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Ebenezer Scrooge had blocked out that night for so long that when the Spirit mentioned another Christmas with Belle, all those memories came back, flooding his senses. He found that he couldn't move.

He turned to the Spirit, "Please," he was close to begging, just like his clients would for a few more days so that they could get some money together, "Please, Spirit, do not show me that Christmas."

But nothing he could say would stop her. When he next opened his eyes, he was there. Standing in the snow, he pulled his dressing gown closer, thinking that it could protect him from what was coming, but deep down he knew that nothing could.

He was standing but soon he found himself walking to where a younger version of him stood in front of Belle. The closer he got to them the more he wanted to turn, run and fall on his knees begging for the Spirit to take him back to his room. Or take him to another Christmas, any Christmas but this one.

"I love you, Belle."

Oh, how remembered saying those cursed words. He said it with no emotion; he didn't want to appear weak.

She looked to him. He loved that dress. The bonnet. The gloves. Her eyes merely looked through his emotion-less words as she stood up, "You did once."

She waited a moment, saying nothing, giving him the opportunity to speak freely, to do anything other than what he usually did: nothing.

The older Ebenezer had already apprehended her movements, going to the bridge, while the younger stood silent, watching her move. She faced the river, and Ebenezer glanced from her back to his younger self and back again.

He had often thought that maybe he imagined things, that they did get wed and she had just left him due to an illness a few years ago. He held her hand when she died and he had blocked out all of that so that he wouldn't have to deal with it. But, no, this was what had truly happened. He had walked away from the only thing he cared for, and since then, had lived a life putting that weight of despair on others.

Belle turned to the younger Ebenezer and the elder turned to watch her face, to study it and make himself forever remember what happened. He choked back the tears, but they fell anyway as he raised a hand, wanting to pull her close to him. His hand stayed where it was, and clenching it; he put it to his side. He watched her look back to an empty spot where Ebenezer had stood and walk away.

"Some dreams fall through…" He choked out, now shaking with emotion. Turning to the Spirit, his voice turned harsh, "Spirit. Show me no more. Why do you delight in torturing me?"

The Spirit gestured to the surroundings, "I told you. These are the shadows of things that have been. That they are what they are. Do not blame me."

Ebenezer felt more tears fall, "Leave me." Sitting on the edge of the bridge, he put his head in his hands, letting the tears fall more rapidly along with the cries from his throat. He didn't know when the bridge changed to his bed, he didn't know when he moved to lay down and pull the covers over his body, all he knew was that Belle's beauty was in front of him and forever behind him.

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Author's Notes: Thank you for reading! Please review.