Prologue

In the hidden heart of France, a handsome king and beautiful queen ruled together a small kingdom. The love they had for each other was as strong as the day they both fell in love. When the king and queen first met, it wasn't exactly love at first sight. The king was a prince placed under a powerful spell transforming him into a hideous beast, while the servants were turned into enchanted objects. The prince thought that no one could ever learn to love a beast and fell into despair as the years passed. But one day, an old man arrived at the castle, asking for a place to stay.

Angry that there was a stranger in his home, the prince in disguise tossed the old man into a dungeon cell. Later that day, the old man's daughter arrived at the castle, searching for her father. The girl pleaded to the beast for her father to be released. But the beast wouldn't release him. The girl then offered to take her father's place as the beast's prisoner. The beast, surprised that she would take her father's place, agreed to release her father only if the girl would remain on the castle grounds forever.

The girl, more scared than she has ever been in her life, agreed to the beast's terms. The beast dragged the old man, whose name he learns later on is Maurice, to an enchanted carriage demanding that it bring the old man back to the village he came from. The girl was sad and frightened about never seeing her father again. The beast and girl, whose name the beast learned was Belle, fell in love over time. When Belle declared her love for the prince in disguise, the spell was broken! The beast transformed back into a handsome prince and all his servants were turned back into humans.

The prince, whose name Belle learned was Adam, and Belle were madly in love. Shortly after celebrating the spell being broken, Adam and Belle were engaged and were married a month later. For three years they traveled the world, making up for the time the prince spent stuck in his castle. And, about 5 years after they were married, they were expecting. The kingdom rejoiced at the news of a little prince or princess. Adam became over-protective towards Belle during her pregnancy. He was scared at being a father but at the same time he was elated about having his own child with the woman he loved.

Now, Adam was pacing back and forth in front of the doors of the west wing. The doors were the only thing keeping him from his wife who was in labor. "My King, you need to try to relax. Belle and the child will be fine." Lumiere, Adam's Maître'd, said. "I can't relax. I'm too worried about Belle and our child." Adam replied while pacing. "Master, everything will be fine. Belle will be fine and the child will be born happy and healthy." Lumiere replied.

Adam flinched as he heard another one of Belle's screams. "I just can't help but worry that something will go wrong." Adam replied as he finally sat down next to Cogsworth, his majordomo. The three men flinched as another scream filled the castle halls. Suddenly, the screams stopped and were replaced by cries. Baby cries. The door opened and the maid Fifi came out. "It's a beautiful little princess, Your Highness." Fifi smiled at the king before moving aside for him to enter. Adam slowly rose from his seat and stepped into the room.

Belle was laying on the bed, tired but a smile placed on her lips. Belle was looking down at their child. Adam approached the bed and sat down next to Belle. "We have a beautiful little girl, Adam." Said Belle. Adam looked at their little bundle of joy. She was very small, smaller than the usual size for infants. She opened her eyes, and Adam's bright blue eyes stared back up at them. Adam smiled lovingly at his daughter.

"She has your beauty Belle." Adam commented. "But she has your beautiful blue eyes, Adam." Adam kissed Belle's forehead. "What should we name her?" Adam asked playing with their daughter's fingers. "Well, I have an idea of what to name her." Belle said looking at Adam. "Let me guess: Rose?" Adam said. "No, I was thinking of having rose as middle name. I like the name Emilie for her." Belle said smiling at their daughter. "Princess Emilie. What if her middle name was Roesia? It means rose." Adam suggested. Belle smiled at her husband and nodded her head. "Princess Emilie Roesia Dupont. It's perfect!" Belle smiled at her husband before looking back down at their daughter. Belle's smile faded. This went unnoticed by Adam. "What's wrong my love?" Adam asked.

"Nothing's wrong, it's just the doctor said that she was smaller than most infants." Belle told Adam. "She is?" Belle nodded her head. "It make me slightly worried about when she's growing up." Adam just looked down at Belle. "Adam, would you like to hold her?" Belle asked Adam. Adam froze. He was scared of holding her, especially since she was so tiny. He feared he might drop her accidentally or might crush her with his hands.

"I-I don't think I can Belle." Adam stuttered. "I know you can, Adam. A father holding his daughter for the first time is a very special moment in life." Adam just sat on the bedside in silence. Finally Adam decided that he should take his daughter from his wife to let her get some well-deserved rest. "Alright, give me Emilie." Belle smiled at Adam. She gently handed Emilie to Adam. Adam held his breath as Belle handed him her. When Emilie was safely in Adam's arms Adam was still holding his breath. After another 10 seconds, he breathed out. His little girl was sleeping in tranquility in his arms.

Adam looked down at his daughter with a growing fatherly affection. Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Maurice entered the room to see the newborn princess. "She looks just like Belle when she was an infant. Congratulations! "Said Maurice. "Congratulations, Master and Mistress." Cogsworth congratulated the couple. "Yes, congratulations, Master and Mistress!" Lumiere congratulated. "Thank you, Cogsworth, Lumiere and Maurice." Adam looked over his shoulder to see Belle was starting to fall asleep. Adam then left the west wing and went to the nursery made for their child. Slowly Adam sat down in a rocking chair.

"My little Emilie, I promise for as long as I shall live that I will protect you as much as I can from harm. I will never, ever, ever hurt you on purpose. I will love you with all my heart all ways, even when I'm upset with you. I will treasure you and your mother always. I love you and your mother with all of my heart." Adam said softly. The door opened and Maurice walked in. Adam looked up to see Maurice coming in. "Oh, hello Maurice." Adam said while rocking slowly in the chair.

"Hello, Adam." Maurice approached Adam and Emilie. "So," Maurice started, "How do you like being a father so far?"

"It's nice having someone around who doesn't know what I was before."

"Are you going to tell her?"

"I don't really want to, but I might change my mind in the future."

"Oh, I just remembered that I have a gift for her!" Maurice said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rose-shaped rattle. Maurice shook it a little and it jingled. Emilie giggled in Adam's arms. She reach out her hands for the toy. Maurice handed the rattle to the infant. Emilie shook it with what appeared to be pure joy. Emilie giggled again. "The rattle was originally Belle's, from when we lived in Paris. But I took it with us when we moved to help remember Celine. But since Belle is no longer the little infant I held in my arms, I wanted my grandchild to have this." Maurice explained. "Wow. Thank you, Maurice. I can tell this has a lot of sentimental value." Said Adam.

"You're welcome" Said Maurice. "You know, I want to give her everything and anything she wants, but at the same time I don't want her to end up like me." Adam explained as he gently rocked Emilie. "As long as you raise her to be kind, respectful, and tolerant, you'll be fine." Maurice told Adam. "But I understand what you mean. If I were rich, I would have given Belle everything she wanted." "At least Belle will know to let me know that I'm spoiling her too much." Said Adam. "You'll make a great father, Adam." Maurice assured Adam. Maurice patted Adam on the shoulder before leaving the nursery.

Adam noticed that Emilie was fast asleep in his arms and dropped the rattle. Adam gently and slowly placed Emilie in her bassinet. He then picked up the rose-rattle and placed it next to his daughter. Before leaving the nursery, Adam stopped in the doorway and said, "Sleep well, my little princess."