A/N: Wow, once again, another story completed, and the writer depression begins. Although, I think getting it printed and off to the boss and another loverly pro reader will get me through the feeling, LOL. I'm really just so proud of this one, fanfic yet semi original, something I've never done before. For those, I don't talk to on MSN, a final story in this series, yet unnamed IS in the planning stage still, but I have one other one shot I am going to get done before focusing all energy on that. So stay tuned on both of those. ) In the meantime,my gratitude for everyone sticking by me, especially my patient, extraordinary, brilliant beta - you know and love her - Trudi, the wonderful, glorious, amazing B&B MSN Writers Workshop, andall of the awesome, lovely, incredible readers! (Sorry, I was running out of adjectives, LOL!) Thank you all!

A/N #2: I forgot to mention one thing!

"Fleurettes" is only the first story in the Romance series. If you would like to know what happened to Babette - how she got to the castle, met Lumiere, etc etc. as well as how HE go there - please read "Questionable Romance" as well. It was posted earlier, but it is supposed to be the next story in the series, followed by "Prelude" which is the tale of the servants after the events of "QR." To make things easier, just click into my loverly profile, and continue the line! Enjoy and thanks again!


Epilogue: Bittersweet Ever After

Standing outside the window anxiously, Claude paced back and forth every few minutes waiting for someone to see him there. This could not wait until opening time; he had to see Brielle now!

He had been so foolish before! Sneaking past Babette's protective watch, Claude had managed to get into Brielle's room after hearing that she was feeling better. Brielle had then insisted that they talk, and only at that moment did he learn that she had been expecting a baby and what she had done to get rid of it. Unfortunately, he had instinctively reacted with anger.

"Damn it, Brielle; how could you not tell me about this?" he had demanded. "As the child's father, I should have been involved when deciding what was to be done about it!"

He would never forget the look of pain in her eyes, and just thinking about it made his heart ache with agony. Devastated and guilty, she had lashed out.

"That is all you can say? That you should've had a part in the decision?" she had cried. "I did what had to be done, for me, you, and most importantly for the baby! Neither it nor I would have survived if I didn't do this!"

"But it was my child too!"

"Well not anymore it isn't; not yours or mine actually! It's gone, and right now, I think you should follow that lead!"

Those words had hurt the most, he remembered. He had stormed off, confused and angry. How could Brielle do such a thing?

But when he had calmed down, he realized that he was to blame as well. He had never truly expressed to Brielle the depth and sincerity of his love for her. Many men dallied with the showgirls of Le Fleur Noir, and to a man, they would have been horrified to learn that their night of pleasure had resulted in a pregnancy – and relieved to discover that the girl had taken care of matters herself, without them having to lift a finger. How was Brielle to know that Claude was different – that he truly did love her and wanted to be with her forever, to share both the joy and the sorrow of life? He could only imagine what a painful decision this had been for her, how truly desperate she must have felt.

Now, he wanted only to hold her close, tell her how sorry he was and that no matter what, he would never leave her side again.

Above all, he would tell her how much he loved her, had done so ever since he had met her. He and his friends may have gone to Le Fleur Noir for a good time months ago, but Claude would always treasure the memory as the night he had met the woman of his dreams. Brielle was not like the other Fleurettes, hardened and brassy and jaded. Even when she danced, there was a sweetness about her, an innocence and vulnerability that touched him. He wanted to protect her, to take her away from his place and give her a better life.

A bit of movement in the window broke his reverie, and he quickly rushed to see who was in the main room. Much to his dismay, it was Babette. Wonderful, now he would never get near Brielle! Babette was far too much of a watchdog presence, though after what had happened, he did not blame her for it. It would not be easy to convince her to let him see Brielle, but nonetheless, he had to try.

Upon hearing the insistent tapping on the window, Babette scowled at the little scoundrel as she made her way to the door. When would the pest get the hint?

"What do you want here?" she growled. "I think even you know that Brielle has been hurt enough."

Claude swallowed nervously. He was certainly not a coward, but he was not much of a brave fighter either.

"I know that, but I must see her," he said, timid though trying to hide it. As though it would assist him in his persistence, he held up the large bouquet of flowers he had brought. "I even bought her these, see?"

Babette tried so hard not to laugh. As much as she could not stand the boy for all the trouble he caused, she had to credit his desperate, naïve pleas. But overall, he had apparently still not figured out the seriousness of the situation yet.

"You really do not understand, do you?" she asked. "You do not know how much she had to endure to save herself, not to mention you from a fate that neither of you could handle. And all you can say is you brought her a few flowers to make things better?"

"Please, just let me see her!" he entreated. "I didn't mean what I said that day! I was just so overwhelmed and upset and…please, I have to make up for my mistakes! I need to talk to her even if she doesn't want to talk to me!"

"Babette, it's all right."

Both Babette and Claude turned to find Brielle standing in the doorway. Without a second thought, Claude ran to her, enveloping her in his embrace. Brielle in turn was all too willing to accept, having heard his every word and holding him tightly to her.

"Brielle, ma chérie, Dieu I've missed you!" he murmured, placing sweet, gentle kisses into her hair. "I'm so sorry; I never wanted to upset you. I swear, if only I'd known – "

"No, don't," she whispered. "You were right; I should have told you what happened in the beginning." Gently, she rested her head on his shoulder, relieved to be back in his arms again after she thought she had lost him forever. "Just promise that you will never leave me again, ever!"

"Shh, I promise. I swear, if I'd have known, we could've made it work," he said, rubbing her back soothingly. Pulling away slightly, he held her face tenderly in his hands, looking directly into her eyes. "And that is what I came to talk to you. Dieu, Brielle, you know that how I feel about you, so much that no matter where I am or what I am doing, I can only think of you." He paused, nervously, before he spoke again. "And…that is why I need to ask you something…very important."

Brielle looked at him for a long moment, gradually breaking into a smile. "You do?" she asked. "Really?"

Claude nodded, leaning down to kiss her, when they both heard Babette clear her throat behind them.

"Pardon, you two," she said. "But in case you have seemed to forget I was here…?"

Both of them blushed bright red, and Brielle raced to her side.

"Babette, I just need a few minutes alone with him. Cover for me, please? Only for a little while?" Brielle asked.

Babette glanced over at Claude, and for the first time, she smiled genuinely at the boy…no, not a boy, very much a young man. She had heard all that she needed to hear to be assured of what would happen from there. Everything would be all right.

"All right, I will," she said. Adding with a small wink and a grin, she added teasingly, "But do not let me see any funny business, or else I call for Aubrey and the two of us will send that boy running!"

Brielle hugged her quickly. "Fair enough, mon amie, merci!" she laughed, running to rejoin Claude, the couple walking off to find a place to talk.

Babette stood by for a moment, sighing almost wistfully…until a pair of familiar arms drew her close.

"Do not even think about distracting me, Lucien de Bontecou," she said with a subtle smirk, not even having to turn around to know it was her lover.

"And exactly why not? I happen to know that you love being distracted," Lucien murmured in her ear, before taking special care of the area with his kisses.

Babette had to force herself to not to swoon with desire, although the minute Lucien felt her giving in to his advances, he gathered her in his arms to carry her around back.

"Stop that!" she shrieked playfully, laughing in spite of herself. "I am serious, amour; I need to play the watchful eye right now."

"For who?" he asked, drawing her close around the waist.

"Brielle and that little beau of hers. You are not making it easy!"

"Oh, just let them be," he said, nipping at her throat. "Besides, hypocrisy does not suit you very well."

"Oh really?" she gasped, her arms slowly creeping around his neck. "And what exactly does Monsieur mean by that?"

She wanted to hate him for his next move, clearly fighting unfairly for her attention. He knew she was weak to his pleasurable yet gentle caresses, his warm passionate kisses, and as much as she tried to pry away, there was no chance of her succeeding.

"Damn you," she huskily whispered, an amused grin playing about her lips.

Lucien smiled adorably. "That is exactly what I mean. You would deny a girl something that you know you yourself enjoy immensely?"

"This coming from a man who once teased me for not being modest."

Lucien merely laughed before growing a little more serious. "Do not trouble yourself so much, ma belle fille," he said soothingly. "They will be all right."

"Believe me, it is not as simple for them as it is for us," Babette replied.

"Why is that?" he asked.

Babette sighed with a gentle smile, not wanting to recount what happened with him. She only had one night every week with Lucien, and the last thing she needed was to have the mood ruined by matters like this.

"It is nothing, mon cher," she said reassuringly. "Brielle is like a sister to me, and I guess I just worry too much about her. Just promise we can check in on them in a little while, s'il vous plait? For me?"

"Anything you wish, chérie," he said truthfully. "If it will make you feel better, then we will."

Babette nodded before breaking into her famous coquettish smirk again. "It most certainly does, and for being so sweet, I suppose you deserve some kindness in return," she said playfully. "One advantage of dancing early in the evening is the longer amount of time I have to do a…personal encore for you."

"And I will definitely thank you properly for it when you do," Lucien replied, stealing one last kiss before taking her hand in his. "Come on, let's go in."

Babette leaned against him, beaming brightly. Despite everything that had occurred in her life, she could honestly admit that she was quite grateful for it. Good friends, wonderful enough to call her true family, and a loving man like Lucien made every minute, good and bad, worth the journey to where she was today. Years ago, as a frightened young girl sold into this place, she never would have imagined that it would bring her so much.

Still, the fact remained that Le Fleur Noir would never be a true home, and as much as she loved the girls, she still longed for the day when Lucien would come to her permanently. It would happen, it just had to. Someday soon, she knew he would once again change her life forever, racing down the road atop Noblesse and proclaim that he would not leave without her at his side for eternity.

But until then, the life she led, that of a legendary Fleurette, was not one that she would ever forget or bemoan. Good always comes from the bad. Babette knew that now, and as she rested contently in Lucien's arms that night, she smiled, truly happy for everything good that would only get better.

The End.