Chapter 2

"Beast? Are you alright?" Belle approached Beast. Never had she seen him in this state. Angry, happy and sometimes even joking, but never had she seen him shed a tear. She knew what this meant though.

Mrs. Potts had explained that they would become everyday objects when the curse would become permanent, apparently that time was now. She felt herself grieving for the loss of her friends, but knew she had to be strong for Beast. She reached him and placed her hand on his shoulder, Beast finally dropped to his knees and let it all go.

Al the years of despair and hoping for release and now realising it didn't matter anymore. Al he wanted was his servants back. No not servants, he thought, family.

He felt his arm being pulled and heard his name being called. It took him a few moments to compose himself enough to look up and see Belle's worried look. He got up and with his right paw held Belle's hand. He bend down once more to pick up the candelabra that had once been Lumiere.

Still in a daze he let Belle lead him inside and they walked towards Maurice.

Maurice was thoroughly confused. One second all the household item were hopping around showing him his room, the next they went quiet and still. Then Belle panicked and called for Beast and ran off, leaving him on his own. He decided to wait for Belle, she undoubtedly would know what was going on. He had a feeling that whatever was going on wasn't good.

Beast said nothing as Belle led him through his castle and before he knew it was met by Maurice in a corridor. He could see a teapot and clock standing nearby. It was getting to much for him, but Belle came to his aid picking the household items up.

"Thank you," It was said quietly, but at least he had found his voice again. "Let's move to the parlor we can talk there," Beast said.

Once the trio arrived, they all took a seat. Belle and Maurice looked at Beast, whose face still showed how devastated he was.

Belle put the teapot and clock that had once been her closest friends on a small table and took the candelabra from Beast. Setting him down with the others.

"Beast, would you mind telling us what happened? I have an idea about what just happened, but it might be best if you start at the beginning," Belle saw Beast make a slight nod.

"Belle, Maurice. It's a very difficult story for me to tell, so please do not interrupt me till I'm done." Belle and Maurice nodded.

"It all started years ago, we were all human. One night we had a grand ball, but only those who I deemed worthy were allowed to attend. Back then I was conceited, selfish and rude. Only the wealthiest and most beautiful people were allowed. During a dance I was looking at the women as they danced, seeing who would be worthy enough to warm my bed that night. It was all I cared about at that time, but suddenly there was a loud crash and the doors swung open. An old beggar woman walked in, begging for shelter from the cold. I looked at her and all I saw was how hideous she looked and therefore told her to leave. Instead she reached in her basket and pulled out a beautiful rose offering it as payment for the night. I took it and cruelly tossed it on the floor, laughing at her."

Beast took a small pause trying not to shudder at the memory that came next. "She looked at me and asked me not to judge on appearances alone, because true beauty was found within. All I did was laugh even harder and motioned the guards to throw her out. That was the final mistake I made, as she got up she transformed into a beautiful woman. She told me she was an enchantress and she had seen how my cold heart held no love. Therefore she would curse me, my castle and everyone within. Next thing I knew I felt a blinding pain and heard screams of people trying to escape. Then the pain got even worse and I started screaming, seeing my hands turning into paws wasn't the worst. It was hearing my voice change, my screams became roars. When it was finally over, the enchantress held out the rose once more. This time I accepted it, she told me it was to be my timekeeper. When the last petal fell, the curse would become permanent. For me it meant staying a Beast. The castle would crumble a bit with each petal, but would stay up enough for me to live in. But for all the others it would mean becoming everyday unmoving household items. They would cease to exist." Beast took a glance at his family turned object on the table. "All these years all I could think about was how horrible it was for me and me alone, now I understand they drew the short straw. They are the ones really suffering, even though this curse wasn't their fault."

"Beast, how could the curse be broken? I was told it could, but never how. According to Mrs. Potts it wasn't for me to worry about." This had been nagging at the back of her mind for quite some time, there must have been something she could have done to help.

"Two things had to happen for that, the first one did, but the second didn't," Beast felt his heart breaking. He looked at Belle and seeing her in her yellow gown, remembering their wonderful evening together.

"I was cursed for having a heart without love, so first I had to learn how to love. That part has happened, the second part was trickier." Here Beast stopped, his heart breaking thinking how she couldn't return his affections. Yet he was content knowing they were friends .

"Beast what was the second part?" Belle asked trembling, she had a slight idea and a sinister feeling was creeping up her spine. Please don't let it be so, she wished with all her might. Little did she know, his next sentence would cause her world to crash down on her.

"She had to love me back in return," His voice was barely a whisper. "It's not like I can force someone to love me, but still friendship is more than I could ever hope for."

Tears started streaming down her face, she did love him. Why had so been so scared to admit it to herself, even worse why didn't he blame her. He lost everyone and everything because of her.

"Belle I know what you're doing it's not your fault. This is all on me, I could have done the right thing and let her stay for the night. Yet I didn't just refuse, I took pleasure in humiliating her. You taught me how to love again, and care for other people. You found the man hidden within the Beast when we first met and for that I'll be eternally grateful."

Belle sniffed, "We can't just leave them like that, there has to be a way to find the enchantress. Maybe she would be willing to break the curse. I might have been too afraid to admit it when it mattered, but I do love you with all my heart."

"Ahem."

The pair looked up and saw Maurice staring at them with wide eyes. Finally he understood the anger of Beast at their first meeting. The shame he felt within, knowing what he once was, mingled with despair and hopelessness of his situation. Because in all honesty, by just looking at him, who would be crazy enough to love him. But Belle managed to get through his barrier that he had build for himself. She got past it and found the man hidden deep within and found love.

"Monsieur Beast, I understand now. And I want to tell you that you have my forgiveness. You were in an impossible situation and saw no way out of it, using your anger to express the despair you felt within."

Beast and Belle both looked at Maurice. Belle felt proud of her father for seeing the man she saw eventhough he wasn't an human in appearance. Beast however had a look filled with several emotions, he felt understood and wanted to cry out his relief. Happiness knowing that Maurice forgiving him meant him approving of him and Belle being friends at least. But most of all a warm feeling knowing he had just become part of their little family.

Maurice wasn't finished, "I can see the devastation this curse brought you, and while I have to agree that your manners had been appaling, the enchantress had no right to basically condemn your servants as she did. They were not the ones that showed cruelty and should have been spared this fate."

"If it were up to me I'd ask the enchantress to bring them back. But I have no idea where the enchantress might be, and finding her would be near impossible," Beast calmly stated.

"Hello Belle, Maurice." A new voice entered their conversation.