AN: Hi everyone! I'm thrilled to keep the motion for this story going! I apologize if I can't get to the meaty parts or the more narrative-driven parts as quickly as I would like. I wanted to rush into the next set of characters, but I've come to realize that letting a story naturally breathe makes getting to the next parts all the more sweeter. Does that make sense? Gah, anyhow.

Thanks for reading!

Lumière never knew entirely what to say when The Master was upset, but this…?

This was beyond agitation.

He certainly did not expected to be hugged by M. Adam.

At least, not since after their fabulous return to humanity. Special occasions always called for sweetness, for tenderness, but to find himself swept up, off of his own boots, by The Master once more…? Did the post arrive and Cogsworth fail to mention their King had gone quite mad since his journey for M. Eric, Mm. Ariel—the rest?

He knew, of course, that M. Adam had his…difficulties. He had changed, after all. That resonated with a clear, unwavering authenticity to be...kindlier. What had been roars and tantrums, Master Adam now spoke with respect to all the live-in staff. His voice, once cruel, once lashing, now softer, more deliberate as he now thought laboriously before he speaking. But, the years had been hard to shake. Those parties of the past that thrilled and hummed the castle walls now lead to dust, to quiet. Guests, while welcomed, never stayed long, much to Lumière and the rest of the house's chagrin, as if there was some unconscious deliberation to leave before…

Before, what? Lumière gave a modest shrug to his darling, coquettish Plumette whenever she prodded about the halls, dolefully dusting and primping paintings and tapestry, dramatically fluffing herself into his arms, eyes thrown skyward in boredom. Why must they leave us, my heart?

By God! They could entertain an entire town. They could out throw a party for all the land, dare he to boast they could out shine the Festival of Fools in Paris. The castle, loud and happy, for hours and hours and hours…

Just so long as The Master could sneak away, unnoticed, under cover from Lumière—there to distract and delight— after the briefest of introductions…

That, Lumière thought with a bit of good humor, would never change. Oh, poor Mm. Belle. What an angel inside and out—only to be cooped here with The Master. However he had changed, "His Grace", (as that lout of a Majordomo Cogsworth had taken to only refer to M.) was as gawkily as ever.

Even as a boy, grace was not a princely title The Master ever conquered, even if the staff had been too frightened to state so.

But yet, here without warning, he found himself snatched up in a very anxious embrace. Had Lumière known better, he might have thought The Master was quite happy about something, something yet to be said…

But as the embrace went on, it left him with more a feeling of foreboding, than the gentleness the affection inclined.

"…Master? Are you quite alright? Not that I object to hugging. I do enjoy hugging. But, that is, you don't hug. So. I am…concerned?"

"It is nothing, Lumière." Adam replied, putting the man down as quickly as he had picked him up. "I am just glad to finally be home. Where are the others? I need to see them…" And with that, he was off again.

Mm. Belle trailed in behind, flushed from her own journey. Lumière drifted to her warmly, grasping her hand in his own to bring his lips to her fingers. "You are as lovely as ever, my Queen. Welcome back, welcome home!"

"Please," Belle said gently, "To you, all my friends here, my name will always just be Belle." She smiled at him distantly, her brown eyes looking after The Master in deep disquiet. "Um, if you will pardon me."

And then, she, too, was gone.

Lumière stood by the door, foot planted on the runner rug, feeling quite put-out. He glanced at M. Adrione and Mm. Chaperue for any clues but they simply slipped away, back out into the court yard, pretending to be far more interested in unloading luggage than The Master's strange behavior…

But something was, indeed, wrong.

Adam had stormed into his own home, his own castle, near tearing the heavy oaken door from gold hinges. He had checked every room all by himself. He pulled back long curtains, pushed open every window—and there were quite a lot of those. He poured through the kitchen galley, four drawing rooms, the Ball Room, the master dining room, the guest dining room, the washrooms, the gala, the botany houses, the gardens, the terraces, honestly…Lumière wasn't quite sure what it was he was looking for. He greeted every servant, every member of the entire caste, his blue eyes tremulous and rushing, until everyone was met.

The better question was: why did he seem in such a hurry? Where was the rush? They had just arrived back in town, oui?

Lumière, realizing Belle was no longer in view, caught up to Adam, matching his pacing with little ease.

"Master, I was thinking, within the next few days there will be much to do in Paris. It is near time for the Festival." He glanced behind him to check that that busybody Cogsworth was not in earshot. "I composed a request to Cogsworth that, clearly, he did not send out, but, if you don't mind…Master?"

They had arrived at the rose garden. In full bloom, the faces of the roses had moved themselves in time with the sun, drifting their scent through the open windows of the castle. Soon, the smell of roses would be in every room, on all their clothing, soft and heady in the air…

"…Yes, Lumière, whatever you wish. It is fine with me." The Master responded distractedly.

Adam had slowed, walking back through the thick, thorny bushes of his roses, carefully cupping the faces of a white rose, then a yellow, and finally, a red.

"Ah, yes, sir, I took good care of them. You will find not a petal out of place."

At this, The Master turned to his friend, his eyes low. "You are certain nothing is different? Everyone is fine? I—I checked as quickly as I could…I…"

Lumière looked a taken back. He glanced once more and ducked his voice low. "Master…are you quite alright?"

Adam sighed deeply. "I don't know, my friend."

"Whatever do you mean, sir?"

Adam let go of the rose, returning it into its nuzzled family of flowers. "I…I have just been worried." He turned again on his heel, walking back towards the terrace. "What is it you were going to ask of me, Lumière?"

"Oh." Lumière adjusted his vest, unsure. "Yes, I have chatted with the majority of the staff and, well, if it is alright with you, sir, we wanted to go into Paris in a day's time. To see the Festival of Fools, no? Wouldn't that be exciting? It has been…very drab around here, Master."

Adam stopped shortly. "You wish for…everyone to go?"

"Oui, Master. Everyone. And, if I may be so bold, I think Mm. Belle would love to go see Paris in season."

Adam held these words closely, his jaw opening slightly, only to close his mouth once more. "I…I am fine with you and the rest going…but please." At this request, this plea, The Master looked quite distressed. "Do not tell Belle. Not yet. I must speak with her still."

What had happened? A fight between The Master and Belle?

Lumière wished to reach forward, to tell Adam that he would never do a thing to upset him further if he truly did not wish it, but he did not move. Instead, he turned his thoughts towards the idea that his request had been granted.

"So, you do not mind? We…go?" Lumière's face lit up exuberantly, nearly shaking with excitement. "How fantastic! We shall clean the castle post-haste and start packing for tomorrow! Oh! Plumette, she will swoon from happiness!"

At the delight in Lumière's voice, Adam pulled himself a little from his thoughts, his expression lenient. "But…for tomorrow. Please. I…I don't wish to be out for long."

"You…you will traveling with us, sir?" Lumière intoned carefully, his own eyes wide in astonishment.

"Yes." Adam returned slowly. "I feel Belle needs this right now. It does not matter what I want."

"Oh, Master," Lumière said frivolously, "Do not be dramatic! You might have a good time after all, hm? And with Belle in beautiful Paris…just stay close to her." He gave a coy wink to Adam. Then, he glanced into the open sky. The evening stars were just beginning to peek out of the clouds. They looked white and pink, adrift like sails in the sunset. "Oh, well, I must be going in, then. It is nippy out tonight, is it not, sir?"

Adam lifted his head to the sky as well. "It smells like rain."

"Does it, sir?" Lumière returned quickly. He checked the sky again, the dry dirt beneath his shoes. "Well, if The Master insists, I am sure nature will obey." He took this in great jest before he returned back into the castle. "I will be in the East Wing if you need me, Master."

"Thank you, Lumière." The Master replied. He stood on the terrace for a long time after, staring out into the gardens, into the woods. Lumière could still see him standing there from the windows of the upper towers. His shoulders tight, his head pointedly forward. His long hair had once more been tied upwards, wild and tangled. Even in his dayclothes, The Master had a knack for looking out of place in the way of royalty. He looked more like a wolf surveying its territory.

At this thought, a wolf responded. Its howl, low, then rising high, out into the distance. Adam turned his head and its direction and took a single step forward.

It stopped.

The wind had picked up. From this high up, Lumière had suddenly grown so cold.

Lumière quickly shut the windows, casting away the chill in the air. It was not assumed it would rain tonight, but now, Lumière felt the joy of the day, the thrill of tomorrow, almost too far away.

He turned away, deciding to light every fireplace in the castle, to keep everyone warm, and hoped The Master might come in soon.

Belle's tongue had grown tired of talking. Her and Rapunzel did not scream at one another, but Belle felt so tired, so very, unbelievably tired, half of it because of everything she could not possibly explain. And why should she now? She felt betrayed herself. Rapunzel, her friend, her dearest letter writer, Belle had told her so many secrets, even of the curse, but she did not ever need to tell Rapunzel of what the curse had done to Adam. That was not for anyone to know. That was done and gone. But now?

Belle had no answer, no logic to help her. Her own thoughts felt muddled.

Between her night spent at Adam's bedside, and now, she stood here before Rapunzel, her green eyes have teary, half filled with rage. She could spare herself the sleep no longer.

"I…I am done here." Belle struggled to say, the hurt lingering her tone. She rose from her chair, took in the beautiful master bedroom Rapunzel had pained all her own. Daisy yellow suns and grey-toned-moons, star charts, the consolations she had shown Ariel…it seemed so long ago now. "I will retrieve Adam and we will be gone."

One arm cinched around the arm of her own chair, the other hand clasped over her eyes, Rapunzel made no move to stop her. "I….I want you to know I want what is best…"

"For me," Belle retorted, her voice sore, but her words, she hoped, still held her resentment within them. "I know what you wish for Adam."

"Belle," Rapunzel began, destitute, her voice losing its own will to continue this fight. "If only you had told me. If—"

"Tell you?" Belle snapped, her fists tight to her sides. "I don't have to tell you anything I do not wish! What Adam and I have been through—how can you refuse to see it any closer than what you, too, have suffered? Tell me, Rapunzel, do you wish to talk about that?"

"This is different, Belle," Rapunzel returned ominously. "Gothel is dead. Adam is dangerous."

Her Adam, dangerous? No…he would never hurt anyone, not willingly…Was this curse forever? No…it had been broken…she had broken it; they had broken it. How could this have happened? Belle wrapped her fingers into her hair, palms pressed to her face. She would take this no longer.

She made for the door without even a goodbye.

Rapunzel turned as well, arms crossed to her chest. She refused to see them off. She refused to leave the bedroom, feeling cowardly, feeling lowly, and nothing like the daughter she strived to be. Her parents…they would be endlessly disappointed in her. But she could not move. Eugene would have to see them off.

Belle made her way down the hall, eyes forward, remarking nothing to the passing guards. She only had eyes for the terrible, gleaming shine of their swords, their axes. Rapunzel had kept her word: no one within the castle, or outside of it, knew of Adam. But yet…

She picked up her pace.

"Belle…" She heard an exhausted voice call out for her. Her heart skipped. She raced towards it, turning the corner, only to end up wrapped tightly in Adam's arms. Human—he was still human!

My Belle, finally. Adam pressed his face into her hair, his arms around her waist. He tried to pick her up, her weight, her frame so easy to play with how he wanted, but he hardly had the strength to hold himself up. He tried not to lean on her too heavily. "Belle…"

She could feel him unsteady in her arms. She thought of their time apart, of his recent illness, of all he had attempted to do for her, and could only hold him tighter, trying to push everything away. She had no tears left within her.

"Belle…Belle…" He could not stop saying her name, as if to remind himself she was here. "…I didn't mean…I...I don't understand…" Adam murmured, his words all but lost in her hair.

"Shh, it's alright. We're together now. It's alright." She attempted to sooth him, but she could think nothing of the guards down the hall. "I wish to leave. I want to leave now."

"I agree." He said solemnly. He looked back into the room nervously. "Eugene…"

"What of him?" Belle buffeted, her tone terse. She had no more reason to feel fond of either of them, if this were their treatment. When Rapunzel had forced her out of the chamber to speak with Adam, Belle had saw the chains over the floor. She paced outside, while Eugene stood by, his expression crestfallen, his eyes turned away from her, as if shamed. She did not need to hear his voice to know of his opinions about them. "I hope I never—"

"Shh…just listen, Belle." Adam began gently. He walked slowly alongside her, a hand along the wall to keep his balance, trailing his fingers loosely. "He has been nothing but understanding. He disagrees with Rapunzel. He does not want us gone. He's helping with the ship now. I didn't even have to ask him. He just…took it upon himself."

Belle considered this quickly but she could not break away from the look of mistrust in Rapunzel's eyes, held in the back of her mind. If that was true, where was Eugene, then, to help her against the most powerful person in all of Corona? Hiding? A coward like his wife? "…I'm glad he was so kind to you…I'm sorry…I…I just want to leave."

"I know, Belle, I know." He wanted to stop her again, to close his eyes and wish them anywhere else, even days before, back with Eric and Ariel, but he could offer her no such comfort. He could hardly provide himself such comfort. He was still a man, but for how long? How much time yet did he have…?

Belle was swift and silent beside him, her thoughts swirling, her own passion getting the better of her. She would do everything in her power to protect him. There was little else to it. Everything else came second, including her own wishes. She tried to pull herself away from the conversation on the ship, where Adam had confessed to his own thoughts. How far back were the signs?…Is this all my fault? Mon Dieu…

Belle was glad she lacked the tears. She found little reprieve in crying. They had fallen on deaf ears to Rapunzel, and again with those too ignorant to seek the most basic of human dignity. And Adam. She glanced up at his face, the way sweat delicately lined his temples. He needed her now. She couldn't torment herself. Not yet.

"Please, we will figure this out. Together." Hope was not something to be forced, but it was all she had.

"And…if not?" Adam asked her, the panic exposed in his voice. He had stopped briefly, his breath tight in his chest, a hand pressed to his heart, beating so fast, so hard, it was hurting him. Belle returned to his side, bringing up her hands to his face. He closed his eyes at her touch.

What Adam dared to imply…what he kept trying to tell her…it was killing her.

"Adam, I will love you, always. No matter what."

He opened his eyes to take in her face. He reached up to carefully push her hair behind her ear, just as he had so long before, the joyous day, when the world made sense, and the curse had been purged.

"I love you." He said, but the words were tight, his expression pained. He was fighting not to cry—Belle could read him so easily. What had that wretched girl done to him with her magic? Now, Adam was the one to cry. Belle moved her thumbs to wipe away his tears as they fell. He could not stop himself. "I love you." He said this like a prayer. "I love you."

"I will never leave you. Never."

Adam's eyelids fluttered. Belle could feel the sudden rush of his body weakening, sliding downwards. She scrambled to hold him up, but she wasn't strong enough. She pushed out the sound of guards running. How his body had felt once, cold, too cold, in her hands. It's all in my head. It's all in my head, she chanted. She would find the strength, somehow.

Over her shoulder, another figure approached. Belle spun in wild retort, and she came face to face with Rapunzel's husband. Eugene stood, looking for all the world like someone that had walked in on the worst of all the moments that made up his short, stupid life.

"Uh..uhmmmhiI'msorrybuttheshipisready." He said in one entire breath. He brushed his hands along the back of neck, clearly embarrassed. He averted his eyes. "You guys do wanna leave here, right?"

"Please," Belle said, refusing to let this man, this kingdom, hear the fear in her voice. She was not afraid. She was not afraid of this man, of their future. She refused. She curled her fists and held her ground. She refused to let them make her afraid. "Do not touch him," She said bitingly when she saw Eugene move to grasp Adam's arm, to help take the weight from her shoulders.

"Ah!—of course, right!" Eugene said quickly, lifting his hands to show her he had no ill intention. "Everything is there…your staff is waiting, uh. I." He couldn't seem to find the words. What to say? What to do? "I'm…I'm sorry this happened. I truly, sincerely, hope things get better. Adam is…he's a good man. I know he is."

Belle moved on without looking back. She lacked the strength to give back to Eugene, even in respect. She was so tired, too tired. She wanted to go home. She wanted to leave this place. She used this will to move Adam with her.

"Goodbye, Eugene," was all Belle managed. She could not even will herself to be angry any longer. She helped Adam along the docks, her dark hair, a shadowy fury on the evening wind. She kept her back to the kingdom as long as she could, the only weapon she felt she had against the sun, the moon, the dark, distraught rush of the ocean's waves.

When they reached their sleeping quarters, Belle continued her silence. She undressed them both and pulled her husband to her chest, her arms aching from how hard she was holding onto him.

"I love you," Belle said faintly into his skin. Adam did not respond, too far gone from her, too trapped within his own mind. "I love you so much," She whispered again, closing her eyes, burying herself into his back.

It was only when his breathing was deep and even, when Adam was finally, finally asleep, safe in her arms, did Belle allow the slow wash of terror that swelled from her chest to reach her heart.

How, even safe, going home, she felt something was slipping away from her. Something, perhaps, she did not realize. Something she had forced to change too quickly. She couldn't tell. Maybe this was all out of her control…control. She just allowed the tears to slip silently down her face, not even bothering to wipe them away. Perhaps she had tried to control too much.

"Please…let us just get home safely. Please." She squeezed herself closer to him, and let the hot tears sting at her eyes. She felt so helpless. She was afraid. She couldn't hold this back forever. Was this the work of The Enchantress, still? What did she want with him? What if she was anything like Rapunzel…unfeeling, terrified, spineless…

Belle stopped herself, muffling a sob. She couldn't bring herself to hate Rapunzel. She didn't hate her husband, either. But she prayed they would kept their promise. That promise was the one thing Belle could not revoke. She could keep them safe, from the villages, from other kingdoms…but even she could not stop rumors, how large they grow.

Like fear… spread like wildfire.

She pressed a kiss into Adam's skin and just focused on his breathing.

As long as they were together, everything would be fine….

Please. Belle thought silently, unsure of whom she begged. Please.

Soon, she would find more answers. She would not allow her life to be led in fear, in hiding.

This curse will meet its end a second time. Belle promised more than herself this.

She promised this to Adam.

AN: Thank you so very, very, very much for your reviews and following, and, of course, for reading! See you soon! Next characters then! ; )