Belle woke slowly as the sun shone through the curtains and fell upon her pale face. The pain of the past night had been wiped away from her memory and she dazedly looked down at a large white cast that held her injured ankle. It was elevated on several pillows and was no longer throbbing. Her shoulder was firmly wrapped still, and felt a little better. She passed a hand over her face. She was stopped by a bandage that circled her head, covering what felt like a wound of some sort. Her head no longer ached, and she looked around the room. The wardrobe was snoozing, head down, near the door. The sun was midway through the sky, but the castle was very quiet. She closed her eyes again and settled into a light doze.

Downstairs, however, was not nearly so peaceful. Lumierre, Cogsworth and the Beast were all trying to build a wheelchair for Belle. Mrs. Potts had suggested it before heading to the kitchens. They found an old cart and were working to rid it of moss and grime and to make it more comfortable. Lumierre was gathering blankets and pillows, while Cogsworth burnished the rusty wheels. Beast was using his claws to scrape the grime and old paint off, but was doing considerable damage to the structure of the wood beneath.

Mrs. Potts returned just as they were fitting the cart with cushions and blankets.

"This will be wonderful!" She exclaimed, looking at the refurbished cart. The wood, although scarred, gleamed with Cogsworth's polish and the cart was resplendent with soft pillows and blankets.

"You must take it to her yourself." Mrs. Potts said, gesturing toward the stairs with her spout.

"What if she's awake?" Beast asked, mortified.

"All the better. Just tell her you're sorry about what you've done and that you hope that your gift and help will heal things between you." She said and the three servants escorted Beast, pushing the cart, toward the stairs. He easily lifted it and quietly padded up the stairs toward the East Wing.

He noticed with a pang of regret the claw marks and dents in the door from his fury on the first night she had come to the castle. He was too harsh, he realized now, and somewhere along the way he apologize. Mrs. Potts stopped before the door and gestured for him to knock. He did so, reluctantly.

"Come in." Came a weak voice from inside. Beast pushed open the door and propped it open with the cart, hiding it from her view for now. A look of fear passed over her face, but faded to curiosity when she saw how sad he seemed.

"Belle… " He said and gulped. "I… it was wrong of me to… attack you like I did. I never meant to hurt you and I'm sorry that I… lost my temper." He paused, but before she could speak, started again, staring at the floor as he spoke.

"I know there's not much I can do to reverse the damage I've caused you, but… I would like to give you a gift. I hope this and the help I promise to give you will make up for the damage I've done." He wheeled the cart in and Belle gasped in surprise. It was all done up in soft blankets and pillows and gleamed like new.

"I hope…" Beast began again, very softly as he pushed it toward her, "that you will be able to forgive me for what I've done to you." He did not dare glance up at her face, even though she was right in front of him now.

Belle looked from her injured shoulder and leg to the downcast beast and his gift. She reached out a hand, which trembled but stayed its course, and laid it on his giant paw.

"I do forgive you." She said. "I should have stayed away. Thank you for helping me." He looked up at her in shock. He hadn't expected her to forgive him that easily.

"Would you… like to take a ride?" He asked, daring to hope. She smiled.

"I would. Could we go to the kitchens? I am very hungry." From behind the door, Mrs. Potts smiled widely and gestured for Lumierre and Cogsworth to follow her. They quietly hopped down the stairs and to the kitchen to prepare a meal for two.

Belle gingerly lifted her back from the bed and was almost surprised when a large hand placed itself there and helped her sit up. Beast put his other arm under her legs and lifted her as though she weighed no more than a feather. He carefully placed her on the cart and wheeled her out into the hallway. He had to carry Belle and the cart down the stairs and managed it with ease. Fortunately the blood stain had now been cleaned from the landing and upon arriving at the bottom of the stairs, Beast wheeled Belle carefully into the kitchen, where a hot meal was awaiting them. Belle used one dainty hand to eat, as her injured shoulder made it difficult and painful to move her other arm. Beast attempted to eat with a spoon, but had to resort to drinking his soup instead.

Afterwards, Beast took her into the room with the fireplace. Lumierre lit it and warmth filled the room. Belle was very sleepy and eventually nodded off. She looked healthier - less pale and a ghost of a smile graced her sleeping face. Beast smiled too. A genuine smile, not a mouthful of teeth for once. He settled into his chair, but for once did not stare into the fire. Instead he watched Belle as she slept, keeping guard over her. He too drifted off to sleep, sitting in his chair.

When he next woke, the sun was setting. Belle soon stirred and opened her eyes.

"Beast?" She said, almost startling him.

"Yes?" He replied, unsure.

"Thank you, for this." She said, gesturing to her cart with one hand. "It's wonderful."

This time Belle got to see the genuine smile that came across his face

"Would you like some supper?" He asked, beginning to rise.

"That would be nice." She murmured, still sleepy.

"We may need to change the bandage on your shoulder soon," He said as he wheeled her to the kitchen.

Mrs. Potts agreed with him and they gently did so, trying to cause her as little pain as possible. Belle was surprised at how gentle Beast was being. He really had changed. Once her shoulder was wrapped up again, they ate. Belle kept glancing up at the Beast. She was beginning to see how he had changed. The hard lines on his face had softened and he seemed more of a large cuddly bear than the monster he had at first seemed.

Days passed and they spent a lot of time together in front of the fire, wandering the castle with Belle in her cart and Beast pushing it. Two months after the attack, Belle's ankle was healed and they carefully removed the cast. He supported her as she took her first few steps and hovered around her much like a mother hen as she recuperated.

She eventually taught him how to use a spoon and one night they danced. That one night changed everything forever as we well know.

The End.