Wow, so many responses so soon after posting the last chapter. Sorry it took so long to post, but work has been a nightmare.

Mustard Lady, last review you loathed him and now you're feeling sorry, not very unlike your favourite disney prince XD. I have always thought he was highly misunderstood due to his over inflated ego. Guest, his sight is still a work in progress. He might have learned something from this fiasco, but he still has a long way to go. Banzi, thanks for your support as always! ImagineATale, the answer regarding Philippe is coming this chapter.

And after reading the chapter to my children first they wanted me to add something.

Chapter 13

Beast stared in awe at the woman he loved, she had done it. How she could forgive him for all the pain he had put her through so easily he didn't know.

Belle stood there and it seemed as if she had no idea what had just happened. Was he the only one who had seen that bright light?

"Belle, you did it! You broke your curse" Beast exclaimed in amazement.

She turned around to see the excited face of Beast, "What are you talking about?"

"You have truly forgiven him, there was this bright light coming from you, didn't you notice?"

Thinking hard, she realised what had happened. She really meant it when she said that she forgave Gaston. Her hand flew to her mouth, "I'm free...I broke my curse!" She was delighted with the realisation, forgetting she was still next to Gaston.

He heard the words and it didn't take long for him to understand what they were talking about. Belle apparently had to forgive him to break free of her curse, she must have just said it to free herself. He felt his heart get heavier with this knowledge, it wasn't real, she didn't really mean it. Fine, he didn't need her, she would leave and he would be alone with the Beast that had attacked him. Yet, he hoped it wasn't true, that she had meant it.

"Shouldn't you be leaving then?" He asked coldly. It would be best to just get it over with, to bury the little bit of hope that she had given him with her words.

Belle stared at the man in bewilderment, what was he talking about? She wasn't leaving, why would he think that? "What are you talking about? Why should I be leaving? I would never leave Beast and you alone!" What had come over the him, she had no idea. Unless...

"You think I didn't mean it, did you? I did mean it Gaston and I am going to help you. It wasn't just about saying the words, it was also about truly meaning it from the bottom of my heart. When I said it, I didn't even think about the curse, I said it, because I truly forgive you." She held his hand and saw the insecure man that was hidden behind the overconfident and huge ego. "I'm staying, curse or no curse."

He wanted to believe her, he truly did. But would she stay for him or for the Beast? He was convinced it was the latter, he was still cursed to stay here and she wouldn't leave without her precious Beast. He had heard the two of them talking often enough to know they loved each other, he had tried denying it, but he no longer could. She didn't love him, she loved the Beast. He didn't mean anything to her, he had been someone to pity for her.

"Gaston, it'll be alright." She tried to reassure him, but could see clearly that it wasn't working.

Deciding enough was enough, Beast decided to intervene and got out of bed, joining Belle. "Gaston, she's right. She wouldn't leave you, because I can see in her eyes that she is starting to see you as a friend." Taking a deep breath he continued, "Furthermore, I'd like to offer you my apologies for my outburst yesterday. You didn't deserve what I did to you and I have no excuse, other than I was still grieving for the loss of my friends." He hoped the other man could tell he was being sincere. "But I wish to help you as well. It might be too late for me, but you can still break your curse."

He so wished to believe it, but could he trust them? Clearly Belle had been sincere, but could he trust the monster that had attacked him just the day before? He wanted to, but he still couldn't help fearing the Beast.

"You'll attack me again, as soon as I do something wrong again."

"I won't, I promised Belle I wouldn't do that anymore. But if you wish for me to leave you alone for a while, all you have to do is say it." Beast offered.

Gaston just nodded, not daring to speak the words. What if the Beast took it as an insult? But apparently the Beast didn't, he heard a sigh followed by the sound of footsteps walking away from him.

"Beast!" Belle called after him.

He held up his hand, "No Belle, I told you before I'd give him space if he so wished, and clearly he does. He fears me Belle, no one should have to feel that way, I'd rather have him insult me every chance he gets, than seeing that fearful look every time I come near."

Gaston had heard the Beast clearly and his tone held nothing but regret. Maybe he could try to forgive the Beast, like Belle had forgiven him. But how could he tell the Beast that he was willing to try? Replaying the Beast words in his head, he had an idea.

"Wait, don't go." He wasn't sure what he wanted to say, but he had to say something. "Thank you for trying to stop me from getting hurt last night." Well, that was something.

Beast managed a small smile, "You're welcome." Seeing the still uncertain face of Gaston, he had an idea. Walking back to the other man, he carefully took hold of Gaston's hand, trying not to scare him. "Maybe we should start over, you may call me Beast."

When the Beast first took hold of his hand, his first instinct was to pull it back. Yet it was done so carefully that he decided it would be best to see what he was up to. Hearing the Beast introduce himself was unexpected however, but he supposed that if they wanted to make a fresh start, this would be a good beginning. After a few seconds hesitation he shook the Beast's paw, "You may call me Gaston."

Belle looked at the two in awe, they were starting to show respect for one another. Maybe they could set their differences aside enough to become friends, though that might take some time. Gaston looked a bit apprehensive, but that was to be expected. Beast had a completely different expression, surprised, yet determined to prove to Gaston he could be trusted from now on. These two men who were so different but yet shared so many things.

"Why don't we all go outside? I'm not planning on leaving, but I would like to go outside. I still can't believe I'm truly free and I have to see for myself." She really wanted to do this, just to see if it wasn't some dream. Besides Agathe said she could see and hear what happened in the barrier, she would love to know that her curse was broken. "Would it be alright if I walked on ahead? I think it would be good for the two of you to talk a bit." They needed a moment to built some trust between each other.

Beast nodded, "I'll carry Gaston until we've made it past the most dangerous hallways and we'll meet you by the barrier." Beast replied, the castle might be rebuilding, but the West Wing could still be very dangerous.

Gaston heard Belle leave and sat up straight. What was going on? Wasn't he in his own bed? "Where am I exactly, you talk of dangerous hallways, that must mean I'm not in my own room." Now that he really paid attention to it, he did notice that wherever he was now did seem a bit chillier than his own room. The bed seemed larger as well, and he couldn't really explain it, but the room felt larger. This is so strange he thought, he couldn't see, but he noticed things that caused him to know this wasn't his room. Now he understood what that enchantress had talked about, seeing things while blind. He didn't need to see the room to know it wasn't his.

"You're in the West Wing, or my personal chambers to be exact." No need to tell him that it was also Belle's room, the man might get the wrong idea. "The enchantress brought us both here this morning, Belle told me before you woke up."

His personal chambers? If he was truly in his personal chambers, that meant that the bed he was lying on... "This is your bed? You're not angry at me for being in it?" This surprised him, one day earlier the Beast had been enraged when all he did was sit on a bench. Now he was in his most private domain, in his bed and the Beast had done nothing?

"No, I am not angry. Like I told you, I will not lose my temper again. But the hallways in this part of the castle are very dangerous. When the enchantress first came here years ago and cursed me, she cursed all other inhabitants into objects and the castle to crumble." Beast sighed, he really hated talking about this, reminding himself of his failure to break the curse. "I'm going to pick you up now and carry you through the most dangerous part." Carefully he placed his paws under Gaston, making sure to do no damage with his claws.

Gaston placed one arm around the Beast's neck and let himself be carried bridal style. Though he hoped the Beast would never tell anyone about this. He had to admit that the Beast did seem gentle when he lifted him up.

As they moved towards the door Gaston started to scream, "Put me down! I see something! To the left!" He had no idea what he saw, maybe his sight was slowly coming back! He certainly hoped so.

Beast glanced to where Gaston pointed and understood, apparently not even blindness hid the rose. "That's the rose that marks the time you have left to break your curse."

Noticing how sad the Beast sounded he couldn't help ask, "Weren't you cursed again as well? Don't you think you could break this curse?"

Beast snorted, "Where do you suppose I could go looking like this? Besides unlike Belle, forgiving doesn't come easy for me. Don't get me wrong, I am trying, but you trying to kill me and Belle's father will take some time to forgive."

Gaston looked down, how did Belle do it? Beast was right, it would be hard to just forgive him for what he had done.

They left the master bedroom, but Gaston wanted to know more about the Beast, "Could you tell me a bit more about your curse? You failed breaking it, but what were your requirements?" He didn't know why he asked, knowing this must be a sore spot for the Beast. But maybe he could try to understand more about the Beast and it's origin. Feeling the Beast stiffen at his question he quickly added, "You don't have to if you don't want to."

No, Beast decided. Gaston should know more, the man had to see him for the man that he was if he wanted the curse to break. "It happened during a ball here, I was a horrible, selfish man that only cared about outward appearances. Wanting only the best and most beautiful objects, taxing other to pay for them. At some point during the ball, the doors blew open and an ugly old crone walked in, begging me for shelter during the storm that raged outside. She didn't have much to offer, but she did offer me a rose to pay for the night. No matter how exquisite the rose was, I deemed her ugly face not worthy of being near me and told her to leave. She told me not to judge her by her looks, and I am ashamed to say I laughed in her face and humiliated her even further in front of the guests."

They made it past the dangerous part and were close to the entrance hall. "We're close to the entrance hall now, I'm going to set you down to walk for yourself."

Gaston was glad to be on his own two feet again and held out a hand, having no idea where to go next. When the Beast explained about his past, he noticed that he loathed the man that he used to be. For he had to have been a man, he doubted that a ball was held with an entire room full of Beasts like himself. "You were a man once." His statement made the Beast halt his steps, so he was right.

"Yes."

Gaston thought his curse was bad, he couldn't imagine looking normal one moment and looking like a monster the next, he grimaced at the thought.

"When she cursed me to look like this, she gave me an impossible task, I had to learn to love another and get her to love me in return before the time was up. That was two weeks ago. After that you came here and you know the rest."

A silence fell between the two, and they stood there for several minutes to let it all sink in. Beast had no idea why he told Gaston so much of it, perhaps to motivate the man to work on his own curse. But he decided that no, it wasn't that, it just felt good to talk to someone who was in a similar situation. Someone who felt just as lonely and hopeless as he had been for years. Belle only had a small taste of it, but had never been in complete despair. Not like he had and now Gaston and it did feel good to share it with someone who understood.

Gaston felt a sort of kinship with the Beast, someone who had experience with what was happening to him. He wouldn't be alone as the Beast had been, though his blindness did separate him from them, they were still there to help him. Maybe the Beast wasn't as bad as he had thought, he would give this a chance. Besides he really did want to be able to see again.

"Shall we join Belle outside? I think she has been waiting long enough now." Beast suggested.

Outside Belle had made her way to the barrier, at least she think she did. She didn't feel anything strange.

"Hello Belle, I see your ability to forgive exceeds expectations. It only took you two weeks, I'm very proud of you."

Belle whirled around, "Agathe! I'm so happy to see you!" She embraced the other woman. "Beast and Gaston are coming here soon."

"I will be gone before then. How did it happen?" Agathe was curious, Belle had the kindest heart she had ever seen for this to have happened so fast.

Belle smiled, "When Gaston woke up, he sounded so defeated and broken. He was a shell of himself and he realised that he was truly cursed, it wasn't some nightmare that he could deny. That was when I knew that no matter his faults, he was someone who deserved to be supported. He felt so alone, he truly believed that Beast and I only hated and loathed him. And then I whispered my forgiveness in his ear to tell him that he would not be alone. I would be there to help him."

Agathe was startled to hear that Gaston had fallen so deep. Maybe there was some hope for the arrogant man after all. It seemed as if he had actually learned something, she could only hope that he would decide to become a better man. If only to free the Beast and the servants of their curse. "You are a good person Belle, if you'd like you could visit the village. They might not remember you, but you could pretend to be a traveller to catch a glimpse of your father."

She hadn't thought about it, but she could do that, it would be nice to see her father even from a distance, hear his voice again. "I wouldn't know how to get there, it's too far on foot and Philippe can't leave either."

Agathe smiled, "He can leave anytime he wants, there is just a catch. He can only leave when ridden by someone free of the curse. That's why he was fine once he threw off Gaston, and now that you're free, you could take him for a ride." She whistled and Philippe came running, "When I feel you pass, I'll keep the wolves away."

Belle took a hold of Philippe and looked back to see Agathe had disappeared again, she really had to stop doing that. It would be nice to have her stay here for a bit longer, though the two men might be less thrilled with the idea.

"Belle!" Beast called, he stood at the edge of the barrier with Gaston and saw Belle a few yards away with her horse. He thought he saw someone standing with her just a few seconds ago, and he knew who that would be.

Seeing the two men, she walked back. "I'm free and I can take Philippe out whenever I want," she looked at Beast, "A- The enchantress was here, if I want I could go visit the village, see papa and hear his voice! Though she did tell me the pose as a traveller to be safe."

Gaston stood by the side of Beast contemplating something, in her enthusiasm Belle wanted to say a name, but changed it at the last second. Something with an A...His lack of sight had forced him to listen very carefully and if he was honest, it did help him to pay more attention.

So the enchantress had a name that started with an A, someone Belle knew. He doubted Belle was responsible for cursing him, he could hear the honesty in her voice. Maybe she had met the enchantress at the village, then he must know her, he knew everyone in the village. Now he had to think whose names started with an A and could possibly be an enchantress. He chuckled, no wonder he was cursed. It didn't take long for his chuckle to become a full laugh.

Beast and Belle looked at Gaston, why would he be laughing? Has he lost his mind?

"I know you're looking at me like I must have lost my mind, I assure you, far from it. I guess she really must have liked to curse me."

"What do you mean?"

"Well Belle, you said something that made me think for once. Guess this serves me right for calling her a filthy hag so many times. I hope you can hear me Agathe!"