My dear readers, I am so sorry this took impossibly long but all your patience has been rewarded with this new chapter. And a massive thank you to ImagineATale, Mustard Lady and Mirai for their kind reviews!

Now let's start without further delay.

Chapter 45

The next morning Gaston woke up with the biggest smile, he couldn't remember when he'd been happier. The night before had been best best of his life and soon he'd have a wonderful wife and hopefully they would be blessed with children soon after. He wasn't lying when he told Belle he wanted a big family, he'd still prefer boys but he wouldn't mind having daughters either. He got up and opened the closet door to see the rose as he got himself ready for the day. Once downstairs in the tavern more people congratulated him, until...

"I don't know what you need to congratulate that good for nothing for," Clothilde could be heard saying. "He'll bring ruin to a perfectly good family, the Headmaster must be beside himself with shame."

"No one asked your opinion," one patron could be heard in reply.

"Besides the Headmaster and I came to an understanding," Gaston said and he decided to make another attempt at civil conversation. "Not everyone is as bitter as you. Perhaps you should give me a chance for once?"

Hearing a snort and hurried footsteps he chuckled, seems like Cogsworth would be spared a reunion with his shrewdish wife.

That morning Eliana couldn't wait to get a wedding dress and was already being fitted to have one made so it would be ready for the big day.

"Hold still Eliana," her mother said chuckling. "I know you are excited, but you haven't even settled on a date yet and you moving around isn't making measuring any easier."

"I'm sorry Maman," Eliana said blushing. "I'll try keeping still from now on."

"Thank you," Amelia said as she noticed her daughter standing still. "But are you sure you want me to make your dress? I mean, with that Adam being in higher circles and you celebrating on his estate wouldn't you like something...fancier?"

"Of course not!" Eliana said. "The best dresses are made with love and what dress has more love in it then one made by you?"

"Very true," Amelia said smiling. "Now hold still again."

"Sorry!"

"You know...I also wore a dress my Maman made for me."

"Grandmere made your dress?" Eliana said in surprise. "But her needlework was terrible! She made so many embroideries but I could never tell what it was."

"Her being terrible at it made me want to learn how to sew," her mother said. "It wasn't the prettiest dress, but she worked on it for weeks and since we didn't have much money I didn't have much of a choice about wearing it. Looking back on it however, I cannot imagine myself having worn any other dress. She put her heart and soul in it, I still have it and will always treasure it. It made your father laugh though, that dress is a memory of both of them. I'm sure both would've loved to have been there to see you get married."

"I would've loved for her to be there too," Eliana said with a sigh, thinking about her father's reaction.

"Not your father?"

"Him too of course!" Eliana quickly said realizing her mistake. "But I never really knew him and forgot to mention him. I'm sorry."

"No need to be sorry," Amelia said. "Truth is he wasn't home much due to his job when he was alive and none of you girls ever had a real chance getting to know him."

"I wish I did have memories of him..."

"I know just know he loved all three of you very much," her mother said and after a moment of thinking she chuckled. "And you know, knowing Eloise she'll probably marry not long after you. Once you'll be living at that estate she'll be sure to look for a rich suitor there. While I'd have preferred for you all to marry for love it just doesn't suit her."

"You're probably right, she was gushing at the idea as soon as she heard about the estate," Eliana said laughing along. "But it does suits her, I pity the suitors she'll meet there though. They have no idea how relentless she can be in getting what she wants."

"The poor men."

"You should've seen the estate," Eliana said gushing. "It was so big, I'm sure I'll get lost just walking around there once or twice. And the staff...they treated me as some royal visitor, they were so nice."

"I'm glad you like it so much, and I can't wait to see it for myself," Amelia said. "But why don't you look in the mirror, I just placed the last pin."

Eliana looked st herself and couldn't stop some tears from appearing. "Oh Maman, it's perfect! Thank you!"

"It isn't finished yet, I still need to sow it all together."

"I know, but I can see it will be gorgeous. No fancy dressmaker could've made anything better."

"Thank you for the compliment, as you noticed it's slightly heavier and fancier then I usually make dresses, but since you'll be marrying up I want the higher ranks present be impressed too and added more. You making a good impression will only help Eloise in getting a higher match too after all."

"She'll be taking highest bid," Eliana said laughing. "And I know she'll be happy even if her marriage will be loveless."

"Elise is more like you, but I wouldn't put it past her to try to find her love in those circles either," Amelia said smiling. "How about you take the dress off so I can sow it? You may be getting married soon but until then you still have your chores."

Eliana laughed at this and quickly took it off to change and do her chores.

"So when will the big day be?" LeFou asked his friend in his room at the tavern.

"We're going to wait until after the curse for obvious reasons," Gaston said. "But as soon as possible I suppose, I can't wait to wake up and have her with me. Why did I waste time going after Belle with her nose in the books? I should've seen Eliana for who she is years ago."

"You weren't exactly thinking clearly back then..."

"I blame Agathe, she should've cursed me years ago, I could've had a few children already if she had."

"I don't think it quite works that way," LeFou said thinking.

"Suppose not," Gaston said with a sigh.

"Anything you wanted to do today?"

"Well.. " Gaston said. "I've already attempted to talk to the shrew, that went as well as was to be expected..."

"Still won't give you a chance huh?"

"No, that woman is impossible," Gaston said. "I hope Cogsworth doesn't miss her too much becau..."

They were interrupted by a knock.

"Are you expecting someone?" LeFou asked surprised.

"No..." Gaston said as he stood up. "Better check who's there, maybe it's Belle or Adam."

He walked to the door and opened it.

"Yes? Who is it?"

"You truly are useless..." a voice said in a drawl. "To have to be told who's at your door when it's open..."

"Uncle Pierre," Gaston said blinking. "Now this is a surprise, what did I do to be honored with a visit from you? Already finished insulting everyone else in the village?"

"You insolent fool..." the headmaster said. "I can't understand for the life of me what Eliana sees in you, but I came to get you."

"Get me? For what?" Gaston asked getting even more confused.

"To get Eliana so you two can settle on a date," the headmaster said. "I won't have you keep her waiting for nothing, only to change your mind and leave her later. A date will be arranged as will Pere Robert be informed so he can announce the upcoming nuptials so you can't weasel your way out anymore."

"I didn't know you were so eager to have me become a part of the family," Gaston said smirking. "That is surprising indeed, well uncle, why don't you lead me there? LeFou can see himself out."

"I would hardly call it eager, quite the opposite in fact, but sadly Eliana won't hear of anything else," the headmaster said and took Gaston's arm. "Now quit wasting my valuable time and go."

Gaston felt a tug and quickly followed.

"Until later LeFou!" He called behind him and followed the headmaster out.

People stared at the sight of the headmaster dragging Gaston along as the passed them in the village.

"Don't forget to..."

"Play nice in front of Eliana," the headmaster finished. "I may despise you but I do like her. She's still family after all."

"Not despise," Gaston said, "mutual dislike remember? In fact you have had harsher words for me in the past...I must be starting to grow on you."

"Hardly..."

"Whatever you say..." Gaston said chuckling. "Can't hide how you truly feel about me."

"Really?" the headmaster said. "I suppose I'll just have to try harder then..."

"You can try," Gaston said just as they came to a halt. "This isn't Eliana's home, that's farther away."

"I'm honestly surprised that you noticed," the headmaster said. "We are at my sister's modiste. Eliana couldn't wait getting a dress ready. And I don't need to worry about you seeing the dress before the wedding, in fact I don't know why she bothers since you'll never see it."

"Something that I regret about being blind," Gaston said honestly as they went in. "But I can still feel it and imagine it in my mind. I'll make the best of it and I just know she'll look like an angel even if I can't see it."

"That is so sweet!" Eliana said blushing. "But you'll have to wait for that until the wedding."

"Which you'll be setting a date for today," the headmaster said. "I'm sure neither of you can wait for the happy day."

"I wish it could be tomorrow..." Eliana said dreamily.

"Would your dress be finished that soon?" Gaston asked surprised. "If it is that's fine, but I did tell you we need to wait until Adam finishes his business, which would be done hopefully next week. We do need to warn the staff at his estate after all that they need to prepare for a wedding."

"I know," Eliana said giggling. "And my dress will take the better part of a week too until it's finished. How about in two weeks to be safe?"

"That would give them time to prepare," Gaston said. "Fine, two weeks it is."

"Two weeks," the headmaster said. "Isn't that too short notice?"

"What's wrong uncle Pierre?" Gaston asked chuckling. "I thought you couldn't wait for us to get married, you don't want to delay us do you?"

"I would never want to disappoint Eliana even if I don't always approve of her choices," the headmaster said. "Now quickly head to church to officially set a date, before someone changes his mind..."

"I'd never," Gaston said, "and neither will your niece."

"One could only hope..." Pierre said in a mutter. "I still have no idea what I did to deserve you becoming family..."

"Must be you kindness," Gaston said which made Eliana chuckle.

"Kindness does get rewarded," Eliana said trying to hold back her laughter. "Perhaps with even more kindness Eloise or Elise might end end up marrying LeFou."

"May the Lord have mercy on me if such an abomination ever does happen..." Pierre muttered

"Rest assured that is a mutual feeling," Gaston said laughing.

They left the modiste and headed for church and a little while later they had officially set the date.