A/N: Trudi, this chapter is as much yours as it is mine; thank you so much for all your help!

Chapter Four

Babette stared at him in complete disbelief. "You…you are…"

Adrien nodded. "Your father, yes."

"What…how did you…why…?"

Adrien reached for her hand. "Maybe it's a good idea if you sit down to think this through; I know it is a shock."

Babette tore her hand away from him, coming to her senses. "Do not touch me," she snarled. "If you truly know what is good for you, you will leave immediately!"

Adrien lowered his head, shamefully. "I knew it was too good to be true," he said. "I shouldn't have expected much. I do not deserve any chances. What was I thinking?"

All right, that was a bit unexpected, Babette thought. From what she remembered, Adrien was always more of the type to storm off angrily when things did not go his way. When Babette was younger, her mother, Celie, would argue with him, he would snarl that he didn't need this aggravation and head out the door, ignoring her when she begged him to stay.

Cautiously watching him, as though he would attack if she turned away, Babette gestured him to a chair. "You have five minutes," she warned, sitting in another chair. "Make it quick. What are you doing here?"

"Trying to make up for the worst mistake of my life," Adrien explained. "You don't know how long I've been looking for you, ma fille."

"Do not play games with me," Babette snapped. "You seriously want me to believe that after all these years, you decide out of the blue that you want to see me again? You made it perfectly clear that night at Le Fleur Noir that you wanted nothing to do with me."

Adrien winced, as though pained by the memory. "I know," he said mournfully, guilt abundant in his expression and tone. "I don't blame you for despising me. I was a terrible man."

"A complete understatement if I ever heard one."

"I know, I know," he replied, hiding his face on folded hands. "There is nothing I can do that will change any of the mistakes I made, no words strong enough for me to apologize."

Babette stared at him, thoughtfully silent. Why now, why at this moment, after all this time, did he want to claim her forgiveness?

"You could not do this years ago?" she asked aloud.

Adrien shook his head. "I'm a changed man, ma petite," he admitted. "For years, I wasted time and money on things that were unimportant. I was such an ass, looking for any and every way to avoid thinking about what I did wrong in my life…yet all my efforts at distraction only made it worse. You haunted my thoughts, Babette. I know I should've looked for you sooner – you, the only important person that should've been in my life – but I was so ashamed. Unfortunately, when I finally did work up the courage to return to the hall, you were gone, and the…" He stopped, as if biting back the word he was about to say, then went on, "…ladies there refused to tell me where you were."

"Can you blame them?" she muttered, sarcastically, still not entirely convinced.

"Not at all," he said. He looked up into her eyes, seemingly sincere. "But I begged them to, and with every refusal, my heart sank deeper and deeper into despair. All I wanted was to see my little girl again, just once, in attempt to right the wrongs that I had made."

"Then how did you know I was here?"

"I asked around everywhere, every chance I could," he explained. "Each day, I failed, no matter how desperately I asked. Then finally, as though by some miracle, I met a coachman who told me that years ago, he had taken a young woman who looked just as I described from Le Fleur Noir to the Prince's castle. It was a long shot, but I had to take the chance. Lo and behold, I found you."

He reached to take her hands in his, his voice choked with emotion. "And may the Lord be thanked for it. I was so terrified that I would die old and alone, with the agonizing guilt of never being able to see you again, never able to apologize for everything I did to you. I am so, so sorry, ma fille, so very sorry. You can't imagine how much I regret it all."

He waited for a response, but got none. Apparently taking her silence as a negative reaction, Adrien sadly stood up to leave. "I don't know what else I can say to convince you. But I want you to know…that I can now rest peacefully, if not happily, having been given at least the chance to see you. You don't want me here, and I completely understand. I do not deserve your forgiveness."

With those words, he bent down to kiss her cheek, something he had never done, not even when Babette was little…something that she, as a child, had always wished for. A tiny moment of true affection between father and daughter instead of the uncaring pat on the head that she received. Babette bit her lip uncertainly. She could not shake her ill feelings so easily…but at the same time, she did not want to let any opportunity pass her by. Was it really true? Was she finally going to have the loving father she'd longed for all her life?

"Wait," she called, as he was leaving. She stood to find him at the door, waiting for her to speak. "Perhaps…you could stay here for a few days, at least to rest. It is not an easy trip from Paris to here. There are many unused rooms here; I am sure it would not be a problem for you to stay in one of them."

Adrien's eyes lit up, as thought he had been given a wonderful, unexpected present. He laughed gently, another thing she had never seen him do before. "I will most definitely take what I can get, especially if it means making up for lost time."

Babette nodded slowly. "I have work to do right now, but I will help you settle in first. Dinner is in the servants' quarters around seven o'clock, once the master and mistress have finished eating. I would…like for you to join me."

"I myself would love that, very much," he agreed with a smile. "And I really do appreciate the second chance."

"We shall see about that," Babette concluded. "For now, follow me."

ooo

Over the next few days, Babette slowly found her suspicions melting away, and her hopes soared. She had to admit that she was actually enjoying Adrien's company. He was warm, kind, loving, interested in hearing all about her, wanting to make up for lost time…everything that she had dreamed of as a lonely child, but thought she would never have.

"I did not know what to believe at first," she explained to Belle, who had invited Babette on her daily walk with Alexandre. "But when I start to scold myself for trusting him, he pleasantly surprises me somehow: a word, an action, something that is nothing like what I would expect from him. I do not know what it is, but that is certainly not the man that I knew as a child."

"That is so good to hear!" Belle said, truly happy for her friend. "I have to say, you do seem a lot happier lately, which is a wonderful thing."

Babette laughed. "Because I feel happier. It is as though this is a sign that things really will be well in the end. I love everyone here, as they are very much my family. But now – oh, now is even more glorious, making amends with the last remaining true family I have left! Life just feels so…complete."

"And it will only get better, I'm sure!" Belle agreed wholeheartedly.

ooo

Meanwhile, watching from the window above, Adrien smirked at the sight. When two women talked together, they could go on for hours, and he doubted his daughter was any different. Perfect – just enough time to get a closer look at this promisingly rich castle without having to put on a loving smile for her benefit.

Silently, he opened the door and looked out into the hallway. Good, no one in sight nearby. Closing the door behind him, he began to explore, casually at first, very much the vision of a curious guest intrigued by his surroundings.

No one appeared, and soon he grew bolder. He could not suppress a grin of victory as he cautiously went from room to room, combing through every drawer, box and nook he could find and mentally noting what could be valuable and not missed. There had to be something in this place that could pay off every debt he still owed this late in his life, and make a profit besides!

And of all people, he had his daughter to thank for it. Having heard from sources still lurking around Le Fleur Noir about Babette's raised station in life, working for the prince and princess themselves, Adrien knew that there would be something in it for him. Thankfully, Babette had inherited Celie's naïve and trusting nature, taking him in after a few promising words, and here he was, amidst a gold mine of possibilities! Who would have thought after all these years, his biggest mistake would truly be worth something?

As the servants then began to fill the halls for work, Adrien ceased his efforts. Better to lay low, not seem too interested. After all, he had found enough of what he was looking for. All he needed now was to watch and wait for the perfect opportunity to follow through with his plan.

ooo

Babette smiled as she brought two lunch plates to the servants' quarters, seeing Adrien waiting there for her.

"As always, the finest dishes that France has to offer," she said, taking a seat.

Adrien grinned, immediately digging right in. "Absolutely! My compliments to the staff; this is much better than anything I've had in years."

"It is all in the planning," Babette explained. "Even when he is away, Lumière, the maitre d', sees to it that everything is perfectly planned out, not only for the master and mistress, but something for us as well. He is a culinary genius."

Adrien raised a teasing eyebrow. "You've talked so highly of him for the past few nights," he said curiously. "Is he someone I should know more about?"

Babette laughed gently. "Maybe," she said sweetly. "With any good luck…you could be gaining a son very soon."

"Ah, so that's it then!" he replied, smiling. "In that case, I will certainly stay as long as I must to be here the moment he gets back. I want to be absolutely sure that he is perfect for my only child."

Babette smiled hopefully. "You…really intend to stay longer?"

"Of course, as long as you'll have me," Adrien said, reaching to cover her hand with promise. "I didn't come all this way for nothing, silly girl! Besides, I haven't seen enough of you as I hoped I would, but that is understandable with your working so hard."

Babette offered a guilty half-smile. "I know, it is not easy," she said.

"Well, you can take a small break right now, can't you?" he asked. "I wander around this place all day, but I would love it if I could get the true tour from my little girl."

Babette thought it over for a moment. This was the only time that Cogsworth willingly permitted the servants any time to rest; maybe a small tour was not such a bad idea.

"Très bien," she agreed giddily, taking his hand as he finished his meal. "A tour, it is! Come on!"

For the rest of the afternoon, Babette showed him around, trying to remember little details that Cogsworth went on about to appear as knowledgeable as possible. Adrien nodded at each sight and marveled, quite impressed, praising her and telling her how much of a proud father he was. Babette, always one to love attention, basked happily in the glory.

Upon reaching the West Wing corridor, however, Adrien looked puzzled when they did not enter a pair of doors at the end of the hallway.

"Wait, we skipped that room," he laughed, slipping away to go back to them. "What's in there?"

"We can not go in there," Babette explained, following him. "Those are the Prince and Princess' personal rooms. No one is allowed inside without permission, not even the servants."

Adrien's eyes lit up. "Ah, the Prince and Princess' own private chambers, eh?" he mused, almost to himself. "I can understand them not wanting visitors in there." Looking at Babette playfully, he whispered, "Come now, one little peek!"

Babette smiled, but shook her head. "Non, we can not."

Adrien pouted teasingly, but seeing her so steadfast in her decision, he grinned. "Oh, all right. I guess you didn't succeed here by breaking the rules."

The clock tolled the next hour.

"And one of those being that you keep at your work without me to distract you," he said with a forlorn smile. "I have seen enough for now, and don't want to get you in trouble."

Babette grinned. "We could always continue later on."

"I would love that," Adrien replied, pulling her into a hug. "Merci, ma fille, for a wonderful afternoon. I'm so proud of you."

Babette tightened her hold. "I am always happy to hear you say that. Je t'aime Papa…"

ooo

"Babette! Where are you? I need to speak with you!"

Babette looked up from where she was polishing a small set of statues from the mantle in the main sitting room. "In here, Cogsworth!" she called, as the man himself appeared in the doorway seconds later.

"Oh thank goodness!" he said breathlessly, walking towards her. "Important…important problem…asked everyone…I think I should sit."

"Oui, you should," she said, gesturing to a chair. "Now, take a deep breath, and tell me what is wrong."

Cogsworth did as she suggested before he spoke again. "Did you do any cleaning in the West Wing today? While the mistress was taking the young master for their usual walk around the grounds?"

"Non, it was not my day to do so," she replied. "Why, what has happened?"

"A few select items are missing," he said. "The mistress' locket that belonged to her mother, as well as some of her other jewelry pieces, and the master's gold watch, the priceless one that has been in his family for years."

Seeing the look of horror on her face, he quickly added, "Not to imply that you took them, of course. I simply wish to know if you saw them, possibly while you were cleaning, but if you were not in the West Wing, then I suppose not. I just have to find them!"

"I will help you look, I promise," Babette replied. "Just relax and keep searching, all right?"

"Right, thank you; remember, should you find them, bring them to me immediately!" he said, practically jumping from the chair to continue his frantic search.

Babette bit her lip nervously. Everyone in the castle knew better than to attempt theft, especially with someone in charge like Cogsworth, who noticed everything that was out of place. It seemed far too coincidental that so soon after Adrien had appeared, such valuable things had suddenly vanished. She did not want to believe it, not now when things were getting better between them, but what other explanation was there? He had mentioned in passing a few times that he was not doing well financially…but then he had never asked her for any money. On the other hand, that would have given away any act he was pulling, and therefore stealing would be easier…

Attempting to be rational, she decided not to jump to conclusions yet. Adrien was having lunch in the servants' quarters, she knew. For everyone's sanity, she headed towards her room where all she would have to do is check his bag and prove to herself that he was innocent. That was all, not a big deal. She would simply check, no harm in that.

At the door, she halted, grasping the doorknob firmly in her hand, afraid to turn it. What if…what if she did find the items in his bag? What would she do then? She took her hand away momentarily. Everything was going so well, and she did not want to see it all ruined…

No, she had to look. Whether she found the items or not, it was the right thing to do. Hastily, she grabbed the knob again and turned it, listening as the door creaked open.

Babette stared at the bag for a long while before she found all the courage she needed to actually go near it, let alone touch it. Taking a deep breath, she knelt down beside it. Opening it swiftly, she sifted through his clothes…when her hand hit upon something hard, making a clinking sound as she felt around it. She felt her throat constrict, making it hard for her to swallow or breathe, as she pulled out a smaller, wrapped bundle.

Her cheeks were wet, her heart pounding furiously, and she had not even opened the bundle yet. It was not true; he was innocent as long as she did not open the bundle. Her hand shook violently as she unwrapped it, finding everything Cogsworth had described: the watch, the jewelry. Placing them gently on the floor, she covered her face in her hands, praying that she would just wake up, that this betrayal was all a nightmare…

"What are you doing?"

At first, Babette startled, having not heard anyone enter the room, but her eyes narrowed angrily on Adrien as she saw him in the doorway.

"What…am I doing?" she asked, her voice quiet and threatening. "What are you doing with these in your bag?" She held up the items for him to see. "What possessed you to do such a thing? I should call Cogsworth at once!"

Adrien looked taken aback for a moment. Then he smiled ingratiatingly, spreading his hands wide. "Babette, ma fille, don't overreact. It's merely a trifle! You know my finances are…not in a good state. The truth is, my sweet, I'm in serious trouble. I'll be sent to debtor's prison if I don't pay up soon! I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't in dire need, believe me. And the prince and princess are so wealthy – they'll never even miss these few little knick-knacks." His smile widened as he reached out and stroked her hair. "You wouldn't want to get your own dear father in trouble, would you? Now that we've finally found each other, after so long?"

Babette hesitated. Adrien, still smiling, reached out for the bag. "Now, just be a good girl and give that to me…"

Babette immediately took a step back, holding it out of his reach. "No," she said firmly, her voice cold.

Adrien's smile vanished. His expression hardened. "Give me that bag. Now."

"Non." Seeing him reach for her, she added, "If you even try to touch me, I swear to God, I will scream."

Adrien stopped dead in his tracks. "Babette, do not be foolish!"

"I already was the day I let you stay here!" she snarled. "I trusted you; I really thought that you wanted to make peace between us, to be the only real family I have left! But you lied to me! Everything you said was a complete lie!"

"Stop acting like a martyr!" he countered, dropping the act. "You are no better than your mother! She was always whining and pestering me when she didn't get her way, always turning on the tears to get me to do what she wanted! Good for nothing except in bed, and even there, she was stupid enough to get pregnant!"

"You bastard!" she cried irately, not even taking into consideration that Adrien was much stronger than she was as she threw the bag on the bed and lunged at his throat. He easily pried her strangle hold off him, but she relentlessly threw both her fists at him. "She loved you! Despite everything, she absolutely loved you until the day she died! But you never even gave her the time of day she deserved!"

Adrien grasped her wrists, so tightly that Babette cringed painfully. "Because she didn't deserve anything! I did her a favor by showing up every now and then, making it look like she still had a bit of decency left in her!"

"And then you ravaged her every chance you had, you son of a whore!"

"You should know, being the daughter of one," Adrien growled, shoving her roughly to the ground. "I knew it wasn't worth the trouble finding you."

Grabbing his bag, he quickly raced for the hallway. Babette rose to her feet, running after him as she screamed for someone to stop him. Two footmen nearby leapt at him, tackling him to the ground, as most of the house came running. Belle appeared, hearing the commotion. Seeing Babette's tear-stained face, she ran to Babette's side, while Cogsworth made his way towards the footmen handling Adrien.

"What is going on in here?" Cogsworth shouted.

Babette glared at Adrien accusingly. "Search his bag, and you will have found your thief."

One of the footmen handed it to Cogsworth, who gaped at everything he found inside. "Sir, what is the meaning of this?" he shouted. "Do you realize whose property you dared to pilfer?" He turned to the footmen. "Lock this man in the tower. He shall be dealt with properly when the master returns."

Adrien fought against his captors, before he turned his gaze on Babette. "Say something, won't you? Not even you would let this happen to your own father!"

Babette glared at him coldly. "I do not have a father; I never did. You said so yourself, when you abandoned me."

Once Adrien was out of sight, Cogsworth moved to her other side. "You made the right decision, thank you," he said encouragingly.

"Non…"

Belle touched her shoulder consolingly. "He's right, it was very brave of – "

"I do not care! Just leave me alone!"

Babette tore herself away, running as fast as she could. She could not stay there, nor could she go back to her room. Both places were still too painful. The only other place she could go, the one door that was always open to her was Lumière's room. Slamming the door shut, she threw herself onto the bed, pulling a pillow close and crying into it.

If there was anything she should have learned in her life, it was that trusting men was a mistake, and Adrien was the most dishonest man she had ever known. She was the only one at fault here for actually giving him a second chance, believing in his false flattery and charm. She should have known better. Every night since he had abandoned her, a small part of her had hoped that he would come back, but knew deep down that if he ever did that it would be best to turn him away.

Curling up like a child, Babette cried herself to sleep.

ooo

The weary travelers returned later that night. Lumière automatically went to help carry his master's bags, but Vincent stopped him.

"Lumière, go rest," he said. "I can get help here."

"Master, it is not any trouble," Lumière replied. "You know as well as I that being a servant comes first."

"Yes, and you have been that, as well as a far greater friend on this trip," Vincent countered. "You deserve a rest." He paused, grinning with a mixture of teasing and compassion. "Besides, I have taken you away from Babette long enough. Go to her."

Lumière beamed at the thought. Graciously saying goodnight, he took his own belongings and raced up the stairs to his room. Once he put down his bags and closed the door, he lit the candle on a bedside table, unexpectedly finding Babette sleeping in his bed. Smiling gently, he kicked off his shoes and hung up his coat before sitting on the bed's edge, gazing at her.

Feeling his movement, Babette stirred slightly, blinking a bit as she awoke.

"I wish I could say bon matin, but there are still many hours before the sun rises," Lumière whispered.

Babette looked at him, wide-eyed as her focus finally settled into place, and she bolted upward to embrace him. "Lumière, mon Dieu, you are back!" she exclaimed, paying little heed to volume.

Lumière laughed softly. "Missed me that – ?"

He did not even make it to the last word as Babette's mouth covered his with a kiss of such urgency and passion that Lumière was taken aback at first. However, never one to complain, his own passion rose to meet what seemed a new challenge.

But when he felt her snake her hands between them, quickly undoing the buttons on his vest and then his shirt, he tried to slow her down.

"Babette," he gasped, muffled against her lips that would not release him. "Wait…too fast…take it easy…"

She did not listen, pushing both garments aside, expertly stroking his bared shoulders and chest. Slipping out of her dress and camisole, she gathered his hands, encouraging him to do the same to her.

"Hold me…touch me," she murmured unrelentingly.

Lumière swallowed, his breathing already uneven, but he pulled back, gripping the sheets to restrain himself. Something did not feel right. This was not like her at all. Normally, she was so playful and flirtatious, teasing him, savoring each moment. This time, there was a sense of desperation and forcefulness that made him concerned.

"Babette, please," he said firmly, turning away from her. If he did not look at her, then he would not lose control. "What is this? What is wrong?"

But Babette was just as determined as he was. Fully disrobing, she crawled up from behind, wrapping her arms around him.

"Nothing is wrong," she whispered, her warm breath blowing in his ear. Moving around him to sit in his lap, pressing herself against him, she held his gaze intensely. "Tell me…"

Lumière could not hold back a strangled moan. All questions, doubts, and reasoning were gone. When he could, he would ask her again, but for now, he was all hers.

"Anything, ma plumette," he gasped.

"Tell me that you love me…"

"You know I do; more than anything in the world."

Sliding back to the head of the bed with him in tow, Babette made herself comfortable against the pillows, taking a deep breath. "Then come here and show me how much," she murmured.

Babette held him tightly to her as he willingly obeyed. Lumière was a passionate, ardent lover, and yet always caring and gentle. Right now, that was exactly what she needed. Warm in his loving embrace, she pushed aside thoughts of the crushing deceit and betrayal that Adrien, her own father, had given her in this horrible past week, and the empty promises of men that he had brought upon her by sending her to Le Fleur Noir. Lumière was home, and she was safe.

Hours later, when their energy was spent, Lumière collapsed, breathing heavily as Babette snuggled close beside him. He wrapped his arm around her lovingly, kissing her soft, dark hair before interlocking her fingers with his free hand and lavishing his kisses there.

"I missed you so much," Babette whispered. "The week was unbearable without you."

With his mind returned to reality, Lumière decided to try his questioning again. "So I gathered," he said. "But what happened to make it so terrible?"

"I am never happy when you are gone."

"Besides that," Lumière insisted, which made her grow silent. "Something is…not quite right, mon amour. Talk to me, tell me what it is."

"Really, it was nothing." But when he looked at her, unconvinced, Babette sighed defeated. "My…my father was here. He arrived the day after you left."

Lumière looked at her, shocked. "Your father? What did he want? Why did you not send for me?" he asked, his strong protective nature taking over. Babette had briefly told him early on about her father, and at least knowing what kind of man he was, Lumière regretted not being there with her.

Tears once again took hold of Babette for the millionth time that day, and she scolded herself for showing such weakness. "He tricked me into letting him stay here when all he wanted was something valuable to make money off of," she sobbed. "He said he wanted to make up for everything he had ever done, acted as though he truly cared…and I believed him! I was really stupid enough to believe him!"

"Shh, no, stop that nonsense now," Lumière crooned tenderly. "It was his fault for being so heartless, not yours. It is too fortunate for him that I was not here; he would not have left the castle alive!"

Babette held onto him tightly, gasping a bit for air between sobs. "Lumière, tell me that you love me, please?" she begged, looking at him with the eyes of a child after a wretched, vivid nightmare. "You love me, and you always will, tell me!"

Lumière sat up with her, gently gripping her face in his hands. "Of everything I hold dearest in my heart, Babette, you know you come first. I love you so much that are no words strong enough to describe it. Look at all we have been through together. Not once have I left you, and I never will. I love you, worship and adore you, no matter what, comprends?"

Babette smiled gently, nodding.

"Ah there it is, that gorgeous smile," he said, stroking a finger over her lips. "How could anyone not like it? In this case, very appropriately, it is like the sun shining through the storm, so warm and beautiful. Never seen another like it." He paused to wrap her in his arms, drawing her back to loving comfort against the pillows. "Come here, ma plumette; get some sleep. I will not let anything hurt you again."

Babette followed his lead, yawning gently as he drew a blanket around him. But she needed nothing more than his embrace to be happy. Lumière, her wonderful, beloved Lumière…he loved her, just the way she was, and he always would.