Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Cosette and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.

Innocence of a Child Chapter 2

As Belle and Cosette returned to their family's comfy little cottage they could hear the telltale melodious sounds of a music box playing from their father's workshop. Cosette smiled swaying slightly on her feet back and forth listening to the music. Everything her adoptive father created with his artistic talents was beautiful. It was purely improbable for her not to love them all.

Before going down to the workshop the two sisters went inside the main part of the house to cut up some cheese, bread, and butter for their father's breakfast. Afterward, they went into the root cellar Maurice had converted into his personal workshop years ago after first arriving in this village.

Maurice was currently putting the finishing touches on one of his music boxes while listening to the tune. This was the last one. The rest were lined up on shelves in neat little rows ready to get transported to a marketplace a couple of towns over to be sold. You see he went there every year to sell his wears and today was one such day. Lost in his little world remembering times long passed and the woman he loved Maurice sang softly to the music.

The two sisters stood pressed together smiling fondly at Maurice with love listening to him sing. Cosette loved it when he sang lullabies to her at night. He did it when she was a baby and he continues to do so now upon her pleasure. He always chased the monsters away in any terrible nightmares in the evening.

Maurice was completely unaware of their presence until Belle revealed herself by walking out of the shadow carrying a plate of food to him.

"Oh Belle, Cosette," said Maurice, smiling. He then lowered his eyes to the gizmos of the music box through his glasses, tinkering with them.

Belle walked around one side of the table he was sitting at while Cosette circled the other. Belle set the plate down in a clear spot.

"Hmmm," hummed Maurice, "Belle, can you please hand me the-."

Before Maurice was even finished Belle placed the screwdriver he was asking for into his hand. Belle knew him so well she could figure out what he wanted before he even asked it. It was an intuitive talent she always possessed.

"Thank you," said Maurice, using the device to adjust a loose hook in the music portion of the artistic windmill music box.

"And I also need-," said Maurice, turning to Belle to find she already had the piece he was looking for inside her palm. "No. No. No. Actually…yes, that's exactly what I need. Thank you."

Taking the offered gear he put it into its correct spot inside the music box and situated it within. Cosette sat on a neighboring stool watching him fascinated.

Taking another music box standing on the table and placing it in an empty box, voicing a thought weighing heavily on her mind, Belle said "Papa, do you think I'm odd?"

Cosette shook her head empathetically at that with gusto.

"Odd," said Maurice, disapprovingly, sitting a bit straighter at such a preposterous notion. "My daughter? Odd? Where did you get an idea like that?"

"I don't know. People talk," she said, shutting the lid securely on the top of the box.

"This is a small village, you know. Small-minded as well. But small also means safe," said Maurice, gently reminding Belle of why he took her to this small country village in the first place. "Even back in Paris, I knew a girl like you, who was so…ahead of her time. So different. People mocked her. Until the day they all found themselves imitating her."

Belle knew whom Maurice spoke of with such deep regret and longing.

Rising from her seat on a crate, Belle said "Please, just tell me one more thing about her."

"Your mother was…," said Maurice, pausing in his work to think of the right words to explain how he felt to describe the one woman who'd meant everything to his heart, "fearless. Fearless."

Belle smiled at that as did Maurice as he closed the music box he was working on.

Tilting her head, looking at the portrait of the woman in question, Cosette asked "Would she have liked me?"

Chuckling, leaning down to kiss Cosette on the head, with conviction, Maurice said "She would've loved you."

It was now time to go.

After hitching the family horse Philippe and loading all the music boxes in wooden containers into the back of a wagon Maurice was ready to head to the market, but not alone. He'd have a passenger accompanying him.

Somehow Cosette had convinced him to take her along for the ride weeks ago. Maurice was left befuddled. He didn't know what he'd been thinking. He'd never let Belle come along with him before claiming it was too dangerous. So he did know what strangeness had come over him, but Belle did. Belle knew her father could never refuse Cosette. The little one had the old man wrapped around her little finger without him ever realizing it.

"So," said Maurice to Belle, seated at the front of the wagon with Cosette beside him, "what can I bring you from the market?"

"A rose," said Belle, repeating the answer she gave every year each time he asked the same question. "Like the one in the painting."

"You ask for that every year," sighed Maurice, exasperated.

Belle countered "And every year you bring it."

"Then I shall bring you another," promised Maurice, cupping Belle's face lovingly. "You have my word."

Stepping away from the wagon, Belle said "Goodbye, Papa. Goodbye, Cosette."

"Bye Belle," said Cosette, bouncing in her seat excitedly causing Maurice and Belle to laugh at her.

"Come on, Philippe," said Maurice, snapping the reins. Philippe whinnied and moved into a brisk trot. "You know the way."

"I'll see you both tomorrow," said Belle, now standing on the front porch.

"Right," called Maurice. "Tomorrow with the rose."

From her seat, Cosette turned to look back at her sister waving at her with the ribbons she'd gotten in her lap. Belle smiled in amusement waving back at her. She watched as the wagon and her family disappeared around the corner of the bend.

Frowning worriedly, Belle murmured, "Stay safe."

Authors Note:

I think we all know that the two of them having a rather sedate trip is not going to happen.

And here goes Cosette, the adventure truly begins for her. I think you can all guess what's happening next chapter this time around.

Hmm…Cosette is bringing the ribbons with her. Do you guys think there's any purpose with her doing that? ;)

I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D

For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.

So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.

I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.