Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat.

A/N: Warning about rather unimportant OC Francoise. I just enjoy 3rd person point of views.

Francoise, Julie's assistant of almost eight years, walked down the well-lit corridor with brisk, efficient steps. A clipboard with several papers listing the names of tonight's models and the complete guest list was gripped tightly in her right hand. Her hair was neatly coiffed in a perfect bun, not one black-bordering-on-grey hair out of place. Her steely eyes were focused, her face set in a permanent stern, no-nonsense expression that she had once been told practically screamed I-have-little-time-for-your-foolishness-so-cease-acting-like-a-child-at-once-and-do-the-job-I-am-paying-you-for. Francoise certainly hadn't become one of the most successful fashion designer's long-term assistant simply by leisurely walking from place to place.

Francoise liked to think that she was a consummate professional. Nothing could faze her any longer – she had seen it all. Why, when first confronted with the… eccentric LME president she did not even blink an eye, instead ignoring his rather elaborate Musketeers costume in favor of presenting him the most recent modeling contract.

Francoise had dealt with the very best and the very worst that the celebrity world had to offer. From way-past-the-point-of-unprofessional-and-just-full-on-bratty actresses with big egos and little talent to people like Tsuruga Ren, who completed all his jobs with such remarkable skill and charm that it became many celebrities' life goals to work with him again.

She knew for a fact that even Julie-sama was itching to work with the Japanese actor once more. Julie-sama thought she could hide the way her eyes would brighten and the beautiful blonde woman would become every so slightly more animated whenever Tsuruga Ren was mentioned, but Francoise had been working with Julie-sama for nearly a decade. She had been studying her boss's reactions and knew almost exactly what she was feeling just from a minute twitch of her expression.

So Francoise knew that Julie-sama had a soft spot for Tsuruga Ren. With his professionalism, she wasn't surprised. Although she always suspected there was something more there… but she was just a secretary. And she was a damn good secretary, too. It wasn't her place to pry in Julie-sama's personal affairs.

She was pleased for Julie-sama that Tsuruga-san was attending today's Paris Runway. It was his first time attending. Her boss had been very happy – although strangely unsurprised – when she had informed of his acceptance of their invitation.

Then again, perhaps it wasn't so strange that Julie-sama was not surprised if the rumors were to be believed…

Francoise efficiently dismissed those thoughts. She hardly kept up with celebrity gossip that did not include Julie-sama. She did not have the time for it, and she most certainly did not have the time to read the public's desires for romance. Instead, Francoise quickly made her way to the main dressing room, where she knew Julie-sama would be fussing over the main model.

The stern secretary briskly knocked on the front door, waiting a few moments out of courtesy before purposefully opening the door to the cabin. She opened her mouth to tell her boss that everything was ready and they were only waiting on the last model, but cut herself off from shock as the sight of the room registered.

While Francoise stood frozen by the door, one of the newer assistants came rushing in behind her, panting and out of breath – such lack of finesse, Francoise would have to remember to talk to her about it – before nervously addressing Julie-sama, "J-Julie-sama! The other models are all ready. We're only waiting for-" The new assistant's breath left her as she gazed, like Francoise, upon the inside of the room, "Wooooahh".

Francoise, of course, was not so undignified in her admiration. Nevertheless, had she had the mental capacity to think it, she'd have berated herself for acting so amateurishly and allowing something to stun her into silence. No one could truly blame her for gaping for a few seconds, however, given the circumstances.

In front of Francoise – and the new assistant - stood a stunning creature of magic and beauty. She had a small face with golden eyes and thick black lashes. Expertly applied makeup did not add so much as enhance the creature's natural beauty, giving her a mystical yet somehow not artificial appearance that was too often the case with some models. Little was added to the creature's already porcelain skin, letting it glow naturally. Her black hair was tied back into an elaborate bun, infused with pearls that sparkled in the light and enchanted the senses.

Framing this image of loveliness was one of the most beautiful dresses Francoise had ever seen. The dress was a rich champagne color that seemed to be made just for the beautiful creature. It emphasized the gold in her eyes, turning them into enchanting swirls that reflected the movements of the cloth. The dress itself was sleeveless with a heart shaped neckline, taunting but never revealing much. It molded itself to the creature's form, contouring full breasts and the elegant arch of a back before flaring out at the waist, giving a larger than life effect.

Francoise, a disbeliever by nature, found herself briefly wondering if she was in the presence of a magical being.

"I know. She looks exquisite, doesn't she?"

Only through years of being attuned to that voice did Francoise manage tear her gaze away from the lovely creature in front of her and look at the speaker.

Julie-sama was lightly leaning against the wall, looking at the creature – the model, Francoise, that is clearly a model and not a magical being – with unexpectedly profound affection and a touch of wonder.

But Francoise had only ever seen such affection from Julie-sama being directed towards her husband, Tsuruga Ren, and…

It couldn't be…

Was this Mogami Kyoko?

Francoise turned to stare at the creature – model, Francoise, model. Human model – and was able to point out the similarities between the person in front of her and the famous actress.

She had met the actress that her boss lovingly called "daughter" quite a few times over the years, although when she arrived she and Julie-sama would often rush away on an adventure by themselves for what Julie-sama called "mother-daughter bonding time". So Francoise did not actually get to spend all that much time with the young woman, but she had heard good things, very good things, about her professionalism and talent.

From the times she had seen the actress she had always thought her very beautiful, much like Julie-sama, but never… never anything like this. A human woman shouldn't be able to look like this.

But then again, beyond Kyoko's professionalism and skill at acting, Francoise had also heard of the actress's ability to transform into a seemingly completely different person. If she recalled correctly, makeup artists around the world fought to work with the famed actress due to this trait.

Francoise had always thought they were exaggerating.

Apparently not.

Realizing she had spent some time without answering the question already and the actress was looking steadily more nervous, Francoise hurried to agree with Julie-sama.

"Yes, you look very beautiful, Kyoko-san."

Kyoko, despite being much more used to compliments than a few years previous, still blushed charmingly.

"Julie-sama, you have outdone yourself this time. The dress is wonderful!" Staring at her reflection, Kyoko seemed to surrender herself to a world only she knew full of faeries and princesses, "I look like a faerie princess!"

Julie pouted. Would her daughter ever learn? "It's Kaa-chan or Mama, Kyoko!"

"I couldn't possibly, Julie-sama! You are so beautiful, so successful, so talented – I'm not worthy-"

Francoise sighed at the age-old argument. It was partly a sigh of relief. She was finally on familiar ground.

"Don't you start that with me, young lady," Julie scolded. She'd never stood by her daughter's tendency to speak negatively of herself. She, her husband, her son, and numerous friends had fought painstakingly to rid Kyoko of this completely wrong image of herself. They had made huge progress, but every once in a while the young actress would slip back. It frustrated (and hurt) Julie to no end. Why, the minute she found out who was responsible – and there had to have been someone responsible, Julie could tell. It was a mother's instinct, and a mother's instinct was never wrong – for her daughter's low self-esteem, she was going to crush them. They would know a mother's fury!

Julie's eyes started to water, and Kyoko gasped in despair. The older woman hid her face in her hands, a vision of sorrow. In a weak voice, Julie whispered, "I don't have much time to live, only a few weeks, and my own daughter won't even call me Mama…"

Francoise would have rolled her eyes had she been any less of a professional. She was quite used to Julie-sama's dramatic predictions of her demise. Only a truly innocent person would fall for such tricks.

"No!" Kyoko cried, nearly tearing up herself. It was lucky for Julie that one such innocent person was her daughter, "Please don't cry, Mama!"

"Mama?" Julie looked up from her hands, repeating the word she had almost imagined she had heard. She had not expected this ploy to work. She knew that Kyoko had issues with her mother, if not by her son's warning looks whenever she brought up the subject then by Kyoko's instinctive flinches when the word 'Okaa-san' was brought up. Julie already loathed Kyoko's mother, but did not pry, instead avoiding the topic altogether. But she would never give up on getting Kyoko to call her mother – Kyoko was already her daughter in all but blood, and Julie wanted the young woman to realize how much she was loved. She had certainly not expected it to happen now. And so, with true disbelief and vulnerability in her voice, Julie had to make sure, "Did you finally call me Mama?"

Kyoko smiled, relived that Julie had stopped crying. Oh, she knew Julie hadn't truly been crying – Kyoko was an experienced actress now, after all, and could recognize fake tears a mile away – but she couldn't stand to see Julie cry even fake tears. Something inside rebelled at the sight.

Kyoko sighed; well she supposed it was about time she gave up. Kuon had been predicting her defeat at the hands of Julie for years now. As long as she didn't have to call Julie the Japanese term for mother – that held bad memories for Kyoko and wasn't something she could call someone she truly loved – she could do it.

And she truly did see Julie as a mother now. If she was honest, Kyoko had seen Julie as a mother for a vey long time. She just hadn't been… ready, she supposed, for all the implications the word might mean.

But now she was. Standing in a magical dress, feeling powerful and beautiful and loved Kyoko couldn't resist finally calling Julie her mother.

"Yes, Mama" Kyoko's entire expression softened, and Julie stiffened up slightly, not having truly expected her ploy to work, and not entirely prepared for her daughter's gentle expression. Kyoko smiled, and it was, perhaps, the most beautiful smile the blonde beauty had ever seen on her daughter. "I did."

Francoise eyed them both, wide-eyed. The light-hearted and insistent banter between both had shifted somehow into something more meaningful, deeper. For some reason, she felt like she was intruding.

These feelings almost made her miss her boss throwing herself at their main model and possibly wrinkling the dress.

Julie held her daughter close, real tears this time flowing down her face. Kyoko hugger her mother just as tightly, feeling a little lost and yet somehow feeling like she belonged.

They stayed like that for a minute, only the sounds of Francoise's exasperated but nonetheless slightly moved huffs in the background.

The newer assistant (who was still standing by the door) felt a few tears leave her eyes, wondering if all celebrities' lives were like movie dramas.

A second assistant ran in from the door, breaking the mood, "Everything is ready, Julie-sama! We are all just waiting for Kyoko-sama!"

The two women reluctantly separated, and Francoise was relieved to see the dress had not received any damage from the ferocious hugging.

Both looked at each other meaningfully, and Francoise got the sense that they would be talking about this in more depth later.

Francoise checked he watch and saw that time was quickly running out. She looked up to tell the women to get ready, and was shocked to find that the expressions on their faces had totally changed. Julie-sama was back to fussing over the dress, ensuring that everything was perfect as she did in every runway. Kyoko had adopted a more sultry look, and looked every bit the magical being Francoise had thought her to be when the secretary first entered the room.

They truly bring professionalism to a new level, Francoise couldn't help nodding approvingly. Although she was slightly confused as to what just happened, she knew that both women had just experienced a life-changing moment, yet in the time it took for her to check her watch they had composed themselves and were completely focused on the job at hand.

Moments after, even Julie felt there was nothing else to fuss over.

She looked at her main model, full of pride at her daughter being so absolutely beautiful. The more professional part of her was also satisfied, ecstatic with the impact and success that Kyoko would generate.

"Ready for the stage?" Julie asked. It was a redundant question.

"Of course." Kyoko replied, golden eyes looking ahead purposefully.

Julie nodded in answer, expecting nothing less.

And with graceful movements that had no business belonging to a human, Kyoko glided out the dressing room towards the stage.

She felt like a fairy princess, nothing could stop her. She'd ensure this would be a performance none would ever forget.

Especially a certain fairy prince.

A/N: I wanted to have more Ren here, but Julie and Francoise refused and just ran with the show. So I go this. But don't worry, there will definitely be some Tsuruga and Kyoko moments next chapter! That I can promise!

Hope you like it! Tell me your thoughts!