Hello! Honour here. I'm taking a break from my Gravitation fic to post this lil' baby that I've had on my computer for about a year. I'm just bored. So, here's another chapter. Pretend that everything up to the Ballroom scene happened just like in the movie. But I think you already got that.
Thanks to TrudiRose who was my first review for this story and an inspiration to continue!
Serengeti Dawn, I am so happy that you added that Robin McKinley quote from Beauty! That is my absolute favorite story. There are a lot of similarities between RM's Beauty and the movie, huh?
Disclaimer: Beauty and the Beast the movie belongs to the Mouse, not me. ::sigh::
Tear Drops and Rose Petals-Reunion
Belle and Philippe galloped through the forest with Maurice waving farewell. Neither of them had noticed that little worm Lefou lurking in the bushes.
The rain was hard and colder than she had remembered on her way to her house, and the ominous howls coming from behind her were not a good sign. She rode hard, not stopping until the great wrought iron gates were visible. Panting, she jumped from Philippe's back, and almost fell for her legs were like water. Philippe was foaming at the mouth and also panting hard, but he had sensed his mistress's urgency and ran as fast as he could. Belle slowly led the horse back into the courtyard and tied him to the stone column. "Merci, dear friend." She whispered as she sloshed up the stairs and back into the castle. When she opened the massive doors, her heart slowed and she felt at peace. She was home.
She half-fell, half-ran into the main hall. Her soft, flat shoes squished loudly as she hurried through the main hall. It was at that moment that she realized that she was freezing cold. She began to shiver and her teeth wouldn't stop chattering. Cold drivels of water trailed down her face and down the back of her dress which clung to her like an icy shroud. Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, and Cogsworth hurried into the hall at the sound of someone there, they had all hoped that Belle had returned and when they saw that it was she, they cheered.
"Belle, my dear, thank heavens you came back!" Mrs. Potts exclaimed.
"Ah cheriè, you have returned." Lumiere grinned, and to Cogsworth, "See, I told you she would come back."
The clock glowered at the candlestick, but he was pleased that Belle had returned as well. "We are so happy that you have come back; the Master has been so distressed about your departure, he has shut himself up in the West Wing. We have not been able to talk to him all night."
Belle leaned over, coughing as she caught her breath. "I had to come back. This is my home. He is my home."
She sneezed and water flew from her hair and clothes. "Belle, come get into something dry. You'll catch your death!" Mrs. Potts cried as Belle swept past them and up the stairs to the West Wing. "Later." She said over her shoulder as she bounded up the stairs. She knew he was there. The door was slightly open as she carefully entered the Beast's Inner Sanctum. She picked her way through the demolished room. The last time she had been there, it had been neat and clean. It appeared that he had destroyed it again after she left. She felt a twinge of guilt in her heart as she tiptoed towards the large form slumped in the settee near the broken windows. The beautiful rose in the bell jar was withered with only a few petals clinging to the stem.
The Beast sat there, watching the rain fall; his large shoulders slumped in great despair. Behind him, Belle must have made a noise for he suddenly turned around, as if hoping to find her there. He had been jumping at shadows all night and every noise made his heart leap in anticipation. Belle gave a small startled gasp when he swung around, his eyes wild with hope. He saw her standing there, wet and shaking, but he didn't believe it at first. He was dreaming. "Belle?" he rasped. She nodded, fresh tears in her warm eyes. He vaulted over the settee, his knees giving out as he fell in front of her, his face buried into her stomach and his arms encircled her, intent on never letting her go. "Belle." He moaned into her stomach. She swayed a little as he launched himself against her, but she soon righted herself. "Shh," she soothed as she raked her fingers through his fur; her own voice choked with emotion. He leaned back on his haunches, gazing up at the most beautiful woman in the world. She smiled through her tears as she continued to rake her fingers through his thick mane.
He could have stayed like that forever: holding her as the rain, which had slowed to a soft mist, softly fell outside. A few minutes later, he rose and held her out at arms length, just taking in her beauty and the way she smiled at him. It was then he realized that she was soaked right through and shivering.
"Your soaking wet," he admonished gently, chiding himself for not realizing it sooner.
Belle's teeth chattered as she rubbed her arms, "I'm so cold," she trebled, her small frame racked with shivers.
The Beast immediately pulled her to the settee and pulled the sopping cloak from her shoulders. "I need to get you out of those clothes…I mean…uh," he began and realized what he had just said. It was a good thing that she couldn't see him blush. Belle smiled as a flattering blush spread across her cheeks, "Yes, I understand. Mortified, he flung his own cloak over her and left the room in a great hurry in search of dry clothes for Belle. Her room was in the other Wing, and he didn't want to leave her for long, so he went to a room that he hadn't been in in fifteen years: his mother's room.
His mother had been much like Belle: beautiful, intelligent, and kind and she had treasured her only son. She was teaching him to read and dance and be a kind boy who put others before himself. His father had always been busy with affairs of state and it was no secret that the Queen was more of a trophy wife and heir bearer than a Queen. She seemed to be fine with that as long as she had her son with her. When he was five, she fell ill and was bedridden for several months. It was during this time that his servants had begun to spoil the Prince to compensate for the Queen's absence. His father barely paid attention to him and didn't even bother to tell him that his mother had died; he found out from Cogsworth the day of the funeral. After the death of his mother, he became more and more cruel, and it began as a reaction to his mother's death and his father's rejection, but he found that it suited him and he continued.
Five years later, his father died. He died in the fall. That winter, the Prince was cursed by the Enchantress.
Shaking himself, the Beast opened the nearest wardrobe, (not a talking one like in Belle's room), and pulled out a white morning gown with pink rosettes on the hem and flared sleeves. It was a bit weathered and discolored, but it was warm and dry and only temporary. He got a whiff of his mother's perfume as he closed the doors and hung the dress over his arm. When he returned to his rooms, Belle was standing by the French doors staring out at the grey, rainy evening. He thrust the dress at her and left the room again. Several minutes later, he went back in and couldn't help himself. He went up behind her and wrapped his arms around her small body. She leaned in against him, savoring his warmth. She marveled at how far they had both come: he had been a true beast when they met and now he was her dearest friend who truly understood her and whom she loved dearly. She had a new understanding of what beauty was and what home truly meant. She vowed at that moment that she would never leave him.
Belle. To hold her, feel her slight body against his, to take in her sweet, gentle scent. She was his, safe home where she would stay forever. "You came back." He said simply.
"I had to come back," she turned and looked up into his face, a face that she had once feared; she gently put her hand to cup his cheek. "It took me longer to admit, but I realized what you meant about needing me and what it must have cost you to let me go-" her voice caught and she stopped, fearing that she would begin to cry. The Beast rubbed her back and "Shh'd" her the way that she had done for him only an hour before. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another petal fall from the rose. There were only two remaining, barely hanging on at that. The urgency of his situation set in at that moment and he had to ask the question that would set him and his household free and begin his and Belle's Happily Ever After. "Belle," he began, "are you going to stay with me?" he asked softly into her hair.
She wiped her eyes and smiled, "If you want me to."
"Oh, I want you to," he replied huskily as he lowered his head to kiss her again. Their lips met in a melting kiss, a healing kiss, not like the desperate, quick one that they had shared on the balcony that seemed like a century ago, while it had only been a few hours. Loved swelled in her heart as they embraced and she knew that once they stopped, she would tell him that she loved him. They reluctantly parted, both a little dazed and heated. "Belle, I love you." The Beast said his blue eyes full of warmth and love. Belle smiled, her own eyes a mirror of what she saw in his. "I-"
BOOM!!!
Ohh, what a naughty girl I am. Fear not, another chapter tomorrow. This should be done by Christmas Eve. Until then!
