Heyyyy :) Hope y'all are doing good since last time we met!

This chapter is mostly dialogue-based, not really many details this time. I felt there was nothing flowery to add like in my other chapters :) And I felt it was a little funnier this way x)

Enjoy!

Summary: In which Amelia wants to learn how to shoot a proper bow and arrow.
Number of years married:
21
Sons:
5
Daughters:
2


~:~ Monsieur L'arc ~:~

"Papa! Papa! Papa!" Amelia scurried down the path to her papa who was chopping wood. "Papaaaaaaaaaa!"

Gaston set down the axe and grinned as she barreled down to him. He hoisted her up when she jumped at him. "What has you in such a hurry, my darling?" He tickled her belly.

She giggled, "Papa, Papa, can- can I learn to shoot a bow and arrow? Ceddy has that- that bow and- and I want to learn too."

He chuckled, "Sure, you can."

But her little face turned serious and she started playing with his hair. "But like- Papa, Papa, uhm, like a proper bow- not-not a cwoss- crossbow."

"But a crossbow is a real bow," he chuckled.

"No- no, it's not, Papa. Mama said you'd say that."

He raised his eyebrow. "She did, did she? Well, Mama and I will just have a little chat about that." He looked toward the house and saw said woman waiting on the porch.


"A crossbow-"

"Is a real bow," he interrupted.

Belle glared at him. "If you would have let me finish, I would have said a crossbow is not a traditional bow. And she wants to learn how to use a traditional bow."

He grumbled.

"Oh don't give me that," she scolded.

"Well I don't have a traditional bow so she has no choice but to learn with a crossbow," he said, his ego coming out full force.

She folded her arms across her chest. "Gaston, stop being conceded."

"I'm not!"

She refrained from rolling her eyes and tried again, "There's a man in town-"

"A man?" he blanched. "Are you saying a stranger will teach our daughter-"

"-he's a well-known archer-" she kept on as if he hadn't interrupted again.

"A stranger on our land? Belle-"

"- he's perfectly willing to teach Amelia."

He glared at her. "How do you know this?"

"I asked him," she said simply.

Gaston's face turned serious and he scowled. "What?"

She nodded. "I have."

He growled, "When?"

"Last week, when you needed that new plow."

"Who?"

"Oh, just a man," she shrugged, having more fun in getting under his skin than she expected.

He pressed his palm to the side of the house, blocking her way inside. "Belle, who?" he demanded sternly.

"I don't know why you're getting so worked up over this," she feigned. "He's coming here whether you like it or not." She ducked under his arm.

He didn't move to follow her. "When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Then why was she asking me for permission if this was set in stone?"

"We simply wanted to prepare you, darling." She gave him another sweet smile before turning down the hall.

"Oh don't 'darling' me!" he complained behind her.

Later that night…

"I'm going to be out tomorrow," he announced, shucking off his shirt before sitting on the bed.

She snorted and looked up from her book. "You're going to trust a strange man alone with me? You're going to leave to protect your ego more than your wife?" she teased.

"You were so brave enough to approach him in town, you'll be fine," he brushed off.

She narrowed her eyes. "You're being petty about this."

"Am I? Well, Belle, it seems you haven't known me all these years," he said, unbuckling his belt.

"Oh, for goodness sake, it's just one lesson! What if she doesn't care for it? What if she turns out to be just like you and prefers a crossbow?"

He deflected. "He's not even a real archer, Belle!"

"Gaston-"

"I'm going to bed."

"Oh, you're not getting away that easy."

"Watch me."

"You- you- you confounded-!" She tried to block him from lying down but he simply moved her over to her side of the bed. "Gaston-"

"Goodnight, my darling," he said, feigning a smile.

She narrowed her eyes. "Oh don't 'darling' me."


The next morning, Gaston up and left - insisting he had better things to do and that he wished Belle the best of luck in her plan. She rolled her eyes at his ego and knew he'd be sticking around closer than he cared to admit.

And true to her thoughts, when the archer arrived, she saw his stark red jacket in the clump of trees at the forest edge. She smiled.

"Madame Gaston," a gentleman greeted, kindly kissed the back of her hand. "It is a pleasure to see you again."

The formal name gave her a pause but she recovered. She felt her cheeks heat up at his gesture for no man besides her husband had kissed the back of her hand in greeting. "The pleasure is mine, Monsieur L'arc," she smiled in return. "And do call me Belle."

Amelia tugged at her dress. "Mama, can I learn to shoot a bow and arrow now?" she asked impatiently.

"Yes, you may but you must listen to everything Monsieur L'arc tells you," she said firmly.

The young girl bounced on her toes. "Yes, yes, Mama I will! Thank you! Thank you!" She scampered off eagerly.

Belle watched her youngest fondly and waited for her husband to come around.

And she had been standing for a near thirty minutes before he finally joined her. She smothered her knowing smile. She glanced at him. "Red doesn't really blend in with the trees."

"I know flirting when I see it," he harrumphed instead.

She huffed. "I wasn't flirting. He kissed my hand and I was shocked."

"And do call me Belle," he mocked.

She stepped on his foot. "Just enjoy how happy our daughter is."

"And you keep believing I'm going to let you get away with this," he smirked.

Her cheeks heated once more.