And another chapter!

Cristianqueenofegypt, he truly is a killjoy. Sadly he's a killjoy with a grudge.

Mustard Lady, he does like children. I do wonder who is the most unpleasant Clothilde or the headmaster.

Ann, we're about to find out what karma thinks of the headmaster.

ImagineATale, Gaston sure can handle himself, and dumping him in the fountain swayed a lot of kids I'm sure.

Banzi, it will be intetesting for sure.

Chapter 32

The headmaster looked around for the source of the disruption of his class. Quickly setting his eyes on Gaston who was still sitting in the water pool.

"You!"

Deciding it might be best to climb out and face the headmaster, Gaston stood up and slowly moved to the edge. Outstretching his hand for someone to help him out. Adam took his arm and he climbed out of the water. "Headmaster, what can I say? It's a hot day, the children needed some distraction from the heat."

"I always knew you would amount to nothing, and that's exactly what you are now. I remember you, big mouth and deplorable manners, even as a child." The headmaster continued.

Madeline ran forward, "Stop being so mean to him, it's my fault he fell in."

"Move aside, stupid girl."

Madeline started to tremble at the headmasters words.

"It's alright Madeline go back to Belle." Gaston instructed the little child, before returning his attention to the headmaster. "I am quite a different man today, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes, even more useless. I wouldn't call it an improvement if I were you. What is it you do these days, living off the charity of others?"

"Hardly." Gaston ground out. "I have friends who are there for me."

"Friends? A 'funny' girl that most likely pities you, her friend who has been dragged into it and someone who has been licking your boots since childhood." The headmaster sneered.

Adam stood there seething, how dare that man. When this was over he would have him dismissed from his position, there was nothing this man could teach children that could be of any use. "Pardon me monsieur, but I have to intervene. I will not have you insulting the woman I love, neither have I been dragged into anything. Monsieur Gaston is welcome at my estate, his room will always be ready for him and my servants have been instructed to serve him as they do me or Belle."

The crowd gasped, apparently the man had high social standing. The gossip started flying about what his exact position could be.

"Now I would reconsider carefully," Adam continued. "Apologise to the people you've just insulted or I will write a letter to the king, demanding you to be removed from your position. What will it be?" Not that he intended to ever write that letter, he would do it himself.

Gaston stood there smirking, it was about time someone put that man in his place.

"You're bluffing! You don't have the power!"

"Are you willing to find out?" Adam said.

The sneering face of the headmaster said it all, he was desperately trying to figure out if it was worth taking the risk. Deciding no it wasn't worth it, he swallowed his pride for now. "I apologise..." He ground out. "Is that enough for you?"

"Apologise for what?" Adam pushed.

Having lost the last shred of self control the headmaster replied, "For telling the truth as it is? Hardly worth an sincere apology is it?"

Adam nodded, "Very well, enjoy your position while it lasts." Turning away he took Gaston's arm leading him away. "That man is not worth the time and effort."

"But what if he has family, I can't believe I'm saying this, but shouldn't we at least try?"

Adam raised his eyebrows, "You want to try?"

"No."

"Then don't, I'll talk to any family he may have. You are not to blame for his failure to be a decent human being." Adam explained.

Gaston nodded relieved, Clothilde had actually been quite decent compared to the headmaster. He'd prefer a conversation with the shrew anytime.

"Are you alright?" LeFou asked.

"Of course I am, I will not let that man get the best of me. Besides I can't wait for him to be removed as headmaster, I would like to see that."

When they had returned to the others, little Madeline was crying for the trouble she had caused Gaston. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to read to you."

"It's alright, nothing too bad happened. He is just one very grumpy man." Gaston reassured her. "Would you like to read some more?"

Madeline quickly nodded, happy that her new friend wasn't angry at her. Opening the book at the right page she continued reading to Gaston. Belle and Adam were enjoying the interaction between the two. LeFou smiled seeing his best friend so happy and calm without needing the gruesome thoughts of the war that had plagued him for so many years.

After Madeline had finished the book, she looked at Gaston expectantly, "Did you like it?"

Realising the book must have been finished, he smiled, "My apologies, I didn't realise you had finished your book. I loved it, which animal did you like the most?"

"I love horses, I can't wait to have one of my own one day!" Madeline replied enthusiastically.

"I'm sure you will one day." Gaston reassured her.

"You think?"

"I know you will."

Adam and Belle looked at the affectionate display. Belle remembered how he used to talk about children, pressing her to have her own. She had never thought he actually loved to have children of his own one day.

"Adam, isn't it amazing how much he has changed? I mean compared to your first meeting with him."

Adam shuddered, "I would be hard pressed to forget being attacked. It is hard to imagine this is the same man, before he would have gone through any length to get whatever he wanted. Now he is doing whatever he can to help others, even at his own discomfort. It is strange to think that he prefers being blind, but he has mentioned it more than once. I do wonder what he'll do when all this is over, will he choose to pay Agathe a visit or will he try to get used to his regained vision."

Belle nodded, "I remember, he mentioned having to close his eyes to find his way after the first time, I remember seeing him do that when we were walking to the foyer. What if he does choose to have his sight taken away forever?"

"Then we will support him in his decision, it will be his choice. In a way he had a more difficult time under his curse than I ever had. In my case only my appearance had changed, but I could still do everything I used to, except for showing my face in public. He had to get used to a whole new way to live, going back from that is significantly harder."

The clock struck one and Madeline gasped, "I have to go, mother wanted me to be back before lunch. Thank you so much!" Madeline shouted while running away.

"You're welcome!" Belle shouted after the girl.

"Will it me all right for me and LeFou to leave? I would like to freshen myself up a bit after that dive." Gaston said.

Adam chuckled, "I'm surprised at how you controlled your temper, it was fun to see you fly in there."

Gaston shot him a dark look, "Yes hilarious. Now if you'll excuse us, I'd like to go."

"Maybe we'll join you at the tavern later." Belle said.

"Adam thank you for standing up against the headmaster, will you really write that letter?"

"Of course not, when the people remember me again, I can just do it myself." Adam told LeFou.

LeFou laughed, "Tell me when you do it, I'd like to be there. That will be entertaining to watch."

"I'm sure it will be, but I think Gaston is getting impatient. For all he has changed, he still hates looking anything but impeccable.

LeFou took Gaston's arm and lead him back towards the tavern. Glancing over his friend he could see he was dry again, but he still looked rather dishevelled. His hair was hanging loose in different directions, but Gaston didn't seem to care too much about it.

LeFou was guiding Gaston through the busy streets and had almost reached the tavern when he saw her, "Gaston, I see Eliana. Would you like to go talk to her?"

Wanting to make up for his comment the evening before, he just nodded. What would he say to her? After he had disappointed her, would she even be willing to talk to him?

"Ladies." He heard LeFou say, meaning she wasn't alone, not that he cared.

The girls looked at LeFou and Gaston and one started to laugh, "What happened to you!"

Ignoring this he turned his attention to Eliana. He just had no idea which one of the group was her without hearing her voice. "Eliana, I would like to talk to you and explain..."

"Please, just leave me alone for now." Came her reply.

"You heard her, leave, you are not wanted here, go bother someone else."

"Eloise, stop it." Eliana said.

"Why? What could you possibly still see in him. He has nothing to offer you, he would only be a burden and you know it. We should all be grateful he lost his sight before he married anyone, I wouldn't have wanted to be stuck with a husband like that."

"Eloise! You can't say that. No one deserves to have their sight being taken from them. It must be hard enough on him without all the comments. Mother thought you better than that." Another voice had entered the conversation, at least this woman was being respectful of him.

The woman named Eloise started to talk again, "You can't be serious, Elise. Don't tell me you are still pining for him as well?"

"No, I'm not. But I can at least treat him like a decent human being. There is no need no badmouth him, from what I've seen, he's actually become a lot nicer. Remember how he always sneered and laughed at us before? He has been nothing but respectful to everyone since he returned and he deserves to be respected in return." Elise scolded.

"Will you both be quiet, I will hear him out and if you don't like it Eloise, than that's your problem. LeFou may I take over from you? You could keep my sisters company while I talk to Gaston." Eliana held out her hand to take over and walked away with Gaston to get some privacy.

Gaston shook his head, it can't be, he thought. Three girls, sisters, realising that Eliana must be one of the girls he often referred to as rabbits, he winced. He had been pretty terrible to them before and one of them still wanted to be with him? It was mindboggling to think about, he had insulted them on so many occasions, mostly out of earshot though. The big question however for him was, which one was it? He never spoke to them or bothered to learn their names.

Eliana had stopped talking and was now facing him, "What was it you wanted to say?"

Still lost in his thoughts about this revelation, he didn't even speak. He was still trying to figure out which of the three he was talking to.

"Gaston, say something, I'm not in the mood for playing games right now." When she still didn't receive a reply she turned to walk away.

"Eliana, wait. I'm sorry I didn't mean to ignore you." Gaston said. "I would like to apologise for what I said the last time. LeFou told me that he suspected you wanted more than just visit me, I thought about it and my guess is he was right. He was wasn't he?"

Gaston waited for her to reply, but received none. "If you don't want to answer that, than don't, at least hear me out. After I had lost my sight I thought no one would ever want to be with me. What could I possibly have to offer? I can't see and be a good provider. No place to call my own, what woman would want a man like that?"

Gaston sighed before continuing, "Then you come along and don't seem to care about all that. You just want me for who I am, I realised you must have liked me for a long time. I regret never taking the time to get to know you. Just now I realised who you are, though it is still a bit difficult for me to tell which one exactly to be honest, considering you three were always together."

Taking a deep breath Gaston looked her in the eye, "Even though I have basically nothing to offer you, would you give me your permission to court you?"