Beauty & the Beast: Enchanted Finale

Chapter 3 - The Big News, pt. 1

Disclaimer: Disney owns the rights to "Beauty & the Beast", its characters, etc. and I just own the story itself.

Author's Note: Alright so again I apologise for the year-long delay… my personal life deeply affected me, and I had to be in a rehab clinic for almost this whole January. However, I have been doing well since I left and currently reside in a nontoxic environment. I also appreciate for everyone that's been waiting so long for another chapter to arrive… and even though it's not exactly as long as past chapters I've done, I hope it's good enough for the time being, and I will definitely not have it take as long for me to upload the next chapter.

"Promise that you're all not going to tell anyone else, alright? We're only letting a few people know at the moment."

After hearing from Belle the reason for why she'd momentarily left her class yesterday, both Mrs. Potts and Cogswotth turned their heads in Lumiere's direction. The former candelabra frowned in confusion once he realized they were looking at him. "What? I wouldn't tell anyone else this special news.""

"I certainly hope so," replied Cogswotth before focusing his attention back on Belle, who was currently getting the room ready for the students that would be arriving in a few hours. "We promise, my dear… speaking of which, where has our master gone? I would've expected the two of you together to tell us."

"He had to go out to the village with Nathaniel for a bit," replied the young woman, and continued her preparation while Cogsworth followed Lumiere out of the library to handle their castle duties for the day. However, Belle was a bit surprised to see that Mrs. Potts had not yet departed. "Oh! Is everything alright?"

The motherly housekeeper gave Belle a small nod and smile before she started helping out with getting the classroom ready. "Yes, I am just fine… it's just, uh… how are you handling all of this?" Belle tilted her head to the side with a confused expression. "I don't mean to give you a fright or anything. I just want you to know that I'm here to help out with the raising of your two children and being a teacher to those in the village."

She then placed a comforting hand onto Belle's shoulder. "Wouldn't want you to overwork yourself to death or anything one of these days. Plus, you already know the trouble that both Chip and Liliana will be to the young one as he or she grows up."

Belle let out a chuckle whilst imagining that particular scenario happening, and she replied, "I think you may be right about that. Thank you, Mrs. Potts… I just hope nothing too out of the ordinary occurs this time during these next several months."

"Why would you - oh, right," said the middle aged woman, remembering all of what happened during Belle's first pregnancy and couldn't help but laugh a little bit. "Well, I think we've all had our fair share of unexpected events here in the castle, my dear… but just in case, I'm willing to lock you inside your room with as much food that you'll possibly crave to prevent any damage being done by something similar to a sword or an axe."

"Oh, it wasn't that bad," said Belle, rolling her eyes while Mrs. Potts continued to be amused. Then, she took a moment to think about what the kind woman had offered, and took a look around the grand library. "You don't think this will affect my teach-"

"Absolutely not, my dear. We all know you're highly capable of being a teacher but also a wonderful mother and loving partner." Belle felt any growing concerns inside of herself wash away as Mrs. Potts continued to comfort her. "I will suggest in advance, however, for you to let me and your father help with being temporary substitute teachers when necessary. I'm sure you can understand why."

"Oh, I think I do," said Belle, knowing exactly what class would be like if it were taught by both Lumiere and Cogsworth, or even just LeFou. "Maybe I do need a lot of help from you this time." The two ladies then took a moment to laugh quietly together before doing the final preparations of the day's school activities.

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Just as he was about to add the last remaining piece to his latest miniature music box, Maurice paused once he heard a knock at the door. "Every time, I swear… come in, Belle!"

"How'd you even know it was me?" She asked after opening the door and entering her father's workshop room, which was pretty much a more bigger version of how it was when she would enter their old home back in the village.

"There have only been two people in my lifetime thus far that have knocked at the door right as I am about to complete a work of art," replied Maurice, a look of amusement now on his face. "The first was your mother whenever it was time for us to go out, and you've obviously inherited that from her." Belle smirked at him and did her best not to roll her eyes. "Now then, to what do I owe the pleasure of being visited before your teaching starts in a few hours?"

"Well, I just thought I'd let you be one of the few first people this time to know that…" And the young woman paused her sentence with a smile as she brought a hand to her stomach. Her father looked back and forth between it and her face a few times before realizing what she was trying to tell him. "Oh! My goodness, I… so I'll be having two grandchildren now?"

"I mean, you technically do already but yes," replied Belle, chuckling as the two shared a warm hug with each other. "Now before you make a witty comment like last time, Adam and I have already talked about how different things will be this time now that we're more prepared."

"Why would you think I'd say something about your expectancy?" She raised an eyebrow at his response, and Maurice simply laughed for a moment. "Congrats anyway to the both of you… I'll be sure to remind Mrs. Potts to spend a lengthy day in the coming months at the village market for food supplies."

Belle became confused until she saw her father trying to fight off more laughter, and she gave a small groan before gently pushing his shoulder back. "What did I just tell you not to do?"

"Hey, I haven't got much of those in me, sweetheart," said an amused Maurice, now attempting to give his daughter a hug in a playful manner but Belle was returning the favor by trying to push him away. "Oh come on now, don't be so stubborn."

"I… have to get… the school ready." Is what she managed to say just as he released her from his grasp, the two now laughing together in unison before Belle walked back to the door. "Don't make me regret telling you right away."

Maurice tried holding in a snort before giving the young woman a response. "Well, I certainly wouldn't want to find out in the last remaining months of expectancy - alright! I was merely being humorous, dear!"

"Love you, Papa!" Belle called out before closing the door behind her, and walked back to the library while Maurice looked at the music box that he was nearly close to finishing.

"You know what…" He said quietly to himself, a warm smile growing on the elderly man's face. "I think I've come up with a wonderful idea on what to do with you now."