In order to make up for my awful updating, I decided to update again. I hope you enjoy and please review. I like to know that people are still reading and again I apologize for my slow updates, I'm super busy and sometimes forget (read: often forget).

That evening I told Cogsworth I couldn't eat with him and I sat in Clare's bed and went back and forth with her telling stories.

"He called you beautiful?" she squealed.

I smiled, "I'm glad you understand the significance of that."

"It'll be the same for me…minus the Raoul part…"

"It gets better…"

"How so?"

"Well, I admitted that to him…that he was the first man to say that to me…and I apologized for giving him all this mess to listen to…you know what he said?"

"What?" she asked excitedly.

"And I quote, 'No, I love listening to you talk…'"

She squealed again, "Oh Ev!"

"And I told him that I love having someone to listen to me," I replied with a grin.

"You guys are so close to saying it! Ev, he must love you!"

"Please, don't rush things, Clare."

"I'm sorry, but that's so exciting!"

I giggled, "Okay, okay, stop shaking the bed!" She stopped bouncing. "Tell me about Renard…"

"He…well…he asked me to eat dinner with him yesterday…"

I smiled, "How was it?"

"Oh, he asked yesterday, we're eating dinner tomorrow!"

"Oh, good…I hope that goes well…"

"Did you ever figure out how old your lo—man is?"

"Thirty-nine."

"Oh, four years…that's a good age difference…" she noted.

"What defines a 'good' age difference?"

"I don't know, but that's a good one."

I rolled my eyes, "I'll admit, I was just glad he wasn't forty-five…"

She laughed, "Was that your fear?"

"No, but ten years is a lot."

Her laugh grew louder, "You're crazy."

"Possibly, but at least I am happy."

Cogsworth~

The next morning, I woke up grotesquely early. I walked out of the castle and strolled through the gardens. (this is inspired a bit by Tables Turned) The sun finally began to rise and I took in a deep breath as I admired it. I heard a soft gasp and I turned to see Eveline admiring the sunrise before her. "Good morning…" I quietly addressed her.

She turned to me with a surprised expression which quickly turned to a smile, "Good morning…I've never seen anything quite this beautiful…"

"I have," I whispered, more to myself than her. She cocked her head in confusion. "You, ma chérie."

"Thank you…" she sighed, "I never realized how much prettier the coming of the sun is than the departure of it."

"It is quite magical, is it not?"

"Most definitely."

"Eveline, what exactly happened yesterday?" I inquired as I longed to know what had happened with her sister.

"Oh…" she replied, "Immediately after you left, Clare returned in tears. I asked if we could discuss what's going on. She asked what there was to discuss since she, and I'm quoting her here, is a terrible sister and immature. So, we talked it through…" she took a deep breath as I tried to process what had just been disclosed. "She and some of the others around her age had discussed missing out on their teen years, so they devised a plan to cause drama because that's what teenagers do…" She looked down to the ground; I watched as a tear fell down her cheek. "She listened in to our conversation and felt horrible…I could have nurtured her better after we started courting…my negligence caused this…"

"Oh, Eveline, please do not blame yourself," I pulled her into a gentle hug, "It is over now…it could never be your fault."

"I failed as a sister, Cogsworth!"

"You tried, my dear one, what else could be expected of you?" I rubbed her back lightly and listened to her sobbing die down. As I looked down at her, I felt all the surety in the world of my love for her. Her vulnerable frame broke my heart and I longed to fix any problem. I knew I could not wait another minute to tell her how I felt, "Eveline?"

"Hm?"

"I know this is not the perfect time, but I am incapable of holding this back any longer. You make me so happy, ma chérie, and I wish to bring you all the happiness you bring me and more. I love you, Eveline."

I smiled at her and watched as her expression changed from one of regret to one of joy. She clapped her hands together in front of her heart and gasped, "Oh Cogsworth! I love you too!"

I pulled her into another hug and spun her around in the air. It felt so wonderful to know the one I loved felt the same. Her beautiful laughter filled the air.

"Oh Cogworth, that is wonderful!" Lumiere exclaimed later that day, "I am so happy for you, mon ami!"

"Merci Lumiere."

"So…" he asked, nudging my shoulder, "When are you going to ask her?"

"You mean matrimony? Oh, Lumiere, I just professed my love today!"

"Is that not what the prince did?

"I cannot move that quickly Lumiere. Some can, but not me, I assure you. Besides, Eveline does not seem like one to rush either."

"Yes, of course, but what if you are wrong?"

That question resonated in my head for the next few hours. I was walking around checking on the servants when I felt a tug on my sleeve. I turned to see Clarisse looking at me with sad eyes. "Bonjour…" she greeted me in barely a whisper.

"Bonjour Clarisse."

"I am terribly sorry for the way I've acted, monsieur…and this time I really mean it. Eveline doesn't even know I'm apologizing…last time she put me up to it…I'm very sorry, monsieur…I had no right to act in such an immature and invasive way."

"All is forgiven, mademoiselle…please, address me as Cogsworth; it would bring me great pleasure. And mademoiselle?"

"Oui?"

"Thank you for apologizing. It takes a brave girl to not only own up to her shortcomings, but to also admit her previous apology was illegitimate. You are a lovely young lady."

"Oh my! I deserve no such praise. And I actually came to you for another reason…"

"Yes?"

"I wanted to thank you—thank you for—for making my sister happy. She's never been happy like this…at least not before Raoul…you are a wonderful man….just perfect for my sister…I don't mean to be invasive, but even though she hasn't told you yet, she loves you dearly, Cogsworth. Keep her happy and I only hope you feel the same for her. Oh, I've said too much, I really must be going before I…au revoir!"

I chuckled at the girl, knowing that she had not intended to disclose that to me, but it was fine because I already knew. "Clarisse!"

"Oui?"

"Your disclosure of that…it can be our secret. I will not tell her you said anything."

"Oh…thank you…" she walked away with a spring in her step and then I heard her gasp. "Bonjour Renard!"

"Bonjour Clarisse…how are you doing today?"

"Very well, et tu?"

"The same goes for me. I'm looking forward to dining with you this evening. It will be a pleasure."

"I look forward to it as well, Renard."

"I hope you have a wonderful day."

"Thank you, I hope the same for you…this evening will be delight, I am sure of it!"

"Definitely. Au revoir!"

I smiled at the happiness Clarisse seemed to be finding. She was a kind girl who just needed the proper love to overcome her jealousy. I walked to the dining room to find Eveline rearranging the china in the cabinet. "Bonjour ma chérie!"

"Oh!" she jumped in response to her startle and she began to fall, but I quickly made my way to catch her.

"Sorry…" I said quietly.

She smiled at me, "It's quite alright."

I returned the smile as I held her in my arms, "You will never guess what just happened to me."

I placed her back on the ground. "What happened?"

"Your sister came and apologized…" I recounted her apology with every detail besides her telling me that Eveline loved me.

"Oh Cogsworth! That's wonderful!" She hugged me.

"I think we shall have a much easier time henceforth."

"Oh yes, most definitely!"

I picked her up and looked her directly in the eyes, "How about a picnic this evening. This time I will pack it and impress you with my culinary expertise."

"Culinary expertise?" she asked skeptically.

"Oh oui, I have been the Head of the Household for twelve years…I should know how to prepare a proper meal."

"Cogsworth, you were a clock for ten of them…"

I chuckled, "Then I guess you will be surprised." I put her down and kissed her forehead.

"You truly are amazing, my love…" she said slowly, clearly unsure if the address of 'my love' was appropriate.

"Not as amazing as you, ma armour," I kissed her cheek before leaving.

Okay, so as mentioned in a previous author's note and in the midst of this chapter, I got the whole sunrise thing from Tables Turned, completely forgetting the significance in that story. Also, as previously mentioned, I HIGHLY recommend reading it; I've probably read it at least a half dozen times and it just doesn't get old. It's incredible. So, yeah, I hope you enjoyed this and I forgot a disclaimer at the beginging and don't feel like scrolling up: I don't own Beauty and the Beast, which is probably good, because whoever does wrote a lot better than I ever could.