A/N: So I got hit with a sledgehammer with a lot of ideas for Refuge and just all the different ways I could have taken it. I have been pleasantly surprised over the years every time someone told me that they consider Refuge to be a Christmas favorite, so it seemed like December was the ideal month to weekly dedicate all the ways Refuge could have gone. I'm still writing, so don't be surprised that there's a chance that this might just to leak into January.
Regrets
Baron's biggest regret was that he didn't feel like he had led a full life.
Even before the curse separated his body and spirit, he could have walked along the halls of his ancestral home blindfolded, but it still tore at his heart that he couldn't remember the sound of his own footsteps as he stalked the familiar corridors and rooms.
It tore at him even more that he could do so little for his friends. He couldn't imagine being forced to live off of mice, bugs and garbage the way Toto and Renaldo had done. It had been easier for them when Johnny was alive, but alas, the dear man had proven all too mortal.
Baron soundlessly passed through the kitchen, both dismally remembering the way it had looked in his lifetime and wistfully wishing that he had a way to enjoy one last cup of tea before his time truly came to an end.
"It's not like it would even be that hard of a curse to break," he muttered to himself, picking up a tea kettle just to prove he could. "It's just the obligations afterward, never mind if someone suitable would be willing to do it."
It was all too cruel. Adrien's heritage had been steeped in such tales, which is probably how he thought of the curse in the first place. Before the Nazi had revealed his true colors, Baron had made the mistake of venting in front of Adrien how difficult finding a good woman was, let alone one that stayed that way after marriage.
Although Baron would have happily traded his soul for such a woman, how was he supposed to tell the character accurately enough before opening his chambers to her?
It was just too risky. It was too risky to so much as let Renaldo and Toto find out, since they were likely to go out and drag the first girl unlucky enough to cross their path to his bedroom.
Without warning, he sensed just as much as he heard a car pass through the gate and drive up to his manor.
"Please be bringing a decent tenant this time," Baron sighed as he floated through the various walls until his awareness was outside his ancestral home.
Angelica was at it again, coming out of her side of the car with a surprised expression. "You've heard of this place?!"
"I've done some reading," a sweet voice breathed as the owner stepped out of her door and closed it behind her, shouldering a large bag without much thought as she stared at the manor almost breathlessly.
She was a lovely thing, Baron was certain he'd have thought so even without the decades of isolation. Underfed, yes, dressed head to toe in mourning black other than a white sweater, yes, but still fetching. He couldn't tell through her gloves if she was wearing a wedding ring, but the baby strapped to her front indicated a strong commitment. Widowed?
Baron shook his head with disgust at himself. "She could easily be taking care of business for her husband and is fond of black. Don't get any ideas."
Though it would perhaps simplify things if another man's wife released him. If he had the chance to explain and offer proper compensation for the deed, perhaps the following obligations wouldn't be needed.
Not that it kept him from hovering around the woman to get a good look at her baby. His heart couldn't help but melt at the sweet innocence he found as the infant blinked at the sunlight with the same large maple eyes as the mother. The choice of a white shirt and pink jumper only heightened her adorability, and there was even a tiny pink bow clipped to her jet-black hair.
"Well, I suppose there's one good thing if you do decide to live here. No one will dare bother you or your baby," Angelica offered nervously, though she was clearly unhappy about showing the manor to the young woman.
She tore her eyes away to look at the realtor with confusion. "Dare? Come to think of it, why hasn't this place been turned into a museum or a landmark yet? I had the understanding that the von Gikkingen line died out around Word War II."
"In a manner of speaking," Baron couldn't resist adding while scowling at his transparent body. "And I would happily accept a museum over a 'bed and breakfast'."
That might have been better for finding the right person to ask to release him. But it was equally possible that such an arrangement could lead to the same hooligans he feared would come with a bed and breakfast.
"… Well…" Angelica answered uneasily, bracing herself against a scornful reaction. "It's because the Baron never left. He's still haunting the place."
The brunette's maple eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" she asked in a neutral tone.
"I'm not trying to scare you off, but-" the realtor cut herself off as she noticed Toto land on a fence to begin his own investigation of mother and child. "Let's go inside. That crow's an actual demon."
"Crows only act like that if you're mean to them," the strange woman defended in matter of fact, but she still followed the realtor into the manor after it was quickly unlocked.
"Or if you are planning on something foolish like destroying my home or lands for money," Baron added as he slipped through the stone and mortar until they were in his foyer, a dusty, shabby version of its former self.
"So. What evidence do you have that the Baron is still around?" the woman asked, although she was already half-distracted by placing one hand and cheek against the wall, eyes closed as if it were as soothing as her own mother's touch.
It was pretty adorable when her baby also patted the wall, giggling like it was a game.
"There have been many incidences over the years. His aunt used this place to house the children of London after they were evacuated. Each and every one of those children swore that when a set of Nazi soldiers tried to storm the place, they were brutally stopped, and not by a human. A whip was involved, but no one could see the one wielding it."
Baron grinned rather wickedly at the memory. "It was a good night."
The woman thought about it. "Good," she decided. "Anyone that threatens children deserves a good whipping. Were there any other instances?"
Angelica walked the woman into the drawing room and pointed at the fireplace. "One of his favorite tricks is to light that without wood or flint, but it's one of the tamer ways he lets people know he's around. When a previous tenant tried to adjust the landscaping so he could turn this place into a golf course, all of his equipment stopped working when it worked perfectly fine before coming here. They tried to do the work manually after that, but then the equipment came alive without a key or a driver and chased all the workers off the property. The only tenant that's lasted here longer than a month or so was old Johnny, but he never really considered himself the owner as much as the caretaker."
That made the woman brighten up from her strange inspection of the portrait Baron had done with his mother before her time came. "So if I also act like a caretaker, he won't mind me at all?" she pressed.
That made Baron blink. A tenant hadn't caught on like that since Johnny.
"Are you really sure you want to live here, Miss Haru?" Angelica almost begged. "I mean, it's more than what you said you were looking for, and would it really be a good place for your little girl, so isolated?"
"I can work on that when she's older," Haru promised, turning her adoring features to her child as it started making some noises of distress. She bounced the baby up and down a little before discreetly checking the diaper. "Besides. I really like the idea of an extra protector for her. If he's really around, I think we both know he'll be overprotective around my Lou-Lou."
If Baron still had blood, it would have frozen at that half-forgotten pet name. He sharply looked at the baby again, but other than being a little girl in pink, there wasn't really much in common with the first 'Lou-Lou'. Except a bit around the eyes and the full baby cheeks.
Not that he had ever personally called her that. That honor was Toto's, and Toto's alone. How would he react at hearing that name again?
Angelica gave an almost desperate laugh. "I suppose that's true. No one knows what happened to Louise Drosselmeyer."
"Not even me," Baron whispered in agony. He'd give his soul to know what happened to his little friend.
This Louise would not be a replacement in any way, shape, or form. But she would be a comfort, and that was enough.
Miss Haru smiled sadly in understanding as she rubbed her daughter's back. "Why don't you show me the rest of the manor? I've already made up my mind, but I'd like to see how much work I have ahead of me."
"Will you really be able to handle it while juggling a baby?" Angelica asked worriedly, but Miss Haru still seemed unconcerned.
"Why not? Women have been juggling housework and children for millennia. I can afford to take some time off work to get this place back to its former glory, if the Baron doesn't insist on a lot of finery."
"I won't," he promised her, now unable to take his eyes off the child. His insubstantial arms were aching to hold her, but that would have to wait until after they moved in and after Miss Haru was asleep.
Although she seemed unconcerned about the possibility of living with a ghost, the first few times he announced his presence would still be…
No. That would be the perfect way to assure her he wanted her as a tenant. He'd have to time it carefully, though.
It was difficult, but he was able to tear himself away from Lou-Lou to make a quick check up to the official nursery. It wasn't that far from his personal quarters, but he had already decided which room would be Haru's. Since she didn't seem to want to be separated from her daughter, Baron carefully checked over the cradle that he himself had once occupied, as well as five generations of his family.
It was still sturdy and elaborate, though the linens were old and unfit for a new tenant of their own.
"She'll still get the idea," he decided, carefully using his powers as a ghost to lift the cradle a bit off the ground and guide it out of the room. He checked below to see the progress of Angelica's tour, setting down the cradle just out of sight of the grand staircase to wait for the right moment.
Just as he hoped, the floating cradle caught both of the women's undivided attention as they came up the stairs as it slowly passed down the hallway.
"He's at it again," Angelica moaned sickly, leaning heavily against the banister to keep herself from falling downstairs again.
Miss Haru also gripped a banister, her large maple eyes filled with shock as she cradled her daughter's head with her other hand. Baron halted the progress of the cradle so that it just stayed in line with her vision.
A bit hesitantly, the young woman finished walking up the staircase, so he inched the cradle a little farther before stopping again. She took the hint she was to follow, almost leaving the realtor behind as he walked down the corridor and opened the bedroom he felt would be best suited to her and her child.
Just as she was walking through the doorway, Baron angled the cradle into what would be the most convenient placement in the room and set it down. He even tried to fluff the pillow, but it only created a cloud of thick dust.
That was an embarrassment, but at least she would be sure to understand.
Haru stared at the bedroom, slowly turning in place before gently touching the intricate woodwork of the cradle. Her eyes filled with tears, but they were not born of sorrow. "I hear you, Baron. Loud and clear," she whispered happily.
"Oh, how I wish you meant that literally," Baron moaned, since she would have indicated earlier if she could hear him. He once again felt that stabbing regret that not even his friends could truly hear him.
Surely a sweet woman like this wouldn't mind a pet cat, at least. Renaldo was more than willing to be a pet if it meant getting fed properly, and she would see for herself that Toto was nothing to be worried about, especially once he overheard the baby's name.
Angelica caught up to them, clued in by the open door. "What was that?" she demanded while shaking.
Miss Haru wiped her tears on a black sleeve before turning to the realtor with a smile. "I don't think the Baron could state any clearer that he finds me suitable for a tenant. Or he's at least willing to put up with me to have a Louise back in his life. Or, you know what I mean," she hastily corrected herself with a nervous smile around the room.
"Indeed I do," he assured her while gazing at the baby with adoration. "And this time¸ I will not let her down."
ooOoo
It was agony to him, but it took two days for Miss Haru and Lou-Lou to return to the manor. The reason why was made plain when the mother parked a new truck in his garage filled with luggage, food, and cleaning supplies.
"Just you wait, Lou-Lou," Miss Haru promised her daughter, who was still strapped to her front but facing away from her this time. "If there's anywhere on the planet we'll be safe, it's here. Even if your sperm donor finds us, I doubt the Baron will put up with him trying to finish the job." The very thought was enough to stop her in her tracks and set the luggage she had just gotten out of the truck down so that she could desperately hug and kiss her child's soft hair.
Then not a widow. Baron set his teeth angrily as he imagined just what job was implied.
It simply wasn't fair. Why should someone who clearly didn't deserve a good woman find one, but he had such trouble?
"We will be safe here," Miss Haru repeated more firmly than before angrily dragging the wheeling luggage out of the garage and to the front door.
Renaldo was already in position, sunning himself in the summer light like he owned the manor instead of Miss Haru, who stopped at the sight of him.
"Could getting a cat really be this easy?" she muttered to herself.
"Yes it can. Please accept it," Baron begged for his friend, who must have had the same thoughts as he after Toto passed on that the manor had been sold to someone worth keeping around.
She shook off her disbelief and smiled for the white cat as she climbed the small set of steps. "Hello there. I don't suppose you need a home, do you?"
Renaldo meowed, but Baron could easily translate that to 'feed me and I'll do anything you say.'
Baron gnawed on an insubstantial fingernail as he studied the contents of the truck. "It will take her all day to unload that, especially if she's carrying Lou-Lou."
Deciding that Miss Haru needed all the strength she could save, especially for all the cleaning she had ahead of her, he used his powers to lift all the bags out of the truck and single-file themselves into the manor and to where they were meant to be.
Miss Haru was only partially up the stairs when the parade of bags entered the house after her. She stared in surprise as Muta purred around her ankles. "… I guess I have to get used to that," she muttered to herself before addressing Baron a bit louder. "Thank you for helping, I really appreciate it."
"You're most welcome," he assured her before leaving to monitor how the cleaning supplies were set in the normal closet and the food in its customary places in the kitchen.
He hadn't been all that thrilled with the modern touches the 'bed and breakfast' tenant had done, but at least Haru would have an easier time cooking for herself and Lou-Lou than if she had to learn how a traditional stove worked.
When Miss Haru entered the kitchen, everything was already set in its own place. "You must be really happy to have a reasonable tenant," she murmured aloud before checking cupboards. "But now I don't know where you put the tuna."
He retrieved it for her, determined to show that he wasn't trying to be a nuisance. In all honestly, he had tried to keep ahead of the dust the first few years of being cursed, but it had just become so depressing to watch it all fall back into place, as if even the manor was cursed to rot and decay when he finally did.
Though, Lou-Lou was fine with being a normal nuisance, since she kept grabbing the bowl and at the contents as her mother attempted to make lunch.
"Lou-Lou, you're not ready for this kind of food," Miss Haru scolded, awkwardly holding the bowl as far from herself as possible to keep her daughter from 'helping'. "I already fed you anyway! Silly kitty, please don't trip me when I'm trying to feed you!" she also scolded Renaldo as he kept rubbing his body over her ankles.
It was as good an excuse as any, and Baron was taking it.
Without a hesitation, he used his powers to gently tug on the straps until he could ease the baby out.
"Whoa, hold on!" Haru yelped, dropping the bowl on the counter to get a grip on her daughter, but Baron already had the child firmly in hand.
"Hello, Lou-Lou," he greeted her fondly as he walked back to the table and sat down with her.
It was a very peculiar experience. He could somewhat feel her weight on his arms and lap, but when she flailed a bit to get a grip on something, she passed right through his chest like it wasn't there. He could hold her, but she couldn't return the favor. The baby seemed confused by not seeing who was holding her, but she also seemed delighted that she could look in any direction and see what was going on.
Renaldo left off rubbing Haru's ankles to hop onto a chair and then the table in order to approach the baby and start purring and rubbing her face with his. She giggled and started tugging on his fur with her tiny fists. He was too happy to complain, even when her grip was too harsh.
Miss Haru's eyes were wilder than ever before, and she was taking in the scene like she couldn't believe it. "… You've missed her this much?" she asked in a gentle voice once she calmed down about her stolen baby.
"More than you could imagine," Baron responded, even as his heart filled with memories of bouncing another little girl on his knee, with hair the lightest color of sunshine and eyes like sapphires. Come to think of it, Lou-Lou's smile was very reminiscent of hers when she was a baby. He used his power to manipulate a single paper towel to bow to Miss Haru as if saying 'yes'.
Miss Haru looked down at her feet, looking surprisingly guilty and miserable for the fact that she had nothing to do with that terrible night. Even if she were related to an offending party, it was clear that she did not follow their way of thinking in the slightest.
After a while, she slowly looked up with a nervous expression. "… I don't know… if this is after the fact. But… would you like to know what happened to Louise Drosselmeyer after that night?"