A week had passed since Adam and Papa moved into the castle. And Belle had never felt more confused.
She was certain that Adam and the Beast were one and the same. The torn portrait in the West Wing, and her own observations, confirmed her suspicions.
But as sure as she was, Belle was equally unsure.
Soon, it would be a year since that day she had lost everything. She felt she was projecting her unresolved feelings onto a young man who was identical to the beast she lost.
Belle quietly groaned and hung her head. There are so many conflicting thoughts in her mind, she can't even voice them to Mrs. Potts. She tried to talk to her about it last night. But she only managed to announce that her Papa was ill and Gaston had finally allowed him to move in.
"Madame? Are you alright?" a deep voice asked behind her.
Belle jumped out of her reverie, making her fall back onto the person. She gave a hesitant glance to the man behind her. Her breath caught in her throat.
Of course. It was Adam.
What was worse, they were alone together in the hallway. In Belle's newly acquired refuge. Despite the lack of privacy she often git here, it was the only place where she felt safe. She could barely go back to the library now, as much as it ached her heart. Especially after that electrifying moment she shared with Adam there. It brought back more memories and emotions. Which in turn only made things more confusing.
Adam gripped her shoulders to make sure she wouldn't fall. Belle gently shook him off, taking a step away from him before turning around to face him.
She stared into his blue eyes. The strong feeling of déjà vu welled up inside her. The way Adam was looking at her reminded her so much of how Beast used to look at her. The only difference was the genuine concern that she saw in them.
"Y-yes, I'm fine," she murmured. "Thank you."
He lifted a dubious eyebrow, but nodded anyways.
An awkward silence filled the space between them. Adam ran a hand through his hair and bounced from foot to foot. Belle moved back a few loose strands of hair and avoided eye contact with him.
"I was looking for you." Adam broke the silence.
Her eyes widened. Her heart stopped beating. She hoped that this was her Beast and he was finally going to rescue her.
Belle mentally shook herself. Now she was just being ridiculous.
"W-what?" Belle asked.
"I was looking for you. . ." he repeated. He cleared his throat. "To let you know that your father is well enough to walk around now. And seeing as the weather is accommodating, we were about to take a stroll through the gardens. Would you like to join us?"
For the first time in a year, she felt joy. Belle gave Adam her first genuine smile.
"I would love to." She said.
Adam returned her smile. He held out his arm. Belle slipped her arm through his elbow and allowed him to escort her.
Whether Adam was Beast or not was inconsequential at the moment. During the past week, he had been nothing but kind to her. She even started to consider him a friend. None of Gaston's men talked to her beyond the few orders she gave. As for Gaston, he had never been one to listen to her when she talks, unless it has something he wants to hear. Not that she ever minded on both accounts, but she did feel lonely. All she ever wanted - even now - is someone to talk to. And now Adam was here to fulfill that wanting.
As they walked to the East Wing, they went into conversation. They talked about some mundane subject, but it was the most interesting discussion she ever had. It filled her with a peculiar lightness; a lightness she felt maybe once before. Belle pushed the thought aside. She needed to try and enjoy the time she was spending with her rapidly recovering Papa and his mysterious caretaker.
As Adam sneaked through the castle to the West Wing, he couldn't help but smile.
The past week had felt like the tentative beginnings of their relationship when he was still cursed. Every time he was anywhere near Belle, he felt a strange fluttering settle into his stomach, and an electric current flow through his veins. It reminded him of the first time they met, when he was still a hideous beast.
When Adam was near the West Wing, he slowed his pace and readjusted the hood of his cloak. He looked around for any nighttime watches. Adam approached the door and pulled out the keys. As much as it pained him to steal from Belle, it had to be done if he has any chance of regaining her love.
He slid the key into the lock and turned it. He looked over his shoulder before slipping inside.
Adam faced the door to make sure it closed quietly. He heard the gentle thumps coming from his former servants' approach.
"Bonsoir!" Lumiere greeted from behind.
Adam smirked. Of course, the candlestick maître d' thought he was Belle. He pulled back his hood and turned around.
"Bonsoir, Lumiere." Adam replied.
Lumiere audibly gasped, as did Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts and the other enchanted folk.
A heavy silence filled the room as the inhabitants stared at their long lost master and prince.
"M-master?" Cogsworth wondered quietly.
Adam smiled and nodded. "It's good to see you again, Cogsworth. It's good to see you all again."
The servants murmured amongst themselves.
Was he really their master?
How could that be?
How was that even possible?
Adam held up a hand to silence them. Incredibly, they all complied.
"I know you are all wondering what happened to me, and why I'm here now, as a man. . ." Adam explained everything. From the moment he changed back, to his plan now.
The servants listened in captivated silence. The beginning of their master's tale was hard to believe at first. But once he finished and they started to think about it, who were they to question what is possible and what isn't?
Cogsworth was the first to break the silence. "What will you have us do, master?" he asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Lumiere countered. "The master wants our help to get Belle to kiss him and break the rest of the spell!"
Adam smiled again. He forgot how much he missed his servants, his friends.
Cogsworth glared at the candlestick. "I know that! I'm just wondering how he wants us to do it!"
The two started to bicker. Mrs. Potts rolled her eyes and stepped between them.
"That is quite enough!" she interjected firmly. "Fighting amongst ourselves is not going to solve anything. We need to work together if we're ever going to be human again."
Cogsworth and Lumiere glanced at each other, sighed and nodded in agreement. The two friends knew she was right. Everyone knew she was right.
"As I've said, I do have a plan." Adam smirked.
