Beauty and the Beast: The Tale Continues

Chapter 2 - Forgiveness

Author's Note: Disney is the rightful owner of "Beauty and the Beast" and any related media. I just own the story.

I just shared a kiss with her not that long ago, and now I can't find her.

Several hours had passed since the Prince's transformation, and he was now walking around the castle, searching for the beautiful young woman he had fallen in love with.

I take my eyes off of her for a moment, and the next thing I know, she's gone.

The first place that the Prince had checked was the library, but to his surprise, Belle had not been in there.

Could she have possibly had... no, of course not, she said it herself that she loved me.

And the Prince felt the same way towards Belle.

But then, why was it so hard to find her?

"Lumiere! You never saw me here, okay?"

"Of course, my friend, but why are you-"

"Henry!"

"Oh, dear..."

The Prince chuckled as he heard the voices of Lumiere and Cogsworth a few feet behind him, but then, he heard another familiar voice, and walked in the direction that it was coming from.

"... and you never explained yet to me about what happened with you and the Beast..."

He stopped in front of a closed door, knowing that the voice belonged to Maurice, and his body instantly warmed up after hearing yet another person's voice.

"I told you, Papa, that he's not the same as when you first met him... he even released me from my imprisonment so that I could save you from the angry villagers... he's changed..."

The Prince smiled, quietly placing his ear against the door to continue listening.

"Well, whatever happened to him, then? I've not yet seen him once since we arrived back here."

"Um... that's actually quite an interesting story."

The Prince found himself nodding his head, in agreement.

"You remember I said that he had changed?"

Looking at his transformed hands and feet, the Prince was still surprised to know that he was actually a human once again, after being a beast for so many years.

He then remembered something that he'd said to Belle back in Paris, and knew that he would have to offer an apology to-

"A prince? He turned into an actual prince?"

"Well, technically, he was always a prince, Papa, just... not a very kind one, but he's different now."

And it was all because of him finally being able to love someone, as well as earning her love in return.

"So, then, where is he at?"

"Right outside the door."

The Prince stepped back a bit, and wondered how Belle knew of him being there, but the door suddenly opened, revealing a smiling yet eyebrow-raising Belle.

"Um, how long did you know I was there?" He asked, a sheepish smile appearing on his face.

As Belle gently pulled him into the room, she replied, "Just long enough... and now, it's your turn to talk."

Turning his attention from Belle to Maurice, who looked confused, the Prince sighed, and said, "Hello, sir... first off, I would like to sincerely apologize for calling you a thief, and the way I treated you when you first arrived here."

Maurice's expression became a little softer as he replied, "Thank you... and, if I understand it correctly, you were a beast, but now you are not?"

The Prince nodded his head, and said, "I was placed under a terrible curse, as were everyone else who lived here in the castle... all because of a heartless mistake I had made."

"But, how did the curse get broken?" wondered Maurice.

Before the Prince could give his response, Belle found herself saying, "I would like to know that, as well... if it's alright with you."

He gave her a warm smile, and tried to think of what was the best thing for him to say, so that neither Belle nor Maurice would get the wrong meaning. "Well, it could only be broken if... I learned to love someone, as well as earn their love in return... and I have never been more happier in my entire life to say that I love your daughter very much."

A feeling of warmth spread throughout Belle's entire body, and her heart skipped a few beats after hearing the Prince say that he loved her.

"You love her..." repeated Maurice, and he looked over at Belle. "And you love him, as well?"

She nodded her head, and walked over to the Prince, who gently took her hands in his own. "Yes, Papa, I do... I sincerly and absolutely love him, with all of my heart."

Maurice didn't say anything else, at first, but as he noticed the way that both the Prince and her daughter were looking at each other, he was reminded of the way that he and Belle's mother always used to look at each other, causing a smile to appear on his face.

"Well... all I can say is that I'm happy for the both of you, and I accept your apology, son," replied Maurice, and he offered the Prince a handshake.

But once the Prince had walked over to shake his hand, the elderly man suddenly remembered things that Gaston had said to him, and he asked, "Does this mean that Belle would become a princess, if you decided to marry her?"

The Prince instantly felt embarrased as he replied, "Uh... well, technically, yes-"

"Papa!" exclaimed a blushing Belle, sounding annoyed with her father. "Why would you say that?"

Maurice gave her daughter a smirk, and said, "I am your father, Belle, that's my job."

Belle rolled her eyes, hoping that her father would not embarass her anymore.

"Which also reminds me... by love, you did not mean that-"

"Pa-PA!" hissed Belle, whose face was almost as red as the enchanted rose, as well as the face of the Prince. "Say one more thing like that, and I'll put you in the dungeon myself."

Maurice chuckled, and replied, "I'm sorry, Belle... now, if it's alright with the two of you, I would like to get some rest, considering that the last few days have been... well, strange, to say the least."

"Of course, sir," said the Prince, nodding his head, which made Maurice give him a smirk.

"You can just call me by my first name," replied Belle's father. "And I take it that you do not want to be called Beast anymore?"

The Prince let out a chuckle, and shook his head while Belle asked, "What is your actual name?"

"Adam," he replied, and Belle started to smile again.

That's a nice name, thought Belle, who walked over to her father, giving him a hug, and wishing a well rest before the two of them quietly left the room.

Once they were gone, Maurice sat down on the bed, and quietly said to himself, "She's just like her mother..."

As they walked down the hall, Adam cleared his throat, and said, "Well, ah, that was certainly an interesting, um, conversation."

"Ugh, don't remind me," muttered Belle, whose face was still a little red.

"But, to be fair, I do not think that I would be standing here right now if I had told your father that we-"

"Can we please save this conversation for another time?" asked an embarassed Belle, giving Adam a look that made him feel sheepish.

"Of course," replied the young prince. "Now, then, I was supposed to tell you... ah, yes, I am having a celebration here tomorrow, and I was hoping you and your father would stay the night so-"

"For the night?" interrupted Belle, giving him a questioning look. "Why not every night?"

Adam shrugged his shoulders, and replied, "Well, I did free you, so you no longer have to stay here against your will, and I just assumed-"

"Well, why would I go anywhere else?" said Belle. "I called this place our home, remember?"

Our home? thought Adam, and he replied, "So... you and your father are staying here?"

Belle nodded her head, and said, "Just as long as we're not technically prisoners."

Adam chuckled, and smiled at the young woman, saying, "No, of course not... well, then, if you'll excuse me for a moment, Belle, I have to go and bathe myself, as well as change into a more... um, fitting outfit."

"Would you like some help?" teased Belle, raising an eyebrow, and now Adam's face started to turn red.

"I appreciate the offer, but I can take care of my own body," replied the Prince, while Belle simply let out a giggle. "I'll meet you in the library when I finish."

He then kissed the top of her head, and walked down the staircase, while Belle continued walking to her room.

I wonder what kind of dress Madame Garderobe can make me for tomorrow.

She would have just worn her yellow one, but it would take some time before that could be worn again.

Before he started the bathing process, Adam couldn't help but continue to think about what Maurice had said earlier.

It's not like I wouldn't want to marry Belle... or even...

Adam then shuddered, and mumbled, "One step at a time... no one ever said that something like this would be easy."