Here is another chapter. I probably will not update until June as life is getting busy. Please read and review.

Disclaimer: I do not own Beauty and the Beast.

When Belle woke up, the sun was brightly shining through her window. It took her a few minutes to remember everything that transpired last night. She smiled at the thought that Henri loved her, but she frowned when she remembered she was too late to break the curse.

There was a knock at the door. Belle got up, pulled on her dressing gown, and called, "Come in."

Mrs. Potts entered with a tray. "Hello, Dear. I brought up your brunch."

Belle rubbed her eyes and asked, "What time is it?"

"Half past one, but you needed the sleep."

Belle was surprised at how late it was. She ran to a wardrobe that was not there the night before. Belle did a double take.

Mrs. Potts said, "When we transformed, most of the furniture disappeared and we replaced it. It seems as though everything has now been corrected."

Belle nodded and pulled out a cream colored dress along with a hairbrush and a tie. Mrs. Potts stood in front of her. "Now, there is plenty of time for that after you have a good healthy meal. You and the master are not meeting the parents until three-thirty."

At the mention of Henri, Belle looked concerned. "How is he?"

Mrs. Potts shrugged. "I don't know. He wasn't in the West Wing when I tried to bring him brunch."

Belle was a little worried. "And my father?"

"Everyone slept in today. I was going to check on him right after I brought you brunch. I want to make sure I can say his daughter is healthy."

"Let me eat and dress quickly and then I can come with you. My father might become too confused, especially since he will recognize your voice, but won't know you're now a human."

Mrs. Potts sighed, "Perhaps you're right."

Within thirty minutes, Belle had eaten and was dressed ready to see her father. She and Mrs. Potts walked downstairs towards the bedroom. While walking, Mrs. Potts gave Belle some more details of what had happened during the past ten years, even elaborating that it was Christmas when the curse was placed on the castle. Belle now felt horrible that she had practically forced Henri to celebrate a holiday that had so many painful memories for him. Mrs. Potts quickly reassured her that the Master was very happy celebrating Christmas now, especially since he was able to celebrate the holiday with Belle.

"The way you smiled when you saw the Ballroom all decorated, well, at that point, I had never seen the Master smile so brightly as he did when you smiled. I think that Christmas was the beginning of his love for you."

Belle smiled, "It's amazing that you may be able to pinpoint when he fell in love with me. I can't even begin to decide when my feelings changed for him from friendship to what I'm feeling now."

Mrs. Potts said, "Well, I don't know for sure, but I have known him all his life. I helped raise him after the late princess' death, but I wish I could have continued…" She trailed off.

Belle noticed that even though Mrs. Potts seemed to want to talk more about the past now that the curse was no longer secret, there were details she would not reveal. So far, while walking from her room to her father's room, Mrs. Potts trailed off while speaking at least three times. Belle hoped that one day, Henri would fill in the blank spaces between stories, although it would take time for him to heal.

Finally, Belle and Mrs. Potts arrived at Maurice's room. Maurice's snores could be heard from outside, which Belle thought was odd since it sounded as though two people were snoring. Belle entered and saw Henri asleep on the chair. Mrs. Potts had let out a small surprised gasp, but he did not wake up. Belle whispered to Mrs. Potts, "We have to wake him or else he'll be stiff."

Mrs. Potts whispered back, "He'll all ready be stiff if he slept in the chair all night."

Belle asked in a whisper, "There's no easy way to do this?"

"I'm afraid not." Both women sighed quietly. Belle gestured for Mrs. Potts to check over her father while she walked to where Henri was.

Belle quickly looked over at Mrs. Potts and Mrs. Potts gestured that her father was well, only sleeping still. Belle nodded back at her. Mrs. Potts walked out of the room and Belle presumed she was going to get some hot tea for both men.

Next, Belle had to figure how to wake Henri. Belle looked to the door straining to hear if anyone was walking around. When she was satisfied she was alone, she bent slightly and kissed Henri's cheek. He stirred, but did not wake up. Belle knew what she was about to do would be considered brazen, but it would probably be the quietest way to wake him up without waking her father. Although if her father woke up while she was in that position, well, she did not want to think about what he would say or do. Belle once again strained to hear if anyone was coming and then, she turned back to Henri.

Belle kissed his cheek again and when he stirred, she trailed the small quick kisses from his cheek to his lips. When she reached his lips, she realized he was somewhat awake, but his eyes were closed to the sensation of her lips on his face. He responded slowly, but subconsciously lifted his arms around her and pulled her onto his lap. The continuing kisses were chaste with an underlying passion in them. Soon, Henri's eyes opened in shock and Belle was blushing.

Henri said, "That wasn't a dream."

Belle tried to keep her voice from shaking so she answered with a small, "No."

They continued to look into each other's eyes for a few seconds. Henri felt the soreness coming from his arms and when he looked down, he realized that he was holding Belle tightly onto his lap, although he knew he was not hurting her. He started to blush thankful for the first time for having fur, while Belle became redder.

They sat like that for a few seconds not knowing what to do or how to react. They both let out a long deep breath that they had not realized they were holding. Belle regained some composure first and gave Henri a quick kiss on the nose whispering, "Thank you."

Henri was so surprised that his hands loosened their grip on her and she stood up quickly.

When Henri managed to regain his voice, he asked, "For what?"

Belle smiled at him, "For watching over my father." She then became a little serious, "You better stand up. You'll be stiff enough from sitting in that chair all morning."

Henri stood up very slowly and had let out a small low groan of pain. Belle slightly winced wishing there was something she could do to ease his discomfort.

Henri stretched a bit and when most of the kinks were gone, he looked at Belle sheepishly. Belle asked, "How are you feeling?"

Henri murmured, "It'll pass. How is your father?"

"Still asleep. I think Mrs. Potts is bringing some tea back for both of you before I wake him up."

They quickly blushed remembering what had transpired a few minutes before.

Henri then turned serious, "Maybe I should go when she arrives."

Belle looked at him, "Henri, don't be afraid to face him. He'll forgive you as long as you ask him and besides, he needs to know about us and I can't do it alone.

Henri sighed, "He'll never approve."

Belle walked to him, "He may not at first, but when he gets to know you, he'll agree with me that you are the most remarkable man."

Henri scoffed at the word "man."

Belle stood firm, "Yes, you are a man, it doesn't matter how you look. Do you love me?"

Henri looked at her and then looked down.

Belle realized she had to rephrase her question in a way to bring about her desired reaction. "Was your confession to me last night a lie?"

Henri looked up at her startled, "No, of course not."

Belle smiled inwardly. "When we parted this morning at dawn, you did say you loved me. Has anything changed?"

Henri sighed, "No, nothing has changed."

Belle's inward smile grew. "Do I need to do everything first?"

Henri looked at her questioningly. Belle responded, "Within the last twenty-four hours, I asked you to dance, I kissed you first, and I confessed my love for you first. Do I have to say it again first another day?"

Henri smiled at her and shook his head, "Belle, I love you."

Belle smiled brightly, "I love you too."

They heard a cart and Mrs. Potts entered with a pot of tea and three cups. There were also two trays of food. Mrs. Potts looked at Henri, "Master, how are you feeling?"

"A little stiff, but still fine," he said as he looked over at Belle. Mrs. Potts smiled guessing that their relationship took another step forward and deciding not to say anything.

Mrs. Potts instead said, "I have a tray of food for you, Master, and a bowl of broth for Belle's father."

Belle said, "I'll wake him now, thank you, Mrs. Potts." Mrs. Potts smiled and gave a slight bow before she walked out the door.

Belle gave Henri an encouraging smile and then walked over to her father. She shook his shoulder gently. Maurice stirred and eventually awakened.

He was a little disconcerted, "Belle?"

"Yes, Papa."

"What happened?"

Belle smiled at Henri and answered her father, "You were in the woods, lost. Henri and I found you and brought you back to the castle."

Maurice was confused, "Who's Henri?" Belle gestured for Henri to come closer to the bed. Henri was nervous, but he trusted Belle walking over to where Maurice laid.

Maurice looked at the Beast and gave a little yelp. Belle and Henri winced at his reaction, but Belle quickly said, "Papa, it's all right. Henri has changed. He sat a vigil over you last night making sure you were well.

Maurice started to remember the night before, "You said you and he were friends last night?"

Belle smiled, "Yes, Papa, but there's so much more that happened last night. I'll explain it to you tomorrow when you feel less tired. Right now, I'm going to feed you a bowl of soup, you'll get some sleep, and the three of us will talk later."

Henri stepped closer to the bed, "But before that, I do wish to apologize for my behavior – for making you a prisoner and then taking your daughter from you. I beg you, sir, for your forgiveness."

Belle quickly spoke up while Maurice was digesting what the Beast said, "Papa, so much good has come from that, please, forgive him."

Maurice looked at his daughter and then at the Beast. He slowly turned back to Belle, "I don't know what's going on here, but if it's true that the Beast helped me, I do forgive him."

Belle felt relieved and looked at Henri. Henri nodded and started to turn out of the room. Belle stood up quickly and called out, "Henri." He turned back. Belle grabbed his tray, "You must eat and we have to meet with the parents and children at three. I'll come and find you when my father falls asleep."

Henri took the tray and nodded walking out the door.

Maurice was very confused now. The look in Belle's eyes while she was speaking to that Beast made her look like her mother when she admitted to being in love with him.

Belle stood watching the doors for a few seconds before she snapped herself out of it and turned back to feed her father. Maurice knew he needed to ask Belle about her relationship with the Beast, but was not sure if he wanted to hear the answer. He ate the bowl of soup and went back to sleep.