The large singer looked around, he had never seen such a vessel. It was large and it rocked from side to side, like a baby's cradle. It creaked and groaned as it did so, making him wonder if they were alive.

"Francoeur." he heard Lucille call.

"Francoeur, the professors ship has already left, it's time to go." she said, smiling and holding her hand out to him.

Francoeur made a happy chirping sound and held her hand as she led him away, but he looked back at the ship. And watched it for a moment as he walked away before being led back to the safety of the city streets.

After a quick stop at the butchers Lucille lead him back to her apartment, after hanging up their coats she put the kettle on and went to wash up to make dinner.

"Francoeur? Can you set the table and bring in the barrel from the butcher please?" she asked.

He nodded and made a small chirp as he began to set the dishes on the table and then carried in the small barrel, it sloshed with its contents as he set it on the counter.

Lucille came in after a minute with the kettle and filled their cups with the steamy liquid before putting sprinkling in the tea leaves.

Francoeur watched in fascination before chirping and looking back at the barrel.

Lucille noticed his chirp and smiled.

"will you put it in the pot please?" she asked kindly.

Francoeur nodded, pulling out a pot and set it on the stove. Then uncorking the barrel he tipped it over and let its cool rosy contents spill into the pot. When the pot was half full he re-corked the barrel and set it in the cooler.

When he was putting the barrel in the cooler she lit the stove and began warming up his meal. She wrinkled her nose at the coppery scent wavering from the warming liquid. she continued stirring it and when it was nice and warm she pulled out a bowl and tipped the pot, spilling the liquid cleanly into the bowl and setting it on a pot holder before carrying the bowl to the table.

By this time Francoeur had returned from his task and sat down at the table, chirping happily at the bowls contents. He purred at Lucille in thanks before picking up the bowl and sipping the liquid.

Lucille sat down and sipped her tea and smiled as he ate. Though his diet was not pleasing his joy when he was fed made her smile and she finished her tea shortly after he finished his gruesome meal.

Francoeur made a happy chirp once he was done and he smiled at her as he stood and got more, emptying the pot and then putting the pot in the wash tub. He then sat and continued eating joyfully at being filled, then he put his emptied bowl in the tub, washed the dishes, dried them then put them away before sitting back down with Lucille..

"Now Francoeur," Lucille said, smiling at him,"that barrel is to last you the week, with a the lack of income L'oiseau Rare has been having we have to save as much as we can until we can come up with a new act." she said, a hint of seriousness in her tone.

Francoeur nodded in understanding then made a curious chirp.

"I'm not sure how long, but we need to try and spend as little as we can until then, alright?" she said.

Francoeur nodded and gave an understanding chirp.

Lucille smiled, "Good, now get your night garments on, its almost time for lights out." she said, getting up and taking her cup to the tub.

Francoeur made a happy chirp and went to get dressed, his garments were teal and white pinstriped and he loved them, after he finished with the last buttons he hung up his suit and went to the bed, where Lucille was getting the bed ready. She motioned for him to hop in and then she went to put on her own night gown.

Francoeur lay down and curled up, purring at the warmth of the sheet and he soon fell asleep, not even noticing when Lucille lay on her side of the bed and went to sleep. That night Francoeur dreamed of sails and ships, meeting new people, and one day visiting other worlds.

For the next few days Francoeur and Lucille sang at L'oiseau Rare and had fun with Lucille's betrothed Raoul and the newly engaged Maude and Emile. They went to films and ate out, talking about past and current events. Raoul often spoke about his inventions while Maude and Emile spoke about their wedding plans with Lucille. Francoeur, not able to put a word in other then in agreement or disagreement, just listened patiently to the converses. He often let his mind wander on the ships he had seen at the harbors and he wondered what it would be like to be on one of them, though he had a fear of water the thoughts of being on those ships brought thoughts of adventure to his mind.

"Francoeur? Francoeur are you listening?" Lucille asked, gently tapping his shoulder to gain his attention and startling him. He blinked and looked at her before chirping questionably.

Lucille smiled, "We were just talking about how Raoul managed to create a device that could shower Maude and Emile in glitter as the procession is made."

Francoeur chirped in curiosity and looked at Raoul, his mind out of ships for the moment.

Raoul gulped down his tea and grinned with a silly sense of coyness.

"Ah! Yes!" he said with his usual luster, "You see my dear Frank, the device is an intricate setting of cables and motors that when activated by a specially made device of my, like that of my lovely- erm, ONCE lovely," he gulped, wiping small tear from his eye at the loss of his beloved truck, " c-Catherine, it will sprinkle precisely measured amounts of glitter onto the bride and groom, giving a magnificent sense of beauty to them as they vow to love one another forever!" he said, giving great dramatic gestures as he described his contraption, ending with him standing in a dramatic pose.

Francoeur made an excited chirp and a polite clap as he cheered Raoul, for his creation or his gestures, no one knew.

Francoeur lay on the bed, he chirped lightly in his sleep as he dreamed of sailing over the waters, seeing magnificent creatures and meeting strange and colorful people. He felt the air whirl around him as he hopped from mast to mast, peering over the endless waters and land masses that passed by. He felt he was the king of the world, the sun was shining and people commended him for being the first flea to see the world!

"Francoeur?" an elegant voice whispered upon the winds.

"Francoeur?" the voice said again, stronger this time

"Francoeur, it is time to wake."

Francoeur blinked and yawned as a gentle patting woke him from his slumber. He purred and made a small chirp in acknowledgment to Lucille, who then smiled and turned away to finish her chores. Francoeur lay in his bed for a moment more, thinking about the details of his dream and purring at the joyful moments in the breeze.

Finally he slipped out of bed and changed his night wear into his casual clothing and left the room, purring as he smelled breakfast being made in the kitchen. He gave a chirp of excitement as Lucille exited the kitchen with a bowl of his usual crimson meal.

Lucille smiled as he sipped the contents of the bowl and went to get her own meal.

The day passed as usual, Francoeur and Lucille performed at L'oiseau Rare as usual, ignoring the fact that there were so few in the crowd. Francoeur sang his songs as he played his guitar along with Lucille. At their breaks, Francoeur hummed and twiddled his thumbs to melodies that reminded him of the sea. Lucille just smiled and believed him to be dreaming about new songs as she went about her preparations. And thus another night of performance ended, their earnings slightly smaller than the last.

Lucille sighed as she counted the earnings, if L'oiseau Rare continued as it did they would be unable to keep up on payments. Her only hope was for the tourist season, if they were to gain enough earnings then, it might be enough to support L'oiseau Rare for another few months. Until then they were to save on their earnings, and, to Lucille's dismay, allow her friends to pay for their outings instead of she and Francoeur.

Lucille made another sigh as she leaned back in her chair, she hated allowing her friends to pay for their bills, but not being with them would only make things worse. She knew most of her inspiration happened when she was around friends, as with Francoeur, she only wished for a miracle.

Francoeur stared at the wall as he lay in the bed, he knew that L'oiseau Rare was having difficulties. Slowly he turned to look at Lucille on her side of the bed. Francoeur almost did not hold back his chirp at seeing her lie so peacefully. He noticed how stressed Lucille had been lately, and he wished there was something he could do. Rolling back to his original position he stared at the wall again. Maybe what Lucille had told him was correct, perhaps this situation was only temporary. Perhaps when the tourist season began L'oiseau Rare would once again be at the top of its game. Maybe then he would find something to sing, until then, he slowly drifted to sleep.