A/N: My gratitude to Ellery for helping to name the newest cameo OCs; thank you!

Chapter Twelve

Babette arose earlier than usual one cold morning. Servant instinct had gradually slipped away over time, and it felt glorious to be able to wake up whenever she pleased. But on some days, her baby had other plans. The morning sickness had ended, but Babette swore that the child was starting to move. It was a small, fluttery movement, hardly anything earth-shatteringly noticeable. But it was happening, and she could not help her excitement.

Rummaging through her drawers, she found one of the new dresses that the girls had bought for her, her old ones having become too tight for comfort. She changed quickly, lazily deciding to leave her hair loose for once, and made her way downstairs, where she was surprised to find Odette and Aubrey in the tiny kitchen, sipping tea.

"You two are up early," Babette commented, getting a glass of water before joining them.

"Call it compassion," Odette teased. "We hear you getting up every morning lately, and feel bad you have no one to sit with." Babette grinned, nodding her thanks. Odette asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Tired, but pleasantly so," Babette replied, beaming. "It is wonderful to have the sickness gone. But now that the baby is moving, I am up all night thinking about it."

"Oh here we go," Aubrey sighed, shaking her head with a smirk. "Four months till the big day, and we're just as impatient as you are," she said, clearly playful. "All the sweetness, it's getting unbearable!"

Babette blushed, lowering her eyes a bit. She knew her friends meant well, loving to poke fun now and then. But sometimes, she wished that she had someone who could truly understand. The hard fact was that a baby was never entirely happy news around the hall. Her friends would always be there for her, she knew. Undoubtedly, they would be happy for her when the baby arrived; after all, something as precious as a newborn child was quite impossible to resist. But still, the truth of the matter was set. Odette and Aubrey would never feel the same way as Mrs. Potts or even Belle could, both being mothers themselves, and Babette found herself missing them dearly.

"It will all be over before we know it," Babette offered with a half-hearted smile. Changing the subject, she went on, "I think I will get out for a while, take a walk, and get some fresh air. It is not as cold today as it has been, and I could stop for things along the way if there is anything we need." Upon receiving their protesting expressions, she quickly added, "Please, one walk will not kill me."

Odette looked wary of the thought. "There are a few things that I was going to pick up today…"

"I could get them."

"Then we'll get a ride for you," Aubrey suggested. "What if you suddenly don't feel well?"

But Babette would hear nothing of it. "Non, you two have done enough for me, more than enough even," she said, adamant refusal in her tone. "A walk will do me good, and I could return so many of the favors that you have done for me."

Odette was still uncertain. "Swear on your life, if you don't feel well, you'll stop whatever you're doing and come right back?"

"I swear it."

"Honest to God, you're to drop everything and come immediately back home?"

Babette groaned, exasperated. "I am not a child; I am only having one! I will not break in half if I step foot outside. But if anything feels wrong, I will come straight back, I promise."

Odette sighed, defeated. "All right, I'll give you some extra money for a coach, just in case," she said.

"Fair enough," Babette agreed.

Once she had a money purse in hand and was bundled up tight (at her friends' annoying insistence), Babette immediately went about her way, grateful to be outside again. Le Fleur Noir could get quite stuffy and hard to bear, and the cool air on her face felt refreshing as she headed down the road into the heart of Paris. Thankfully Odette had given her plenty to do to pass some time: a stop at the seamstress for some mended dresses, another at the market for some food.

By the time she had reached her final stop – old Bijoutier's store to sell some of girls' extra "gems" – Babette began to feel fatigue taking over. Constant lack of sleep, no matter how charming the cause, was not a good thing for her strength.

"Are you all right?" Bijoutier asked while counting the money to give her, a pathetic attempt at concern in his voice.

Babette nodded, a bit wearily. "Oui, monsieur, I will be fine."

But she felt uneasy as she watched him walk around the counter, gazing at her curiously. He handed her the money, but placed his hand too familiarly over hers.

"You could stay a bit in the backroom, I don't mind," he murmured.

Babette swallowed, alarmed about where this was going. "That is very…considerate of you, but non, merci."

She pulled away, but he held his grip, drawing her back to him.

"Come now, just a quick little…rest," he insisted. "Sweet little trick like you could use one." He reached into his pocket, and pressed more money into her hand before his hand moved to her middle and backside. "A little something extra to bring home if you do, just for you, and with a baby on the way, you need it."

Tearing herself away, Babette threw the extra money at him angrily. "The last thing I need is any of the 'hospitality' that you have in mind," she growled. "Good day, monsieur."

Storming out of the store, Babette walked as fast and far away as she could, growing more exhausted all the while. She did not want to go back to the dance hall in this state and give the girls more reason to worry than they'd had before. Babette would never see the light of day again if they thought that they were right. But she could not deny feeling her energy draining either. When she could not walk another step, she looked around desperately for a place to sit. Luckily, she had stopped near a park, and a glorious bench was just waiting for her. Glancing heavenward, she muttered a quick "Merci!" before using whatever she had left inside to continue towards it.

Slumping onto the seat, she looked around the wide-open space to rid her mind of what had happened in the store. The park was the perfect picture of a tolerable winter's day. The weather was not too frigid, the grass was still green, but the trees were bare, waiting for spring to bring life back into them. Then Babette saw a woman approach the bench. She was perhaps a bit younger than Babette but from the look of her middle, vastly farther along in pregnancy.

"May I join you?" the woman asked, offering a hopeful smile.

Babette instantly slid to one side. "But of course, go right ahead," she replied invitingly.

"Oh, merci beaucoup!" the woman sighed gratefully, easing slowly onto the bench. "Not the most comfortable, but I'll take what I can get."

Babette laughed gently. "I totally understand," she said, caressing her middle in explanation. "Though you definitely deserve a place here more than I do."

The woman waved dismissively. "Not at all, when we have to rest, we have to rest," she reassured. "First child?"

Babette nodded. "Is it that obvious?" she asked, grinning. "Desperate to sit when I do not have much to show for myself?"

"Well, it does take some getting used to, oui," the woman said sympathetically. Conspiratorially, she added with a smile, "This is my second, and it still isn't an easy." Babette laughed again, and the woman joined her before offering her hand in introduction. "Emeraude, glad to share a seat with you."

Babette returned the gesture. "Babette, glad to have the company." Hearing a child squealing in the distance, she looked up to find a little girl exploring nearby. "Is that your first?" she asked curiously.

Emeraude smiled, adoringly. "Certainly is, my daughter Vivienne." Seeing the girl about to tackle a small bird that had flown down, she cried, "Vivi! Leave it be!"

Little Vivi looked away long enough for her prey to fly over her head towards a tree. Pointing to it, she called out, "Bird, maman!" She toddled after it as fast as her little feet could carry her, waiting for it to come back. The bird refused to come down, however, and before long, something else had caught Vivi's attention.

Emeraude and Babette shared a grin at the sight.

"How old is she?" Babette asked.

"'Two and a half,' as she will proudly tell you," Emeraude said, amused. "She's quite a handful, as you can see; anything easily fascinates her. But it's just so endearing to watch. It feels like yesterday that I was holding her in my arms every hour of the day, but to see her grow and explore and play…it's quite a feeling." She paused to laugh, blushing slightly. "Dieu, listen to me, I must sound crazy!"

Babette shook her head. "Oh non, not at all!" she insisted. "Please go on. If there is anything wonderful about this, I would love to hear it!"

"Too many horror stories, eh?" Emeraude asked.

Stories, bah, try horror reality, Babette thought, but aloud, she simply said, "Indeed, far too many."

"Something to look forward to, it is!" Emeraude replied. "I'll be perfectly honest: actually bringing the baby into the world…well, that part isn't so delightful."

Babette grimaced at the thought, shifting uncomfortably. "Is it really that bad?"

"I'm afraid so," Emeraude said with a frown. "But believe me, it is all worth it."

"How so, exactly?"

"Well, seeing the baby for the first time, of course," Emeraude laughed before calming into a dreamy smile. "There is no sight in the world more amazing than that. I mean, it's one thing when you're carrying the baby, but it's more of an anticipation still, like you know it's coming but it doesn't feel quite so real yet."

"I know exactly what you mean," Babette agreed. "Like a present, cliché as that sounds."

"That's it," Emeraude said. "Very much so. All this time, you're seeing that unopened gift just sitting there, and you're waiting to unwrap it. When you can, it's…incredible!" She paused again, her smile broadening. "If there's anything I remember from that night, it really wasn't the pain, but when Vivi was put into my arms. Tired as I was, I heard her cry and I had to see her, hold her. Oh, she was so small and beautiful! She snuggled into my arms, her screams quieted, and I just looked at this new…life that was relying on me to love her as much as she loved me. It certainly makes you feel overwhelmed, but absolutely awed."

Babette did not resist the need to smile at the idea. It did sounds absolutely heavenly. Her entire life, all she had ever wholeheartedly wanted was someone to love who could love her as much. Hearing about such an unconditional love and strong bond, remembering how close she was to her mother, made her even more elated and impatient for the day to come.

Any reply that she could give was interrupted as Vivi raced towards them, carrying something in her hand. "Maman! Maman!" she called.

Emeraude's attention immediately turned to her daughter. "What is it, petite?"

Vivi proudly held up her newest discovery: a shiny purplish rock. "Look!" she said, a big smile on her face. "Pretty!"

"Ah, oui, very pretty!" Emeraude agree, examining the rock closely. "We'll bring it home and clean it, make it more pretty, how about that?"

Vivi nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, more pretty!"

"With that in mind, it's almost lunch time; we should be getting home," she told Babette, regret clear in her words. "This was so nice, talking to someone about everything; I hate to see it end."

"Likewise," Babette replied solemnly. "But you are right, I should be heading home. The family is already worried that I went out today."

"Isn't that always the way?" Emeraude laughed. Smiling, she stood up with Babette's help. "It really was nice to meet you. We come by here often if you ever need someone to talk to."

"I would like that," Babette agreed sincerely. "Hopefully we will meet again soon!"

"Absolutely!"

With those parting words, Emeraude and Vivi headed home, leaving Babette feeling better than she had in quite some time as she gathered her things. The burden earlier at the store forgotten and with a renewed spring in her step, she made her way back to Le Fleur Noir.