"If you want to go inside, you have but to ask," Lumière insisted.
Babette rolled her eyes, reminding herself that she was fortunate to have a husband who cared so deeply for her. His apprehension in her final month, however, was grating on her last nerve. It was a glorious spring day with the sun shining and the weather just right. Lumière had promised – reluctantly – that when lunch was over, they could have a picnic outside for a change of scenery. But he would not stop worrying!
"For the last time, mon cher," she said, hungrily starting on an apple, "I am perfectly fine. Even the midwife told you that."
"But she also said that the baby is due in two weeks," Lumière reminded her. "In case it decides to arrive early, I would rather see you nice and cozy in our bed than outdoors on a meager blanket."
Babette sighed, guiding his arms around her as she snuggled back into his embrace. "I prefer that too, but rest assured, I am also very comfortable where I am now."
Lumière smiled, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "I am not going to win, am I?"
"You never do," Babette teased matter-of-factly. "But on to more important things. When will we stop calling our child 'it' or 'the baby'? As you constantly say lately, there is not much time left."
"Well, what names have you come up with?" he asked.
"If it is a girl, Celina – Celie for short – after my mother," Babette suggested. "I have always wanted my first daughter to be her namesake."
Lumière nodded. "That is wonderful idea! After the stories you have told me, she sounded like a wonderful woman."
"She certainly was," Babette said reminiscently.
"Would she have approved of me?" Lumière asked with a smirk.
Babette grinned, reaching back to stroke his cheek. "She would have adored you, faults and everything," she replied with a wink. Returning to the subject, she said, "For a boy, it is a little more difficult." She bit her lip, a little nervous. "But I was thinking…perhaps, Lucien?"
Lumière hesitated. "Well…uh, maybe."
"It was just a thought, considering he is like a brother to you."
Lumière raised an eyebrow. "And at one time, your first serious lover. If Lucien had ultimately severed his engagement to Nicolette, you and I would not be together."
"Oui, but at the same time, he brought us together," Babette countered. "He arranged for me to come here, and then later, he was the one insisting that I give you a chance."
"Touché," he acknowledged. "But what about if it use that as a middle name instead?"
She smiled, teasing, "Let me guess, you want a junior?"
"Dieu, non!" Lumière laughed. "I doubt Cogsworth's sanity could take that. Non, for a boy, just as you wish to name a girl after your mother, I would name a son after my father, Chanlet. We lost my mother when I was a boy, rest her soul." He paused to smile lightheartedly. "And anyone who had to bear the hardships of raising me all by himself deserves this much at least, oui?"
Babette giggled, though she knew the truth. Lumière had been as close to his father as she had been to her mother. Years ago, the day they had received word that Chanlet had died, Lumière was so heartbroken and distraught. It took him days after returning home from the funeral in Paris to be himself again. For Lumière to have his son named after his father would mean the world to him.
Thus with a nod, she said decisively, "Then it is settled. Chanlet, if it is a boy, and Celina, if it is a girl. How does that sound?"
"C'est magnifique," Lumière agreed, adding with a grin, "Perfect, as usual."
"Très bien." Babette glanced coyly up at him. "Now, I saw you sneak some of that delicious pastry into the basket, and the baby deserves to know what a culinary genius his or her papa is…"
ooo
Babette had never expected her final month to be easy, but with each passing day and night, she wondered how much more she could take. By now, it was possible for the baby to arrive at any time safely, and she wished that it would hurry up already!
For the millionth time this night, she groaned, opening her eyes and lying awake in bed. She tossed and turned into any position she could manage – a challenge in itself, since in her ninth month, her body felt as big and unwieldy as a house. But nothing seemed to work. The snoring next to her did not help either. She scowled at Lumière, envious as he comfortably dreamed away the hours. All she could do was sit there, awake and tired, letting a few tears slip down her cheeks.
Unbeknownst to her, Lumière's eyes fluttered open, hearing her crying. He never let on to her, lest he risk worrying her more than usual; after all she worried over everything lately. But he was having his own sleeping troubles. He was normally a very deep sleeper, not moved to wake even in the worst disasters. The baby's fast approaching arrival, however, had changed that completely.
"Ma chérie, what is it?" he yawned as he lit a candle on the bedside table. Sitting up slowly, he enveloped her in his embrace.
Babette accepted, snuggling close to him, but only slightly pacified. "Never again."
"What?"
"This had better be the only child you want because I am not going through this again!" she snarled.
Lumière sighed, doubting that he would ever get used to her drastically changing moods. Oui, they were something to be reckoned with when she was not expecting, but her pregnancy had only intensified them. Nonetheless, he grinned, kissing into her hair and caressing her tenderly. It always managed to calm her.
"Whatever you say, mon amour," he murmured.
But Babette slapped at his hand. "Stop it! That is what brought me to this to begin with."
Lumière backed away a bit, dejected. "I did not mean it to be romantic…entirely. I was only trying to help."
"Far from it," she sulked, turning away and trying in vain again to get comfortable. "You can sleep, look as wonderful as ever, and are not confined to this room all day!"
Lumière strived to remain the rational one of the pair. It would not do any good to have both of them be irritable. It was frustrating for him too! Everything he did lately was wrong!
"Is there anything I can do that will help?" he asked.
There was a pause, and then he heard his beloved mumble softly, "Carry this baby for me."
He smiled, grateful that she could not see him and take it the wrong way. "You know I would if it were possible, but alas, I can not. Is there anything else?
Babette felt her stomach growl, something that she had been trying to ignore. But…perhaps if she were to eat a little something, maybe it would help – one less thing to worry about, so to speak.
She turned to look at him again. "Are there any more of those cookies left over from dinner in the kitchen?"
"I believe so, oui."
"Could you get some for me?" she asked with her perfected adorable pout that no man could refuse.
Lumière nodded. "If it will truly help, then I certainly will," he said, kissing her sweetly.
With a mighty yawn and stretch, he rose from the bed, taking the candle with him. It was a decent trek to the kitchen, but for her to finally relax, it would be worth it. When he found the cookies in question, he took a small handful, wrapping them in a cloth and bringing them back to the room.
"Et voila!" Lumière presented quietly, handing over the bundle.
Babette thanked him, taking the cloth away and greedily starting on one. But as she ate…she gazed at the rest, contemplating.
"Is something wrong?" Lumière asked, returning under the covers. "Too many? We can always put them aside for tomorrow."
"I do not think this is enough," she said simply.
"Not enough?" Lumière replied, incredulously.
"I am eating for two, remember?"
Lumière stared at her. "Babette, it is late. A snack is one thing, but…"
"But what?" Babette snapped, her eyes narrowing. "Is getting your wife, who has been carrying your child for nine long months, a little bit more food so much trouble? Am I really bothering your precious sleep so much? At least you can sleep! Go right ahead!! I will just lay here, wide awake and completely uncomfortable while you spend the night in peaceful slumbers!"
"All right, all right, it is no trouble, of course not!" Lumière interrupted, surrendering. The sooner he brought back the food, the sooner she could relax and he could get back to sleep! Rising from the bed again, he asked, "What would you like?"
Babette thought for a moment. "A few baguettes should do it."
"Très bien," he said, heading for the door.
"Cheese and fruit too?"
He gripped the knob. "Absolument."
"Oh, and pickles!" she called.
Lumière nodded impatiently, wanting very much to get downstairs before she asked for everything in the kitchen. Gathering the food she asked for, he could swear that part of her wanted this much simply to have something to do the next day. Or later today by now, he thought tiredly. Cleaning up the bed would be required after all of this.
Returning to the room, he placed the plate of food before her. "There we are, everything you requested," he said, climbing back into bed and returning to his slumbers.
"Ah, merci, mon cher," Babette replied, ravenously eating away. But when the food was gone, she still did not feel satisfied. She reached to nudge her husband gently. "Lumière? Lumière, wake up."
Lumière could not hold back an audible groan. There would be no rest for the weary tonight. "What is it, chérie?" he asked, sitting up again and rubbing his eyes.
"I would really like some warm milk."
Lumière turned a sleepy gaze at her. "Do you know how long it will take to warm a glass of milk?" But upon seeing The Wrath building in her eyes again, he rose for a third time. It took a while, but at last he had the milk in hand, returned to the room, and turned it over, praying that it was the last trip he would have to make that night.
Babette smiled and took the cup. As he cuddled up under the blanket again, she relaxed against the pillows. Sipping at the milk, she glanced at Lumière, and her smile broadened. As annoyed as he could make her, he was an amazing man. He had done so much for her in the past two months, and she was truly thankful and adored him even more than the day they fell in love.
When she finished the milk, she put the cup aside and made herself cozy against his back. Taking her lips to his ear and neck, she murmured, "Lumière, it takes an extraordinary husband and father to care of his family so diligently, with such caring and sacrifice." She ran her fingers lightly along his arm. "What do you say to…my undying love and gratitude?"
He did not reply.
"Lumière? Did you hear me?"
A loud snore broke the silence, and Babette laughed gently. She kissed his cheek, and blew out the candle.
"Bonsoir, mon coeur," she whispered with a yawn. Nestled close against Lumière, she slowly followed him into sleep. "Sweet dreams."
ooo
One evening two weeks later, Lumière desperately tried to keep focused. Pouring wine into a guest's glass at dinner was not a time to be distracted, and he had already come dangerously close to spilling the wine onto the Duchesse de Leon's exquisite dress one time too many. Had it not been for Vincent clearing his throat loudly to keep his servant alert, the emerald gown would have had nice ruby stains accenting its skirts.
But Lumière could not help himself, anxiously glancing back and forth between the table and the doors. Babette had gone into labor early that morning. When the midwife had arrived, he was immediately banished from the room. He had argued to stay, not wanting to leave his wife. But having seen that Babette was only uncomfortable, not yet in pain, he unwillingly agreed. In return, the midwife had sworn that she would send for him when there was any chance that it was time.
Thus, there he was serving dinner. An exhausted bundle of nerves, the same as any man becoming a father for the first time.
The Duc de Leon, however, was not the sort to take that as an excuse. "Shall we be waiting much longer for the main course?" he snarled, scowling at Lumière. "It will be a long journey home and I would like to have something settling my stomach."
Dieu, it was starting to show in his work, Lumière scolded himself. "I will see to it right away, your grace," he said apologetically. "A thousand pardons."
Belle sent a comforting glance his way, mouthing, "Relax!" Lumière nodded with a tiny, grateful smile before he disappeared into a kitchen.
The Duc shook his head in disapproval. "A good staff is difficult to find these days, is it not?" he said, the sympathy in his tone patently phony.
Vincent glared at his guest. As much as he admired Belle's good heart, there were some occasions when he wished that it wasn't so kind. The grand ball hosted by the Comte and Comtesse de Martine had ended far past midnight the night before. The Duc and Duchesse did live a long distance away, and the castle was closer to their home. Belle had invited them to stay with them to avoid a late return home, with Vincent's agreement, and they were to leave once the early dinner ended. After the prince had seen the haughty attitude in both the Duc and Duchesse, he was all too happy at the thought of sending them off soon. Feeling the same way and, more importantly, worried about Babette, Belle had whispered to him to keep the meal short.
"Every man has a bad day occasionally, Monsieur le Duc," Vincent countered. "Perhaps if you were – " He stopped as Belle touched his arm, helping to control his infamous temper and be the better person. "Please wait a bit longer," he said, forcefully calm. "Even on his worst days, Lumière always has a fine meal prepared that is worth the patience. You will not regret it."
The Duc offered a weak grin, inwardly sneering. This was what happened when mere servants were treated as equals instead of workers. But never one to disagree with a superior, he nodded. "Très bien, your majesty. We look forward to it."
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Lumière was rushing to check each plate, intensely grateful that they had not gone cold. When he gathered two, however, calling for assistance with the others, the door slammed open. He turned to find a young girl racing towards him, recognizing her as one of the upstairs maids.
"Monsieur Lumière!" she cried. "Monsieur Lumière, wait! It is important!"
Lumière glanced at the dining room doors impatiently, knowing that he would be massacred for this if he stalled any longer. But concern overpowered him as the girl caught up, panting breathlessly.
"Slow down, ma petite," he said. "What is it?"
The girl pointed in the direction from which she came. "Babette, monsieur…she…it's almost time!"
Lumière froze in place, quickly putting the plates down before he lost feeling in his hands.
"N-now?" he stuttered. "R-right now?"
"Well, I'm not sure, but…she's in a lot of pain and the midwife said to fetch you."
Lumière leaned heavily against the table, running a hand nervously through his hair. Why now? Why did this have to happen now? He would have happily taken another night of lost sleep instead of this! Babette really needed to work on her timing!
"What are you waiting for?" Cogsworth hissed, entering from the dining room. "Get these dishes outside!"
Wonderful, just what they needed, Lumière groaned mentally. Closing his eyes tightly, he handed the plates over to the head of household frantically. "Here, they are ready!" he said, gesturing over the server who helped him. "Babette needs me. Take them out there, and Jacques will assist you."
"Lumière, wait right there!" Cogsworth called, stopping the maitre d' in his tracks. "I know you are worried, but I do believe that your wife can hold on until dinner is over!"
Lumière shook his head adamantly. "Non, she can not. The baby is on its way."
Cogsworth's eyes practically bulged out of his head. "Now? Is she mad?? She couldn't wait until dinner ended?"
For the sake of his sanity, Lumière laughed softly, hearing his previous thoughts coming from his comrade. Did he really sound that ridiculous? "It could be now, it could be then, mon ami, but it is happening as we speak," he said.
"And what, pray tell, are we supposed to do?"
"I told you, help me a little," Lumière pleaded. "Jacques knows what to do. I must go to her!"
He did not even wait for the man's response before he ran through the hallways to his bedroom. Throwing the door open, Lumière halted in place, ignoring the midwife's protests. Babette was all that mattered, and she was lying in bed, writhing in pain with tears streaming down her cheeks. Racing to her side, Lumière took up her hand gently.
"Babette, ma femme, I am here," he crooned tenderly. "I am here, do not cry!"
She opened her eyes, reaching for him. "Lumière, mon cher!"
The midwife came forward, prepared to call for someone to take him from the room. "Monsieur Lumière, I only sent that girl to tell you that it could be soon, not to barge in here!"
"Non!" Babette cried. "Non, please! Please let him stay for just a minute!"
The midwife ran an exasperated hand over her face. "One minute!" she said firmly, busying herself with minor preparations. "No more! The last thing we need is a worried husband getting in the way of things."
Lumière breathed a sigh of relief. As he sat on the bed, gathering her gently in his embrace, Babette sobbed into his shoulder and clutched him tightly against her.
"Lumière…oh Lumière, it hurts!"
"I know, chérie, I know," he replied soothingly. "Come now, take a deep breath."
She obeyed repeatedly until the pain died down a little. When she was calmer, he smiled. "There we go, my sweet, très bon!"
Babette looked up at him, her face red and tear-stained. "Lumière, make it stop."
"I wish I could," he said. "I really do. But we must let nature take its course."
"To hell with nature, it hurts!" she bawled.
Lumière gazed at her sympathetically. "You have to relax; please try. If you can not, then neither can I, which will only make things worse." He grinned. "After all, dinner is still going on. You truly have the worst timing on earth, ma plumette."
Her eyes bore into him threateningly. "You think I planned for this to happen? That I live to disrupt your precious work with such a minor thing as having your baby??"
"Non, non of course not!" he answered in haste and kicking himself for saying anything. "Not at all!" When she fell back against the pillows with a groan, he grasped her hand, kissing it profusely. "It will be all right, amour, really, and while I can not be in here, I will be just outside waiting, I promise."
He smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face. "But before I do, I just want you to know that I am proud of you, ma femme, and forever grateful…for everything."
The words pacified her, and she reached for his cheek. "Je t'aime," she whispered.
"Je t'aime aussi, à tout jamais," he said, turning to kiss her palm before he rose. "You can do it; I know you can."
ooo
It may have only lasted another hour, or perhaps minutes. Lumière had lost all sense of time since leaving the room. Dieu, between concern and anxiety, it felt like days! In-between pacing the hallway, he nursed a glass of wine, wincing at every scream and curse that Babette let out. At this rate, he would be lucky if she ever let him near her again
The hallway clock tolled the late hour. While that could not shake Lumière from his worry, the infamous human clock nearby certainly did.
"Is everything all right?" Cogsworth asked.
Babette's shriek erupted from inside the room, and Lumière fidgeted in his seat. "If that is normal, then oui, all is well," he said, gesturing to the door.
Cogsworth nodded. "I'm fairly sure it is, though very painful for her, I imagine." He took a seat beside Lumière. "How are you doing?"
Lumière grinned in spite of himself. "I am a little nervous, but I doubt any man can escape such feelings on the day he becomes a father."
"No, I suppose not," Cogsworth said. "But you really shouldn't worry. I think…you are going to make a wonderful father."
Lumière raised an eyebrow at him. "Is that a compliment? From you of all people?" he asked, a smirk playing about his lips.
Saving face, Cogsworth frowned, though Lumière knew the truth. "Get off the high horse, Lumière," he said. "You are simply a big child yourself, and little ones love that. Besides, at least this one will have a good role model in me should you fail."
Lumière laughed. "Merci, mon ami, I appreciate the help."
They sat in silence before Lumière began his hundredth pace. But by the time he returned to the door, he heard it, the sound that he had been waiting for all night – the baby's first cry.
"Ah, how precious, it has Babette's lungs," Cogsworth commented, frowning already at all the sleep everyone in the servants' quarters would lose.
But Lumière was too elated to counter the jab. Jumping from his chair as the midwife opened the door, he breathed a sigh of relief to see her smile.
"You can come in now," she said. "She hasn't stopped asking for you."
Lumière eagerly raced inside, though he approached the bed slowly to take in the precious sight. Babette looked so perfectly blissful, practically glowing. In her arms was a crying bundle, but soothing words calmed it down. When Lumière sat carefully beside her, Babette gazed up at him, beaming.
"Bonjour, Papa," she murmured.
Lumière leaned down to kiss her. "How are you feeling?" he asked, wrapping his arm around her.
"Exhausted!" Babette replied, dramatically. "And it still hurts." She looked down at the bundle. "But…oh, she was worth it."
"She?"
Babette grinned, carefully handing the swaddled baby over to her husband. "Oui, it is a girl!!"
Lumière tenderly accepted the offer to hold his first-born, following Babette's instruction on how to do so correctly. When the baby snuggled into his arms, Lumière felt his heart melt. He brought his finger up to stroke her feathery reddish hair, very much like his own, and her soft cheek. Her pouting lips – entirely her mother's – twitched slightly at his touch, and she squirmed a bit before getting cozy again.
Lumière shook his head in amazement, chuckling quietly. "She is perfect, absolutely perfect," he whispered and his eyes grew misty. He kissed the baby's forehead before showing his wife the same affection. "Merci, merci beaucoup, ma plumette. For giving us…are we still decided on Celina for a girl?"
Babette smiled gently, detecting the tiniest hint of minor disappointment in his voice when speaking of the name. "Do not play brave, Lumière. It is all right to be upset."
He looked at her, indignant. "I am not upset!" he hissed, staying quiet so as not to disturb the baby.
"Yes, you are."
"Am not."
"Are too."
Lumière grew sheepish when she did not ease the gentle accusations. "Only a little, but I swear to you that I could not be happier!"
"I know, mon cher," Babette said reassuringly. "But listen to me. I…have a compromise. A very good compromise."
ooo
The same priest who had frowned numerous times during Lumière and Babette's wedding now stood smiling over the irresistible child in Babette's arms.
"Chandellina, I christen thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."
Lumière grinned, watching his beloved daughter protest against the water lightly poured over her head. When it was all over, he followed Babette as she carried their darling little girl upstairs.
"Chandellina," he cooed, tickling her gently and earning a gleeful response from her. To Babette, he said, "I still say that is one of your finest ideas, ma plumette. Perhaps the best!"
"Even over marrying you?" Babette teased, laughing at his mockingly hurt expression.
Seriously, she turned her attention to her baby, smiling proudly. Chandellina – the perfect blend of two wonderful parents that the couple hoped to emulate.
Lumière drew his wife close, watching as his little Lina – the pet name he had given her – played with the blanket.
"She is going to break quite a few hearts someday," he said.
Babette giggled. "But of course, she is our child."
"And thankfully as beautiful as her mother," Lumière murmured, kissing her cheek sweetly.
Babette smirked, looking up at him. "As beautiful as her mother, indeed. Why do I think you will regret saying that in years to come?"
"Why would I?" Lumière asked. "It is very much the truth. Look at her! She will have men lining up to ask permission for courtship before you know it!"
"Men like you?"
Lumière's smile faded a bit at the thought. "Then again," he said slowly. "She is not allowed to court any man until she is the same age as you."
"She never will be – at least not at the same time," Babette pointed out.
"Exactly so."
Babette laughed, turning to face him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply. "Well, let us worry about that when the time comes. She will only be a baby for so long, and we should enjoy it while we can."
Lumière grinned, returning the kiss in full, but was interrupted as Lina began gurgling and cooing. Both Lumière and Babette smiled in amusement.
"So young, and already she shows signs of having horrible timing," Lumière laughed. "Cogsworth will be less than pleased, I am sure."
"She will surely be like you when it comes to him," Babette replied.
Lumière leaned over the bassinet, crooning, "If she does, I will be the proudest father in the world! Yes I will!"
Lina squirmed happily before yawning delicately, her eyes slipping closed. Babette smiled and followed her daughter's lead.
"Seems to me that she has the right idea!" she said, moving to the bed to lay down. "I could use a quick nap." She patted the place beside her invitingly. "Care to join me?"
Lumière willingly accepted. Neither of them had gotten much sleep in so long, and taking a nap now and then had become a rare delight. He sighed, reveling in the softness of the bed, and embraced Babette lovingly.
"Merci, mon cher," Babette whispered.
Lumière snuggled close to her. "Whatever for?"
Babette grinned. "For everything. You have given me all that a man can give the woman he loves: security, devotion, family…and true love. I never thought I could have all of that."
Lumière squeezed her affectionately. "You always will, as long as we live, and beyond forever."
"Promise?"
"You have my word," he swore, kissing her with utmost passion. "Now onto that nap." He smiled adoringly at her, nuzzling her cheek. "Because I want to well rested, and enjoy the rest of our lives together."
Babette gave him one last kiss before closing her eyes. But she did not dream as she normally did. She didn't have to. Her husband was at her side, and her daughter slept nearby. Her dreams at long last had come true.
A/N: And there it is! The final chapter of the final story in the Romance series. As always, I'm not done yet, and expect a brand new story very soon! Thanks to all readers, new and veterans! My gratitude always!