All characters remain the property of Disney. As do the recognisable events. Unless of course they feel like giving me the rights to the movie of course...

Eve Labeau had been married for only six months when she found out she was pregnant with her first child. She knew that Pierre would be delighted and as she gazed out of the window on a brisk September morning she thought about how best to break the news to him. She was only twenty, but had settled in easily to the life she had chosen for herself. The only daughter of an old noble family in Burgundy, she had no choice but to marry the first rich man who had asked her, due to her family's relative poverty since the last war. She was a proud woman, but had no illusions over why she had married Pierre. Her family had needed the money. Pierre was thirty-five, handsome, rich and a former soldier. He was also slightly disabled, and needed a stick to walk any distance. This had made him less of a catch for the richer women in the province, but Eve was more than prepared to make a few allowances for imperfection in order to guarantee her a decent standard of living. Her mother had been ill before she had married Pierre and had since died. Her father had always been distant and had refused to support her any longer. Besides, she had always admired Pierre and marrying him had been something of a dream come true. She knew that Pierre loved her, and was more than half in love with him. He was so kind to her, and treated her like a porcelain doll that may be destroyed with anything other than the most gentle of words and touches.

Eve watched as Pierre rode into the estate on his black horse. He was truly stunning. She lowered herself from the windowsill and rushed to meet him at the door. Dismissing the butler with a wave of her hand, she pulled open the front door and ran to Pierre.

"Eve, my dear, what's the matter?" asked Pierre, unaccustomed to such a display from his wife. He pulled her into his arms, then was pleasantly surprised when she pulled his head down to hers for a kiss. "Whatever's wrong, I'm delighted at its effect," said Pierre when she let him up for air. The servants had gathered at the door to greet their master and were trying unsuccessfully to hide embarrassed smiles.

"I have something to tell you," whispered Eve, and whispered fervently into his ear. Pierre stepped back from his wife, looked her up and down, then smiled and pulled her back into his arms. "The baby's due in April."

Christmas came and went, as did the spring. Now heavily pregnant, Eve retired to her rooms and was visited only by the servants and Pierre. Pierre would spend hours sitting with her, gently kissing her hair and stroking her swollen stomach. One night, as they sat in front of the fire, Pierre turned Eve's face towards him.

"What do you think of Richard for a name?"

"For a girl?"

"Well, maybe not. It could be a boy!"

"Richard for a boy then. And for a girl? How about Drizella – it was my mother's name."

"Drizella it is." Pierre cuddled her again. "I hope it is a girl. And I hope she has your looks, my eyes, and your long brown hair."

Two weeks later, Eve was sewing in the library when she felt a pain shooting through her side. She shrieked for help, and within minutes a doctor had been sent for and her servants were carrying her through to her dressing room. Drizella was born four hours later on the 4th April.

Pierre was delighted with his daughter, and divided his free time between holding Drizella and making love to his beautiful, clever young wife. Eve had thought Pierre affectionate before, but now realised the full extent of his passion for her. Before long the inevitable occurred and Eve once again had to break the news of an impending birth to her husband. This time, they decided on Richard for a boy and Anastasia for a girl.

Anastasia was born on the 19th May, just over a year after her sister. The effect of two babies in the house was beginning to take its toll on Eve, with Pierre eventually offering a helping hand with the children before deciding a few hours later to hire a governess. Eve rejoiced at her new found freedom from the children and waited with baited breath each night for Pierre to return from the barracks where he trained raw recruits in swordsmanship. And so, for three long years, the Labeau's lived in the bliss of those blessed with two beautiful daughters and a governess who looked after them.