A/N: Last time we left Chip he had become infatuated with Anna, and he still has feelings for Rose! (Soap Opera music plays). lol. I know, I'm begining to sound like a daytime soap. This is a sort of Flilpfloppy chap. It starts with chip, then to whoever my muse choses. read on!

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN SQUAT!

Ch. 7 Matters of the Heart, Half- brothers and Trust

Chip made his way to the kitchen hoping to talk to his mother before supper. His feelings were so mixed up right now : Rose has been his best friend since he was a child, I guess you could say they were childhood sweethearts. And he since he returned he had been feeling more for her. But Anna, he barely met her and already he was already attracted toher. Rose was sweet, kind, gentle, but a little stubborn and hot tempered. Anna was Mysterious, obviously very brave, but also quiet and reclusive. Perhaps that's what attracted him to Anna, that sense of mystery. But he knew he loved Rose. Didn't he?

Chip opened the kitchen door and was greeted by a warm smile from his mother. But Mrs. Potts had sensed something was troubling her son.

"Chip," she asked, "whatever's the matter?"

"Nothing mama," he answered solemnly.

Mrs. Potts gave him a look of disbelief and Chip fessed up.

"It's about, I don't know-"

"Miss Rose and Miss Anna,"

Chip looked at his mother, she was always able to see through him, along with Belle, the master, and anybody else in the castle. She always knew how to help him with his problems.

"Yes mama. Have you ever been a situation, were you know you love someone, but then met someone else and feel attracted to them?" He asked.

"I can't say that I have love. But, tell me, what do you feel about Miss Rose?"

A small smile played across his lips, "She and I have been best friends since we were little, mama. Rose is wonderfull. She's fun to be with, not to mention beautiful".

"Uh-huh, and what about Miss Anna?"

Chip sat down on a stool, "I don't know what I feel. We haven't ever been alone enough for me to get to know her. We barely had our first conversation just know when ran into eachother in the hallway. She's mysterious, brave and beautiful as well. I don't know what it is about her, it's just, wow."

Lumiere had just walked into the room and had overheard Chip's little ordeal.

"Ah, having a few girl troubles oui?" Lumiere stated.

Chip placed his elbows on the counter and rested his head in his hands. "Uh-huh. Do you have any advice Lumiere?"

Lumiere placed his hand on Chip's shoulder, "All I can say is that you will have to figure that out for yourself mon ami. Nobody ever said that love was simple"

Chip sighed and thanked the both of them. He got up and walked out of the kitchen and made his way to the dining room. He couldn't help but shift his gaze back and forth between Rose and Anna that night during dinner. How do I feel?

---------

Anna had been practicing spells in her room after dinner. What am I going to do? She stopped for a moment and held the moonstone pendant that her grandmother had given her when she first started her training, the day she first found out that she had been the last enchantress in her family'sbloodline. Anna was her mother's youngest and only legitimate child. Anna knew she had an older brother who was a good three years older than her, but she hadn't heard from him in years. She felt the pendant once more and sighed.

"Enjoying that precious gift aren't we?" a masculine voice called from behind her.

"What do you want here Luce?" Anna asked as she turned to face her brother.

The seventeen year-old stepped out towards Anna. His icy blue eyes bore into her. Chills ran up her spine as she saw his gaze.

"You know what I want little sister"

Anna stepped back, "No, I am here to protect this family. Grandmother Celine trusted me with this responsibility and I don't plan to let her down."

"Ah, yes. You have sworn to protect the child of magic. I wonder what poor Celine was thinking when she trusted this task to a bumbling little girl who had only just completed her training. You haven't any experience little one."

"Oh, and I suppose you would have been the better choice, my dear half-brother?"

"I would have. I have experience far beyond yourself and I trained myself."

"Just because the elder's have chosen me tofollow in Grandmother Celine's footseps doesn't mean that-"

"Ah, yes. I forgot that you were the so called 'chosen one'. Well, we'll just have to see what happens then, shall we?"

The look in his eye when Luce said these words was unsettling to Anna. "What are you going to do?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing. I shall see you very soon little sister."

There was a puff of black smoke and Luce vanished.

What does he want? Anna pulled her hood over her face and continued her spells.

"Recordare"

-------------

Rose sat in her room at her easel. She looked over the drawings she had made in the past. She pulled down her latest of her mother and'father'. To think that before she had been leading a carefree life, oblivious to their secret. Now since she found outeverything had changed. Rose sighed and put the drawing back. She looked at the portrait she had made from memory of Chip. It was amazing how he had changedfrom that gawkyboy he had been before he had been before he left for the university in Paris. Now he was a handsome young man. She had missed him so much these last six years that he has been away. It didn't seem that he would remember her, not the other way around! Then these past few weeks. Anna had come to the castle, saying that she was sent to protect them. Protect them from what? Rose knew that her parents had found out, and they were keeping it from her.Why must they always keep the truth from her? What wouldn't she have understood? Could she even trust them anymore?

Belle had walked into the room when she saw her daughter's morose state.

She walked over to her, "Rose, I know your still upset with your father and Ifor keeping thetruth from you for solong,but you must understand that weonly-"

"What is she here for?" Rose interrupted.

"Excuse me?"

"Anna, what is she here for? I know she told you and papa what was threatening us. I can feel it. What is it?"

"Rose, I'm afraid I can't tell you that,"

"Why not mother!"

Belle sat down next on the bed, alittle relieved to feel the familiar sheets, "Rose, your father and I don't want to worry you. Tomorrow is your sixteenth birthday. It should be a happy time for you."

"How can I be happy if my parents are always keeping secrets from me? How can I trust you and father anymore?"

"Rose, you know you can trust us, were your parents! "

"How do I know that's the truth?" Rose snapped at her mother.

Belle was angered by this, "Now Rose you know that's out of line."

"Mother, how can I be sure what to think if I don't even know my own parents anymore."

Tears began to run down Rose's cheek. Belle saw her tears and cradled Rose just like when she was an infant, "Rose, you know you can trust us. we have been there for you all your life. We are still the same people. Nothing that has happened lately can change that."

Rose released herself from her mother's embrace, "Mother please, I want to be alone now. "

Belle sighed, "Fine then. See you in the morning." She kissed her daughter on the forehead and walked out of the room.

-----------

Belle closed the door behind her and found that Vincent had been waiting in the hallway.

"She's still upset with us?" he asked.

"Well can you blame her? We kept this from her for so long, she can't help but wonder if she can trust us."

Vincent looked at Belle solemnly. "Did you tell her about Anna's vision?"

"No, I didn't want to worry her,"

Vincent sighed, took Belle in his arms and gave her a soft kiss on her lips. "You want to join me in the library?"

Belle looked up at him and smiled, "Yes, I would like that"

Vincent wraped his arm around her shoulder and they made their way down the hall to the library. Belle looked back for a moment her daughter's room.

I hope she's going to be alright.

A/N: Whew, I am so sleepy right now, and it's barely 8:30! Sorry if there was a little sappiness right there. And now on to reviews

Trudirose: I am saving the "Rose finds out about Chip liking Anna" bit for later. And I have changed Vincent's last name in both of my stories. No, actually it wasn't confusing, and I get confused real easy. ). Just out of curiosity, what exactly does "JMO" mean? I'm generally new on this site.

Damian: You never want Rose to end up with anyone that she's intended to do you? J/K. You will just have to wait and see who Chip choses. And actually, the "Red Death" thing was just something that popped into my head when I was writting the chapter. It sounded spooky don't ya think? A love WHAT-dron? Man, that's going to be hard. lol.

LilangelbiggieD: Yeah, and I shall beat you with my little cow toy of doom! I'll ask my mom if I can come over. You want to say the disclaimer again? I know, love triangles are CRAZY!

Rest of you guys; REVEIW!

and I now have a webpage on myspace up. If any of you guys want to see a drawing of Anna, all you have to do is click on the homepage link on my profile. )

-Leota