Beauty and the Beast: The Tale Continues

Chapter 23 - Wedding Preparations, Part 4

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

Also, if there is anyone out there that knows how a wedding day would usually go in France compared to one in California, please tell me what it's like.

And, I apologize for the shortness of this chapter. Now I know how it feels to write filler.

The Next Day

"Something troubling you, Adam?"

The young prince had been pacing back and forth for quite some time in Maurice's workshop, and he only stopped after hearing his soon-to-be father in law speak to him.

"It's Belle," admitted Adam, a look of concern on his face. "She and Plumette are currently spending the day together in Paris to celebrate enterrement de vie de fille, and I'm just worried how she will be like when she returns."

"Well, shouldn't you be having your version of that today?" questioned Maurice, and to his surprise, Adam shook his head.

"After what my uncle told Belle yesterday, I would prefer not to end up in a similar situation that could make things worse."

Even though he and Belle had made peace with the fact that Adam was not a virgin, it still bothered him because, had he not drank so much wine that one night, he could have actually enjoyed his first time with Belle, on their honeymoon, but instead, he would always remember having it with someone he hardly cared about.

"How did it go for your wife when she had hers?" asked Adam, deciding that he'd spend some time continuing to bond with Maurice.

Maurice began to chuckle, and he replied, "Well... her friends convinced her to participate in a drinking game that involved, um... ha-ha-ha-ha..."

Suddenly, the elderly gentleman found himself laughing more, and Adam gave him a curious look. "What?"

"Oh, that is something I'd never thought I would ever see," explained Maurice. "How my daughter would act after several glasses of wine."

A slight frown appeared on Adam's face as he said, "I don't really think Belle would be the kind of woman to do something like that."

"Well, if she is anything like her mother," replied a smiling Maurice. "You're in for quite a surprise."

Paris, France

After the waiter poured wine into their glasses, Belle and Plumette both held up their glasses, and said, "Cheers."

They were spending their lunch at an outdoor dining facility, after taking a tour of several places from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, and as Belle brought the glass to her lips, she took a small sip of the wine... then, she immediately spat it out afterwords, causing a few of the other people that sat at the tables across from them to look at her.

"That was revolting," said Belle, with a look of digust on her face. "How could someone ever drink that stuff?"

Plumette tried her best to not laugh as she said, "Forgive me for not warning you beforehand, mademoiselle, but trust me when I say that it tastes better after a few more sips."

Wondering if that was true, Belle decided to take a second sip, and even though she was able to swallow it, the taste was still terrible.

"Is that for me?" questioned Belle, noticing the package that was in her companion's lap.

"Indeed it is, mademoiselle," replied Plumette, a sly grin on her face. "Think of it as a pre-wedding gift from me to you."

She handed the gift to Belle, who accepted it with a grateful smile, and when the young woman lifted off the lid just a little bit to take a peek, her eyes went wide while her face became red.

"Um... thank you, Plumette," said Belle. "I'm sure that, uh... it'll be put to good use."

"That is up to you," replied Plumette, giving a small shrug, and she took a sip of wine from her own glass.

After eating some of her meal, Belle took her third sip, and said, "Huh... that one wasn't actually as dreadful."

"I never did thank you, Nathaniel, for tearing up that agreement," said Adam, who was taking a walk with his uncle.

"You don't have to," replied the elderly ruler. "Your mother would have wanted you to listen to your heart when it came to finding a woman to be wed to, not a ridiculous agreement."

Adam started to wonder what would his mother think of Belle, and his answer sort-of came when Nathaniel added, "She probably would have wanted you to marry only Belle, and not some other girl who came from royalty."

Adam started to chuckle, but suddenly, he grunted in pain, and mumbled, "Cursed weapon."

"Is there something wrong, son?" wondered Nathaniel.

"Sort of," replied Adam, nodding his head. "There have been times when I can still feel the pain that I recieved after getting shot in the back three times by Gaston."

"Oh, yes, the hunter that your soon-to-be wife told me about," said Nathaniel, remembering a conversation he and Belle had shared. "Good thing that he doesn't have any family members after you wanting to seek revenge."

Adam rolled his eyes, and replied, "Hilarious, Nathaniel... but that stuff only happens in the stories that Belle reads, not in real life."

"As does an enchantress, talking furniture, and a monsterous beast," pointed out Nathaniel, causing Adam to look at him. "What, it's the truth..."

After finishing her glass, Belle smiled, and said, "You were right, Plumette, it does taste better eventually."

"I told you that it would," replied the lovely maid, also smiling. "Would you like some more?"

Belle nodded her head. "But just a little bit, not a lot... I'm honestly not the drinking type."

"Not to worry, mademoiselle, I promised Master that I would not let anything terrible happen to you," replied Plumette, while pouring some more wine into her glass.

Later that night

Adam was now pacing in his study, with Lumiere and Cogsworth watching him.

"Belle will be fine, Master, there is nothing for you to be worried about," asssured Lumiere.

Cogsworth nodded his head, in agreement. "A respectable woman like should know when she has reached her limit of drinking enough wine."

I thought I knew what my limit was, thought Adam. Look where that got me.

"... still can't believe that it was all because of a ro... oh! Hello, Adam!"

Belle had appeared at the doorway, but for some reason, she looked a bit... off.

"Did you and Plumette enjoy your day in Paris, mademoiselle?"

She nodded her head, and replied, "Oh, yes, we had a... wonderful time, Lumiere."

Adam gave her a confused look, and asked, "Why are you almost sounding like a British person?"

"What do you mean?" asked Belle, walking over to him. "I've always talked like... this."

She brought one of her hands to his face, and gave a sigh of happiness. "My handsome prince... and I see you've been working on your beard."

Adam couldn't help but chuckle at the way she was acting, and he said, "Alright, my love, I think you should go to bed before you end up-"

"Oh, that reminds me!" interrupted Belle. "Come to my room in 5 minutes!"

Before Adam could say anything, Belle ran out of his study, and Cogsworth sighed.

"Well, as far as we know, things could have been worse."

"Oh, I'd love to see how that would look like," replied Adam, in a sarcastic tone, and he turned to look at Lumiere. "What do you suppose she wants to show me?"

Lumiere shrugged, in response, and said, "I am not so sure, Master, but it can't be that bad. She'll probably be asleep after the five minutes have passed."

And, so, five minutes later, Adam went up to her bedroom door, knocking on it before saying, "Belle? Are you alright?"

There wasn't a response, so Adam quietly opened the door, and found Belle lying on her bed, still in her dress from this morning, out like a light.

"Oh, Belle..." whispered Adam, who began to move Belle into a better position for sleeping. "You must have had a very exciting and long day."

Then, after placing the covers over her, Adam kissed Belle on the forehead, and said, "Good night, my love... only one more day until you are officially my wife."

A smile started to appear on Belle's face, and Adam tucked some strands of hair behind her ear before leaving the room.