Disclaimer: Gail Carson Levine created world, characters are mine.

XXV

It was only when an unexpected arrival commenced that I let myself be distracted by something else.

"Oi!" Vonandar started as he walked into the parlor that I had holed myself up in. He was followed by Father, Patience, and several other villagers. I was shocked by them, as I didn't realize that Father and the rest would come to save me. Father must have led them here, I mused, amazed at my Father's bravery. Father stared at me, "Who is this?" he asked quietly.

"It's who you know as a monster," I stated, matching his tone, "Otherwise known as Prince Alaric of Granat."

Vonandar and Pat whistled appreciatively, and Father looked stricken. The other villagers murmured to themselves as they noticed how tightly I was holding Alaric's hand. I felt too weary to glare at the gossip mongers.

Thankfully, Mrs. Greggs' came in, "Oh, well now you've seen her. She won't leave the boy's side, so would you all like something to eat? We haven't had so many guests in a very long time," she conversed pleasantly. Everyone's ears peaked up at the word eat, and so they followed her like a cat following a mouse.

Only Father stayed with me, "So," he started warily eying my hand on Alaric's.

"Yes, I'm in love with him," I stated matter-of-factly, squeezing Alaric's hand.

"Why?" Father's voice sounded confused, and I could tell he was bewildered by this information.

I smiled, "I don't know, I just do. Do you know why you fell in love with mother?" I asked pointedly, knowing he had no clue. There are things you like about a person, but there is never a particular reason you fell in love with that particular person. I have to believe it's just fate.

"No," he mumbled.

I turned and looked at Father, without letting go of Alaric's hand, "See." I said with a sad smile.

He looked rather off-put, "I suppose," he said eying my hand on Alaric's.

I sighed, "Father, I can't do much about it. I don't even know if he feels the same."

"If he doesn't love you . . . he's a fool," my father said, ever the over-protective parent. I felt as though I should hug him but I hesitated, not wanting to let go of Alaric's hand.

At this, Alaric seemed to wake up. I couldn't hold back the relief in my face. His blue, perfectly blue eyes turned to look at me as he lifted his head. His red-gold hair gleamed slightly in the light as he gave me a questioning look that was very reminiscent of the one he used to give me as a giant squirrel. He was alive and well. And human, thank goodness.

"Beauty, what's the matter?" he questioned, wincing as he sat up. His voice was a little lighter and not as gravelly, but it was relatively the same.

I squealed a little before tackling him in a bear hug, "You are alive, and well! And human! And it is you Alaric! It is you!" I cried out, tears freely flowing down my face yet again, his blood-stained shirt was wet from my tears. Unnoticed by Alaric, Father slid out of the room to give us some sort of privacy.

He ogled at me, before gaping at his hands. He felt around his body and face, before smiling gleefully looking like a child who had received his favorite toy on his birthday.

"I'm human," he stated dazed at the change.

"Yes," I said looking at him, and observing his features now that he was awake and showing his whole personality.

"I'm human," he stated again, still amazed.

"Yes," I said with an amused smirk on my face, but inside my heart was doing somersaults.

He grasped the sides of my shoulders as he tried to get up. I helped him get up, and got off the ground myself. He stood shakily, as if he weren't sure what to do with this new type of body, before giving me a look of pure happiness.

I smiled back at him, and he whooped and twirled me around for no reason at all. We did a little jig in celebration for a few moments, Alaric beaming at me with delight written on his face.

I laughed with him before he turned to me, "It is me, Beauty, you do know that right? It is still me, Alaric, your squirrely prince, underneath all of this," he said rather suddenly and seriously, looking at me with his blue eyes as if he could see into my soul.

I was taken aback, "Of course I do," I said kindly and softly as I looked into the same blue eyes that let me know he was a human trapped in a squirrel's body, "It's the same man I've been in love with for a long time now. You are the same man I have cried over as I watched you wither away seemingly into death, and the same man I have teased and talked with over dinner. I know who you are and I love you with all of my heart." I felt embarrassed at my declaration so I tried to avoid his gaze. I failed miserably as I looked at him curious and anxious to see his reaction.

His eyes held this mix of emotions that were so overwhelming to look at as he hesitated. His eyes looked over my mouth searchingly before he lowered his mouth to mine before quickly ending the kiss. A self-conscious smile crept onto his lips as he looked at me, his tan face turning a little red.

I breathed deeply, before smiling at him nervously. I stood up on my tip toes and kissed him deeply, and he readily agreed to this kiss, lightly picking me up so that I would not have to be on my tip-toes anymore. My hands became tangled with the feel of his red-gold hair and I couldn't help but enjoy it.

I felt as if all the emotions I had been holding in for months had been released into that one kiss, and I could feel that he felt the same. He was the one to end it, placing me back on the ground before beaming at me, "I love you more than you can imagine Beauty. I have loved you since you walked into this castle I think, ever since you stood up to me for your Father. I . . ." he faltered a bit, "just love you."

"I love you too, but you already knew that," I informed him as tears came to my eyes once again. I wiped them away laughing, "I've been crying way too much recently," I declared with a sniff before a realization popped into my head, "Oh Miss Book is going to have a field day with this!" I declared with a bit of amusement laced in my voice.

He looked a bit bewildered by my statement, so I had to explain everything to him; I started with how I moved to Siax and ended it with the trip to his parents. He looked a bit disturbed that I had seen his parents, and shocked that he had a nephew, but he was glad to hear they were all right.

"I have something to tell you Beauty," he stated caressing my hands with his own, his voice brimming over with emotion, "I heard you, when you confessed your love for me when I was shot with that arrow. I was starting to suspect that you did as soon as you walked back in here, into my life, but . . . you don't understand what that did to me."

I quirked an eyebrow, looking at his new body, he laughed feebly, "No, well, actually, yes, because of what you said, I did change back to my human form. But, I had to fight off the curse with your words, I had to concentrate on the fact that you loved me, no matter what I looked like and with all of that concentration, I suppose we broke the curse together. It took your love to do that. And with that curse breaking, I was healed, somehow," he looked at me with so much love in his eyes that I felt as though I was drowning. I never knew that one could enjoy drowning.

I hid my face to stop him from seeing my maniacal grin, I was just deliriously happy.

Before he could force me to face him, however, Yarian entered, looking weary but happy, "Your Majesty, I have sent notice to your parents. They are coming, they realized as soon as the spell broke that you were alive."

I noticed how Alaric's face turned green from fright, and I patted his hand, "It will be alright," I muttered to him reassuringly, not sure if I was right or not. I just knew he needed my support, so I would be with him, holding his hand the whole time. I was about to say this when Yarian interrupted me.

Yarian eyed me, "So I presume you are staying with?" he said with a smirk on his dark face. Oh Yarian, how I've missed you and your strange sense of humor.

I sighed, "I suppose . . ." I said with a slight grin. "This is the only place I've felt at home," I expressed honestly, keeping a hold on Alaric's hand.

Alaric raised his eyebrows at that with a slight smile on his face, but didn't say anything. Yarian kept a straight face and bowed out of the room before muttering to himself. He was probably trying to decode what I said, knowing him. Too bad I meant what I said.

Mrs. Greggs came into the room, "Now, my dears, I think we should get you both cleaned up," she said looking at my travel-ragged clothes, and Alaric's blood and tear stained ones.

Alaric and I flushed quite a bit but we both agreed to get changed.

I felt myself in a light, simple blue dress that went down to my ankles. I was jubilant and I descended down the stairs I couldn't help but think about Alaric.

I noticed the faces of villagers and servants alike mingling, discussing how I saved the Prince. I guess Alaric's transformation was no secret anymore. I felt relieved at that, I didn't want to keep anymore secrets.

Patience approached me, her eyes alive in wonderment, "Beauty! This is where you were? Father explained on the way here, but you are in love with him?" she asked me amazed.

I nodded, and she laughed, "No wonder you were so defensive, he looked like a giant squirrel!" she chortled gleefully, hoping to tease in the coming months I'm sure.

I frowned at her, and she quickly stopped and apologized, before saying, "I always expected Serenity the one to end up with a prince," she shook her head at that. I had to agree with her there, Serenity was the damsel in distress type, after all. But then she gave me a questioning look, "Do you truly love him?" she asked in a concerned voice.

I breathed before a smile appeared on my face, "Mhmm, very much. I . . . can't imagine what would have happened if Zyslai did kill him," I said soberly.

Pat's eyes got wide and she half-shrieked, "Zyslai did what?!"

I quickly explained to her what had happened, and informed her that Zyslai's new residence was in the dungeon, where he belonged.

Pat whistled, and that caught Vonandar's attention, and so he joined us, with a smirk on his face, "I've just talked to that Jasper fellow, turns out he could tell that you loved that Alaric fellow since the beginning. I find that rather amusing since neither Serenity nor Pat could get a word out of you about any boy."

I rolled my eyes at my brother-in-law, "Mhmm, Jasper is the sort of man who likes to brag a little, so of course he would think that. In fact," I pointed at Jasper and Yarian who seemed to be bickering amongst themselves, "I bet right now they are arguing who predicted that this would happen at all."

Pat snorted and Vonandar laughed. Even Father, who appeared out of nowhere, let out a chuckle.

I turned to him worriedly, "Father," he shushed me though and began to speak, "Beauty, I think I have been wrong. I talked to him, you see, and I think he is a very fine young man. He even told me he planned on marrying you as soon as possible," I blushed bright red, unaware of this.

Alaric came up behind Father shaking his head, "You weren't supposed to tell her!" he exclaimed in a very familiar whiny voice that I wouldn't have traded for the world. Ok, it would be nice if he didn't do it as often, but I loved him anyway. Who knows why?

I gave him a withering look, all in jest of course, "Why would I marry you?"

Alaric smirked at me knowingly, "Cause I'm handsome."

I burst out laughing at that, and Father joined me. Pat and Vonandar looked rather confused and left us to our laughter.

Alaric pouted playfully, "Are you saying I'm not handsome?"

I bit my lip to stop me from laughing, "Are you asking me about this? Really? Me the girl who fell in love with the six foot one inch squirrel?"

Alaric pondered this for a moment, "Yeah, that wouldn't be a good question to ask you."

Father laughed, "I would say not."

I grinned at Alaric, thanking him silently for getting along with my Father. He met my eyes and knew what I was thinking and gave me a small nod. I could tell he liked Father a lot, and wished he had never locked him up in the first place. I'm not sure I agree, as if he didn't lock him up, we would never have met. And then, I would still be alone. Or worse, married to Zyslai! Ugh.

Alaric and I finally got some time alone, and he took me to the library, my favorite place in the castle. I closed my eyes and smelled the book smell, and I felt better about everything. When I opened them, Alaric was smirking slightly, his red-gold hair falling into his blue eyes, "So, I heard it's your birthday Beauty," he started.

"It is?" I asked dismayed, "When did that happen?"

"Probably during all of the excitement," he said casually as he looked around at the books.

"I'm eighteen," I stated, amazed at that.

He laughed, "Well, yes, you are. You are old now."

I stuck my tongue at him but laughed along, before I noticed he went down on one knee. I felt unsteady and so I sat down in an armchair. Alaric shuffled to get closer to me on his one knee.

"Now Beauty, you already knew this was coming," he started. I nodded, peering into his eyes, as he continued, "But, I wanted to ask you officially . . . Will you marry me?"

I cried out, "Of course I will you idiot!" and I kissed him hard. I could feel him smile during the kiss.

As soon as we stopped kissing, he beamed at me, "Well, I was hoping for that answer, so Happy Birthday Beauty. You get to see me the rest of your life," he smirked slightly. I couldn't help but think that it was the best birthday gift I had ever received. So I kissed him passionately again, as a thank you. I have to say I enjoyed it immensely.

He later told me it was the best thank you he had ever received.

We both agreed not to announce the engagement until his parents arrived. Better to deal with everyone at once than in two separate groups.

I couldn't help but enjoy the rest of the evening as I mingled with villagers who were trying to save me, which included Quori who was getting up in years, I thanked him tearfully for doing that, he just looked amazed that all of this had happened to me.

And somehow, through all of this a book came upon my lap as I sat down in a chair for a moment.

I have no idea how it got there, but I had never been so glad to see Miss Book.

I opened it up to the table of contents right away to discover that I new story had been added, Beauty and the Beast.

I grinned knowing the words that lay on those pages, and realized that I got my fairy tale ending after all. With a rather unconventional Prince but it didn't matter. I found love in the end.

End of Chapter.

(A/N) It's not the end yet, folks, an epilogue and one last Author's note are coming to you soon! (Actually it's done, so if you want it like, um now, review and I will release it, but if you want me to make you wait awhile, I will. I can't decided if I want to post it or not, so let me know what you guys want.)

And yes, this chapter was heavily influenced by the Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast

(I just have to say OMG I HAVE ACTUALLY FINISHED A STORY!!)

Answer to review from last chapter:

bookomania: The questions you have in the first two paragraphs are answered in the next chapter don't you worry.
Yeah, Mr. Hoble has always been Zyslai's father in my mind, and I tried to put hints about that in the story. Very, very, very small hints, but hints nonetheless.
I know, I am feeling the same way! I still have the epilogue to write and I am kind of procrastinating on that because I don't want to end the story. But its time for it to end. *sigh*
I wish it could go on for a lot longer.
Beauty is sort of descended from nobility, but at this point, only his eldest sister and younger brother will have a problem with it. The King and Queen love her just for saving him, and her being the daughter of the Queen's best friend just adds to the love. (And the Nicolletii just likes her, she's not one to care about class anyway). They aren't going to be seen next chapter though, all of that is probably going to be mentioned in either the epilogue or in another story as an off-hand comment.
Thank you for reviewing! I have loved all of your reviews and I really appreciate them.