Chapter III
As I drove, I must've lost track of time, I glanced down to the clock on the dashboard; 2:38 AM. I groaned and tried to keep my eyes open. I had made it out to the back country, there were trees for miles lining a very thin road. I should've pulled over a but nowhere felt safe, so I just kept driving. About 15 minutes later I must've started to fall asleep…
I saw an outline of a woman with a heartwarming voice talking to someone else in the room we were in. I could feel her smoothing out my hair, I kept trying to focus on her face, but it was a blur. "It's alright, we're here now. You're home, you're safe." It sounded like she was crying, I tried to lock in on her voice, but it was fading. I could feel her move away from me and talk to the other person in the room, a man I could make out. They were talking to each other, it seemed like something was wrong… then BAM!
Startled by my dream I jerked the wheel and before I could realize which way was up my car was falling down a steep ditch to the side of the road. I was conscious for maybe 15 seconds then everything went black.
18 Years Prior
Belle jerked right out of her sleep her hand went to her belly, her and her husband were expecting their first child any day now. Adam jolted up "Belle, are you alright?" His hand went to her stomach "Is it the baby?" Belle was still breathing heavily from her dream, "No... No, I'm fine." She turned to him "It was just a bad dream." She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and turned to Adam with a small smile. Adam started to crawl out of bed, he stood up and put on his robe. "I'll get you a glass of water." He said as he walked to her side of the bed and kissed the top of her head. "Thank you." Belle said as she took his hand and kissed it.
Left alone Belle was able to gather her thoughts, she had nightmares most nights but this one was different. Belle and Adam were in the village tavern. Adam was holding the door shut, Belle could hear shouting from the other side of the door, her heart was pounding. She turned to the couch in the room, she tried to focus but it was hard to make anything out. She walked towards the couch; it was a young girl, she appeared to be unconscious. Belle felt a strong pull towards the girl, she kept trying to make out her face but the more she focused the harder it was to see her. She sat on the couch and ran her hand over the girl's forehead and whispered to her. "Belle…" She turned her head towards Adam and went to him. "Belle, I can't hold this door much longer. We need to get out of here, where the hell is Jack?!" Belle ran to the window trying to find the guard that escorted them to the village. "It's too dark I can't see anything, Adam what are we going to do?" Just as Belle was walking back to the girl to check on her the door burst open.
As the door to their bed chambers opened Belle was taken out of her memory. Adam came to her and handed Belle the glass of water. "Thank you." She said and took a sip then looked to her lap. Adam crawled back into bed and rubbed his thumb against Belle's arm then looked up to her, "Belle… Are you sure you're alright?" She turned to him and placed her hand on his cheek "Yes, it was just a dream I'm alright. Go back to sleep Mon Amour."
The next morning Adam found Belle in her library. The couple were snuggled on a love seat by the fire as Belle read a book aloud. It was a harsh winter, so Adam always did his best to make sure Belle was warm and comfortable. Mrs. Potts came in and brought them some tea and left the couple to enjoy their time alone. Belle's pregnancy was going very well with no complications. Everything was running smoothly, and everything was coming together. They had found midwives to help Mrs. Potts with the delivery of the baby. The baby's room was finished, and gifts were pouring in already. The baby should be born any day now, Belle and Adam were very excited and anxious. They had both been reading books about labor and how to care for a newborn. They were ready, more than ready. Now all they needed was the prince or princess to come into the world.
Belle finished the last sentence of the book they were reading and lightly sighed "Now what should we read?" Adam said as he turned to her.
"Hmm. Why don't you pick this time?" Belle said, he smiled at her and got up from where they were sitting away from the warmth of the fire to find a new book.
"I'll grab some tea" Belle said as she slowly stood up and walked to the table where Mrs. Potts left the tea tray. She grabbed the two cups and started walking back to the love seat as she was walking back, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach and dropped both teacups they shattered as they hit the ground. Belle put one hand on the love seat to balance herself and the other hand on her stomach. Adam jerked his head to turn around to see what had happened. He rushed over to Belle.
"Belle are you ok? What happened?" He put his arm around her to make sure she wouldn't fall. Belle looked up at him "It's the baby, I think… it wants to make their entrance today." She said through her pain and tried to steady her breathing.
"Gods" he said almost at a whisper as he guided her to the love seat. "Just stay right here Belle I'm going to tell Mrs. Potts." He told her and he ran off as fast as he could. 'It's happening, its finally happening!' He thought to himself as he was running. He ran to the kitchen and busted through the doors "Mrs. Potts the baby's coming!" He said out of breath. "Oh goodness, go get Belle and bring her to the West Wing. Hurry now." Without another word he ran back to the library and guided Belle to their bedroom, thankfully it was nearby. Seeing his wife in pain pained him. He did his best to give her encouraging words and told her everything would be alright.
They had finally reached the West Wing, with Belle and Mrs. Potts now inside all he could do was wait. So that's exactly what he did he sat right outside the door on the ground and waited. Cogsworth and Lumiere were with him also waiting for the arrival of their Prince or Princess. An hour went by as he sat hearing Belle scream in pain. He felt so helpless there was nothing he could do to soothe his wife of this pain. So, he got up to pace for the next hour. Lumiere and Cogsworth just watching him.
"Does this usually take this long?" Adam said as he paced "What if something went wrong?"
"Oh Mon Ami, don't worry. Belle is a very strong girl and I'm sure these things do take time. She is bringing a whole new life into this world you know." Lumiere said with his thick French accent. Adam nodded and continued pacing. His thoughts were tormenting him 'What if Belle doesn't make it?' 'What if there's something wrong with the baby?' 'What if...' But during these haunting thoughts he heard a tiny scream coming from inside the room. He stopped pacing and look up at Lumiere and Cogsworth with amazement and then he sighed with relief.
"I do believe this calls for some brandy." Cogsworth said as he poured the brandy into cups for the gentlemen. "This is a celebration after all." They sat and drank as they waited for Adam to be called in to meet his son or daughter.
Finally, the door opened, and Mrs. Potts smiled at Adam "My dear boy, would you like to meet your daughter?" She said as she held the door open for him. Adam nodded with tears in his eyes, then made his way to see Belle. She was sitting upright holding the princess, she looked so angelic; she was glowing with beauty. He walked over to her to sit with her on the bed. "I'll leave you two alone" Mrs. Potts said as she closed the door behind her. The three servants went off to tell everyone of the great news that their Princess was finally here.
"Belle..." He said as he kissed her deeply and sat down on the bed with her. "Adam look what we did. She's beautiful!" Belle was just staring down in awe at their beautiful creation. She looked up at him "Would you like to hold her?" He nodded and she smiled as she handed their baby to him so he could finally and officially meet their daughter.
Adam adjusted her in his arms, she started to fuss a bit. "Shh now my darling. It's alright." He said as he gently bounced her and rocked her with his arms as she stopped fussing.
"See you're a natural" She lightly giggled her voice still a little hoarse from screaming in pain during labor.
Adam just couldn't pry his eyes away from their daughter. Studying her face and gently running his hand over her soft hair and wrapping her hand around his finger. She had dark brown hair with brown eyes with Adam's lips and Belle's nose. She was almost a spitting image of her mother. He just couldn't believe they could make something so perfect.
"Well well, what a beautiful little family." A mystic voice from behind the couple suddenly appeared. Adam turned his head to see her sitting in the chair across the room in the corner. Her body was glowing, her hair flowing in the breeze. Her violet eyes beaming with a bewitching smirk.
Panic filled his entire body. With his daughter still in his arms he turned to Belle. He could see the panic in her eyes. Belle knew who she was even though she had never met her. He handed her their daughter. "It'll be alright. Just don't give her the baby." He said with a stern tone in his voice
Once the baby was safe in Belle's arms Adam stood up and walked over to the creature. Anger in his eyes. He knew what she wanted. She wouldn't have come unless she wanted something. The last time he saw her he was turned into a beast after all. His heart raced in fear and panic. She just so happened to show up the day his daughter was born. She wanted the baby.
"YOU..." He raised his finger at The Enchantress as he walked harshly towards her, he stopped, she stood up to meet his gaze.
"Now now Prince, I thought you had changed. Where are your manners?" The Enchantress said coldly as she walked around him to observe the room walking where she pleased.
"What do you want Circe?" He said through his gritted teeth anger filled his voice. He was now watching her every move. She was not to be trusted.
"Why, I came to meet the little princess of course." Circe said with a chuckle as she walked towards Belle and the baby. Adam rushed over to the bed in front of Circe to stop her from going any further. "If you lay a finger on Belle or the baby, I'll..." Circe interrupted "You'll what?" She laughed in pity then scoffed as she put her hand in the air. "Nonsense." She said as she went back to the chair to sit.
"Circe tell me why you're really here. Belle broke your curse, I'm a changed man."
"Yes, I've noticed. I've been watching to make sure you had really changed." Circe said looking out the window
"Then why are you here!?" He yelled. His temper was beginning to show its ugly head.
"Because I've foreseen something that needs to be taken care of..." She looked at Adam and continued "Me and my sisters have seen what is to become of your daughter." She looked to Belle and the princess. Belle's eyes were filled with worry and fear. Belle knew what she wanted. Her hold on her daughter grew tighter.
"You see you have changed Prince, yes. But you were brought up selfish and unkind. We have seen your daughter grow up to be the same." She finished then looked at Adam.
"No... that can't be. Me and Belle would raise her differently, we can change her." Adam said his voice shaking.
"I'm sorry Prince but there's nothing you can do. No matter what you teach her or the choices you make for her she will grow up to be the same." She said no emotion in her voice "It is her fate."
"No... no.." Adam stood there numb. "What are you going to do to her? Curse her?" he said as anger began to show its face. Circe just sat in silence.
Belle cut in "You can't curse her she's just a child!" Adam didn't even have to turn around to see that Belle was crying he could hear it in her voice. No, he wasn't going to let this happen.
"Please Circe, I'm begging you don't curse her. Curse me again instead. Curse me, kill me even. Just please don't curse my daughter." Adam said tears beginning to form in his eyes as he hung his head towards the floor. He couldn't stand the thought of his daughter being cursed like he was. Being alone and ashamed. No one should have to go through that torment.
"I'm not going to curse your child, Prince. There is a different fate in-store for her. I am going to send her away to a world where there are no real fairy tales or happy endings just death and despair. She will have to learn the hard way to be humble and kind. She won't know anything of her real parents or where she came from. I will be watching over her to make sure she has changed."
"Now please give me the child" Circe said as she stood up
Adam's head shot up "No" he said bitterly
"Fine if you won't give her to me, I'll take her myself." within a blink of an eye and a cloud of smoke Circe had the baby in her arms. The princess just smiled up at her.
Belle looked down at her arms confused on what just happened, her arms were empty. Then she looked up at Circe to see her daughter in her arms. Belle gasped "Adam, the baby!"
Adam went forward to grab the baby out of Circe's arms but before he could reach her, she used her powers to hold Adam in the air and forced her magic around his throat. He was chocking.
"Now prince, let's not get rough. What if something were to happen to the sweet little princess?" Circe said as she looked down at the child and smiled. She turned back to Adam and released him. He fell to the floor by the bed gasping for air.
"Adam!" Belle gasped and groaned in pain as she struggled to get out of the bed to his side.
Adam still gasping for air saw Belle by his side and took her hand. He saw tears flowing down her cheeks. Belle put a hand on his face then they both turned their gaze to Circe.
"Will we ever see her again?" Belle said through her tears, sadness coated her voice.
Circe looked at Belle and she almost felt bad. Tears were streaming down the woman's face. Here she was taking a child away from a couple who had proven their love to her by breaking her curse. Circe shook her head. 'No, I must do this. Me and my sisters discussed this.' Circe finally spoke "Yes, your highness. You will see your daughter again. She will return to this world by her 18th birthday if she has proven she is pure of heart. The village will be frozen in time until her return, they may live their lives as they please, but they will have no knowledge of the curse or the princess. You both and your castle staff will remember the princess, but all of you as well will be remain frozen in time until her return."
The couple looked down to the ground trying to accept their daughter's fate. There was nothing they could do.
Adam broke the short silence "How will we know it's her? She will be grown by the time we see her; we won't recognize her."
Circe looked down at the princess in her arms trying to think of a way Belle and Adam could identify their daughter upon her return. She looked towards her hand and released her magic. Her hand glowed with purple energy, she tapped her index finger behind the princess' left ear, then smiled at her.
"There, I have left a birth mark behind her left ear." Circe turned to the couple, "If you are reunited that will help you identify her." Circe turned back to the princess, "She is truly beautiful, now I must be on my way. I'm already running late I'm afraid." and without another word Circe was gone with their child.
The room now dark without Circe's glow. Silence filled the air. The couple still on the floor from when Adam had fallen from Circe's grasp. Their child was gone for 18 years. How can a perfect life be so easily tempered with only to cause hopelessness and sadness?
Adam sat stunned at what had just happened staring blankly at the floor. The Enchantress just took their child to another world for 18 years. No chance to say goodbye. Their daughter won't even know who they are. 'No, this must be a dream. This can't be happening.' He was so deep in thought and shock he forgot Belle sitting right next to him. He looked to her, her state being the same as his. Belle was shocked with disbelief. Adam turned to Belle and put his hand on her cheek. Belle now sobbing into his hand. How could he let this happen he was supposed to protect his family no matter what?
"Belle... I'm so... sorry." He said trying not to let his voice show he was crying but failed. He pulled Belle close to him and held her tight and stroked her hair and just kept whispering 'I'm so sorry' into her ear as she sobbed trembling in his arms. They were both broken, both left hopeless and defeated. Belle buried her face into his chest as she cried. He let her cry for a while, they both cried for a long time. As their crying settled down Adam broke the silence "Belle... this is all my fault..." He hung his head in shame. "You shouldn't have fallen in love with me, I should've just been left alone forever. Then Circe would've never came back, all of this wouldn't have happened to you, and you would be happy with someone else and have children you could keep."
Belle brought her head up in shock and wiped a tear from her cheek "Adam, if i had a chance to change ever meeting you. I wouldn't take it. We were meant to meet each other and meant to be together. I love you so much. Yes, what just happened was absolutely terrible and heartbreaking..." Belle trying to finish strong but her voice cracking from the tears stinging her eyes. "But...but I've realized it could've been a lot worse. She could've been cursed or taken from us to never see her again." Belle took her hand and placed it on his cheek so he would look up at her "But Adam, we will see her again and we will all be together." She gave him a weak smile, trying her hardest to stay strong. They were both broken she knew that, so one of them had to stay strong and not let them fall into despair. She kissed him though their faces were wet, and noses were runny. She kissed him passionately so they could feel something through their numbness. Adam ran his hand to the back of her neck and made the kiss deeper. He knew they had to stay strong Belle was right, she was always right. They had to stick together and get stronger for their daughter's return. This was just another obstacle they had to face together and stick through it.
As the kiss drew on there was a knock on the door. They broke apart and Adam wiped the tears on Belle's face away and gave her a small smile. He stood up and wiped his own face with his shirt sleeve before answering the door. He answered the door to find Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, and Cogsworth standing on the other side their faces happy and smiling awaiting to meet their princess. As soon as they saw Adam's face red from crying and the tears still hanging in his eyes their looks of happiness quickly turned to worry.
"My Dear, what's the matter?" Mrs. Potts said instantly then she looked past Adam to see Belle on the floor with no baby in site. "Oh, my goodness what happened here?" Mrs. Potts finished her voice shaky. Adam just hung his head he didn't even know where to start or how to tell his friends what had just happened. He motioned them all to come in and Mrs. Potts went over to Belle and helped her off the floor back onto the bed. Belle moved as though her spirit was taken from her as if the lights were on, but no one was home. Adam cleared his throat "It was The Enchantress she... she uhm she came and took the baby." Adam's lump in his throat grew the moment he said out loud what had just happened he looked at Belle to see her too still shaken up. Adam continued "She said that she has foreseen our daughter to grow up to be selfish and unkind like I was." Adam turned away and looked out the window. "The Enchantress took her to a different world till her 18th year. She will return to us if she has proven she had changed." Adam then stood in silence and looked to the floor.
Belle started to cry again she covered her face with her hands. Mrs. Potts came over and sat down on the bed and took one of her hands from her face and smiled weakly at Belle to comfort her. "Oh my, this is awful. I'm so sorry. You two certainly don't deserve this after everything you two have been through" Her voice sincere.
Adam still looked out the window they all could tell he was still very upset. Lumiere walked over to Adam "Mon Dieu, Master, you cannot blame yourself for what has happened here." Lumiere said as if reading Adam's mind. "It's all my fault, I'm supposed to protect my family how could I let this happen." Adam said with anger. He could never forgive himself for this.
Cogsworth stepped forward "You did everything you could Sire; The Enchantress did say she will return by her 18th year." He said as he put a reassuring hand on Adam's shoulder.
"Don't give up hope, Dear." Mrs. Potts said to Adam then turned to Belle "The both of you, The Princess will return, and you both must be strong for her. You both have been through so much you can't give up now." Adam nodded. Mrs. Potts was right. He can't give up hope he must be strong for Belle. She needs him more than ever right now.
The next morning Adam woke up his head pounding from the night before. It felt as if it were a dream or a nightmare really. But no, it was very much real. He stretched out wanting to feel Belle's warmth next to him for comfort but never bumped into her. He sat up confused, Belle wasn't next to him. He got up quickly and got dressed to find her. He walked out of their room down the hall but before he could reach the end of it, he saw the nursery door open. He peeked his head inside to find Belle still in her nightgown in a robe just starring at the crib in front of her just running her hands over the wood. She let out a sad sigh and tears started running down her cheeks. Adam felt a pain in his heart seeing his wife so sad.
"Belle..." He said as he entered the room. Belle didn't turn to look at her husband she just continued to stare at the crib. "This is where she's supposed to be right now, this is where she should be." her voice a little angry, she continued "We worked so hard to be the best for her, we read all those books and prepared only to have her taken from us..." her voice now cracked from the tears stinging her eyes, she turned to her husband "It's torture just standing here not knowing if she's okay. How could we let this happen?" Tears quickly came tumbling down her red cheeks.
He rushed over to her and pulled her in quickly and he held her tightly. Her crying quickly turned to sobbing as soon as she was safe in her husband's arms. "Shhh Mon Amour, everything will be alright. I promise you we will get through this." He pulled back and gently cupped Belle's face with his hands and stared into her eyes. "Belle, she's going to return to us, and she will be perfect then we can give her the life we always wanted for her. If this is how it has to be so be it. We will make the best out of it and get through this together and we will wait here for her return." He smiled at her and she smiled back through her tears. He pulled her in for another hug.
'Dear God, I hope she's okay.' He silently hoped.
