The Court Composer's Daughter: chapter 2

Belle and Adam happily accepted Felicity into the castle after Forte apologized for his actions and she, of course, being his daughter and the only thing he had left of Cherry to remember by. Felicity was only a few days old and Forte regretted he hadn't been there for her birth, to hold Cherry's hand as she was in heavy labor, he wasn't even sure if he could tell her about her mother. Forte walked in with the bundle wrapped in her pink blanket, and Chip rushed to him.

"Bonjour Maestro!" Chip greeted happily, now being close friends with Forte.

"Bonjour, Christopher." Forte introduced, then noticed Chip was still in the image of a little boy other than aging. "Umm... Christopher, shouldn't you be in your teen years by now?"

"Actually Maestro, we were once told the curse will make us stay the same age we were before until we find our own true love like the Master." Chip tried to explain.

"Oh," Forte pushed his hand under his face. "I wish I could help you out there..."

"What do you have there?" Chip observed the bundle.

"My daughter," Forte knelt down and showed the baby girl inside. "Her name is Felicity... I've always liked that name, it was my maman's name..."

"She's cute, I guess, all babies are cute..." Chip commented.

"Especially her... She has her mother's delicate features..." Forte gently stroked the baby's face.

"Can I hold her?" Chip bit his lip.

Forte glanced at the blonde boy and down at his daughter. He cracked a friendly smile and gently handed his newborn daughter to the young boy. Chip gently took Felicity and looked down at her as she slept soundly.

"Where is Cerise?" Chip asked, noticing Forte had not been accompanied by her.

Forte released a sharp, unwanted sigh. "I'm afraid... Felicity will never see her mother again..."

"How come?"

"Never mind, how come."

"Chip dear, I need your help with the pastries." Mrs. Potts walked in with a warm smile.

"Okay Maman!" Chip smiled, then turned back to the court composer. "Here you go, Maestro."

"Merci Chip," Forte took his baby girl back and gently held her in tight, warm embrace. "Bonjour Mrs. Potts..." Forte glanced at the castle housekeeper.

"Oh, is this your daughter?" Mrs. Potts stepped closer as she noticed the pink bundle.

Forte nodded.

"May I see her?"

Forte came closer and pulled back the blanket to expose Felicity's face. Felicity then woke up and let out a tiny, squeaky sneeze.

"Oh no, she must have a cold!" Forte bit his lip, nervously. "What should I do? What do I do?"

"Calm down, luv," Mrs. Potts couldn't help but laugh at his overreaction. "I'm sure she's fine, she probably got a case of the sniffles of being outside for a while... I can't imagine a sweet girl like Cerise would abandon her own child..."

"She was always so sweet and innocent when she was a child..." Forte sighed dreamily at his memories of 10-year-old Cherry.

"Yes, yes," Mrs. Potts smiled. "Poor girl must've been nearly traumatized of being locked in your cold room all day and you yelling at her, trying to destroy all of us on Christmas, yelling at young Fife..."

Forte glanced at her as his heart sunk in his chest. Once Mrs. Potts said all those things it made him realize, it was no wonder Cherry was so frightened of him as a child. He could've psychologically scarred her for life!

"I... I had no idea..." Forte slowly sat down in a nearby chair, holding his daughter as she then started to get cranky. "Oh Felicity, settle down, please... Please don't cry... Please stop crying..."

"Let me settle her," Mrs. Potts took the baby girl. "I'm sure I can handle her, I raised a son and five other teacups."

"Oh please, I wouldn't want to put you in any stress she can cause you..." Forte cupped his mouth.

"Don't worry, your daughter will be fine with me." Mrs. Potts smiled and walked off to take care of Felicity for a little while.

"What am I afraid of?" Forte asked himself as he was alone. "Why am I so worried about that baby? She must be a terrible child if Cerise abandoned her in my care! Sure, she's our legitimate daughter, but I shouldn't care, right? Being a single parent won't affect me, right?"