Chapter 25- One Thing Forever True
The reception was in full swing, and the ballroom was packed with couples twirling around the floor. Angélique and Cogsworth had once again surpassed any expectations with the splendor and radiance of the ballroom. Red and gold adorned nearly every crevice and corner, with stunning arrangements of fall foliage and flowers throughout. The orchestra sat tucked into a corner, filling the room with lively music, perfectly suited to the season and occasion.
Everyone had partaken and enjoyed the lavish feast Chef Bouche prepared—alongside several subjects who volunteered their time and talents to feed the masses. All three dining rooms were turned out while a long buffet hosted a spread of five different meats including goose, roasted chicken, and duck, served alongside roasted vegetable dishes, and elaborate trays of prawns and oysters, culminating in a fountain of chocolate warmed perfectly for drinking. Bottles and bottles of champagne and wine flowed freely.
The King and Belle twirled in the center of the room to Vilvaldi's masterpiece, Autumn, and he dipped her low, taking advantage of the position to kiss her passionately. He couldn't believe that was something he could do now, any time he wanted. Belle was his wife, and he was human again. The way she now fit perfectly in his arms as they turned about the open space was invigorating, and he couldn't get enough of her body pressed tightly against his.
He hadn't completely adjusted to his smaller frame yet, which remained a concern. He'd seen several of the staff struggling with it the first week after Rosalind restored them to their human forms, and he wondered if it would take him just as long. Stumbling now and again, he did his best to avoid crushing Belle's feet, or leaning on her more than he should as he regained his balance. But overall, he felt he was compensating admirably.
It was a very strange twist of fate that the cause of his misery for so many years was now his mother-in-law. He could hardly recall the nights he'd spent cursing the day she ever set foot in the castle, and now he just wanted to thank her. Without her anger and resentment towards his parents—that she'd also taken out on him—he wouldn't be holding the most intelligent, kind, generous woman in his arms and calling her his Queen. He made a mental note to send the Enchantress flowers of thanks in the coming days.
As they took another turn around the room, gliding across the floor with grace and elegance, Belle whispered into his ear, "Does this mean I can call you by your name now?"
Looking at her with curiosity and surprise, he smiled and replied, "I rather like the way ma bête sounds on your lips. And I hardly feel like I'm Adam anymore. He was a spoiled, selfish child, who cared for little beyond his own comfort. But if it pleases you to use the name my mother called me, I suppose I can allow it. Although I much prefer mon amour, or bien-aimé, or mon amoureux." His voice turned husky and reached down into a lower register that sounded exactly like her Beast, and he felt a shiver of desire travel up her spine.
Smiling at how easily he could stir her, he captured her lips for a brief moment before trailing staccato pecks down her neck. The kisses left both him and Belle slightly breathless, so he maneuvered them off the dance floor for a reprieve from the festivities. He was eager to get his wife alone for a few moments.
While the arrival of dessert distracted everyone, and there was a break in the orchestrations, he and Belle slipped away down the hall. He escorted her to their library. But before entering, he pressed her against the door and kissed her again.
Belle sighed her approval. Her hands gripped his strong shoulders. She could feel him fumbling with the door behind her, and she broke the kiss with a giggle.
"Do you need help?" she asked, trying to hide her smirk.
"No," he grumbled, frustrated that he couldn't just easily open the door.
"It's alright if you do. It took the staff some time to readjust. No one expects you to do everything perfect right from the start, my love."
He rested his forehead against hers. Belle cupped his cheeks, giving him a sweet kiss.
"I love you, Belle," he whispered against her lips.
"I love you, my Adam." She had a glint in her glowing hazel eyes, testing the name on her tongue. She liked it, and from the way his blue eyes widened before darkening, he didn't mind.
He kissed her again, slow and deep. "Perhaps the name isn't so distasteful after all. Somehow you make it sound like an endearment, my wife, ma belle."
The door finally opened, and they slipped inside. Adam then closed it behind them and slid the latch shut.
Upon reentering to the crowded room, Kara and Tobias immediately came over to join the newlyweds at the dessert table. Belle was finishing a puff pastry, the cream leaving a little trail down the corner of her mouth that Adam bent over and kissed away, licking his lips that curved wickedly down at her.
"Delicious," he whispered.
Belle gave him a look of exasperation, wondering how he could already be recharged after what they'd just done. "You are insatiable," she whispered back, just as Kara and Tobias came within earshot.
Holding her from behind, Adam let out a low growl into her ear, and he felt her entire body shiver as it sank into him. He chuckled at the effect he had on her.
That prideful smile was unmistakable to his best friend, who raised a dark auburn brow at him.
"Where the devil did the two of you run off to?" Tobias asked, but already knew the why behind his question.
Keeping her blush to a minimum, Belle tried to respond casually with, "Just the library."
But the mention of the room they'd just come from sent an image of her husband's naked body, surrounded by the stately shelves of books she so adored, skirting across her mind's eye, and her cheeks darkened. It didn't help matters that Adam's arms were wrapped tightly around her waist, and although her skirts were thick, she could still feel his hands on her hips, and his finger slowly stroking the sides.
"Majesty, how about we leave the ladies to gossip and we go find ourselves some decent whiskey?" Tobias, recognizing the telltale signs of a satisfied woman, offered the reprieve so Belle could compose herself well enough to face the crowd behind them.
Adam took the hint without needing to have seen the flush on his wife's face and released her with a kiss to the side of her head.
"Sounds delightful," he replied, and the two men walked away, leaving the women to their own devices.
"The library, huh? I personally prefer a hayloft, or well-padded carriage—if we're going with unconventional places to steal away for an intimate moment. But I suppose a library is as good as any," Kara teased, steering Belle away from the throng of well-wishers who spotted her loitering at the dessert table.
Belle managed to stifle her indigent squeak at her friend's teasing, but not the returning heat to her cheeks. "Was I that obvious?" Belle asked, shamefully hanging her head a bit while she tried forcing the blush to subside.
"Only to those of us who know you well," Kara reassured as they took a leisurely stroll around the room, finding an unoccupied alcove where they could sit undisturbed. "I'd ask how your first experience was, but from the smile on both of your faces, I don't think I need to."
With a wistful sigh, Belle said, "Oh Kara, he is beyond magnificent. I can't help but think this is some kind of fantastical dream I'm going to wake from in the morning."
"Not a dream, my dear friend. Although as close to a fairy tale as I've ever witnessed. I am so happy for you. For the both of you. You deserve this more than anyone I've ever known."
On the other side of the room, Adam sat with Tobias, stealing glances at his stunning bride. He was just as much in awe and disbelief as his bride. If he could, he'd dismiss the room, end the celebration early, and carry Belle off to their bedroom to enjoy one another again, and again, and again.
A grin crept up the corner of his mouth and Tobias, not so lightly, hit him in the stomach with the back of his hand. "Earth to King Adam. Have you been listening to a word I said?" His friend's eyes glowed with annoyance.
"Sorry." He grinned sheepishly. "That's going to take some getting used to. King Adam…" He rolled it around in his mind, still trying to come to terms with the fact that he wouldn't be called King Beast anymore. He could always insist on keeping the old name, but if Tobias was already using Adam, it was probably too late.
Although one question popped into his head. Adam cocked an eyebrow and leveled it at the werewolf. "Wait, how did you know my name? The minister used my full name, but how did you guess which one I went by?"
"Lumière used it when we were talking just after the wedding. It suits you. Although if you prefer, I can keep calling you Furball."
The King snorted, then turned a scowl at his head of the guard. "Furball? You've never called me Furball." The scowl deepened, and a slight growl escaped his lips. Apparently the Beast hadn't completely left him, although his face now wasn't nearly as intimidating.
"At least not to your face," Tobias chuckled and darted into the crowd as Adam's hand reached out to grab him.
Standing quickly to follow, Adam was about to run after his friend when he came face to face with his in-laws.
"Ah, my boy, welcome to the family." Maurice reached up, clapping him on the back, giving him a bright smile.
"Thank you, Monsieur DuPont."
"I'll have none of that. Just call me Papa."
The grin on the short man's face was so warm and welcoming, Adam couldn't help but grin back. "All right, thank you, Papa." He leaned down to hug Belle's father, but spared a glance to the Enchantress.
"And call me Maman... if you will." Rosalind flushed slightly, recognizing the oddity of their situation. She was beyond relieved that the curse was finally completely broken, however, the weight of that guilt was only partially lifted.
Adam smiled, releasing her husband and turned to her without hesitation or trepidation and embraced her as well. "Of course, Maman."
Tears stung Rosalind's eyes at his acceptance. "I'm so sorry, for everything," she whispered, returning his hug.
"Don't be. Everything is as it was always meant to be. Without you, I'd never have met Belle. I'll never regret a moment I spent as a beast, for it gave me her." His face softened as his eyes sought his wife, who was being spun around the ballroom by Lumière.
Adam's brow creased as his friend dipped her low and placed a kiss on her cheek when he brought her back up.
"If you'll excuse me, I believe I need to extract my wife from the castle rake." He went to stalk away and cut in, but hesitated. That his jealousy was flaring at the simple interaction gave him pause. It was only Lumière, after all. Apparently that emotion was just as strong in this form as it had been in his beastly one. He would need to learn to temper it, and quickly.
Adam turned back, a blushing grin on his face. "Nevermind."
"Wise choice," Maurice said, looking over at his daughter. "I highly doubt Belle would have appreciated the interruption."
"Very true."
A few hours later, the party finally wound down. Most of the villagers from both Villeneuve and Montiquent had returned to their homes, and the castle staff that had joined the festivities either were helping to clean up or already retired for the night. The day had been extraordinarily long, and everyone was feeling the exhaustion.
Adam was talking with Lumière and Tobias, laughing and drinking. Belle imagined the older men were beguiling her husband with tales of their many conquests. She caught sight of Lumière's eye lingering on Adam's cravat, and she giggled when he looked over at her with a piqued grin.
Belle then walked her parents to the door. Her father gave her a parting kiss on the cheek before going outside to get Philippe hitched to the wagon. Rosalind stood with Belle alone on the top step to the entrance of the castle.
"I feel as if I should give you some motherly advice about tonight, but I just can't seem to find the words. I am confident you are already knowledgeable from your books, or could I dare presume your father, of the goings on between a man and a woman?" Her mother's focus was straight ahead, as if raising the topic at all was a great strain on her.
"Maman, I believe I know enough." The blush she had carefully kept at bay returned with a vengeance, and it was too much to hope her mother wouldn't look over at her just then.
The older woman did however glance at her, saw the flush on her daughter's cheeks, and her mouth formed a little 'o' at the realization. "He didn't! Not as a Beast?!"
Her mother's face went from shocked to angry in a matter of seconds, and Belle's cheeks felt so hot they might scar from the burns. Quick to correct the assumption, Belle assured, "No, oh no… He would never. I may have made a few fumbled attempts, but he was always the perfect gentleman and refused."
At her words, the shock returned to her mother's face, and Belle just smiled shyly at the unintended confession. "So then... When?"
Belle opened her mouth to reply, but nothing would come out. Before her Maman could ask again, Papa rolled up with Philippe and it saved her from having to answer the embarrassing question.
Just before departing, her Maman slipped her a small vial and whispered, "Take a small sip of this once a day if you'd like to delay motherhood. When you're ready, simply stop and nature will take its course." She kissed her daughter's cheek and joined her husband on the driver's perch of the wagon.
Belle palmed the vial as she felt her husband's arms come around her from behind. She settled into his embrace as they waved goodbye to her parents.
"I do believe it's time I carried you off to bed, your Highness," his husky whisper in her ear sent a tremor down her spine and she leaned back into him, molding her back to his front.
"I suppose it is, your Majesty," her own voice was low and a bit shallow at the feeling of his breath on her neck.
Taking her reply as consent, Adam scooped her up, tossed her over his shoulder, and carried her through the castle, all the while ignoring her shouts and protests that were hardly credible, for she couldn't contain her laughter and playful teasing.
What remained of the guests and staff observed the couple with humor and acumen, exchanging knowing glances.
As they entered their room, Adam gently set her down on her feet in front of the bed. Playfully, she hit his arm, scoffing at the way he'd paraded her through the castle and only slightly embarrassed by the scene they'd caused.
Turning to move towards the bed, something caught Belle's eye just above the headboard. It was a stunning portrait of the two of them. She was seated in a chair wearing the gold ball gown from the coronation. He stood behind her, in all his Beastly glory, donning the incredible blue suit he'd worn that same day, resting a large paw on the back of her chair. It was a glorious reminder of where they'd come from, and tears clouded her vision.
"When was this done?" she peered into her husband's eyes—the same eyes looking down on her from the portrait.
"A very talented Nymph has been working on it since the coronation. Seems as though we'll need to replace it, now that I've changed."
His smile was only slightly teasing, and she swiped at him again. "Never, I love it! Thank you." She rose on tip-toe to give him a brief kiss. "If truth be told, I had a moment of sadness earlier this evening when I realized the face I first loved was to be lost to me for forever. Not that I don't adore your face now, because I do, and I wouldn't change it for the world. But now, I'll always have a way of looking back and remember us just as we were when our love started."
Adam gathered her in his arms, knowing full well what she meant. "Although I too am thrilled to be human again, and all that comes with it, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a moment of dejection at the loss of who I was. I grew from a child into an adult in that form. I may have spent ten years despising myself for it, but the last seven or eight months, I really embraced being a beast. Especially once I knew you loved me anyway."
They stood staring at the painting for a few more moments, and Adam frowned slightly. "Do you think you'll miss me being like that?" he softly let fall from his lips. There was only a hit of insecurity in the words mixed with curiosity.
"I don't know," Belle contemplated. "I suppose as long as you realize I will always love the face of the Beast that I married as much as I love the face of the man that is my husband, you won't ever need to question that."
Standing before the bed, the couple held one another, admiring the painting for a while, noting the flawless detail of the other's face: How perfectly the artist captured Belle's half smile and the Beast's azure blue eyes, how his confidence shone in his posture and her compassion in her eyes, and most of all, the way they completed one another. The Beauty and her Beast.
The End
I can't thank my readers enough for their support and encouragement throughout this journey! You have blessed me with some incredible feedback and form the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!
A little over two years ago I floated the idea of writing a sequel to "As Old As Time" in a Disney FB group. I had a few people contact me, but only one was super excited about the prospect. I sent her my rough outline, and we brainstormed for hours! Throughout writing this, she's been my cheerleader, and constant support, and I never would have done this without my Ray-Nay! I love you sooooo much! And you are forever my muse and my sounding board.
3 1/2 months later I finished the first draft, and I sat on it, looking and searching for a beta to go over it and help me make it better. I hadn't written since college (over a decade) and I knew it needed help before sharing with the public. That's when I found Bittersweet and Strange BATB writing group, which is now more prominent in Discord at The Enchanted Rose. CarolNJoy took a brief look at chapter one, red lined like 70% of it, and sent it back to me. I was so disheartened! But from that, my second lifelong friendship bloomed.
*CarolNJoy is the tough love I need to push me and challenge me to dig deeper—not to mention whip my grammar into shape. I've adopted her as a member of my family and am so blessed she lives close and we get to hang out face to face all the time! Love you!
*TheGreeArcher has also been an inspiration and treasured editor for specific scenes and chapters. I am in awe of her talent and as much as I try to fight her suggestions sometimes, 98% of the time she's right, and I just need to give it time to sink in.
I HIGHLY recommend both of these amazing women's fics. TheGreenArcher is known for "A Prince In Disguise" and "Master of My Fate". CarolNJoy has some fantastic one-shots like "Spring Fever" and " Mirror Shards", but she's an epic writer of Babette and Lumière, "Nobel Sentiments" and "Nobel Intentions"
*WhiteButterfly came in late in the process, and I'm so glad I reached out to thank you for your review! You're betaing this last section of the story has been invaluable! Thank you.
For a year I've worked on editing and sculpting this story into what you see today, posting chapters as I finished them, and I am SO PROUD of what I've done! And SO happy you all have enjoyed it with me! I will never stop writing these two, but this story is officially over!
Except for a bonus scene... It will be posted as a separate one-shot, as it's rated M and not all readers are interested in that. But if you're like me and want to see what happens behind locked library doors, I'll post that tomorrow in a Bonus scene titled "One Passion, One Dream"