"Thank heavens we're home!" Cogsworth proclaimed loudly, jumping down from the carriage and heading inside. "One more day of traveling and I would go mad!"
Lumière was far too happy to pay attention to Cogsworth's grumbling. He helped Babette climb down, gathered their bags, and immediately drew her close with his free arm. "It is good to have you back, chérie."
She tried to smile back, but her nervousness grew stronger with every step closer to the castle. Lumière sensed her tension and rubbed her shoulder, but not even his presence could relax her. The fact was that as a servant, Babette had abandoned the castle. She did not know how the master and mistress would respond to her coming home, and it frightened her.
When they stepped inside the foyer, Babette looked around the room for anyone, but thankfully it was vacant. Lumière tightened his hold, whispering, "Relax, do not be so afraid."
Babette nodded, unconvinced.
"Now, just wait here," Lumière said. "I will be right back."
"Where are you going?" Babette asked, reaching to grip his hand. "Do not leave me here alone. What will I say if someone sees me?"
"Hush, ma plumette," he replied soothingly. "Cogsworth and I have to inform the master that all of us are home. I am sure that both he and the mistress will be more than happy to see you."
"That is what I am afraid of," Babette said anxiously. "That they will not be."
"Babette, they were just as worried as anyone else," Lumière reassured her. "The day we discovered that you were gone, we immediately went out to search. The master even ordered the guards out to be sure we would find you."
Babette remembered that first morning in the cave, terrified of being found by the three men and dragged home. But if it was merely out of concern…maybe today would be all right.
She nodded again, feeling a bit better. "Très bien, just hurry back."
"As fast as my feet can carry me," he promised, kissing her softly. She was home again, and he intended to do everything he could to make up for lost time. Murmuring against her lips, he added, "Je t'aime."
"Mmm, à tout jamais," she replied, whimpering playfully when he pulled away.
When Lumière looked back before going down the hall, she blew one more kiss to him, laughing at both Cogsworth having to drag him away and at herself for acting like such a little girl in love. But aside from nerves, she was thrilled to be at her lover's side again. Gathering her satchel, she tried to move to a corner to avoid being seen, but her attempt failed.
"Babette!" a little boy's voice cried from the stairwell. "You're back!"
Babette turned to see Chip racing towards her, his short stature only allowing him to hug her tightly around her skirts. So much for wanting to keep things quiet, she thought with a laugh as she slowly knelt down to hug him.
"With a welcome like that, maybe I should go away more!" she said.
The little boy shook his head, a big smile on his face. "No, don't leave again! You just got back!"
"Très bien, petit, I will not leave any time soon," she promised. With a wink, she added quietly, "Besides, someone has to be here helping you sneak sweets out of the kitchen, oui?"
Chip grinned proudly, taking a wrapped bundle from his pocket to show her a tiny cake. "Yep, got this one right after Chef baked them," he whispered. Holding it out to her, he offered, "Here, you can have it. A welcome home present!"
"Oh merci, I am starving!" she said gratefully. She broke it in half, handing him a piece and taking a bite of her own. "There you go, payment for my partner in kitchen crime."
"Thanks!" he cried, eating it quickly before someone could see him.
Babette stood up, feeling uncomfortable on the ground, and it did not take long before the boy noticed her middle, looking at her strangely. She smiled gently at his innocent torn expression, as though he was wondering if he should ask. Well, everyone is going to find out soon enough, she decided.
"Want to know a secret?" she asked, heavily emphasizing the conspiracy in her tone. He nodded adamantly, thrilled as any child would be to know an important-sounding secret. "Well," she continued, "very soon…you will have a new friend to play with."
Chip's eyes went wide. Belle's belly had looked the same way before Alexandre was born! "You're having a baby?" She nodded, and he hugged her again gently. "That's great news!" When he pulled away, his face twisted into childlike thought again. "Babette, can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"How'd it get in there?"
Babette paused for only a second before she answered, "Ask your mother."
"I already did before Alexandre came," he said, not missing a beat. "She said she'd tell me when I got older. I'm older now!"
Babette shook her head, as though forlorn. "Alas, still not old enough yet, sorry."
Chip frowned, but brightened again with another question. "Do you know what it is? A boy or girl?"
Babette let out a subtle sigh of relief; that one she could answer. "Unfortunately no, petit, we will not know until the baby comes. It has to be a surprise."
Chip nodded decisively. "Surprises are fun; just tell me when it gets here."
"I most certainly will; you have my word," Babette swore, kissing his cheek and laughing when he wiped it off, still at the age when the worst thing in the world were girls' kisses. She offered her hand. "Come on, let us see if there are more desserts to 'test' in the kitchen."
The two walked hand-in-hand to their destination. If there was any place Babette would want to see people, it was there. Mrs. Potts was sure to be helping with the approaching lunchtime, and Babette really wanted to see a kind friend.
Sure enough, there she was with many others on the kitchen staff, when Chip announced, "Everybody, Babette's back!"
Mrs. Potts looked up, prepared to warn her son about making up stories, but she stopped in shock as Babette stepped forward.
"Oh, my goodness, thank the Lord!" Mrs. Potts cried, embracing the younger woman joyously. "We thought we'd lost you! Where have you been?"
"I swear, we shall talk about that later," Babette replied, now not being the time to discuss her whereabouts. "But I am glad to be home…" She smiled and gestured self-consciously at her middle. "Both of us are."
Mrs. Potts gasped, her gaze following where Babette gestured. "You…Lumière…?"
Babette nodded as more friends gathered around to hear the news. "Oui, three more months!"
"Oh, dear, such exciting news!" Mrs. Potts exclaimed, hugging her again. "I'm so happy to hear it!"
Across the room, Avril had heard the commotion and was watching curiously. This must be the famous Babette, she realized. Her thoughts were confirmed as Lumière entered the room with the master and mistress. "Babette!" cried the princess immediately rushing up to her and giving her a hug.
"Never leave us without a word again. That's an order!" Belle said, grinning in relief to see her home.
Lumière practically glowed with affection, reaching for Babette's hand and linking her arm through his as they stood before the royals. "I have every intention to see that she follows that order, your highness," he said, gazing at his lady. He turned to them, a playful seriousness about him. "To help keep my word, I ask formally and properly for your highness' permission to take her hand in marriage."
Vincent and Belle glanced at one another in the same manner as Lumière.
"Do you really love her?" the prince asked.
Lumière looked at Babette again, not taking his eyes away even as he lifted her hand to his lips. "With all my heart."
"And you love him just as much?" Belle asked Babette.
She in turn kept her eyes solely on Lumière. "Very much so, if not more."
"Then I have no choice," Vincent said. "To not grant such an honest request would just be inhumane." Smiling at his friends sincerely, he nodded. "You have our permission, as well as our wishes for all the happiness in the world."
Lumière and Babette beamed with utmost gratitude, thanking them both before Lumière drew his lady close to him for an irresistible kiss. Many in the room cheered and whistled in friendly jest, and others continued the well wishes once they broke apart.
Avril kept to herself, though she found that she was not as upset as she would have expected. She had seen Lumière in his worst times, missing this woman that he clearly loved with every ounce of his being. As his friend, she couldn't help being glad to see him so happy, although part of her couldn't help wishing that someday a man would look at her the same way.
Unfortunately, he caught sight of her watching, and she instantly averted her eyes. Surely Babette would not be happy if he had to explain who Avril was. It was best not to speak to him right now.
"Are you all right?"
Avril gasped, looking up to find Lumière standing next to her while Babette was distracted amongst their friends.
"I'm fine really," she said sincerely. "Congratulations!"
"Merci, mon amie," Lumière replied.
They fell into an awkward silence for a moment, neither noticing that Babette had caught sight of them, watching closely.
"Getting engaged and finding out you're going to be a father in the same trip," Avril offered, leaning back against the wall with a nod. "You must be in heaven!"
Lumière nodded slowly, still not entirely comfortable with her tone, even though it was pleasant. "I am, indeed."
Avril put her hand on his arm. "Lumière, I'm serious. I have no regrets, and neither should you. I mean it. You truly deserve all the happiness I see in your eyes."
Lumière smiled genuinely. "You really are a good woman, Avril. Again, merci." He smirked, trying to ease his tension. "Now, before I left, I meant to ask…what is going on with Guillaume, the houseboy?"
Avril stared at him, confused. "What?"
"I could swear that I have heard that the boy is constantly asking about you!" Lumière laughed quietly. "Poor thing, he looks quite the lovesick puppy whenever you walk into the room."
"Lumière!" Avril hissed, smacking him playfully. "I swear, the things you say!"
He grew sincere after a hearty chuckle. "Well, should you ever consider, I say put him out of his misery and talk to him. He is a bit of a…'bootlicker,' I believe Cogsworth has called him, when it comes to the master and mistress. But overall he is a fine young man." He winked subtly. "Never know what could happen!"
Avril smiled. "Well, we'll see. In the meantime, I have to help with lunch. Go to your lady!"
"Oui, mademoiselle!" Lumière replied, standing at his full height and saluting teasingly, but he unquestioningly obeyed.
Babette quickly looked away as he made his way back towards her, not wanting him to catch her watching. For a split second, the sharp pain of jealousy had struck her hard. She could not help it; it was second nature to her. But remembering their argument a few days earlier, she was willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. Yes, he and this girl had been talking, a very friendly conversation, but there really did not seem to be anything to threaten her, no flirtatious nature about it.
When he was at her side again, Babette excused herself from the group, asking him to take her upstairs to rest. Out of earshot of others, she spoke up.
"She is very pretty," she said.
"She?"
"That was the girl you were with when I was gone, non?"
Lumière halted in place, gulping nervously. Not now, not when things were going so well!
"I…never said that I did see a woman."
"You did not have to." As he stuttered for an answer, Babette placed a finger on his lips. "Lumière, just tell me the truth."
Lumière swallowed again. "We…did have a small liaison, but it meant nothing. It went no further than a kiss and going to the Christmas party, I swear it."
Babette lowered her eyes, biting her lip. Her instinct was strong. She could not easily shake the feeling of jealousy as well as a bit of disappointment. It was a difficult habit to break. But unlike before, she remembered everything they had argued about, and more importantly, everything that he had gone through for her.
Guilt gradually overpowered jealousy, and Babette looked up at him again. Soon, they would be married, and it was time for a change all around, including in herself.
"I understand," she murmured.
Lumière looked at her, puzzled but hopeful. "Then…you are not angry?"
Babette held his hands in hers. "Lumière, it was not as though I was here, you saw her, and decided to dally with her on the side. For all you knew, I was gone, no good-bye, no word of where I was going, and that I had no intention of coming back. I never should have done that to you, mon cher, and I am very lucky that you took me back after how much I must have betrayed you…"
"Chérie, non," Lumière interrupted. "Oui, it hurt deeply, but I felt…more lost and alone than anything else. You are my life, the reason I wake up in the morning. Without you, I could not go on. Then Avril came along, and I was so lonely, so desperate…I thought maybe, somehow, I could love again. But all I could think about was you. I did not want anyone but you."
"I know," Babette whispered, tightening her arms around his neck. "I can not honestly say that I am happy, but I can not blame you for wanting to move on with your life." She looked at him, serious. "You are giving me what I want, and I can do the same for you. All you asked is that I trust you. Part of marriage is honesty and confidence. It is the least I can do after all you did for me."
Lumière smiled, relieved. "Merci, amour," he said, kissing her forehead. "Truly, I mean it."
Babette embraced him again, but she smirked when he could not see her. "But if anything else happens between you two now that I am back," she continued, lightening the mood, "I will not be responsible for the extreme actions an expectant woman can take."
Lumière pulled back, indignant, but she merely laughed and drew him in for a kiss. Never one to argue with that, he melted against her, all the more grateful to have her home.
ooo
For the next few weeks, plans for the wedding had gone without a hitch, and today - the day before the big event - the final preparations would settle into place.
When the last lunch plate was in the kitchen, Lumière went to look for Babette. From all accounts, she had last been seen going upstairs to rest, not looking too happy. Thanking each of his witnesses, Lumière headed straight up to their room with a smile on his face. Pregnancy was beginning to take its toll on Babette, and his poor, normally energetic ladylove was slowing down by the day, much to her dismay.
When he reached for the doorknob, a thud came from inside, and he waited for a pause before entering. A book slid away with the opening door, and Lumière grinned subtly. With Babette doing less work, Belle had offered to spend some time with her. Reluctantly, Babette had agreed to the princess' offer to help with reading. Apparently, it was not going well.
"Is this cruel book bothering you, amour?" Lumière asked, picking it up and bringing it with him to the bed.
Babette took a deep breath, pushing a strand of hair out of her face. "That is not funny," she grumbled. "While I appreciate the company, reading is a lost cause for me."
Lumière raised an eyebrow, still persistent to get a smile from her. "You do not…miss working constantly, do you?" he teased.
"The break is nice," Babette sighed. "But…I do not know if I can take two more months of this."
Lumière cuddled up next to her. "It will be fine," he said soothingly. Conspiratorially, he laughed, "Look at it this way. Cogsworth can not get mad at you anymore for not working as often."
Babette looked at him, mockingly fearful and desperate to feel better. "I am starting to miss that."
Lumière gasped, touching her forehead. "Mon Dieu, you must have a fever then, ma pauvre chérie!" He kissed her, happy to see her beautiful lips curve into a grin as they laughed. "Well, hopefully I can make you feel completely better when I say that everything is going marvelously."
"Really? Tell me."
Lumière nodded. "Absolument. Mrs. Potts finished fixing your best dress this morning. She has been so hard at work on it. Chef will have the croquembouche ready in plenty of time." He felt around his vest, searching for something. "All that leaves…is your ring. I am going to need it for tomorrow. Did you find it for me?"
Babette went completely pale. He had asked her for the ring shortly after they returned home. She had warded him off with a false promise that she surely had it in her satchel, and that she would give it to him as soon as possible. But there was no longer any time to avoid the question.
She bit her lip nervously. "Lumière…the ring…"
Lumière allowed her a moment when she stalled before he prodded, "The ring…?"
"The ring is…gone."
He grew puzzled and concerned. "Gone? What do you mean?"
Babette swallowed. Why did she have to be so foolish months ago? "I-I sold it."
"You…sold it?" Lumière asked slowly, more confusion creeping into his eyes. "As in, you no longer have it?"
"I am so sorry!" Babette cried, grasping his hand tightly. "I did not mean to!"
"How could this be…?"
"I never wanted to, but I was not thinking clearly," Babette insisted. "I just…never thought I would be coming back, and I had to think of the baby…"
Lumière reached into his vest pocket, producing a tiny box. "How could this be," he went on matter-of-factly, "if I have it right here?"
Now it was Babette's turn to be confused, but she gasped happily when he opened the box to show her the exact ring in question.
"This is…you…how did you…?" she stammered, happily surprised. It was even more beautiful than before, polished and shined to perfection as though it were brand new.
Lumière grinned. "You are a terrible liar, ma chérie. I noticed the day we left Le Fleur Noir that it was gone. There was only one jeweler nearby, and as luck would have it, voila!" he said, gesturing to the ring. "With a little persuasion, I was able to get it back, and get this as well." He took the ring from the box, revealing that it was on a chain. "I would much rather wait until tomorrow to see it grace your hand again, and we can not have it wandering away again."
Babette smiled gratefully, turning around and pulling her hair forward as he clasped it around her neck. "This is a very good idea actually," she said, getting a little quiet. "Who knows how much longer it will fit properly?"
Lumière slid his arms around her waist, drawing her back against him and kissing her shoulder. "Now, none of that!" he admonished. "You, ma papillion, are as stunning as always, and getting more so by the day."
"Do not lie," she replied, moping.
Lumière nuzzled her neck. "Never," he promised, his hands beginning to explore. "You are always beautiful, but now…oh, now there is more to love." He leaned close to her ear, whispering, "And tomorrow night, I most certainly will."
Her skin was tingling under his touch, and Babette writhed delightedly. Holding his hands in place when he did something she enjoyed, she gasped, "Remind me why we are waiting again?"
Lumière pried himself away before he was incapable of stopping. He had sworn to himself and Babette that he was going to do this like a gentleman, abstaining from intimacy until their wedding night. But as impatience mounted for both of them, he needed a good self-reminder.
"Because I have every intention to follow through with my promise," he said. "This will not be just any ordinary night. I want it to be special and unforgettable, the most perfect and romantic ever. After all, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder.'"
Babette shifted to face him, her lips seeking his. "My heart is fond enough," she purred. "Oh, Lumière, please, I miss you…all of you."
Lumière surrendered to one kiss, but forced himself to break away. "Ma plumette," he said pleadingly. "I want to keep my word. Just one more day."
Thankfully, sounds from downstairs in the foyer gave him good reason to stop. Lumière excused himself quickly, moving into the hallway to listen, and then came back into the room, a broad grin about his face.
"Are you up to any more surprises?" he asked.
Babette raised a curious eyebrow, but happily accepted his hands when he held them out to her. "What are you up to now?"
"You will just have to come with me and find out," he replied, walking with her downstairs.
But before they reached the foyer, a loud female voice carried through the halls.
"All this for a married royal couple and a baby? It'd take months to walk through this place!"
Sure enough, waiting in the gigantic entrance hall were none other than Odette and Aubrey. Babette smiled gleefully, having convinced herself that after so long, her friends would not be there in time.
"Then you'd better start walking now!" she countered, moving as quickly as she could to meet them halfway. "Dieu merci, I thought you would never make it!"
"Immoral, we may be," Odette replied, teasingly philosophic, "but nonetheless, we're always true to our word. You really thought we wouldn't get here somehow?"
"A little credit has to go to your man over there," Aubrey admitted. "Sent the carriage perfectly on schedule and everything."
Babette turned back to Lumière, scolding, "I asked you if you sent anyone to get them and you told me 'not yet'!"
"But if I told you the truth, it would not be a surprise, would it?" Lumière replied, unaffected. "Besides, this is not the half of it. You already knew they were coming the day we left the hall."
"True," Babette agreed, thoughtfully. "Then…what else is there?"
"Me, perhaps?" a new voice called.
Babette stood, perfectly still. She knew that voice, though she had not heard it in years. She looked up at Lumière, not daring to hope, but he smiled encouragingly for her to turn around. When she did, the girls had stepped aside, both beaming. Odette felt tears in her eyes already, and Aubrey strived to hide her own for appearance's sake.
Behind them stood four more people, and the older woman came forward. She laughed gently at Babette's apparent shock.
"Remember me?" she asked. "It's been so long, you know."
Babette felt her eyes getting misty. "B-Brielle?"
The woman nodded, her arms outstretched. Babette wasted no time in accepting the unspoken invitation, wrapping her arms around her tightly and crying happily into her friend's shoulder. There was never a denial that all the girls at Le Fleur Noir were her family; she loved them all dearly. But Brielle was her closest, dearest friend. Babette had taken her under her wing the same way Odette and Aubrey had done to her when she arrived. Through the best and worst of times, the girls ran to one another first and foremost.
Babette drew back, choking out a laugh. "This feels like a dream," she gasped, cupping Brielle's face. "You do not know how much I hoped, prayed…"
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Brielle replied, hugging her again. "The girls brought me Lumière's invitation personally the day before we left Paris. You haven't seen last-minute packing until you saw us hurry to be ready by that morning!" She turned and gestured to her family. "We just had to be here to see you join our ranks," she added with a grin.
Babette smiled, wiping her eyes free of tears. "I am happy that you all came," she said. She nodded to the older man, recognizing him clearly as Brielle's husband. "Claude, it is nice to see you again," she said. She added, playfully parental, "It is good to know that you treated her well."
Claude offered that boyish grin of his in return, taking Babette's hand to kiss it respectfully. "I wouldn't dare to do otherwise. Brielle has the finest defense in all of France on her side," he teased. He gazed at Brielle affectionately. "Really, these have been the happiest years of my life, and I wish you the same."
"Merci," Babette replied gratefully before he attention turned to the boy and girl. Both could not be younger than fourteen, she guessed, and her smile broadened.
Brielle confirmed her thoughts. Glowing with motherly pride, she said, "And this beautiful pair are our children, Jean-Luc and Noelle."
Babette tried desperately not to cry again, and thankfully succeeded. After everything that Brielle had gone through, to see that she had a son and daughter made Babette's heart leap for joy. Noelle grinned shyly – very much like her mother, Babette noted – and nodded her head in gratitude. Jean-Luc followed his father's lead, and politely kissed Babette's hand.
"Thank you for having us, madame," he said. "Maman's told us a lot about you."
"All good things, I hope," Babette laughed. "I am honored that all of you came."
When Lumière came to join them, giving Babette's hand a warm squeeze, Brielle said, "This must be the groom himself."
"In person," Lumière answered jovially. "I am delighted to finally meet you."
Babette gazed up at him in adoration. "I could not ask for a more amazing man after all he has done," she murmured.
"Hey, just a minute!" Aubrey said indignantly as she and Odette came forward. "What are we? We actually got them here!"
Lumière laughed. "They certainly did, ma plumette! I could not have done it without them!"
Aubrey smirked proudly. "That's more like it!"
"And such kindness and friendship deserves a reward," Babette added. "It is a long journey and I am sure you could all use some rest. I suggest we find everyone a room."
Odette sighed with dramatic exhaustion. "I thought you'd never think of that! Let's go!"
As their guests headed for the stairs, Babette held Lumière back, kissing him fully.
"Merci, mon amour," she whispered when they broke apart. "You have no idea how happy I am."
"C'est de rien, ma chérie," he replied. "I promised you the best, non?"
"You certainly succeeded, and the ceremony has not even happened yet!"
Lumière pressed a kiss into her palm. "It only gets better from here, I assure you. Now let us get everyone situated, so that you may all relax."
"Gladly," Babette replied, leaning into his arms as they followed the group.