Back in town, a big cart was parked in front of the tavern. Inside were Gideon and Duke, drinking beer and talking to an old hyena.

-I don't usually leave the asylum in the middle of the night, but he said it would worth my while. -The hyena spoke and Gideon threw a bag of money to him. -Ah! I'm listening. -The hyena said taking a coin and rubbing it on his cheek.

Gideon explained his plan. -It's like this. I've got my heart set on marrying Judy, but she needs a little persuasion. -

-Haha, turned him down flat. -Duke said laughing and Gideon hit him on the head, making him get stuck in the beer jar he had, and continued with his explanation.

-Everyone knows her father is a lunatic. He was in here tonight, raving about a beast in a castle. -

-Stu is harmless. -The hyena said bored.

-The point is; Judy would do anything to keep him from being locked up. -

-Yeah! Even marry him. -Duke said amused and covered himself when Gideon threatened to hit him again.

-So you want me to throw her father into the asylum, unless she agrees to marry you. - The hyena said and Gideon and Duke nodded at him. -Oh! That is despicable, hehehe I love it! -The hyena agreed smiling.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In his house, Stu was getting ready to leave and go to save Judy by himself.

-If no one will help me, then I'll go back alone. Yes, is that everything? I don't care what it takes, I'll find that castle and somehow I… I'll get her out of there! -Stu said with determination and left the house just before Gideon and Duke forcibly entered the house.

-Judy! Stu! -Gideon called them.

-Oh well hehe. Guess it's not gonna work, after all. -Duke said and tried to leave but Gideon pulled him back.

-They have to come back sometime, and when they do, we'll be ready for them. Duke don't move from that spot, until Judy and her father come home. -Gideon ordered pulling Duke and throwing him to the snow.

-B… But… -Duke tried to protest but Gideon had left. -Ah, nuts! -Duke hit a wall, making more snow to fall over him.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A couple of days passed and now Judy was more comfortable in the castle; the beast, even if he looked angry all the time was controlling his temper a lot better. Judy was now walking by the garden, with Phillip beside her, the beast, Lumiere and Cogsworth were looking at them from a balcony.

-Judy! -Phillip spoke.

-What is it Phillip? -Judy asked him looking around.

-The monster is looking at us. -Phillip said with some fear.

-Calm down Phillip, he's not going to hurt us, and he's not a monster, his name is Nicholas. -

-Nicholas? Did you name him? -

-No, he told me himself, Nicholas Wilde. -

-Are you going to call him for his "name"? -

-Well I suppose to. Why? -

-No, you shouldn't call him by his name. -

-Why not? -

-Because if you start to call him by his name, you start get attached to him! -

-Is that so bad? -

-Judy! He's a monster! He could kill you! Eat you! Please Judy, we have to leave! We…-

-STOP! Please stop it Phillip. He won't do such things, I know it. -

-How do you know it? -

-I… I just… I just know it, ok? -

-But you're not 100% certainty Judy. What if he gets really, really angry, or worst, really, really hungry and…-

-SHUT UP Phillip! He won't do it; I just know he won't. Besides, I promised to stay here. -

-But…-

-If you want to leave you can do it Phillip, no one's holding you, but I feel better with you by my side. -

-Sigh… ok, ok. I'll stay with you, to… keep you safe, besides, your father would get very angry with me if I leave you alone here with "Nicholas" -Phillp said smiling at her and patting her on the back.

-Oh Phillip! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! -Judy hugged him and he hugged her back, but then, he realized that the beast was still looking at them and pouted.

-Sigh… I just hope you're right about him Judy. -Phillip thought.

Just at that moment, the footstool passed by them running. -Here I go! Here I go! -He jumped to the snow and played with it. -Hey Judy! Did you see me? -he asked her while running to her, she caught him laughing.

From the balcony, Nicholas was looking at her and touched the bandage on his arm. -I've never felt this way about anyone. I want to do something for her! -He said smiling but then he pouted. -but what? -he asked his servants.

Cogsworth answered. -Well, there's the usual things, flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep. - (A/N The last one always works, right? O.O)

-No, no, it has to be something very special, something that sparks her interest, wait a minute! - Lumiere said.

Nicholas took Judy to a room in the castle.

-Judy? There's something I want to show you. -He started to open the door but he closed it again. -But first, you have to close your eyes. -he said smiling and she looked at him with suspicious. -It's a surprise. -He told her and she closed her eyes, then he checked if she had her eyes closed, opened the door, took Judy's paws in his and pulled her gently into the room, smiling widely.

-Can I open them? -Judy asked him.

-No, no, not yet. -he pulled her to the center of the room. -Wait here. -he went to open the curtains to let the daylight get in the room.

-Now can I open them? -Judy asked him smiling.

-All right, now. -Judy opened her eyes and gasped when she looked around, they were in a huge library, Judy had never seen so many books in one place.

-I can't believe it. I have never seen so many books in all my life. -

-You… You like it? -

-It's wonderful! - Judy walked around Nicholas looking at the books

-Then it's yours. - Nicholas turned around looking at Judy all the time.

-Thank you so much. -Judy took his paws in hers.

Mrs. Potts gasped. -Would you look at that! -

-haha! I knew it would work! -Lumiere said triumphal.

-What? What works? -Chip asked them, not understanding what was going on.

-Hehe, it's very encouraging. -Cogsworth said happily.

-Isn't this exciting? -The duster asked happily too.

-I didn't see anything. -Chip wanted to know what was going on.

-Come along Chip. There's chores to be done in the kitchen. -

-But what are they talking about? What's going on? Come on, mom. -

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The days went by, little by little, Judy and Nicholas were getting along more and more, they took breakfast together but Nicholas table manners were… well, he didn't have table manners, he ate like a wild animal, he didn't use any cutlery and had food stains all over his face, Judy gasped at this and didn't know what to do, then Chip approached Nicholas a spoon so he could try to use it, Nicholas took the spoon and Judy looked at him very interested in what he would do, but Nicholas just couldn't use the spoon properly, it was like no one taught him how to; Chip giggled at his master's behavior and his mother rebuked him with her look.

Judy wanted to help Nicholas but she didn't know how, then she thought of something, she took the plate on her paws and raised it, Nicholas smiled and did the same with his plate, and both of them ate directly from the plate.

More and more days passed and Judy and Nick just got along even more, they were trying to feed the birds at the garden, Judy handed some seeds to Nicholas on his paws.

There's something sweet,

And almost kind

But he was mean

And he was coarse and unrefined

And now he's dear and so unsure

I wonder why I didn't see it there before

Nicholas tried to feed the birds, but they just didn't let him get close to them, Judy went to help him and left some seeds on the ground, a bird ate some and saw that Nicholas had more in his paws, so it went to him and ate seeds from his paws, Nicholas smiled at that.

She glanced this way

I thought I saw

And when we touched she didn't shudder at my paw

No, it can't be

I'll just ignore

But then she's never looked at me that way before

Judy went to hide behind a tree, she was unsure of what she felt about Nicholas now.

New and a bit alarming

Who'd have ever thought

That this could be

True that he's no prince charming

But there's something in him

That I simply didn't see

Judy looked at Nicholas, he was now covered by birds, he moved a little and all the birds flew, he looked at Judy but got hit by a snowball straight on the face, he smiled and started to make a huge snowball, he picked it up and pretended to throw it at Judy, but she threw him another snowball, making him release the one he had and fall over his head, making him fall to the ground; he then decided to chase Judy, and Judy played along, avoiding him, running around a tree.

Well, who'd have thought

Well bless my soul

Well, who'd have known

Well, who, indeed

And who'd have guessed that they'd come together on their own

It's so peculiar

We'll wait and see

A few days more

There may be something there that wasn't there before

Mrs. Potts, Lumiere and Cogsworth were looking at them from a window inside the castle.

Judy and Nicholas were almost inseparable by now, they even read together.

-You know, perhaps there's something there that wasn't there before. -Cogsworth said to his fellow servants.

-What? -Chip asked.

-There's something there that wasn't there before. -Mrs. Potts said.

-What's there, mama? -Chip asked her.

-Shh, I'll tell you when you're older. -She answered him and they closed the door to give Judy and Nicholas some privacy.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Nicholas was taking a bath.

-Tonight is the night. -Lumiere told him.

-I'm not sure I can do this. -

-You don't have time to be timid. You have to be bold, daring. -

-Bold! Daring! -Nicholas shook to get dry, getting Lumiere wet.

-There will be music, romantic candlelight. -Lumiere got dry himself and turned on his candles. -provided by myself, and when the time is right, you confess your love. -

-Yes, I… I… I… No, I can't. -

-You care for the bunny girl don't you? -Lumiere asked him.

-More than anything. - Nicholas answering while getting a new haircut.

-Well then, you must tell her. -Lumiere told him while inspecting the haircut. -Voilà! Oh you look so… so…-

-Stupid. -Nicholas said seriously, indeed he looked ridiculous with the ribbons and the very girly haircut.

-Not quite the word I was looking for. Perhaps a little more of the top. -He ordered to the coat rack that was cutting Nicholas hair.

-Ahem, ahem, ahem. Your lady, awaits. -Cogsworth said getting in the room and chuckled.

Judy came out of her room wearing a wonderfully beautiful golden dress, she looked stunning.

For his part, Nicholas came out of his room, wearing a very elegant blue suit. They meet on the stairs and smiled at each other, then they curtsied and Judy took Nicholas arm with one paw while holding her long skirt with the other.

Tale as old as time

True as it can be

Barely even friends

Then somebody bends

Unexpectedly

Judy and Nick came down together, Mrs. Potts and Chip looked at them going to the dining room, Nicholas manners improved highly since "that" breakfast, he learned to use the spoon and all the other cutlery; they ate peacefully, smiling at each other. When a coat rack came playing a violin Judy got up from her sit and went to Nicholas to pull him to the dance floor.

Just a little change

Small to say the least

Both a little scared

Neither one prepared

Bunny and the Beast

Judy helped Nicholas holding his right paw and putting his left paw around her waist, Nicholas gulped at this, his paw was so big that almost rounded Judy's waist completely. They looked at each other in the eyes and started to dance. Cogsworth and Lumiere were looking at them smiling, they were supporting their master.

Ever just the same

Ever a surprise

Ever as before

Ever just as sure

As the sun will rise

Tale as old as time

Tune as old as song

Bittersweet and strange

Finding you can change

Learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun

Rising in the east

Judy was so comfortable that she leaned her head on Nicholas chest, resting, Nicholas turned to Cogsworth and Lumiere smiling widely, they just nodded at him giving him thumps up and victory signs

Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Bunny and the Beast

Lumiere made the lights go dimmer, to create a more romantic atmosphere.

Tale as old as time

Song as old as rhyme

Bunny and the Beast

- Off to the cupboard with you now Chip, It's past your bedtime. -Mrs. Potts told to a yawning Chip. She kissed him and he left. -Good night love. - Before leaving, Chip glanced one last time to Judy and Nicholas, who were in a balcony, enjoying each other company. They sat together, and were shy at each other.

-Judy? -Nicholas started. -Are you happy here with me? -he asked her taking her paws in his.

-Yes. -Judy answered honestly but then she pouted and looked away.

-What is it? -Nicholas asked her worried.

-If only I could see my father again, just for a moment, I miss him so much. -Judy answered lowering her head. Nicholas felt bad for her, he didn't like to see her sad, then he remembered something and smiled at her.

-There is a way. -Nicholas took her to his room. -This mirror will show you anything, anything you wish to see. -He took his magic mirror and handed it to her.

-I'd like to see my father, please. -Judy asked to the mirror in her paws and it started to shine with a green glow, suddenly, Judy saw her father and she gasped, the poor Stu was alone, coughing and trembling in the cold crawling, looking for the castle. -Papa. Oh no. He's sick, he may be dying and he's all alone. -Judy said full of fear, Nicholas turned to the dying rose, covered by the glass, he knew what he had to do, and that made him feel very, very sad.

-Then, you must go to him. -He told her, sadness very clear in his behavior and voice.

-What did you say? -

-I release you, you're no longer my prisoner. -

-You… you mean I'm free? -She asked him.

-Yes. -

-Oh! Thank you! Hold on papa, I'm on my way; Judy tried to give him back the mirror.

-Take it with you, so you will have a way to look back… and remember me. -

-Thank you for understanding how much he needs me Nicholas. -Judy said leaving the room.

-I'm Nick… just… just for you. -He told her before she left.

-Well, your highness I must say that everything is going just swimmingly. I knew you had it in you haha. -Cogsworth told his master while getting in the room.

-I let her go. -Nicholas said in sadness.

-Yes, yes, splen… You what? Why did you do that? -Cogsworth asked, not believing what he heard.

-I had to. -

-B… B… But why? -

Nicholas had waited a long time to say it, he finally understood what it meant, he finally felt it for real, for the very first time in his life. -Because… I love her. -