Tristan silently walked around the grounds of the castle. The sun was just rising, and the morning chill was just starting to depart. He was dressed in a plain outfit, his belongings were packed, and the carriages were being made ready to depart to Italy.

It was only a week ago that his parents told him about the trip, and now it was really happening! It was difficult for him to believe that he was actually leaving. The idea was simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating: terrifying to be going so far from his family, which brought fears of not being with them if something terrible were to happen, but exhilarating to think of seeing so much of the world and having a grand adventure, as well as having the chance to show all of France and much of Europe that the young prince had matured and come into his own, out of his father's shadow. He felt as though a door was opening and his life was truly about to begin.

"Tristan?"

He looked behind him, and a smile came to his face. "Giselle, what are you doing out?"

Running up to her brother, the five-year-old climbed into Tristan's open arms. "Charlotte said you are going to leave forever!" This was typical of Charlotte, Giselle's elder sister by seven years, who had a knack of lying to Giselle for her own amusement.

Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Oh, she did, did she?"

"Yes! Tristan…you're not, are you?" She hugged her brother's neck. "Please! Don't leave forever!"

Tristan petted Giselle's honey-colored hair. "I could never do that, even if I tried. Mother would never allow it. Besides, I'd miss you far too much! How could I ever bear to be away from you forever?" Tristan set Giselle back upon the ground, he sighed in mock dismay. "I guess I'll just have to…not bring any gifts back from Italy for Charlotte then…"

A girl of twelve came out from the bushes. "What?!"

"Well, Charlotte, it is the only fair solution, so you'll learn not to lie," Tristan explained. Gazing upon Charlotte who had shock and disappointment upon her face, he could not help but smile. This was one of the highlights of leaving. "Unless maybe…you were to apologize."

"I'm sorry Giselle!" Charlotte apologized quickly. She swiftly turned her head to Tristan. "There. I apologized."

"Give her a hug."

Charlotte hugged Giselle tightly. "She is crushing me!" Giselle exclaimed breathlessly.

"Alright then, it seems you've learned your lesson," Tristan said contentedly.

Releasing her younger sister, Charlotte asked impatiently, "Will you bring me back a present?"

Tristan grinned. "Of course. But only if you can beat me to the stables!"

Both girls ran as soon as these words left his lips. Chuckling, he ran after them, just making sure to be right behind them. This was probably what he would miss the most when he was gone: being with his sisters. True, they could be annoying, but they could also be just as lovable.

Charlotte was the first to the stables. Breathing heavily, she looked back. No one was in sight.

"Beat them again, Princess Charlotte?" came a voice behind her.

She smiled widely. "Sure did, Oliver!" Charlotte loved no other servant more than Oliver.

Oliver brushed the white horse's mane with a brush. "Your brother leaves today, no?"

Charlotte looked at the dirt ground. "Yes," she replied gloomily.

"Do not sound so upset," Oliver said, trying to cheer up the little princess. He smirked, just like his father, Lumiere. "He will be home sooner than you can imagine."

"How do you know, Oliver?"

"I just know. Your father has gone to Italy before, and he was not gone that long, was he?"

Charlotte shook her head. "No, it is not very long, but still long…"

"Yes, but-" He didn't get to finish, because at that moment, someone called his name.

"Oliver!"

Oliver rolled his eyes. "Cogsworth, I'm here!"

Seconds later, Cogsworth came in, red in the face and with strands of hair from his wig out of place. "Oliver, what are you doing here?! You are needed elsewhere!"

"No," Oliver said blankly, "I am needed here. You know, 'stable boy'?"

Cogsworth glared at the sixteen year old. "No you foolish boy! I told you yesterday that you'd be helping your father today in the kitchen. Of course you never listen, so I guess it is my fault, believing you could actually listen to me for a change."

Exhaling and trying not to lose his temper, Oliver placed the brush on a nearby stool and walked out, muttering words in French, about how he was a "stable boy" and how Cogsworth was losing his mind.

"That boy will be the very end of me," Cogsworth murmured.

"What was that Cogsworth?" Charlotte asked.

"Wha-what?!" Cogsworth hadn't noticed the princess standing in the corner. He snapped to attention. "Oh, dear, your highness, what are you doing here?"

Looking out the stable door, Charlotte replied, "I'm waiting for Giselle and Tristan. Have you seen them?"

Cogsworth nodded. "Yes, I sent them home; Prince Tristan will be leaving soon."

"All right. Thank you Cogsworth," Charlotte replied, running from the stables. No need to walk back with Cogsworth; she knew it would just give him reason to baby her, telling her not to rush, be careful, and then later on she would have to listen to him mutter curses under his breath.

The feelings Charlotte felt as Tristan departed were feelings she never wished to experience again. She watched silently with her parents and sister as the carriages left with her brother. It felt like he was leaving forever.

A reassuring hand rested on her shoulder. Charlotte looked back to see her father smiling at her. "Time will go by fast, Charlotte," Vincent told his daughter.

Chocking back tears, she nodded. "I hope so…"

Gathering Giselle in his arms, Vincent turned to Charlotte and Belle. He sighed, "Let's get back inside."

Belle took Charlotte by the hand squeezing it, trying to comfort both her daughter and herself. This would be a long summer for Belle and her family; that was for certain.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please review. And thanks a million to TrudiRose who brilliantly edited this chapter! Thank you everyone!