Ok, so I'm trying something a little new (for me) here! I'll be posting a series of short stories, longer than one shots but all related to each other, a collection of stories, if you will. These stories will follow Adam and Belle in their new life post-wedding and, though they'll skip days, months or sometimes years, it will all go chronologically. This collection is continuing the story from A Change in Me. I'll try to post one whole story at a time which will often include multiple chapters. Enjoy!

"Are you all right?" Adam asked. He noticed Belle had been looking out the carriage window for some time now and he was happy to leave her to her thoughts, but after awhile he became concerned that something was wrong.

"Oh, yes," she said, turning towards him with a smile brightening her face. "Just tired, that's all. I'm ready to be home again."

"The girl who dreamed her whole life of traveling and going on adventures is ready to go home?" he teased gently.

"Well, you did drag me further than I'd ever imagined, and in just two months. You've worn me out," she teased right back.

"Did you have a good time, at least?" he asked, extending an arm so she might rest against him rather than the hard carriage wall.

"It was better than I could have dreamed," she said as she leaned onto his shoulder and Adam could do nothing to stop the grin from spreading across his face. He wanted so badly to make her happy, to give her everything she had dreamed of, and it thrilled him beyond belief that he succeeded in this.

After they were wed two months ago, Adam took Belle on a honeymoon through any country she wished to go to. They explored each place thoroughly, allowing Belle complete freedom to choose anything she wanted to do for the first time in her life. Of course, they did have to attend a few state dinners with royalty of those other countries. As a newly reinstated Prince, couldn't exactly avoid it. His uncle Gustave had insisted upon it and, though he did not enjoy it, Adam trusted Gustave when it came to rules and expectations of royalty.

Gustave had taken over Adam's lands after his father died and Adam was presumed dead, only to willingly return them to Adam once the spell over him had been broken and Adam could return to the world. Not only that, Gustave remained beside Adam to help him take over the duties as Prince, combining both their lands under their mutual watch until Adam was ready to take over for himself. Adam trusted Gustave, but he did not like the idea of having to parade himself and Belle in front of the royalty of the world. He found such events overwhelming and unnecessary, but Belle handled them with all the grace he had come to admire in her. She was a true princess, for all that she had spent her life in near poverty, and he was proud to have her by his side.

But after weeks of running around hundreds of different places and seeing things Adam had never seen before, he was ready to return to his castle. It was too much at times, being thrust into a world he had not been a part of in over ten years, but Belle was as patient and understanding as ever. When he thought it might be too much, when he thought he might lose his temper or simply spiral into confused chaos, he found Belle leading him to a quiet, isolated spot where they could regroup and simply be together.

It was those moments he enjoyed most; when he and Belle could sit together in a field, beside some mystical ruins, or the sitting room of the grand houses they stayed in. It was those times that reminded Adam of those glorious, quiet days they shared in the castle before he had decided to become part of the world again. He did not regret his decision to take his place as Prince, as much as he craved solitude and peace after crowded state dinners, but it did take time away he would rather be spending with Belle.

Certainly now that she was his wife there would be some changes in that. It might be easier now to convince the court that Belle needed to be beside him, if that's what she wanted, and thereby allow them to spend more time together.

His wife. The word still thrilled Adam and still seemed so strange, that he who had been so heartless had been able to find love, to belong to someone. Marrying Belle had done nothing but strengthen their already deep relationship and he was still in disbelief every morning he woke up and found Belle beside him. How had a man who had once been a Beast come to deserve to have this remarkable woman beside him?

"Look there," Adam said, coming out of his thoughts to point out the window Belle had so recently turned her gaze from. Belle turned in his arms to follow his hand.

"Home," she sighed happily at the open iron gates that appeared through the trees and turned back into his embrace, placing a hand on his chest as he did so. He brought his free hand up to curl around her fingers and he kissed the top of her head.

The carriage made its way through the gates and across the bridge to the castle on the other side and Adam could see that the servants had assembled outside to greet them. Once the carriage stopped, Adam jumped out, glad to be rid of the confining box, and turned to help Belle down. She hardly needed it, he knew, but the idea of being wed to her was still so new and he wanted to see to her every need.

"Welcome back, Your Highnesses," Cogsworth greeted with a low bow to them, followed by Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, and the rest of the servants who had come out to greet them.

"Thank you, Cogsworth. It's good to be back," Adam said warmly to his servant and friend.

"Welcome back, indeed," Adam's uncle Gustave said jovially, stepping forward and bowing slightly to his nephew. "It's been very quiet here without you and your lovely new wife."

"Hello, uncle," Adam greeted with a smile.

"Did you have a pleasant trip?" Mrs. Potts asked.

"Oh, it was wonderful!" Belle exclaimed. "We'll have to tell you all about it. Where's Papa?"

"Over here," his wife's father called, emerging from behind a row of servants. Adam smiled as she ran to embrace her father, his father-in-law now. Through most of the trip, Belle would remark on sights and experiences she couldn't wait to tell her father about, that she wished he could see, and Adam admired again and again her love and loyalty to her father.

"I'm afraid we've got quite a few trunks to unload," Adam said to Lumiere as Belle greeted her father. "Belle enjoyed being able to bring home souvenirs and gifts."

"Oh yes, and you did everything in your power to stop her," Lumiere said with humor, a wide grin spreading across his face. Adam chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder before going to rejoin his new wife.

". . . and the princess of Germany said she would send me some of their books on folktales," Belle was saying as Adam drew next to her.

"I think Belle has been able to add quite a lot to our library during our trip," Adam said with a chuckle. "I just hope we have enough room to put it all. Even that library might not be big enough for you," he teased her and kissed her forehead to make her smile. "It is good to see you again, Maurice," he greeted Belle's father with a warm smile and a handshake.

"And you," Maurice replied, returning the gesture with equal warmth. "Seems like you two have had quite the trip. I can't wait to hear everything! But first, I think you two should get something to eat and rest. Coming home from a long trip is always exhausting, and I'm sure you two made the most of every moment."

"Papa," Belle sighed, her face turning a delicate shade of pink.

"Yes, just the thing!" Mrs. Potts, obviously hearing their conversation, put in. "I'll bring you a little something to eat now and you two can rest until dinner. Off with you now, and I'll be up shortly." Both Adam and Belle grinned at Mrs. Potts and went to do as she bid them, though Adam was glad of the excuse to think of nothing but lying down for awhile.

Belle's POV

A knock on the door roused Belle out of a sleep she hadn't known she had fallen under. The last thing she knew, she and Adam had sprawled fully-clothed on top of the bed in the West Wing, but apparently that was all it took to put them both to sleep.

"Adam," she said, gently prodding her husband's shoulder. "Adam, we fell asleep." Adam blearily opened his eyes and groaned. Another knock echoed through the room.

"Come in," Belle called as she struggled to sit up, feeling as though she had run headlong into a wall.

"Oh, my dears, you're exhausted, aren't you?" Mrs. Potts said as she bustled into the room. "Shall I bring dinner to you here?" The thought was tempting, but Belle knew Papa would be waiting to hear about their trip.

"We'll be down in a little bit. Thank you, Mrs. Potts," Belle muttered, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and the kindly old woman left.

"I can't believe we fell asleep," Adam mumbled as he sat up in bed. "I feel like I could sleep for a hundred years like that princess in one of your books."

"Shall I kiss you to wake you up?" she teased.

"Mmm, yes please," he replied with a smile, tucking one finger under her chin to draw her towards him, their lips meeting. "That's better," he said as they broke apart.

"Come on," she said, smiling at the nearness of him. "Papa will be waiting."

"All right, all right," Adam said, rolling off the mattress and holding a hand out to her. Belle took it and gasped in surprise as he easily lifted her onto her feet, holding her tight to his chest and claiming her lips once again. "Let's go, I'm starving," he said, releasing her and making his way to the doors. Belle laughed and caught up with him, looping her arm under his elbow.

"There you two are," Belle's father's voice came as they entered the small dining room where countless dinners have been shared before.

"Sorry we kept you waiting, Papa," Belle apologized as she took her seat. "We fell asleep."

"All worn out from the trip? Well, that's not surprising. Takes a lot out of you, traveling around like that. Remember when we moved to the cottage from the city? I thought I could sleep forever when we finally got settled." Belle nodded at her father's words, remembering the long trip from Paris to the small village just beyond the forest. It was exhausting, not only from the travel, but from the emotional strain leaving her life and everything she knew behind in Paris.

"It was amazing though. I never thought there was so much out there to see," Adam said as he took his own seat and dinner began to be served.

"Where did you go?" Papa asked, and that was all the invitation she needed to begin gushing.

"First we went up to Paris, since Gustave thought I should meet Adam's oldest uncle," she began.

"The king?" Papa interjected. "You met the king?"

"Mhm!" she confirmed excitedly. "Usually he's not in Paris, but Gustave had heard he was going to be there for some political meeting and so Adam and I went and were introduced and, oh Papa he was so very intimidating."

Belle remembered how nervous she had been, walking up to meet the king himself, but she also remembered how Adam's hands shook beside her. He had never met this uncle, had never even been in a place as populated as the Paris court was that day. But when they drew up to the king and bowed before him, the king seemed rather pleased with them.

"I had heard my youngest brother had some troubles with his family. I am glad he has a son who can stand up to his responsibilities," the King had said to him. It wasn't exactly kind, but neither was it a condemnation to death for taking over the king's brother's lands which apparently Adam had been fearing.

"Afterwards Belle took me around Paris to show me where she had grown up," Adam put in, changing the focus of the conversation. Belle looked at him with an understanding smile. He had not been looking forward to meeting his uncle king and though the meeting had not gone badly, Belle knew he wanted little to do with the royal court and was glad to leave it.

"Did she now?" Papa said and glanced at Belle. She knew that he was wondering if she had really shown Adam everything, which included their impoverished little apartment that had lived in for the later bit of Belle's childhood and her early teenage years. It had been a dark time in Papa's life, but it was an important part of her life and one she could not and did not want to hide from Adam.

"We couldn't go up into the apartments, of course, since people are living there now," she said. "But I showed him the buildings we lived in and the park where I used to read. And. . . and mother's grave." Belle looked down at her plate as she recalled bringing Adam there.

He had asked, when Belle had told him of living with her mother, to see where she was buried. Belle had not been there since she was a child and she was a little reluctant to return, but Adam was surprisingly insistent. When they had reached the headstone that marked her mother's resting place, Adam knelt down beside it, put one hand on the rounded stone, and was silent for several moments.

"Adam?" she asked when he straightened up.

"I just wanted to tell your mother how grateful I am for you, to tell her how happy you have made me, everything that you've done for me." It was a surprisingly tender and sentimental statement coming from Adam and Belle was taken aback by it for a moment. Speechless, she went to stand beside Adam, wrapping one arm around him as she looked at her mother's grave.

"She would have loved you," Belle said at last, resting her head on Adam's shoulder.

But she wasn't sure she should tell all this to her father now. Though it concerned his late wife, it seemed more of a private moment between Adam and her mother and so she left it alone.

"I also got to meet Clarice," Adam said, breaking the silence.

"Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while," Papa said and Belle was relieved that the uncertain silence had passed. "How is she?"

"She seems to be doing very well. She's so happy," Belle replied, smiling at the memory of reuniting with her childhood friend. Belle and Clarice had been inseparable as children, reading stories and playing in the city's park. Shortly before Belle and her father left for the countryside, Clarice married a young man named Henry and, though they had exchanged a few letters before falling out of touch, Belle had very little idea of what Clarice thought of her life.

When Belle found out she and Adam would be going to Paris, her mind immediately jumped to her dearest friend, the only person with whom Belle could completely be herself with before she met Adam. Belle timidly brought up the idea of visiting Clarice to Adam, unsure if he would want to make such a personal detour for her during their honeymoon. But Adam was instantly thrilled at the idea, insisting that Belle write to Clarice and ask to visit. Clarice wrote back while Belle and Adam were staying in Paris and Belle lost no time in making her way to the house Clarice had moved into with her husband nearly five years ago.

But as Belle faced the door to her old friend's house, she found herself unable to raise her hand to knock. What would she say to Clarice? How would she talk about everything she had been through: Gaston, the Beast, the enchantment? But when Adam stepped beside her and took her hand, Belle found the strength she needed and raised her free hand to knock on the simple wooden door.

Almost immediately, the door fell back to reveal a tall, beautiful, slightly plump woman standing before her, a wide smile illuminating her familiar face. A face Belle could never have forgotten, but had changed in the years of absence.

"Clarice?" she asked timidly, unsure of how to begin this interaction.

"Oh, Belle!" the other woman cried and pulled Belle into a fierce hug. Belle returned the embrace with equal fervor, and suddenly it was like they had never been apart. Clarice pulled Belle inside, the two of them chattering instantly about how well the other looked, how much they had to tell the other.

"This is Adam," Belle said before they could dive too far into their chatter, taking her husband's hand and bringing him forward.

"So you decided to fall in love after all," Clarice said with humor. "Adam, you should know that this girl was convinced she would never marry. She was going to see the world and have grand adventures before she would even think about falling in love. I'm very impressed you managed to convince her to fall in love with you first."

"I had a few adventures since I left the city," Belle protested good-naturedly. "And Adam and I are going to do some traveling."

"Well, it seems as though you found the man of your dreams! Taking you traveling like that. And do you approve of her reading? Which I assume you have not abandoned, Belle."

"Oh, no, she definitely still loves to read," Adam said with a chuckle. "And I love that she loves it."

"Good. I approve then," Clarice said and Belle giggled.

"Tell me about you!" Belle begged. "What have you been doing?"

"Well Henry has become quite a skilled jeweler. He has a shop just a ways down the street and has made some gorgeous pieces for the upper class. He's getting quite famous," Clarice said, obviously very proud of him.

"That's wonderful! I didn't even know he wanted to do that," Belle exclaimed.

"Neither did he, until just after you left. He's there right now, but he said to say hello."

"Maman!" a small voice cried, followed by a tiny barefooted child rushing in from the other room and clinging to Clarice's skirts.

"Oh, and I've had a couple children while you were gone, too," Clarice said with a laugh, wrapping her arm around the toddler. A little girl only a year or two older than the child now on Clarice's lap peered around the corner of a doorway. "Cherine? Come here, my love and meet your Aunt Belle."

"Oh, Clarice they're beautiful!" Belle said excitedly. It should have occurred to her that Clarice would have had children, but somehow she never really thought about it. She slid from her chair to kneel on the floor, the better to be eye level with the girl Clarice had called Cherine. "Hello, Cherine," Belle said kindly. "It's very nice to meet you." Clarice bobbed a little curtsy and went to hide behind her mother's chair.

"Sorry," Clarice apologized with a giggle. "It takes her awhile to get used to strangers."

"Of course," Belle said dismissively, though it stung a little bit to have her best friend's child be a stranger to her. "And what's his name?" Belle asked, smiling at the younger of the two children.

"We've named him Henry, after his father," Clarice responded, tickling under his chin and making him laugh.

"You seem so happy," Belle said, taking her friend's hand as she balanced little Henry in her lap.

"I am, I really am," she said, smiling and squeezing Belle's hand. "And I can see by the way Adam's looking at you right now that you're happy, too." Belle turned to see Adam looking at her a little guiltily, but Belle could imagine the look he had been giving her. It was a look she had seen dozens of times but never failed to make her heart stop beating, a look she was never sure she was worthy of. "Now, tell me everything about living out in the country," Clarice asked. "Obviously it's more interesting that you thought if you met a handsome man like him," she said, nodding her head towards Adam who blushed in response.

"And did you tell her everything?" Papa asked.

"Not everything," Belle admitted. "Maybe someday I will, but it was too much of a tale to tell when we only had a day together." She felt a little guilty about hiding so much from her dear friend, but to tell of the enchantment would have taken much longer than an afternoon. It was hard enough telling Clarice that Adam was a prince. She turned quite pale at that and started trying to curtsy to Adam, but Adam gently stopped her, insisting that his wife's dearest friend should never have to bow to him and that he was only the king's youngest brother's son and not very important at all. Belle was grateful for that, for it seemed to put Clarice more at ease even if she gave Belle and Adam more than one curious glance after that.

"And did you tell Adam about Gustave?" Papa asked with a mischievous smile.

"Yes, she told me," Adam said with a chuckle and Belle couldn't help giggling herself. "Honestly, I would have been surprised if she hadn't been offered marriage before."

Adam's POV

Adam chuckled at Maurice's surprised face when he revealed that Belle had told him about both her marriage proposals. Of course a beautiful girl like Belle would have men lining up to ask for her hand (though for the thousandth time he wondered why on earth she had chosen to wait for someone like him) and he was glad that Belle could tell him things like that.

He was pleased that Belle had been able to visit her childhood friend while they were in Paris. Adam had been content to sit and listen to the two girls chat with each other, both obviously overjoyed at the reunion. Perhaps he should have excused himself and let them catch up privately, but no one suggested it and he was loathe to bring it up. He was enjoying seeing Belle talk so animatedly with a girl of her own age, with such a close friend. She had made friends out of the servants in the castle of course, and she and the Marquis' daughter Nicole were no longer enemies, but she had no real companions. And so Adam was enjoying seeing Belle interact so joyfully with Clarice.

But when Clarice's children came into the room, Adam felt himself tense up. He hadn't ever really been around children besides a few times spent with Chip and hardly knew how to react around them. Fortunately they seemed quite content to remain near their mother's skirts. But Belle was clearly pleased with their presence, even attempted to coax them out of hiding, which sent his mind whirring to rather upsetting thoughts he quickly tried to dismiss.

But then Belle continued on with the details of their trip with her father, describing each of the several countries of Europe they traveled through, and Adam forgot his uncomfortable thoughts in the light of her excitement. It was clear she had enjoyed herself and he was immeasurably glad about that. With every new story, her father's smile grew wider and Adam could tell he was enjoying hearing his daughter having her adventures at last.

"Well, it sounds like you've been just about everywhere," Maurice said when Belle finally wound down in her story.

"Pretty much," Adam said with a grin.

"Don't let him fool you, Papa. He was just as eager to explore as I was," Belle said with a giggle, looking at Adam with a warm smile. Adam chuckled and finished his meal, saying nothing to incriminate himself to Belle's good-natured accusation, however accurate it was.

"How has it been here while we've been gone?" Adam asked after a moment. "Did you figure out what was wrong with that invention of yours?"

"Oh, yes," Maurice replied, perking up visibly at the mention of his work. "It was just a few wrong-sized gears," he explained and went on to describe the improvements he was making to the machine. Adam often joined Maurice in his workroom when he had the time, enjoying the intricate mechanics and imagination of Maurice's work.

"If you two don't mind," Belle interjected nearly half an hour later into the conversation of gears and pulleys, "I think I need to go to bed." Adam stood as Belle rose from her chair; he hadn't realized it had gotten so late. "No, you stay," she insisted. "You two are having much to good of a time." She went to kiss her father's cheek and returned to his side to do the same. "I'll see you upstairs. Good night, Papa."

"Good night, Belle. It's good to have you back," Maurice replied and Adam watched as Belle's skirts disappeared around the corner.

"She loves you so much," Adam found himself saying to Maurice, his eyes still on the doorway Belle had disappeared through. "Everywhere we went, she wanted to show you things she saw, things she thought you might like." Maurice smiled, clearly pleased by this news.

"Thank you for taking her. She's been dreaming for so long of traveling, of seeing the world," Maurice replied softly. Adam nodded, but said nothing more. "Now, get some rest. And when you get a chance I could use your help in the workroom. I've got some heavy lifting for you to do."

"As soon as I can," Adam promised with a grin. "I have a feeling Gustave's going to have a few things for me to do tomorrow now that I'm back."

"Probably," Maurice chuckled and Adam bid him goodnight.

Up in the West Wing, Adam found Belle already under the covers, book in hand.

"I thought you said you were tired," Adam said, climbing onto the bed beside her.

"I am, but I forgot I hadn't finished this chapter yet," Belle replied defensively. "Now go away, you're in my light," she said merrily and avoided his kiss.

"Well, I guess the honeymoon is over then," he said with an overly dramatic sigh as he backed off the bed, proceeding to unbutton his jacket.

"Oh dear," he heard Belle sigh and felt her arms wrap around him from behind. "Did I hurt your feelings?"

"A bit," he said with a sniff and caught her hands in his own.

"Is there any way I can make it up to you?" she asked, her soft laugh ruining her attempts to go along with his ruse.

"Well, since you asked," he said and whirled around to catch her lips in his own. He heard her give a small noise in surprise but her hands willingly entwined themselves in his hair. "Did you want to finish that chapter?" he asked, breaking away from the kiss only far enough so his lips brushed hers as he spoke.

"It can wait," she said and pulled him into another kiss.