Disclaimer: I do not own BatB or the characters within.

Author's Note: Okay, I'm going to try to wrap this story up in this chapter. For a while I had no idea where I'd end, and a pregnancy is a pretty weird place to end, but I already have one other story in progress and have more in mind...soooo, I shall try to end it here. Since having Belle pregnant is kinda an awkward place to end, I'm sure I'll be doing a sequel at some point.

That afternoon, it was time to tell the Beast. Belle already told her father after breakfast, and Maurice was very supportive and encouraging. Belle was sure the Beast would be, but she couldn't help but feel like this was going to place a burden on him, a burden she didn't want him to have to carry. She made her way to the door of the Beast's room in the West Wing and gently knocked on it.

"Come in." The Beast replied.

Belle opened the door a little ways and stepped in.

"Beast..." Her voice was quiet, and almost apologetic. "I need to talk to you."

"What is it, Belle?" The Beast sensed distress in Belle's face and in her tone. He walked toward her and took her hands in his massive paws. "What's wrong?"

"Do you remember what Gaston's brother did to me?

"Yes, of course." The Beast said. "I remember all too well."

"Well..." Belle drew a deep breath. "I'm...I'm carrying his child. Mrs. Potts had the staff physician look at me and it has been confirmed." At this point, Belle burst into tears. "Oh Beast I'm so sorry."

The Beast drew Belle into his arms and held her close to him.

"Shhhh, Belle, you have no need to apologize."

"Yes I do." Belle said. "I'll be having a child, and it's not yours. Sure, the two of us can't have children...but still you'll always have to know I'm the mother of someone else's child."

"Belle, listen to me." The Beast ran his fingers though her hair. "What he did wasn't your fault."

"The whole thing is my fault." Belle sobbed. "It wouldn't have happened if not for the fact I was too late to break the spell."

The Beast frowned. Was Belle blaming herself for everything again, just like she did soon after he was attacked by Gaston?

"Belle, what form I'm in, or the form of the staff, has no bearing on whether or not this could have happened to you." The Beast said. He directed Belle to his chair, sat down, and drew her onto his lap.

"Maybe not." Belle said. "But if Gaston hadn't attacked you and fallen off the roof, there would have been no need for revenge. And you were attacked because I showed you the villagers in the mirror."

"Belle, are you blaming yourself for that whole thing again?" The Beast lifted her face and looked into her eyes. He spoke gently, but firmly. "We've been through this, remember? Why must you go down this road of self-torture again? You did what you had to do to protect your father. And honestly, you did what I would have told you to do had I known about the situation."

"But out of all of this, I have a child, and the child will have no father."

"It doesn't have to be that way, Belle." The Beast said gently. "If you would permit, I'll fill the role of a father for the child."

"Are you sure that wouldn't be too much of a burden?"

"Of course it would be no burdern Belle."

"But Beast, what if this child has the personality of his or her father and uncle?" Belle said. "What if the child grows up and wants to kill you? And violate women?"

"That won't happen, Belle." The Beast said. "It can't. Not with you raising them. It's impossible to be around you and have a hard heart, I should know. You changed me."

"Beast, I've lived with Gaston in my village for several years." Belle said. "And his heart remained hard. Not everyone has it in them to change. You...the kind man inside you was there your whole life, it just never got a chance to show, it was never nurtured."

"And you nurtured it. And you'll nurture the child from day one."

"Yes, but what if the child has a personality that nurturing alone cannot affect?"

"Belle, listen." The Beast again held her close against him. "The child will grow to be just as kind as you. I'm sure of it. And I'll help you nurture him or her."

"Thank you Beast." Belle said. "But...are you sure you don't resent me...and all that's happened...with the belated confession of my love and all?"

"Belle, I love you." The Beast said. "I could never resent you."

Belle again began to sob, overwhelmed with all of the emotions she was experiencing. The Beast held her, and would as long as she needed.