Here's the next chapter. I'm sorry for the long delay, but with school and other life problems I have only now able to post this chapter. Now an important note, this chapter I have BETAed myself since both my normal BETAers are dealing with things in their lives. So if I have missed anything I'm sorry. It is tough to edit your won work. I own nothing, but the plot twists and Chantal. I hope this chapter will be worth the wait and I know it's long, but if I broke it up it seemed like it would be to short, and without further inrotuction onto the story.

"You have my word. Let the child stay." Those words echoed in the beast's mind as he returned to the castle. The woman had said yes, but the child was a problem. How could a married woman and mother ever break the dreadful curse him? It still amazed him that three people had found the castle at all. Now he was stuck with two humans. In the moment of the bargain, he hadn't thought things through and cursed himself.

How could he not think things through twice? When the enchantress came, he hadn't given a second thought to denying her entrance and was now cursed. With the girl he had agreed to the trade forgetting the child. The bargain's terms had been a simple exchange: her life for the old man and the child. Yet, something in her eyes had softened his heart as the woman begged for her child to stay. A low growl of frustration rumbled in his throat as he made his way back up the tower. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lumiere set in the little niche. The beast vaguely heard the candelabra address him.

"What!" the beast growled, glaring down at the servant.

Lumiere, visibly jumped back, but was able to keep himself upright. He began to fiddle his candle arms nervously. "Well…since the young Madame…and child…"

"What about them?"The beast asked, barring his teeth at the candelabra, in warning. Lumiere cleared his throat. "I….since they are going to be here for…quite some time," He dared to look up at his master. "I was…thinking you might want to offer them….a comfortable room."

The beast's eyebrows furrowed. How was giving them a comfortable room help at all? He shook his head, grunted wordlessly, and walked into the dungeon. With his keen eye sight, he saw the young woman and child huddled to the left, near the only window. Tears rolled down the young woman's face while the child, though asleep, coughed and shivered in her mother's arms. Sickness that was what the woman had said. Over the last ten years, since the enchantment, there hadn't been such a thing in the castle. How was he meant to help here? What could he do?

The young woman looked up at him; her tear stained face glaring at him, though her body shook. She felt her voice tremble, but she said, "You…could've let us say good bye." More tears began to roll down her cheeks. "We'll never see him again…." Her voice trailed off as she hugged her sleeping child. She mumbled something, but he couldn't hear the actual words.

The beast felt himself sigh. Even if the woman couldn't love him, there was no reason to cause her pain. Yet, what could he do to help them? They were his prisoners; they were meant to stay in the dungeon. Again, he saw the child shiver and he grimaced. He could at least do something to ease the child's suffering. He took a step into the room and paused. He watched the young woman pushed herself back against the wall, her eyes lowering onto the ground. Her arms seemed to tighten around the girl, protectively. Again, he took a step into the cell and paused, his eyes growing wide. The young woman was shivering too. She had removed her own cloak too and wrapped it around her daughter at the cost of her own warmth and health in the cold cell.

Rolling his eyes, he said, "I'll show you two your room."

The girl's head shot up, confusion shining in her eyes. "What?"

The beast growled and spun around. Expanding his arms, he asked, "Do you want to stay in here? Until she dies?"

Instantly, the woman recoiled again in fear before she gently shook her head. She pushed herself up, a small wince escaping her lips as she shifted her child in her arms. Without a word, the beast turned and began walking back down the stairs, picking up Lumiere on the way.

None of them spoke as they walked down endless corridors. Only the sound of the child's coughs told him that he was still being followed. His mind raced for something to say, but nothing came to mind. He couldn't remember the last time he said anything that wasn't an order. In his right paw, Lumiere nudged him softly and whispered, "Say something to her. You will never get anyway in silence. Why not try to comfort them? "

The beast glared at the candelabra. What did he think could come of a young mother and him? Yet, even if nothing could come between them there was no reason not to say anything. Nervously, he cleared his throat and glanced over at his shoulder at the woman and child.

"I…I hope you like it here…." His voice trailed off, uncertainly. What else could he say? Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lumiere gesturing for him to continue. Inwardly, he cursed at his servant and sighed. What else could he give them?

Again, he glanced over his shoulder and saw the woman had stopped following him. He watched the child begin to stir and woke up. Instantly, the child hugged her mother tightly, terror filling her eyes. The woman winced again and gently set her down, removing her own cloak around the girl to allow her to walk.

"Come on, Chantal. It's…it's all right," her mother said softly as she held her hand. Slowly, the mother and daughter returned to the beast and the quart continued walking.

The beast took a deep breath and continued to talk, "The…the castle is your home so you two may go anywhere you wish." He held up his other hand in warning. "Except the West Wing."

Chantal's head rose in curiosity. "What the west-?"

"It's forbidden!" the beast roared, spinning around, his eyes narrowing on the child.

The woman pushed her daughter behind her, shielding her from his fierce temper. Her eyes lower onto the ground with trained humbleness. "I'm sorry. Please she was only curious."

Another fit of coughing erupted from the child and the beast grunted and turned away. Picking her daughter up, the woman continued to follow him through endless corridors. The rest of the trip was in silence, except the woman whispering soothing words to daughter.

He stopped at one of the guest suites, which had been used for visiting nobility during his childhood. It was the only the room that was kept clean from the obsessive wardrobe mistress, who couldn't leave the room since the curse. The beast often wondered what the servants did to occupy their time and he only hoped the room was clean. He opened the door and stood aside for the woman and child to step inside. Cautiously, the two stepped into the dark room. The child…Chantal still clung to her mother's legs and she shivered. Her mother paused at the entrance and stood still, uncertain.

Beside him, the beast heard Lumiere whispering more advice. "Invite the young manmade to dinner."

The beast growled low in his throat and leaned down closer to the young woman. Again, the woman pushed her daughter inside the room, away from him. The beast narrowed his eyes at the action. He had given her permission to explore the whole castle and a real room and the woman didn't trust him with a child. He felt the woman's body stiffening in anticipation, but not fear as he leaned in close, barely an inch from the young woman.

"You will join me for dinner." He said, his words a hiss before he straightened himself. "That's not a request!"

Without another word, he slammed the door, the sound echoing off the walls. He set Lumiere down and stormed off the west wing. What had possessed him to order her like that? The woman was all ready terrified of him and was expecting the worst. Was he just trying to prove her right that he was the monster she saw? The beast growled and began to pace the West Wing, impatiently.

Back in the bed chamber, Belle leaned back against the door. Her whole body felt drained of energy. The order for dinner had shocked her, but she couldn't refuse him. Her stomach felt empty as she remembered his hot breath against her ear. Was she to become a servant to that monster? Yet, he had said to join him for dinner. What did that mean? Belle felt her knees shake as she pushed herself away from the door. She watched Chantal beginning to explore the room on her own. After a moment, Chantal looked back over at her mother and pointed to a large four poster navy blue canopy bed. Belle felt herself nod, her mouth to dry to speak as she walked over. Her eyes began to explore their new room with blue panels. No portraits hung on the walls and her gentle footsteps echoed off the marble floor. The room seemed as empty as the prison cell and the beast's words of death ran through her mind.

No, Chantal will be fine, she thought to herself, walking over to the bed.

Her fingers brush against the warm dark navy conformer as she helped Chantal into the bed. A tiny smile formed at the corners of her lips as she stared down at her daughter: small and lost in all the pillows. Again, Chantal began to cough as Belle tucked the blankets around her.

Stocking her hair, Belle said, "Are you feeling better,ma fifille?"

The child nodded and looked up at her mother. Chantal's body jarred as she coughed again, her face pale and her voice hoarse. After a moment, she lay back down and stared up at the canopy. Neither mother nor child spoke for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Belle glanced out the large window and saw the first glimpses of snow beginning to fall and she shivered. Snow would prolong Gaston's attempts at rescuing them. How long would she and Chantal be forced to live here?

"Mamman?" Chantal's soft voice broke into her thoughts.

"What is it, Chantal?" Belle asked, looking down at her daughter.

The child shifted under the blankets, bringing the quilt right under her chin. "Is…is this…going to be home now?"

Home! The word echoed in Belle's ears, her heart pounding. How could she answer the question? Unconsciously, she began to twist her wedding band around her finger again. She had not had a real home for the last seven years. The last, the only real home was in her childhood with her own father. And now she and her daughter were trapped with a real monster. Looking down at her daughter, Belle felt a piece of her heart break. Would she and Chantal ever have a real home? Where homes meant to be so cold or filled with fear?

"Mamman?" Chantal asked again, tugging at her mother's hand.

Belle blinked and said, "Sorry, Chantal. Did you say something?"

Chantal began to laugh, but it turned into a cough. After a moment, she said, "Is this…place gonna be home?"

Belle caressed her cheek, her fingers running through her hair. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Oui, ma chère, we will be living here for a while."

The child nodded and yawned. Her eyes began to drop with sleep when someone knocked at the door. Mother and daughter looked at each other before Belle rose from the bed. She took a small step toward the door as she called out, "Who is it?"

"Mrs. Potts, dear," a warm motherly voice replied.

Belle quickened her pace and opened the door. No one was there. Hesitantly, she poked her head out further into the empty corridor. She felt her mouth open to call out, but another voice interrupted her. The voice came from around her ankles, but that made no sense. Looking down, she surpassed a gasp as she saw three pieces of china staring up at her.

Belle blinked and the round tea pot repeated, "I thought you two might like some tea."

Belle felt her feet moving backward, but her eyes never left the talking tea pot. It was not possible for this to be happening. A monster who spoke in the human tongue was one thing, but this was beyond her understanding. She raised her hand to check for a fever, but her forehead was cold. How was this possible? The tea pot hopped further into the room followed by a tea cup and a jug of milk as Belle continued to back away.

Behind her, she heard Chantal cough and move around on the bed and Belle began to turn around. "Chantal, you-"

"Oh careful," a high pitched voice said, a light trace of laughter filling the voice.

Again, Belle opened her mouth in surprise as she moved back over to the bed. A large wooden cream colored dresser stared down at her with bright eyes. The dresser shifted her eyes over to the child and smiled. Chantal's eyes grew wide and she crawled over to her mother. Belle sat down on the bed, cradling her daughter as her mind reeled. What could things be? Each of them moved with human like abilities and spoke. A shiver ran down Belle's spine as she stared at the wardrobe and then down at the china.

"This…this is impossible," Belle muttered under her breath.

The dresser's smile grew as she leaned down. "It may seem that way, but here we are. But at least they," she gestured to the china with a wooden arm, "Can leave I'm stuck in this one room all day."

Belle bite her lip in sympathy. She knew exactly what it was like to feel stuck in one place and not allowed to leave. Chantal coughed again and looked up at her mother, her eyes wide.

"What's going on?" Chantal asked her voice hoarse.

"Hi, remember me?" another high voice asked from the floor.

Chantal leaned over the bed and stared down at a small tea cup. A small smile spread across her face as she cried, "Tea cup!"

The little tea cup chuckled as he looked up at the little girl. "My name's Chip."

Chantal tested the name out and nodded in approval before she shivered. The little tea cup shifted his gaze and looked over at Belle and smiled. "I told you she was pretty, Mama, didn't I?"

Belle bite her lip at the compliment and turned her attention back to her daughter. She pushed Chantal back into the pillows and tucked her in. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the high contrast between the comforters and her daughter's pale face. Running her fingers through her daughter's hair, Belle began to whisper soothing words and sighed. What could she do to help her daughter? There was no hearth to keep her warm and her coughing seemed to be growing worse. Again, the order to dinner rolled around in her mind and she shivered. If only she could be two places at once: taking care of her daughter and going to dinner. In her mind's eye, she saw those fierce blue eyes baring into her and she winced, imagining the creature turning on her if she disobeyed.

"Would you and the child like some tea dear?" the tea pot asked, breaking into her thoughts.

Clearing her throat, Belle nodded, forcing herself to remain calm. "That…that would be wonderful Madame-"

"Mrs. Potts, dear," the tea pot reminded, smiling up at the young woman. "I'm the house keeper and cook of the castle."

"And I'm Madame the dress maker of the castle," the wardrobe chimed in, looking down at the young guests.

Belle accepted the tea and picked up the small cup. Her stomach growled, but she just blew on it and turned to her daughter. "Drink this up now. It'll make you feel better, but careful it's a little hot."

"Don't you…" another coughing fit interpreted her. Her voice was barely audible as she asked, "You want some, Mamam?"

Belle shook her head. "Non, Chantal, drink it up now."

Chantal drank and Mrs. Potts poured another cup of tea when she was done. The child raised the cup again, but Chip asked if she wanted to see a trick. He took a deep breath and made the tea inside the up biol. Chantal smiled at the trick while Mrs. Potts scolded her son.

Belle smiled and said, "It's all right, Mrs. Potts."

"Oh that's very sweet of you, dear, but Chip knows not to do that," Mrs. Potts said, though a small smile formed on her own lips too. Looking back at the young woman, she continued, "And that was a very brave thing you did with the master."

"We all think so," Madame added softly.

Chantal looked at her mother confused. "What do they mean?"

"Your mother and you staying here. It was brave," Chip said, looking up at her.

"Oh," Chantal said. "Is that true? Was it brave, Mamam?"

Belle nodded slightly, but her heart began to beat faster. Was it brave if she was terrified of their captor? Was it brave that she 'left' her husband? She looked down at Chantal and sighed. How were they going to survive? Again, she imagined those fierce blue eyes glinting out of the shadows, able to see straight through a person. Unconsciously, her grip tightened around Chantal, stroking her hair.

Down on the floor, Mrs. Potts looks up at them and smiles. "Now then you two cheer up. Everything works out in the end right? And don't be worrying about the master, he's-"

"A monster," Chantal cried.

"Oh now that's a little harsh isn't it?" Mrs. Potts said gently.

"No, he's…he's…" Chantal's voice trails off as she began to cry.

Belle wrapped her arms around the child and stoked her hair, whispering soothing words into her ear. She felt the eyes of the wardrobe and tea pot upon her, but she ignored them. They had called her act brave, but did they know how it felt to give up everything, hopes and dreams to be stuck in a nightmare. Belle closed her eyes and remembered back to her father announcing her engagement to Gaston. She had agreed willing to marry him, but over the years she had lost her childhood innocence and dreams. Now, her only dream was about the child in her arms: raising her and keeping the family together, including her father. Despite Gaston's cruelty, she had made a promise before God and the church to be with him till death parted them. Was accepting an invitation, even if she had no choice, being unfaithful to him? Again, she glances over her shoulder at the falling snow and shivered. How long would it take Gaston to find them if the snow covered their tracks? Until then, what could she or Chantal do to survive living here?

"Is everything all right, dear?" Mrs. Potts asked.

Belle blinked and looked down at the tea pot. "Yes, I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"It's just…this room isn't that much warmer than the…urgh…other place," Belle said softly.

Mrs. Potts nodded. "Yes, well I'll have more blankets brought up after I help prepare for dinner." She chuckles lightly. "Which I should be doing right now. Come on, Chip."

Without another word, the trio of china hopped out of the room. Belle watched them go and gently laid Chantal back onto the bed and kissed her forehead. In the back of her mind, the word dinner kept nagging at her. She had almost forgotten the creature's order for her to dine with him. Belle sighed as she looked down at her sleeping daughter. How could she leave Chantal alone and go to dinner? If only she could be in two places at once. Again, she imagines those icy eyes that glinted from within the shadows and she shivered. She could not afford for the monster to become angry and harm Chantal. What could she do?

"Oh now, there's a surprise, the master inviting you to dinner," Madame said, smiling.

Belle blinked looked over at the wardrobe and placed a finger to her lips, gesturing to the sleeping child. The wardrobe shut her mouth and slowly moved away from the bed back toward the door as Belle followed.

"What did you want?" Belle asked softly.

Madame smiled, opened one of her doors, and pulled out a pink gown. "You'll look wonderful in this dress, Madame."

Belle reached forward, her fingers running over the fabric. It was cool cotton with folds to give the illusion of layers. She saw the pale pink was only on the folds and hem of the gown, but the rest was a darker shade of pink. Belle felt herself blush as the wardrobe began softly to compliment her on how wonderful the gown would look on her. For a moment, Belle ran her fingers along her cool, pale cheek. How would the pink fabric contrast her white skin?

"So you will be dining with the master tonight," the wardrobe said, still admiring the gown.

Belle glanced over at Chantal before she felt herself nod. How could she refuse him and make him angry. Who knew what temper the monster possessed when disobeyed? Unconsciously, she began to rub her sore shoulder as she remembered the claws which ripped her away from her daughter. Closing her eyes, she remembered a few outrages from her husband. She imagined the monster being a million times worse and what about Chantal? Taking a deep breath, she took the gown and moved over to screened off section of the room and began to change. The fabric felt cool against her skin as she fingered it again. A faint lingering pain in her shoulder caused her to wince and she rubbed it gingerly. She imagined the beast didn't mean to hurt her, but the pain was still there. Carefully, she finished pulling the gown on. The wardrobe had just finished fastening the back of the gown when a knock came at the door. Belle spun around as a brown clock entered the room.

He cleared his throat and said, "Dinner is served."

Belle felt the blood drain from her face. Somehow she had thought she had more time to prepare herself. The clock looked over at her expediently, but said nothing else. Behind her, the wardrobe gave Belle a gentle nudge forward and Belle barely had time to keep her balance. She walked back over to the bed and roused Chantal quietly. The child blinked and looked at her mother, confusion etched on her face.

"Listen, Chantal, I must go to dinner, but I will be back soon," Belle said softly.

Chantal yawned and coughed, but asked, "Can't I come with you?"

Belle shook her head, fear running through her veins. The order had been for her to come to dinner alone and she would not put Chantal in any unnecessary danger. Stroking her hair, she said, "Non,ma chère, not tonight and you need your rest. I'll be back as soon as I can be."

"But Mamam-"

"Non, Chantal," Belle took a deep breath. "I'll be back as soon as possible. Please be a good girl and do this for me."

Chantal pouted, but nodded. "You promise you'll be back."

Belle smiled. "Oui, Sweetie. Now go back to sleep."

Chantal sighed and rolled over onto her other side. Belle watched her for a moment before she turned and stood up. She looked down at the clock and asked, "Where do I go?"

"Follow me, Madame," the clock said formally.

Belle began to follow, but paused and looked over at the wardrobe. "Please watch out for Chantal when I'm gone."

"Of course, the little one will be safe with me," the wardrobe said softly.

A small smile of gratitude formed on Belle lips as she looked at the wardrobe. A light harsh cry bounced off the walls as the clock turned around to face her. Belle bite her lip, adjusted her sleeves, wincing, before following the clock and disappearing down the long corridor.

Well I hope this chapter was worth the wait. And yes Belle is actaully going to dinner with the beast. I hope enjoyed it. Please review and again for any mistakes I may have missed in BETAing this chapter. Please review and more will come soon.