Belle had a cup of warm tea and wonderfully thick soup. She wasn't sure what had happened, but decided it was only a cut because her headache was fading. The dresser had given her a gown in lilac, and she had taken a place by the fire. She had been presented the grand library by the Beast days before and then vowed to his smile she would read every one. He slowly crept into the grand den. She glanced up. "I…"
"You're all right," he mumbled. She nodded, smiling softly.
"Thank you so much for all you've done," she gushed, setting the book aside. "I…I can't believe what I…"
"Belle, I have to keep you here." She blinked as he slowly lowered near the fire. "This goes beyond your father's debt, which…which I have to forgive. I can't let you go home now with that madman."
"I don't want to go." The servants listening in the curtains gasped. "I want to stay with you." The Beast tore his eyes from the fire. "You're the only friend…I've…had."
"A friend?" He sounded surprised.
"You saved my life. Twice."
"Only repaying what you did unto me," he answered rather quickly, looking back to the fire. Her expression faded slightly, hurt. His own revealed the regret in his saying.
"I would do it again," she softly admitted.
"It's not safe for you to…" Belle waited as his voice trailed. "You shouldn't feel like you have to…" He slowly turned to face her. Seeing the expectation in her eyes he immediately stared back into the fire. "Thank you." She smiled secretly, opening the book again. She had caught his attention.
"Have you read this one?" Belle asked, lifting the cover. He shook his head nervously. "It's one of your bests—what's your favorite?"
"I…I don't have one." She wasn't convinced by his tone.
"Can…can you read?" she asked quietly. He hid his sapphire eyes; he was raised that books were a sign of wealth to look at, not much for purpose. He was eased to feel her gentle hand pull his wide arm towards her with a warm smile. "Let me read to you until I can teach you."
"You…don't have to…"
"I want to," she finished. "You don't know what you're missing." He saw the stars in her eyes as she found her place in the story, and there he released any hindrance keeping her from his heart. She feared not his paw but believed in his eyes.
"What a picture," Ms. Potts sighed dreamily, "the fire, the Master, and our Belle…they were meant to be together! They have to know it now."
"It's just lovely," Cogsworth muttered, strolling behind the curtain in pure joy. Lumiere suddenly, grabbed his boxed body, holding it so the firelight reflected in the glass case of his cupboard. "What are you doing!"
"Look!" Lumiere exclaimed, and all three stared into the glass reflection. They saw the fire, sweet Belle…and the prince. Cogsworth lost his breath. Ms. Potts felt tears flood her eyes. There, the young man of twenty and few years, with honeyed hair falling over a fine-featured, softly sculpted face. Under his worn rags was a man's body, fit and strong, nervously close to Belle's own figure. It had been years since any had seen their beloved Master's true appearance. "His…his reflection…it is…it is…"
"It has begun," Ms. Potts beamed. "The love of friendship has been exchanged."