I don't have much to say about this one...disclaimer: I pretty much just own Eveline and Clarisse.

He took his hand in mine and we walked to our normal picnic spot. "What a lovely evening…" I took a deep breath. "Is this anything like what you expected for your life?

"Not at all…I was planning on retiring early…now, I really cannot imagine leaving the castle…leaving you…" he allowed his words to linger. "I never saw myself falling in love with a coworker or learning to enjoy being in the castle…but here I am and I would not have it any other way."

"Neither would I."

"What about you? How did you imagine your life turning out?"

I gave him a sassy smile, "That is not what I asked nor what you answered."

"If you answer, I will…I want to discuss it…I am rather curious."

"Alright, if you insist," I smirked at him. "I never thought I would find love…I believed love was for someone else, but not me. I figured because someone left me in…in such nasty ways…that I—that I—I never deserved it, I suppose. I saw myself raising my sister until she found love, because, well, of course she would and at a young age…but then the enchantment came and I obviously saw myself remaining a plate for the rest of my days…"

"What about after she found love?"

I shrugged, "I never really knew. I figured that, at the time she was so young, why worry about it then? I would cross that path closer to its coming…but that time never came, so I never really worried about it. I guess I had a fear that I would live the rest of my life alone, possibly depending on Clare for everything…that's what life is like once you lose your parents at such a young age. Fear, confusion. Clare was always my biggest concern though."

"How could you bare so much at such a young age? How old were you?"

"When they passed away?" I blew outward, "I was eleven when my father passed on...I don't remember him too much, though. My mom…sixteen…"

"Oh my…" He wiped a tear that I hadn't noticed away from my cheek. "I am sorry, Eveline."

"It is all past, and I have been okay for long enough that it is no longer haunting my dreams."

"Have you dreamt of your parents, as well?"

"My mother, specifically…I harbored guilt over her death for numerous years…I no longer possess those feelings, so please don't tell me it isn't my fault, I know…I dreamt of ways that it actually was my fault…which was awful, yet comforting. My dreams showed me that there was nothing I could do about the quick rising of smallpox."

He kissed my forehead with tenderness. I felt his breath on the bridge of my nose and smiled weakly. He backed away and leaned back on his arms. I responded by leaning my shoulder against his. I turned to him and smiled. "My turn?" I nodded my head. "Well, after Geneviève, I imagined myself working here until retirement. After retirement, I planned to move into a small cottage in the woods and live the rest of my days in leisure."

"Alone?"

"Yes."

"Would have you gone through with it?"

"I doubt it. It sounds like a miserable life to me...though, I was stubborn—"

"Was?"

He chuckled, "and refused to believe that the future would be anything I did not plan."

"What about when you were younger?"

"Well, I imagined myself with Geneviève…I pictured us in a small cabin in the woods with a child and living a life of contentment. I had no means or desire to work. I just wanted her…I was quite the pathetic boy."

I cupped his face in my left hand, "Who grew to become a remarkable man." We locked eyes for several seconds before he slowly leaned toward me. I shyly complied as my eyes closed. I felt a soft kiss. Though gentle, I felt his passion and enjoyed the moment with everything within me. I eventually pulled away slowly and placed my hands on my lips. He smiled at me and gently kissed my forehead again. I realized that kissing Cogsworth was not a forced endeavor. The gentleness he had made it easy for me to escape had I wanted to, unlike Raoul who forcibly kissed me as I was pinned to a wall. I shuddered at the thought.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

I looked into his concern-filled eyes, "I am just realizing how considerate and kind you are."

"What do you mean?"

"I wish I could claim that as the first time I had ever been kissed…" I turned my gaze away from his, "But that is not the case and I never wanted it before. It was always forced and rough and…" I turned back to him, "Not you."

He gave me a sad smile, "Well it is me now." I bit my lip before initiating another kiss. Yet again the word 'free' came into my head. I had never initiated a kiss before, it was always Raoul and I had never desired them. At that point, I was in paradise. Nothing compared to the joy and freedom that Cogsworth brought me. As we pulled apart, I smiled at him.

"Thank you…"

"For what?"

"For bringing me freedom."

He pulled me into a hug, "Oh, ma chérie, I am the one who should be thanking you."