Belle scurried around her apartment picking up piles of books, tossed clothing and scattered blankets. Between reading and work, she didn't care for housework and preferred the 'organized' chaos. It was rare she invited anyone over, but this time it was Adam. After two hours, the apartment was actually clean.
Swiftly, she changed from her blue dress uniform to a black, pencil skirt, a yellow ruffle top and loose curls. When Belle heard a knock, she dashed barefoot to the door.
"Hey," Adam greeted as he handed her a bouquet of red roses.
"Glad you could make it," Belle smiled as she kissed his cheek and took the roses. She deeply inhaled the scent of the flowers. It so reminded her of their castle back home. "They're lovely," she commented as she walked into her kitchen to put them in a vase.
"I'm glad you like them," Adam thanked as he entered and closed the door behind him. He walked to the living room and noticed a wall of photos. Some were her and one of the other princesses laughing and having fun, but most were of when Belle and Adam were still a couple. He smiled. "So, what about the wedding do you want to talk about?"
"Well, we need to discuss the date, colors, the guest list," Belle started as she walked in the room. "… Invitations, the flowers, announcements, locations, catering…" She just seemed to go on like she was making sound, but they just stopped being words to Adam. He fell back onto the couch. Belle laughed. "It's a lot isn't it?"
"It seems more than a lot," he smiled as he took a deep breath.
"At least, we don't have to worry about the engagement party."
"Why's that?"
"Disney told me that he and Snow are throwing it for us. It's going to be a masquerade ball, and they're going to bring all the Disney Princess together. That hasn't happened since 2006!" Belle smiled as she sat next to him. "Maybe, if we ask Disney, he could get us a wedding planner."
Adam looked off to the side, not really looking at anything. He was quiet and looked tense.
"You okay?" she asked as she laid her head on his lap and looked up at him.
Adam snapped out of it and looked back at belle sweetly. "Yeah," he smiled.
"Then, why are you so quiet?"
He looked off again. "Do you remember that book you liked to read to me? I can't seem to remember what it's called."
"I think so," she replied as she got up and went into another room. She came back with a blue book with no title. "This one," she asked as she handed it to him.
His eyes opened wide. "Yeah. Will you read it to me?"
She smiled and took the book back. Belle leaned against him as she read line after line, chapter after chapter. Adam gently wrapped his arm around her. This was how it was supposed to be.
Adam POV:
It had gotten late so fast. Belle had fallen asleep on Adam's arm. Carefully, he laid her down on the couch and covered her with a blanket. Belle snuggled up to a corner of the blanket, smiling. He turned to leave. She grabbed his arm.
"Please don't leave," Snow's voice seemed to echo in his head.
He looked back and Belle was fast asleep. Her hair slowly fell out of place as slept. Adam gently tucked the strand behind her ear and kissed Belle's forehead before he quietly left.
He walked to the staircase with his hands in his pockets. Belle's room was on the left side, but Snow's was on the right. He walked past the stairs and continued to walk to the door of 203, Snow White's room.
Adam removed his right hand from his pocket to knock on the door. His fist went limp and he ran his palm down the door. It was cold. There was no light escaping from the crack under the door, no sound.
He flashed back to the day he first met Snow, how she smiled, how she went to his house and fell asleep, and how he carried her back to this room.
"Ms. White, you need to wake up here so you can get ready for work in a while," he whispered.
"Stop calling me Ms. White... Please?"
"If that's what you want."
"Don't go… please," she groaned.
Adam put his hand back in his pocket. "I'll see you later, Snow," he murmured under his breath. He walked to the stairs. He walked home.