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Post by Adrienne on Dec 21, 2009 1:33:37 GMT -5
"Fernand didn't die of premature heart failure."
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Post by Chuck Bass on Dec 21, 2009 1:39:03 GMT -5
Chuck paused and looked at her. His face was undecipherable. She didn't need to say anything else; he already knew.
A quiet yet steely "Good," was all he said before turning his gaze towards Evie.
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Post by Adrienne on Dec 21, 2009 1:46:50 GMT -5
But now that she'd started, she had to finish the story. This half was, at least, the happy one.
"The valet disappeared that night, as did my lady's maid. Eighteen months later, there's a knock on the door, and there stand the valet and the lady's maid, married, and Evie." The tears were getting harder to keep out of her voice. "They brought her back. Not only did they save her, they brought her back. I promised I'd keep her safe after that, that I wouldn't fail again, and..."
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Post by Chuck Bass on Dec 21, 2009 1:51:01 GMT -5
Chuck grasped both her shoulders in his hands.
"She's not dead, Adrienne. And as long as I'm here, that's not going to happen," he said with more confidence than he was actually feeling.
If she were to die... it would be his fault, not hers.
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Post by Adrienne on Dec 21, 2009 1:58:43 GMT -5
She flung her arms around his neck and burrowed her face into his neck, then proceeded to cry. It wasn't something she did very often. The wracking sobs eventually slowed to occasional hiccups, then disappeared altogether to make way for the deep, even breaths of sleep.
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Post by Chuck Bass on Dec 21, 2009 2:07:03 GMT -5
He held her silently and let her sleep. Chuck on the other hand couldn't rest neither his body nor his mind. All those things she had to endure alone because of him--
Carefully, he picked her up and carried her to a bed in another room. He gently laid her down and paused. Softly, Chuck brushed back her hair and held her face in his hands before walking back to Evie's room. Once there, he sat down and held her hand like Adrienne had...
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Post by Evie on Dec 21, 2009 2:12:37 GMT -5
**FOUR-YEAR-OLD EVIE**
It took her a bit of time, but Evie did wake up. First she had rolled over so she was facing Chuck, then screwed up her little face as if having a dream. Her eyes flew open and she sat up, frowning deeply as she looked at Chuck.
"Est-il encore Noël?"
((Is it Christmas yet?))
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Post by Chuck Bass on Dec 21, 2009 2:18:49 GMT -5
He had managed to fall asleep for a little while and was still half asleep when he heard a small voice.
"No, not for another--"
Chuck immediately stopped his mumbling and sat up. There she was, looking at him with her big brown eyes.
"Evie--" he exclaimed breathlessly as he pulled her little body into an embrace that was far too tight.
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Post by Evie on Dec 21, 2009 2:23:35 GMT -5
With her face smashed into his chest, it was kind of hard to breathe. She beat on him with one small fist.
"Monsieur Charles, je n'peux pas réspirer!"
((I can't breathe!))
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Post by Chuck Bass on Dec 21, 2009 2:27:54 GMT -5
He pulled back immediately.
"I'm sorry. I just... You gave us a little scare a while ago, you know that?" Chuck didn't sound angry; he was more trying to explain his enthusiasm.
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Post by Evie on Dec 21, 2009 2:30:18 GMT -5
She nodded, chewing her lower lip in thought (a habit picked up from her mother), taking this in and considering it with something she'd been considering for a while now.
"Monsieur Charles, j'ai une question très sérieuse à te poser." She said gravely.
((I have a very serious question to ask you.))
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Post by Chuck Bass on Dec 21, 2009 2:31:43 GMT -5
"Anything," he quickly replied, holding her face in his hands and brushing back her hair.
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Post by Evie on Dec 21, 2009 2:33:32 GMT -5
She took a comically large breath, shut her eyes tightly, and said in a rush: "Es-tu mon papa?" After a second's pause, she opened just one eye to see his reaction.
((Are you my father?))
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Post by Chuck Bass on Dec 21, 2009 2:38:29 GMT -5
His hands fell slowly back to his side.
"Did your mom...?"
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Post by Evie on Dec 21, 2009 2:45:49 GMT -5
Judging that it was safe to open both eyes, she did so as she shook her head.
"Non, but you're always 'ere and parfois when you think I am not looking, you and Maman kiss each other, and only Mamans and Papas do that. Also you 'ave got the same color eyes as I do, and Maman's are blue so they didn't come from 'er, and also you sat next to me and 'eld my 'and when I was malade, and only Maman 'as ever done that." Her accent was strong but intelligible, and understandable given she'd been raised speaking mostly French and English only as a second tongue.
((sometimes; sick))
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