A/N: This chapter was written by me, Holbyta, SamoaPheonix9, and Wrestlemaniac829.
"You can't be serious, Miss Doe!" Cogsworth exclaimed, pacing back-and-forth. "Are you even aware of the amount of work you're talking about in order to get things ready for a ball, even a two-person ball, in the limited time that we have?"
Miss Doe figured this would be the response she'd received. It wasn't long ago when all the servants had gathered in the kitchen, and she had just finished explaining the outline of her plan not only to Cogsworth, but also to Manx, Lumiere, Babette, Gutnecht, and even the stove-chef. Clearly, they all shared some expression of concern for putting such a complicated ball all together. But still, Miss Doe would not let this slip so easily.
"I'm well aware of the work involved, believe me," Miss Doe replied. "And, Cogsworth, I have complete faith in your ability to get things suitably organized."
"I… Ah, well… When you put it that way…" Cogsworth stuttered, momentarily thrown off his own protest.
"I think it is a wonder plan, mes amis," Lumiere said with a wink at Miss Doe. "Inspired."
"And it may be our last chance to bring them together before the rose wilts," Manx added. "I say we give it a try and hope for the best."
"I agree," The stove put in. "There can be no harm in trying; this I know for sure."
"Only one question remains: Will The Mistress and young Frederick agree?" Gutnecht quietly asked. "After all, they are the two most concerned. We can't just go around arranging their lives for them as we please."
"If we could, they would have fallen in love long ago and put an end to all this," Babette muttered.
"It is almost over, ma cherie," Lumiere reassured, with a smile. "Now is not the time to be losing faith."
"Indeed not," Miss Doe agreed. "And you raise an excellent point, Gutnecht. I have spoken to the Mistress, though not in direct terms, and I believe she would be very receptive to the idea. But as for Frederick... I'm not sure. I don't know him well enough to predict how he might feel."
"Properly, it ought to be the Mistress who should ask him about it," Cogsworth announced stiffly, the others turn to look at him. "After all, she is technically the hostess."
"All right," Miss Doe said with a shrug. "I'll give her some coaching on how to bring up the subject delicately. She should do fine; I have every faith in her."
"Poor child," Gutnecht commented. "All this pressure on her, she never enjoyed being in the spotlight. Yet, we've all been this shamelessly watching their every move for signs of hope."
"No one's watching them now," Manx pointed out. "We're all in here and they both seem to be handling our constant scrutiny quite swimmingly, all things considered. Miss Doe, please speak to the Mistress about this plan as soon as possible."
"Yes," Cogsworth spoke excitedly. "There's so much to do! I must consult with her on every detail: The menu, the decorations, the… "
As Cogsworth went on and on, writing on a small pad of paper that he always kept with him, to everyone else it sounded as if Cogsworth was merely muttering his excitement to himself.
"Try not to get too carried away, Cogsworth," Lumiere commented, as they all headed for the kitchen doors. "Remember: There are only two of them!"
"And do you best not to overwhelm either of them," Miss Doe added. "I know the Mistress is far from used to things like this after all these years, and I doubt Frederick is, either. They'll need some time to get used to all of this."
"I won't, I won't," Cogsworth muttered distractedly, still standing in the midst of the kitchen scribbling in his writing pad.
"Keep an eye on him, won't you Lumiere?" Miss Doe asked, as she headed for the kitchen doors far from Cogsworth's mumbling. "make sure he doesn't get out of hand."
"You can count on me for that," Lumiere smiled. "Now, Cogsworth…"
Lumiere and Babette moved back towards Cogsworth. Miss Doe could hear him expressing his concern, just as the doors slowly closed behind her. She simply smiled to herself and strolled upstairs to have a word with Maria.
Miss Doe approached Maria's bedroom door, the patter of her hooves echoed along the stone floors as she maked her way close to the door. She soon arrived and knocked on Maria's door with one hoof.
"Mistress, may I come in?"
"Yes you may," Maria answered from the other side.
Miss Doe pushed the door open, walking in to see Maria sitting on the edge of the bed, still dressed in her nightgown. By now, Maria had lifted her feet up on the bed and held her knees deep in her thoughts. She turned to see Miss Doe approach and sit herself on the bed next to Maria.
"Mistress, I think the staff and I have finally figured out an idea to bring you and Frederick together."
"That was quick," Maria spoke, with a hint of surprise in her tone. "It's only been forty minutes. All right, what's the idea?"
"We were thinking that you could put on a ball for the castle, and invite Frederick."
"A ball?" Maria asked, her eyes widened. "But… But… I c-c-can't have a ball. I get so nervous! And you expect me to host? What were you thinking?"
"We were thinking that you and Frederick would have a better chance of getting to know to know each other more, that's all."
"But I get so scared at dances, Miss Doe, you know that!" Maria argued, putting her face in her paws and groaned. "I couldn't even cross the ballroom without holding daddy's hand."
"Mommy?" A voice called out.
Miss Doe and Maria quickly turned to the door, to see little Katrina standing there with a curious expression on her face. Katrina slowly entered the room to join up with her mother.
"I heard something about dancing, is there going to be a dance?"
"Well sweetie," Miss Doe said. "It's up to the Mistress if she wants there to be a ball or not. She IS the host."
Katrina turned to Maria, who looked unsure of what to say to the little child. She slowly walked toward Maria, tugging on her night gown with her teeth, staring into her eyes with longing eyes.
"Oh please, princess Maria. Can we have a ball? I really love dancing. I haven't danced in a long time. Pleeeeeeeease?"
Katrina looked straight into Maria's, her eyes as wide as they can get. If there was one thing that seemed to be Maria's weakness is saying no to Katrina. Especially considering the inability to resist Katrina's innocent expression. Maria simply sighed and knew that she was beaten, by a tiny Doe too.
"All right. We'll have a ball."
"Yay!" Katrina shouted, jumping up-and-down with glee.
Maria simply shook her head with a smile on her face, seeing Katrina so happy. Leaving Katrina to her excitement, Maria turned to face Miss Doe.
"So where do we even start? Do I even have anything to wear? And what…" Maria paused, looking down at her claws. "What if Frederick doesn't want to come?"
Miss Doe gave a tender look towards Maria, grabbing her paw with her tiny hooves.
"You've been so nice to him, I don't see why he won't want to," She replied with a smile. "Besides, we need a couple of days so we can prepare for the ball.
Still, Maria felt unsure about the ball or if it would even work. Still, she gave Miss Doe's hoof a squeeze and returned a smile towards her kind friend.
"Maybe you're right," She said.
"Good night, Mistress," Miss Doe spoke, smiling and took Katrina's hand as she got up. "Come along Katrina."
"Goodnight, Princess Maria!" Katrina called out, waving back to Maria.
Soon, Miss Doe and her child made their way out of the room leaving Maria to ponder what she had gotten herself into. She curled up into her bed, knowing that sleep would not come so easily. A part of her wanted to leap from the covers, find Miss Doe, and cancel the whole thing while she the night was still young. But, even so, she knew she would only be disappointing everyone in the castle. But none more disappointed than little Katrina if Maria tried to refuse. The princess just couldn't find it in her heart to reject a dance to one so young.
"Ugh, just like the girl to use her cuteness as a weapon," Maria thought. "Wonder if I ever did that… Besides, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe me and Frederick will get closer, who knows?"