiere is great man and I was wrong."

Babette nodded, "Oui" she replied, faking being angry. The two friends then broke their façades and smiled.

Angelique took her friends hands, "I am quite serious, though. I have seen a big change in Lumiere, and I believe that you are the one who has changed him."

The maid, changing the topic, then muttered bitterly, "I do wish, however, that someone would change the ways of the Master."

The castle decorator took a deep breath forlornly, "We all do."

All of a sudden, the room door opened, and Lumiere stepped aside. He grinned, "Forgive me mademoiselles, but I am here to collect my dear Babette," he looked at her, "Ma cheri, may I speak to you for a few moments?" he asked.

She nodded, "Of course," she answered.

Once they were outside and walking down the hall, the chambermaid questioned, "What did you want to speak to me about?"

"I was wondering if you had seen Veronique or Amelia," he replied.

She shook her head. "Oui, I saw them only a few minutes ago. Why is it that you are asking?"

He answered, "I happen to know that they are acting a little strangely. Jessica said that she was speaking to them earlier and they seemed somewhat distracted, so I wanted to ask if you had seen them acting oddly."

Babette crossed her arms, "Why is it that you are so concerned about them?"

Lumiere replied with a sigh. "Ever since the prince called us to him for a reprimand, I have been wondering how he found out. Cogsworth would not have told him, so the only other people I can think of who would gain something from our, or even simply your, dismissal is them."

The maid tapped her chin, "Hmm. It sounds as though you have quite a good idea."

All of a sudden, Cogsworth's voice came from behind her. "Miss Roux! Wait a moment please!"

She stopped and turned, "Oui?" she asked curiously.

The Head of Household answered, "You still need to help mop the floors! Amelia has been wondering where you are!"

Babette resisted to roll her eyes. I have had to wait for her to start work for years now. Taking a deep breath she replied reluctantly, "Very well. I shall be there soon."

An hour later, the maid groaned as she attempted to support herself with the wet mop. She already felt fatigue overcoming her. Letting out a loud, exhausted breath, Babette made her way to her room. She hurried as fast as possible, not caring if anyone saw.

Once inside, she immediately felt her aching muscles relax. Only a matter of seconds later, three calm knocks came from the other side of the door. Mon Dieu, who could want to speak to me?

Feeling somewhat disoriented she stumbled towards the door. Opening it the maid smiled softly, "Lumiere," she greeted. A look of minor confusion crossed her features, "Are you not supposed to be looking over your staff?" she questioned.

The Frenchman nodded with a charming smile, slipping his arms around her waist. "Oui," he answered. The maitre'd bent down to whisper, "But I would much rather spend this night with you." Babette grinned and led him inside. He kicked the door shut, although probably louder then what was safe. The young man softly took his lips from hers, and proceeded to place soft kisses down her neck.

After emitting a small gasp of surprise, the maid questioned breathlessly. "Mon cher…what…what do you…plan…to achieve from this?"

He murmured against her skin, "To spend a very special evening with the woman I love. The time when we hide none of our skin and become one in flesh and sprit."

The young woman giggled at this, feeling a nervous fluttering in her stomach. Babette shuddered in anticipation as he slid a hand around her waist and untied her apron. No sooner had it fallen to the floor, and then she felt herself being led gently towards her bed. She sat down, Lumiere following eagerly, before he softly removed his mouth from hers.

The chambermaid whispered to him in breathless French as he kissed down her neck. All of a sudden, a voice inside her screamed frantically, You are not ready yet! You should not be doing this. You will be looked down upon for this!

She bit her lip. Reluctantly, she pushed Lumiere away from where his lips had been caressing her bare arm. She watched as lust and concern fought in his eyes, and he asked, attempting to regain rational thought. "Ma cheri….what…what did I…is something wrong?"

She answered, "No. Nothing is wrong. It is just," she bit her lip and glanced away briefly, and then back to him, "We….we cannot."

"Why?" questioned the maitre'd in a shaky breath. He clenched his fists as he fought for control, trying to remember his honour as a gentleman. If the lady does not want to, then we will not.

The chambermaid responded, "I am not ready. It…it does not feel right." I hate to deny us this, but I simply cannot go through with it. Not again.

Lumiere nodded in understanding. He himself had been denied a few times by a woman in the same circumstance, and for the same reasons. "You…you feel we will be shunned if we go through with this," he murmured.

"Oui. I cannot have people look down on me again just because I made the same mistake," she replied.

Intrigued, the Frenchman questioned, "What are you speaking of, mon amour?"

Babette sighed and laid back on the bed, resting her head on the pillow. She closed her eyes, and explained, "A few years after I came to this castle, I met a man. A nobleman's son. He was handsome and charming, and wooed me instantly, for I was young and still believed strongly that love was like a fairytale, where it only took people a few weeks to fall completely in love. Therefore, it is why I agreed when he asked a few weeks later if we could share an evening of passion. It was the worst mistake of my life."

"Why is that?" her suitor asked softly.

Before she could answer, Angelique's voice came through the rapidly opening door, "Babette, Cogsworth wanted to tell you that…" she trailed off, causing Babette to open her eyes.

Seeing the look of horror on her face, it took a second for the young woman to realize what she was probably considering. With her loose bodice, Lumiere's half-on cravat and there somewhat dishevelled appearance, the chambermaid had a very good idea of what was going through her mind.

The castle decorator blushed furiously, "Pardonnez moi, I…um, I did not mean to interrupt. I…I will just tell you later," she said. Without another word, Angelique rushed out the door, practically slamming it behind her.

Babette groaned and closed her eyes again. "Oh mon Dieu. I know that she will tell no one, but what I am worried about is the second reprimand I am sure to receive once morning comes."

Lumiere chuckled, "Relax ma cherie, I am sure she will not overreact," he replied.

She replied, "Oui."

The Frenchman smirked gently as she stifled a yawn. "Is fatigue catching you, mon amour?" he asked.

Babette nodded with a weak smile. "Pardon moi, but it appears that my work today has put me in a position of great tiredness," she responded.

Lumiere patted her hair soothingly. "It is alright, your apologies are not needed."

The chambermaid moved closer, cuddling into his warm embrace and resting her head in the crook of his neck. "Merci," she murmured.

The maitre'd wrapped his arms around her as she drifted off to sleep, his own troubles keeping him from doing the same. He could not help but keep her earlier recount in the back of his mind. They had been interrupted before the chambermaid could answer his question, but the Frenchman did not want to wake her and pressure her further into the matter. It was clearly upsetting for her. Why that was, he did not know.

…

Ooh, a mystery man.

Anyway, please review and tell me how I did on my own. Did you like this chapter? Chapter 2 should be coming up either later tonight or tomorrow…although probably tomorrow, because tonight I'm going to be watching "Downton Abbey" (I know, I'm a dork) :)

I will see you all tomorrow morning, my dears! I promise to give you chapter 2 as soon as my brain is functioning (which probably won't be until about 6-something).

-Babetteisawesome :)