Disclaimer: I do NOT own Beauty and the Beast or any of its characters

Beauty and the Beast

Belle had despised Gaston since she had moved into the new town. Here was, however, one small problem… everyone else thought she was weird, and Gaston claimed that he could tolerate her enough to marry her. Belle knew how people could be, and so began to resort to books and talking to animals.

Although slightly detached from her father, Maurice, since the death of her mother, Belle loved her father. He also was, she discovered, the only family she had. She was all he had. Keeping this in mind, she patiently helped her old father to make new constructions and gadgets, and slowly began to lead a simple, tedious, yet tolerable life… Until Maurice left for a fair with their only horse.

As they wandered through the dark, Maurice led Philippe, their horse, astray, eventually reversing into a tree full of bats. Frightened, Philippe ran in any direction, disorientating herself and her master. Coming too close for comfort to a crumbling cliff, Philippe backed straight into a pack of hungry wolves.

In the meantime, Belle was relieved to have the house to herself. Her father, being a mechanical genius, was constantly working at some new inventions. Although she loved these new gadgets he presented her with almost every week or so, he kept the house uncomfortably dirty, and Belle was often unable to bear the noise from the construction, so had to resort to finding a quiet location outside the house. At long last, she had enough time to clean the house. Despite the odds, however, Belle began to wish that her father would win the prize that he sought – he had worked long and hard on this project, and had lately spent sleepless nights on perfecting the wood chopping machine. She could also make do with moving from this town and its people; she disliked their attitude about women being able to read, and not just look pretty.

Belle peered around the small house, wondering where to start her cleaning, realising she would have to work hard and fast to get what she wanted. Her thoughts were disturbed by a persisting knock on the door. Lowering the eyepiece, so she could see who had come to her door, she moaned inwardly.

"Gaston? Ugh!"

Reluctantly, Belle opened the door, trying to fill the frame so he would not come in, but Gaston pushed past her into the house anyway.

"Belle!" he flashed his over-confident smile at her before continuing. "This is the day…" he cut off to examine his teeth in a nearby mirror. Satisfied that they were white enough, he picked up on his half-finished sentence, "this is the day you dreams come true."

Belle winced at this suggestion. She already didn't like what he had in mind, and she didn't even know yet, although it appeared he was dressed for a special occasion. His extra dirty boots pushed away that thought from her head as they were deposited on her books. The words of what he said flittered through her mind; "little wife… massaging my feet… children… dogs… perhaps six or seven."

Belle looked up, startled, as what he was saying began to hit home. "Dogs?" she asked sheepishly to the last comment, knowing, yet dreading the answer.

"No, Belle!" Gaston drawled. "Strapping boys like me!" he grinned, ignoring the look on her face. "And who do you think that lucky girl will be?" he asked arrogantly.

Belle felt her stomach tighten. She racked her brains for a formula to rid herself of this situation. "Let me think…" she said, trying to buy herself time, as she edged to the door, feeling her personal space being invaded by Gaston.

"Why, you, Belle!" The answer hit her like a stinging slap to the face; how could he even consider it? Not allowing the ludicrous situation take control of her, Belle edged further back as Gaston closed the little space between them to take hold of her waist. It was now, or never. Gaston's eyes were closed, and his face was moving closer to Belles. The handle turned in her hand, and Belle pushed the door back with all her bodyweight and Gaston's on it.