Beauty and the Beast: The Tale Continues

Chapter 44 - A New Belle, Part 2

Author's Note: Disney is the rightful owner of this franchise. I just own the story.

Now, then, I know that Halloween itself was probably not celebrated in France during the 18th Century, so if certain parts of this story seem confusing, it's because I am trying my best to keep it in continuity timeline-wise.

And, yes, we will soon be reaching the month of December in the story, which I am sure that you've probably noticed by now is not exactly Adam's favorite time of the season.

Also, I am personally loving the moments that I write regarding Raphael teasing Belle about her "British accent", so don't expect that to go away anytime soon...

[Final week of October]

"Whoa... so, you really have a baby inside of you right now?"

"Well, yes, but it's not an actual baby just yet, Chip."

As the month of October was slowly starting to reach its final days, Belle was relieved that, for now, the worse side of her pregnancy side-effects were gone.

She no longer had morning sickness, and would only eat food whenever she felt hungry, as well as showing improvement when it came to her mood swings.

Also, Belle's unexpected urges to make love to Adam was no longer an issue, and to his humor, she would prefer to sleep instead.

In fact, she had spent most of her time in the past few weeks asleep in her bed, which Adam assumed was because she needed to save enough energy for when it came time to actually have the baby, and since that he was able to have some time to himself, the young prince had chosen to finally start the work on a secret project that he'd thought of ever since the night she had agreed to marry him.

However, for today, he and Belle were in the library, and trying to give an appropriate explanation to Chip about her pregnancy.

"So, how did you get to having a baby inside you in the first place?" wondered the curious child.

Belle chuckled, and she shook her head, saying, "I think you'll have to wait until you are older for us to tell you why."

Chip nodded his head, but a few seconds later, he said, "Okay, Belle, I'm older."

The young woman smirked at him, and replied, "A lot more older than that, Chip... just try not to think much about it, alright?"

"Ohhh..." groaned a disappointed Chip, but then, he simply shrugged, and said, "Alright, then, Belle... see you later!"

As the young child hurried out of the library, Adam chuckled, and said, "I think Mrs. Potts would be very strict with the both of us if we did end up telling Chip the actual way that children are made."

Before Belle could give her response, a familiar voice said, "Yeah... that wouldn't be a wise thing to do, now would it, prince boy?"

Adam gritted his teeth in frustration, and he turned to look at Raphael, who was at the doorway. "Do you not have your own home to stay at?"

"Not really," muttered the former solider, but not in his usual humorous tone, which Belle quickly noticed.

However, he quickly changed his expression, and said, "Anyway... the reason that I'm here-"

"Besides seeing Belle, and annoying the hell out of me?" interrupted Adam, which made his wife softly punch his shoulder.

"Very amusing, prince boy," replied Raphael. "But besides those two things, I wanted to see what you two would be doing here on the 31st."

Adam and Belle shared a look of confusion, with her asking, "Why do you ask?"

"Because it... oh, right, I forgot, this is France," said Raphael, with a sly grin. "Well, madame, several years ago, I was in America, and on that day, I would see people having dinner parties, but they were usually dressed as... something out of the ordinary... while the kids and young adults would play harmless yet scary pranks on each other."

"Really?" said Belle, surprised. "Is there a name for it?"

Before Raphael could reply to her,

Adam asked, "You've been to... America?"

"Yes, but not for very long," said the former soldier, who then looked back at Belle. "I could show you around, madame, if you ever-"

"You are never to touch the atlas ever again," growled an annoyed Adam. "And if anyone is ever going to take her there, it's going to be me... her husband... not someone like you."

Raphael began to frown, and he replied, "You think you know me so well, don't you, Adam? Heh, you're just like everyone else..."

"Oh, do not play that card on me, Raphael," exclaimed the young man, but before he could continue speaking, Belle stepped in front of him.

"Adam, please, lower your temper... he means well."

Adam shook his head, and replied, "Stop defending him, Belle, he does not deserve to-"

"I don't need your wife's damn defense, prince boy," yelled an angered Raphael.

"Stop calling me that!" roared Adam, and he walked towards him, but once again, Belle stepped in between the two of them.

"Will you two stop fighting?" She exclaimed. "Honestly, you're both giving me a headache!"

Adam rolled his eyes, and growled, "Belle, I am not going to let him-"

"Did you honestly think I was trying to take her away from you?" questioned Raphael. "She's old enough to pass as my sister, you moron-"

"Shut up!" yelled Adam, but Belle was continuing to hold him back.

"Alright, you know what? Forget it, then... I'll leave if that's what the prince wants."

He started to walk away, but then, Belle cried, "Raphael, don't go, please?"

"What?" exclaimed a shocked Adam. "How on Earth could you-"

"Because I know what he's been through," replied Belle. "Perhaps if you knew his story, then-"

Raphael scoffed, and he shook his head, saying, "Don't waste your breath, princess... he would never understand."

"Try me," growled Adam, who was now forcing himself to relax after seeing the sadness in his wife's eyes.

[AN: Imagine the sad Pokémon music from the show that plays in the 1st episode when Ash tells the Spearows, "Come and Get Me!"]

For a moment, Raphael remained silent, and then, he said, "You don't know what it's like, Adam, to walk all around Britian, and hear everyone you know talk about how wonderful and heroic that your half-brother was... while they simply forgot about everything that I tried so damn hard to accomplish.

"And, yes, I have been to America, as well as Germany and Spain, even Italy... but no matter where I went, the things that I did... the life stories I've told about countless lives that were saved because of me... none of that mattered because they could not simply believe how a person who would be kind and caring for a moment, then become fierce and serious the next..."

Raphael paused his story to let out a sigh, with Adam seeing pain in his eyes.

"Out of all the places I've been to in the world, none of them had a place that I could go to, where people saw me for who I really was... or, at least, what I tried so hard to be... I mean, do you know what it's like to spend many nights, Adam, thinking that you're alone in the world, and no one seems to care about you, but would rather prefer to talk about you underneath their breath?"

To his surprise, Adam nodded his head, and said, "The alone part, yes... as for the other half, I think Belle understands that more than I could..."

"Exactly," said Belle, glad to see that her husband was understanding. "I know you don't always enjoy his company, Adam, but the truth is that I..."

"You care about him a lot," finished Adam, who then sighed. "Because you know what he went through... and, apparently, so do I..."

Then, he looked back at Raphael, and said, "I... I'm sorry to have thought wrong about you... but would you mind telling us ahead of time when your next visit will be?"

The former antagonist chuckled a little bit, and said, "I'll work on that... but don't expect me to change that much for you, prince boy... I have to make my own entertainment somehow."

"Well, as long as you try, I can accept that," replied Adam. "However, perhaps you could tell me what was it that you did to Belle back in-"

"So, um, Raphael, what were you talking about regarding the 31st of this month?" interrupted Belle, not wanting to see another argument occur.

"Huh? Oh, right... well, I don't think it matters anymore since no one in France usually celebrates on that day... or, at least, nothing that I'm aware of."

Adam turned over to look at his wife, and he chuckled, saying, "I know that look, Belle. What are you thinking?"

The young woman had a smile on her face, and she said, "I was thinking..."

A few days later

"Is it me, LeFou, or does the ballroom seem sort of different this time when compared to previous parties?"

As he drank from his glass of wine, Gaston's former friend shook his head, and replied, "Not really, Stanley... oh, bonjour, Be... uh... Belle, is that... you?"

"Yes, of course it is," replied Belle, who was wearing a dress that was similar to the outfit that Agathe wore, but with her own style added to it. "Why do you ask?"

"I just... um... didn't expect to see you dress as a..." said a somewhat nervous LeFou. "You aren't a witch, are you?"

Belle chuckled, and she shook her head, saying, "No, LeFou, I'm an enchantress... there's a big difference. Do you see me holding a broomstick, or wearing a pointy hat?"

"Well, no, but I don't anyone from the village to get the wrong idea," replied LeFou, smiling at her. "How's the baby?"

"She's fine... thank you for asking," replied Belle, who still believed that she would be having a girl. "How are-"

"Well, aren't you such a pretty witch?" said Raphael, who was dressed entirely in black, along with a black cape, and half of a silver-colored face mask. "Still can't lose your accent, madame?"

Belle frowned at her friend, and she said, "For the last time, Raphael, I do not have a British accent... I did not come from England, I was born in France."

Raphael just gave a playful shrug, and then, he noticed who Belle had been talking to. "Well, bonjour, Monsieur LeFou... Belle has told me good things about you."

"Aw, well, there isn't much really to tell," replied a bashful LeFou. "But it's nice to meet you, Monsieur... um..."

"Stanley, LeFou, this is Raphael," said Belle, making introductions. "He's a friend of mine, and is also Gaston's half-brother."

"Really?" said LeFou, surprised. "Huh... Gaston never mentioned you before."

Raphael rolled his eyes, and said, "I can't say that I'm surprised... but I'm glad you saw who he really was."

"Uh-huh, a monster," replied LeFou, but before he could say anything else, they heard the arguing voices of Lumiere and Cogsworth.

"For God's sake, Lumiere, will you stop trying to scare me so much?"

"Aw, lighten up, Cogsworth, I am only having some holiday fun!"

"We don't even know what this holiday is called!"

"I do not think it really matters, my friend!"

Belle tried to stop herself from giggling too much as she said, "LeFou, would you and Stanley mind helping them out?"

"Of course, madame," replied LeFou, and while they walked away, Raphael began to smile at her.

"Thank you, again, Belle, for being my friend... I never thought I'd have someone like you in my life."

Belle nodded her head, and she said, "You're welcome, Raphael... and it's because I care about you that I don't plan on telling Adam what you did in Verona until the time is right."

Raphael chuckled, and replied, "I see your point... speaking of Adam, where is-"

"Nice outfit you have there," said the young prince, who was now making his way towards them, wearing a medieval knight outfit, and holding a sword in one of his hands.

"Um... what are you supposed to be dressed as?" asked Raphael, who was holding in his laughter.

"He's Lancelot," said Belle, and the former soldier covered his mouth to muffle his laughter, while Adam rolled his eyes.

"I told her that I'm King Arthur," corrected the young prince.

Belle gave her husband a playful smirk, and while waving her self-made wand around, she said, "Alright, just relax, your Highness, or else I'll place you under another curse."

Adam laughed, and kissed the top of his wife's head, saying, "I would love to see you try, my love... perhaps you could practice first on Raphael?"

"Nice try, Lancelot," replied the former soldier, who then quickly walked away after Adam started to swing the sword around.

"King Arthur," growled Adam, who then looked back at his wife. "And be careful with your wand, my love... you almost could have poked my eye out."

While Belle rolled her eyes, Adam added, "What was that one spell we read about in that one book? Leviosa or-"

"Levi-O-sa, Adam," corrected the young and expectant woman. "Not levio-SA... honestly, you'd make a terrible enchantress."

"Oh, and I'm sure you would just be the brightest one of your age," said a chuckling Adam, who softly placed a hand on her stomach. "Are you ready for us to come up with a name yet?"

Belle shook her head, and replied, "I think I'll wait until she... or he... is actually born, if you're okay with that."

Before giving her a slow and passionate kiss on the lips, Adam smiled, and said, "I'm completely fine with that, my love."