Lefou met the newlyweds in the street and congratulated Gaston so thoroughly that by the time they reached his house, he seemed to have completely forgotten that his wife wanted to kill him. He jumped down off his horse and snatched Belle from the saddle and threw her over his shoulder.

"Let go," she shouted, banging against his back as hard as she could. "Put me down! Gaston, what are you doing?"

"Why, I'm carrying my new wife over the threshold," he answered grandly. "I'm told that's the way one brings home a new wife. Isn't that right, Lefou?"

She couldn't hear even a touch of sarcasm in his voice, and it confused her so badly she went limp. How could he act like nothing was wrong? How could he believe nothing was wrong?

He kicked open the door and marched through the living room, then kicked open the bedroom door and set her down on her feet inside. "And here we are! Home sweet home." He gestured around proudly, then frowned as his eyes fell on the bed. It was wide enough for two people though just barely, and there was a dog curled up across the foot.

Gaston stepped up and shooed the dog off, then nodded at the place where it had been. "All set."

"All set?" Belle repeated in disbelief. "Gaston, you're expecting me to sleep in your bed - in the dog's place?"

He took her by the shoulders and planted a kiss on her forehead. "That's what I love about you, Belle - you might play hard-to-get at first, but in the end you're so very accomodating." He didn't seem to be joking. She couldn't do more than stare as he kept right on: "Yes, you may have Rameau's place. I know, I know, he's served me since he was a puppy, and I'm as concerned for his welfare as you are, but I suppose, in the end, as my wife the spot should go to you. Rameau can sleep on the floor by the fire."

"You might as well give him back his bed," Belle said coldly. "I'm going to stay up and read." She turned her back on him, left, and closed the bedroom door firmly behind her.

She hesitated outside the door, wondering if he would get angry and come after her, but within a few seconds she heard him start to snore.

So she pulled a chair up to the fireplace and, as she had nothing to read, just poked morosely at the coals.

Belle didn't even realize it was morning until a knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. She blinked into the fire and then looked at the window. Broad daylight. Gaston was going to kill her for using up all that firewood for no good reason...

She stood, wincing as her neck cracked twice, and went to open the door.

Before she got there, though, the back door banged open and someone strode through the kitchen and came to greet her. "Morning, wife!" Gaston said with enthusiasm.

Her manners kicked in and she answered "Good morning, Gaston," before she thought better of it. "Someone's at the door."

"Don't worry, I'll get it." He shrugged his massive shoulders and dropped the bundle of logs that was tied to his back. The whole house shook.

She hovered behind him as he opened the front door, but could see nothing because Gaston filled the entire doorway. It made her think of the Beast, and she found herself fighting tears.

Gaston stood aside. "It's for you, Belle," he told her, a little stiffly.

Belle gasped. "Father!"

"Belle!" He took both of her hands and started babbling. "I don't- I'm so glad to- I heard the, the most, the most terrible things! Are you all right?"

She swallowed. "Yes, Papa, I'm-... fine."

"But what are you doing here?"

"Gaston... um... we got married."

"You got..." Maurice stared blankly. "But I thought... oh! It's not because he... now sweetheart, just because he saved you from that Beast, that's wonderful of course, but it doesn't mean you're, you know, obligated to-"

"Gaston didn't force me, Papa," she lied, not wanting to grieve him since there was really nothing he could do about it at this point anyway. "It was... I thought it best."

"Why, Belle, that's wonderful! As long as you're sure," he added, lowering his voice, "That he's the right man... I mean, you did tell me once that you didn't think so."

"He..." A bitter smile touched his lips. "He swept me right off my feet, Papa. Someday perhaps you'll understand."

Maurice chuckled and stood on tiptoe to pinch her cheek. "And til then, I suppose I'm to leave the newlyweds alone. But you'll come find me when you're settled in, Belle, won't you? I'd love to have you and my new son-in-law over for dinner."

Belle forced a smile and gave him a kiss goodbye. She was trying not to think of what "dinner" might taste like now that Maurice was cooking for himself... it would almost be funny, if not for the serious question of how on earth she thought her father was going to manage on his own.

She turned inside, all ready to have it out with Gaston regarding exactly how the men in her life were to be prioritized - her husband being, of course, at the bottom of the list - but when she saw him she was distracted from all other speech.

Gaston was sitting on the floor tearing logs into firewood with his bare hands.

She rubbed her neck uncomfortably. "Um... Gaston, about the fire..."

He waved her to silence. "I didn't realize you like it so warm, but of course all the household-running will be up to you from now on. I went and cut a little more wood, so we don't run out so fast next time..."

The room was sweltering, she realized all of a sudden. She and Gaston both had sweat streaming down their faces. If she had not been totally absorbed in thoughts about her dear dead Beast she might have stopped feeding the blasted flames hours ago, but right now there was nothing much she could do about it.

"There," he said at last, throwing the last chunks of wood into the pile in the corner. "That's better."

He had worked so hard and sounded so satisfied that she almost kept her thoughts to herself... but then she saw his bow on the floor and remembered the terrace, and jumped at a chance to wipe the smile off his face. "This is not better, Gaston," she snapped, "I still hate you. I wouldn't even be here except that you threatened my father, and as soon as I can get rid of you without putting him in danger, I'm leaving."

He blinked, frowned in confusion, opened his mouth. It took him a bit to form words. "But Belle... don't you remember? We're married."

Belle's turn to gape. As of last night Gaston had realized that he'd have to use Maurice as leverage to win her hand... and now this morning he was acting as if she had married him by choice! Had he turned stupid overnight? Or did he think - and her stomach churned at the thought - could he possibly think that being married meant he'd won? That once she was bound to him she was bound to love him?

She had sworn that, after all. But it was ridiculous for him to think she meant it! Wasn't it?

"Gaston," she said carefully, "You do know, don't you, that I didn't want to get married?"

"Oh, but you're getting over all that," he dismissed, "Just like I knew you would. I heard what you said to your father. Glad to see you're coming around."

"No! I meant what I said: I don't love you."

This, strangely enough, didn't seem to disturb him. He shrugged. "Tell you what, Belle: as long as you behave like you're supposed to, I can let that pass."

"Behave?" She shrieked, outraged. How dare he treat her like some kind of dog or child! "How's this for behave!" The front door was still open and she kicked it shut with all her strength, so hard that Gaston's old dog whimpered from the other room. "I told you I-"

"Enough!" He stormed over and she shrank back against the wall, suddenly afraid. "Now, I've decided to be a good husband to you, Belle," he growled into her face, "Which means teaching you how to behave like a good wife. I would hate to have to spend the first day of our honeymoon putting you over my knee, but if that's what it takes for you to learn your place, then-"

She shoved at him, hissing "Place?!" but of course she couldn't move him.

He sighed, rolled his eyes, curled his lip. "I've had enough wife for one day," he declared suddenly. "I'm going hunting. You go sit down and stay quiet. By the time I get home-"

"Stop telling me what to do!"

Gaston leaned forward until their faces were an inch apart. "Sit. Down."

He took his gun off the couch and thundered out of the house. Once he was gone, Belle felt lightheaded and really did want to sit down.

She found she had to hop over to the chair, though, because of how hard she had kicked his door. She cried, and the dog came to comfort her, and she very nearly kicked the dog as well.

"This," she said aloud, some time later, "Is not how my marriage was supposed to begin. What happened to happily ever after, Rameau?"

The dog whimpered mournfully but didn't offer her any useful answers.

TBC.

The more I watch this movie the more I feel bad for Gaston. The poor guy is really just a giant meathead who's never been taught how to play well with others. I think there's hope for him. Unlike the Beast, who had "no love in his heart," at least Gaston is only an evil bastard when there's something in it for him.

Let me know what you think so far!!