Luvin-Evian and Courtaney...this is your chapter and wishes brought to life! Just remember our bargain:) :) :)--EF

Eve cuddled Helene in her arms. The baby had taken a long nap, during which she and Julian made love several times, until she laughingly pleaded exhaustion. Now Helene was awake, and wanted to play peek-a boo with her mother.

"You are our precious darling, Helene. Mother and Father love you so much," Eve cooed. Helene giggled, then peeked through her chubby little fingers again.

"Ah, my two favorite ladies in the world." Julian came into the room, his face glowing at the sight of his lovely wife and beautiful daughter. "I see you're awake," he said with a smile, reaching out and tickling Helene under her chin. He was rewarded with a squeal of delight.

"And just where were you, Julian?" Eve raised an eyebrow. "Helene wanted her father to pick her up out of her bed."

"My love, I was merely away a moment. I-ah, needed some refreshment after our time together." Julian gazed at his wife lovingly. "And just how did you know she wanted me and not her ravishing mother?"

"I believe it is your well-known charm, Lord Crane. You seem to have that effect on ladies. I recall being courted by you," Eve murmured, looking at him from under lowered lashes. "Flowers, carved hearts, and an angel costume."

"I was successful, was I not? In spite of my immense dimensions." Julian leaned over Helene to press a kiss on Eve's forehead. "We are now husband and wife, with a beautiful child."

Eve shook her head. "I cannot deny that, Julian. " She knew she would not win the mild debate with him, but she made certain to get her point across. "I was a 'prisoner' of your love from the very start," she said with a wink.

"I was not the one who tumbled down that hill."

"No, you were the one who rescued the damsel in distress." Eve smirked. "Isn't that what you called it, spiriting me away like that? "

"Accommodations of gold. Ah, what woman could say no to that?"

"One who had a choice in the matter, dear husband."

"Why quibble, my love," Julian said with a laugh, favoring her cheek with a kiss. "We are very happy, and we have so much to be thankful for, yes?" He kissed Helene's forehead.

"Don't confuse the truth with the facts of the matter, Julian." Eve was smiling. "You always do that."

"Oh my darling, I can think of more pleasant things to do rather than explore semantics. Why don't I take little Helene to the pond for a while, so she can see the newly hatched ducklings? That way, you can have some time to yourself, at least until Helene's hungry again." Julian smiled wickedly. "Now her father--he's always hungry," Julian added with a wolfish growl.

Eve laughed. "Why thank you, Julian, I am very pleased to know that you think so highly of me." She kissed Helene on cheek before handing her to Julian.

Tenderness replaced the mischief in Julian's eyes. "You and Helene are the reason I draw breath, my beloved." He caressed her cheek, before walking to the door. "We will return in a while, darling." Julian and Helene left the room.

Eve stretched out on the bed, feeling just a bit lonely without her husband and daughter. She was rarely alone, and she did not know what to do with herself. "I suppose I could take a nap. Helene still wakes up in the middle of the night from time to time." Closing her eyes, Eve snuggled under the coverlet.

Tabitha Lenox watched gleefully as Lord Crane and his daughter left the castle. Realizing that Lady Crane remained behind, she turned to her cat, a black Persian named Fluffy.

"Let us go call on Lady Crane--it is the neighborly thing to do," she cackled.

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"Lady Crane? There is a beggar woman at the door, asking for some bread," Lisette called to Eve. "Shall I place it outside for her?"

"Oh no, Lisette, the poor thing must be starving. It would do no harm to welcome her in for a while, and perhaps give her some clothing and other foodstuffs besides the bread." Eve drew on a dressing gown and slippers. "Have Jane gather some clothing, and see to the food."

"Yes, Lady Crane." Lisette curtsied as she left the room. Eve following. Opening the door, Lisette gestured to the woman. "Lady Crane wishes you to enter."

"Why that is most kind of Lady Crane--we will gladly take her up on her kind offer." Tabitha entered, holding Fluffy. She curtsied to Eve, whose face had gone deadly pale. "Lord Crane married a most beautiful bride."

"Th-thank you, and you are?" Eve could not take her eyes off of the beggar woman's cat.

"Lilith, Lady Crane. You are much too kind to help out a widow woman such as myself." She held Fluffy up, so Eve could see her better. "And this is my dear Fluffy, who keeps me company in my lonely old age."

"She's a -a beautiful cat," Eve haltingly said.

"Yes, isn't she? I've had her for so long, it seems like it has been hundreds of years!" Tabitha laughed delightedly. "Would you care to hold her?"

Eve backed away, her eyes widening in fear. She had always been frightened of cats, even kittens made her fearful.

"I--I'd prefer not to, thank you. I would like to give you foodstuffs besides the bread you asked for." She eyed the woman's clothing, which looked to be an assortment of many fabrics and colors fashioned into a rather shabby looking dress. "And clothing too, if you wish it."

"You are most generous, Lady Crane. It would be such a great to me," Tabitha smiled. "Perhaps I can do something for you, to repay your kindness to me."

"That is not necessary, Lilith--" Eve gasped as Tabitha suddenly seized her hand.

"I will tell your fortune, Lady Crane," Tabitha insisted. She inspected Eve's fateline. "You apparently will live a long life, Lady Crane. Fortunate for you." Tabitha held Eve's hand more firmly, preventing her from withdrawing her hand. "Yet you have two beginnings to it--how strange that is."

Eve shook her head, her eyes on Fluffy, who was now perched on Tabitha's shoulder. "Why is that strange?"

"It means you have or will encounter a very different lifestyle."

"I do not think I care for this any longer, Lilith, you may desist," Eve told her. She finally withdrew her hand, but the sudden movement startled the cat. Fluffy leapt off of Tabitha's shoulder and Eve caught her by reflex.

"Oh!" Eve gasped, terrified. Fluffy looked up at her, and purred. Tabitha stood, holding Eve's gaze with a hypnotic stare.

"You will remember nothing of what I am about to say, Lady Crane. Yet, you will feel the effects of it!" She cackled at Eve's unseeing eyes. "I curse you to become what you fear! Since you were in the midst of marital relations with your husband when I laid eyes upon you before, when you have marital relations, a feline is what you will become!

"And to make it even more entertaining for me, you will keep your human mind, wants, and needs at those times! How confusing for you and your insensitive lout of a husband!" Tabitha smirked. "What a ripping good time this will be--at least for me!"

She then removed Fluffy from Eve's unwilling and unwitting grasp. Snapping her fingers, she released Eve from her hypnotized state.

"I do beg your pardon, Lady Crane. I hope Fluffy did not harm you."

"No, she did not. I was startled, yes, but not harmed." Eve tried to smile, but she was too badly shaken.

Lisette returned, bearing a large satchel. "The food and clothing as you requested, Lady Crane."

Tabitha accepted it, noting with satisfaction Eve's glazed expression. "Are you certain you are all right, Lady Crane?

"Yes, I am, but I do think I need to lie down now. It was very nice to make your acquaintance, Lilith. Lisette will show you out, if you will pardon me." Eve left the vestibule, her head beginning to ache.

Carrying her donations from Lady Crane, Tabitha stroked Fluffy, a malicious smile spreading across her face.

"Lord Crane will continue to suffer for his treatment of me, and I will continue to enjoy it immensely!"

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Julian gazed longingly at his wife. He had a wonderful outing with baby Helene, and when they returned, they found Eve sleeping peacefully in their chamber. He awakened Eve, so she could nurse the baby, but then insisted that he would personally see to Helene's bath, and tucking her in for the night, after a kiss from Eve.

Now he felt the stirrings of desire as he viewed Eve, her breasts still half exposed from nursing Helene. "I do believe we had an agreement from this afternoon, my darling," he grinned, his fingertips drifting over her cleavage. "It is now time for me to make good on your promise."

"For you to make good on my promise?" Eve looked at him from under her lashes, her lips turning up at the corners.

"Precisely, my love." Julian tugged at her shift. "Will you allow me the immense pleasure of making love with you, my wife of a most ethereal beauty and grace?"

"You need not ask, husband mine." Eve sat up, and held her arms up so Julian could remove her shift. He tossed it away, his lips immediately fastening on her right breast, his hand kneading and teasing her left. Eve threw her head back, giving herself up to his masterful direction.

"Please, Julian," she pleaded, "I need you now. I cannot wait." Julian was only too happy to oblige her, shedding his own clothes in seconds, and laying on top of her, his need for her more than obvious.

"Nothing would please me more," he intoned, his knee parting her legs. Julian buried his head between her breasts, then raised up to nuzzle her neck.

Strange, he thought. Eve's hair felt less silky than it usually did. He dismissed the thought and reached again for her breast, only to find hair...no, fur there! Julian opened his eyes and stared in horror at his wife. Eve's shapely form was covered with fur, and she began to shrink before his eyes.

"Julian?" Eve cried out, her eyes filled with fear. "What is happening...ah...MEOW!" Eve heard her voice change, and she shuddered. What happening to me? Looking at her hands, she saw she no longer had fingers, but paws. A tail curled in front of her eyes--hers! And Julian was again a giant to her, only now...now she was a cat!

"EVE!" Julian shouted, stunned at his wife's sudden transformation. His beloved Eve a cat!

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