(Pippa's P.O.V.) -The next night-

Smiling at a joke that my cousin said, hearing laughter from the family as they talked here and there, the smell of the barbie grilling, I am enjoying the warm, wonderful day while being in the backyard of my parents' house, and I then heard a shriek of laughter, looking over to see one of my youngest cousins running from one of our dogs holding a hose, chasing her.

Then I heard cackling from the dog as it shifted to a goblin, and all of a sudden, the backyard was full of goblins, scaring and attacking my family. I fought back with pieces of backyard furniture when I felt something push me from behind, and I fell, finding that the familiar grass was gone, giving way to a dusty ground, and I felt claws grab me, and I tried to fight back, turning around with my legs kicking at the goblin, and I froze suddenly when I saw him.

Creeper is much bigger than I remember, and his eyes were glowing red, still beady. I tried to move backwards, but I found that I couldn't move, and I saw chains holding into me, arms and legs. Creeper cackled as he clawed at me, ripping out my clothes, and I sobbed out loud as I was then naked, seeing him free his toga.

I screamed out for help that couldn't come as it was dark around us, yet I felt him coming, and I cried continuously as my ears ringed with his laughter, and I then felt the ground shaking underneath me, and I thought I was going to die with him raping me, feeling the ground shake even harder, and I heard a roar of a name calling out for me.

I screamed out loud as I woke up, panting and wide-eyed, looking everywhere as Beast was nearby, looking concerned, and I realized that he had shook me up out of a nightmare as I was probably shouting out of distress.

I then sobbed out loud as I wrapped my arms around myself, remembering the nightmare...I kept hearing Creeper's laughter as he raped me repeatedly...It felt so real...I heard Beast come closer, and I can't help myself, but I threw myself to hug him around the chest as best as I could, and I heard him gasp in surprise, but as I continued to cry, I felt his arms come around myself, somehow sensing that I need comfort and protection in a way.

"Really bad, was it?", whispered Beast softly, hearing a slight rumble in his voice, and I hiccupped, "Worse...I feel so molested! He was laughing! Laughing at me when I couldn't move...". Beast sighed softly as I felt his arms slightly wrap tighter around me, "You are stronger than this, Pippa. It wasn't real...".

I rested my head against his chest, feeling the rough yet soft fur against my skin, smelling the forest musk of pine, earth, and water, and I opened my eyes, seeing the group of Beast's friends/servants albeit Lumiere, huddled up near the fire, looking at us with concern, and I looked slightly further, noticing that the others hasn't returned from spying on Beast's castle.

I whispered softly as I looked up at Beast, "Do you know someplace to be alone? I don't want eyes staring at me...". Beast blinked in surprise, "Yes, I do.", getting up with me in his arms, sensing that I didn't want to let go of him, and sending a soft yet harsh glare at his servants before walking on.

We didn't get very far as there was a large boulder, more than enough to fit me and Beast as he rested on all fours, letting me move slightly to his side, and before me was a night of stars and the moon, and I smiled weakly as I saw the constellation of the Storm Bird.

I then sighed deeply as I looked over to Beast, and Beast blinked softly, "What is it?". I could see the concern, the curiosity, and the confusion in his sky blue eyes, and I spoke quietly, "Can you keep a secret? Only Haku and Emma knows as I was required to explain some personal things back home...".

Beast nodded with a smile, "Anything, Pippa. It wouldn't be worse than my curse anyway...". I sighed deeply with a pained look on my face which Beast noticed immediately..."Pippa?". I wrapped my arms around my legs, sitting rather stiffly.

I looked up at the stars, and then I slowly explained, "Ever since when I was old enough to learn of the relationship of a man and woman, I have always dreamed of meeting the right man for me, someone who loves all of me, creating a family together, having a house full of laughter and love. When I saw that I was long past the age that a woman has her first few times of the month, I thought I was being a late bloomer, but after a year, my mother was concerned, and so we went to the hospital, and after some tests, my worst nightmare came true...",

"It turns out that I am infertile, one of 10% women of the world who wouldn't get pregnant and have children...", I whispered before I sobbed quietly, and I felt Beast's arm wrap around me, and I grabbed into his fur, stroking it ever so lightly.

Beast spoke, "You could always adopt a child, Pippa.". I sighed, "I know, and I wouldn't mind the idea. It's just that...what if this thing scares a man away?!", I cried out loud. Beast blinked softly, "You never wanted to be with a man romantically because of the secret, was it?".

I nodded weakly, "It scares me...If I get into a relationship with a man, and he asks for marriage, I would refuse...He would push to ask why...If I tell him...He would hate me then...breaking up with me...breaking my heart...I would never want to risk something like that...Why risk it when it would break my heart?".

"Why couldn't you risk it? There's thousands of men out there, and perhaps one of them wouldn't care if you couldn't get pregnant...After all, you would be his family either way...", spoke Beast softly, and I looked over at him, and I blinked slowly, "You believe that?".

Beast nodded, "I do. You're a strong, brave, beautiful woman, Pippa, and that wouldn't change.". I saw the genuine honesty in his eyes, and I realized that he truly believes in what he said. I weakly smiled, "Thank you, Beast.".

Beast blinked lightly, "Adam. Call me Adam.", giving a small smile, and I smiled even brighter, "Okay, Adam.", seeing his smile widen up slightly larger. For once in sometime, I feel a familiar feeling, and I recognized it as hope.

(No P.O.V.)

Adam and Pippa spent about a hour talking and glancing at the stars before heading back to the campfire. The others of the group was back including Lumiere as they took him for aid of his flames, conversing about the goblins they have seen in the castle.

Emma noticed the duo returning, and walked over to them, "Mrs. Potts told me that you had a nightmare, Pippa...Are you okay now?". Pippa gave her a bittersweet smile, "I won't forget it for a while, but right now, I am feeling better, thanks to Adam here...", glancing over at Adam with a tilt of her head, and Adam smiled softly, returning the glance.

Emma blinked softly before smiling warmly, "I am glad to hear that...Listen, we are going into the castle at dawn, and I understand if you don't want to come...He's there, nursing his wounds and shouting at his comrades...Along with the surviving ones from the battle back in town, there's about 50 more goblins...".

Adam blinked in surprise, "That many? There hasn't been more than 30 usual when I drive them out of the castle occasionally.". Emma hummed in thought, "A meeting of hordes, perhaps?".

Pippa spoke softly, "Or they have attacked the villages and towns ahead on the trail...Do you think they have prisoners?". Adam exhaled slowly, "That would explain why they were in Montreau, waiting for unsuspecting people, but they never expected anyone with the likes of you all.".

Pippa blinked slowly before seeming to think furiously for a moment, and spoke, "You need all hands in this one, Emma, and I admit I'm scared, but those prisoners are even more scared than I am.", looking up at a awestruck Emma and Adam.

Adam then smiled softly as he then recognized that Pippa is slowly taking his words to heart, and spoke warmly, "You will never be alone, Pippa. We shall watch out for you.".

Emma nodded firmly, agreeing to Adam's proclamation, "He's right. We got your back, Pippa.". Pippa grinned brightly, her Australian accent showing through, "I know. At dawn, we will kick some ass, n' take back Adam's castle!", looking more and more determined by the second, and her friends saw the familiar spark in her eyes, recognizing that the old Pippa is returning back surely yet slowly.