Beauty and the Beast: The Tale Continues
Chapter 47 - Being Thankful, Part 1
Author's Note: Disney is the rightful owner of this franchise. I just own the story.
Also, I have another question - do you all want me to just time-jump towards Belle's final month of pregnancy once I finish with the Christmas chapters? Let me know in your review or via PM what you'd like... and I see that some of you would like Belle to have a girl ;)
Oh, and if anyone knows anything about bipolar disorder, or if you have it yourself, 1) I apologize if my version of it has offended you, and 2) would you mind telling me more about it (ex. pros/cons)?
[November 23rd]
"Adam... put the sword down..."
Belle and her husband, along with Raphael, were all inside Adam's study, and at the moment, she was trying her best to stop Adam from striking at their friend with the sword that hung above the fireplace.
"How... dare you..." growled an upset Adam, who was trying his absolute best not to lose total control of his temper.
For some reason, Raphael had entered the study several minutes ago, and revealed to Adam what he had done to Belle back in Verona, which brings us to what was currently happening.
"I understand why you're upset, Adam," said the former solider, trying to settle things in a peaceful way. "But try to understand that having bipolar disorder means I'm not always thinking straight, and-"
"But you still... touched her," exclaimed the young prince, whose eyes were full of anger and had a facial expression of disappointment. "And I have every right to be angry with you right now."
While Raphael gulped, Belle turned her husband's head towards her own, and pleaded, "Adam, please... I don't care if you're angry with him, but just do not kill him, alright?"
Adam looked back and forth between Belle and Raphael several times, and then, to their relief, he started to lower the sword down.
"But can I, at least, punch him in the face or something?"
Before Raphael could give him a response, Adam added, "It's either that, or I use this sword to remove your-"
"Adam, he didn't do that to me," hissed Belle. "I know you're upset, but... sheesh..."
As for the former antagonist, who let out a sigh, he walked towards Adam, and said, "Alright, prince boy, let's see what you-"
WHAM!
Raphael fell to the ground, after recieving a solid punch to the side of his face, and while he stood back up, Adam said, "We're even... for now... but I promise that if you make me this upset ever again, I will personally give you hell."
"Point made crystal clear, your Highness," muttered Raphael, wiping his somewhat bleeding mouth with a white cloth. "I will see you all later then..."
As he walked away, Adam sighed, and turned his attention over to Belle. "You have no idea how much I want to dis-invite him to the... thankful dinner tonight."
"I think I have a pretty good idea," replied Belle. "But with that out of the way, I believe that we have some organizing to finish up, so... wait, Adam, where are you going?"
"To the library, of course," said Adam, who was already about to walk out of the room. "Why, what is it?"
A playful expression appeared on Belle's face as she said, "Well, I've noticed that you haven't carried me like how you always used to do, so..."
"Oh... well, um..." Adam started to hesitate, not wanting to say something that would make her upset.
The reason for that was because Adam had noticed Belle's change in weight, and he feared that he might end up hurting either himself, Belle, or even the baby.
What am I supposed to say to her?
Unfortunately, Belle's emotions were still... abnormal... due to her pregnancy, and she immediately became teary-eyed while saying, "Oh, my God, I've become a cow."
"No, you're not a... cow, my love," replied Adam, who was doing his best not to smile whatsover because of the way she had said it, but Belle caught him trying to hide it, and the next thing he knew, she was crying.
"Don't lie to me, Adam, just admit it."
The young man sighed, and he shook his head, saying, "Belle, believe me, you are not... a cow... you're just having a baby, and... a little heavier than I would like you to be."
Then, realizing what he had just said, Adam added, "What I mean by that, my love, is-"
"Just look at me, Adam!" sobbed a crying Belle. "I can't get out of my reading chair on my own, you won't carry me anymore because I'll hurt your back, and even my-"
"Oh, I've already noticed that change, Belle," teased Adam, trying to be humourous, but it didn't really make that much of a difference. "Oh, sweetheart, please stop crying..."
Belle shook her head, so Adam walked over to give his wife a hug, and he began to softly massage her back. "You don't need to be upset, my love."
"Oh, easy for you to say, Adam, you aren't the one having a baby!"
As she continued weeping against his shirt, Adam was quickly thinking about what he could possibly say to make her feel better, and he went with the first thing that came into his head.
"Better now?" He asked, once they had finished sharing a kiss with each other.
Wiping away the tears from her eyes and face, Belle nodded her head, much to Adam's relief. "So I guess you don't want to- whoa!"
Just like before, the young man was carrying her in his arms, but he was also trying his best not to show her that he was starting to feel some back pain.
Oh, God, please give me strength.
"Adam, it's alright if-"
"Don't worry about... me, Belle," he replied, while walking towards the library, but at a slower pace than usual. "If I could climb up to your bedroom window, then I can certainly carry you to your library."
At first, Belle did not say anything, but then, a few minutes later, she asked, "Would talking about a past memory help you forget the pain?"
"Be my guest," replied Adam, and Belle began searching through her own library of memories inside her mind.
Then, when she told him about her choice, Adam started to chuckle, and he said, "I was only trying to make you feel more comfortable here, Belle."
"Well, you had a very amusing way of doing it."
[Flashback]
A few days after he and Belle had eaten their meal in the same way, the Beast was standing at the terrace by the ballroom, along with Lumiere and Cogsworth, and they watched the young woman playing with FrouFrou in the snow.
When Belle started to laugh after the dog-turned-footstool's playful antics, a warm feeling spread throughout the Beast's body.
"I've never felt this way about anyone," muttered the Beast, not noticing Lumiere give Cogsworth a smug look. "I feel like... I want to do something for her... but what?"
"Oh, well, there's the usual things," replied Cogsworth. "Flowers, candied sweets... promises you don't intend to keep - ow!"
After thumping the mantle clock on the back of his head, Lumiere rolled his eyes, and said, "Ah, no, it has to be special, Master... something that she would not expect you to - oh, I've got it, make her some ragù napoletano!"
"Pasta?" The Beast looked at the candelabra as if he was crazy. "Why would I make her an Italian dish when we're in France?"
"I agree wholehartedly with you, Master," replied Cogsworth. "Makes no sense whatsoever."
Lumiere sighed, and he shook his head, in disappointment. "That is because you are not thinking with your heart, my friend... her favorite book takes place in Italy, no?"
"Well, technically, yes," muttered the Beast. "But I don't see why-"
"Plus, if she learns that the meal came especially from you," interrupted Lumiere. "Then, she will see how independant you can be, and that you don't need us to help you all the time."
The Beast groaned, and he replied, "But I do need help, Lumiere... I don't know anything when it comes to making food."
"Not to worry, Master, me and the rest of the kitchen staff will give you the instructions," assured the candelabra. "And once she enjoys the taste of the meal, she'll be that much closer to falling in love with you!"
Looking back at Belle, the Beast also remembered that the Enchanted Rose did not have many petals left, which meant that time was slowly starting to run out.
"Alright, Lumiere... but this idea of yours better work."
"Of course, Master... have I ever been wrong before?"
Several Hours Later
As she sat alone in the dining room, Belle was starting to wonder what exactly the Beast's surprise dinner would be.
"I doubt he'll try and do a performance like the one Lumiere put on for me," muttered the young woman, as she patiently waited in her chair.
A few minutes later, she found herself humming along to the tune that the candelabra and the rest of the staff had sung to her.
"I still don't think I-"
"No, no, no, it looks perfect, Master... now, go, she must be starving at this point."
"Well, don't blame it on me, Lumiere, I was only trying to make this perfect!"
A smile appeared on Belle's face, and she couldn't help but giggle at the argument between the Beast and Lumiere.
Then, to her stomach's relief, the Beast came out of the kitchen door, and she saw that he was holding two plates of food.
"I hope I, um... didn't keep you waiting long," said the Beast, who was walking towards her carefully so that he didn't spill anything, which Belle found amusing.
"No, not really," replied Belle, even though her stomach was saying otherwise. "The food smells delicious."
Well, that's a good start, I suppose, thought the Beast, and after taking his seat beside her, he slowly set down the plates onto the table, placing hers in front of her.
Belle's eyes became wide with surprise as she looked at her meal, and said, "You made us pasta?"
"Um... yes," replied the Beast, still feeling a little nervous about what her reaction would be once she tasted it. "Have you... have you ever ate pasta before, Belle?"
"No, I can't say that I have," said Belle, letting out a chuckle. "But there is a first time for everything, I suppose... so, thank you."
The Beast continued to feel a little better, and was starting to believe that Lumiere's plan would actually work, but after Belle had started to eat some of the pasta, she said, "Well, it is a bit... um, saltier than how imagined it would taste, but-"
"Ugh, I knew it, you detest my food," groaned the Beast, lowering his head in shame. "I wanted to try something that people in northen Italy would usually it, but I was foolish in believing that... wait, why are you laughing?"
"Because of the way you're acting," replied Belle, as the Beast lifted his head back up "I don't hate the food... I like it."
The Beast let out a nervous chuckle, and said, "Oh, well... that's great, then... I'm glad to hear that."
As they continued eating, however, the Beast made a mental note to not add so much salt if he were to make pasta ever again.
[Present]
"You really thought I'd be upset or something if I didn't like the taste of it?"
As they entered the library, Adam gave a little shrug, and he replied, "I'm only human, Belle... but I'm still glad that you were able to enjoy it."
Then, after carefully setting Belle back on her feet, the young man asked, "How much longer until our son is ready to come out?"
"Just four more months," replied the young woman. "And it's going to be a girl."