Second chapter is here hurray. All I have to do is listen to my Broadway Original Cast Recording of Beauty and the Beast and I'm set to start writing. It's awesome. Well don't let my blabbering bore you. Read the chapter already.

Chapter 2: Unlucky Mishaps

Erik quickly pulled the cellar door letting big rolls of smoke escape from below. Belle hurried inside waving away the smoke and calling out to her father. "Papa; are you all right!"

Maurice had gotten stuck in a barrel and was bouncing helplessly around the room. Belle reached out and turned him upright again and helped get the rest of the barrel off from around him. "Thank you Belle," he said rather relieved before seeing Erik and Christine wander down the stairs and into the cellar. "Who are your friends dear?"

"Oh this is Christine; I met her in town today and her husband, Erik. I was going to have lunch with them when we heard that explosion. What happened?"

"I can't get this bone headed contraption to work," Maurice said with a huff.

"Here let me take a look," Erik offered.

Maurice stepped aside and Erik got onto the roller board and disappeared under the invention. Some clinking could be heard before Erik finally rolled back out. "Do you have a screwdriver? A couple screws on the main fuel outlet came undone."

"Screws on the whatjamacallit came undone?" Maurice asked.

Christine notices Erik's legs grow tense at the fact that the man didn't understand the basics of the machine. "I'm sure Erik can fix it; can't you darling?"

"It's nothing a few twists with the screwdriver can't fix. Now tell me exactly what this machine does," Erik replied as Maurice handed him the screwdriver and rolled back under the machine to start tightening the screws.

"It chops wood using steam."

Erik rolled out from under the machine a few moments later. "There it shouldn't leak anymore."

"Let's give it another go then," Maurice exclaimed pulling the lever on the machine and covering his head. The others took warning as the gears and other pieces began to work together causing the large ax to slam into the wood cutting the log in half and allowing it to sail across the room and land in the woodpile.

"You did it Papa! You really did it!" Belle exclaimed hugging Maurice tightly.

"Hitch up Philippe Belle; I'm off to the fair."

"Philippe I know a man by that name. Kind of liked the fellow only his brother tried to take my wife away from me right under my very nose...Ow."

Christine looked up innocently at him after punching his arm. "I thought we promised we would never speak of that happening to anyone," she hissed.

Erik gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry; my love, I didn't mean to bring that up again."

"It's all right."

"Erik, would you like to go along to the fair with me? I could use someone of your intelligence along to help."

"You actually want me to come with?" Erik asked at first stunned by the question.

"Well of course I would. You know a lot about machines and with you along we're sure to win the first place cash prize that I would be willing to split with you if you would join me."

"If you really want me to I'd be glad to go along," Erik said happily.

"Oh, Erik this is wonderful a chance for you to make new acquaintances with people, who have the same interests as you. I'm so proud of you," Christine spoke up hugging him.

"But Christine I was going to help you get things done at the house. I can't go anywhere."

"Belle can help me while the two of you are away. Don't worry I'll be fine," she said reaching up and kissing his lips tenderly.

"Well what are we waiting for? Go and get your things together Erik and I'll wait for you here," Maurice said as Erik and Christine headed back outside.

"All right I'll be back in a moment."

xxxxx

Erik quickly began packing while Christine watched sadly from the doorway. She took one of his shirts into her arms and hugged it to her chest. He looked up and gazed at her ashamed of leaving so soon after being wed.

"Christine?"

"Yes Erik?"

"Are you sure you'll be all right by yourself while I'm gone?"

She looked up at him, fresh tears falling down her cheeks before running to him and hugging him tightly. "I feel as if something will happen to you and we just got married. I don't want to lose you all over again," she said quietly laying her head on his shoulder.

Erik rubbed her back gently as he began to speak softly. "I will return Christine. But like you said back in the cellar that this is a great opportunity for me and I may not be able to do it again. I love you."

"I love you too Erik."

xxxxx

Together they packed up Erik's bag and went out to find Maurice and Belle waiting with their draft horse, Philippe, hitched to the wagon. Erik placed his bag in the back and turned back to give Christine a kiss goodbye before climbing into the wagon and sitting next to the invention.

There were good-byes and both women looked on as the wagon pulled away and disappeared taking the two men with it. Christine watched sadly until she could no longer see Erik.

"Come on Christine I'll help you finish at your house."

xxxxx

Erik had taken a nap for most of the trip thinking Maurice knew where they were going. He was jerked awake as the wagon bounced about. He sat up rubbing his eyes, careful of the mask, and looked around. "Where are we?"

"To be bluntly honest I'm not sure. I thought this would be a shortcut, but it turns out we're lost."

"What?" Erik cried as he jumped out of the wagon. "What do you mean we're lost?"

Maurice shuddered in fear at Erik's shout and held up the map. Just as Erik went to take it the wind blew out of Maurice's hand and it went sailing through the trees. Erik's eyes narrowed. "This is just great. Now we're lost and the only thing that would get us out of here in one piece is gone. This is unbelievable."

He grabbed his bag and flung it over his shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Maurice asked.

"Back home to my wife. I'll spend all night looking for a way out of this place if I have to," he said determinedly down the path opposite of the wagon.

A howl from the trees made Erik stop and look around.

"This is not a good thing," Maurice said quietly as more howls rang up from the trees.

Philippe whinnied and reared in alarm giving the wagon a good shake. Maurice fought to keep control of the animal, but poor Philippe was so spooked he reared again knocking Maurice to the ground and galloping away with the wagon through the trees.

"Great now we have no horse in which to get out of here. Hopeful things don't get any worse," Erik said as it suddenly started to rain and the snarling of the wolves got closer.

Neither man said anything as they quickly heading through the trees now falling victim to the wolves. Maurice managed however to stumble down the side of a small ridge and landed at the bottom. Erik followed along behind him making a more safe descend.

Reaching the bottom Erik helped Maurice to his feet and soon both saw they were standing in front of a wrought iron gate before a huge castle. Though they didn't have long to linger or stare, because the wolves had followed them.

Pushing open the gate and rushing inside they quickly closed it.

"Ah," Maurice screamed as one of the wolves grabbed his shoe and bit down. Erik smacked the animal in the nose and it let go giving him a low growl in the process.

"Well I say we find some shelter in that castle out of this rain," Erik suggested as rain made his wig very uncomfortable. Luckily Maurice nodded and both of them heading inside, upon finding the doors to be open, unaware of what waited inside…

TBC…

I know they get farther in the movie, but I need a cliffhanger. I hope I'm not changing things to much. I'm trying to follow the movie as well as keep Erik and Christine in character as best as possible. Next chapter will be up as soon as I type it.