Sorry It has been awhile but here is the next Chapter, Enjoy

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Chapter 2: This Time

1 year later

Gaston paced the floor wearing thin the rug beneath his feet.

This time it must be a boy! He bitterly contemplated.

Another muffled cry resonated through the small house interrupting his impatient pacing. Taking a seat in front of the fireplace he poked the embers trying to reignite the blaze from the coals he had ignored.

It will be a boy, she wouldn't dare deny me again.

As Gaston reflected on his personal misfortunes, someone else entered the room.

Gaston looked down as she toddled around the room, reaching for whatever caught her fancy. The chestnut haired toddler had been completely forgotten in all the excitement and had used her new found freedom to her advantage, as evidenced by the splattering of flour across her clothes.

As he observed his daughter, Gaston's thoughts turned to what a disappointment she was. Truth be told he had barely payed her any attention since she was born. In fact, this was the first time he had ever found himself alone with her. It wasn't that she was particularly troublesome; actually, often times he found he forgot her existence entirely. It was just that wounded pride was an acutely painful affliction that was difficult to heal.

Ignoring her watchful father, the one year old continued her exploration of the room. For once unobstructed by her mother's watchful eye. Her own large gaze caught sight of the shiny rifle propped against the hearth and her animal like curiosity drew her to it. As her chubby little hands reached for the weapon her small foot caught on the rug pulling her down to the hard wood floor.

He watched as she fell down. He had a moment of concern before he remembered that he didn't like the child.

Any other baby would have cried for the sympathy of its mother after such a tumble, but not her. Gaston smiled in spite of himself as he noted that there were no tears in her eyes, only a righteous fury. She pushed herself up on fat arms smacking the ground with an indignant little fist for betraying her. Once on her feet she stomped her little foot on the rug that tripped her in outrage, her nostrils flaring angrily in frustration.

Gaston couldn't help it and let out a loud belly laugh slapping his chair so hard it shook the floor causing the little girl who had just set herself to rights to fall back on her bum.

He stood still chucking to himself. He picked up the child's rag doll from the floor and dropped it in her lap patting her head uncharacteristically.

The child looked up at him curiously with those large violet eyes, judging him with her intelligent gaze. Gaston's temporary good humor left as he stared back.

(Sigh) "At least you're a pretty one, that's something I suppose."

Ignoring his child once again he continued his pacing.

The little girl watched the big man with loud boots continue his walk. She couldn't understand all the excitement. The only thing she did comprehend was that she couldn't find her mother.

Oddly enough this didn't frighten the small child; it only filled her small being with an irritating curiosity, after all mama had always been there…so where could she have gone?

A baby's cry broke the silence.

Gaston bolted up the stairs leaving the toddler alone and forgotten.