Author's note:

I am back again! Pretty proud of myself for updating this fast. And ImagineATale I'm glad you're planning to keep up with tradition. Hopefully this'll be just as much fun for you to review!

Now on to...

Chapter 41

The next morning Gaston woke up groaning, Why? That was the only question he asked himself. Why had he promised Eliana to go see uncle Pierre today. That would surely end up in disaster. But he had promised and he'd do his best. He got dressed and headed downstairs to get a drink.

A few hours later Eliana arrived and smiled as she saw him talking with Belle and Adam. She headed over and sat down.

"Are you ready?" she asked chuckling.

"Is one ever ready to see that horrid man?" Gaston asked. "Is there anything I could talk to him about that he won't sneer at?"

"Of course there is," Eliana said chuckling. "However I am yet to find out what that could be."

"Very funny..." Gaston said. "We better head out, school should almost be over and it would be the best time to catch him."

"And we'll walk you over as a chaperone," Adam told Gaston. "Then leave you there to force your most beloved uncle Pierre to chaperone the two of you since Eliana won't leave you on your own."

"Exactly," Gaston said smirking. "He'll have to spend the day with us whether he likes it or not. And the market is there so I can buy my sweet Eliana a gift, if she's not opposed to it."

"I would love something to remember you by," Eliana said with a big smile. "Could I get a new dress? I only have dresses that match those of my sisters but I'd love to have one of my own."

"Of course you may," Gaston said playfully. "On one condition..."

"What?" Eliana asked laughing.

"If you describe it to me," Gaston said laughing along with her. "I would like to imagine you wearing it."

"Deal!" She said happily. "That'll be the best gift anyone ever gave me. Elise always wants pink and Eloise likes light colors too. I would just like some darker colors for once."

"Then you'll get something darker," Gaston said. "Anything you want, I know dresses can be expensive so I'll have to get some more money from upstairs. If you'll excuse me for a moment."

He stood up and headed up to get some extra money.

"He's so sweet," Eliana said with a dreamily sigh. "I never thought he'd pick me one day since he was always going after Belle."

"And I was busy trying to hide away from him," Belle said laughing.

"Me and my sisters were often arguing about who'd he'd choose if he'd finally stopped paying attention to you," Eliana said. "Every day we'd try to look as pretty as we could to hopefully get his attention."

"I'm glad you have his attention now," Belle said smiling. "You deserve it."

"And you know what is the funny part?" Eliana asked.

"What?"

"For years I tried to get his attention by looking pretty and when I finally get it he can't see," Eliana said laughing.

"I should've lost my sight years ago," Gaston said as he joined in on the laughter. "It brought you to me after all and you are all I need. Now shall we go see your uncle?"

"Yes please," Eliana said and took his arm to guide him there.

Once they arrived at the school they didn't have to wait long for it to finish.

"Well good luck," Belle said. "We'll wait until you are inside and Eliana give the signal that her uncle is there to take over as your chaperone.

"Whether he likes it or not," Eliana said chuckling.

Gaston and Eliana headed to the school, seeing her uncle she gave the signal and they headed in.

"Uncle Pierre?" Eliana called as she saw he was busy clearing the board with his back towards them. "Are you busy? I need to ask you for something."

"Eliana?" He said as he turned around, his face immediately turned sour when he saw who was with her. "Why is he here?"

"He is courting me remember?" Eliana said. "And since you ate not getting along very well I thought it might be a good idea if you were to chaperone us this afternoon as we go over the market."

"Have you completely lost your mind?!" he thundered.

"But uncle..." Eliana said. "I already sent off Belle and Adam so we are without chaperone now and I won't leave Gaston on his own. Please give him a chance, otherwise we'll just walk over the market without chaperone."

"And have rumors start?" Pierre said in disgust. "Never."

"So you'll chaperone?" She asked again sweetly.

"You're not leaving me much choice," he said.

"Headmaster," Gaston said with a smile.

"Not one word from you..." Pierre said with a sneer. "Seeing you is bad enough, no need to add to it."

"I wouldn't mind seeing his face right now," Gaston whispered to Eliana.

Eliana chuckled at this.

"If you are done being insolent..." Pierre said through clenched teeth, "Eliana could you grab my coat and things from the next room?"

"Of course uncle," she said and headed off, knowing he probably wanted to speak with Gaston.

Once she had left Pierre turned to face Gaston.

"I don't know why you keep coming back, but no more," he said. "I'll chaperone for her sake now, but after this is over you will tell her to find someone worthy of her."

"I apologize, but I refuse to do that," Gaston said. "You may not believe I am sincere in my intentions but I do love her and want nothing but the best for her. That is something you as her uncle should appreciate."

"You are a blind fool who can offer her nothing," Pierre said. "What could you possibly give her?"

"Whatever she wishes," Gaston said. "Nothing is too good for her and all she needs to do is ask and I'll provide it."

"You? Provide?" Pierre said mockingly. "You can't provide for anything, you are useless ans I can't wait until you are out of my life once more."

"If all goes well, I'll be in it for a long time Headmaster," Gaston said. "I am hoping to one day be so lucky to have her accept my proposal. I am not asking you to like me, but only to be civil for her sake."

"You are delusional," Pierre said. "I'll never support you courting her, it is a disgrace."

"No," Eliana said coming back out carrying her uncle's belongings. "You are who is acting disgraceful. He only wants the best for me and I refuse to hear you talk like that about him."

"You are throwing your life away."

"Then that is my choice," Eliana said stubbornly. "Now will you finally chaperone us?"

"Fine," Pierre said. "But don't ever ask me to do this again."

"Not if you give him an honest chance," Eliana said. "He might surprise you."

"I highly doubt it," Pierre said. "Shall we leave then?"

"We shall," Eliana said. "And thank you uncle, it means a lot to me."

"Headmaster," Gaston said holding out his hand. "Shall we try to start over for her sake?"

Pierre wanted to turn away but as he saw Eliana expectantly looking at him he sighed and took the offered hand.

"But I still don't like you," he said.

"Don't worry Headmaster," Gaston said. "Your not on my list of favorite persons either. But neither of us wants Eliana hurt because of it so let's try to get along."

"For Eliana."

"For Eliana," Gaston agreed.

After shaking hands they headed out.

Eliana smiled as she was strolling around the market with Gaston. A little behind them was Pierre keeping an eye on them.

"Have you seen anything you liked?" Gaston asked. "Or would you prefer to look at dresses?"

"There was a simple bracelet that I liked," Eliana said. "It's one where you could put pendants on to make it your own."

"Then you'll get that too," Gaston said smiling.

Eliana gave a happy squeal and led him to the jeweler where he bought it for her.

"May I put it on you?" Gaston asked.

"Please," she said happily and held out her arm.

Gaston put it on her and smiled.

"My princess," he said. "Now let's find your other gift."

Eliana wasted no time in leading him to one of the seamstresses. She had already seen one with gorgeous dresses and wanted to see those up close. She looked through the dresses that were there and seeing a few she liked lifted them up for a closer look.

Pierre was getting a headache. How much longer would this torture last? Eliana seemed happy with a bracelet, simple as it was...Now she was looking at dresses that the blind fool could never afford, it being the best on the market. He saw Eliana light up at one and he checked the price, perfect. Time to have the fool disappoint her and then she'd finally tell him off.

"This one," Eliana excitedly said. "It is perfect! I wish you could see...Most is a darker sand color and the dress had dark green finishings around the edges. I love it!"

"Then it will be yours," Gaston said smiling and he turned to the woman selling it.

Pierre smirked as he saw Gaston talking to the woman. Next he heard the price being said. Here we go, he thought, but then...he saw Gaston simply reach into his pocket and take out the money without even haggling the price. No!

"Is something wrong uncle?" Eliana asked worried as she saw the look on her uncles face.

"He has to be leeching off of his friends," Pierre said. "There is no way he has this much money."

"Uncle! You said you'd try to get along!"

"It's alright," Gaston said. "Headmaster, I do have a lot of money left from my hunting days. I hold no illusion that will last forever, that being said, I will move to the estate of my friends when we return. There I need no money, I am a guest of honor there. So any fears you may have about me being able to provide for her are unfounded. She will be treated like a princess there because I wouldn't settle for less."

"A bunch of rotten lies if I ever heard any," Pierre said. "But I think it has been enough for the day. We'll return you to the tavern since I'm sure you are unable to find your way back from Eliana's home."

He didn't even await a reply and started leading them back.

"Before he pulls me away at the tavern," Eliana said chuckling. "I promise I'll come by the tavern tomorrow, in my new dress. It is the best thing ever."

"I'm glad that I made you happy," Gaston said. "That is all I wish."

Eliana smiled and all too soon they had reached the tavern.

"Thank you for today," she said.

"You're welcome," Gaston said. "He took her hand and kissed it. My princess, I'm sure you'll look beautiful tomorrow. Until then."

"Until then," Eliana said as she was pulled away.

When he returned to the tavern he headed in and immediately he heard LeFou calling him.

"Well? How did it go?"

"She loved what I bought her," Gaston said. "However uncle Pierre was being stubbornly set on not giving me a proper chance. But he might change his mind tomorrow when he sees her glowing with pride when she wears the dress I bought her. Where are Belle and Adam? They said they'd be here too."

"Belle and Adam are doing some shopping of their own, after they'd go to Maurice."

"I've been claiming a lot of their time since we came here," Gaston said. "I'm glad they are taking some time for themselves. How about we order something to eat? It'll be on me."

"I'm not saying no to that," LeFou said chuckling.