5 years later.

Odette

She hated him. Well she tried to hate him, a part of her still loved him, desperately and passionately. But that would never change the fact that he had lied again. He had promised to protect Felicie. That she would be fine in the auditions and she had foolishly believed him. Now Felicie was gone and once again her heart was broken. The list of people who had fractured her heart was slowly starting to pile up.

Mother

Father

Celeste

Louis

Felicie.

Each name pierced a hole in her heart but the final one made it bleed. Odette felt a sob slip out as she sank to the cold unwelcoming stairs. She had told herself that she would never cry again. After Louis had broken her heart with his cruel words, she had promised herself that she would never let anyone even get close enough to hurt her again. Today she had already broken those rules twice. She had managed to keep it together when Felicie had said she wasn't her mother but after she had pushed the girl away and she hadn't come back the guilt had almost broken her. She had crumpled to the floor holding her sides as she had hyperventilated for a good hour. But when she had seen Felicies face in the back of that carriage she had almost collapsed then and there. Now she sat looking out in the empty, lonely streets of Paris and trying not to let out her sob or cries of anguish. Hesitant footsteps approached her from behind.

"Odette?Are you alright?" Louis asked sitting next to her each word filled with more concern than Odette could bear.

"What...what are you doing." she growled out.

Louis didn't miss the venom in her words and sighed.

"Rosita told me what happened and you never answered my question. Are you allright?"

Another sob racked her body but she tried to not let him see it.

"Fine." she said through gritted teeth.

"Odette I know you well enough to…."

"Oh you know me now." Odette snorted, her anger from all those years ago finally coming to the surface. "I doubt that. After all, who should have to know a low life who you could step on with your shoe." She sneered trying not to notice how he winced at each word. "Louis you underestimate me. I don't need your pity. I'm not helpless. I knew you were using me. I knew you never loved me."

The words shattered through her lips and Odette felt herself break. She hunched over herself and started to sob. Every heartbreaking thing that she had ever heard. Every word that had been hurtful or terrible piled up in her head. Making her gasp and just sob harder. All the memories of Felicie, the only person who had given her hope. The daughter she could never have. An unattainable feeling of comfort and joy, now taken from her, like everything else. She felt arms wrap around her and pull her close and she didn't even care. She needed the touch, the concern. Even her pride couldn't hide the fact that she was lonely and slowly crumbling. Louis held her to his chest and rubbed her back.

"Odette… just so you know…those words I said that day. I was hoping that once I said them then Lucien would stop bothering me about Sarah and I could officially court you. But I know they were still cruel and mean. And I understand if you hate me forever. I truly do. I was such an…"

"Ass?" she let out between sobs.

Louis let out a chuckle and Odette could hear the relief that she was at least talking to tentatively stroked her hair.

"I promise that I will never let anyone hurt you again. I know that I have broken too many promises but if you give me another chance I swear I will do everything in my power to keep that promise. You deserve so much more than this and I never want you to feel like you are living a low life. In my eyes you are the only life that matters. The only person that matters."

Somehow he had said all the right words. All of the ones that could slowly start to mend her heart, but after everything she had lived through there was no way that Odette was going to let him off easy. She pushed him away from her and glared at him quieting her sobs.

"You think a couple petty words are going to make me forgive you? You kissed that insolent woman! You knew how she treated me and yet you still kissed her and said what she wanted to hear about me.I spent years hearing those words repeated in my head. An endless record of how worthless I am. Then a little girl comes into my life and I finally feel hope again. She was the only person who made me forget how tired I was after a day of work or how much pain I was in. And like every other person I loved she was taken away from me. Now I don't know if she is safe or even alive." Odettes body racked with another sob and she choked back her tears. "How do I know that I can even trust that you aren't taking advantage of this situation. That you didn't send her away just to have an opportunity to comfort me?"

Louis grimaced at the harsh words.

"Do you really think I would do that?" hurt laced through the words.

No. Odette thought to herself. Of course I don't. But instead of saying that she shook her head.

"I don't know what to think anymore."

Louis took her hands lifting her chin so that she looked him in the eyes.

"I can tell you now that I would never- and I mean never- hurt you like that. I know how close you were to her and if I had known what Regine was going to do that I would have never let her out of my sight. And no I don't think that a couple of petty words are going to make you forgive me and I don't deserve it either. The kiss was another act. Sarah was one of the worst people I have ever been acquainted with. I hated her Odette, saying those words practically ripped me apart and when I saw you standing there... I felt my heart die." He closed his eyes for a log moment, looking like he was trying to keep from crying. He cleared his throat. "I hope that one day you can forgive me but I will wait no matter how long that takes." He said the words with absolute conviction, leaving no room for Odette to doubt him. "As for Feliceie being safe I can't tell you that she is, but I can tell you that she is one of the most resilient people I have ever met. She escaped from the orphanage once I believe she can do it again."

He squeezed her hands and smiled. "If I didn't know either of you I would say she could be your daughter. She may not look like you but you are both smart,kind,curious, and resilient women. Not to mention how hard you both work for something you really want. Of course you are both also stubborn as hell so that creates some problems for me" He chuckled and Odette couldn't help but smile at the thought of Louis trying to teach a headstrong Felicie. "Odette that girl loves you and I can almost guarantee that you think of her as your daughter more often than not."

Those words struck a chord in Odette's heart and she looked away feeling a couple of tears slip down her cheeks. Louis frowned.

"What happened between you two anyways? Did she do something last night?"

Odette took a deep breath trying to steady her emotions.

"She came home and I… I gave her my red pointe shoes. She seemed so happy, but when I told her we should train she told me she was going out with some boy. I told her to stay and she said no, she pushed me away and when I tried to make her stay she said… that I wasn't her mom."

Louis muttered a curse.

"I knew it was true but I thought she had started to see me that way." Odette hugged her sides. "It hurt and I pushed her away. She left and… she didn't come back that night. I was worried sick but I knew I wouldn't be able to find her so I hoped she would be at the auditions so I went straight here. When she didn't show up I felt like I was going to be sick… and then she showed up and… well you know the rest."

Louis pulled her into a hug and Odette didn't resist, laying her head on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Odette. I'm sure she didn't mean it."

Odette hoped so.

"For the record… Louis, I do forgive you."

He tightened his arms around her and shuddered. He turned his head to hers, brown eyes filled with more warmth and appreciation than Odette had thought was possible.

"Thank you Odette. Thank you so very much."

Odette laughed, a real laugh, something she hadn't done in years. "Don't mess it up."

He chuckled, rubbing her back. "I will try my best not to be an idiot man again."

Odette smirked. "Good luck with that."

Louis rested his head on hers and his breath brushed her cheek. Odette sighed happily, even if Felicie never came back at least she now had someone who she knew loved her. Maybe he could help her find Felicie one day. Even if her life fell apart even more, then maybe just maybe he would be there to catch her. Louis. Her mind seemed to whisper and she leaned into his warmth finally letting someone comfort her.