Epilogue

Four months later.

Belle awake to a sudden pain her back. She closed her eyes as she felt something sharp run down from her back down to her feet. She inhaled when it subdued; then she eased herself back into the covers.

Snore!

She looked over in time to watch as her husband, Gaston, rolled over in his sleep and his snores were apparent. She smiled when she reached over and gently touched his masculine cheek. Within the cottage of their home, which was in the beginning of spring, Belle thanked God as well as Our Blessed Mother for the miracle of Gaston's transformation and love. She replayed the events after their encounter with the dragon and the nightmare seemed to haunt her. Shortly after Gaston slayed the beast, he'd approached her and when Belle heard the gentleness in Gaston's voice, she opened her eyes and his expression was one of gentleness.

"Belle?" He'd asked as he made his way over to her.

Though she'd been tied, the chains on her hands loosened when her husband made his way over to her. She felt her heart beat when he approached and when he was beside her: Gaston surprised her by asking.

"Are you alright?"

Belle remembered how her throat twisted as she looked into the eyes of her husband. The form of the dead beast was well out of her sight when she remembered when Gaston waited for her to say something to her. When she responded, Gaston had not only cut the chains, but lovingly took her in his arms and making sure he didn't touch the lava, he carried her from her captive spot and on the bank where the couple was safe. But even from there he did something she never expected. He gently placed her on the ground and when she looked at him, Belle watched as her husband knelt before her and he had one hand on top of his heart.

"Belle," he began and her heart trembled within her as the tears started to surface, "can you ever learn to forgive me from my past actions as well as my idiotic behavior to you?" Looking up to her, Belle saw Gaston's own eyes fill with tears when he softly added.

"And for betraying your trust with me?"

Belle had pressed her lips together as their unborn baby stilled within her. The sounds of the dragon's cave vanished when she looked into her husband's eyes. Remembering how he'd slain the beast as well as used the Most Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, which were the most powerful Names in the world, recalling how the dragon hated the Hail Mary, the cry Gaston had given when he slayed the beast, where he was now, kneeling before her with his hand over his heart…

"Forgiveness is a virtue," she remembered deep within her soul, "and it is a decision."

Remembering what she'd told Harriet about testing her husband: if he loves me he will come after me.

Belle never forgot how Gaston's eyes continued to water when he kept staring at her. She remembered how he knelt there, waiting for her response, as if he were proposing to her again… only with a sincere heart and not the lustful one she remembered him to have… "his little wife…" and all that vanished…

"Yes." She softly replied as she prayed for the grace of forgiveness to enter her. Belle remembered taking a step forward and placing her hands on her husband's cheeks. His eyes finally poured out the tears as hers when she softly continued.

"I… forgive you, Gaston… for hurting me and cheating… as well as betraying me… but when I saw you do…" she gestured towards the dead dragon, "I never… would have known… you were blessed to do…"

Gaston rose and with those eyes full of sincere tears, he had taken Belle's hand in his and gently kissed it. Belle felt her hurt released when he'd taken a step forward and dropping the sword, he collected her in his arms and gently gathered her in his arms and nuzzled her nose. Belle ignored the smell from his battle with the dragon when all he could do was kiss her here, kiss her on the forehead, kiss her cheeks, each one, gathering her tears with his mouth; capturing all the pain he'd ever given her and placed it on himself.

When he made it to her lips, Belle never forgot how he paused before he softly asked.

"May I?"

And all she replied with was a nod and he leaned forward and with his hands, which were masculine and large, brought her to himself before his lips lightly touched hers. It was a healing moment when Belle felt how Gaston didn't force himself on her though she knew his body shouted at him; he restrained himself by taking a step back and then surprised her again by kneeling down before her again. Only this time: he had his eyes on their unborn child.

"That was a moment I never forgot," Belle thought as she returned to the moment. "Gaston had…"
Then she let out a sharp hissing sound when another pain zapped her and Belle arched her back as she whispered.

"Gaston?"

"Hmm?"

"Gaston," Belle began as she reached over and gripped his hand. Instantly, Belle's husband was up and he turned to her as he asked.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Gaston," Belle tried but then she let out gasp when she heard a popping sound. Then Gaston was instantly out of the bed before he pulled the covers back. As Belle arched, she felt something as Gaston said.

"I'd best call Harriet, Belle; your water broke."

When Belle let out a final push, she raised her head when Harriet held before her a squealing baby boy in her hands as she said.

"Congratulations, Belle and Gaston! You're the humble parents of a baby boy!"

Belle relaxed her grip on her husband's hand as the baby was given to her. Smiling and thankful, she felt Gaston press a gentle kiss on her cheek as Harriet slipped out. Labor was short and when Belle gave birth, she remembered hearing Gaston praying to Our Blessed Mother for a safe birth and now, as she held their son, she looked at him as she softly thanked.

"Thank you, Gaston for being here."

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world." He answered as he drew back from her. Then he moved his eyes towards their son as he asked.

"Name? What should we call him?"

Belle smiled when she looked at their boy: he displayed the features of his father along with his mother's eyes. Looking at him, Belle paused for a moment before she prayed to the Holy Spirit for inspiration. After a moment's silence, she looked at her husband as she answered.

"George Francis. After St. George who slew the dragon and St. Francis of Assisi."

"Perfect." Gaston answered before he leaned forward and kissed her again.

The End.

Blessedwriter