And as promised the second chapter, next one is in the works and seeing I have three weeks off from work I'm sure I'll manage a chapter or two.

Miranda88, sorry I completely overlooked your review last time. And I have to agree they are cute together.

Child of Dreams, yes who will it be that is the big question.

Mustard Lady, I do love writing Gaston and Uncle Pierre banter. Can't wait fir the next time they face off.

ImagineATale, glad to see you loved it, and as to collaborating, who's the longwinded one again?

Now let's enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 38

Early morning the group had started to gather at the tavern, but no one was more excited than Eliana. She just couldn't sit still as she waited for LeFou, who was the only one still absent.

"Sweetheart, you'll be there before you know it," Gaston told her, "just relax, we'll leave as soon as LeFou arrives."

After a few more minutes LeFou arrived and the group was good to go. They went to the cart and Belle and Adam took the front to drive to the castle and the rest took a seat in the back.

"Is everyone ready to go?" Belle asked, after seeing them all nod, she turned to face the front and they started their trip.

"It's getting colder, I suppose that means we're almost there?" Gaston asked after a few hours.

"Yes," Adam told him, "I think about fifteen more minutes, we've just entered the enchanted forest, but it's day so the wolves you didn't kill should be keeping their distance. I've only seen them come out after dark."

"Wolves?" Eliana asked a little scared.

"No need to worry, apparently I'm such a good shot I can hit one without looking." Gaston proudly stated.

"Haven't you learned to stop boasting?" LeFou asked, "I thought the curse was supposed to put an end to all that."

"He's not boasting," Belle said, "We saw it through the mirror, it was quite the feat considering he did that while running for his life. If anything he should have added he hit the leader which caused them to give up."

"I am pretty good aren't I?" Gaston said haughtily. "But then again I exceeded everyone's expectations regarding the curse as well."

"Listening to this or to have stayed a beast? Don't know which is worse" Adam said.

"I was just joking," Gaston said, "Lighten up a bit, relax. Though I do miss your furry self at times, maybe a certain enchantress will be willing to help?"

"Absolutely not," Adam said, "A decade was more then enough, can't say I miss it, not like you missed being blind. Asking to lose your sight again on the same day you got it back."

"Not only that," Gaston proudly started, "I've asked the enchantress if she might be willing to take it again after this is over."

Several gasps could be heard in the cart, but no one was more shocked by this development then Eliana. "Why would you do that Gaston?"

"I like the new me, and being blind made it possible. I suppose I fear that I'll go back to my old ways if I see again," Gaston explained. "However it will be up to you Eliana, if you prefer me with my sight I'll see again. As long as you're happy, I'll be happy."

"We're here," Maurice suddenly said, "Hopefully this visit will go better than the previous ones."

"Yes, you haven't had the best of luck with this place." Belle agreed.

Hearing they were there, Gaston looked towards Eliana and wished he saw her face when she first saw the castle. As he did he felt some prickling in his eyes and he could see again, just in time to see her face as Eliana took her first glance of the castle.

Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the huge castle, of course they had mentioned a castle, but this was a lot bigger then she had imagined. This was where he lived? No wonder he wanted to return here, the place was stunning. Even the snow covered grounds held their own beauty, it was simply amazing. She looked to Gaston with a bright smile and saw him smiling back.

"You can see again!" She shouted.

"Only temporarily, one day, my birthday present from the enchantress," Gaston told her, "And I'm happy to see you for the first time, really see you." He then gave her a kiss on het cheek and was happy to hear her giggle. "See, nothing to worry about, I still love you. You and your silly doubts."

She snuggled into him even more, "I love you…" she said in a sigh.

"And I love you too," Gaston told her. He thought for a moment and had an idea. "Belle, Adam could you stop for a moment."

Wondering what Gaston was up to they stopped and turned to face him.

Gaston stood up and gestured them to get closer and whispered into their ears. Receiving two nods, he stepped off the cart and walked around and unhitched his horse. Sitting on his horse's back he felt right at home. He walked to where Eliana was sitting and held out his hand. "Come here, I'd like to ride you there myself."

Eliana didn't think twice and stood up, "Are you sure he's going to hold us both?" She asked a little uncertain.

"He's held both LeFou and myself on more than one occasion, as his kept throwing him off." Gaston said smirking.

LeFou gave a slight blush at the reminder, but then looked up mischievously, "Well I'm not the only one he threw…remember. I distinctly remember you telling me, 'look LeFou, this is how you sit on a horse', right before…"

"Yes, yes, no need to remind me." Gaston quickly said, then helped Eliana to sit in front of him, "I'll hold you alright, no need to worry."

Eliana nodded and wrapped her arms around him just in case. "Just be careful alright?"

"Of course, I'll never let any harm come to you." He then spurred his horse on and they made their separate way to the castle.

The others watched the couple ride away in amazement, hardly believing this to be the same Gaston as they knew all these years.

"He really has changed, hasn't he?" Maurice asked.

"He has," Adam confirmed, "it wasn't easy, but I think he wanted to change the moment he realized what his actions had caused."

"It's been years since I've seen him genuinely happy," LeFou said, "Sure he had fun and had nothing to complain about, but actually happy like this no."

"I think we should continue, somehow I don't think they'll wait for us." Belle said. "He's still his impatient old self, and Eliana will want to find her father."

"Her father?" Adam asked. "Is that who she's been missing? How do you know?"

"Agathe told me yesterday, just before she would go tell Gaston. I wonder who he is though."

They continued their way and they noticed that that staff had kept themselves busy.

"Look they repaired the window of my chambers, most of the exterior damage is gone by the looks of it." Adam remarked, "I wonder how it is on the inside, maybe they painted the West Wing corridor, if they did I wonder if that depressing atmosphere is gone. If it is that would be great, if not, at least they tried. This experience has proved magic is a fickle thing and we should appreciate everything that has been reversed."

In the back of the cart LeFou looked at the castle, not quite believing that this was where his friend had spend months. How could a castle as big as this remain hidden? He had to admire Agathe's power, this was no small feat.

When they reached the castle they saw Gaston and Eliana had already arrived.

"I've already brought Renaître to the stable. Shall we wait until you've brought Philippe yourself?" Gaston asked Belle.

"We'll ask one of the servants," Belle said, "Looking at Eliana, I don't think she can wait much longer."

Gaston smiled, "I think you're right." He walked to his love who was taking in every detail of the castle. "Take it easy, you'll have plenty of time to explore the castle."

"One day," she told him, "I only have one day, this place is too big to see in one day."

"On the bright side, you'll see more in one day then I've seen in eight months." Gaston told her, "After I had my sight returned, I only followed them through the halls as they wished to speak to the staff and a few hours later my sight was taken again. We could both explore it, oddly enough the only room I did take the time to look at was the library."

Eliana laughed, "Of all the rooms you decided the library was the one that deserved your attention?"

"Yes, I was in there talking to Adam and Belle when my sight returned," Gaston explained, "Seeing again after so long, I couldn't help but look around. Maybe you should close your eyes and I'll take you there, make it the first room you'll see."

"If you don't mind, I'd prefer finding my relative, do you think he'll like me? Who is he and what was his life like under the curse?"

"Relax, we still have to find him," Gaston reassured her, "I'm sure he'll be found before lunch and you can talk to him as long as you like."

"But you can only see for one day, don't you want to spend as much of that time with me as possible?"

"Of course I do, but I can also be with you without my sight, in there is a man who hasn't been able to see you in a decade," he told her, "Someone you haven't seen in a decade, if you want I'll be there with you."

"I'd like that," Eliana said, than she grew enthusiastic again, "Does he like you? I mean, of course he likes you, you broke their curse."

"While I did break their curse, if it weren't for my earlier actions they wouldn't have been in the mess they were in to begin with. So the staff are divided in their opinion of me," Gaston explained, "But I'm sure he'll be happy to see you, we just need to find him. I think it's time I told you of his relation to you."

Eliana looked at him expectantly, "Please tell me, I can't wait."

Gaston smiled and took her hand, "Please do try to stay calm, but your going to see your father."

Eliana stood silent and still, her father? But he had died years ago didn't he? She thought of her mother who had people trying for her hand as a widow, but she had always refused. Her mother always said something seemed to keep her back from accepting, even though it would have made their lives much easier. It must have been the spell preventing those who were married to find new love. Deep in thought as she was, she heard Gaston calling her name.

"I'm sorry, my mind wondered off," Eliana explained, "I thought he was dead, we all did. Who could be so cruel to let someone think their husband and father is dead?"

"It wasn't done in cruelty, but caused by cruelty, my cruelty to be exact," Adam told her, "A decade ago I was nothing like I am now, I'd like to believe it was a desperate attempt to stop me from causing more damage then I already had. Overtaxing the village, using people for my personal entertainment. The rest just got caught up and I owe you an apology for that. You had to be raised by just your mother, you should have had your father there. But I think their presence was what kept me from becoming completely feral."

"He had started to become feral by the time I had arrived," Belle told her, "If it weren't for your father and the others inside I would hate to think what would have become of Adam. To me your father is a hero for all he's done to help Adam during the years."

Eliana looked up proudly, thinking if her father. Yes he had been absent from her life, but it hadn't been his choice. He had helped Adam, who clearly was of noble birth, though his exact station was still unknown to her. Now that she thought about it she couldn't help but wonder.

"Were you, I mean are you royalty? I mean this castle is so big, no ordinary person would live here."

"Yes, I'm a prince," Adam told her, "Though not the one to take over the crown. I can't help but be thankful for that, I don't think I'd have made a great king, power and me don't go well together. But I think we've talked enough and it's time to go inside."

"I have to agree, are you ready to go inside?" Gaston asked.

Eliana gave a nervous nod and looked at Adam.

"Don't look at me, go ahead and open the door." Adam encouraged her.

She took the door handle and took a deep breath before opening the door.