A/N: Okay, so we all know the story of Beauty and the Beast. But what if Belle had actually given Gaston a chance? I had thought of this pairing only once or twice, but never much after that. Then recently I started reading a couple of fan-fics on the pairing, and decided to try one of my own. I hope you all enjoy. And yes, I am still working on my Avatar story as well.

Disclaimer: I in no way own any part of Beauty and the Beast. Any direct quotes from BATB belong to Disney, and to save myself from being punished for plagiarism I am clearly stating right here that any direct quotes, characters, settings, etc belong to DISNEY and the creators of BATB. Thank you.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Prologue

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Belle ran home, coughing as she made her way through the thick smoke that was pouring from the basement. She tried to see through the smoke to no avail.

"Papa?" She felt down the wall as she made her way down the stairs, hearing the angry, agitated mutterings of her father. He was a shorter, plump, elderly man with a balding head of white hair.

"How on earth did that happen? Dog gonnit!" He grunted loudly as he struggled out of a barrel that had somehow made itself around him. In the effort he pulled his pants down as well, quickly pulling them back up with an embarrassed "Whoops!" Belle stepped forward, the smoke finally cleared from the basement, and looked to her father.

"Are you alright Papa?" Maurice grunted irritatedly,

"I'm about to give up on this hunk of junk." He kicked it, hopping backwards slightly at the new pain in his toe. Belle chuckled, placing her basket down.

"You always say that."

"I mean it this time. I'll never get this boneheaded contraption to work." Belle moved to place a reassuring hand on her father's shoulder.

"Yes you will, and you'll win first place at the fair this weekend." Maurice looked to his daughter, raising an eyebrow.

"Do you really think so?"

"I always have." Belle smiled to him, chuckling softly. Maurice smiled brightly, moving about excitedly.

"Well then! What are we waiting for?! I'll have this thing fixed up in no time!" He scurried under the large contraption; rolling under it on the board he had connected wheels to. "Hand me that dog-legged clencher there..." He reached out for the strange tool as Belle handed it to him and continued with his work. "So, did you have a good time in town today?"

"I got a new book." Belle paused a moment, looking down, unsure. "Papa…do you think I'm…odd?"

"My daughter? Odd?" Maurice slid out from under the machine, wearing a pair of goggles that made his eyes look rather large. "Where would you get an idea like that?" Belle sighed, hugging the book to herself.

"Oh, I don't know. It's just I'm not sure I fit in here. There's no one I can really talk to." Maurice reached out from under the machine, feeling around for another odd tool before drawing his hand back under the machine to tinker with it more.

"What about that Gaston? He's a handsome fellow." Belle chortled in slight distaste,

"He's handsome alright. And rude and conceited and…Oh Papa, he's not for me." she sat down, slumping slightly.

"Now Belle that doesn't sound like you." Maurice continued to work under the machine, struggling to move some part or another. "What is it you always say, 'don't judge a book by its cover'?" Belle sighed, nodding.

"I know Papa, but he's just so different. All he ever does is talk about himself. We can't possibly have anything in common."

"Why don't you just give him a chance? Maybe there's more to him than you think…" he rolled out from under the machine and stood up, dusting off his pants. He walked to Belle and patted her shoulder lightly. "Just think about it. I have to run into town to get some more screws…these ones are all worn down. I'll be back soon." Belle nodded lightly, watching her father turn and walk out of the basement and toward the town. She sighed lightly and walked to the basement doors, looking outside.

"Maybe Papa's right. I don't really know Gaston all that well after all. And he's the closest one to my age…Maybe I just need to give him a chance." With that Belle walked up the steps and back outside and closed the basement doors. She began to head toward town, unsure, but willing to give Gaston a chance.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

A/N:Short I know, but I thought it was a good opener. I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter! (and before I get flamed for saying the fair is "this weekend" rather than "tomorrow", its so that I have more time to work with things. I can't give away much now or it would ruin the story, but you'll see what I mean lol )

I really can't decide right now if I would rather have Maurice actually get to the fair unharmed, or lose his way in the woods and get sick, or go the way of the movie and have him imprisoned by the Beast. If there are any suggestions they'd be greatly appreciated.