On the dark road, during the walk back from the shop, Bram let himself wonder who Bijou was. He was obviously some sort of high-ranking person, but he hadn't offered a last name when he'd introduced himself. His clothes alone were worth more than Bram currently owned. And he sold them without a second thought. He was haughty and gave orders, but cursed and noticed when the help was faking stupid. Stripping in front of a strange alpha was no issue for him. He was beautiful and strong.

The humming came back.

Bram sighed. The faster he got Bijou and his children home and away from him, the better. Of course, then he would have to disappear for a while, but that was no issue. He needed time away from Paris, anyway.

Knocking softly on the door to the shack, Bram let Bijou know he’d returned.

"That was quick," Bijou said and opened the door a crack for the clothes.

"I had to threaten a shop-keep to open at this hour but when he saw what I had, he was only too happy to do business. I promised him more."

"Yes, yes," Bijou muttered. "The kids are undressed already. Here." He shoved a bundle through the crack and shut the door.

With nothing to do but wait, Bram looked through the bundle. Soft cottons and silks, real gold and silver jewelry. He frowned. Who were these people?

The door opened. Bijou and his children stood in their new old clothes. Bram looked over them approvingly. The boys wore pants and nearly threadbare shirts. The clothes were ill fitting, but the shoes seemed to fit better than that. Maria was in a dress that was a bit big on her. She looked sleepy and confused. Bijou himself was in normal pants and a work shirt with a jacket on. His hair, which stood out too much for an omega for the lower class, was tucked up into a hat.

"You look like a fine lot," Bram complimented as he handed over the cloth purse with the rest of the money from Bijou's clothes. "Like farmers, come on hard times, maybe."

"Is that our story?" Bijou asked.

"It might as well be. We'll work out the details on the road. Come on. And… here."

A bit of gold flashed in the moonlight as Bram held out his hand.

"What's that?" Bijou asked, reaching for it.

"It was my Ma's. Put it on. We'll say we're newlyweds. I've… already got my Pa's on." Bram glanced at Bijou, hoping he wasn't blushing or didn't smell too much like hormones. "Go on. I'm not getting down on one knee."

Bijou took the ring delicately and looked at it. "I promise I won't let anything happen to it," he said as he stared at it.

"That'll be easier if it's on your hand."

Shocked back to reality, Bijou put the ring on and curled his fingers in on themselves. Bram pushed the thought of how good Bijou looked in the dark with his ring on out of his mind by looking down at the children.

The kids were looking up at him, wide-eyed.

"Are you our Daddy now?" the red-haired boy asked.

"Theodore!" Bijou snapped softly.

"Yea, are you?" the black hair boy echoed.

"He's… our Daddy?" the girl murmured.

Bram chuckled. "Just to pretend, little ones. Come on."