Beauty & the Beast: The Tale Continues

Chapter 10 - Blossoming, Part 1

Author's Note: Disney owns the BATB franchise; I just own this story... and the poems "Daffodils" and "A Red, Red Rose" were written by William Wordsworth by Robert Burns.

Also, I plan on toning down the "sex" stuff until it's needed again, and I sincerely apologize if any of it took you out of the story... personally, I blame it on the YouTube comments that I get from others on some of my BATB videos.

Oh, and for those who love poetry, any recommendations for me to check out so that I can add them in here, please?

"Alright, Adam, there is no need to worry about anything," said the young man, who was in front of a bathroom sink, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

"You are not a beast, you are a human being, and it's time that you acted like your... no, the new... ugh..."

Adam let out a sigh, and said, "Do as Belle said, Adam, relax... everything is fine."

As Maurice continued to work on his latest music box, he had a moment of frustration when a certain part did not fit.

"Belle, could you hand me the-" said Maurice, out of habit, and he felt someone place the piece that he wanted inside of his hand.

"You're always there when I need you to be, aren't you?"

Belle gave her father a warm smile, and said, "I've always wondered what you would do without me."

Maurice chuckled, and after noticing that Belle was holding a book in one of her hands, he said, "You seem like you're back to your old self again."

Belle rolled her eyes, and she replied, "Yes, well, honestly, I blame you for that."

Pausing his work, Maurice looked up at his daughter, and said, "What, me? How come?"

"For questioning Adam about... marriage and... the other thing," answered Belle, with some irritation. "It nearly took forever to find the right book that would help clear my head."

"Well, I apologize, but I was only doing the things that a father is supposed to do," said Maurice, going back to work. "I can't help it if... oh, shoot, Belle, could you find the... thank you... I just want to make sure that you'll be happy with Adam, and taken care of."

"I'll be fine, Papa," assured Belle, as she handed him another tool that he needed. "So, um, what kind of music-"

Maurice chuckled, and he shook his head, saying, "Nothing doing, Belle... this is one that you aren't going to see or know about until it is complete."

Belle just looked at hin quietly, for a moment, and her father added, "This doesn't count because it's barely the beginning stage... now, go on, be with Adam, I'm sure that he's worried about you or something."

##############

Once he finished getting ready for the day, Adam took a deep breath, let it out, and said, "Alright, just act as if the dream never happened, and don't be too worried about Belle. It was only a dream."

Once the two of them had finished with their breakfast, she was surprised to see that Adam now looked almost miserable. "What's wrong?"

Adam gestured his head towards the window, and said, "I was hoping for the two of us to walk around the grounds, and I would listen to you read some poetry, but I didn't expect the rain to ruin everything."

But then, to his surprise, Belle shook her head, and said, "We can still go outside."

"No, we can't," replied Adam, frowning in confusion, as he watched her get up from her seat. "It's raining, Belle."

Before walking out of the room, Belle smirked at Adam, and said, "Yes, I can see that."

A few minutes later

[Insert "In The Rain" by David Russell]

Belle and Adam were now sitting at the same bench where she had found him reading about King Arthur, but instead of snow being around them, it was rain.

"You are certainly no ordinary girl, Belle," said Adam, as he held up the umbrella that Belle had somehow been able to find. "Won't your book get ruined?"

"No, because the umbrella will keep us dry, and that is why you are holding it," replied Belle, talking as if it was obvious. "Now, do you want me to read to you, or not?"

As the rain continued to fall, Adam sighed, and nodded his head, listening to his girlfriend read from her latest book.

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Adam let out a grumble as the rain slowly increased, and Belle looked at him. "You really don't like rain, do you?"

"It's not that I don't like it, Belle," corrected Adam. "I just forgot how much I always used to prefer sunny days instead."

"Well, could you, at least, tolerate it long enough for me to read to you?"

Adam gave her a small smile, and replied, "Of course... continue."

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

As Belle was reading to Adam, Lumiere and Cogsworth were watching them from a window inside the castle.

"Good heavens, are they trying to catch a fever?" cried Cogsworth. "It. Is. Raining!"

"I am sure that they are well aware of that, my friend," pointed out Lumiere. "Besides, look how happy they are right now!"

Looking at his master and the woman that had broken the curse, Cogsworth sighed, and said, "Well, they do seem happy together..."

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

"It's amazing how one person can write something so well about nature," said Adam, in a low tone, while Belle simply smiled before continuing.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

Adam looked around, and a small smile appeared on his face. "Maybe the rain isn't so bad after all..."

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Once she finished, Adam - who was looking at her fondly - asked, "Would you mind reading another one?"

"Well, here, why don't you read one to me?" suggested Belle, handing the book to Adam, and taking the umbrella from his hands into her own.

"Um... alright..." Adam then started flipping through several pages of the book, and after finding one that caught his attention, he started to read it.

O my Luve's like a Red, Red Rose

That's newly sprung in June

Adam smirked, seeing a certain similarity, and Belle asked, "What?"

"Oh, nothing..."

O my Luve's like the melodie

That's sweetly play'd in tune

Then, as he continued, Adam found himself looking up at Belle.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I:

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry:

Belle felt the blush appear in her cheeks, but she continued listening to him read.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun;

I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve,

And fare thee weel a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho' it were ten thousand mile

Once Adam had finished, Belle suddenly had a crazy but wonderful idea, and to his surprise, she stepped out into the rain.

"What in the... Belle, get back under here," cried Adam, who was both confused and irritated with her.

"A little rain won't hurt you, Adam," pointed out Belle. "Besides, I feel like having a dance right now."

Adam blinked his eyes a few times, and he said, "Forgive me for saying this, Belle, but are you mad? It is raining, and if either of us-"

"Trust me, Adam, it'll be fun for the both of us," assured Belle, and the young man rolled his eyes, knowing that Belle would probably continue to ask him if he did not agree.

"This must be payback for me stealing her clothes," he muttered.

[Insert "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield; I know the song might not match, but I enjoy it, so...]

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined

I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

So, after a moment of hesitation, and making sure that the umbrella would keep the book dry, Adam walked over to Belle, and altough she was right about there not being much rain, he still was not a fan of getting wet, in general.

"You really want do this, don't you?"

Belle nodded her head, and Adam couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, alright, then..."

Staring at the blank page before yo

Open up the dirty window

Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

After the young prince delivered a bow to Belle, who respectfully performed a curtsey, the two of them began dancing the way they had done their first night in the ballroom.

Reaching for something in the distance

So close you can almost taste it

Release your inhibitions

"My, my, my," said a surprised Lumiere, from his spot at the window. "Bell is certainly quite the risk-taker, isn't she?"

Cogsworth simply let out a sigh, and said, "I do hope they will be safe."

Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you

Only you can let it in

No one else, no one else

Can speak the words on your lips

As it turned out, Adam had even began to enjoy dancing in the rain with Belle.

"You never cease to amaze me, Belle," said Adam, as he twirled her around.

Drench yourself in words unspoken

Live your life with arms wide open

Today is where your book begins

The rest is still unwritten

Then, the two of them shared a kiss, but this one was more calm and sweet, compared to other ones... and they were okay with that.

Maurice was now working on the melody part of his music box, but his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden arrival of Adam, who had a towel wrapped around his neck.

"So, I guess you enjoyed being in the rain?" He asked, with a chuckle, and Adam shrugged.

"It was fine, and we can thank Belle for convincing me to take part in... it... um, what are you making exactly?"

After making sure that Belle was nowhere to be found, Maurice said, "It's a special music box that I plan on giving to Belle once it is complete..."

How kind and thoutful of him, thought Adam, and he asked, "How many boxes have you made?"

"A lot more, actualy," pointed out Belle's father. "But they ended becoming ruined back when I first arrived here..."

"Yes, well, um, I apologize for that " said Adam, and Maurice gave him a polite nod before going back to work. "Need some help?"

Belle's father offered him a grateful smile, but said, "I appreciate your offer, but... no thanks... and speaking of which, how was the swim at the lake that you two had yesterday?"

"Oh, fine," replied Adam, smiling. "Belle looked beautiful, she helped me learn how to swim, and I took her... uh, I mean, we took a quick ran through the forest."

The young man didn't think it would be a wise choice to mention that he had taken Belle's clothes, and had her chase him around while wearing only a pair of boots and her swim suit.

"We both had an enjoyable time with each other."