Chapter Five: High Flying Emotions

If the weather was ever an omen, Vincent prayed it was wrong as he rode through the bustling city of the north where he was expected that day.

"Do not panic…this meeting only determines the fate of us all, no pressure…"

Although he heard Cogsworth muttering to himself from behind, the prince could not help but grin the slightest smile. Much as the man's negativity could throw anyone into a sense of despair, in the most unusual way, it gave him a comfortable sense of normality. A reassurance in the most odd definition of the word, and of course hearing the resounding "Ouch!", courtesy of Lumière's hand making harsh contact with the backside of Cogsworth's head, topped everything off.

"I am going to tell you this only once, in the nicest possible way…" Lumière hissed quietly. "Kindly think of the master's feelings before your own and shut up!"

Cogsworth glared at him. "Oh yes, very kind indeed! How about sharing that kindness when we arrive, hmm? I am sure his uncle would agree that things have been nothing but well after hearing it!"

"That is enough," Vincent silenced them, knowing a scuffle would break loose if he did not put an end to their discussion. For they had arrived at their destination, and the last thing any of them needed was a horrible black eye. "Please, be on your best behavior."

"But that was his best behavior; it does not get any better than that," Cogsworth whispered almost childishly under his breath. After getting one more look from both men, however, they left the horses with the stable boy and entered the snake pit, otherwise known as his uncle's palace.

Vincent took a deep breath as he walked through the hallways. Although he had friends at his side ready to stand by him, he had never felt more nervous and alone. Cogsworth had been right before; this meeting held everyone's fate in its hands. What would truly happen if he could not "prove himself" today?

"The crown prince, Monseigneur, and…his servants."

Across the large sitting room, a man he recognized as his uncle Auguste turned to his guests. He was an older man, rather tall with aging gray hair, although it still had signs of its original dark color.

"Vincent…" He rose from his seat, moving to inspect him. Inspection, a royal's greeting, the prince thought bitterly as he stood tall with the only authority that rivaled his uncle. "At least you look better than many have described…"

"Looks are not the key to the mind."

Auguste laughed amused. "Well you would say that now, wouldn't you? I mean considering all you have been through, the…illness, so to speak."

"That is what you think it was?" Vincent challenged, the battle rising sooner than he expected.

"Of course, what would you call it?"

"More like a lesson, one that would have done us all some good."

"A lesson? Really now…?" If he would not risk missing words to use against him, Vincent would have started ignoring him right there, for that tone was all too familiar. "Could you possibly conceive the lies and explanations I have given to cover the scandal? That is not a lesson, it is dishonor."

It was Vincent's turn to laugh. "In that case, I am honored that you simply did not banish me from the family and convince everyone I was dead."

"Hold your tongue, boy," he threatened. "I do not know what that witch's magic trick did to your mind, but if it is still of any good use to you, it should know to think before permitting you to speak."

"Oh trust me, it did."

Auguste's eyes burned straight into his as both grew serious. "Do you truly have any idea what this has done to you? To our family's honor and reputation? Everyone, from the aristocracy to the scum of the streets, knows now that their crowned prince was turned into a monster, and more importantly, that the event has softened him. That alone is a great danger to us."

After ordering Cogsworth and Lumière out to the hall, Vincent waited for the door to close before he spoke. "You have no idea what the real meaning of the curse was, or do you truly not care? If anything, it has done nothing but good to our family's name. How I live my life now is how I should have years ago!"

"You can not gain respect from these people without a firm hand!"

"Respect is not a demand, it is a privilege! You have to earn it! A firm hand is worthless without the guidance of a good heart!"

"Kindness is nothing but a weakness! If you show them that, they will only take advantage of you!"

Vincent growled in anger and threw his fist into a chair, sending it down hard. "And this does everything?!" He held his fist directly in front of the man's eyes. "This is all one needs?! A tool of fear and intimidation?!" Grabbing Auguste's collar roughly, he continued silently. "Then I choose to use it now. You will not take advantage of me as you accuse harmless people of doing. You will allow me to continue my father's reign as it is rightfully mine whether you approve or not." Vincent then roughly released him, causing him to fall into another chair. "Is that what you meant?"

Auguste looked up at him, trying to appear void of any negative emotion. "More or less…"

"Then you will leave me be to do as I will?"

"Not quite," he replied quickly as he stood a bit shakily. "You are my brother's son in terms of knowing what to do to get what you want. You have placed your demands before me, and I am willing to oblige on one condition. If you can prove yourself under a watchful eye of my choosing, I will never be a bother to you again. For the sake of our family's honor, prove that you can keep order under this new creed of yours."

Vincent shook his head in disgust. "While this is beyond ridiculous, if it is what it takes, I will do as you ask."

As his uncle nodded and took his hand in agreement, the door opened across the room, allowing another man entry.

"I apologize, Monseigneur; forgive my tardiness," he said with a bow.

"Nothing to forgive," Auguste nodded. "You are actually just in time." He gestured to the prince. "This is Vincent, my nephew, crowned prince from the Chateau Mountains."

The man bowed deeply again. "Honored, your highness."

When Vincent said nothing in reply, Auguste continued. "This is my "watchful eye" of choice; he is the most trusted of men in this city, and will report everything to me."

Vincent sighed in frustration as he felt like nothing more than a child, but he was raised a prince, taught to do what he must for the family.

"Very well," he replied. Turning to the man, he nodded. "We leave in the morning, bright and early at dawn."

"As you wish, of course."

"And your name? We must have something to call you."

"de Crochet, your highness…Jacques de Crochet."

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Babette stirred with a groan, opening her eyes slowly. With her head feeling as though it was splitting in half, she sat up cautiously, hiding her face in her hands to block out even the light of a candle's flame.

"Have a good sleep?"

Glancing to her left, she saw Angelique seated in the chair by her bedside table.

"What happened?" she said slowly, her voice hoarse and strained.

"You fell unconscious, thus you did not miss much. We sent for the doctor, though, and he came right away."

Babette's eyes had never changed sentiments so quickly. "It was just from overworking; why did you bring the doctor into it?"

Angelique offered a sarcastic thoughtful expression to match her words. "Oh, I don't know. To make positively certain that you are all right as you did take quite a fall…or perhaps to find out that you were lying to us?"

"I don't know what you mean."

Angelique held up her hands to stop her from continuing. "We know about the baby. He told us the truth, but I think you could have done that yourself."

Babette's eyes shot daggers at her. "The truth was not necessarily something I wanted to brag about."

Ignoring the look, Angelique continued in her previous manner. "Not brag about your sudden little bundle of joy resulting from the most romantic night of your life? That alone puts you above all other women here!"

"I did not plan want this, nor did I plan it!"

Angelique bit her tongue hard to suppress any thoughts that would follow that comment; she was stubborn, not cruel. Attempting to calm herself, she spoke gently. "How long did you know?"

Babette absently pulled her pillow close and wrapped herself in her blanket. "Since the beginning of this month…" If anything moved Angelique to feel pity for her, it was the sight of her then, in that single frame of time, tense and terrified. It was much like a child who sensed punishment. "I just…could not bring myself to tell anyone."

Angelique sighed, sitting next to her friend, hugging her close around the shoulders. "Did you really think we would never find out? You could only hide it for so long, then what would you have done?"

Babette swallowed guiltily, and stuttered, having remembered her first thoughts. "I…I considered…maybe not allowing things to get that far…but…" She hid her face in her hands again, this time letting tears flow freely. "Mon Dieu, I swear I'll be damned for this!" She looked up, her eyes already red if only after a few moments. "I am going to be sent away, yes? Hidden until it is over, and they wanted you to tell me?"

"No, no, nothing like that," Angelique replied, finally concerned only with consoling her.

"Then what are they going to do?"

"The master has not returned yet, and hence neither has he…"

She had not even mentioned his name when Babette's eyes widened anxiously. "Lumière…no. He can't know about this! He can't!"

"Again, I highly doubt that you will be able to hide it much longer…but think about this. Do you realize he may be your only hope not to be sent away?"

Babette atoned her obliviousness to fear. "How so?"

Of all people, Angelique never thought she would be the one to tell her this. Moving to sit cross-legged a la gossip position on the bed, she offered, "I have always been told that things happen for a reason; maybe this is the sign…that you both really are meant to be together."

Babette sighed. "Do not start with that. Whenever the idea of marriage comes along, he changes the subject."

"Perhaps…but does he really have any choice?"

"I can not do that to him," Babette barely breathed the words as she dried her eyes. "As much as I want it, I will not give him an ultimatum like that, or else it will look like I did plan this whole mess."

"Then what are you going to do? What else is there?"

She closed her eyes, petrified. "There is nothing else to do but wait. I…I will tell him; I have to. But whatever he decides…well, it all rests with him now. When they return home, we shall see. I only hope…it is what I want to hear."