Author's Notes:

I don't own Beauty and the Beast or its characters. It's the property of Walt Disney and all other versions of the story belong to their respective owners.

Rated M for the usual: language, adult themes, and other good stuff.

Alright, I finally managed to sit down and get this chapter done properly! I just want to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed; your comments are always wonderful and fun to read. As a way to apologize for the wait, the chapter's a bit longer this time! Please excuse any typos or grammatical errors, I revised this one quickly too.

To BlackGlasses, your review made me laugh out loud (and hurry to get my thoughts together to write the chapter!) I hope it was worth the wait and the insanity!

Enjoy :)

Chapter 4:

Lumiere lit his cigar as he settled into the armchair across from Adam. He took a long drag before he blew out the smoke. He tilted his head to the side as he regarded Adam's defensive posture.

With a sigh, Lumiere leaned forward and asked, "Why the long face, mon ami? This has to do with your lady friend, yes?"

Adam pursed his lips, furrowing his eyebrows. "I don't know what to do with that woman, Lumiere."

Lumiere tapped off the ashes that accumulated on the end of his cigar. As he sighed, wisps of smoke left his mouth. "Adam, I warned you when we were in that brothel that nothing good would come of it. Moreover, you stole a showgirl from Gaston's brothel. You have a penchant for trouble, no? Why couldn't you leave well enough alone? The girl was not worth it, right mon ami?"

Adam stood from his chair as he went to stand in front of the crackling fireplace. He tossed a few more logs into the bright fire, but refused to turn back around to face Lumiere. His intention for taking the brunette from Gaston's brothel was nothing if not kind… or so he thought.

"Gaston abused the girl, Lumiere. Was I to leave her there knowing that?" Adam rubbed his hand over his face in exasperation.

Lumiere's frustration with his friend tapered off and ebbed into confusion. "I do not understand, Adam. I am not questioning your…valiant efforts, but why rescue the girl? You must know that all the other showgirls receive the same treatment, no? What was it about her?"

"I remembered her from my childhood." Adam stated carefully as he turned to look at Lumiere.

He paced about the room in front of him trying to gather his thoughts. "You know that before I left the town to live in this estate, my parents' home was located there. I had to occupy myself for hours on end while they handled business and associated with their so-called friends. You would think that the other children would welcome me, but since my parents were nobles, I outranked them. They seemed to fear me, and I never knew why."

Lumiere braced his elbows on his knees as he leaned in to hear Adam's recollections. He was aware of his lineage since he and his family had served Adam's years ago. Lumiere grew up in the shadow of Adam's family, constantly being reminded of his status. When he and Adam were young, he didn't care much for him or his family. It was only after the death of Adam's parents that Adam sought Lumiere's friendship.

Although Adam had shunned Lumiere since childhood and into adolescence, he held no ill will toward him. His upbringing was a rough one, and the least he could do was sympathize since Adam gave him an opportunity to move up in rank. As the master of his estate, Adam was able to choose exactly who he wanted to entrust his secrets to. From a meek butler, Adam offered him the opportunity to become his financial and often times personal assistant.

"But of course they were, mon ami. You came from a different way of life than they did. Now, what of the girl? She was different?"

Adam sank back in his leather chair and scrubbed his hands over face. "She was different. She kept to herself and read, but she would smile at me occasionally. She didn't ignore me like everyone else, and now…"

A wistful smile spread across Lumiere's face, "Ah, now I see why she called to you. I did not know you two knew each other well from childhood."

Adam's sheepish expression indicated to his assistant that they hadn't, in fact, been childhood friends. "Although, she treated me better than the other children, we barely knew each other, and then my family moved. She definitely does not remember me now. Perhaps it is better that way…" He trailed off, glancing in Lumiere's direction for consolation.

Just as Lumiere shifted his body into a more settled position, the door of the study flew open and a frantic Mrs. Potts rushed in, clutching her apron to her chest.

"Mrs. Potts, what on Earth are you doing? Monsieur Adam and I…" Lumiere began in the hopes of reprimanding the scatter-brained older woman.

"Forgive me, young master," The older woman began in a rushed tone, "I went to serve the young miss, as you said, but she's leapt out the window! I couldn't see if she landed below in a broken heap, so I came to you straight away!"

Adam's pained expression quickly glazed over into a stormy look. "She…did what?" Adam spat out through clenched teeth.

Mrs. Potts was slightly taken aback by Adam's swift change in demeanor, but only wrung her apron in her hands.

"Now, Adam, before you do anything, mon ami…"-

Adam shot up from his chair and gave Lumiere a cold look. Lumiere was not in the least intimidated by his violent behavior and continued his advice.

- "…breathe and think before you act. You don't want to do anything regrettable, understand?"

Adam's breath came hard and fast as he exhaled from his nose. His raging aura hadn't dimmed as he pushed past Lumiere and Mrs. Potts.

He yanked his trench coat from its rack and carelessly threw it on as he stormed out the front door of his large house.

His gaze landed on the imprints of feet that went off in the direction of the forest.

Adam narrowed his eyes as he followed the footprints, huffing under his breath, "foolish girl."

…

Belle spun to face the tree that she was crouched behind and decided to start climbing. She was determined not to give up without a fight, and if Adam wanted to wrench her out of the forest, he'd have to do it while she kicked and screamed. Although she hadn't been captive long, Belle had had enough of Adam's lopsided view of chivalry.

Belle made her way up the large tree, tearing the hem of her dress as she went. Despite her happiness that she was able to wear such an ornate dress, every scrape and tear was more than worth her freedom. She let out a muted, shaky sigh as she nestled herself along a particularly high branch. Obscured by the crisp, crinkly leaves that fell like a curtain about her, she drew up her petticoat and waited.

Belle heard the sounds of heavy footsteps crunching closer to where she was. Never before had Belle's heart leapt so quickly into her throat the way it did in that instant when she heard the murmur of a group of people.

"…I saw someone over here! She looked like she was sneakin' around…" A young voice proclaimed.

"You better not be crying wolf…you know how much Sister Agatha hates liars, don't you?"

"I'm not lyin'! I saw someone!" The young voice shrilled indignantly.

Belle sucked in a breath as the crowd of people discussed her whereabouts. What are these people doing this deep in the woods?

"Who did you see out here then?" The older male voice inquired in a cold tone.

"I saw a woman; she was wearin' a pretty dress, but it was kinda dirty. Her hair was blowin' all around. She looked like she was runnin' from somethin,' but I don't know what."

"A disheveled noblewoman who was running away from something?" The older voice paused, "… What on Earth would she be doing this deep along?" The male voice asked no one in particular.

"A noblewoman? Could she be The Widow? You don't think she's come ba-" The young, eager voice cut off, presumably by a stern expression from the older man as the crowd murmured their distress.

"What are you daft, boy?" The older voice rasped condescendingly. "The Widow is just a myth made for babes and ignorant people like you."

"W-what? I…I was just…" The boy ventured in a low, embarrassed tone.

"Just wasting our time. Get the boy back to Agatha's and let us all get back to the town. Being out this far in the woods isn't something we should make a habit of."

The older male's statement seemed to quell the crowd's troubling excitement. A calm chatter fell into place as people started to shuffle back the way they had come. Belle's shoulders slumped a bit in relief since the mysterious crowd seemed to be leaving soon.

"Hold on a minute," the young boy pressed.

Belle's heart began to pick up as she waited for the rest of the boy's announcement. She was afraid that she'd been spotted by these ambiguous characters and more importantly what they'd do to her. I'm certainly not under the protection of Gaston anymore…

"If there isn't anythin' to be afraid of out here, why're you rushin' us off so fast?"

There was a tense pause before a hard cackle erupted. This time, however, it wasn't the voice of the older man that answered, but a hoarse woman's.

"That Widow of yours may just be a babe's tale, but the other bloodthirsty predators that inhabit these woods sure aren't. Now move along and stop the questions!"

The woman's words seemed to cease the mutterings of the entire crowd as well as the young boy. Twigs and other fallen debris crunched under the quick steps of these people and within minutes, Belle was alone again.

She cautiously pushed aside a handful of leaves to peek out down below. She no longer heard the movements of the crowd as they travelled farther away. Belle allowed herself a tiny sigh before pursing her lips and determining how to get down from the tree she'd occupied.

She swung her legs over the side of the branch she had been sitting on and braced her toes against the sharp bark. She successfully made it onto the dry earth and brushed herself off. Her dress was in disarray and her hair had come undone from its topknot. She tossed her dark locks over her shoulders and attempted to rip off the torn hem of her dress that lay by her feet.

Belle tugged the stubborn material to no avail and let out an exasperated breath. "Damn fancy petticoats. I knew being a noble was nothing but trouble." She muttered as she placed her hands on her hips.

"…troublesome petticoats, eh? That's…something I can help you with." Belle turned quickly and her heart plummeted when she saw the owner of the voice.

Langston Le Fou slowly walked out of the dark shade holding a flask and a hunting rifle. "What a pleasant surprise, Belle! What luck, that I'd find you here in the dark, dreary forest." He proclaimed throwing his arms out in a grand gesture while hiccuping.

Belle's eyes narrowed as she took in the sight of Gaston's acquaintance. "What are you doing in the forest, Le Fou?" She asked defensively, but warily glancing at the gun he held casually.

Le Fou laughed obnoxiously, taking a few steps toward her. "Me? Why, I was hunting with Gaston of course! He and I dipped a little too much into the brothel's good liquor, you understand? So we came to hunt, but Gaston's rather a light-weighted drinker if you ask me. He's fallen asleep quite a ways from here. Lucky for you, am I right?"

Belle's eyes widened slightly, but she forced her expression to remain neutral as she addressed the revolting man in front of her. "Oh yes. Quite lucky, I suppose. You're not as fortunate, however, since that great party of people is coming back this minute."

"Come now, Belle. I know that they're not returning for you. They know nothing of you and now that I think of it…" Le Fou licked his cracked lips slowly, his eyes darkening, "neither does Gaston…" He muttered walking towards her and dropping his flask.

Belle stood shocked momentarily before her sense kicked in and she turned rapidly, taking off in another direction, dodging behind trees when she heard Le Fou let off a few frustrated shots of his rifle.

She hid behind a tree, pressing a hand flat against her heaving chest. When she heard the sounds of grumbling and shuffling, she left her spot. To her surprise, Le Fou had only made himself comfortable, nestled against the trunk of a tree and shot at her.

The bullet grazed Belle's shoulder as she fell to the ground, a cry of pain bursting from her lips. Belle struggled in her constricting dress to hide behind the tree next to her, but she couldn't manage to move since her arm felt numb and she was in shock.

Her face paled when she glanced at the blood oozing from her shoulder. Her vision shifted as she fought the dizziness and nausea that swept through her. At that moment, Belle suddenly regretted leaving Adam's house. Moreover, she regretted that she'd be vulnerable to a disgusting man on the cold, dry forest floor with no chance of recovering fast enough to get away.

Le Fou walked over victoriously to where Belle had fallen and tossed his rifle to the side. He crouched down so he could touch her pale face and muttered his appreciation, "how beautiful you are Belle, but you know that already, don't you? Gaston never let me be near you…" Le Fou's features glazed over in sudden anger, but quickly enough, he was giddy again. "Now, though, I can touch you all I want. Oh, and how much I want to feel you, Belle…" He slurred lustfully while curling his fingers in her soft hair.

As Le Fou's hand wandered to cup Belle's breast outside of her dress, a snarl pierced the air. Le Fou's hand jerked away from Belle as if he had been scalded and looked up. His drunken trance faded away as he locked eyes with a man that stood in the shadows.

"Leave the girl be and get the hell out of here." The man hissed, stepping out of the cover of the trees and hovering over Le Fou.

"A-A-Adam?" Le Fou stuttered pathetically as he scrambled up from his position on the ground. "What are you doing here? Why are you with Belle?"

Adam's jaw clenched and a violent tremor racked his body; his hand wrapped itself around Le Fou's neck involuntarily and squeezed unmercifully.

"Leave. Or I'll kill you." Adam ground out through clenched teeth. Before Le Fou could respond, Adam rammed him against the trunk of a tree, knocking the wind out of him and clouding his vision.

Adam left Le Fou lying on the ground in a seemingly broken heap. He bent over to pick up Belle and pushed the hair out of her face. He noted that the blood coming from her shoulder had slowed considerably and was only a flesh wound; the bullet wasn't imbedded in her skin.

As Adam walked back in the direction of his home, Belle raised her uninjured arm so she could push at Adam's chest weakly. Her stomach roiled and her face was still pale, but she found the strength to look angry and mutter through pursed lips, "I hate you."

A/N:

Aren't those the three words everyone wants to hear? Lol.

Please review; even if it's a comment/suggestion/ con-criticism

Until next time xD,

N.E.