Welcome back to all of my faithful readers!

Rubbernoseswampdonkey, I do try to make him likable, my 3 year old would hate me if I didn't.

Mustard Lady, people love their gossip in that town. I had such trouble writing all that, mainly because I had to laugh so hard when I wrote that. He had handled himself well, but more trouble is coming for him.

Child of dreams, hope you'll like this chapter.

Yinlai, since when does everything go according to plan for Gaston, luckily never in case of Maurice.

ImagineATale, Maurice will have to see it before he believes it, more awkward moments are coming up.

Banzi, thank you for your support.

And thank you to my two new reviewers! TrudiRose and cristianqueenofegypt.

TrudiRose, you really devoured this story reading it all in one go. Happy you like it so much and that I managed to surprise you with the plot.

Cristianqueenofegypt, happy to hear you love my story, luckily you didn't have to wait long for this chapter ;)

Chapter 26

Gaston had noticed the sudden silence after his outburst and all colour drained from his face. Belle and Adam quickly used this distraction to get closer. Just wanting to get it over with Gaston spoke again, "Yes you all heard me right. Now if you'll excuse me, I would like to finish my conversation. LeFou, come here and...help me will you."

The man who were holding LeFou released him, not sparing a moment LeFou joined Gaston. He saw all the faces staring and deciding to protect his friend he turned to the crowd, "Are you all done staring? What is the matter with you all? Can't you see it's hard enough for him, must you add to it!" Looking around he saw Belle and her friend, Adam he recalled, pushing their way through. "Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be going." He grabbed Gaston around his arm as he had seen Belle do, now he understood why. "Move aside and let us through!" He had never been the forceful type, but this was one of those times he knew he had to be.

The crowd dispersed leaving a path for the two men to walk through, LeFou guiding his friend to the couple who were desperately trying to reach them. His way was blocked by a few of the villagers who refused to step aside and looked Gaston straight in his eyes, one bulky man stepped forward. "Look at this, the great Gaston as helpless as the prey he once hunted!" He mocked. "Don't have much to say now, do you?" The man laughed.

Gaston tried to keep his composure, this was only to be expected after all. If anything it was surprising the rest hadn't joined the man in mocking him. He sighed, "You are right, I don't have anything to say."

"Did you all hear that, perhaps WE would all like to say something!" The man laughed. "I speak for many when I say that I like seeing you like this. So small and insignificant, just like we were to you, isn't that right?" Finally he stepped aside, "Let them through, take a good look everyone, our self-proclaimed hero is coming through!"

"Come on Gaston," LeFou had finally reached Belle and Adam. Belle took over from LeFou, who helped Adam clearing the way to the door.

Gaston was feeling horrible, he regretting his past behaviour more then ever. How was he supposed to get their sympathy, when he had spend so much time reminding everyone how insignificant they all were compared to him. It was only reasonable that they would return the favour, and it stung. He wasn't going to give up though, he couldn't. They might not know it, but a lot of them had families that missed them, and he would give them back.

"Are you alright?" LeFou asked.

They had left the tavern and he hadn't even noticed they had sat him down. "I'm fine. I expected something like this, still hurts though. Only have myself to blame I suppose, thank you LeFou, you are a true friend."

"Yes, I agree with him," Adam said, "He couldn't have asked for someone better." He remembered what Gaston had said about this man while they had been locked up. "I remember Gaston telling me he regretting his past treatment of you, he didn't give any details, only that he regretted it. But if his attitude when I first met him was any indication, I must say you are an admirable man for having stayed by his side."

Not being used to any praise of any kind LeFou gave an uncertain smile, "It was nothing, I've known him since childhood. Even though it was hard sometimes, I wasn't going to let him down." He was starting to grow more confident when he saw that the two people in front of him actually paid attention to what he said. "And I will be here for him now."

"Thank you," Belle said. "You are a good man, LeFou."

"I'm not, I should have stood up against Gaston. I felt horrible for what happened with your father and then I lied about what had happened."

"No LeFou, I used and manipulated you as I always did. I don't deserve a friend like you, you should be mocking me with the others. The fact that you don't shows that you are a good man, whether you believe it or not." Gaston said.

LeFou smiled, his friend really had changed. "What are you going to do now? Are you going to live here again or will you soon be leaving again?"

"We are staying for now, I had hoped to sleep in my own room at the tavern. But I don't think it will be a good idea after what just happened."

"You will just have to stay with us," Belle said. "We'll explain to my father it is too dangerous for you to be there at the moment."

Gaston shook his head, "No he doesn't want me there and can you honestly blame him? I'll just wait until it has quieted down before I return there."

Rather nervously LeFou spoke up, "I don't know, I don't think you should be alone there right now, maybe after everything has quieted down a bit."

"We'll discuss this later," Adam said, "The crowd is moving outside."

Gaston gave a wry smile, "It doesn't matter, let them look, I can't keep hiding from them. And like I said, I'll be staying in my own room."

"Gaston, what if someone tries to hurt you?" Belle asked.

"I will be staying with him, if he insists on staying there, this is non-negotiable." Adam said.

"Please Gaston, at least let someone stay with you. It would make me feel better if you did, I don't trust those men to leave you alone." Belle implored.

"I could also stay," LeFou offered.

Adam shook his head, "That is very kind of you, but tonight it would be best if I stayed. The room needs to be reorganized in a way, that he'll be able to find everything."

"Fine." Gaston ground out. "But only for tonight."

"Thank you Gaston." Belle said, feeling slightly better now.

The group collected the horses they had left at the tavern several hours before and made their way to Belle's home. LeFou, not wanting to leave Gaston joined them. He thought about all that had happened and how much Gaston had changed for the better. He couldn't help but feeling sorry for his friend though, he couldn't imagine what it was like and he didn't want to know. But he thought Gaston was holding himself together pretty well, being blind had changed him for the better.

"Gaston, I was wondering something. It might sound strange but...until today I had forgotten all about you. I don't know, I remember you leaving seven months ago and now your return, everything in between is...I don't know. Like there is something missing?" LeFou tried to explain.

Gaston had to think quick, he couldn't give a straight answer. He wanted to tell the truth but he didn't want to risk it affecting the curse. "I don't know, it does sound strange. Maybe you missed me so much, you didn't want to think about me! That must be it!" Hoping that LeFou would accept this pitiful excuse of a lie.

"I don't think so..."

Gaston resolved he would try to find Agathe tomorrow, considering LeFou already accepted him, maybe it would be safe to tell him. He had hated to lie to him and after all he had done for him, he deserved to be told the truth.

Finally they had arrived at Belle's home and bringing the horses to the stable, they all moved inside. Maurice had been waiting inside, though his smile fell when he saw both Gaston and LeFou.

"Belle, I thought I said..."

"He's only staying here to eat something, the patrons of the tavern didn't take the news very well."

"They didn't sound very upset to me," Gaston added, "If anything they sounded very cheerful while mocking me."

"Maurice," LeFou stepped forward. "I would like to apologize, I was too much of a coward and.."

"Stop it LeFou, like I said before. I manipulated and abused our friendship, I am the only one he should blame." Clearing his throat he continued, "Maurice, he tried to talk me out of leaving you for the wolves, only abandoning you when I threatened to leave him there with you. Do not blame him in any way, he was not at fault." He finished, he could handle Maurice being angry with him, but not LeFou who didn't deserve it.

"Is this true LeFou? Did you try to stop him from leaving me?"

LeFou looked down, "I tried."

Maurice stepped forward, standing in front of LeFou holding out his hand, "Thank you for trying."

LeFou shook the offered hand and felt relieved. "I'm sorry for lying though."

Maurice nodded, "I can see you are sincere, don't let anyone pressure you to do things you don't want to. It never ends well."

Adam saw that Belle had finished setting the table, "I see that dinner is ready, let's not keep Belle waiting."

Maurice laughed, "I wouldn't dare."

LeFou helped Gaston finding a seat and sat down next to him, he noticed how expertly his friend managed to eat, without making any mess. "How do you know where everything is in front of you? You seem to know exactly where everything is."

"That is because I do, Belle set everything the same way she always does. Glass top right of the plate, meat on the right and the vegetables on the left. As long as everything is in this order I make no mistakes, though it took some practise."

"That is why I'm going to go with Gaston after dinner, to help organise his room the same way as he was used to at my... home." Adam added. "I just hope those men won't cause more grief today."

"I wouldn't hold my breath on that one." Gaston added.

Adam and Gaston left for the tavern right after dinner, the sun would be up for a little while longer and Adam wanted to use that time to start reorganizing the room.

They didn't make it far into the tavern before they were confronted again, by a few of the patrons.

"Is it true?" One of the newcomers asked.

Not seeing any point in denying it Gaston decided to be answer them honestly, "If you mean, am I blind, then yes it is true." He then raised his voice, "To all of those who weren't here earlier, the rumour is true. I am blind and concerning the other rumour, no I didn't marry Belle. The man beside me is the one she gave her hand to. Does anyone have something else to say or could I go to my room without any disturbance?" No sound was forthcoming and he nodded, "Thank you for understanding," To Adam he said, "Up the stairs to your right and third door on the right."

Following the directions Gaston had given him he had found the room in no time. "I must say you handled yourself well down there."

Gaston gave a nervous chuckle, "I wouldn't have known what I would have done if they actually had something to say. I just hoped being forceful enough would keep them from asking questions and it worked."

Gaston took his key out of his pocket, giving it to Adam to open the door. After finally making it into the room Adam couldn't wait to get started. While taking in the room, he noticed a big closet, that somehow didn't seem to match the rest he opened the door and saw the rose inside. He quickly closed the door, "Gaston could you come here for a moment."

After Gaston had joined him Adam opened the door again.

"The rose. I don't know why she bothered to place it here, wouldn't it have been safer at the castle? Besides I don't need to worry about it wilting, considering the circumstances she told me the first petal wouldn't drop for the next twenty years. It was the longest she could give apparently, it's not like I'm going to wait that long."

Adam shook his head, "She gave me ten years while having to wait for a girl who would fall for me even though I looked hideous. You have the ability to break it whenever you want and have twice the time, I'll never understand her logic."

"She didn't want me to feel pressured to hurry, now I could just concentrate on the task at hand without having to worry about a time limit." Gaston explained. "Not that it matters, if they don't treat me with common decency after one year, I doubt they would after twenty."

"Adam may I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Do you know if LeFou has relatives back at the castle? Me and Belle wouldn't know due to the first curse, but you would."

"Sadly I don't," Adam sighed. "I never cared about any of my servants until it was too late. To me they were beneath my notice, there are a few that I do know of. Mrs. Potts and her son have a husband and father here, Cogsworth a wife and a few of the maids have relatives, don't I know their exact relations though." Adam looked down guiltily.

Gaston pondered it over, "I know a Monsieur Potts, I suppose that would be the husband, As far as I know there is no one with the last name Cogsworth." Gaston frowned, "How do you know that some of the maids have relatives if you believed they were beneath you, I mean, wouldn't you have avoided them?"

"They had their looks going for them, keep it at that."

Clearing his throat Gaston decided to move on, "Right...Perhaps a first name of this wife of Cogsworth?"

"No, if anything was said about her, it was hardly favourable. He said she could be quite the shrew."

Gaston nodded, "Would you be able to recognise faces, I'm sure they might have visited the castle sometimes."

"I don't think so, it has been eleven years. While we were enchanted no one physically aged, but the people here did." Adam replied. He looked outside and saw the sun had almost set. "It is getting late, let's get some sleep and I'll finish the rest tomorrow. I did finish the kitchen and everything is organised exactly as in the castle."

"Thank you."

"Now you climb into that bed of yours, I'll take some blankets and sleep on the floor." Adam suggested.

Gaston looked surprised, "I thought you would take the bed, I can't let you sleep on the floor!"

"Why not, there is nothing wrong with it."

"Well no but...you are...well you know..." Gaston spluttered.

"I no longer care for my title, you should know that by know. Besides my sleeping arrangements as a Beast left much more to be desired. Just get into your bed, I'll be fine."

"If you're sure, but I'm certain that the bed at the castle is more comfortable than my floor."

Adam sighed, "The bed I have no doubt, but before Belle arrived I was growing into a feral state of mind and slept in a pile of broken furniture, torn cloth and animal remains. Trust me the floor will be fine by me."

"Yes, well, since you put it that way, I'm sure the floor will do just fine." Gaston walked to his table were he had left his bag with belongings from the castle.

Gaston lay in bed and could hear Adam fixing the blankets the make a makeshift bed for himself. "Are you sure you don't want the bed?"

"I'm sure, now get some sleep, tomorrow will be a difficult day for you."

Gaston didn't doubt it, by afternoon the entire village would know what had happened to him. He feared their reactions if this afternoon had been any indication, but he couldn't help but hoping for the best. There were bound to be some people who would treat him decently, though there were a few people he would rather avoid for now. But those were worries for another day, he had made it through the first one.