Louis

"Do you know why we were summoned?" Louis asked Odette as they walked towards Auguste's office. Odette shrugged.

"I have no idea." She said pushing the door open and limping inside. Louis followed her and raised an eyebrow when he saw who was inside. Auguste was standing behind his desk and talking to a handsome man in front of him. Handsome wasn't even a good word for him, Louis thought bitterly, he was roguish. Sandy blonde hair that was mussed just to the point where he wouldn't seem improper and he was tall and lean, with chiseled features and a glinting smile.

"Louis, Odette I would like you to meet our newest teacher Markus."

The man smiled at them and Louis fought the urge to growl when his gaze swept over Odette appraisingly. Odette was completely oblivious and smiled back at him. Louis placed a possessive hand on her back and swallowed. Why did she have to look so beautiful when she smiled?

"Hello Mademoiselle. Monsieur." Markus said kissing the back of Odette's hand and nodding at Louis. He took a moment to look at the ring on Odette's finger but it didn't seem to deter him.

"Odette, he will be helping in some of your classes until Madam Bernard retires. So about 6 weeks." Auguste said.

Odette simply nodded, not surprised. "Of course. I'm sure he will find the lessons quite… interesting."

Louis covered his laughter by clearing his throat quickly but Odette still gave him an amused look. Markus raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

"I'm sure it won't be too much of a problem. After all, I have had some practice teaching young children."

Of course his accent was british, what else?

Odette smirked. "Yes well I would advise you to get used to some teenage girls. That is mostly what my classes are made up of."

Markus considered this but only nodded, his annoyingly perfect smile coming back.

"I'm sure I will get the hang of it soon enough."

Odette looked him over. "We shall see."

"A woman who thinks that a man can't do something better than her? How unusual."Markus said his eyebrows lifted in surprise.

Louis bit his tongue to keep from coming back at him with a chaste remark. Odettes eyes were noticeably narrowed and Louis could see her hand curl around her cane tighter.

Auguste chuckled nervously. "Odette why don't you take Marcus to your class now, I'm sure he's eager to start."

Odette smiled sweetly at Auguste but her eyes held deadly poison that had even him gulping.

"Of course. I'm also eager to have him in MY class."

She put extra emphasis on the word My and Louis began thanking god that he wasn't on her bad side. He had no doubt that she would hurt Markus if he made more brass comments. Louis rubbed her back soothingly and she sighed.

"Right this way, Sir."

Louis kissed her on the cheek and sent a glare at Markus when he went to take Odette's arm. He better mind his manners or Louis was not going to hold back his anger. She was officially his now, and he was going to make sure this man knew it. As the door shut behind them Louis stalked towards Auguste.

"Why isn't he helping in any of my classes?" Louis asked indignantly.

Auguste swallowed. "Because he isn't interested in choreographing, if he was he would be in your classes but Odette seemed like the next best choice. She is patient and is already married so romantic notions won't be on her mind."

Someone needs to tell that bastard that. Louis thought. That man clearly had no qualms about pursuing a married woman. Even if that woman's husband worked under the same roof and saw everything he did.

"Louis I believe you have a class right now, and I have work to do to prepare for the next Opera so if you could… please leave."

Louis blinked at Auguste's sheepish smile. "Right. I will be revisiting this subject though."

AS Louis closed the door to Auguste's office he heard the jovial man mutter.

" I have no doubts.

…

Louis sighed, taking his coat off and hanging it on the rack by the door. Classes had been exhausting to say the least and he had to finalize the piece he was working on. He had also spent a better part of the day worrying about Odette and to say he was glad to be home. The sounds of someone humming from the kitchen brought a smile to his face. After living alone for so long having 3 girls inhabit the same space as him was new, but lovely at the same time. He loved Océana very much, she had always been his closest niece. All of the others were much younger and interested in other things. Océana had been the closest thing to a daughter that he had until he had met Felicie. After all Felicie was now Odettes and his formal daughter and he couldn't have been more happy. Océana would be moving in with her parents in a week but she had already promised to come and visit them from time to time. Odette had told her that she was always welcome and Louis could not have agreed more. She was a lovely girl.

He walked toward the kitchen and smiled when he saw Odette swaying slightly making tea in the corner, her hair down and tumbling down her back. It was funny how much a couple of people could make a place feel lived in and Louis could feel his heart swelling with love for her. He wrapped arms around her waist from behind and nuzzled her neck.

"Hello Darling, how was your day?" He asked.

Odette laughed as he brushed his beard over her cheek.

"Good. How about you?"

"It was alright, is Marcus being kind to you?" Louis inquired, brushing her hair aside so he could kiss her elegant neck.

"He was fine. A bit presumptuous but I can deal with it." Odette said. "He also thinks that I am incapable to do anything right and looked surprised anytime I did something correctly."

Louis rolled his eyes and straightened. "How annoying. He clearly doesn't realize that all women have to be airheads."

Odette guffawed. "Louis, all men think about women that way."

Louis gasped incredulously, "Why Odette I am offended. I certainly don't think of you like that."

Odette laughed again as he pulled her over to the living room. "No. I guess you don't, and I thank you for that."

"I do think you're beautiful though." Louis said, sitting down on the sette.

Odette smirked but Louis rubbed a hand over his face and sighed.

"However I sometimes wish you weren't quite so gorgeous."

Odette's mouth dropped open. "Louis!"

"No. No not like that Darling. It's just… Markus is clearly interested in you."

Odette tilted her head. "He is? What gave you that notion?"

Louis stared at her in surprise. "You mean you didn't see that way he was looking at you, or how he held your hand longer than necessary, and held your arm?"

Odette raised an eyebrow and her eyes became teasing. "Are you jealous?"

Louis frowned not getting the joke. "Possibly."

Odette laughed and cupped his face. "Oh love, you do know that there is no way I would ever fall in love with that self-important man, right?"

Louis dropped his eyes. He wasn't so sure. "He is very handsome Odette."

"And so are you."

"And charming."

"So are you."

"And…"

"Louis stop it. I love you and only you. He thinks I should be at home cooking dinner and taking care of the house, not teaching ballet. He also thinks that I have no brain and I only got the job because of my looks." She gave him a look. "Did you know that he called me Belle more than once today?"

Louis grimaced, the furry coming to boil beneath his skin. "No."

"See? So please don't worry about that. I didn't marry you because I had no other choices, but because I wanted to be with you. Alright?"

Louis looked into her enchanting eyes, seeing no doubt in their blue depths. "Alright."

Odette grinned, satisfied. "Good."

She leaned against him and kissed him soundly, leaving no room for confusion to be buried in his heart. Louis kissed her back and when they pulled apart he smiled at her, pulling her against him and hugging her gently.

"Your mine. Understood? I don't want to share."

"You won't have too Louis." She said, pulling back enough to see his face. "But let's be clear, I am my own person."

"Of course Darling."