Chip was in the kitchens trying to console the chef. Chef Bouche had been working at the castle for nearly fifty years and Chip would have thought that by now he'd have been used to having his food go to waste. Considering that no one could live in a house with Adam and Lynette and not expect some form of mayhem at least once a week, it usually went without saying that dinners were left untouched quite regularly.

"I work and slave over a hot stove all day and my masterpiece goes to waste." Chef Bouche lamented throwing his hands up.

"Come now, it's not all that bad." said Chip patting his back. "You should know by now that these things happen around here."

Chef Bouche tsked and wandered off to the back for a stiff drink. Chip could have used on himself and was about to join him but the German prince walked into the kitchen. Chip looked him over. Dressed in a dark green waistcoat, white shirt and black breeches he cut an impressive figure. He looked much out of place within Chip's kitchen.

"What can I do for you?" asked Chip feeling a bit self conscious of his own, somewhat worn, clothing.

"I was wondering if you could tell me something about the young princess." said Dietrich. "I have no intention of giving up yet, not after coming all this way."

"Well, I can tell you right now she's stubborn and if she doesn't want to talk to you she won't. Speaking of young, you don't look much older than she does." Chip knew he was being abrasive, there was something about this man he didn't like. He'd failed to impress Lynette so why didn't he leave already?

"I'm nearly twenty. What has that to do with anything? I need a wife and I like what I saw at dinner even if she was angry." the Prince shrugged nonchalantly at Chip. The servants around here were a shade more stand-offish than people of their stations had a right to be, in his opinion. " I will do my best to win her."

Chip's brow furrowed. What had the Master been thinking? Certainly this man was handsome but there didn't seem to be anything remarkable about him. Of all the people in the world Chip would have thought Belle and Adam to be the last to judge on appearances. What was going on around here?


"He's a fop! There's no way he could ever be fit for Lynette." Chip ranted. "I think the Master's lost his mind."

He was in his mother's chamber bringing her dinner to her as he always did now that Mrs. Potts was to old to wander around the castle anymore. Chips mother looked over her spectacles at him. Her white hair was tied up in a bun and even so her face was wrinkled with age her blue eyes gleamed as brightly as ever.

"Now love, there's no need to carry on like that. You've only just met this Prince. For all you know he could be a very nice young man." said Mrs Potts sipping her tea.

"Somehow I doubt it." grumbled Chip.

"Oh I see..." chuckled Mrs Potts.

"See what?" asked Chip fixing his mother with a puzzled look.

"I don't think it would have mattered what kind of man Belle and the Master invited over, you'd have disliked them all."

"I am not jealous if that's what you're implying, Mama." he said. He sighed and knelt in front of his mother's rocking chair, taking her hands. "Well maybe I am just a bit. I've known Lynette all her life and I don't want someone taking her away just yet. Am I selfish?" he asked.

"No love, you're a good boy and I'm very proud of you." said Mrs Potts squeezing her son's hand. "I know you and the young Miss are close and it's only natural that you'd feel sad if someone took her away. But you know dear..." her tone became soft and soothing. "She is a princess and she will have to marry someday. Things don't stay the same forever." she brushed a lock of his thick blond hair from his face.

"I know, I just wish they didn't have to change so soon." said Chip standing and kissing Mrs Pott's cheek.

Mrs Potts watched her son go. Had so much time really gone by? He was so tall, it had seemed like yesterday when he'd been a little boy without a care in the world and now he was a grown man and soon he would probably start his own family. At least she hoped it would be soon, she wanted grandchildren and she certainly wasn't getting any younger...


Lynette had little difficulty sneaking out and grabbing one of the horses. The castle was huge and she knew it like the back of her hand. Once she had fitted on a saddle and some reigns she rode into the forest. The sun was beginning to set and soon her mother or father would be looking for her. Unconcerned with any potential danger she proceeded to follow the worn trail.

It wasn't long before the princess came upon a fork in the road. "Damn, I forgot the path split here, do I go left or right?" she wondered aloud. She didn't have much time to think for a rabbit darted in front of her horse. Spooked by the sudden movement the horse reared up and threw it's rider. Lynette's head struck the ground rendering her unconscious. With a loud neigh the horse turned and fled back to the castle, leaving it's injured mistress to the mercy of the forest.

The Beast was hunting when he heard the noise. The sound of a horse and a woman's cry. Curiosity drove the Beast to investigate what instinct told him to ignore. Moving silently through the woods he crept closer to the source of the noise. There was a girl lying on the ground. Judging from the cut on her brow and the hoof prints around her he would have guessed that she'd been thrown from her horse. His common sense would have told him to leave before she woke up and started screaming. But there was something disturbingly familiar about the girls face. He went for a closer look. She had strong features for a girl, high cheek bones and a stern brow, but she was not unattractive and there was something in the tilt of her nose, the from of her soft jaw and the shape of her full lips that he thought he recognized.

She stirred, the Beast though to hide but he found himself rooted to the spot as the girl opened her eyes and stared straight at him.

The first thing Lynette saw when she regained consciousness was a pair of sky blue eyes. They would have been quite nice indeed had they not belonged to a large black furred monster...