Author's Note: I wrote this story several years ago and was originally going to make it into a novel which I would later publish, but things have changed. The plot this story would have had is completely different. But I don't want to just delete the story, so I thought I would share it on here with those who also love "Beauty and the Beast." I apologize in advance for any grammar/spelling errors. I'm posting it as is as I'm currently editing my third novel and don't have time to edit it. Enjoy!

"Shush, do you want them to hear us?" A voice whispered, invading Belle's slumber. She had been dozing peacefully for quite some time now, longer than she usually did, and was reluctant to let it end so quickly. With an inaudible sigh she rolled over, her head colliding with that of her husband's chest. He too was sleeping, although this was common for him. Emmanuel had never been a morning person when he was in his beastly form and Belle was half-heartedly glad that was one of the things that hadn't changed since the spell was broken.

Five more minutes please, just five more happy minutes, Belle prayed, nuzzling her curly head against her husband's silken shirt.

"Okay, on the count of three. One . . . two . . . three!" Suddenly there was screaming and three curly heads pounced on the sleeping royals. A little girl no older than seven landed with a thump on Emmanuel's stomach, knocking the air right out of him. He sat up abruptly, trying to catch his breath and accidentally caused his wife to do the same. For a moment she was terribly confused then realized what was going on.

"Henri, Damien, Ophelia what are you doing up so early?" she asked sleepily. Without warning a pillow grazed the back of her head. Her honeysuckle irises caught sight of the eldest twin, Henri, with said pillow in hand. He had his father's persuasive smile and was using it to his full advantage at the moment. The ten year old prince was a handful, but a joyful child. She smirked, shaking her head and tried to grab the pillow.

The next thing she knew Damien, the younger of the boys had one too and got her in the chest. She gasped and looked at Emmanuel, wondering what they were going to do now.

"We wanted a pillow fight. Come on Mama, grab a pillow!" Henri exclaimed, bouncing in place on his rump. Ophelia mimicked her elder brothers and grabbed her father's pillow, lightly thwacking him in the face.

"Play Papa, play!" she insisted with a giggle, her cinnamon eyes dancing playfully. The dazed parents exchanged an amused glance then attacked with vigor. The pillows were used as weapons at first but once their parents got a hold of their waists they began tickling the children incessantly while the comfortable accessories were tossed to the ground followed by an overflow of laughter.

Emmanuel had Ophelia beside herself with giggles while Belle had managed to capture her sons, holding them down with one hand each as she tickled them. Eventually their fun was cut short when two men, one portly while the other quite thin like a candelabrum walked in the room still in their pyjamas. The larger of the two gasped and waddled over to the bed.

"Your majesties I am so sorry about this! If I had known they were up I would have gladly-"

The king chuckled, shaking his head at his advisor. "Cogsworth, it's fine. They're our children for heaven's sake," he chuckled again, kissing Ophelia's forehead. Belle smiled kindly at the man, knowing how hard it was for him to remember that the royal children were not servants that he could order around. The older man blushed lightly, bowing his head in the process.

"Again your majesties I sincerely apologize for the interruption of your sleep. I-" This time the other gentleman stopped his partner's speech.

"Cogsworth, lighten up! They are only children. What damage could they do?" The advisor glared at his friend, not appreciating being interrupted twice in less than five minutes.

"Mind your own business Lumiere, I wasn't talking to you!" His face was already beginning to turn a light shade of rouge. The thinner gentleman smirked at his companion then ruffled the princess' hair lightly.

"The princess is my business. I would not be a good godfather if I let things like that slide." He tilted his head at the girl. "Come Ophelia, it is time for your breakfast." The princess pouted, wanting to stay with her father for just a little longer.

Lumiere chuckled at her stubbornness. "You will see him a half hour, I swear. Come on now, you cannot eat pancakes in your nightgown."

The little girl gasped. "Pancakes!" she squealed. Once her feet hit the floor she kissed her papa then dashed out of the room. Her godfather smirked and bowed to the king and queen before following the bubble of energy.

Cogsworth cleared his throat, glancing at the boys still curled up to their mother. Belle smiled and kissed their cheeks. "Go with Cogsworth boys, I'll see you soon." They heaved a sigh, dreading the lecture they would receive for their behaviour. Cogsworth was a kind man, despite his abrasive nature. He was merely concerned about formalities. Belle knew he was the perfect man to watch out for her sons, next to her husband.

When the couple was alone once more, Belle curled up in the position she was before being "attacked" by their children. Her eyes drooped shut almost instantly. The bed, while big enough for five, was much more comfortable with only two. Emmanuel secured an arm around her waist, tucking her against his substantially larger frame as his face buried against her loose curls. For a moment there was a calm silence.

"We should have another child."

Belle's eyes popped open. The queen titled her head up slightly and raised a questioning eyebrow.

Now she wasn't one to jump to conclusions or to judge based on first impressions, proven obviously when she fell in love with him while he was still a beast, but she wondered what in the world had prompted him to say such a thing.

"You want another?" Belle asked, making sure she was getting this right. Her husband's diamond eyes confirmed her suspicions. When she looked into them she saw a determination, a love that only could be given to his children. Emmanuel adored his present offspring of course. He didn't want to replace them but she could sense the nagging feeling he had. What had brought this on?

"I do. The boys are already ten. Before we know it one of them will be taking my place as king. And Ophelia," Emmanuel sighed, remembering his little girl, "well she's not so little anymore. I can't carry her like I did when she was no bigger than a loaf of bread. I love them Belle, I love them more than my life. Another one would only be more for me to love." He hesitantly looked down at her. "Do I sound crazy?"

The queen thought about this for a moment. She was still young, still able to carry children. She didn't know why the thought hadn't occurred to her before. She too adored children, more than she originally thought she would when she first began having them. She loved how they smelt, how soft their skin was, how unconditionally they loved you. Before Belle knew it she was nodding.

"Alright, we'll have another," she whispered, kissing Emmanuel's cheek. The king beamed and angled his head downwards, kissing his wife. Belle chuckled at the back of her throat and laced her fingers through his tawny curls. She was glad she could make him this happy with one simple phrase. He was such a child sometimes, easily pleased by simple promises.

Emmanuel's lips didn't linger long on his wife's cherub lips. Soon his head dipped down and was teasing the skin on her neck. The queen gasped, startled by this change but soon sighed, goose bumps spreading quickly across her whole body. Even after over ten years of marriage he could still make her feel weightless.

Belle would have loved to stay in bed like this longer, but she knew the children were waiting and if they held this off, they could walk in on something far more inappropriate than an early morning cuddle. The queen reluctantly moved her head and sat up, receiving a pout from her husband. She shook her head, unable to contain her grin.

"Don't give me that look. You know Ophelia is waiting for you. I won't be the reason she's depressed." The young woman swung her legs over the side of the grand bed and headed to the closet, trying to decide what to wear for breakfast. Perhaps just my nightgown with a robe will do. I don't have any substantial plans today. Going back to bed after breakfast was an appealing thought.

The queen felt a pair of familiarly warm arms wrap around her waist from behind and she sighed, leaning back reluctantly against them. Adam's head fell to her shoulder and she felt his lips brush the creamy skin. "Perhaps we can continue this later?" Belle smirked, breaking free of Adam's grip and headed to the door, tossing a robe over her curvy frame in the process.

"If you're good," she teased with a wink before heading out the door. She caught her husband's reply just barely.

"Don't you know I'm always good?" Belle's laugh echoed down the deserted corridor.

We'll just have to see now, won't we?