I do not own Pepe or Penelope (First wedding anniversary is celebrated in this chapter.)

I do own Pheffe, Louis, and the employees at Le Eiffel Tower Studio seen here. I made Pepe go out of character for a while because I thought of an idea about him and Penelope's different accents. Please don't hate me! I couldn't shake off the idea! Sorry if the chapter is a little awkward, but that's what husbands and wives do. Nothing gross or disturbing is written. Promise! I keep my stuff rated T.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Chapter Ten

Pepe and Penelope's Anniversary

Penelope lingered out into the kitchen. She felt guilty and happy from the night before. She had seduced her tired husband. Poor Pepe had been at Le Eiffel Tower Studio as more of a page for everyone there and it had drained him out. He left early and came home late.

That last night he dropped onto the bed only to startle Penelope who hadn't really seen him that whole week and had been crushed at heart because of that. She felt a strong desire to be close to him and wanted to be in his arms. She had innocently kissed his face to know that he was really there. Pepe felt like she wanted something. Exhausted he tried protesting, but Penelope had innocently seduced him into the same want she had felt.

Now she was alone again. It was just her and Pheffe. Not that she hated being alone with her baby girl who was now eight months old, but Penelope missed her husband. The small house felt so boring without him.

"Another day," she mumbled. "Another one without Pepe being here. I wish the studio would give him fewer hours."

She heard Pheffe cry. Quickly she was in her daughter's room. Pheffe's little black eyes filled with tears, but it was not because she was cranky or so forth of what babies want.

"Oh Sweetie," said Penelope lifting the baby out of her crib. "You miss Daddy don't you?"

It was true. Perhaps even babies could understand something. Pheffe had noticed someone was not coming in as usual in the morning to see her awake. His face was the first face she would see when she woke up an equal half of the time. Now she hadn't seen it.

Penelope in the mean time went over to the rocking chair to soothe Pheffe.

"Tomorrow is our first wedding anniversary," she sighed. "I doubt he could remember with all the stress he must have."

After a few minutes Penelope put Pheffe back in her crib for a moment and went to her room. Pepe had bought her a new dress for her birthday which had been eleven days before. It was black; the skirt flowed outward and was slimming at the waist. The straps were a thin black ribbon of silk and the top of the dress was one inch of white to compliment the stripe on her tail. He even gave her new shoes. Black closed toe high heels that matched the fabric of the dress. She pulled the dress out and sighed. She hoped something nice would happen so she could wear the dress.

It did happen that the studio was holding a party and with a call from Louis, Penelope's brother-in-law since Pepe was out running an errand Penelope prepared for the event.

Since the call ended mid-morning she was busy the rest of the day until that evening. She fed Pheffe breakfast, played with her, and then put her down for her nap. Right after Pheffe went to sleep Louis hurried over to pick up Pepe's tux since they were both demanded to be elegant as servers. While Pheffe napped Penelope tidied the house, ironed her dress and showered. Pheffe could sleep for five hours! Which by the time she woke up it was time to get her ready. Penelope was in her dress and shoes when she dressed Pheffe her black velvet dress that had a white sash with a pink artificial rose attached to it. She also put on Pheffe white tights and her little black Mary Janes.

With Pheffe in her stroller and Penelope forgetting a coat from the excitement although it was cold out, they were at the studio.

One of the fine rooms which was for conferences was cleared out and set up with tables of food and decorations of white. Penelope didn't see Pepe or Louis anywhere so she sat down with Pheffe in her lap and smiled politely at others. She did have conversations with some of the women who either were employees there or whose husbands were the employees. She mentioned Pepe was terrific to her and the women seemed envious. Penelope felt sorry and annoyed at them for their saying to her that she was so lucky.

"Louis!" she said in relief to see a familiar face. Louis was in a tux that was short at the sleeves for him since the last time he wore it was his high school graduation. He came in carrying a tray of wine glasses.

"Where's Pepe?" she asked giving him an affectionate hug.

"He's in the studio keetchen," he said. His voice was weary. "Eef you could call eet a keetchen. I need to seet down."

"Sit with Pheffe," said Penelope guiding him over to her chair. "I'm going to see Pepe."

Louis gladly sat and felt happy to see Pheffe. He lifted her out of her stroller and cradled her.

Penelope had only turned the corner of a hallway when she heard shouting in French. She saw Pepe come out of a closed door room with a damp tray and an angry expression and pressed his back against the wall. He exhaled sharply and then shakily. Then he smacked his head back and slid down to the floor. The anger left and he looked crushed. He only looked down, the tray loose from his fingers and his knees drawn up, but not close to his chest. Penelope felt her heart break for him as two tears of frustration left both of his eyes.

This was not what he had hoped for. His new task was a pain to him. He felt like a failure. How could he take care of Penelope and Pheffe when he couldn't see them often? He missed being at home with the two of them. He hadn't seen Pheffe that whole week and he couldn't bear the thought of not seeing his wife's or daughter's face at least once a day. What was wrong with him? Why did he feel so attached to them? He knew why: he loved them more than the freedom he had as a bachelor. The best change that he had been blessed with had been Penelope and Pheffe. He never wanted to go back to what he had been before.

Penelope stepped up and put her hand against the corner of the wall and her other on her hip to gesture what she was wearing. Pepe looked up to see her. She looked so beautiful. She always looked beautiful. The glimmer jewelry on her hand that she had been given only a year before shined against her hip. She smiled lovingly at him. He tried to smile back, but he only bit his lower lip in humiliation. This was the first time she had seen him have tears and he felt stupid. He hated crying, he hated it as a child and he hated it as an adult. He was the head of the home; he had to be the strong one.

Seeing that Pepe had turned his head back down from her Penelope knelt to the rough carpeted floor. The texture was rough against her legs, but she sat down. Her legs were under her dress since the skirt part was designed to go outward. Her arms went to her shoulders and she leaned on one of them. She smelled the reeking stench of his and smiled. How did she end up with him after so many other men? They were meant for each other even though they were not the same.

Penelope leaned forward the best she could and kissed him gently. Pepe's eyes closed as he returned it. His hands went to her shoulders and just when the kiss was deepening reality came back.

"Where eez zhat good for nozhing Le Pew?!" snapped one of the other servers.

Pepe sighed sharply and Penelope felt the sudden gust of heat from his always fresh breath.

It ended there. Pepe went back into the kitchen and Penelope feeling concerned, yet happy to have seen Pepe went back to the party. She pulled another chair next to Louis and held onto Pheffe.

"So zhere going to be a little contest to see who eez zhe prettiest fatale out zhere?" asked one server.

"No zhere's not," said the other. "Eet's just talk and talk out zhere. I weesh we could zhough."

"Eef I could peeck any woman out zhere eet would be zhat one woman een zhe black dress," said the other one. The two servers were brown cats and were good friends.

"Zhere's quit a few women een black out zhere," said his friend.

Pepe listened out of boredom as he placed water glasses on his tray.

"Zhe one weeth zhe damp baby," said the server. Pepe froze at the last two words.

"Oh oui," said his friend. "She eez quite zhe woman! She must have one good looking body under zhat dress."

"Oui," said the server. "She's got a one attractive arse." They both laughed and went out with their trays.

Pepe glared at them leave and his fists clenched. Those two idiots were talking about Penelope. No one else had a baby with them. Pepe couldn't stand it! No one was going to talk about Penelope that way even if she was attractive. He was the only one allowed to know about that.

Fiercely he went out to the party room. He saw the two idiots looking at Penelope with interest in their eyes.

"Oh go ahead," thought Pepe with sarcasm and protectiveness. "Gaze at my wife as eef I'm not een zhe room."

He put the tray down on one table and made his way across the room to Penelope. Penelope had Pheffe asleep and was drinking a glass of water.

"Oh Pepe I'm so glad to see-" started Penelope as Pepe came close to her. She was interrupted by him because he drew her to him and kissed her deeply. Penelope was surprised, but of course happy. The two servers' eyes were wide in jealousy and then fear as Pepe's eyes opened as he continued kissing and have them a threatening look.

"She's mine," he thought to them. "Don't even zhink about trying to have her." He broke away from her and continued to hold her. No one had noticed them since everyone else was busy in eating and talking.

Pepe knelt down to see Pheffe and smiled.

"Oh, Pheffe," he sighed blissfully. "I don't want to meess one moment of your life." He stroked her thick black hair gently and Penelope sat down smiling. Pheffe awoke and smiled with her little arms out to see Pepe. He lifted her up to hold her. Pheffe nestled, comfortable in his arms and her eyes sparkled.

The party finally ended and the small family headed for home. Penelope felt cold as they walked towards home and Pepe put his tux jacket on her to warm her. The warmth from his body clung to the fabric as it was draped on her shoulders. Penelope only smiled as she recalled their wedding day. It was the same tux he had worn that day.

Pheffe had been put to bed once at home and Penelope felt an urge to kiss Pepe as he went to their bedroom. She happily pressed him against the bedroom door and kissed him passionately like they had done the night before. She gripped the lapels of his jacket which he had just put back on to keep him close.

"If I can't have him tomorrow because of his job," she thought. "I'll keep him with me tonight."

"Two nights een a row?" asked Pepe with a shine in his eyes of understand what she probably wanted. "You must've really meessed me."

"I'm not implying anything," she said. She stepped away to look into his eyes. "Can't a woman kiss her French accented husband?"

"What eef he wasn't French?" asked Pepe as Penelope went over to shut the blinds as usual.

"What do you mean?" asked Penelope. "It would be weird if I heard you in a different accent."

"Would it?" said Pepe. Penelope caught that and was shocked. "I mean if I did talk that way why would it be weird to you?"

Penelope smiled. "Very funny Pepe. You sound nice, but I love your old accent."

"I'll go back to my old accent if you say one word in French flawlessly."

"I'm not good at French! It's amazing I got by it all the years I've been in Paris."

"Oh come one Pen."

"Pepe if you don't go back to your old accent, then don't expect anything excitable tonight."

"I don't think so."

"Pepe I'm telling you…" Penelope was cut off and Pepe kissed her. With that feeling of his arms around her and his hands roaming at her sides she felt content. She gripped at his jacket lapels again wanting more. She gave in willingly that one time to that new voice. Pepe had gotten back at her for seducing him that night before.

Penelope had dressed in her dress from the night before when she found Pepe and Pheffe gone and a note on the counter. Tired from last night, she read it aloud.

"Dear Penelope, I want you to rest for a few hours and I've taken Pheffe out. We will be back later. You still have to know one word in French to hear my old voice. I'm still going on with it, but its confusing Pheffe. I got a call early this morning and I have today and tomorrow off after my first week. Louis does too. I can spend time with you and Pheffe! Love you so much, Pepe. P.S. Happy First Anniversary."

Penelope teared up and smiled.

"He remembered," she said.

A couple of hours later Pepe came home with Pheffe who was dozing off in her stroller.

Penelope had just put an early dinner in the oven when they came in. Pheffe was put in her small playpen by Pepe and then he walked to Penelope with a bouquet of red roses.

"I'll have a reward for you if you can say one word in French," he said kindly as he gave the roses to her. Penelope inhaled their scent. "If you can say one French word, I'll let it be three nights in a row if you know what I mean. I think I startled you with my voice didn't I?"

"Not really," said Penelope. She hugged him and looked into his eyes. "Just surprised."

Pepe kissed her. They got close to each others face nose to nose after their lips departed. Penelope moved her lips strangely for a second to make sure she pronounced right.

"Heureux anniversaire de mariage," she said. She said it slowly to make sure it was close to perfect. She then smiled. Pepe, amused, smiled back.

"You zhat I love you?" he said to imply his sudden change. Penelope smiled at his old tone and kissed him hard in happiness.

"You have," she said. "I missed your old voice. I love you Pepe."

"For saying more zhan one word een French we go for a fourth night tomorrow?" he said charmingly.

"Four nights in a row?" said Penelope flirtatiously. "I think you really missed me the whole week."

"You have no idea," said Pepe. "I couldn't stop zhinking about you all week and wanting to do somezhing special for our first wedding anniversary."

"It's going good so far," said Penelope as she nuzzled his face.

"I'm glad I married you Penelope," said Pepe. "I don't know what I would do weethout you."

"I think the same thing everyday," said Penelope and she rested her head on his shoulder. "You're the sweetest and romanticist husband to me."

"I try to be," said Pepe tenderly. "You're definitely zhe one for me my love."

"Back at you," said Penelope dreamily as she looked out with her eyes half closed.

It was the greatest day for the two of them, being together and recalling giving each other their vows only a year before on fourteenth of February.