Epilogue: La Petite Chandelle

Patience was constantly a virtue that Lumière prided himself in having, but all other rhyme and reason had vanished hours before. It did not surprise him that this last bit had left his mind as well.

Spring had crept its way amidst the mountain region quickly, bringing with it the very day that he had been dreading most for many months. Where had the days gone? They barely had time to prepare!

He had kept his word to her. At the very stroke of midnight, the beginning of the new year last December, he and Babette shared their first wedded kiss. Just a small gathering of friends in the castle's great hall, tears all around, even from Cogsworth, who attempted to hide them under his "disapproval". "We will never hear the end of it now!" he had said.

The constant worry as their child grew, Babette with it.

"It", Lumière hated using that term, and wished they could have known what the baby would be. A boy, the very image of himself, poor Cogsworth's greatest nightmare, or a girl, exquisite like her mother that would she be courted by young men who were just like him, his own terrifying concern. He was certain to lose sleep no matter what, either by his comrade's complaints about his son or having to guard his daughter's bedroom window all night.

But he still, to this day, could not explain how his fears suddenly vanished the moment he heard the most blissful sound in the world…his child's first cry. Bolting for the door, he nearly fell in as Mrs. Potts opened it from the other side.

With her comforting smile, she moved aside to let him in. "Both of your ladies are waiting for you."

He could only imagine how incredibly ridiculous his smile must have looked as he asked, "It is a daughter then?" She nodded before reminding him to go inside which he did obediently.

Lumière cautiously approached the bed as if doing so would ruin everything, but nonetheless, he sat in the nearby chair beside it, watching the doctor attend to the baby. Babette had never looked so exhausted, but yet so happy as she opened her eyes.

Grinning, she stated proudly but breathless, "It is a girl…"

He laughed gently as he leaned in to kiss her. "So I heard. I am quite fond of women, and thus am very happy to hear that."

"Thought you would be."

The doctor joined them then, returning the child to her mother's care. While he had scolded Babette months before, he regretted it now, not able to resist the charming sight. "My congratulations to you both. She is a vision."

"But of course," Lumière smiled. "This woman is her mother; she must be beautiful."

Nothing is as special, they realized, as the first glance from their first-born. While they knew she had existed, she was still more like a state of mind, an unwrapped gift, until now. As she was held snuggly in her mother's arms, she had at last become a stunning reality.

"I never thought I would be able to witness so many miracles in one lifetime," Lumière whispered as he held his beloved close to him, not able to take his eyes from his daughter.

"I know," Babette agreed, rocking her gently to calm her cries. "She's wonderful…my thanks to you."

"More to you, amourette; you did most of the work. But while I could not be more grateful, there is still one question remaining."

"What is that?"

"What shall we call her?"

Babette looked at her thoughtfully. "Well…you were the first light of my life, and she is the next."

Lumière laughed gently. "A little candle then…"

She nodded. "La Petite Chandelle…"

With a final glance of agreement into each other's eyes, Lumière and Babette smiled down at their child, the loving consequence of their feelings for one another.

"Chandellina."

The End