AN: Sorry this chapter is shorter and took a while to get out. I've been preoccupied and a little depressed.

Chapter Fifteen

15.1

Belle's eyes widened as she looked over a book that she had found. She shivered slightly as she read over the same sentence for the third time. It was terrible and she had to cover her mouth to stop her cries from being heard. As she heard someone approach her she slammed the book closed and looked over to her husband. She didn't want to tell him what she had just learned.

"I thought you might be hungry," he told her with a bowl of fruit. He looked at her, his eyes showing how concerned he was and she smiled to him before reaching out for his paw. She put the fruit down and then stood up, walking into his large furry chest.

"Belle," he said carefully as he wrapped her up close, "What is it?" he asked as he carefully placed one paw on the back of his head. "Maybe you need to take a break if it's upset you that much," he told her and Belle tried to settle herself. "Are you okay? I wish I could do something to help you," he said sympathetically. "I mean, look at me, what help am I?"

"You are a very big help to me, you always will be," Belle stepped back but placed a hand on his furry cheek and kissed his larger mouth. "We love you, remember, that's why we stayed here. That's why we're here."

Adam hesitated again, "Can you at least tell me what you read?" he asked and Belle tried to compose herself.

"I just learned that real monsters exist in your family," she told him and Adam raised an eyebrow and coughed. He held his paws up and smiled weakly.

"You're just leaning that?" he asked her. "You woke up look at a -"

Belle grabbed his cheeks and forced him to look at her. "Adam, you are no monster. You are not a monster. You are not a monster," she repeated hoping that by continually telling him this that one day it would stick in his mind. "Did you know that you had an aunt?"

Adam shook his head, "My father was an only child," he protested and Belle stared at him.

"I'm being honest, your grandmother first gave birth to a baby girl, her first child, but they were scared about people trying to get the throne by killing your father when he was a young infant and tricking her into marriage so when - when your father was born, she was killed, thrown into an icy river," Belle whispered before crying more as Adam looked at her horrified. Who would be so cruel as to do that to their own child? "I just…Juliet…"

Adam grabbed Belle's shoulders, his eyes widened as he saw a rip in her sleeve and then blood. "Belle," he said as she ignored the cut knowing that he didn't do that on purpose. "Listen to me. I would never let anyone or anything harm either you or Juliet. Never. If we do have a son in the future, then we will have two children we love with our entire hearts." Adam looked nervously at the cut. "I'm so sorry I hurt you," he told her. "I'll go and get bandages. I am…so sorry."

"It's just a small cut," Belle said as she attempted to move her sleeve to hide it from him. "You would never intentionally hurt me."

"I'm still very sorry, you - you stay here and I'm going to get something to clean the cut and some bandages. I'm really really sorry," he apologized and Belle kissed him again.

"Thank you. I know it was an accident," she told him. "You still need to get used to this body but I promise. I still adore you in this body." She watched as he hurried off to get medical supplies and then sunk into the chair.

Placing her hand atop her belly, she smiled down to where Juliet was. "Your papa already loves you so much. He will always love you. He will always love both of us. You and I are so lucky to have such amazing fathers in our lives," she smiled as she massaged her belly and then sat up straighter as she felt a kick, a little answer from their daughter. She looked to the door, eager for Adam to learn about this.

When he returned with bandages and ointment, Belle smiled to him and reached out for his good arm. She carefully brought it to her belly as he struggled to put the medical items on the table. "Come here," she whispered and grinned at the way his eyes lit up feeling Juliet's very lively kick. "She wanted to let her Papa know she's excited to meet him," Belle said and saw Adam's nervousness.

"How will she feel when she looks at me compared to everyone else," he asked in a nervous voice. "I look so differe-"

"She won't know that," Belle attempted to assure him. "All she'll know is that you are her Papa who loves her and would do anything to keep her safe, happy, and healthy. She doesn't know the world but she'll grow up knowing how much you love her."

"I do," Adam nodded before reaching out for the bandages. "Now, can I please see to your cut?" he asked. Belle rolled her eyes and shook her head but let him. He wouldn't mean to harm either one of them. He wasn't the same as his family. He was kind and giving. In her eyes, Adam would never be mistaken for a monster.

Adam's eyes glanced over to where Juliet was, he didn't think Belle could hear him as he whispered. "I will give you everything which I never got as a child. I love you, my princess."

15.2

Adam had decided to take a walk around the castle as Belle continued to read about magic. It might be some time until she was able to cast even the most simple of skills but it was a lot more than Adam would be able to do. He was going to see Phillipe. He had earned the animal's trust over the past three years and he knew that he had it now as well.

Moving over to where the horses were, his eyes widened in terror as he saw a young boy climbing onto a ledge near the stables. He rushed over and managed to position his body so that Chip was pressed against his shoulder.

"Be careful, okay?" Adam asked as Chip got to the ledge and looked at him with a smile

"Adam," he said and Adam sighed as he stared at the human boy. He had to admit that he did love Chip like the younger brother he had never had. He didn't know Chip's feeling about him but he figured positive because if not that would be a chipped teacup. "I wanted to see if I could spot the wolves."

Adam stared at him and froze. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped a little. "What?" he asked before turning to the gates of the castle. "No. You shouldn't be doing that. "Wolves are neither playthings or pets, they are extremely dangerous and if you were to get hurt."

"I know, Mama would be upset," Chip said and Adam shook his head.

"Yes, she would but I would be upset. I care a lot about you," Adam admitted. "Look, even though I look like this, I want you to be able to come to me and maybe something as simple as seeing wolves which I don't want but you can always look out whilst being on the balcony of the west wing."

"I didn't think anyone was allowed there," Chip admitted and Adam slowed his breathing.

"Nobody is allowed to touch my magic rose," he tried to explain, "but I don't mind showing you a good view of the castle…or we have the mirror. Wolves are very dangerous."

Chip smiled as he stood there silently and Adam watched him. He was wondering what he was up to. He had a lot to thank the little boy for. Chip had saved his life and he had been the reason Belle was able to get to him so quickly. He had saved everybody and yet he didn't really know the impact which he had had. Adam wanted to protect him, keep him safe, make sure he knew how sorry he was for the little boy turning into a cup. Finally Chip looked at him with a big grin.

"What is it?" Adam asked in surprise.

"Juliet is really lucky," he told him and Adam smiled and nodded as he thought about his wife and daughter. He hadn't even met her yet but he was excited to. He wanted to share all those important first milestones with her. He wanted to be an active and loving presence to such a pure and sweet girl.

"I know, for her to have Belle as a mother. Belle's so warm and loving and kind and she'll tell her such beautiful stories. Juliet is in such safe hands," Adam said as he looked at Chip with the love he held for the so obvious.

"Well, yeah," Chip replied, "Belle will be an amazing mom but I mean you."

"Me?" Adam asked, "I don'-"

"I don't know very much about my father but I do know that you have everything that a father needs. A kind and loving heart, acceptance for her, want to keep her safe. You'll be able to share a lot with her. She's really lucky to have you as her father." Chip said and Adam held up his paws. Before he could argue, Chip laughed. "It doesn't matter what you look like. It matters how you treat her. I'm sure that if you get stuck like that for a long time, she'll be so proud that you're her father and she'll want to protect you and keep you safe as much as we all do."

Adam smiled weakly, "You really believe that?" he asked and Chip turned to Adam and hugged him. Adam held him close but was careful about his paws and how much pressure he was using. The boy's body was fragile while his was ….

"Why wouldn't I, Adam?" Chip asked and Adam smiled. He was still so surprised as to how much love and support he had in this castle despite how he looked like a beast.

End of Chapter Fifteen

Thank you for reading

Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Fourteen

DarkLeia19, KathyMesser, Rachel