Still in the spot where Amandine dumped her, Martine, having already turned a shade of light blue from the cold, shivered as she wrapped her cape around her, teeth chattering as she pondered, not for the first time, about what she had gotten herself into.

She had been sitting outside Leon's cottage for weeks now and there was still no sign of him or Madeleine and Amandine hadn't even bothered to come and check on her, not caring if she froze to death and everyone in the village was scarcely around since it was now winter and their focus was now on keeping warm, gathering food and supplies for their families.

But a few women had given her some food when they had passed by, mistaking Martine for a wretched, beggar woman rather than the small girl who was well-known for following Amandine around and catering to her every whim.

By now, if she hadn't already, she had serious doubts about the plan and her friendship with Amandine, which had been toxic to say the least and one-sided, with her being on the wrong side and on the receiving end of insults, physical and mental abuse when their plans went awry and having heartfelt gifts rejected and not being able to talk and be with her true love, Jean-Luc.

'And for what?' Martine said to no one in particular, 'Immunity from being teased and having people know who I am and respecting me? Basking in her glory and doing EVERYTHING for her only to be called 'frog-face' and 'doofus' without so much as a simple 'thank-you?'

Not letting me be with Jean-Luc, who I love most in the world?

To have her throw a good wedding gift in my face, because the band can't play a single tune and that I practically had to give nearly all my money to? And now, making me stand outside Leon's cottage to freeze to death, so she can get what she wants? Why am I going along with this plan?

Only because Amandine told me to and she doesn't have the decency to check on me if I'm alright or give me warm clothes and food! And does she care? Noooo!

And to think I sang that song for her! It was nice of LeFou to suggest it but..

No, Amandine, contrary to what I led you to believe, I DID NOT mean every word of that dumb song, because you..'

Suddenly, Martine felt a warm cape being draped on her and the kind, hazel eyes of Jean-Luc looking at her lovingly, as he knelt down in front of her.

Coming home from his latest hunting trip, he had seen and heard her ranting to herself and light blue from the cold, he was concerned that she was going mad and went over to her, not caring if she saw it as taboo, since he was worried about the girl he loved.

'Hey, Martine,' he said. Martine smiled, then gasped for she had just broken the sacred taboo when she was with Amandine, what she repeatedly reminded her about and was hit on the head for and shouted at- talking to Jean-Luc.

'What on earth are you doing sitting out in the cold? Don't you realise that you will get dangerously sick or freeze to death out here? Why are you doing this to yourself?' Jean-Luc said, holding her close, only for Martine to push him off.

'Why did you do that for, Martine? I'm only trying to help you and keep you warm!' he said, recoiling at her rejection, 'I'm not going to hurt you!'

'I'm so sorry, Jean-Luc but you mustn't get close to me! I just broke the sacred rule, that I'm not allowed to talk to you and if Amandine was to find out, I'll get whacked far worse than I already do!

Besides, she told me to look out for Leon and his mother and the cold never bothered me anyway!' Martine said, trying to sound convincing, but Jean-Luc wasn't buying it, as he raised an eyebrow at her.

'Martine, what are you talking about?' Jean-Luc said, 'the cold must be messing with your head! Leon isn't coming back anytime soon, since that beast is obviously keeping him prisoner and it's not like he can escape anyway and Madeleine had disappeared to goodness only knows where!

Don't you even realise that Amandine doesn't even care about you at all? She's only using and abusing you; just to make you do her bidding and dirty work!

She doesn't even love Leon at all, which is obvious even to an idiot! She only wants to marry him because of his looks and to give him beautiful little girls and to have him all to herself..'

'I already know that, Jean-Luc, you don't have to remind me,' said Martine.

'Face it, Martine, Amandine cares about nobody but herself!' said Jean-Luc, 'and I know that you're thinking, why am I telling you this, when you have seen me pretending to swoon over her and feigning tears at the proposal? That Leon isn't the only one who sees the real Amandine, when no one else can?

It's because I hate the woman like poison! The only reason that I act crazy about Amandine, like all the boys do and join in on the teasing of Leon is that I don't get shunned and picked on as well, like he does about being different and you do about your looks.

But Amandine, behind that façade of a lovely beauty, is an evil, insane, selfish, manipulative, heartless woman who doesn't care who she has to hurt to get what she wants, only likes people for their looks and uses her beauty to get others to do her dirty work!

And she's not letting you be your own person, Martine, she just sees you as her lackey who she can control and abuse and to look more beautiful by being seen with an..'

Jean-Luc stopped, seeing Martine's hurt look at about to be called ugly and a frog-face, having heard it many times before and then said,

'Tell me, Martine, what do you see in her? Why do you let yourself be controlled by her? Why do you put up with her abuse, cruel rejection of your gifts and insults?

And more importantly, why did you sing that godawful song about her? Did you REALLY mean all that, or were you trying to please her, so that she wouldn't lash out at you anymore?

And what's this so-called plan that you have with her, involving Antoine and the asylum? You can tell me, Martine, for I love you dearly and I want us to be together, like we should be, free from bad influences,' Jean-Luc said, his eyes misty, as he held Martine close to him.

This time, she didn't hesitate, as she relaxed in his embrace, happy that she was with her love and for the first time ever, she didn't care that she broke the sacred rule and that she was going behind Amandine's back by talking to the boy she loved dearly.

'I can't tell you the plan, Jean-Luc, it's a secret,' Martine whispered, as she remembered Amandine saying that.

'But do you want to know why I hang around Amandine and cater to her every whim, giving her gifts and songs to cheer her up, why I go to LeFou for advice for being a sidekick to a LeGume, putting up with being called 'frog-face,' and a 'doofus' and being put down because of how I look, following her around like a little dog..'

'But you get treated WORSE than a dog,' Jean-Luc added.

'It's because.. I get respect from everyone, that they all know who I am and don't tease me about looking like a frog and having bug-like eyes, a piggy nose and a disgusting, manky mop for hair and that I'm nothing more than a doofus who can't do anything right!'

'Martine, stop saying that about yourself!' Jean-Luc said, 'You are NOT a frog-faced doofus, you are kind, friendly, sweet and funny, better than Amandine, the Bimbette cousins and the Beauforts, who may be beautiful, but are empty-headed, snobby, stuck-up and stupid!

I know that you are more than just Amandine's sidekick but that's how everyone knows you, instead of who you really are. You don't need to be with her to make people notice you and to deal with the teasing.

But you've got to be who you are, so that everyone can see that you're not just a weak lackey who can't think for yourself and lets others boss you around! I love you for who you are, not for your looks, it doesn't matter to me!

You can't pretend to be something that you're not!' Jean-Luc said and then he had a realisation, as his words buzzed around him. What he was saying to Martine was also about him, how he was hanging around Henri, Pierre and Francois, along with the other boys and it wasn't entirely his choice.

Pretending to idolise a person he absolutely hated, who he saw as a terrible role model for boys, wearing his jerkin and having competed in those stupid Gaston Games, even though he came third, being used by Henri and the boys because he was the best hunter and fisher in the village.

Being threatened with exclusion when they had seen him defending Leon and watching on, as Leon was humiliated by kissing Cecile, laughing along with the others and joining in on the bullying, gossip, mockery, teasing and rejection of him, so that he wouldn't face the same fate.

But just like Martine, he too was having doubts about being a Muscular Man, that he never wanted to be in the first place, part of a group of idiot boys who idolised a brute who had been dead for many years and his legacy left in the Games, the statue where they hung out and behaved obnoxiously at girls, and the tavern, which still had his trophies and portrait which made him sick just looking at them.

At this point, Jean-Luc no longer cared that he would be the next village pariah. He needed to be himself, be his own person and not something that he wasn't. He knew that he wasn't at all like Gaston and never wanted to be.

And he wanted to be true friends with Leon, as they were already and not when they were away from the village, if he ever came back, that is and be with the girl he loved, Martine, who he knew wasn't evil at all, just too badly influenced by Amandine, doing things that she would never do, just like he was by Henri and the boys.

'Jean-Luc,' said Martine, bringing him back to reality, 'do you realise that what you have said to me about Amandine and the way she treats me, is the very thing that Henri, Pierre, Francois, Beauden, Stephane and the boys are doing to YOU?

That they're using you because you are good at hunting and fishing and won free beer for a year with your third placing at the Games? Because as far as I can remember, you hated Henri and the idea of being like Gaston, so I never really understood why you hung around them and did things that you would never do.'

'I did realise that, Martine and I'm no longer one of them, as of tonight,' said Jean-Luc, 'I'm fed up with their boorish behaviour, inadequate hunting and fishing skills, getting drunk all the time, behaving like idiots around girls, swooning over Amandine, bullying and teasing Leon, Francois drinking all the beer, Henri promising me that I would be his deputy, only never fulfilling it and having to be a spectator when Leon is picked on.

They may still think that I'm a Muscular Man, but I'm not, never was and never will be,' he said, 'and what I want most now is to be with you, Martine and to be friends with Leon, if he ever manages to escape from that castle he's in and to be the hunter I always have to be.

But as me, not as a clone of Gaston, that's all I want and I love you so much, Martine.' Jean-Luc said, as he leaned in to kiss Martine. She was surprised at first and then felt all tingly inside as his lips pressed into hers, as it got deeper and deeper as they held each other tight against the cold, which made Martine forget about being a lookout and freezing in the cold, for Jean-Luc's kiss and embrace made her warm and fuzzy inside.

'I love you too, Jean-Luc and I'm happy that we're together now,' Martine said, when they broke apart, 'all we need is to break free from Amandine and the boys so we can make it happen without having to go away from prying eyes. I'm glad that I broke the rule for once.'

'Can you stay with me tonight?' she then said, 'I still have to stay here and not leave this spot and I could use some company to make this lookout post more bearable.'

'Of course, I don't want to go back to the tavern anyway,' said Jean-Luc as they kissed again and they spent the cold night outside Leon's cottage, sleeping in each other's arms, happy that their love had finally blossomed and were hopeful that Leon and Madeleine would safely return to the village.

Unaware that Martine was at this moment breaking her rules and had her first kiss with Jean-Luc and not caring that she was nearly freezing to death, Amandine was in her room in the tavern, enjoying her fifth milk bath of the day and fantasising about her and Leon and their wedding and new life, when her plan would be successful and he would come to his senses and marry her.

She could see it now, a vision of white, as she walked confidently down the aisle, in a beautiful white wedding dress made of the finest silk, lace and pearls, wearing her best pearl necklace, her veil trailing on a rich red carpet,.

All the villagers' eyes were on her, as the girls and women glared jealously at her while the boys cried pathetically at her feet, wishing it was one of them who would be at the altar, looking at her as she was about to become his wife.

At the altar, Leon was smiling and looking at her lovingly, wearing the same suit that her uncle wore at his failed proposal to Belle and looking every inch the handsome man she loved and wanted more than anything.

His eyes met hers as they exchanged vows and rings and kissed for the first time as husband and wife, feeding each other wedding cake and the girls competing viciously for the bouquet which she tossed over the carriage as it rode into the sunset, ready to start her new life with Leon.

She then dreamed of their beautiful little house in the woods, sitting around eating truffles and wearing beautiful dresses, as Leon brought home his latest kill for dinner, massaging her feet, her looking on proudly as he held up the Gaston Games trophy for the first time and kissing him, happy that he finally took up hunting, sports and fishing rather that wasting his time reading silly books and studying subjects that would be no use to anyone.

Then she saw their beautiful little daughters, wearing the same dress as hers in all the colours of the rainbow, with their parents' beauty and different hairstyles with bows to match their dresses, playing happily with their dolls and cats on the floor.

Seeing them brushing each other's hair and her and Leon spoiling them with gifts, anything they desired and living out their later years together peacefully in the woods, having lived happy and meaningful lives.

Amandine sighed happily, as she let herself sink into the tub, knowing that soon it would be a reality and was deciding on names for her daughters, the first one being Ruby for her red dress she imagined her wearing, when all of a sudden, there was a sharp knock on the door, which snapped her out of her daydreaming and making her sit up, coughing and spluttering up milk.

'AMANDINE!' a voice shouted, which was Genevieve and it was very unusual for her to shout, since she was so timid and mousy, but something had to be wrong to make her angry.

But Amandine was more annoyed at having her private time and wonderful dream being interrupted than caring about the unusual mood her mother was in, as she hastily got out of the tub and put a dressing gown on, as Genevieve entered with an angry look etched on her otherwise gentle and kind face.

'Mother!' Amandine said, annoyed that her mother had come into her room, invading her privacy, 'What are you doing in my room? Haven't you EVER heard of knocking? You know this is the time that I have my fifth milk bath and you know better not to disturb me!'

'I did knock madam, so don't get smart with me,' Genevieve said, sternly, 'I want to talk to you about something important.'

'What is it, Mother?' said Amandine, becoming concerned with her mother's sudden change in mood, 'Can you make it quick because I would like to get back to my milk bath, so I can look gorgeous for the boys when they come later tonight!'

'This is more important than your silly milk baths!' said Genevieve, 'A whole pouch of money, which I had saved for housekeeping and our winter supplies, has gone missing and I believe that you had something to do with it?'

Amandine froze, for it was the very pouch she had used to bribe Antoine to help her carry out her plan and it was better than having to use it for silly things such as firewood for the tavern, as the boys and men could provide that, along with food and beer but Genevieve saw it anything but.

With her mother frowning at her, her hands on her hips and waiting for an explanation, Amandine did what she did best and lied.

'I don't know what you're talking about, Mother,' she said, 'You must have misplaced it somewhere, since you are such a scatterbrain and always leaving things around. Why would I take money when someone can just give it to me?'

'Don't you lie to me, Amandine!' said Genevieve, 'I KNOW you took it and spent it on yourself, with your silly milk baths, ridiculous dresses that make you look like a harlot and show off your chest, expensive jewellery, make up and perfumes!

Tell me where the money went or I swear to God that I will sell every one of your dresses, shoes, jewellery, your fancy tub and perfume, so I can make back the money you took!'

'Mother, would you relax?' Amandine said, 'This isn't like you at all!'

'Yes, I did..borrow the money but I didn't spend it on dresses this time. It was for something else that was important that silly household stuff. After all, the men and boys will provide for us by giving us what we need, for the winter..'

'It doesn't work like that, Amandine, you stupid, spoilt, selfish girl!' shouted Genevieve, 'We're supposed to provide for the village, not the other way around and how on earth are we going to survive if I don't have that money?

Where did I go wrong with you, Amandine? I'm supposed to be the adult around here, taking charge of the household, not you!

Because I've had enough! I've given you everything that you ever wanted, spoiled you so that I wouldn't lose you, but you never reciprocated my love and care for you and you don't care about anyone but yourself!

If I have had the choice twenty years ago, it would've been kinder to have put you in the orphanage so that I could spare myself the shame and embarrassment of having an illegitimate child with Gaston's useless brother!' said Genevieve.

'How dare you call me that and badmouth Father!' Amandine shouted, her cheeks blushing at hearing the circumstances of her birth, something that she had always tried to hide, 'If you had done that, then there would be no LeGume left to be adored and admired in the village!'

'You should have been grateful that I didn't do that because I loved you too much and didn't want to give you up and the village didn't want me to either, since you are what's left of Gaston!

I'm not sorry that your father is dead because he was a horrible brute, who had his wicked way with me, and I paid the price by having his daughter who would grow up to be just like him and his brother and I'm glad that you never had the chance to know them!' Genevieve said.

She had finally reached her breaking point and letting out twenty years of frustration out on her daughter, who was starting at her, like she couldn't believe that this very person that was angry at her was her own mother, whom she supposedly loved.

'Mother, I..' Amandine began, but Genevieve didn't want to hear anymore and left the room, slamming the door behind her. Amandine then resumed her milk bath but was not feeling relaxed as her mother's outburst stung her.

Why was everyone denying her what she wanted? It was like a poison had seeped through the village and it was being eaten by the people she relied on and loved.

First, it had been Leon, then Antoine (at first) and unbeknownst to her, Martine, who was cuddling up with Jean-Luc as Amandine sat in that bath and now her mother.

'I didn't ask to be born, you know,' she whispered to the door, 'It's not my fault that I was the result of a fling between you and Father and that he had to die because he attempted to kill the king. I didn't ask to be the last surviving LeGume and having to live out Uncle Gaston's legacy.'

Elsewhere, Genevieve was in her room, reflecting on what she had said to Amandine. It had felt good to let out her frustrations, but she didn't actually mean for it to go as far as it did, although it had been true.

Not for the first time, she was wondering what it would have been like if she had given up Amandine to the orphanage but she knew that the villagers wouldn't have allowed it, even though in normal circumstances, she would have faced the wrath and distain of having a child out of wedlock.

But since she was the last surviving relative of their late hero, Gaston, they had to make an exception and she kept her daughter, her little flower, as she always called her, but now she had blossomed into a deadly and poisonous one.

'I know I may be wicked for thinking this,' Genevieve whispered to herself, ' and that she's all I got and I do love her, but maybe…just maybe I would be better off without her. Then I wouldn't be so tired, ill, sad and frustrated all the time.'

'Why did I let Anton have his way with me and have his child?' she sighed sadly.

Yay, Jean-Luc and Martine are a couple and Genevieve, for the first time in her life, has laid down the law but probably not the way she would have wanted and there are some of the reasons why Amandine is the way she is and what Genevieve must have been thinking when she found out she was pregnant with her.

Read and review and thank you to Mistress Malicia, PurpleNicole531, Mr Gatsby, dehnl7517, tobehonest17 and many others for your reviews!