Belle's POV

"No!" I screamed over the crashing thunder as Gaston raised his sword high above the beast. "Please no!"

Gaston looked over at me with rage in his eyes. "It doesn't have to be this way, Belle!" He yelled above the rain. "I'd be willing to put this little disagreement behind us..if you agreed to marry me!"

I stood silent for several minutes. Gaston has been fighting for me to marry him for years, but I've always denied. Never had I thought that I would consider it. But here I was, considering marrying this horrible, conceited man. But I couldn't let him kill the beast, I just couldn't. I gripped my hands together, lacing my fingers, to stop the shaking before nodding. Okay."

"What was that, my dear?" I heard Gaston ask above the rain.

I sighed before repeating my answer. "Okay!" I said louder.

I saw a wicked smirk grow across Gaston's face. He looked down at the beast and for a moment, I thought he would reconsider and kill the beast anyway. But Gaston took this opportunity to kick the beast in the side, sending the beast to the ground.

Gaston jumped across what was left of the castle floors over to me. He brought his hand to my cheek and chuckled. "Finally," he said. "My little wife."

...

Gaston had taken me home, intending for me to say a quick goodbye to my Papa, but Papa stopped me as soon as I told him that Gaston and I were to be married.

"Belle?" My father questioned walking up to me slowly. "You can't possibly marry this man. You've said many times it's not what you want."

I took a breath, trying to make my voice as less shaky as possible. "Papa, you want me to be taken care of don't you? Gaston is the man who can take care of me, so you don't need to anymore. I'll learn to love him, someday."

My Papa gave me a questioning look, but pulled me into his arms. "I love you, Belle. Very much. Please come visit."

"Of course." I hugged him tightly, not knowing when I would see him again.

Gaston came back into the kitchen area, my belongings in hand. He offered me his hand, and I took it.

"We shall be married in a few days." Gaston told me that evening. "Finally, I have you just like I wanted. I knew I would get you eventually Belle."

I sat down on our bed and sighed. "I may marry you, but I'll never be happy with you Gaston. Never."

An angry look flashed across his face before he replied. "You act like Im a monster, Belle. I'm strong, I'm handsome, I can provide for you! You told me that there was a beast, I did what I thought was right for my village and went to kill him. But I spared him for you! Everything I've done was to get you! Don't you understand that I can give you a good life? You may not love me now, but you'll see I'm not evil and maybe..just maybe you'll learn to love me."

With that, Gaston left the room and left me alone.

I laid down on the bed and put my face in a pillow. Maybe he's right. Maybe he's not an awful human. He did do what he believed was best for the village, and he did spare the beast for me. The Beast. I know that I would never be able to love Gaston, because my heart belonged to the beast.

That night, I laid awake in bed, staring out the window at the moon. I heard the loud snores of Gaston from beside me and shivered. I got up, and walked over to the window to get a better look at the glorious sight of the moon. In the distance, I could make out the outline of a tall tower, I gasped as I realized it was a tower of the beasts castle. I sighed, understanding that this was as close to him as I would ever be again. "I love you." I whispered gently walking back to the bed.

...

Beasts POV

I sat in the library, looking at every book, knowing she touched all of them. The excitement that was on her undeniably beautiful face the day I showed her the library. She was gone. She left with him to save me. Why would she save me? I'm a monster. I'm nothing.

I stood up and walked over to a bookshelf and pulled out a single book. "Romeo and Juliet". I'll always remember the day and read it to me. She read it so beautifully and vividly, I could see it in front of me.

I gripped the book to my chest, remembering every inch of her face. She gave up her freedom to save me. Just like she did for her father when I took him captive. Did she love me? It was as if the question was answered for me. Glowing lights started pouring from the sky. I began to back away from them, not knowing what they were. I felt myself being lifted into the air and I gasped in fear. What was happening?

I felt tingling throughout my body, like electricity. I looked at my paw, and saw it transform into a hand. A hand? Soon my other hand, my arms, legs and feet. I was slowly lowered to the ground, and the moment my feet touched the ground I sprinted towards my mirror.

It was me. I was human. Belle did love me. She did want me. I'm not just a monster to her. She gave up her freedom to save me, so I was going to save her.

A/N: howdy all! I'm really excited about this story and I hope you are too! Please leave a review if you'd like, giving me constructive criticism or any ideas for this book you may have! Thanks and happy reading!