AN: I'm a huge beauty and the beast fan, and I've been waiting a while to get this story straight before writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please Review! Criticism? Hit me! Compliments? Even better!

Disclaimer: as much as I wish that my parents invested in the Beauty And The Beast for my sixteenth birthday, they did not. I hardly own anything.

The little girl ran up the large flight of stairs, tripping over her beige dress. Her dark curls bounced up and down as she kicked off her white slippers, quickening her pace as she ran down the red carpeted hallway of the palace.

She came to a sudden stop as soon as she heard the voices of her parents in their bedroom.

Her eyebrows were furrowed in an inquisitive manner as she tiptoed closer to the bedroom to hear their voices better, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"Adam," Her mother's voice echoed addressing her father, "You know that I want the best for out dear Camille. If King Tarquin's men move in before next month-"

"They won't," She heard her father interrupt.

"If they do," Belle continued, "This region of France will not be a safe place to raise a child."

Her father grumbled, "I don't want her separated from us."

She barely heard her mother's calm voice, "Neither do I, but I also don't want her to get hurt. St. Petra's boarding school is a safe place where she'll meet new friends and be taught by highly experienced teachers."

Camille held her breath during the silence between her parents until her mother finally spoke, "It's an all girls academy."

Another silence.

Belle continued, "Just until we're absolutely sure that she'll be safe here."

"Found you!" Came a voice from behind Camille. She widened her eyes in horror, turning around and bringing her finger to her lips, to shush the boy that came running down.

His light brown hair was tousled and his blue eyes were creased with excitement, a wide smile was plastered to his face.

"Shh!" Camille cried frustratingly.

Before she knew it, the large door beside her was opened as her parents slid out and looked down at their daughter with amused looks on their faces.

Belle had her arms crossed, a smile tugged at her lips, "Eavesdropping now, are we Milly?"

Camille turned to look up her parents, a hopeful smile on her face.

Adam laughed and turned to the little boy that stood with a goofy grin on his face, "Chip?"

The boy straightened his back, "Yes, sir?"

Adam tried his best not to laugh at him, "Go help you mother prepare for dinner."

Chip nodded instinctively and saluted the man, "Yes sir!"

Adam waited until Chip was gone before turning to Belle, "Why don't you start packing the bags then, Belle?"

Belle gave her husband an unsure look before agreeing with a slight smile and leaving the little brunette girl and the grown man by themselves.

Adam knelt down, making sure to be eye-level with his daughter, their blue eyes met, "Camille, you must know that your mother and I love you very much."

"I do," The girl responded light heartedly.

Her father continued, "I'm sure you've heard all the hustle about the approaching men, Tarquin's men-"

"I have, daddy," Camille smiled understandingly.

He smirked and knelt looking at his daughter for a few minutes before continuing, "Your mother and I have concluded that it would not be a good idea to have a little seven year old running about the castle during these times. A seven year old who we worry about every single minute of every single hour. We want what's best for you, Milly, we want you to be safe and away from harm."

He watched intently as the girl's smile slowly faded into a frown, her eyes showing looks of great disbelief.

"What about Chip?" She asked unsurely,

Her father gave her a confused glance.

"Will Chip be away from harm?"

Adam smiled at his daughter, putting a hand on her head and slightly messing up her hair, "I'm sure that Mrs. Potts has a plan for Chip too."

Camille's eyes focused on her father's.

Adam tried his best keep a straight face, but his new parenting nature disallowed him to, his head filling with regret and emptiness already. That such a remarkable creature- a mix of both him and Belle- would be away from him.

Camille wrapped her arms around her father's neck, throwing her small body at him, she rested her little head against his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Milly," Her father soothed her, stroking her hair gently, "You'll be back in no time."

No time. Sure. No time took ten years, thought Camille, recalling the memory.

She smirked to herself as the carriage finally stopped beside the palace she once new. Stepping out into the cool breeze, she viewed the large garden in front, all around, blossomed beautiful flowers: daisies, daffodils, roses…

God, she hated roses.

She just couldn't think of the reason why…

And then she remembered throwing herself into the rose bushes, thinking that they were the perfect place to hide from Chip during their hide and seek phase.

Who even plays hide and seek with one other person?

Camille shook those thoughts out of her head. She threw a dark curl out of her face as she made her way to the large front door.

Should I knock? She questioned in her head.

Before she knew it, The door flew open.

"Surprise!" At least thirty people came running out of the door, each taking their own turn to greet her. Camille stood frozen in place. All around her stood old characters she remembered from her childhood. There was Cogsworth, and Lumier, Babette, Mrs. Potts…

"Milly!" Her mother threw her arms around her, swaying her about for a few seconds, "Welcome home!"

Beside Belle stood her father, looking as pleased as ever. He gave his daughter a warm smile and a wink.

"Wait till you see the beautiful gowns we got you, m'dear!" Mrs. Potts cried tugging on Camille's usually worn plain beige dress.

"And the food!" Lumier exclaimed in delight.

Camille laughed and let the group lead her inside of the palace. Camille sighed to herself. All those years away at St. Petra's and she had really missed this place. She was quick to notice that barely anything had changed. The same old, family portrait was hung in it's usual place, the same old red carpeted stairs looked as large as ever, and the same charm never left.

Except…

Except something was missing. Someone was missing.

Camille frowned to herself as she followed the wavering scent of cooked food to the kitchen where Mrs. Potts stood directing the many cooks.

"No no no!" Potts cried flailing her hands in the air, "This is Camille's coming home dinner! We can't serve chicken!"

Camille slowly crept into the kitchen, giving Mrs. Potts a slight poke at the shoulder.

Mrs. Potts turned around, jumping, "Milly, dear! You aren't supposed to be here!"

Camille gave her an apologetic look before continuing, "Yes, Mrs. Potts, I'm really sorry about that. I was just wondering…"

"Yes?" Mrs. Potts encouraged.

"Well," Camille began, "If you've seen Chip around."

Mrs. Potts smiled, her rosy cheeks sticking out on her pale face as she responded rather proudly, "Chip is just finishing up his own studies, at University, he should be back from school in a couple of days."

Camille's eyes widened. University.

How old was Chip now? Oh yeah, twenty-one.

Twenty. One.

Well, no duh he was University. She couldn't really see him staying here and helping his mother out in the kitchen.

Then again, the last time she saw Chip, he was eleven years old.

Camille smiled, "I almost forgot how quickly time flies by."

Mrs. Potts furrowed her brows, "You're telling me."

The girl laughed, "Thanks again for everything Mrs. Potts."

"No problem dear."

Camille turned to leave the busy kitchen, one less body in that small, sweaty space was a good idea.

She stopped in her tracks before completely exiting, "Oh, and chicken sounds fine!"

"To Camille!" Lumier toasted.

"To Camille!" Echoed everybody seated at the long dining table.

Laughter erupted from every seat as champagne spilled from the glasses.

"We really are glad to have you back, Camille," Belle whispered to her daughter sitting beside her, "It was so hard letting go of you."

Camille smiled, "Mother, you've said that to me at least ten times this night."

Belle shrugged, "I just wanted you to know it. Knowing your stubborn nature, you probably thought we shipped you off for good."

Camille smirked, "Blame father for that stubborn nature; I obviously got that from him."

People sitting nearby chuckled.

Babette smiled at her, "That gown looks wonderful on you, Milly."

Camille looked down at the rich crimson dress that she was wearing. It wasn't something she'd usually pick up, but for an occasion like this, she'd wear anything to make the people seated at that very table pleased and proud of her. Especially after not being with them for so long.

"Thank you Babette," She answered politely.

Cogsworth beamed, "Oh Milly! We bought a ton of new books for you! You were quite the book worm!"

"Still am," She chuckled.

"Good! Good!" He responded.

Lumier coughed, "So Camille, darling, we'll have to keep our eyes out for a nice boy for you, no?"

A few cooks and maids wolf whistled, Camille just chuckled, "Hardly, Lumier."

Lumier frowned, "Oh, and why not, mademoiselle?"

Camille shrugged, the same smile on her face, "I just got back, Lumier. I would rather spend my time with you and everybody else at the castle."

Mrs. Potts caught a falling tear from the corner of her eye, "Such a sweet girl. Like her mother!"

"How about a ball, Milly?" Lumier asked, "The perfect way for you to find your love. A little dancing, a little food, a little kissing, no?"

Camille turned to her mother to see her holding her breath and watching her, "Mother?"

Belle smiled nervously, "Yes dear?"

"Why do I have a feeling that you have already planned some sort of ball without my consent?"

From the other side of the table, Cogsworth pointed a podgy finger at Lumier, "I told you! I told you to ask her first, but no!"

Camille looked from her mother, to Lumier to her father, who sat emotionless picking at the food on his plate with his fork, his eyes on the table.

"Really?" Camille asked, splitting the silence like a knife through butter, "This is how I'm welcomed back?"

Lumier gave a nervous smile.

Camille sighed, shaking her head. She took the napkin of her lap, placing it onto her plate and got up from her seat, "Excuse me."

She left without saying another word, and just wandered the hallways.

It so figured, she thought, She finally comes back and they try to get rid of her once again.