A/N: First of all, yes this is a rewrite - and yes this is the original author. This is the one fic I really wanted to rewrite and continue now that I'm back. So here we go, there are going to be various changes but the core story will be the same. Namely, I have decided to write out the idea of the boy being Belle's child - so we will take this a different direction entirely.

Like my first version however, this will be a universe where Belle was never given the magic mirror and thus didn't return the night she went to save her father.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Abuse, mostly physical. Will be talked about in this fic not unlike the original version.

PAIRINGS: Past BellexAdam, Future BellexAdam

CHAPTER 1: A Boy in the Storm

The last rose petal had fallen long ago.

When Belle had fled the castle, Prince Adam had hoped deep in his heart that she would turn around. That she'd come back and free him from the curse. Yet fate was cruel, and though the royal beast's heart softened it seemed no one could save him from his quiet eternity alone with his servants.

It was... On his twenty-first birthday that the second rose appeared on his doorstep. At first, Adam had believed he was losing his mind - but on closer inspection, it was true, and it came with a card addressed to him:

For the one who doesn't believe in second chances -Until the eve of your thirty-fifth year... -E

It had been thirteen years since that day. And in that time, Adam could only muse what game the Enchantress was playing. Belle never returned, no word ever came to him of her or her further escapades. And while his kinder heart now remained he had never felt the tug of love again - for any woman.

As he toiled and waited - the beast could only wonder once again, who could ever love a beast...

He had to keep running.

Percy felt blood running down his face as he attempted to keep himself above the snow. His blue eyes darting one direction to the other as he heard the dropping of hooves not far behind. At eight, he should have had more energy, but the years of service to the men on his back was... Well, it had taken its toll.

How long had he dreamed of the day he got out of their servitude? Honestly, if he hadn't been an infant when dropped on the doorstep of House Claudius he'd have said his whole life. But he recalled a time when the wife of the master of the house was still fond of him, treated him like a baby doll...

He huffed quietly, pulling his grey riding hood further over his head as the snow storm raged. On one hand, it was miserable, but on the other it kept him out of the men's line of sight. Taking deep breaths, and attempting to keep up his pace, he only hoped he wouldn't first freeze to death.

"Come on Percival," he encouraged himself quietly. "Just a little further."

From afar, he had seen grand spires of a home that he'd hoped wouldn't be too far. Least, he could only hope not. The voices had gotten lower and he wondered quietly if, should he make it there he may be able to hide for the night.

Just one night, it was all he needed.

Trying to keep himself on his feet, he worried he wouldn't have a chance. He was tired... So tired. His weight gave out underneath him as the world spun. Tired... So tired. He felt the snow covering his body before he even knew what was happening.

He'd die out here, he knew it.

And then, something else laid on top of him, warm. Silk? It felt like it, he couldn't tell, but before he could fully grasp what was happening it had wrapped around him. Percy opened his mouth as if to speak protest, but the figure offered no abuse...

It simply pulled him with great strength into his arms. Its curious brown eyes stared down at him before his world faded into the black.

"Sacre bleu! Is that a child?"

Adam ignored Lumiere's astute, if not obvious observation. It wasn't exactly what he'd expected to find when he got word of activity outside the castle. Nor had he even wanted to go out into the horrid storm to begin with. But a part of him was thankful as he held the blonde haired lad that he had.

What was child doing out this far? And this late for that matter?

"Hurry and prepare a fire," Adam simply replied. "He's nearly frozen to death..."

Lumiere was quick to follow him to the den. Thankfully, they had prepared logs for such a storm, or Adam may have worried about what to do. As the fire was lit, Beast carefully wrapped his own arms around the boy as well - his warm fur was sure to heat him up, or so he hoped.

"It's a boy!" Lumiere observed, hopping closer to get a good look. "What is a boy doing out so late? Near the castle?"

Adam eyed his friend and trusted servant curiously. "He looked half-dead, his clothes were in taters. He has bruises," the prince spoke rather pointedly. "If i were a betting man, the child was running from someone."

Lumiere stroked his chin curiously, the candelabra tilting his "head" to one side. "An escaped servant perhaps. Or worse..." the man cleared his throat. "I shudder to think the conditions that one must be in to brave such a storm."

Adam shuddered to think of it himself. While he was hardly kind to his own servants he hardly wished to think of treating a child like that... Even Chip had been treated quite well when he'd been human. Only having been asked to help his mother... Given worthy clothes and...

A growl erupted from him before the prince calmly got a hold of himself. "When he wakes, I'll have my questions," Adam replied honestly. "But there was no reason to leave him to die."

The candelabra nodded in agreement, noting with relief the boy had finally stirred. It was a sign that heat was indeed effecting him - which meant he'd be OK. Or at least they could hope. "Well, it seems he will live," Lumiere pointed out calmly.

Adam simply nodded in agreement, releasing the boy and resting him carefully upon the floor before the fire now that he was, at the very least, beginning the warm up. After all, he was quite the sight in this form, and he hardly wished to terrify the boy when he woke in his arms. "I'm going to my chambers I should have winter clothing from when I was a boy still, yes?" When his servant nodded affirmatively he nodded. "Keep an eye on him."

He hadn't made it out of the room yet when more words drifted to him. "Master, do you think bringing him here was the wisest decision?" Adam turned his head toward his servant quietly. "If he was running, someone may come looking. As much -."

"It's what Belle would do," Adam's reply was simple and firm. "Too much of her rubbed off on me, I suppose. One night shouldn't hurt anyone."

One night. That was all he was going to allow, he told himself in his mind. After all, the last thing they needed was more attention drawn to them - what with the second rose already starting to wilt. He'd have no distractions, he told himself.

He'd get him warm, feed him, and give him proper clothes. And that would be the end of it, he told himself.

No distractions.

A/N: Short intro chapter, but it will get longer. I do hope you all enjoyed the start!