• What I Crave •

[Arabella Marie Delabarre]

They didn’t do this very often anymore; ever really, at least since Madeleine had been born. Before the kids and before New York and before all of the insanity that was currently their daily lives, Bella could remember packing for spontaneous weekend trips along European coastlines or wine tasting in the middle of gorgeous country sides. She had vivid memories of being curled up in Marc’s arms, laughing without a care in the world and just being in love in some of the most beautiful places. Those were the moments that lived on in photographs around their home and on her dressing room mirror at the theatre; they were the foundation of a monumental romance that had completely changed Bella’s life. Two kids, two dogs, and constant crazy working hours later, Bella could barely remember the last time they’d gone into the city together, let alone on any kind of vacation. It was so hard to get away from the demands of their daily life without feeling like they were drowning.

Family was one of the most important values in her life now. Bella’s world revolved around Marc and their kids, and she dedicated every hour possible to being with them, but it wasn’t easy. She often felt like she was missing so much because of her job, and she pushed herself into doing whatever she could to compensate for that. When she had been staying home full time, she had loved being there for all of it; the first babbled words, Laurence’s video game victories, and even the mischief the dogs got up to. Being back on Broadway was exhilarating, but Bella missed being there like she had been. She wanted the home-cooked dinners and bedtime stories; the school carpool and afternoon trips to the park. On Mondays, her usual day of from the theatre, she tried hard to compensate for missing the rest of the week, but she could only accomplish so much in 24 hours.

They needed time away from the city and all of the pressures that daily life came with. At least, that’s the rehearsed speech she’d pounded into her head to make leaving the stage again, even for a weekend, make sense. It had taken Marc practically dragging her to turn in her vacation request paperwork before she relented, but there really was no going back. They were too far outside of the city limits to turn back now.

Bella sat in the passenger seat of Marc’s car, a pair of large sunglasses balanced on her nose and Gemma curled up in her lap. She kept looking behind her to check on the kids, Madeleine asleep with her cute snores occasionally interrupting the quiet radio and Laurence engrossed in a video game that he kept mumbling at in frustration. Arc was between them, his head on Laurence’s legs. All in all, it was a picture she wouldn’t get out of her head soon; these were the little moments that made long hours away worth it. She looked over to Marc, a smile on her lips, and reached to twine her fingers with his. Who would have thought that they would end up here, the picture of a happy little family?

• • •

TAG: marc dominique delabarre
WORDS: 536!
LOCATION: On Vacation, The Lake
LYRICS: Sugar by Maren Morris
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[marc dominique delabarre]

Marc enjoyed life in the city, but getting away for a short while was like a much needed reset for a computer that was rarely shut down. He wasn’t the owner of such a thing, but even some of his students still didn’t understand what computers did when you completely shut them down and rebooted them again. For people who wanted to understand computer science they could be blind to some of the simpler problems. “Turn it off and on again” might be a joke these days, but oftentimes Marc discovered that it was a brilliant idea. It gave systems a chance to update, fix themselves, and if by some chance they did need human intervention most repairs were done in the boot screen. He spoke about computers a lot, but humans needed that hard reset too. In a perfect world he would have talked Bella into a week somewhere in the sun, where they could laze by a pool or on the beach. He would take a weekend at the lake though over nothing.

It wasn’t a long drive by some standards, but it felt like they were going across the country when they were trying to get two children and two dogs into the car. It was peaceful now, with the only sounds coming from the low music he had playing. Back at the house though there had been barks and cries, voices asking if things were someplace other than where they should have been. Marc honestly thought the most stressful part of taking a vacation was leaving for it. He wasn’t completely sure he classed this as a real vacation though. They could both still check in with their New York lives through phones and Marc was almost certain he would end up replying to e-mails either before the kids were awake or while they were going to bed. His students didn’t take a break from their questions it seemed, and he hated leaving them waiting too long without any kind of response. He had also taken an unusual dislike to “out of office” messages after trying to communicate with his fellow professors and finding that half of them either forgot to turn them off, or simply had a problem with the settings for it meaning he got about five notifications in his inbox saying that they weren’t at their desks.

He dared a glance at Bella before fixing his eyes back on the road. He was a diligent driver at the best of times, but especially so when the people he loved were in the car with him. “Be there within the hour.” He told her, raising her hand to press a soft kiss to her knuckles. They had made good time, but Marc had considered that there might be more traffic on the route. He was certain they wouldn’t be the only city dwellers who wanted to steal a break this weekend. He was sure there wouldn’t be such quiet when they pulled up at the lake house. Dogs would be eager to stretch their legs and Lawrence had a habit of sprinting the second the car came to a final halt. He was always so full of energy. Marc could hope that Madeleine would sleep a little longer, but she had a knack for waking just when they could do with five more minutes.

• • •

TAGGED! Arabella Marie Delabarre
WORDS! 562!
LYRICS! Rewrite the Stars - - - The Greatest Showman
NOTES! <3

[Arabella Marie Delabarre]

Silence was a strange occurrence in Bella’s life these days. There was always something; from stage managers to pups demanding dinner, she was surrounded by noise constantly. Even when she came home after late shows, there was usually Gemma greeting her at the door with her tiny paws tapping on hardwood floors. The Delabarre house was filled with laughter and joking and beautifully loud chaos; it was a wonderful contrast to the childhood she had known, where her parents often spent time in separate rooms and quiet was a cardinal rule for “well-behaved” kids.

Still, Bella was thankful for the small moments she got to have between the insanity, and she was eternally grateful to have Marc. He was her lifeline and she couldn’t imagine doing this crazy thing with anyone else. Even when their time together was spent curled up in bed at night before splitting for their daily routines, being wrapped in his arms for a few hours was the recharge she needed to get through her days. He made her feel like she had everything together when the world was pressing down on her shoulders.

Bella gave Marc’s hand a squeeze, daring a quick kiss to his cheek as she looked back at the kids once again. It had taken her some adjusting when Laurence first came into the picture, but her mom instincts were well-honed by now and she was always in Mama Bear mode around her babies. Satisfied that they were still safe and sound, Bella turned her eyes back to Marc. "I packed a bottle of that wine you like, from the shop near the theatre,” she smirked, gently playing with his fingers. "I figured we deserved something special once the kids are asleep.” They were by no means the young couple stumbling into each other in a park now, but Bella would never stop trying to be that lighthearted girl falling head over heels for the man next to her. She had packed something else special for once the kids went to sleep and she was looking forward to surprising him with that lacey piece later tonight.

She enjoyed the quiet ride, petting the sleeping Gemma sprawled comfortably across her lap. The little pup was getting older and keeping up with two kids and the energetic Arc was always a workout for her. Bella watched the views roll by out the windows of the car, her eyes drooping slightly from the lull of the engine. It wasn’t often that she had the chance to take a nap; it was an even rare occurrence to do so next to her husband, even if he was driving.

• • •

TAG: marc dominique delabarre
WORDS: 465!
LOCATION: On Vacation, The Lake
LYRICS: Sugar by Maren Morris
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[marc dominique delabarre]

Marc kept his work almost entirely away from his homelife. He made good use of the free hours he had during the class days, grading assignments and e-mailing people back from the quiet of his office. It wasn’t much but it was enough for his Thursday morning office hours and looking over the work of his students. If he had to bring anything home, he did so begrudgingly. Marc liked being able to step through the door and devote all his time to his family. He liked spending time with Laurence, helping him with homework or showing him how to beat the tough boss in a video game. He was still a little too young for some of Marc’s favourites, but he was excited for the day when he could share them with his son, too. Before Madeleine, the late evenings had been for only Bella, curling up with her and coaxing her away from work commitments. She needed a break, too, and he wished he could project more of his ethic onto her, just so she had that chance to relax more. They worked in completely different worlds though and Marc had said a hundred times or more that he couldn’t do what Bella did; it would drive him insane within three days. He liked the machines, the programming. He liked building them and figuring out how to make something work. His own PC and laptop were heavily altered to suit his needs, often testing out new apps he had been fiddling with in his free time to try and make his own life more manageable. He liked taking the things already implemented and tweaking them to become a little more personalised for his demands and needs.

Marc would make everything easier if he could. He liked shopping online because it meant there was no trailing already crowded stores with his own family who could kick up a fuss – for very different things – if they wanted to. He enjoyed voice activated equipment because he could do things when his hands were full with an infant, or a stack of papers and PC components. Little things, but they made life easier for everyone. Madeleine wouldn’t fuss about being put down or demand a feed in the middle of the fresh produce aisle. Laurence wasn’t going to run off because something caught his eye or get snapped at because he was thinking about something else when Marc asked him to hold something. He loved his children, but they definitely added an unpredictable element to his life that he had never expected. He hadn’t imagined cookie cutter smooth sailing either, but there were times when he found himself wondering “what the hell just happened?”.

He chuckled quietly, not wanting to be the one to disturb the peace currently filtering through the car. “You’re assuming we’ll be awake long enough.” There was something about the fresh air that always made Marc fall asleep quickly. It was often the best sleep he recalled in months, but it was still strange how the clean air had such power over him. It would be lovely to spend a long, lazy evening with Bella, enjoying wine and talking quietly about things other than school events and work. However, he knew that he would struggle to keep his eyes open for long once they were all settled in for the night, fed and relaxed. It was just often the way it worked for him. Part of him was even a little jealous of those falling asleep on the journey; not an option for the man behind the wheel. Still, seeing his family happy outweighed any grumblings coming from the tiniest corner of his brain.

• • •

TAGGED! Arabella Marie Delabarre
WORDS! 618!
LYRICS! Rewrite the Stars - - - The Greatest Showman
NOTES! <3

[Arabella Marie Delabarre]

Bella knew from the beginning that this whole happy family situation would never be easy. It would demand tears and late nights and whisper-laughing at 1:00 am because she had finally convinced Marc to sneak into their kitchen for some ice cream to share while the kids were sound asleep. But, she had signed up for it; she had promised to be there for every diaper change, packed lunch, and kissed forehead that she possibly could, and it was one of the best decisions she had ever made. Really, Marc was the best decision.

She knew she made their lives even more complicated with her job. She could’ve stayed home the way her mother had raised her; been a homemaker with the Pinterest worthy dinners and soccer mom van, been there waiting for Marc every night with a hot meal and completely checked off to-do list proven through a pristine house. It would have made their lives so much simpler and taken a load of weight off of him. Bella had tried that after Madeleine was born; she had tried so hard to be content with that life, often over-compensating and pouring all of her passion for the stage into DIY projects for the house and kids. That desire for more burned so brightly though, no matter how much she loved being able to be there with her family so often. She missed the rush of a burning spotlight and the swooping feeling of throwing her entire heart into a song for an audience; nothing could compare to the adrenaline rush that filled every part of her being from being on stage.

So, though it put a heavy strain on their family, Bella pursued her stage career because, without it, she knew she would never have been truly happy. It had been hard work attempting to rebalance their lives around two parents’ work schedules, but she knew they were trying their best. Sometimes it required Bella doing her vocal lessons while playing on the floor with her sweet baby girl, or having Laurence develop his reading skills by practicing lines as they drove to school drop off, but they always got everything done. They made it work, and that was the most important part. It wasn’t always pretty, and sometimes took tears from adults and toddlers alike, but they made it through the trials together.

Bella’s eyes snapped back open at Marc’s voice and she shook her head, trying to rid the drowsiness from her face. "You really want to waste one of the rare times we get to go to bed together?” She squeezed his fingers and reached over to place a warm kiss to his cheek, a teasing smile on her lips. It had been so long since they’d travelled together for something fun, not a trip to the grocery store or to the park to keep the kids from wreaking havoc on their house. She had missed this side of their relationship; the side that came with adventures and fingers laced together as they leisurely strolled along somewhere new. Now, that walk came with two dogs, a young boy running ahead, and a little girl clinging tightly to one of her parents. She was looking forward to curling up with Marc tonight, completely alone in their own little heaven. Being close to him brought her a sense of peace that nothing else could, and, paired with the quiet forest, she knew it would be a rare moment of quiet that she wouldn’t soon forget.

She did her best to keep her eyes open throughout the drive, teasing Marc with the child-proofed innuendos she had mastered by now. Even when she was exhausted, talking to him was easy. It was like coming home, no matter where they were. They didn’t get moments like this often anymore; dedicated time to sit and talk together without the weight of their world driving them apart. She told him about the funny stage mishaps that had happened recently, a common occurrence with a cast of tap dancers and chaotic production numbers, laughing along to the retellings that never failed to make her smile. She talked about the adorable things their kids did, and the new coffee place she’d found by the theatre, just trying to take advantage of the fleeting minutes they had to really dedicate to each other.

Before she knew it, they were pulling off the main highway and through the forest of trees to a homey cabin tucked away near the water. Being Bella, she had only agreed to this vacation if it was truly a “vacation,” complete with a nice lake house to call their own for the weekend. She wasn’t much of a backwoods type, but a gorgeous log cabin with beautiful views and luxurious furniture she could handle. When Marc pulled the car to a stop, she opened the door to let Gemma out and quickly went around to retrieve Madeleine from the backseat. She slung the diaper bag over her arm, cooing at her daughter as she unbuckled the little girl from her seat. "Marc?” she called, balancing Madeleine on her hip while trying to collect some of her toys, "Can you and Laurence grab the bags while I get Maddie inside? I want to get her changed into something warmer. It’s chilly up here!” Gemma was barking at Bella’s ankles, demanding to explore as Arc circled around the car. "Laurence, put your sweatshirt on please before you run off!” Bella was in mommy mode, even if they were on vacation, and there was no debating with her when she flipped that switch. Keeping Madeleine close, Bella headed for the house and the key lock box by the door, easily entering the code to get them inside.

• • •

TAG: marc dominique delabarre
WORDS: 966
LOCATION: On Vacation, The Lake
LYRICS: Sugar by Maren Morris
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[marc dominique delabarre]

Marc was good at switching off. He knew one of them had to be if their relationship was to last until they were both grey. It meant he could listen to Bella when she had a bad day, and that he could talk Laurence through the nightmare of school. His teenage years were approaching faster than Marc felt comfortable with, but he hoped to maintain the good relationship he had with his son when that time came. Laurence would probably spend less time at home then, hanging out with friends instead, so for Marc the moments they had now – and these little vacations – were to make the most of it before his boy became a man. At least with Madeleine he had plenty of years to form those memories he could carry fondly into his golden years.

“It’s not a waste if we both get a good night’s sleep with no alarms.” Yes, they had an infant, but he found her cries more forgiving than the alarm letting him know it was time for work again. As much as Marc loved his job there were times when he really wanted to pull a sickie and spend the day playing video games in his pyjamas. He guessed everyone felt like they needed an escape from adulthood every now and then, even if there was nothing to complain about in their life. It was just the break in the routine, pressing pause while the rest of the world went by.

Hopefully this little getaway would recharge him a little. Marc knew he wasn’t old enough to complain about his age, but he was definitely feeling like he had less energy than three years ago. He was waiting for the day when he’d wake up to find his back was stiff and his joints creaked. Sometimes it felt like it could happen before his next birthday, but he knew that was all in his mind; at least for now. Their life together was wonderful chaos, non-stop until they passed out some days, but that kind of living was exhausting. He didn’t want either of them to burn out. Marc did his best to take a day each week to cook a nice dinner, something more special than usual, and get them to spend some relaxing time together with a movie, or a board game that hadn’t been out of the box for years. He’d stashed a few in the trunk of the car before Bella had filled the remaining space with the bags. Marc was certain she had packed far more than they needed for this trip.

Marc stretched out as he stepped out of the car, letting Arc out and taking Laurence’s Nintendo Switch before it got dropped. “Un tel souci. Prenez votre sac à l'intérieur puis revenez pour le pull.” He said quietly to Laurence, knowing the boy would probably try to pull the hoodie over himself and the bag. Laurence didn’t always think straight when he was excited, but Marc couldn’t blame him; childhood was a wonderful time and he deserved to enjoy every minute of it after he had been dragged halfway around the world to a city unlike anything he was used to. Marc was grateful that they had managed to forge their family after that. He would be lying if he said he had never worried about that sometimes, especially before he and Bella were married.

Marc grabbed the bags from the car, dropping them inside the cabin once he got there. He’d move them again once they were settled and knew where things were going. He didn’t want the place to look a mess as soon as they got there – which it would if anyone started to unpack without knowing where anything was. “That lake looks like it’s just inviting me to swim in it.” He grinned, glancing out of the double windows to where the sun was bouncing off the near still water. A swim would be refreshing, and probably perfect after that drive. First things first though, he needed to make sure Bella didn’t need anything from him.

• • •

TAGGED! Arabella Marie Delabarre
WORDS! 690!
LYRICS! Rewrite the Stars - - - The Greatest Showman
NOTES! “Such a worrier. Take your bag inside and then come back for the sweater.” <3

[Arabella Marie Delabarre]

One of Bella’s favorite ways to sneak work into her home life was to sit at the piano with Madeleine on her lap, sheet music before her, and one hand playing the melody of a song while the other clutched her daughter close as the busy mama learned new music or did vocal scales to keep her voice at the top of its game. It was a simple way to bond with her sweet little girl while checking something else off her never-ending to-do list. Bella loved hearing Madeleine try to sing along or watching her stare at her mother wide-eyed as she let her voice explore the music that set Bella’s heart pounding every time she got to sing it on stage.

She really wanted her daughter to love music as much as she did, or at least in some capacity. It had been such a defining piece of Bella’s entire life and she wanted to share that with Madeleine. Laurence had come into her life with his own hobbies and favorite games already established and, while she wouldn’t change a thing about him, Bella was excited to watch Madeleine define her own loves as she grew older. She wanted to give the girl everything she possibly could, but she would always be hoping Broadway found its way onto her list of favorites.

Bella opened the door to their temporary home, carrying Madeleine inside among a parade of curious dogs. She set the diaper bag down by the stairs and walked into the main room, a wide smile on her lips as she took in the view. This was going to be nice for them. The fresh air, sparkling water, and adventure time together was exactly what they all needed to enjoy this time of year.

She looked back at Marc’s comment, shaking her head with a smirk. "You better go claim that master bedroom before Laurence takes it for himself,” she teased as she came back over to him. Bella smiled up at him, placing her free hand on his chest while Madeleine cooed in excitement at being near her dad. "Thank you for dragging me into the woods,” she joked and reached up to peck his lips. Despite the horror-movie-esque way she described it, Bella was thankful for their little vacation and the chance to spend quality time as a family.

• • •

TAG: marc dominique delabarre
WORDS: 406!
LOCATION: On Vacation, The Lake
LYRICS: Sugar by Maren Morris
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[marc dominique delabarre]

Although Marc had been a father long before Madeleine had arrived, he hadn’t really considered himself an expert on the difficult stuff. Daphne had done all of that, ensuring Laurence was polite, well mannered, and knew the importance of his education. His hobbies, while shared with Marc, were ones he had found himself. Madeleine had been something completely new to Marc. He hadn’t known how exhausting fatherhood could be before her, but he considered it very different to what he had with Laurence. Marc had only found discipline hard before his daughter came along, but now his heart tightened whenever she cried, even if it was just a small cry for attention, or to let him and Bella know she was awake and ready to come out of her room. If Laurence cried, it was because something had gone wrong, or he had hurt himself on his bike; something he could explain with words between chokes and sobs. Infants were infinitely more complicated, and it had taken Marc a lot of sleepless nights to adjust to this type of parenting. He had also found himself in awe of everything Daphne must have done alone. He still regretted that she had been alone for the six years of Laurence’s life she had been lucky to experience. He didn’t think their relationship would have blossomed again, but Marc wasn’t the type of man who would abandon his flesh and blood. He would have wanted to help out, to be there if she or Laurence needed him.

There was no use in dwelling on the past, but there were nights when Marc found himself unable to sleep and the thoughts crept in then. He didn’t think that was something he struggled with alone. He was certain that almost everyone on the planet, at some point, found themselves thinking of the things they couldn’t change. When those nights did wrap their shadowy arms around him, Marc spent the next few days making sure everyone in his life was happy. He’d buy gifts, send messages, and check in with friends and family. If he had learnt anything from his past it was that life – and happiness – could be fleeting. He wanted to do his bit and ensure those he loved were not suffering or drowning under the stresses of life.

That was why this little escape felt so necessary. New York was very well the city of bright lights, but sometimes people needed a break. He had come to love and know Bella well enough that he recognised when she needed pulling away from work and all the commitments her dreams entailed. She might have fought with him on it, but Marc knew she was always thankful of his impromptu trips when they returned to the concrete jungle. “I can always throw him over my shoulder and show him where his room actually is.” Marc grinned, nudging his way through the cabin to locate everything. It was only a matter of time before someone asked about outlets or where the cleaning accessories were. He’d rather know it now and not have to look for it bleary eyed when he was on the cusp of a nap. “I told you the pine scented air would do us all some good.” He leaned down to steal a sweet kiss from his wife. “And not every tree is hiding a machete wielding maniac.” He promised for good measure.

• • •

TAGGED! Arabella Marie Delabarre
WORDS! 576!
LYRICS! Rewrite the Stars - - - The Greatest Showman
NOTES! <3

[Arabella Marie Delabarre]

Bella could not have wished for a better partner to balance her out in life, love, and all the chaos that came with those things. She had a tendency to get caught up in the craziness of their daily worlds, trying her best to keep so many things from crashing down that the weight often had her crashing instead. One touch from Marc could pull her back from the edge, grounding her again with a simple kiss to the forehead. She tried to do the same favor for him, bringing a little spontaneity into his life wherever she could. It often came in the form of dance parties while he was cooking or a walk with the dogs to pull him away from his computer, but she tried her hardest to keep the balance between them. This was a partnership, and they needed to keep finding each other even when the world was demanding their attention elsewhere.

Seeing how well they functioned as a family made Bella constantly grateful for the normal that they had fallen into now. Laurence’s introduction had not been easy for her; none of that world had been easy as she would never be Daphne, and Bella was acutely aware of that. When they’d all traveled back to Europe for the wedding, Bella had struggled so hard to fill the hole that seemed to have been designed for Daphne. If things had gone a different way, if she had lived, Bella could only imagine the fairy tale romance that would not have included her. Bella would have stayed in New York, and Daphne would have the happy ending that seemed to have been destined for her, Marc, and Laurence all along.

During that transition, Bella had fought with those emotions until she was black and blue, battling down the self-doubt and feeling of being a consolation prize. She had come to terms with the fact that she would never be the mother Daphne was; she had to be her own kind of parent, even at such a young age, and learn how to do things without second guessing every step she took. She tried so hard to be a mother to Laurence, even if she was still a bit clunky at it, and only hoped she was doing the boy justice.

Bella’s battle with those demons was not one she revisited anymore, and one she never brought up to Marc. She had gained confidence in her parenting capabilities, especially with Madeleine coming along, and knew she was doing the absolute best that she could. This happy ending with Marc and their family was hers to rightfully live, and she would not take that privilege for granted.

She laughed at Marc’s joking, a dangerous sparkle in her eye that she was sure he only knew too well after their years together. They had gotten better at mastering the art of flirting in front of the kids, but Bella was dreading the day Laurence finally caught on to what she was whispering. "Will you show me where our room is too?” she smirked up at him, the promise of something more practically on the tip of her tongue.

Madeleine fussed in her arms and Bella cooed at her, knowing the poor girl was probably tired from a long day of being disrupted by the car ride, her brother, and the dogs. "Let’s go get her to sleep and maybe we can go for that swim? The baby monitor is in her bag,” she said, looking up to her husband. "I need a good stretch after that car ride.” Even if they were both tired, Bella was determined to steal some alone time with Marc before they snuck away to their room tonight. Romantic moments were fleeting these days, and she wanted every opportunity she had while they were on vacation.

• • •

TAG: marc dominique delabarre
WORDS: 648!
LOCATION: On Vacation, The Lake
LYRICS: Sugar by Maren Morris
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[marc dominique delabarre]

Marc knew that his life hadn’t gone the way he planned. He hadn’t expected to fall in love with someone and then find out that he had a six year old son left behind in the country of his birth. He hadn’t expected to face parenthood alone, unsure if Bella would ever be able to adjust to the idea of step-mother. Not that Laurence had ever called her that. By the time he had adjusted to the new woman in his life, he was calling her mom. There had been many long night discussions with Marc about how he could adapt to this new world in New York, while still cherishing the memories of all that had been left in Arles. They decided that Daphne would always be maman, and nothing could ever take that away. It made it easier to talk about her memory when Laurence was reminiscing, without it being intrusive on this life, the one with Bella and later Madeleine. Marc truly believed that Madeleine had been the final piece of the puzzle that helped Laurence settle down. He wasn’t the only kid in the household anymore, and he could help out from time to time with entertaining the infant. Plus, she had some semblance of Marc to her in certain lights, just like Laurence did. It helped make their family feel more like a family for the little boy who had lost everything only to find so much more out there waiting for him.

He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t relieved. There had been moments where he could see clearly how everything could fall apart. Thankfully, those moments had been mended, and made their little unit stronger for it. There was bound to be more tense times in the future, but no one ever said parenthood or marriage was easy. Everyone had their bumps in the roads and hurdles; it was just that most couples chose not to talk about them. It was as though they were afraid they’d be seen as weak or a mistake by the rest of the world – but the rest of the world didn’t matter! All that was important was that the people involved were happy, were safe, and wanted to continue on their adventure together. Marc knew there had been tough moments, but he wasn’t ready for the single player levels. He’d much rather continue questing with his partner at his side.

He smirked down at his wife, deciding to tease her just a little bit. There had been plenty of times when learning English that he had missed subtle clues in tone or expression. It was, after all, so very different to his native tongue. Occasionally, now he was more than comfortable with the language, it was easy to feign ignorance. Sometimes it got him out of complicated tasks he had never wanted to be a part of, but other times it was just something he could tease his family with. This was one of those times. “Sure. It’s down that hall, third door on the left.” Had it been later in the day, had their not been excited children and dogs, he might have followed her cues and carried her through to the room in question. However, there was still a lot going on, and Marc loathed their alone time being interrupted as it was without working himself up right now when he knew it couldn’t last. So, instead, he’d play dumb and wait for that knowing look to appear in Bella’s eyes as he chuckled to himself.

“When I called they said the cot was set up in the room across from ours.” Marc grabbed the baby bag first, shouldering it before bending down for their own. He may as well move everything at once. That way Bella could get Madeleine settled for a sleep and he could find the swimming gear and let Laurence know of the plans – and remind him to keep the noise down. They didn’t yet know how it would carry in this cottage, and he knew Bella wouldn’t be pleased if Madeleine didn’t get at least a decent amount of rest now. “I’ll get the towels and suits ready.” He promised, opening the door to the temporary nursery and dropping Madeleine’s bag on the dresser in there. He pressed a kiss to his daughter’s head and then one on Bella’s too. “Je vous aime tous les deux. Mes filles douces.” With a loving smile, he moved to the master bedroom, placing the suitcases on the bed to easily rummage through. First he cracked his neck and stripped out of the hoodie he had been driving in.

• • •

TAGGED! Arabella Marie Delabarre
WORDS! 784!
LYRICS! Rewrite the Stars - - - The Greatest Showman
NOTES! “I love you both. My sweet girls.” <3

[Arabella Marie Delabarre]

Bella’s favorite parts of being a mom were the little moments that turned into big memories; the kind that were never planned, but somehow stayed with you forever because they ended up meaning more. She loved the spontaneity that came along with having two kids who constantly created those moments for her, and they always kept her on her toes with what they were going to get up to next. Being able to laugh with Laurence and Madeleine while watching them grow into their own people made her feel so proud of them; she was so proud to be their mom.

There was no doubt in Bella’s mind that what she had with Marc was forever. He was the person she would come home to every day until she died, and she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Even when they fought, she no longer feared either of them leaving; they worked through problems as a team, though their opinions may have differed sometimes, but that wouldn’t change the fact that they would still be on the same side at the end of it all. She trusted him more than anything or anyone else and couldn’t even fathom being at a place in her life that didn’t include him. When she was late coming home or spent more time in the city than their little house during a busy week, she texted and called both him and the kids so she could still be present in some small way. Being able to connect with them in any way always made a bright smile appear on her face, and she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. This family was her world, and Marc helped keep it spinning.

Bella had always loved teasing Marc and flirting with him through sly comments that usually earned her a heated kiss from her husband. The version of her before kids would have immediately locked all the doors and had him on the bed, her hands in his hair and her lips pressed to his skin. She could recall more than one trip where that had indeed happened, back when they were able to run off for weekends whenever they felt like it. But, having a family had forced them, specifically her, to be more creative with their romance. They were far passed the “honeymoon” phase and had to be appropriate for the tiny humans often butting into conversations. Still, she whispered things in Marc’s ear that, had the kids been able to understand, would have probably scarred them for life. It was impossible to behave all the time; Bella found him irresistible, and she wasn’t afraid to let him know.

Narrowing her eyes into a playful glare at his response, she shook her head. He could play dumb all he liked, but she would never stop embarrassing him with inappropriate comments that always resulted in fun later on. "You know very well that’s not what I meant, monsieur,” she said. Her glare turned into a content smile as he kissed Madeleine’s head, and she pulled him back for a peck on the lips before letting him go deal with the bags. He was an amazing father and husband, and she knew how luck she was to have him.

Bella followed him into the room for Madeleine and cooed at her daughter. She quickly set up everything for nap time, easily going through the mental checklist of things to keep her daughter both safe and comfortable in this new space. After getting Maddie to sleep with a quick lullaby, Bella reached down to kiss her sweet little forehead. She plugged in the baby monitor and double checked it was working before slowly exiting, closing the door with the quietest creak possible.

She crossed over into their bedroom and took a moment to pet Gemma who was already plopped on the bed. Bella looked out the large window facing the lakefront and smiled, letting out a deep breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. There was almost always tension in her shoulders from the way she carried stress, even when she thought she was relaxed, but standing in front of that window released some of the weight she held. There was no stage here; there was nothing to do but enjoy family time.

Excited to get on with the rest of their day, Bella went to look for whatever swimsuit Marc had laid out for her. She always over-packed for trips and had a barely-closed suitcase, but there were some fun pieces tucked away that were explicitly for Marc’s enjoyment over the weekend. She had also brought family-appropriate bathing suits that wouldn’t leave her with too weird of tan lines, though she was wondering what he’d find first.

• • •

TAG: marc dominique delabarre
WORDS: 795!
LOCATION: On Vacation, The Lake
LYRICS: Sugar by Maren Morris
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[marc dominique delabarre]

Marc had always known that he wanted to be a family man. There were no doubts in his mind on that matter. He had always dreamt of long days with kids and pets, vacations and messy adventures that made the best kind of memories. His childhood had been a little more put together; his family had a reputation to uphold, after all. The Delabarre’s loved their children, but they were not the type of kids who were encouraged to climb trees or get covered in paint. They were encouraged to have hobbies that could be educational, fulfilling. At one point in Marc’s life they had tried to get him interested in learning to play the violin, but that was not where Marc’s skillset lay. He was more occupied and excited by taking apart the old pieces of technology that were broken or being replaced. It was a strange little hobby for a seven year old, but years later it sort of made sense when Marc moved on to custom building his own PC and expressed a desire to study Computer Science when he attended college.

It was outdated to expect doctors and lawyers from children and call it a huge success. Of course, they were both still very successful careers to have, but in a world where almost everything was digital, IT was another huge success. Marc hadn’t desired to chase fame or fortune in the likes of Silicon Valley. He was happy enough working for himself with the small repairs and builds he did in his free time, and, of course, teaching. He wasn’t a career guy. He was a family guy. He didn’t want to miss out on those milestones, and those school events. He wanted to be there for as many of them as was reasonably possible. He wanted to be in the photo albums, to be in the home movies that would be brought out one day to embarrass and reminisce. Living in New York, he saw too many overworked father’s who seemed to think money was the most important thing to their family’s happiness. Maybe it was because it wasn’t something Marc needed to worry about, but he couldn’t understand it. Money helped, sure it did, but money didn’t make the messy memories or the stories that would be told for years to come. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Somehow, Marc managed to keep a straight face, turning away to go and continue the task he had mentioned.

He unzipped the cases at the same time. Had anyone else been in the room they might have been impressed with the ease in which he managed it, but he was alone and so simply got on with finding the towels buried beneath the clothing and then fishing around for the swimwear. He was trying not to make too much of a mess since he didn’t want them to have to spend much time ironing clothes that had gotten crumpled, or picking them up from the bed and the floor when they were too tired to really care about clothes. He found his swimming trunks first and then closed his fingers around a mostly red suit for Bella. He didn’t know how many she had packed since he tried to avoid even looking in his wardrobe – she had at least three times more things than he had, and most of the reasons he couldn’t understand when he tried to listen. It was easier to just keep away, and probably better for his sanity, too. He made short work of changing into the swimming trunks, folding his worn clothes over the back of a chair for the time being.

• • •

TAGGED! Arabella Marie Delabarre
WORDS! 616!
LYRICS! Rewrite the Stars - - - The Greatest Showman
NOTES! <3

[Arabella Marie Delabarre]

It had taken building a family with Marc for Bella to become completely on board with the idea. In the beginning when Laurence had been brought into their lives, she had been confused and frankly scared. He was not something she planned; kids were supposed to be a long way off into the future, after they had settled and after they’d been married. His arrival had demanded a decision that she didn’t regret, and becoming his mom was one of the best choices she had ever made. Being a parent for him and forced her to grow up quickly and become a person she hadn’t even thought possible. If she was honest, she had never envisioned this life for herself, especially not at 25. She knew she wanted to be in New York, pursuing her dreams on Broadway and reveling in the magic of the stage, but she had no idea what her world would look like outside of that; being on Broadway was the goal, and everything else was in addition. Marc and Laurence had altered that view, shifting her focus to something greater than her career and giving her space to feel grounded in a job that usually required her to be anything but connected to reality. Now, and with the arrival of Madeleine, her family was the part of the day she looked forward to the most. She wanted to be in a house full of chaos and creativity, encouraging messy hands and loud laughter together. Somewhere it wasn’t uncommon to hear a piano playing in one room and video games in the other, with dogs underfoot and schoolwork lying around waiting to be reviewed. Without even realizing it, Bella had found her the dream she had never known she’d wanted.

She was content with their group of four, especially since it was still a wonder they made it through the day without completely losing their minds. They worked well together and enjoyed the lives they had built so far. But, Bella would be lying if she said she hadn’t thought about growing their family further. Madeleine had grown up in the blink of an eye and Bella missed having a tiny baby to dote on. As Maddie became her own tiny person with a big personality, the young mother found it harder and harder to pack away the outgrown toys or clothes. Bella hadn’t had an overly difficult pregnancy and, besides the complications that would come with arranging work again and building up stamina to be back on stage, the idea of having another baby pricked the back of her mind more often than it should have. Marc came from a big family and she had always gotten the distinct impression he wanted one of his own someday. Were they ready to keep expanding now? Was she ready?

Bella shoved away the thoughts and turned her attention to her husband, letting out an overly dramatic sigh as she found him already changed into his swimsuit. "You didn’t wait for me? I would’ve loved to help you change. Or just sat back to enjoy the show,” she said with that smirk back on her lips. Turning from him and using a mirror on the wall, she finger-combed her hair up and started pulling it into a bun to be out of the way for swimming. Over her shoulder, she said, "Did you pick something for me? Or did you go snooping through my clothes and spoil all your surprises for the weekend?” No matter how long they were together, Bella knew Marc would never comprehend her love of clothes and shoes. Living in New York had done nothing to quell her obsession with fashion and moving into the bigger house had only encouraged it further. She could remember his loving jokes as she’d purchased an entirely new maternity wardrobe before Madeleine had been born, though the jokes turned to groans when she started buying baby clothes.

Satisfied with her messy bun, Bella turned back to her husband and came up to rest her hands on his chest. She reached up to press her lips to his with a smile.

• • •

TAG: marc dominique delabarre
WORDS: 696!
LOCATION: On Vacation, The Lake
LYRICS: Sugar by Maren Morris
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[marc dominique delabarre]

Marc had been thrown into the deep end of fatherhood. While he had always known he wanted kids, he hadn’t expected one to pop up on an emergency trip back to Arles. Laurence had his heart now, but there had been a time when he hadn’t known if he would ever connect with the little boy, if there would ever be a way that he could be a good father to a boy who didn’t even know him. Now it was almost like he had been around for his whole life. Marc didn’t feel even a hint of the disconnect that had been there at first, and what made things even more special was that Bella had come around to the idea of playing mom far sooner than she ever would have liked. It had been hard, and there had been moments when Marc fully expected her to walk away from what they had, but they’d worked through those problems, overcome the hurdles that had threatened to split them up. And now they had another child, a beautiful daughter to complete their little family.

There was nothing else that Marc wanted right now. His life was complete at this point – for a time being anyway. He had Bella and they had their children, and their dogs, and it was the beautiful, chaotic whirlwind he had always hoped it would be. Some people might have wanted to chase careers, or spend a good chunk of their life figuring things out and making a dozen or more mistakes along the way, but Marc had only ever wanted to find love and to have that love eventually lead him to a happy family. It might have all happened with the order a little jumbled and a few more obstacles than he ever anticipated, but Marc was happy, and he did his best to ensure that Bella and the children were happy, too. Right now it was easier with Laurence because he could talk and say what he wanted. Madeleine was still a little ways away from speaking in complete sentences, and would likely still be fickle in her taste for somewhat longer. Marc had missed out on that phase of Laurence’s life, so he was excited to see how Madeleine would tackle them. He wondered how they all would tackle them. It was uncharted territory for them all and it was both terrifying and exciting.

Grinning, Marc set about pulling the toiletries from his case, knowing he’d want a shower later in the day. “Had I waited, you’d have only served as a distraction and it would be sunset before we got out of here.” He raised his eyebrows, silently challenging her to say that he was wrong. It was hard to grab some alone time together with work, the children, and everything else that came with their busy lives. He threw the suit he had pulled for her across the bed. “You know I’m not the type to spoil a surprise.” He laughed and gestured to the cases on the bed. “Do you think you packed enough, Ma Cherie?” He was certain she had packed enough clothes for at least three outfit changes a day if she really wanted to. Marc had packed barely a quarter of what she had and thought it was more than enough.

• • •

TAGGED! Arabella Marie Delabarre
WORDS! 561!
LYRICS! Rewrite the Stars - - - The Greatest Showman
NOTES! <3

[Arabella Marie Delabarre]

The way Bella expressed her love for Marc had definitely shifted throughout their relationship. It felt like ages ago when she’d been able to pop into his work between classes to surprise him with lunch or plan a night out to see a film he’d been excited about. Those were simple times, back when her world had been consumed with college and falling in love with the man who eventually became her husband. Back then, she hadn’t known what the future held for them. She had been head over heels for him and her work in the theatre, and that had been more than enough to keep her happy.

Now, Bella showed her love for Marc in little ways. It wasn’t grand gestures anymore, but the simple things that seemed to fit perfectly into their daily routines. It was making his lunch in the morning and leaving a saucy note for him to find when he finally got time to eat between classes; it was calling after shows and taking time to connect before she was back on stage; it was bringing home his favorite takeaway for dinner when they’d both had exhausting days. They were the kind of familiar moments that always brought a smile to her face because she knew they’d bring a smile to his.

For how much they had faced together, Bella could think of no one who knew her better than Marc. She was comfortable with him in a way that allowed her to be herself, no reservations or hiding needed. After playing characters on a stage for a living, having someone to come home to that understood who she was kept her saner than any therapist could. There was no worrying if he’d judge her for frizzy hair or for still struggling as she learned to cook; she was never scared that he’d question the way she needed to learn lines or her fascination with shoes. Bella could laugh with him and bare her entire heart to him without the fear that he’d shred it to pieces, and she loved him even more for it each day. He was her person in every sense of the word, and she hoped she returned the favor in their happy little marriage.

Bella playfully rolled her eyes at his words, grabbing her swimsuit off the bed. "I could still be distracting you know,” she teased, holding up the bikini. It was appropriate for public audiences by all standards necessary, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be fun to slowly strip out of for her husband. "Wouldn’t you just love a fashion show?”

She stepped away from him, going into their little bathroom and closing the door slightly to change into her suit. The windows were open in the bedroom and she wasn’t in the mood for giving anyone else a show today. "I think I packed a perfect amount and you’ll be very thankful for it later on,” she replied while she changed. Bella quickly pulled off her clothes and folded them neatly, tugging on the red swimsuit and tying together the strings so it fit snugly on her body.

It had taken a while to become confident in herself again after having Madeleine, and her body still showed many marks that only a mother would. She had the faintest stretch marks in places they never would have been before, and her stomach was still not as flat as it’d been before pregnancy. Her hips had gotten wider and her chest bigger; she had more to love that still remained long after she’d gone through the whole ordeal of actually birthing the child. At first, it had terrified her to have such a foreign body while working in an industry that centered around the way one looked. Her image was everything, from the blonde hair to lanky figure, and that was what won her roles.

As she’d worked on becoming a mother rather than an actress, the worries about dress sizes had slowly started to fade away. She couldn’t fault herself for showing the battle scars of bringing life into this world; she couldn’t be mad at anyone for the amazing things her body had accomplished so that Madeleine could exist. There were still difficult days where she fought with her inner critic, but today was not one of those occasions. She was a mom who still looked damn good in a bikini and no one could take that away from her.

Bella came back out of the bathroom to toss her pile of clothes back onto the bed. She pulled a light cover-up out of her suitcase along with a pair of sandals, finishing up her outfit for their very short walk to the backyard. "Promise me we’ll go swimming again later when the kids are really asleep?” she teased, big eyes looking up at her husband. Bella came to stand in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "And then you can personally wash all the nasty lake water out of my hair because I refuse to smell like the outdoors,” she smirked at him, still keeping her city girl heart beating strong even in their gorgeous lakeside getaway.

• • •

TAG: marc dominique delabarre
WORDS: 877!
LOCATION: On Vacation, The Lake
LYRICS: Sugar by Maren Morris
NOTES: <3 <3 <3