"You have to grow it back."

Ansell gazed at his wife who was staring at him in a way that made him feel far from attractive. Absently reaching up towards his jaw, he brushed his fingers across a newly smooth cheek. Brows knitting, mouth dropping he fumbled for the next words. "I cut my face, you know."

Belle eyed the small but deep cut that had two stitches, regretting the fact that she had blurted out her response to the alteration in his appearance so quickly. As he stood in her cozy library, fire low and near embers with the late afternoon sun sinking lower towards the rolling hills and outcropping of trees outside the windows, she still winced. A large purple welt formed around the wound, radiating down his jaw southward and towards his mouth westward. His eggplant colored waistcoat was covered in dirt and ripped from his altercation.

Face pulling into a frown, he huffed. "Thank you for being so concerned. I'm doing just fine."

Leaning against her favorite reading armchair, it was hard not to continue to grimace at the sudden change. Still, she managed to compose herself towards his lack of beard. "I'm sorry, Dear. I'm glad you're alright." Walking over to him, she drew her husband into a kiss. It felt so strange without his thick whiskers. "Really, I am."

"But?" Looking down at her, his hands went to her waist.

"But I haven't seen your chin in over four years," Belle confessed guiltily.

He was suddenly self-conscious. "Do you… not like my chin?"

Kissing the clean-shaven chin, she rubbed a palm across his chest. Trying to find the right words to reassure him. "Of course not. It's just been a long time and it makes you look… well... different."

"I had to shave it. How else was I supposed to keep it clean and put on salve? And the physician had to shave the area around, so I if I kept it I would have looked completely lopsided." he tried to reason, however, her face made it difficult. "It would've been absolutely ridiculous. It's better off it all goes at once and I just start all over again.

Belle tenderly kissed his jaw near the wound. Reaching up she carefully tucked an unruly lock of golden hair back behind his ear, wanting her husband to feel handsome and desired. That certainly hadn't changed. "Beard or not, I love you."

As his thumbs petted her torso, Ansell's lip jutted upwards into a wounded pout. "Well, your expression is rather unconvincing." Becoming the recipient is a series of soothing kisses that went from his lips to his neck, he felt the small hands run up his sides. It was almost working. Almost. "I could have died, you know."

Belle pulled back at the declaration, rolling her eyes. "Oh, now you're just being overdramatic."

"I could have." He said pointedly, sorely.

"Ansell, I've seen you die." She said just as firmly. "Do you not remember that? It was sort of a big thing."

"It wouldn't have been a grand death-"

"You got rammed by a goat-"

"But I really could have been seriously hurt-"

"You got rammed by a goat that you provoked."

"He was a big goat and I did not provoke him, thank you very much." He refuted, watching his wife scoff. "I and the lads were just taking a walk outside of the grounds and it left the herd and came over." Gesturing to the door, he continued his seemingly silly defense. "How was I supposed to know he was a particularly surly goat?"

Unwilling to buy into his over dramatic nature, Belle shook her head. Opening her mouth to respond, the pair both heard clumsy footsteps near the doorway and turned.

Twelve-month-old Henri toddled in, new to walking and unsure of his limits. Babbling softly, as if politely entering the conversation, his baby face was set with determination. Carefully steadying himself on the doorframe before venturing further on his fat little legs, the little boy held his arms out for balance. His effort brightening the room, swelling his parents hearts with joy and pride as their little one was progressing so well. Seeing his Maman and Papa, Henri's cheeks got even rounder with a wide smile studded with incoming teeth and a coo eliciting from his precious lips.

"Look at you, little man." Ansell turned, grinning at his love as he stepped towards the darling boy.

Prattling happily at his Papa's voice, Henri reached out to signal he needed to be lifted up and hugged. He loved to be hugged, snuggled, and kissed. It was his favorite.

However, he saw Ansell's face.

Confused and scared, the baby stopped dead in his tracks. The smile dying on his mouth as it slackened and he wobbled precariously on the rug.

Ansell furrowed his brows, unsure of what was amiss. "Henri-" realizing what was different, he got closer. "It's me, Silly Boy. Papa's the same, he just shaved his beard off."

Belle held her chin, lips twitching, silently watching in amusement.

As Ansell drew closer, the boy tried to shuffle backward to get away. Uncoordinated, Henri tripped and fell onto his diapered bottom, letting out a grunt. Gazing up at the unfamiliar man with growing dread, big brown eyes pooling with tears, and lip quivering he whined.

"Easy, Henri," Ansell scooped up his son and planted a kiss to the wavy brown hair that sat on the little head in big lazy swirls, feathering out over the child's ears. "It's alright," Tucking him against his chest, he smiled down at Henri; gazing lovingly into his eyes, tickling his chin, patting the well-fed belly. "Look, it's me."

Henri broke into a cry.

Pushing Ansell away, he sobbed. Head whipping around, finding Belle and reaching for her desperately, the baby squirmed for freedom from the big, scary man with the smooth face.

"Son-" He began worriedly as Belle swooped in and plucked her frightened child out of his arms.

"Shhh, it's alright baby." Kissing his tears, she drew his head closer and felt her little boy nuzzle under her chin as he settled into sniffles.

Henri jabbered, his tone concerned as he gripped Maman's shoulder. Eyes suspicious of the man who sounded like Papa but was certainly not Papa, he cuddled closer and found his thumb to suck while Maman patted his back. Glancing over at the stranger, he quickly buried his face into Belle's neck and hid. Trusting in Maman to protect him.

"I know." She kissed into the top of Henri's head, looking over to Ansell. "I want him to grow it back too."

Ansell's shoulders slumped.

"Is everything alright?" Maurice asked as he quickly walked towards the library. "He was walking just fine I thought-" freezing mid-step as his son-in-law turned to him, he recoiled slightly. "Oh, you have to grow it back."

He scowled at all three of them.

-Fin-