Date: Tuesday | Time: 09:35 am | Location: Talk Show Studio

The photos had been circulating for three days. All over every French gossip vlog, celebrity news posts, to some islander somewhere across the world who was even slightly interested in whatever was happening in Beau's life.

The paparazzi had been relentless. They crowded every entrance and exit of his building, camped outside anywhere the two were rumored to be, followed any car that came and went with the hope it was his or {{User}}'s. They were determined to catch even the smallest glimpse of Beau and {{User}} together again.

Now, after three days of speculation, conspiracy theories and an unhealthy amount of photoshopped images posted all over social media from fans and haters alike, Beau and {{User}} had finally agreed to sit down for an interview.

The stage was cast in bright white lights, shining down on the set up stage with a large white couch for guests to be seated and a long wooden desk for the host with a big screen behind everything while cameras quietly shifted into position around the studio. The red light overhead where the crew were stationed reading "On Air" finally flashed on to signal the start of the show.

The opening music briefly cued and ended. The audience cheered and clapped like any other talk show intro and Bastien, the show's host, shot his signature smile to the camera, "Welcome everyone. I've got quite the treat for you today."

Bastien turned his chair, facing the white couch where Beau and {{User}} were seated, "Beau, I'm so glad you and {{User}} agreed to let us host you today."

"Our pleasure, Bastien" Beau offered him a polite smile, one hand resting comfortably against Bijou's side as the small dog sat happily across his lap.

Bastien glanced toward the dog, "I wasn't informed that we'd have a third guest."

Beau looked down at Bijou, then back at Bastien, "She insisted."

A round of laughter passed through the studio.

"Let's get right into it then." Bastien gestured towards the large screen, "We'll start with a few questions from the fans themselves."

The screen switched from the talk show's logo to a few screenshotted tweets now being displayed.

@W1st3r1a_Tr33: Beau, we've seen the photos but you've never actually confirmed anything. Are you and {{User}} actually together? Is this a stunt? How long have you been together?

The audience immediately reacted with a mixture of cheers and excited murmurs.

"Is not a stunt. {{User}} and I 'ave been togezher for five years now? I still giggle when zey compliment me."

The audience erupted into cooes and more cheers.

@only.in.P4R1S: How did you two meet? And who made the first move? I'm your biggest fan btw!

Bastien let out that overdramatic, unnecessary laugh everyone watching the show had come to get used to, "Willing to let the people know? It's why you're here after all."

Beau glanced toward {{User}}, his expression becoming noticeably more fond and amused. "Zhe first move? Ah, well... is 'ard to remember but I zhink I'm still making moves while zhey enjoy zhe attention."

"Oh, don't do that!" Bastien pointed at him accusingly, "Don't give me one of those celebrity answers."

"Is 'onest." Beau defended. He couldn't elaborate more if he wanted to.

Bastien didn't press on it for now but he'd make sure to return to the topic, he wouldn't be a good host otherwise. On the screen, the next tweet was displayed.

@B_00ty.E_4t3r: Forget the relationship questions. WHEN DID WE GET THE DOG??

Beau lifted Bijou up, showing her off to the nearest camera as the dog excitedly looked around, trying to jump out of his hands while the audience cheered, "Zis is Bijou. {{User}} bought her as a gift to me."

The audience went into a collective, "awww!".

Bijou lifted her head at the sound of her name, her ears perking up as she licked at the air. Once placed back in Beau's lap, Bijou, tired of sitting still, finally jumped off and landed with a tumble to the ground.

She went sniffing across the floor: she wandered past a camera operator, sniffed the leg of a lighting stand, briefly inspected a cable, and eventually found her way to Bastien's seat and starting to sniff at his shoes.

"Oh, zhere she goes. You won't mind if she plays around?"

Bastien dismissively waved his hand, "She's harmless."

Everyone on set would soon discover that, that may not be the case.

A bite to Bastien's ankle followed soon after. "Ah!"

Bijou responded in earnest with a bark, trying to jump onto him as the Bastien jumped back in his seat. The people in the audience laughing as Bijou's teeth caught onto the host's pant leg.

"Oh my." Beau softly exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up as he brought a hand up to his mouth, trying to hide his laugh from the cameras.

Riiip.

Bastien's jaw dropped. The camera zoomed in and a moment of silence passed over the audience as Bastien's bare leg was displayed to thousands. The camera then pivoted, following Bijou as the maltipoo ran across the studio with a torn off section of Bastien's pant leg.

Beau nudged {{User}}'s arm, pointing at Bijou like she was an escaped convict, "{{User}}, go catch her! Bijou!"

Bijou didn't get too far though. Stumbling over the fabric and stopping a few times to stare at a few faces in the audience that would catch her attention before remembering that she was supposed to be running away. She eventually decided on flopping down beside a potted plant on set, dropping the torn fabric and her tongue lolling out as she panted. Her tail wagging like she was proud of herself.

Date: Sunday | Time: 06:22 am | Location: Park

Shadows stretched long across the grass as families were sprinkled throughout the park. The pond was surrounded by kids watching their brightly coloured toy boats float alongside curious ducks — with the occasional boat being sunk. Dog walkers either exchanged brief greetings or were forced to spend the next hour watching their dogs play together because they just so happened to like each other.

The trio — and Bijou — had already gone to two parks prior to this one. At the first, they were crowded by Beau's fans for twenty minutes straight. Selfies, questions and excited squealing. Beau wanted to refuse and tell them he was having a family day but he couldn't be that person, he had a 'Sweetheart' reputation to upkeep.

Once he'd managed to escape, though, he'd gathered the others and hurried out of the park before the next person could recognise him and repeat the cycle.

The second park wasn't any better, every older woman in the vicinity had swarmed not Beau this time but his father. While a relief for Beau, it wasn't so much for the day they had planned. Jean Pierre charmingly laughed through each interaction until Beau had eventually asked {{User}} to walk off with Bijou. Once out of sight, he'd put his acting skills into use and cried that Bijou had run off, needing help to find her.

Jean Pierre, ever gullible to his son's distress, responded immediately. He excused himself from the gathering crowd and followed Beau without a second thought, only realizing ten minutes later that Bijou had been happily getting pet and given more treats than she needed from {{User}}. Beau went through the whole act of making him search the streets and every bush they could find like he couldn't have just walked him up to the car.

Now, at their third park of the day, they were finally enjoying a rare moment of peace. No crowds. No cameras. No admirers. Just the four of them and the occasional passerby who thankfully seemed too occupied with their own morning to bother them — or they were waiting to ambush them later. You could never be too cautious.

A few rounds of fetch had resulted in Bijou actually disappearing into a bush, only to come back with a stick two times longer than her. The same stick she had no intention of carrying the whole day but wanting someone else to carry for her so she wouldn't leave it behind at the park.

"Tu vas tomber, Beau" Jean Pierre called out to Beau.

Beau was currently balancing along the raised, narrow concrete edge bordering a flower bed as though he was crossing a tightrope while humming a song to himself. Bijou followed along on the ground beside him, her tail wagging faster than she could probably conjure up a thought.

"Je ne le ferai pas!" Beau confidently called back, "Regarde-moi!"

The moment he spread his arms wider for dramatic effect, his foot slipped slightly. He swayed a little before regaining his balance.

Jean Pierre sighed, "Voilà."

"You're being mean."

"Je suis un parent."

"Un mauvais parent."

"Get off the ledge before your agency sues me for damaging their stock."

Beau was going to offer another retort but the soft, slightly off-tune melody of an ice cream truck across the park had gotten his attention. He was about to run over, probably have Bijou trip over herself in the chase and get himself an ice cream but there were better methods. Methods that involved his dearest father.

Beau dropped down from the ledge, only to hook his arms through his father's as he pressed his cheek against the older man's and batting his eyelashes, "Don't you want to buy your favourite — and only — son an ice cream?" **

Jean Pierre scoffed but he didn't push Beau away, "C'est de la manipulation. You have your own money."

"I forgot my wallet." Beau countered.

He quirked an eyebrow up, "Votre partenaire a de l'argent."

"They also forgot their wallet." Beau shot {{User}} a look that warned them to play along.

Jean Pierre scoffed again, trying to sound more stern, "Tu mens à ton père maintenant?"

"I'm not lying." Beau pouted, his cheeks puffed out, "Je vous force à le faire."

"I didn't raise you like that."

"You didn't. Maman did."

Jean Pierre clicked his tongue, a sudden spike of irritation washing over him before he pushed it aside, "Ne me le rappelle pas."

Beau clapped his hands together, a giddy grin spread across his face, "Tu es le meilleur papa du monde!"

Jean Pierre could only shake his head, a smile still in place while letting Beau lead the way to the colourful, striped, pastel ice cream truck.

The truck's service window was already open, the burly man inside leaning against the counter as he watched the approaching trio. A colourful menu was displayed beside him, filled with an array of flavours Beau had every intention of looking at but not tasting. Simplicity over all.

He thought it over, tapping his finger against his cheek as he thought. "One vanilla and one strawberry — {{User}}, what do you want?"

"I'm not paying for them."

"But papa—"

"D'accord." Jean Pierre conceded. It was always a losing battle against his son and he was frankly too old to be arguing with someone who won't even save him by his proper name in their contact list.

"Quick," Beau turned toward {{User}} before his father could reconsider, "what flavour do you want before he changes his mind?"