Thank you again to everyone who read, reviewed, favorited and alerted this story. After the next chapter, updates will not be coming as fast, but certainly faster than the delay between chapters 11 and 12.

Nothing to say about this chapter, so just read and enjoy. I do not own Beauty and the Beast.

During the following two months, everything and nothing was the same. Belle and Henri grew closer together. They read together everyday and Belle gave him lessons. Soon, he was a master at reading. There were times he had other duties to attend to, so Belle became a teacher for the children in the castle whenever she could not spend time with Henri.

When Belle's father became well enough, he spent time with the servants, and ate meals with his daughter and Henri. Eventually, she explained her relationship with the Beast and Maurice listened, but to say he was not happy would be an understatement. He watched them carefully as any father would do when his only daughter was involved. Sometimes, he would accidentally refer to Henri as "the Beast," which would upset Belle greatly, especially when Henri was present. He still found himself correcting those mistakes. However, while Henri still felt uncomfortable around Maurice, he never took the remarks as insults. Soon, Belle learned that the best way to handle her father was to show him that she was living her own life. Sometimes Maurice's reactions his little girl growing up were entertaining.

The servants were adjusting to their humanity quite nicely and many of them could honestly say they were friends with the prince. They all wished for a way that he could become human, but they were careful never to say anything in front of the Master, Belle, or her father.

One day, Belle had been looking for her father for over an hour when she found him in the library sitting on a chair reading a book. "Papa, I never thought I would find you here."

Maurice smiled at his daughter, "Well, sometimes I can surprise you. Where is the… he? I've rarely seen you without him."

Belle knew her father had not quite accepted her relationship with Henri. She responded amused, "He is busy helping with some of the repairs on the castle."

Maurice asked, "He does repairs on the castle?"

"He had to when the servants were still… objects, but now, he likes the work. Papa, please, give him a chance. I thought you forgave him for putting you in the tower."

"I have forgiven him, Belle, but I don't like the relationship between you both. Some of the things I've heard the servants say seem… improper."

Belle sat on one of the chairs ready for a lecture. "Such as?"

"You're never away from each other, falling asleep in the library together, almost acting like a married couple."

Belle was annoyed, "Papa, Gaston tried to take more liberties with me than Henri!" She calmed down slightly. "Papa, I understand your concern as a father, but you know me and you should trust me."

Maurice sighed, "Of course, I trust you, but I don't know him well."

Belle took a deep breath, "Papa, he is still scared and has doubts about our relationship, but I love him more than I ever thought possible. I think he is still afraid to confront you alone. I need to help him to trust in our relationship and I think I know how."

Maurice could hear the desperation in Belle's voice. "All right, Belle, what do you need?"

Belle looked nervous, "Papa, do you think you could be happy to live here for good?"

Maurice thought about this. He made friends with most of the servants and lately he found himself helping Mrs. Potts look after Chip. He had been happier these past two months than he found himself in recent years. He had more contact with people and he saw the way his daughter came to life whenever she was near the Beast. The only thing he missed about the village was the chance to invent machines. "Yes, Belle, so far, I've been happy here and I think I can live here."

Belle knew what was wrong and thought she could fix it later. Little did she know that Henri was outside the door looking for her. "I need to stop the doubting, and I can do that by going back to the village."

Maurice did not understand what Belle was implying and neither did Henri. "What do you mean?"

Belle replied, "I need to make the move permanent. As long as I'm here as our relationship stands, there will always be doubts." Henri heard enough and ran to the West Wing.

Maurice understood what his daughter was saying, "You want to move here permanently?"

Belle answered, "Yes, Papa. I want to go back and pack the house. I can ask the town lawyer to sell the house and close the deal in three weeks as long as I have a letter containing your permission."

"Belle, I am willing to agree, but how are you going to pack everything?"

"I can ask Henri for four or five men to help me."

Maurice sighed, "I know I can't change your mind and I don't really want to. I still don't know what to make of your relationship, but as long as you are happy, I'll write that letter and you better talk to him."

Belle gave a little leap for joy and kissed her father on the cheek. She ran outside the library through the halls to look for Henri. In one of the hallways, she saw Lumiere. "Lumiere, is Henri still working on the repairs?"

Lumiere was surprised, "No, Cherie. We were done early so he went to find you. He's most likely in the library awaiting your presence."

"No, he's not there. Thank you anyway." Belle decided to go to the West Wing since it was closer than her room. The door was shut so Belle knocked. "Henri?"

There was no answer, but Belle heard some shuffling inside. She knocked again. "Henri, please let me in. I need to talk to you."

She heard a low "come in" and so she opened the door. Henri was at the balcony hunched over the railing. Belle walked over to him. "What's wrong?"

Henri decided to tell the truth. "I heard you speaking with your father in the library."

Belle had an idea of what happened, "If you heard the entire conversation, you should be happy."

Henri missed Belle's point and spoke out of frustration, "How can I be happy knowing you want to leave? If you're here to ask forgiveness for your feelings, there's no need. Just go and be happy, Belle."

It took all of Belle's strength not to lose her temper. Instead, she spoke gently, "I am leaving so I can be with you forever, Henri." Henri turned to her and she continued, "I want to go back to the village so I can pack the house and move here permanently. Originally, I came here to ask you for five men to help me with the move. I will never leave you without the intention of coming back."

Henri felt ashamed of his doubts and his thoughts. "I'm sorry, Belle. I'm still trying to-"

Belle had put her hand to his lips. "I know, Henri. It's been two months since our confession, and you've been much better, but it can't go on. I'm hoping that moving here officially will help with some of the doubts and thoughts."

Henri nodded. Belle smiled slyly, "I know another way to help." She stepped on the tips of her toes and leaned in to kiss him, which he returned. They both smiled at each other.

Belle stepped back and looked at the scenery over the balcony. Her smile dimmed as the memory of two months ago when she last saw the village using the mirror came back to her. Henri noticed her expression. "What is it, Belle?"

Belle spoke quietly, "I'm afraid."

Henri felt his heart dropping. "Of living here forever?"

Belle shook her head, "Of going back to the village and facing Gaston."

Henri forgot about Gaston these past two months. Life with Belle had been wonderful and since he was still a beast, he forgot about the outside world.

Belle continued not realizing she was speaking aloud, "I know my father will be safe here, but Gaston may try to find some way to have power over me."

Henri subconsciously pulled Belle close to him and held her tightly. "Lumiere can be your escort and I'll send at least two of the strongest men for extra protection."

"Hopefully, that will work." Belle held onto him tightly. "I'll miss you so much."

Henri responded, "And I'll miss you. When will you leave?"

"As soon as possible so I can return quickly. Hopefully, it'll take no more than a week to pack and I'll have to return a few weeks later to close any deal on the house, but that'll take no more than a few hours, not even an entire day."

A thought came to Henri. "Belle, does your father approve of this?"

"So far he seems happier here than he has in years and I think it has to do with us having friends. Both of us have been considered odd wherever we lived in France after Mother died. Although, I did want to ask another favor of you."

Henri answered, "Anything, Belle, just name it."

"My father is an inventor. That's how he came to the woods and eventually, the castle. He invented a machine and was heading to the fair when he became lost." Belle smiled, "He always dreamt of inventing something big, winning the prize, and the two of us would escape the provincial life at the village traveling to the places I've read about."

Belle turned to Henri, "But I don't need or want that anymore. I realized I've read so many books that I forgot about family and love. I only wanted adventure, but adventures come in many shapes and sizes and are not necessarily going to exotic places. You've created that change in me and I'm forever grateful. I've all ready started a new adventure with you and the most exciting part is I don't know where it'll take us."

Henri was speechless, but his eyes said it all. Belle walked into his arms and they held each other tightly. Henri pulled back asking permission with his eyes and kissed her lightly. She then buried her head into his shoulder. Henri broke the silence, "It'll be hard letting you go."

Belle nodded, "It'll be hard to leave, but know I will come back. Nothing will stop me."

Henri pulled away from her and then said, "I know. Now, Belle, you never asked me for that favor."

Belle giggled a little, "I guess I went off topic. I still feel as though I have to reassure myself as well as you."

"It's nice to be reassured. Now?"

She smiled, "Right. I was wondering if my father could have a workshop inside the castle for his inventions? I believe that's the only thing he's missed from the village."

Henri replied, "I will find a room for him. How big do you want it?"

"Any room here would be big enough, but it needs ventilation as my father has a tendency to explode things. And in that case, it should be away from people, but not sound proof so someone will come if there is trouble. While he explodes things often enough, no one has been injured yet. At the house, he used the cellar."

Henri thought and remembered, "Belle, I think I know a room. It'll be prepared by the time you come back."

Belle practically jumped into his arms. "Thank you so much for everything." She sighed, "Now, it's time for the hard part."

Henri said, "Maybe you should leave within two days so we don't have to think about it for a long time. It'll be over and then you'll be back."

Belle sighed, "Perhaps you're right, but it doesn't make it any easier to leave."

"I know. We should make the arrangements quickly."

Belle nodded, "The library later?"

Henri smiled at her and they left the West Wing hand in hand.

Later that night, Belle and Henri could be found asleep in the library on the floor against the couch, her head on his chest and his arms around her holding her protectively from the cold in the room since the fire was out and by the looks of the fireplace, it had been out for hours. His cloak was around both of them. The book they were reading earlier was placed on a desk a few feet away long forgotten.

He knew it was late, but Maurice entered the library looking for Belle when he saw this sight. While they looked decent, he could not help but feel a little uneasy about his daughter and her "beau" in that position.

He was ready to wake them up and give the Beast a piece of his mind on respecting his daughter when Belle shivered slightly and unconsciously, Henri pushed his cloak more onto her with one hand. She smiled more and snuggled into him her hand caressing his chest for a few seconds as if to say "thank you." Henri smiled in response and his head bent to lay slightly on top of Belle's. Strangely, Maurice found himself touched with how much the Beast cared about his daughter even in his sleep. He decided to let them be as he left the room so that he could think for a while.