After the Curse

Chapter 1

Lumiere and Babette- Be our Guest

Lumiere watched as everybody gathered in the foyer of his master's castle. It's been two weeks since the curse had been lifted, and everybody was happy to be in their normal human bodies. Lumiere was even more excited today, for today he was going to ask the girl of his dreams, Babette, to marry him.

He wanted to ask her before, but with the curse, he felt it wasn't proper. He didn't want to propose when he was a candelabrum and she a feather duster. He wanted to do it when the time was right. He felt that this was the right time, and he had waited long enough. He was used to being human again, surely everybody was too.

"Lumiere," Babette said, going over to him. "Why have you gathered all of us here?"

"Just you wait, my love." He told her. "I have something special planned. You'll love it." Babette smiled.

"I don't know what it is, but I already do." Lumiere smiled too, He then was determined, and went to the center of the room.

"Lumiere," Cogsworth said to him. "What do you have planned? You better not keep us any longer; you know the master is impatient."

"Cogsworth." The once beast Prince Adam, spoke up. "I'm a changed man now. I can wait." He looked at Lumiere. "But seriously, Lumiere, I can't wait any longer, so it better be good."

"Trust me, Master." Lumiere said to him. "It's better than good."

"Henri." Cogworth's wife, Clothilde told him. "Relax. Don't be such a stick

in-the-mud. Nobody likes one." Cogsworth sighed.

"Yes, honey." He said, solemnly.

Lumiere looked forward again, and whistled loudly. Everybody looked at him.

"Anyone's that not here, please raise their hand." Nobody raised their hand.

"I don't get it, Mama." Chip told his mom. "How can anyone that's not here raise their hand? It's impossible."

"Chip, I love how innocent and clueless you are sometimes." Spoke up his older sister.

"Marinette!" Mrs. Potts scolded her daughter.

"Sorry."

"Don't say sorry to me, say it to Chip." Marinette looked at her brother.

"Sorry, Chip." Lumiere spoke again.

"Okay. Good." He said. He went to the corner of the room. The tablecloth that originally covered the table covered something else. He had told everyone to ignore it, so they did, but they were all curious as to what was under it. Now, they will find out. "Babette, can you come here, sil vous plait?" Babette went towards him.

"What is it, Lumiere?" She asked. "What's under the cloth?" Lumiere took off the cloth, revealing the most beautiful vase Babette has ever seen.

"What a beautiful vase, Lumiere." Belle told him.

"Thank you." Lumiere thanked her. He looked at Babette. "For you, my love." Babette was speechless.

"For me?" She wanted to know at last.

"Well, you are my love, and the only one here named Babette, are you not?"

"I am. But, you didn't have to give me this. It must have cost a fortune."

"It was. But Mr. Potts was so generous, and knowing what we'd all gone through, he gave it to me at a cheap price."

"You did that for him, dear?" Mrs. Potts asked her husband.

"Oui." Mr. Potts replied. "I had to do something for him for bringing my son back to you when he ran away."

"I helped get him back too." Cogsworth, who was nearby, said.

"Plus, he brought something else for Babette." Babette looked at her lover.

"Really?" She asked. "What?"

"Look in the vase." Lumiere said. Babette looked in the vase, and couldn't believe it. It was a poesy ring.

"What is it?" Chip questioned. Lumiere took out the ring, and got down on his knee in front of his love.

"Babette, will you make me the happiest man in all of France, and marry me?" Babette could hardly contain her excitement. Was this really happening? "Babette, I need an answer. Will you…"

"Oh, yes, Lumiere!" She spoke. "A thousand times, yes! Why wouldn't I?" Everybody cheered and applauded as Lumiere put the ring on his love's finger. The newly engaged couple kissed.

"Congratulations you two." Maurice said.

"Are we invited to your wedding?" Chip asked. Lumiere looked at the child.

"Are you invited?" He teased. "Of course you're invited! You, your family, and everybody in here are invited, everyone but Sultan and Frou-Frou that is. Dogs aren't allowed." The dogs looked at him as they heard their names. Chip was happy as could be. Lumiere looked at Cogworth. "And Cogsworth, would you do the honor of being my best man?"

"I certainly would." He agreed. "I'll be the best Best Man ever." Babette looked at Belle.

"And for saving us," She began. "Would you be my Maid of Honor?"

"I thought you'd never ask." Replied Belle. "I'd be delighted to."

"Lumiere." His father, Ewan, said to his son. "Your Mama and I are happy for you and Babette. It took me a long time to propose to her, but I'm glad I found the courage to. I'm sure you and Babette will be a very happy couple."

"Thanks, Papa." Lumiere said back. "I'm sure we will too." He then was sad. His mother passed away during the curse, and he didn't go to her funeral. "I sure wish Mama could have been a part of this."

"I know son, and in a way, she is. I know she's proud." Lumiere smiled.

"I know she is too, Papa."

Four months later

Stanly, LeFou's friend, exited the tavern super drunk. As he walked, he saw dancing inside a building.

That looks fun! He thought to himself. He noticed someone running to the building.

"Excuse me." He shouted. The person looked at him. "What's..." He hiccupped. "going on…" He hiccupped again. "in there?"

"Are you drunk?" The guy asked Stanly.

"No, I'm very much sober." Stanly answered. "Now, answer my question. What's going on in there?"

"Oh. My uncle Lumiere is getting married tomorrow afternoon at Notre Dame. This is his bachelor party."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" He hiccupped. "Tell him I say congrats!"

"I will, now if you excuse me, I'm late." They said their goodbyes, and Lumiere's nephew went into the building.

Stanly only walked a few blocks, until he fell face first onto the paved road. LeFou, who saw this and was walking home himself, went to help his drunken friend.

Stanly then came to. He was lying on LeFou's sofa. He sat up, confused.

"Stanly!" LeFou said happily. "You're up!" Stanly looked at his friend.

"What am I doing here?" He wanted to know.

"You passed out on the road. Luckily, I was there just in time."

"Oh." Stanly then thought of something. Now, who was getting married? He was so wasted that he forgot, so he said the first thing that came to mind. "Belle's getting married." This angered LeFou.

"Oh she is, is she?" Stanly thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, she is."

"By that Beast I gather. When are they getting married?"

"This afternoon in Notre Dame."

"Well, Stanly, you know what we're going to do?" Stanly shook his head.

"No I don't. Tell me, LeFou. What are we going to do?" LeFou then grinned evilly.

"We're going to avenge Gaston's death, and crash Belle's wedding."

"How long are we going to stand out here?" Stanly wanted to know when he and LeFou were standing outside of Notre Dame.

"Until the wedding." LeFou told him.

"When will that be?" LeFou shrugged.

"How should I know?"

"But that could be hours from now! I don't think I can stay for who knows how long. Can I at least buy a beer while I wait?"

"No! Look, I had to stay out in the cold waiting for Belle and her father before. I was so cold; I could've been a snowman. So, if I can wait, so can you." Stanly giggled to himself. "What are you laughing about?"

"I'm just thinking of you as a talking snowman is all."

"Well, quit it! This is serious."

"Okay." But, he couldn't stop laughing to himself.

"Enough; let it go!" He stopped.

"Sorry." Stanly then looked at the poster stand behind him. It said who was getting married, at what time, but he couldn't read.

"If we only knew how to read, we'd know about this wedding." LeFou shrugged.

"If only, but we don't, okay? We're not Belle."

Lumiere's nephew was the first to arrive. He pointed at Stanly.

"Hey, I know you." He said. "You were that drunk!" Stanly smiled.

"Yep." He answered. "That was me. I'm sober now. I wanted a beer, but LeFou won't let me." Lumiere's nephew nodded.

"Probably a good idea. You were pretty drunk. Now, what are you two here for?"

"For the wedding."

"Really? Are you friends of the bride or groom? I never heard of you guys before."

"Oh no, we're not friends or related to either. We're here to cr…." LeFou elbowed Stanly in the ribs.

"Well, anyways." The nephew stated. "I'm Jerome. I'm going in now to get a good seat. I was late yesterday; that's why I'm two hours early." Jerome went inside. Stanly looked at his friend, confused.

"Two hours early? I can still get a beer, and do other things!"

"No." LeFou told him. "We're here, so we wait for the perfect time." Stanly put on a pouty face. He wanted to complain some more, but didn't dare to.

The wedding guests then stated to arrive. Stanly wanted to go inside, but LeFou wanted to wait for the right time to barge in. The two hid behind one of the walls, so they wouldn't be noticed by anyone that knew them.

"Nervous?" Ewan asked his son.

"I can't wait to start my life with her, Papa." Lumiere said to him. "But, at the same time, I have butterflies fluttering all over inside of me. Part of me is saying we'll be a happy couple, and the other part is worrying that it won't work out. You know what a ladies' man I can be. What if I meet another beautiful mademoiselle or madame, and can't help myself? What if she gets mad at me, and wants to leave me? Wives will be mad, slap me, and tell me that they're already married. Husbands will be mad at me too that I took their ladies from them. I don't want that to happen. She's the most beautiful woman I ever met, even as a feather duster she was attractive." Ewan laughed.

"You'll do fine, son. I had the same feeling of butterflies in me when I met your mom."

"Thanks, Papa. But, I'm still nervous."

"I know, son. Now, I'm going to my seat." He went off. Cogsworth went to his friend's side.

"Did you write your vows?" He questioned. Lumiere shook his head.

"Nope! I'm going to say what's in my heart. That is what I learned when the paper that I wrote Babette's speech on blew away from me on our fifth anniversary of our first date, and when I almost burned the castle to the ground. It was like fate telling me to do so, and so I listened." Cogsworth rolled his eyes.

"So, that is what you listen to and obey!" He realized something. "That was you; I knew it!"

"Sorry, but you were kind of a spoil sport, Cogsworth. Sometimes, you just have to break the rules. Take some risks, and just have fun. Hakuna Matata!"

"Cogsworth, it's all in the past now. Let's not fret about it." He saw the priest go to the alter. "Ooh, the moment is here. My wedding's starting!"

"Lumiere," The priest said to him. Chip had told his mom that it was a different priest from when he came here. "Do you have a wedding vow to tell Babette?"

"Oui, I do." Lumiere stated. He looked at Babette. "Babette, you are my one and only love. Ever since I first laid eyes on you, I knew you were the one to my heart. I'm crazy about you, and I always will be crazy about you till the day I die. I'll be honored to bare children with you, and I'm confident we'll make great parents. May we live happily ever after together."

"Aww, Lumiere!" Marveled Babette, blushing. "That was beautiful! Did you memorize it?"

"Non, I said it from the heart." He looked at Belle, and winked at her. Belle smiled at him. He looked at the priest next. "I'm done with my vow."

The priest continued, and they shared the 'I dos.'

"Okay, Stanly." LeFou told his buddy "Get ready."

"Aye, Aye, sir!" Stanly saluted.

"Is there anyone here that wishes for these people not to be wed?" The priest asked. "Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Suddenly, the doors opened and in walked LeFou and Stanly. Everyone gasped. Jerome told the person next to him that he saw them before.

"I refuse Belle to marry the Beast on Gaston's behalf!" LeFou stated. He saw that Lumiere and Babette were at the alter instead.

"Uh, Boss." Stanly said to him. "I think we have the wrong wedding."

"I think so too." He agreed. He then grinned nervously. He gave out a lame laugh. Lumiere was angry with him.

"I know you!" He said. "You tried to melt my face off!" LeFou was confused. "That's right, I was the candelabra."

"And I'm the mom." Mrs. Potts put in. "Not the 'grandma' And these are my children."

"And you monseiurs," Lumiere resumed. "aren't welcome here! Now please go, you're ruining my wedding." LeFou was about to go when Stanly tapped him on the shoulder.

"It's Belle." He told him. "So, I guess coming here wasn't a total loss." LeFou went back into reality and saw his friend point at her.

"Belle, how can you fall in love with someone else when you already had Gaston?" LeFou asked.

"I was not in love with Gaston!" She argued. Prince Adam stood up as well.

"That's right." He said. "She was and still is in love with me." LeFou looked at him.

"Oh yeah?" He questioned. "And who are you?"

"I was the Beast." LeFou tried to figure out how this was possible in his head. "And I don't take kindly of you talking to her like that. Now leave, you're ruining my friend's wedding."

"No! Not until Belle leaves this man. It's what Gaston would've wanted."

"Look," Belle told LeFou. "I'm sorry about Gaston, but you can't just barge in here, ruining an innocent couple's wedding like this."

"I can and I will! I loved him!" Some people gasped. He realized what he just said. "No, that's not what I mean."

"Mama," Chip's younger brother, Adrien said to her. "What's happening? Why are some people so shocked?" Mrs. Potts shushed him.

"It's aright." Lumiere said to him. "That took guts. Everyone should follow your lead, not crash a wedding though. That is bad. Everyone is free to love whoever they want. But, since this is the 18th century, people might be mad, so keep it on the down low. Maybe someday in the future, people will be more understanding. But, you still will not be our guests."

"Please!" Babette pleaded in tears. "Let us be!"

"Sorry." LeFou said to her. "I never meant to have it go down like this, but since we're here, and Belle's here, I will stay, and not let Gaston's death be in vain!"

"You creep!" Babette then ran off, crying.

"Babette!" Lemiere called after her. He glared at LeFou. "You monsour, should be ashamed of yourself. Disrespecting my special day like this. You have gone too far!" He went off to console his soon to be wife. Cogsworth looked at LeFou. He, like everyone else, was angry.

"If you two don't go out," He began. He put up his fists, pretending to fight. "Then we're force you two out!"

"Henri!" His wife scolded him. "Please, this is a church!"

"It's aright." He assured her. "He's not leaving. Justice must be served for his actions. Come on; your time is up here." LeFou laughed.

"Were you the clock?"

"I was. Just be glad I don't have those scissors this time."

"Oh, it's on, clock!" He put up his fists. The priest was more confused than ever now. Beast? Clock? Candelabra? Although he had no clue, he wouldn't question it.

"Henri!" Clouthilde shouted. But Cogsworth didn't listen as the two began to fight. Jerome sighed to himself.

"Oh, Jerome, why did you give away too much about the wedding?" He asked himself. "Why? Uncle Lumiere will hate me when he finds out."

"Babette!" Lumiere yelled after her as she descended the outside steps. "Please, come back! I know it's an ugly mess in there right now, but I believe it'll turn alright soon." Babette looked at him.

"Call off the wedding, Lumiere!" She shouted, still through tears. Lumiere was shocked. Does Babette not love him anymore? Why was she calling it off? Was it because of LeFou and Stanly? Babette sighed. "I still love you, and I still want to marry you." Lumiere sighed in relief. "But, not today I fear. Those men ruined it. I don't want to remember my wedding day like this."

A hooded figure nearby heard this, and she wasn't happy. She went off to do something about it.

"Babette, please." Lumiere begged. "I think you might be overreacting a little. We can tell the police about this. They're arrest them, and our wedding can go as planned. It'll be all right, so don't cry anymore. "

"I'm not overreacting. I only want another wedding date is all. And how can we get the police? They might be miles away doing other stuff." She sighed. "We can try again in on another date."

"But, I don't think I can wait any longer."

"Well, sorry. You're going to have to."

"Are you sure?" Babette nodded.

"Oui. I've never been so sure in my life." Lumiere sighed.

"Fine; you win. Let's go disappoint everyone." This made Babette feel guilty.

"I'm really sorry about this."

"I know you are. Some things just can't be helped." Then hand in hand, they headed back to the church.

Cogsworth had LeFou in a headlock. LeFou screamed.

"This is what you get for coming in here, and doing this to my friend?" Cogsworth shouted. LeFou got away, and screamed louder. Stanly was worried.

"LeFou, are you okay?" He wanted to know. Everyone gasped as he spouted blue horns on his head. His face then turned blue, then his entire body.

"Mama," Adrien said to his mother. "What's happening to him? Is he turning into a monster like the master did?" He then gasped. "Does this mean we're going to be changed again? I don't want that. I like being a boy; I'm just getting used to it again." Chip watched as LeFou sprouted a tail.

"Look, Mama!" He cried. "He has a tail!" LeFou grew claws, and scales all over his back. He began to drool uncontrollably on the floor. Everyone flinched at his now creepy eyes and appearance.

"What happened to me?!" LeFou wanted to know.

"Take a look in the baptism water." Stanly suggested. "But, I warn you, you do not look pretty." The transformed monster looked at his reflection in the baptizing water, and gasped. "I'm hideous!"

"Told you it wasn't pretty." Stanly told him by his side. LeFou saw that everyone was still looking at him.

"Don't look at me; I'm ugly!" He ran off. Stanly ran after him. Lumiere and Babette saw them. Lumiere gasped, thinking it was his master.

"Master!" He cried. He was about to go after him when Adam spoke, standing up.

"Lumiere; I'm right here!" Lumiere saw his master, and sighed in relief. He then was confused. "What just happened?"

"Lumiere, you missed it!" Chip told him. "LeFou turned into a monster just like the master did!"

"How? Was it the Enchantress?" Chip shrugged. Babette then spoke up, changing the subject.

"Now that's out of the way, we can resume the wedding as planned." Lumiere was shocked by this. He looked at his love.

"But, ma chere," He said. "You said you wanted a different day for our wedding. You said you didn't want to look back on this." Babette looked at him.

"I did. But, since everyone's here now, I figured it might not seem fair to have them wait any longer. Plus, I, too, don't think I can wait any longer." Lumiere smiled. He grabbed her hand.

"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's get married before anything else happens." The two headed back to the alter.

The hooded figure watched from the windows outside. When she saw the groom kissing the bride, she smiled. Her work was done. She then left.

"Lumiere," Adam told him. They were all back at the caste in the ballroom. He and Belle held hands. "I give you temporarily time off from your maître d' duties, and Babette off maid work. You two enjoy you honeymoon. You and your new wife deserve it."

"Thank you, Master. We're glad of the person you have become."

"Well, you have Belle to thank for that. Love can change you." Belle snuggled close to him.

"Duly noted, Master. We'll be gone for ten years."

"What?" Lumiere giggled.

"I'm kidding! You know I tell jokes. And now," He looked at Cadenza by the piano. "Ready, Cadenza?" Cadenza nodded.

"Ready when you and your lady are, Lumiere." Lumiere looked at his lover, and offered her his hand.

"May I have this dance?" Babette nodded.

"Mais oui." She responded. And with that, she took his hand, and the two headed to the dance floor. They danced away as Cadenza played away on the piano. The others just watched.

"I had the time of my life tonight." Babette said as the two were outside on the balcony.

"I did too." Lumiere said as well. "And I swear, I never felt this way before." Babette chucked as she blushed.

"Oh, Lumiere!"

"Now, this is the night to remember. And just think, our adventures together forever is just beginning."