ma mère

[beheld_beauty]

Jane's out again.

But at least this time Rose fetched Renée up from Downside first. Renée's been reacquainting herself with life; Charlie has been catching her up. Belle was a small child when her mother died, and her mother has spoken with her a little, but mostly wants to catch up on the past decades from Charlie, who is more or less as she left him.

Today Renée is ready, she says, to meet her son-in-law and grandchildren.

They walk, because why not. Céleste is obliged to leave Rainier at home; creatures more mythical than grandchildren are not for today's revelations for Renée. Renée is living with Charlie, of course, in his cottage that he has allowed Belle to renovate but not expand.

Belle knocks on the door. Charlie opens it, and holds out his arms to solicit hugs from granddaughters. Céleste provides gladly.

Comments

[campanas]

"Perhaps I will not," agrees Céleste airily.

[beheld_beauty]

Renée smiles at her grandchildren.

Belle reaches over the table to pat her mother's hand.

[mindfields]

Yseult smiles back.

[beheld_beauty]

"There is such an age gap between the two of you," muses Renée. "And you seem to get along very well anyway. Belle, are you thinking of having more?"

"We haven't discussed it," says Belle leaning her head on her husband's shoulder.

[deslandes]

"I think it is a fine idea," says Beast, kissing the top of his wife's head.

[mindfields]

"Another little sister? I would like that," says Yseult.

[campanas]

"Sister sister sister!"

[beheld_beauty]

"What makes you so sure it would be a sister?" asks Renée. "Magic of some kind?"

"We cannot in fact be sure, unless, I suppose, we want to use magic of some kind," chuckles Belle.

[mindfields]

"I would like a sister," says Yseult. "I wouldn't mind a brother, but I'm not sure I'd know what to do with him." She smiles at Céleste. "I have experience with sisters already."

[campanas]

"And now you want another. That means I am a good sister!" crows Céleste.

[mindfields]

"You are a very good sister," says Yseult. "And I love you very much."

[beheld_beauty]

Renée says, "Awww."

Belle grins. "Perhaps another, then. What do you think, mon cœur?"

[deslandes]

"I think we should do it, ma belle."

[beheld_beauty]

"All right then," grins Belle.

"I think, if it is a girl like your existing girls think," chuckles Renée, "that you should call her Avril, isn't that a pretty name?"

"It is pretty," acknowledges Belle. "But perhaps not a first name. Middle name, maybe."

[deslandes]

"Hyacinthe," suggests the Beast. "Hyacinthe Avril Cygne."

[campanas]

"Pretty!" opines Céleste.

[beheld_beauty]

"I like it," laughs Belle.

[mindfields]

"Me too," says Yseult.

[beheld_beauty]

"But what if you have a boy?" asks Renée.

"Oh, I don't know," says Belle. "We'll see. Hyacinthe is unisex, at least."

[deslandes]

"Saves trouble that way," says Beast.

[alicornucopia]

"I suppose," laughs Renée.

[beheld_beauty]

Belle kisses her husband on the cheek.

[campanas]

"Mushyyyy," accuses Céleste.

[deslandes]

"Yes we are," says Beast, and he kisses Belle back.

[campanas]

"Muuuuushy!" shrieks Céleste, giggling and clapping her hands over her eyes.

"Grownups do that, chérie," says Ranata. She kisses Charlie's temple, and Charlie laughs softly and puts his arm over her shoulders.