Such a great response again, ImagineATale I've send you a PM as you know ;)

Banzi, thanks for the continued support!

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Mustard Lady, glad to see you liked it.

Chapter 16

Several weeks had passed and Gaston was sitting outside in his little hiding spot. Beast had given him a different, bigger bench to sit on and while he had been wary at first, he could now often be found here. After his clothes had been returned to him, Gaston was starting to feel a lot better about himself. The familiarity of his old life brought some warmth to the harsh new one he was forced to live.

Not only that, but he was starting to appreciate the smaller things in life. He could ride a horse again, make himself lunch, things he used to take for granted. He had realised that being the best at everything didn't matter as much, it was being able to do things that mattered. Always wanting the best and to be the best, and where did it land him? Blind and trapped. He suddenly looked up, he realised something important, but he needed to talk to the others.

Since it was still early, the couple would still be in the library. And although he had vowed to himself to never return there, he found himself heading there. As he neared the door he heard voices inside, not caring if he interrupted the pair, he entered the room without knocking.

Inside the library Beast and Belle had finished reciting parts of Belle's beloved Romeo and Juliet.

"I still don't know how you managed to convince me to do that." Beast grunted out.

"Because you love me."

"That I do." Beast readily agreed. "Is something the matter?"

Belle looked down, "Should there be?"

"Belle, you only chose the most depressing parts to recite." Beast remarked. "Tell me what is bothering you."

"I want to visit the village, visit papa. The mirror showed me he's going to be at the market. I want to talk to him, hear his voice."

"He won't recognise you, do you think you can handle the pain that might bring?" Beast sighed, "What will you say to him?"

"I was planning to buy one of his music boxes, so I'll have a part of him here with me," she answered.

Beast smiled, that was not such a bad idea. It would give her something to hold on to. "When do you plan to leave?"

"After lunch and I was planning to rent a room for the night, returning tomorrow." This would give her more time to visit other places, like the church.

Beast nodded, "Very well. I just wish I could join you."

"One day you will." Belle responded.

"Perhaps, but I'm not so sure about that.

"I have faith in you, and in Gaston. You shouldn't give up."

When the door suddenly opened the couple inside turned around in surprise. "Gaston, this is a surprise. Is something the matter?" Belle asked.

He stood there nervously twisting his hands, "I realised something earlier and I don't fully understand it. I need someone to talk to."

"Why don't you sit down? We'll help you if we can," Beast replied, it must be important for the man to come here.

Still standing there nervously he replied, "Where can I sit?"

Belle and Beast could both slap themselves in the face, of course Gaston wouldn't know where to sit, only having been here once before.

Belle quickly stood up, "I'm sorry Gaston, we're just used to you knowing your way around. We forgot you're not familiar with the library." She quickly guided him to a seat.

After he had taken his seat, Gaston remained silent, not knowing where to start.

Beast looked at Gaston questionably, first he barges in without knocking and now he's not even saying anything. Why wouldn't the man say what was on his mind, it was plainly obvious something was bothering him.

He would get the hunter to speak, he gave a wicked grin to Belle, "Milton had a wide variety of poetry in several subjects," Beast began. He looked over at Gaston, who was starting to look very uncomfortable right now, "One of my favourites is called: On his blindness. When I consider how my light is spent, ere half my days in this dark world a..."

"Enough with the poetry!" Gaston blurted out.

Belle couldn't hide the laugh that escaped, "Don't tease him." She turned to Gaston, "No more poetry, but tell us what's the matter."

"I-I..." Get a grip of yourself, he thought, how hard could it be? "I'm sorry." There he said it.

Belle raised an eyebrow, "It's all right, Gaston, just take your time to say what you need to say."

"I just did! It wasn't easy you know!"

"You did what?" Beast was thoroughly confused and Belle didn't seem to be faring any better he thought.

Gaston on the other hand was starting to lose his temper, "I'm trying to apologise, you overgrown furball!"

"Apologise? For what? Like we said it doesn't matter if you can't say what's bothering you. We just want to he..." Beast tried to explain.

Belle put her hand on the Beasts arm. "You're not apologising for keeping us waiting, are you? It's for something else."

Finally, someone who understood. "For wanting to be the best, I don't want to be anymore." How he wished he could see their faces right now, "I realised that just doing something is more important than being the best. I don't want to be the fastest and best rider, I just want to ride. I no longer want to marry the most beautiful girl, I just want someone who appreciates me. And I'm sorry for wanting to kill Beast, just because I wanted to prove that I was the better man." He stopped there, "I don't know what I want anymore..."

The pair sat there in shock, did he really just say that? Beast could understand it partially, he had somewhat similar feelings when he realised that all his material possessions no longer mattered to him, but at least he knew what he did want, for Belle to love him. But Gaston had absolutely no idea what he wanted.

"I don't know what to say, since when did you start feeling like this?" Belle started.

Gaston thought about it, when did it start? "My ring, when I found it. When I received it, my father said I would be the best hunter ever. But I can't hunt anymore, and that made me think about all the other things I wanted to be the best in or wanted the best of. I realised that even though I can't be the best anymore, I'm still grateful for what I am still able to do."

"Gaston, this is..." Belle for once was at a loss for words.

Beast was feeling hopeful for the first time, Gaston was doing it. He was getting so close and still had so much time left, a little over seven months. His temper still left much to be desired, but that didn't matter. It had been his obsessive need to be the best, to cause him to belittle others who were not as talented. He was meeting another requirement, could it be that he would free them all? He had been hoping for a miracle and it seemed to be coming, but how to get the man to fully realise the consequences of his actions. Not only that, accepting the responsibility for them would be the hardest. He would need to confront the man, but he would have to start gently.

Gaston just sat there waiting, "The least you could do is say something."

"Sorry Gaston, it is just that we didn't expect this." Belle started, "Quite frankly, we're speechless."

"Indeed," Beast agreed.

Belle sighed, "Perhaps I should stay here a little longer..."

"No Belle, you need to see him. Take a day, I'll be here for Gaston, should he need me."

Gaston looked up, "You're leaving? Now, after all I've just said? You can't leave now!"

Beast gave a low growl, "Yes she can and she will."

"After dinner?" Gaston asked hopefully.

"I have improved on my cooking." Beast indignantly huffed.

"I'd rather not risk it."

Belle laughed, "Sorry, but you'll have to choose between bread or Beast's cooking."

Gaston pondered it for a bit, "Bread it is. I'm sorry Beast, but you're a menace behind the furnace."

"I am not that bad! At least not anymore." Best countered.

"What was it I heard you yelling two days ago, when you were helping Belle? That's right, you were roaring something about burned hair and catching fire. Fur getting in the way? I'd rather not have that on my plate, thank you very much!"

Beast was grateful for the fur for once, at least he couldn't turn red from embarrassment.

Belle giggled, "Stop it you two." Why those two weren't friends yet, she had no idea. Knowing them, they had yet to realise they were acting like it. She had never expected the two men to get along this well.

"I'm sure you'll both manage for one day." She stood up, "I'll start packing, Gaston would you like to ready Philippe for me?"

Thinking it would at least give him something to do, Gaston nodded and left.

"What will you be doing today?" Belle asked.

"I was thinking of taking him to see the rose again, I'm hoping it might help him in a way."

Belle frowned, "Why would that help him? He can't see it and fully understand it's meaning."

"You don't know! I forgot to tell you, do you remember the morning he spend in our chambers?" Beast asked.

"How could I forget? I was scared to death when Agathe brought you both back unconscious."

"Yes, well, when I took him down you were all ready gone. When we left he started screaming that he could see again, apparently not even blindness can keep someone from looking at that blasted rose. He can actually see it, perhaps if he's confronted with the growing number of petals..."

"He'll fight even harder to break the curse." Belle finished.

"Exactly. Especially now he seems so close to doing it."

The pair made their way down, Belle quickly prepared lunch and not long after she had finished Gaston returned to tell her Philippe was ready for her. She quickly grabbed her supplies and left. "Until tomorrow." They heard her yelling as she passed the corner.

"She's in a hurry." Gaston remarked.

"Yes, ever since she broke her curse, every evening before she goes to bed, she looks into the enchanted mirror. It let's you see whatever you ask it, Maurice will be at the market today."

Gaston understood, it must have been difficult for her without Maurice. He looked up, "I'm glad he wasn't eaten by those wolves, I should have listened to my friend."

"You should have," Beast began. "But at least you're understanding that now, and you can learn from your mistakes, hopefully not repeating them." Beast sighed, "Since we're on the subject of mistakes, I was planning to take you to see the rose again. It might be the symbol of the curse, but since it's the only thing you can see I thought you might like it."

Was he truly allowed back into the Beast's sanctuary? He remembered the joy he felt when he had seen the rose, miserable as it was with just one petal on it. Perhaps it would be nice to go back, just see something.

The gate swung open when Belle approached on Philippe. Even though Agathe had said she'd keep the wolves away, she was still a bit wary, only sighing in relief when she had passed the enchanted part. All the way to the village she was wondering what she could say, hoping to strike a conversation and hearing his voice a little longer.

All to soon the town came into view, she hoped she could do this. When she entered the village she secured a room at the local inn, leaving Philippe at the stable.

Taking a deep breath, hoping it would prepare her better she entered the marketplace, looking for her father.

After dinner Beast carefully guided Gaston through the West Wing. Most of the debris had been cleared and partial standing walls would prevent Gaston from falling, but it was still far from safe.

They entered the master bedroom and Gaston immediately saw it, the rose. He walked there nearly tripping over the unseen steps. He glared at the Beast for not warning him, turning back he noticed that the flower had regained several petals. How many more do I have, he wondered. The rose drew him in, should he touch it? How could something so small and innocent hold so much power?

Beast noticed the rose had lost part of it's allure to him. Not much unlike when he started to love Belle, he recollected. But still he couldn't resist glancing at it. He noticed the transfixed gaze Gaston gave to the rose, "What are you thinking?"

"I don't know, it's complicated." He kept looking and saw a petal appear underneath the rose, slowly floating up. "Another petal just appeared!"

Beast chuckled, "They don't appear, they're already lying there dead. There are still a lot left, I'd say about twenty or so."

Gaston placed his hands on the pedestal on which the rose stood. His hands touching something large, "What is this?"

Beast saw Gaston touching the mirror, "It's the mirror I spoke of."

"You said it would show people whatever they wanted. Do you think I might be able to see something with this?"

"I don't know, but you are welcome to try. Just say what you would like to see." Beast moved closer as he spoke, he was curious what would happen himself.

What did he want to see? At this point, anything would make him happy. "I'd like to see the tavern." Gaston waited anxiously, would it appear?

Beast looked over Gaston's shoulder, the tavern appeared in the mirror. Did Gaston see it, he wasn't responding so far.

Sighing Gaston returned the mirror, "Nothing," he simply said. "May I stay here for a while?"

"Of course, take as long as you'd like," Beast felt sorry for Gaston, it was clear he had gotten his hopes up, only to be met with disappointment.

Belle had passed her father as least ten times, why didn't she just walk up to him? She took a deep breath, come on Belle, you can do this. Seeing he was talking to another customer, she quickly moved towards is merchandise. She looked at the different boxes and felt as if she could cry.

Before the curse he had always used her and her mother as an inspiration, by placing a miniature portrait of them in it, now she was nowhere to be found. She took a closer look at one of the boxes and saw one that she liked, inside was a happy couple. The man on one knee as if he was proposing and the woman had a smile on her face. Maman, she thought. She picked up the box, and noticed other details. Delicate carvings of roses caught her attention, once her mothers favourite flower, and now hers.

"Excuse me young lady, but are you all right?"

She looked up into her fathers concerned eyes, "I'm fine, thank you for your concern." She hadn't even noticed she had started crying, what could she say to him? "It's beautiful, how much?" Oh papa, I wish you knew.

"For a pretty young lady as you? Five francs."

Belle quickly pulled out some of the money she had brought with her from the castle, giving a little extra.

Maurice looked at the young woman in sorrow, she looked so sad. "May I ask what is bothering you? You seem so sad and a pretty young lady such as yourself shouldn't have to cry."

Belle looked up into concerned eyes, "It's nothing monsieur, it's reminding me of my parents. My maman died years ago and recently I've lost my papa, for a moment it was as if I was seeing them again."

Maurice felt sorry for her, so young and having lost so much already, he looked at the coins in his hand and saw she had given to much, "Young lady, here, you may have it. We should all have a reminder of our loved ones, besides you gave too much."

She shook her head, "No kind sir, craftsmanship should be rewarded." Holding the box tight, she turned around and left.

Maurice looked at the young woman, who was disappearing into the crowd. Wishing he could have been blessed with a daughter like that young lady.