Lefou had met Gaston at the tavern a few hours later. The two men had shared the afternoon together, as Lefou shared stories and answered his friend's questions. "Why all of this sudden interest in Miss Stevenson?" Lefou raised an eyebrow with suspicion. "I merely wanted to know what her past was," Gaston said carefully. "Sounds to me like you were trying to pry to find information like you used to do in the past." Lefou let slip out. Gaston gazed at Lefou in a perplexed manner- although he had already knew exactly what he was talking about, though he would not admit it. "I only want to know more about her," he said honestly, to his friend's startled surprise. "Why?" Lefou couldn't quite get at Gaston's reasoning. In the past-he would know exactly why- to use the information for his own twisted and wicked benefit-now it did not seem that way. Claudia had nothing to offer him; or so it seemed. "But the girl is nothing to you" Lefou further revealed. "Was there someone?" Gaston asked, despite his friend's awkwardness at being cornered. "Yes" he said, "It was Belle" Gaston said. "How did you?" Lefou added, "I will tell you the truth, but you must promise to keep what I tell you a secret," Gaston said. "Anything" Lefou said. He smiled abit slyly and said: "I know who Belle is" Lefou blinked, "I know-because I'm back" Gaston said, as there was a chilly presence in the air.
Claudia had been watching the two men for a while now. She was startled when John had quietly come up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I have not seen him before" she said, pointing to Lefou. I have, John thought to himself. "Do you know that little gentleman?" She asked him. "Somewhat" John answered in part truth. "I wonder if Gaston's memory is finally starting to return. He must know that man," Claudia said softly. John found himself smiling. "Why the sudden concern?" He asked playfully. Claudia did not answer she only gazed at Gaston quietly, noting the change in his facial expressions. He looked almost impious. Claudia did not pull away when Gaston had come towards the door, and realized she had been watching him. He had only gazed down at her silently-as she had attempted to hide the longing in her eyes. "Were you watching me?" Gaston asked her carefully, hiding his devious smile. For once she was speechless. He had laughed, "now this is a travesty" she blushed, "damn you" she said softly, and left in a huff. He chuckled again, meeting John's gaze. The other man had come up next to him, "I'd be careful if I were you, Claudia is not someone you want to toy with," he said more seriously. Neither am I Gaston thought silently.
Claudia was finding her growing passion for Gaston was becoming very difficult to hide. He was enjoying his time with her; but secretly grew angered when other men tried to claim her affections. That night, as John was entertaining the men at the bar with his delightful stories, the other barmaids were serving drinks. The tavern had seemed to grow quieter when another man had come into the room, with his heavy boots and deep brooding face. Claudia had dropped her beer tray-and the entire room grew silenced when the clatter of glass reached the floor and shattered. Gaston had met Claudia's face, and saw the fear in her eyes. The man had quickly come to her side. Without speaking a word, he latched onto her arm, and took her outside on the porch. Gaston frowned. He then turned to John, who looked as baffled as he. Gaston had silently went outside after her, and watched by the door. "I did not expect to see you again Daniel" she whispered. "Of course you wouldn't, you presumed I was dead!" The gentleman sounded angered. "I did no such thing! I waited for three years; I tried to escape, you were the one who left!" She said, trying not to raise her voice. "This is neither the time or place to discuss this" Claudia said, "I want you to go" she added, "I refuse" Daniel replied.

"Then I will leave," she said coldly. But he had pulled at her arm, "I am not finished!" He said, "yes you are," she said with hatred in her voice, "now I demand that you let me go at once" she uttered. Gaston felt the chill in the air, as Daniel left angrily. He had never seen that much hatred in a man's eyes for a woman. He had also seen the look of disgust that was intermixed with fear in Claudia's eyes. Gaston let out a breath before joining her. "Are you alright?" He asked her. She raised her head up and gave him another defiant look. "Leave me alone" she answered, and left quickly before he could stop her. John had attempted to call out to her, but Claudia had raced up the stairs too quickly.
Everyone had heard the door slam. John gave Gaston a silent look of bewilderment, and then asked him to go up and make sure that she was all right. He felt intimidated by the task at first. In his confusion, anger and jealousy of that other man, he was feeling even more conflicted than ever. "Please go, she needs you" John said softly to him-he knew already how the two of them felt about each other. Gaston had slowly descended the staircase and when he reached Claudia's chambers, he could hear the faint sound of sobbing. He stood by the door, and noted her lying on the bed, her face down on the pillow. What has that man done to you? He asked himself. He wanted to hold her in his arms, but he felt the intimation rise-physically and emotionally. He had never felt this way about anyone. Gaston opened the door, and softly called out her name. She raised her head up slowly and met his face. This was the first time that someone's tears had greatly affected him. She had not protested when he had come to her side, and wrapped his arms around her. He could feel the shivers all throughout her body as he caressed her tenderly. "I had never been so very frightened in my life" she uttered. "Who was he?" Gaston whispered. "My -fiancée" she answered. "I thought he was dead-at first, until I" she sighed, "no, I mustn't tell you, all of these years, I have been trying to forget" she whispered. Gaston's first feeling was of anger and resentment. "Please" he urged her on. "He's very much changed," she added. "He is not the same man I loved" "you love him still?" Gaston's voice broke. "No!" She said, "no, I love someone else" she let out a deep breath. He met her deep eyes. She then pulled away, before he could ask who it was, her eyes told him all. "Gaston.I," she paused, struggling to find the right words. "I feel the same" he whispered, "I've never felt like this before" he added, taking her hands in his own and kissing them. "I barely know you" she sighed. "I barely know myself anymore" he said, with a sincerity that was foreign to him. "This was the first time I felt threatened; seriously threatened" he said, surprised at the agony in his tone. "I had never not once gotten what I wanted.from anyone" he admitted-"except once.but that was a long time ago." He said, "are you telling me that you are remembering your past?" She asked. "Yes," he said, "I know everything" he finally admitted the truth. She put a hand on his cheek. "Who are you, really?" She found herself asking him. "Everything has changed now I have changed" he uttered, "because of you," he added, pulling her even closer. Claudia had fresh tears in her eyes. "Because of my feelings for you" he whispered. "I do not want to lose you, I could not bear it" he said-"not this time, I might lose even more of the sanity I've lost" she gave him a baffled look. She grew silent. "Please, just hold onto me" she said, "do not let me go" she whispered as he held her in his arms tightly. "Never" he said gently. A few moments later, she raised her head up towards his, and allowed him to caress her face. He closed his eyes and kissed her for the first time tenderly. She let out a moan of pleasure, and held onto his waist tightly as they continued to kiss. He then pulled her even closer to his chest and kissed her with as much passion as he had felt for her for so very long. She wrapped her arms around him and smiled with warmness and seductiveness as he lifted her up into his arms effortlessly and closed her door.

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