As always thank you all so much for your support!

ImagineATale, couldn't leave you without one could I?

Michaela pendragon Holmes, there are a lot of feelings in this chapter.

Mustard Lady, yes she is very lonely, more about that will be explored this chapter.

Child of dreams, hope you'll smirk some more after this chapter.

I absolutely loved writing this chapter, I had plenty of time to write during my trip yesterday. Power black out when you depend on electricity? Staring at blank television screens for five hours gave a lot of inspiration XD

Chapter 21

Gaston blinked, "What?"

Not quite believing what he'd just said Beast wasn't faring much better, did he really just say that he forgave Gaston? The man in question was sitting there speechless. Why had he said it? He thought deep within himself and knew it to be true, he was just too stubborn himself to admit it.

"I have...forgiven you." Beast repeated. "It was never your intention for this to happen. You are no longer that arrogant and vain man that stepped through the door all those months ago."

Gaston sat dumbfounded, "You're serious? How?"

"I'm not quite sure myself, but I no longer see the man that I loathed when I look at you. If it's the true forgiveness needed to break the curse that keeps me here, I'm not sure. I'd have to go to the barrier to test it." Beast stood up and placed a paw on Gaston's shoulder, "I do know that the man you became deserves to be forgiven."

"I don't believe I should be forgiven."

Beast sat down next to Gaston, "You should believe it. Ask yourself, who would you rather be, the man you were before or who you became?"

He didn't notice he had started shaking, no he did not like who he had been. Then people held him in high regard, but they had never been real friends. Here however, Belle and Beast did everything they could to help him, while they were under no obligation to do so. The only true friend he had in the village was LeFou, and he had used and abused that friendship on more than one occasion.

"Are you alright?" Beast looked worried at Gaston. He had started shaking and seemed deep in his thoughts.

"No, I was thinking of the village and of my friend LeFou. All he ever wanted was my friendship, did everything to be my friend, but I abused said friendship." Sighing he continued, "In a way it is better I am out of his life, he needs to give his friendship to someone who deserves it." Gaston looked up, "Why do you and Belle care so much about what happens to me?"

"For Belle it is just a part of who she is, she always wants to see the best in someone and help anyone who is in need. For me however, I think you are able to figure that out for yourself."

Gaston nodded, if he'd ever meet another cursed person he would help too, personal feeling aside. Not that it would be very likely he would ever come across someone... "I understand, but going so far as to lock yourself up in your own cell?"

Beast sighed, "Castle or cell, the only difference is the size. Before the second curse I could have left if I truly wanted to, but if you remember what I look like, where could I possibly have gone?"

This Gaston understood, Beast had been a prisoner is his own castle for ten years already, his appearance would have caused mobs to hunt him down. Here he could exist in peace, even if it was a lonely existence.

"Although I must admit, I prefer the castle to be my prison." Beast said casually.

"I can't imagine why..."

"I know it's quite shocking, at least here I am graced with your continued presence. Couldn't imagine being without it." Beast joked.

Here Gaston had to laugh, "Yes, that would be quite a shame. You're no so bad yourself."

"Why thank you, I've always wanted to hear you say that."

Both laughed, but still Gaston thought something was missing.

"Furball..."

Beast snapped his head up, "Why would you say that?" He saw the smirking face of Gaston.

"It wouldn't be much of a conversation if I didn't insult you at least once."

Shaking his head Beast smiled, a true insult indeed.

Belle had almost finished preparing dinner, she picked up the mirror that she had put down beside her. "Show me Beast, please."

She saw him sitting relaxed and smiling as if he had just heard the best joke in his life. Grabbing the tray she left the kitchen and passed the empty dining room, when would they be able to sit there together again? It had been a few weeks now and she missed him terribly, not even going to her beloved library without her Beast.

Moving up she heard them speak.

"What do you think Belle is doing while you're away?"

Belle stopped, she wanted to hear what Beast would say. What did he think she was doing?

Beast sighed "I don't know for sure, I suspect she checks up on me with the mirror most of the time. Riding with Philippe is also something she would surely do, but beyond that I truly have no idea."

Hearing Beast she let a few tears fall, he sounded so lost. Why had she never thought of how he must be faring without her, she knew he would miss her. But never had she considered that he couldn't see her beyond mealtimes. He was right she did use the mirror a lot, several hours a day and kept it with her while she slept, falling asleep while looking at him. He didn't have that luxury and she felt her heart ache for him.

She continued up the steps and saw the pair sitting next to each other.

"Hello Beast, Gaston. I've brought you both dinner and a pitcher with fresh water." She bent down to open a latch to pass the pitcher through.

Gaston cleared his throat, "Belle?"

She looked up, this was the first time he spoke to her on her visits. "Yes, Gaston?"

"Open the door..."

Belle looked at Beast with hopeful eyes, eyes that turned sad when he shook his head. "I wish I could, but Beast doesn't want me to open it."

Standing up, Gaston walked to the door, "I don't care about his wishes. He should start caring more about your wishes and wouldn't you like to spend some time with him?"

Seeing Belle hesitate Beast jumped up, "Don't Belle, you have to wait a bit longer. Don't let him play on your emotions."

Hearing Beast didn't make it any easier for her, she wanted to open that wretched door and drag Beast out if she had to. She looked down, "I won't Beast..."

Nodding satisfied and looking smugly at Gaston he turned around to sit back down.

Belle kept her eyes on Beast and when he had turned around she made a quick dive to her right, quickly pulling the lever to open the door.

Now it was Gaston's turn to give Beast a smug look, yet he made no effort to go out himself. "Go on, have some fun. I'll still be here when you decide to come back."

"Sorry Beast, I just had to hold you. Please don't be mad." She looked at him with tears in her eyes.

He wrapped his arms around her in the doorway, still standing in the cell. "I could never be angry with you, but you know what I have said..."

"Not until he forgives himself." Belle sighed.

Gaston had an idea, "Beast, wasn't there something you had to do that required getting out of here? Why don't you just do that and return after, that shouldn't take too long." Perhaps this would change Beast's mind.

Now Beast was starting to have doubts, should he do it? It was true what Gaston said, Belle looked at him hopefully that he would do whatever it was. Sighing he nodded and stepped out, perhaps if he was correct it would help Gaston in a way.

After he stepped out, he closed the door. "Don't get too smug, it might benefit you as well, that's the only reason I'm doing this." He took Belle's hand and guided her down.

Inside the cell Gaston was smiling, Beast would be back soon, he didn't doubt that. A selfish part of him had wanted to know the answer himself, did Beast find him worthy enough? He supposed he'd get the answer soon enough, but he couldn't help holding a little hope that Beast had found him worthy, he wouldn't hold his breath though.

Nearing the bottom of the steps Beast started to speak. "You do realise that after this I have to go back in there?"

Nodding Belle leaned into Beast's arm as they walked, she didn't care what he was doing, only that she had him with her, even if it was for a short time. Still she felt uneasy when he led her outside, "What are you doing?"

"What I have to do."

Making their way to the barrier, Belle thought he wanted to try to speak with Agathe. When they were close Belle let him go to be able to talk more privately should Agathe reply.

Beast looked confused why Belle let go, but didn't stop walking. He was inside the barrier and felt...well nothing. No fatigue, disorientation or nausea. Getting more confident he continued on and still nothing had happened. Smiling in earnest now he made a dash for the gate and opened it, setting his first step out in months.

When Beast didn't call Agathe she was starting to feel anxious, when he kept going in and suddenly ran for the gate, she went in pursuit. Then she saw him open the gate and stepping out...

She dropped to the ground and started to cry, this was what he wanted to know. He had granted Gaston his forgiveness, and Gaston knew this. She just sat there crying with a big relieved smile on her face.

Beast had turned around and saw Belle crying, he immediately turned back to hold her. "What is it? Please Belle, you should be happy, not distraught."

Wiping away her tears, Belle let out a laugh, "But I am happy, these are tears of joy." She hiccupped in between sobs. "When did you do it?"

Beast sighed, "It was there for a while, but I didn't want to admit it. Then today it just came out during an argument." He held her tight, "I'm sorry, but I have to go back. Hopefully hearing this will help Gaston forgiving himself, I know he is close. We actually had a decent conversation, strange as it may sound."

Belle nodded and the pair went back inside.

Gaston heard them coming back and waited with baited breath, he was more anxious than he had thought he would be.

Beast pulled the lever to open the door and gave Belle a hug, "Hopefully I'll be able to hold you again soon."

Belle nodded and kissed his cheek, "I'll miss you."

Beast stepped in again and saw Gaston's curious face, he heard Belle close the door and walking away. He sat down close to Gaston, "I see you left some for me..." Beast had left before eating and it seemed Gaston had been hungry. Taking the apple and little bit of vegetables that were left, Beast started to eat.

"Well, what happened?"

He sure didn't have to wait long before the question was asked and replied with a question of his own, "What do you think happened?"

"How should I know?" Gaston huffed, "I wasn't there!"

Smirking Beast decided to play this game a bit longer, "You could stop punishing yourself, then you could see for yourself."

"Very funny, now tell me."

"I was right, I opened the gate and stepped out. It was a very strange feeling though, there was a big sense of relief but also fear."

"Why fear?" Gaston asked, why fear the thought freedom so much? It didn't make any sense.

"Because forgiving you made me realise something. If I forgive you for all you've done, I had to ask myself why I couldn't forgive myself." He looked at Gaston and saw confusion in his eyes. "You can't forgive yourself because you blame yourself because your actions led to us not breaking the curse. But could you honestly say it was a consequence that could be foreseen?"

Here Gaston thought hard, he had never thought of it like this. No he couldn't have thought this up.

"Likewise I could not suspect that turning away a beggar would lead to being damned for all time and giving my servants a death sentence. They never blamed me much for it, resented yes, but never blamed."

"I understand." Gaston was thinking, sure it was rotten what he did intend to do, but he never even knew what was here. How could he have known?

Sensing Gaston's inner turmoil Beast decided to keep quiet, it would be best to let him think hard and long about it.

It had been quiet in their cell for a few days now and Beast was getting worried, Gaston had hardly spoken, preferring to stay deep in thought. His ears picked up the sound of nearing footsteps and he smiled, Belle was on her way with their next meal.

Belle placed the tray on the floor to slide it in, but was stopped by a voice.

"That won't be necessary." Gaston was standing on his feet and moved towards Belle.

"You need to eat Gaston, why would you stop eating again?" Belle asked.

"I'm not planning to stop eating."

Now Belle was even more confused.

Face full with determination Gaston looked straight at Belle, at least he hoped he was looking straight at her...

"Because I'm ready to come out."