I have no idea how I have been updating so quickly, but this is probably the last time for a while. Please enjoy and review.

Disclaimer: Some of the quotes come directly from Disney's Beauty and the Beast, which I do not own. I also do not own the characters.

Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Babette were contemplating what to do next in the West Wing. Chip had been sent off to bed, although, to no one else's knowledge, he was wandering around the castle trying to figure out what happened since no one would explain it to him.

Cogsworth spoke up, "I knew it. I knew it was foolish to get our hopes up."

Lumiere, for the first time, agreed with him, "Maybe it would've been better if she had never come at all."

Mrs. Potts, worried for the Master, chipped in, "I don't understand it. I thought she returned the Master's feelings. What would've made her want to leave all of a sudden?"

Cogsworth replied, "You said it earlier, 'she needs to love him in return.' Obviously, she doesn't."

Mrs. Potts shook her pot, "Still, they had a close friendship. There had to be something to make her leave suddenly."

Lumiere suddenly remembered, "Wait, we can use the mirror to find them and see what's happening."

All of them scurried over to the table containing the bell jar with the rose. Lumiere carefully jumped up onto the table so not to harm the rose. "The mirror's gone."

Babette was the first to react, "Gone? Where would it be? No one else uses it."

Mrs. Potts understood immediately. "He gave it to Belle."

Cogsworth was stunned, "Who gave it to Belle?"

Lumiere rolled his eyes, "The Master, you tick tock!"

This started an argument between Cogsworth and Lumiere, but Mrs. Potts did not want to get into the middle of it.

She moved to the balcony and tried to look beyond the gates, but it was too dark. She knew once the Master got Belle safely home, he would not be returning to the castle. He never understood love and now that he learned how to love, he still did not understand how to deal with lost love.

During what became the most vital years during the young Prince's upbringing, Mrs. Potts could not take care of him as she had before. Her husband had suddenly died and a month after his death, she found out she was three months along with Chip. By the time Chip learned to walk and was starting to talk, the young Prince had been spoiled by the other servants and it was too late.

The Prince was eleven and Chip was eleven months old when the spell occurred. Ten years had passed and tonight at 2:31 was the beginning of the Prince's twenty-first birthday. Unless Belle returned, it was over for the Prince and the end of her dreams of seeing people running through the castle, especially her son. She silently prayed to the high heavens that everything would right itself. No one deserved this fate, and the Prince suffered the most knowing it was his fault.

Lumiere came behind her, "Is he back yet?"

Mrs. Potts did not want to be the one to break the news and so she prayed for a miracle, "Not yet."

Cogsworth then walked onto the balcony, "Well, he should be back soon. It's been almost an hour since he left."

Babette was not far behind, "Do you think zat he will go back to his usual temper?"

Mrs. Potts absently said, "I doubt it." She straightened up as much as she could as a teapot and looked at them. She wanted to reassure them as much as herself. "No, Belle changed him. Even if we are to remain in this state, he will never forget the lessons she taught him." Which means he will come back, if he's in his right mind, Mrs. Potts thought.

Everyone looked out of the balcony, each lost in his or her own thoughts.

Suddenly, the gate was heard creaking open. They all walked closer to the edge of the balcony. While it was dark, two moving shadows were seen and they heard a horse clopping.

As the shadows moved closer to the castle, the enchanted objects were able to see them more clearly.

Lumiere shouted, "It's the Master!"

Babette and Cogsworth said at the same time, "And Belle!"

Mrs. Potts finally could make out a third person on the back of the horse. "Belle's father," she whispered. Of course, that is why Belle had to leave. Thank you, Lord. Belle was back and so the Master returned safely.

All of the objects moved quickly downstairs to the Entrance Hall.

When Belle and Beast were in front of the stable, Beast carefully picked Maurice off the back of Philippe so Belle could get off.

Beast said quietly, "I'll bring him into the first bedroom on the first floor while you take care of the horse."

Belle quietly responded, "Thank you."

When Beast walked away, Belle got off her horse and brought him into the stable. While she still worried for her father, she was becoming more worried about Beast. He seemed to want to break away from her. Maybe she made a mistake by deciding to come back here. Still, it was too late now. She entered the castle.

Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, Lumiere, and Babette were moving quickly down the stairs.

Belle spoke, "Mrs. Potts, could you please bring me some warm water to the first bedroom?"

Mrs. Potts responded, "Of course." She scurried away.

Belle then spoke to the other three, "I'm sorry. I need to take care of my father." She ran down the hall.

The three objects watched her running.

Lumiere voiced the question first, "Do you think we still have a chance?"

Cogsworth was puzzled, "Well, I don't know. She did come back when she could have gone home."

Mrs. Potts was moving quickly towards the bedroom, but she stopped to say, "Maybe her father was closer to the castle. Don't get your hopes up." She hated her attitude towards the situation but from what she saw on Belle's face, the Master would not admit his feelings toward her and Belle's only concern was for her father.

She moved to the bedroom quickly and saw the Master watching Belle as she stroked her father's face. Belle looked at her as she entered.

Mrs. Potts jumped onto the side table and poured some water into the bowl that was on it. Belle took a handkerchief and dipped it starting to wet her father's face. Mrs. Potts looked at the Master and realized he was thinking about how she attended his wounds from the wolf attack.

Belle turned to Mrs. Potts, "Is there anything dry that I can change him into, such as a nightshirt?"

Beast spoke somberly, "I know where it is." He left the room quickly.

Mrs. Potts was thinking aloud, "I'm surprised he knows where it is."

Belle looked at her, "What do you mean?"

Mrs. Potts' eyes opened wide, but she quickly recovered. "Oh, nothing to worry your head about, dear."

While Belle started to undress her father, Mrs. Potts was worried about the Master. She knew he went to find his father's old armoire, which was stored in a closet outside the dungeon. His father had practically ignored him and during the time when Mrs. Potts could not take care of him, he ordered for all of his parents' possessions to be destroyed. The servants, being loyal to the late prince and princess, moved the items to the closet. Mrs. Potts realized that although she knew the Master better than the other castle workers did, there were still thing she did not know.

Beast returned with a long blue nightshirt with gold hand stitching, which had belonged to his father.

Belle was amazed at how intricate the stitching was. Only royals wore this type of clothing. She looked at Beast, but he turned away and walked out of the room. Belle continued to look out at the door.

Mrs. Potts decided to pull her out of her thoughts, "Dear, you should get your father out of his wet clothing."

Belle snapped out of it and changed her father. While she was wiping his face with the cloth again, she asked, "Mrs. Potts, what is wrong with the Beast?"

Mrs. Potts responded, "Oh, he gets into moods like that every so often."

"Did this castle belong to the royal family?"

"It has always belonged to the Master's family."

Belle realized Mrs. Potts was not going to give her answers. She continued to take care of her father. An hour later, he woke up.

"Belle?"

Belle smiled, "It's all right, Papa. I'm here."

Maurice smiled back, "I thought I would never see you again." He sat up and gave Belle a hug not realizing his surroundings.

Belle was relieved, "I missed you so much."

Maurice pulled back, "But the Beast, how did you escape?"

"I didn't escape, Papa. He let me go. And, Papa, we're in the Beast's castle."

Maurice looked at his surroundings. "That horrible Beast?"

Belle was quick to correct him, "But he isn't, Papa. He's changed somehow, and so have I. We're friends."

"Friends?"

Mrs. Potts decided to step in the conversation, "Yes, they're very good and close friends. You would be proud of your daughter, sir. She stood up to him and he changed his ways, being more considerate and teaching him to…" She trailed off because she did not want to let Belle know that he loved her without him telling her first.

Belle wondered what Mrs. Potts wanted to say but did not ask. Belle turned to her father, "Papa, you must get some rest. I'll explain more in the morning."

Mrs. Potts chipped in, "I agree, sir. You have been through much, especially walking out in those woods."

Maurice wanted to protest, but was feeling a bit groggy and took their advice. He kissed Belle's cheek and laid back down closing his eyes. Soon, he was softly snoring.

Mrs. Potts spoke quietly, "Thank goodness you came."

Belle was confused, "My father was not in that great of danger once he was out of the cold."

"I meant the Master."

Belle was worried again, "What about him?"

Mrs. Potts did not say anymore and was looking at Maurice. When she looked up, she said, "Well, dear, it's getting late. I'll stay with your father and you should get some sleep."

While Belle was not tired, she knew that Mrs. Potts would not say any more. "Thank you, Mrs. Potts."

Belle left to go to her room and think.