'Nother Disclaimer: Don't own it. Wish I did.

"It's time for dinner! Where is she?"

I stormed into the dining room, anxious. I hadn't had human contact in so long; the thought of eating dinner with a lovely girl like Belle actually frightened me.

Cogsworth jumped. "Perhaps I should go see!" I watched as my head of household trotted off, a winding handle now on his back. I sighed.

"What's taking so long?" I paced in front of the fireplace. Mrs. Potts came over and put the only hand she had left on my shoulder.

"Please be patient, sire. The girl has lost her father and her freedom all in one day," she reminded me. I nodded and calmed down a bit, but continued to pace. Lumière coughed behind me.

"Master…have you thought that perhaps she could be the one to break the spell?" he asked. I rolled my eyes.

"Of course I have!" I looked towards the fire. "I'm not a fool." Lumière attempted to clap, but merely succeeded in making a loud clanging sound when the holders that were once his hands met.

"Très bien. You fall in love with her," here he lit one candle, "she falls in love with you," now the other, "and poof! The spell is broken!" He looked proud. "We'll be human again!"

Mrs. Potts shook her head. "Not so, Lumière. These things normally take time." She gave him a knowing look. He blushed for a moment, then pointed in the direction of my room.

"But the rose has already begun to wilt!"

They continued bickering for a few minutes before I silenced them. "It's no use!" I began pacing again. "She's so beautiful and I'm…well, look at me!" I stood in front of them, arms outstretched. Lumière muttered something that warranted a slap from Mrs. Potts

"Oh, you must help her to see past all that!" she replied, trying to comfort me. I threw my arms up in frustration and started again with my pacing. A nervous habit.

"But I don't know how!" It was true. I'd never felt the need to get anyone to look past my outward appearances before the spell, and had no idea how to get Belle to do so.

Mrs. Potts tsked. "Well, you could start by trying to make yourself look more presentable. Stand up straight. Try to act like a gentleman." I forced my hunched shoulders straight and looked at her. She nodded.

"Impress her with your rapier wit." I gave Lumière a look. We both knew I had no wit whatsoever. He shrugged. "Shower her with compliments!"

The advice went on in this way, contradicting each other, until they reached one point they agreed on. By this time, I was annoyed.

"Above all-"

"WHAT?" Mrs. Potts and Lumière looked at each other.

"You must control your temper!" I sighed and put a paw to my forehead. This was going to be harder than I'd hoped.

Cogsworth came in, humming some annoying song and trying to look innocent. I turned to him, expectant. "Well?"

He looked at me, feigning ignorance. "What?"

"Where is she?"

"Who?" Cogsworth was pathetic actor. Lumière shot him a look and he brightened up. "Oh yes! The girl. Well, actually, she's in the process of…situation being what it is…she's not coming."

I shook my head. I must have heard him wrong. "What did you say?" I threatened. Cogsworth gulped.

"She's not coming."

She wasn't coming. My nervousness evaporated into anger. I'd ordered to come to dinner, and she had the nerve to refuse. Very well, then. If she wouldn't come on her own, I'd make her come. I stormed out of the dining room and towards the East Wing. I heard Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Lumière rushing along behind me.

"Your Grace! Your Lordship! Let's not be hasty!" Cogsworth cried out, getting in front of me.

"Get out the way." I brushed him aside and continued to Belle's door. They tried to stop me, but growled and they moved. I threw open the door.

Belle sat on her bed, Madame with her. I had completely forgotten this was the room Madame was confined to. "I thought I told you to come down to dinner," I said, deceptively calm.

Belle didn't turn to me. "I'm not hungry." I growled.

"I am the master of this castle! I'm telling you to come down to dinner!" Belle looked over her shoulder.

"And I'm telling you I'm not hungry." I turned her around so she faced me. She looked up, a defiant look on her face.

"You're hungry if I say you're hungry," I informed her. She laughed.

"Don't be ridiculous. You can't go ordering people to be hungry! It doesn't work like that!"

I took a breath, trying to take Mrs. Potts' advice and control my temper. "I can-"

"Besides, it's rude."

Rude? I'd show her rude. "Well, how about this? If you do not come down, I will drag you by the hair-"

Lumière's cough stopped me. "Master, that may not be the best way to win the girl's affections…" he offered.

Cogsworth nodded. "Please, attempt to be a gentleman."

I looked at them, frustrated. "But why is she being so difficult?" I turned back to Belle before they could respond. "Why are you being so difficult?"

"Why are you being such a bully?" she retorted. I rolled my eyes.

"Because I want you to come down to dinner!" I realized how stupid this was, but I wasn't about to let her win an argument. She looked triumphant.

"So…you admit you're being a bully?" she asked.

I tensed, ready to strike her. I'd had enough of her smart mouth and stubbornness. Mrs. Potts saw me bring my arm back. "Deep breaths, Master. Deep breaths." I closed my eyes and faced my servants, trying to calm down.

"I will give her one last chance," I informed them. To Belle, I said, "Would you be so kind as to join me for dinner?"

"Ah-ah-ah…we say please," muttered Cogsworth. I glared at him.

"Please." Belle turned away from me.

"No, thank you!" I let my head fall, counting slowly before I spoke again.

"Fine. Then starve!" I stormed out and slammed her door shut. Cogsworth chased after me.

"Master!" I whirled back around.

"If she doesn't eat with me, she doesn't eat at all!" I declared, retreating back to my wing. Once there, I slammed my door and stormed over to the mirror.

"I ask nicely but she still refuses! What does she want me to do? Beg?" I grabbed the mirror. "Show me the girl!"

My own face was momentarily reflected back at me, reminding me that I couldn't have honestly expected Belle to accept, before switching to her and Madame.

"I know the Master may seem a tad…temperamental," Madame was saying, "but underneath all that…matted and…dirty fur, he's not such a bad fellow. Oh, why don't you give him a chance?"

I looked at my arm. Madame was right; my fur was matted and filthy. Belle's voice drew me back to the mirror.

"Why should I? Did he give my father a chance?" she challenged. Madame looked defeated.

"Well, no…but once you get to know him-"

Belle cut her off. "I don't want to "get to know him"! I don't want to have anything to do with him!" The image faded.

I set the mirror down, stung. "I'm an idiot," I muttered. "She'll never see me as anything but a…monster!" I looked towards what I had once thought were the heavens. "How much longer?" I demanded. "How much longer do I have to take this! I made a mistake! A stupid, stupid mistake…" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one more petal fall from the rose.

"No…oh no. What did Mrs. Potts and Lumière say?" I asked myself, frantic. Shower her with compliments. That would be easy enough; Belle was the most beautiful girl I could ever remember seeing. Be sincere Again, easy. Impress her with your wit. If I attempted to do that, I'd end up making a bigger fool of myself. Act like a gentleman.

Act like a gentleman.

Act like a gentle man.

That was it. I'd go and apologize to Belle. But how?

I had said if she did eat with me, she wouldn't eat at all. Therefore, going to the kitchen and having the servants make up a tray for her would be a good try. I didn't expect it to help much, but I felt it was better to try than sit here and give up. Hopeful, I left the West Wing in a hurry.

Thanks to everyone who reviews (and Trudi for beta-ing. You're gonna have a Gaston-sized ego at this rate).