*Chapter 3: Awakening*

*1988*

Robert Gray was standing across from the church, watching the humans walk out of the doors. What they don't know is that their God is a turtle. That old, stupid turtle. The disguised entity narrowed his eyes when he sees a woman who saved Georgie's life two days ago. Belle is talking to the priest who brought up about her brave actions. That made Robert angry. How could he let that woman stop him from the sewer drain that day? She kicked him in a face.
Since that day, Robert couldn't stop thinking about her. IT wanted revenge. Belle walked down the steps and get to her car. Robert left the spot to return to his well house.

XX

Pennywise stares up at his tower of junk and the lost toys of his victims. Some of the children are floating around the tower. The sunlight hits the tower. He still can't stop thinking about Belle's voice, her appearance. The clown yelled and threw the chair side. The chair broke after it hit the wall. Pennywise walked inside his circus wagon and look at himself in a broken mirror.

"That human female!" He growled. "She will face her fate. She saved the meal. That boy would've been in my grasp by then." Pennywise picked up the paper boat with a angry look in his eyes. "Belle Whitehurst will meet Pennywise. Yes, she will." He said. Yesterday he had been watching her every move in Derry. He's been studying her. He learned that she is the loveliest woman in town. Men wanted her. But, she turned them down. What made Pennywise angry is the nickname the head librarian call her. The guardian of all children. That will not do. But why is Pennywise haunted? He dreamt of her last night.
Belle was surrounded by red balloons, wearing a red dress. She is staring at him with a death glare. Her dark brown hair floats behind her. She did nothing but stare at him down with her emerald eyes. The clown woke up angrily. He believed that she will be his problem if he didn't do something sooner. Unless the turtle is taunting him, telling him that she will stop him at any cost.

'Then tell me, Maturin. Why I see her standing there?' Pennywise thought. 'I feel her, I see her. The sun caught in her brunette hair is blazing out...' He stopped as he sensed someone in his street. It's her. Belle is approaching his property.

"Well...seems like we are going to meet in person. Time to bring her in..." Pennywise said with a evil smirk. He left his sewer lair to get up in the house to set a trap for the so-called guardian.

"Belle..." A voice spoke softly. "Belle...wake up. Wake up. Wake up." A gloved hand touches the forehead of a sleeping woman. Her dark hair pooled around her. She still looks the same. Pale and beautiful. Belle will always stay that way. "Rise and shine, my Beauty." A same voice said with a slight giggle. Belle woke up with a gasp of breath. Her vision is blurry for a moment. She rubbed her eyes and blink at someone who is speaking to her. A familiar face. Pennywise stares down at her with a smile. "Good morning." He said with a toothy grin. Belle form a smile and sat up to hug her clown lover.

"Pennywise..." She sighed. She is nuzzling her face against his ruffled collar. Pennywise embraced her, petting her hair with one hand. "Oh, Penny...I've missed you so much."

"Me too, my dear. Me too. For 27 years...I've been waiting for us to come back." Pennywise said. Belle opened her eyes and pull away from him. She looked around the room. They are in the Neibolt house. Not in the sewer lair. Pennywise must've brought her up in the room after he awakens. It's been 27 years. Belle groaned a little, holding her head.

"To me, it felt like...I was in a long dream and didn't realize it's been so many years." Belle said. But she remembered the dream she had. Her daughter. She touches her stomach and see she isn't any different. But, she is still pregnant. Pennywise noticed this and touch her stomach.

"I don't blame you for hibernating with me." He said with a frown. "The cult tried to keep you away from me." Belle looked up at him. So he did hear her after she falls. "I may be asleep, but I could always hear what was around me. When I hear your voice. I thought I was just hearing this. But then...I dreamt of you. For a first time. I dream." The clown cups Belle's face. "I missed you."

"Penny...I had to get away from them. I killed most of the cult myself, but...one survived. The woman I saw in my dreams." Belle said, touching Pennywise's face. "I promised that if she ever tries to get anywhere near me again, I will kill her." The clown smirked.

"...Feisty." He chuckled. Belle touches her stomach again, giving him a smile.

"And I dreamt about our little girl. I saw her." She told him. Pennywise tilts his head at her. "It's a girl, Penny. I named her Nadia. Oh, Penny. She is so beautiful. She has your hair color, and your eye color. She tried to contact you, but she couldn't. She only had me." Belle said. "She brought me into a place called Mid-World. And there was the Dark Tower. That's what she told me." Pennywise stared at his mate in silent. The Dark Tower. He knows that place all too well, and the Mid-World. Why is his unborn daughter there? Of all places, why there? Belle noticed his silence and expression. "Penny? Are you okay?"

"Why...is she...there? Did the turtle bring her soul?" Pennywise growled to himself. "Maturin isn't giving up, isn't he?" He felt Belle's hand on his shoulder.

"Why would you think that?"

"...He's one of the guardians of the Dark Tower." Pennywise said with a sneer. Belle could tell that Pennywise must've had a history of the Dark Tower or Mid-World. Not the best time to ask him about his history. Right now, he must know that his daughter has the ability to bring her parents to dreams if she wishes. She could be having other abilities too. "So...her name is Nadia?" Pennywise asked. Belle nodded, smiling at him. The clown smiled a bit. "You pick a beautiful name. Fit for a princess." Belle giggled.

"She loves wildflowers. You will love her, Pennywise." She said. Pennywise could sense her excitement. He touches her stomach to sense a heartbeat of the unborn child. His eyes glow gold. His hunger grows. He could sense power inside the unborn. It made him drool a bit. He snapped out of his trance when Belle started to stand, gaining her balance. "Oh my...my legs. Forgot about the gravity."

"You will get used it." Pennywise said, holding her up.

"Oh. After Nadia is born, she...won't be able to grow. She will be in our next 27 year hibernation." Belle said with a frown. "I really want us to be there for her and raise her. I want to feed her, dress her, play with her, everything a parent could do." Pennywise kisses her forehead to comfort her.

"Don't worry about that, my Beauty. Since our little one hasn't grown inside you, she will be born in a few months. I will think of something." He said with a small smile. "Anything for you, and for our little princess."

"...Okay. I trust you." Belle said. They kissed. Pennywise purrs a bit. How he missed her lips on his. After they pulled away, Belle looks out the window. The Neibolt Street looks the same, but the town is different. "I wonder how different Derry is."

"Different indeed. There is a festival happening. Derry Canal Days Festival." Pennywise said. "And fresh meat to feast. And since the festival is happening, that means children will come out and play!" He clapped his hands excitedly. Belle rolled her eyes a little. "Now I am starving. After a long slumber, we shall eat!" Belle nodded. But she suddenly remembered the Losers Club. Are they still living in this town?

"I feel guilty." Belle spoke. "I didn't say goodbye to them." Pennywise frowned a bit when she brought up the brats who beat him up in his lair 27 years ago. They tried to kill him to get Belle back and stop him from eating too many children. Belle turns back to Pennywise. "I would use the Shine but...I think it's best if I shouldn't. They must've moved on. Like move away from this town. To have their own lives, to be safe, have families." She touches his face, making him purr a bit. "I have a life. With you."

"They must have." Pennywise spoke. He kisses her hands, holding them. "If they ever did move away, that is a wise decision they make. Now, are you ready to eat? Our little one must be hungry for...blood." Belle touches her stomach that growled a bit. She must eat and her child must eat too. Nadia can't starve.
Before they could leave, Pennywise stares at her old clothes. She needs new, fresh clothes to wear nowadays. Even the blue coat had to go.

"What's wrong?" Belle asked, noticing him staring.

"Nothing wrong. Yet, you need new clothes." The clown replied, tapping his chin, thinking. Belle looked down at herself. Her outfit is pretty worn out after all these years. Her blue coat is losing color.

"Oh, it's my favorite too." She said with a sad sigh. The clown smiled at her as an idea popped in his head.

"I've got a perfect color for you!" Pennywise moves his hands and a red jacket appeared in his left hand. Similar to the one she is wearing. "Voila!" The woman blinked at the sight of the jacket. It looks like it's made of leather.

"Oh wow. It's...lovely." Belle said. She is taking off her blue coat, but she felt her clothes are changing as well. She looks down to see she is wearing a white top with gray stripes, blue jeans with brown boots. The clown giggled at her surprise reaction.

"Much better!" Pennywise chirped. Belle looks up at him in silent. Pennywise helps her put on the new red coat. "There you are. Red is your color." Pennywise told her. Belle smiles as she feels the coat on her. She looks much better now. The clothes are comfortable. Belle looked at herself in the mirror. Red does suit her. Pennywise kisses the side of her head, smiling at her in the reflection. "Now, let us go into town. We have so much to do." He said. He took Belle by the hand.

As soon as they walk out of the Neibolt house, the sun shines so bright. Belle shields her eyes with one hand, and smell the fresh air. The birds are singing in the trees. Belle looks around the front lawn of the house. Nothing has changed around the house. Pennywise held her hand in a gentle grip, looking at her. His mate will be surprised when they stroll around town and maybe they could go to the festival to have fun. Nothing could come between them again.

Rowen, the woman from the cult who survived Belle's power 27 years ago, held her head with a wince. She senses their return. Pennywise and Belle have awakened. She brushed her bangs away from her face and look out the window. It is time.

"Maturin, I will not fail you." Rowen said. "This time, it's personal." She got out of bed and grab her clothes to wear. The festival is happening in Derry, and it is a place for a clown to hide easily. Rowen will have to keep her distance away from Pennywise and Bell if she ever sees them. Pennywise will smell Rowen. She will have to be very careful. When the kids go "missing", Mike and Georgie will know. But, they will not be alone.