Drama? Drama? Who said anything about drama?
Yeah, well hence a day of non-update... a drama chapter and I did not quite work out.. So I give you more fluff and sweet stuff.
Oh and I won't be updating tomorrow :)
Have fun!
Summary: Gaston has been gone on a very long hunting trip and he gets a proper welcome back home.
Number of years married: 15
Sons: 5
Daughters: 2
~:~ Welcome home ~:~
Agatha was glued to the front window waiting for Papa to return home. Mama said he had wrote letters and that he promised to be home on that very night! She pouted as the sun was starting to set and still no sign of him.
"Atha, dear," Belle called from the kitchen. "Help your brother set the table."
But the little girl couldn't part from the window. "But what if I miss Papa?"
She and her brothers and sister had it all planned out. Though Papa would be tired and Mama would give them a firm scolding for it, they decided last night they'd tackle him.
Nathaniel and Gilbert would lead the charge. They were the heaviest and the tallest and would be able to knock Papa down. Jonathan and Thomas were next and they would be the reinforcement when Papa didn't lose his balance. Then she and Julia and Cedric would follow adding to the weight already on him.
He would most likely laugh and greet them just as enthusiastically. Agatha smiled to herself.
Belle watched her youngest girl. "He'll be here later tonight, love. Now come on for supper."
The event started off buzzing with excitement. Everyone hadn't seen the man of the house for three solid months. Or as Gilbert put it - as Gaston promised to teach him how to shoot a crossbow - he had been gone three months, one week, and five days.
And everyone could agree that things just weren't the same without Papa.
After supper, Agatha sat on Belle's lap. She yawned widely as all the children were struggling to stay awake. "Mama, are you sure Papa will be back tonight?"
"Yes, I'm quite sure. Remember Papa wrote a few days ago and said he had done all he could on the trip and knew he just had to come home to us."
Time ticked on and supper was soon a thing of four hours past. Belle was amazed at how long all managed to stay up... although Cedric, just two, was curled up on the floor with one of their dogs.
Thomas yawned and whined impatiently. "Mama, you said Papa would be here-"
Julia added drowsily and pleaded, "Please don't make us go to bed before he comes home."
"Yeah.." Jonathan continued from his haphazard position on the sofa on Nathaniel. "We're not tired..." His eyes were half-closed.
"I'll step out and have look, alright?" Belle offered to her nearly incoherent offspring.
She wrapped her arms around herself as the cold wind whipped her shawl. The sun was fairly high in the sky as she saw Gaston off. "How will I know it's you when you come home? I mean, I don't wish to open the door to a stranger-"
He took out his pistol and unloaded it. She watched as he set the hammer back and-
"You're going to shoot at the house? Gaston, that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" she started before he continued. "You're going to frighten everyone half to death! Including me! You're not going to have a wife to come home to as I will be long out from a heart attack-"
"Belle," he interrupted sternly. "Look." He blocked the sun and the pistol was in shade. "It's too bright out but when I get home.. I don't know how else to explain it without it sounding weird-"
"Oh it's weird alright," she snorted.
He gave her an amused lopsided smile. "You'll know it's me. Alright?"
She looked skeptical.
To which he chuckled, "Trust me."
She still looked skeptical.
Under the moonlight, she noticed a figure walking on tired legs up the hill. She stepped away from the house slowly, unsure if it was really him. She waited for whatever harebrained idea he had been referring to before he left.
Then she saw a yellow and orange spark of ignited gunpowder.. of the unloaded pistol.
"Oh that man," she said fondly to herself.
Then she poked her head into the quiet living room. "Come on, my sweets. Papa's home."
Life sprung into them and all managed to pile out of the house without knocking each other over. Belle stifled a laugh as they collected at the edge of their yard. She wasn't sure how this was going to go but she had a feeling it would be worthwhile.
Gaston caught sight of them all in the moonlight. Home was just ahead. Soon he would be laid out in front of the warm fire sipping on some of that ale Belle had hid in the cupboard when she thought he wasn't looking. He could feel the ache in his legs and the tension in his shoulders disappear at the sight of home.
He grinned tiredly as Nathaniel and Gilbert bounded for him. Then he barely had enough time to toss aside his rifle before they collided into him.
He stumbled, yes, he stumbled but Gaston was proud to say he didn't fall. He did not fall over. Ha! Those kids would have to try harder than that!
"Oof!"
He soon saw the night sky as two more bodies hit him. Then he found his hearty laugh.
His girls landed next, squishing their brothers. Then there was some encouragement for the youngest who looked - as Gaston craned his neck to see - like he had just been woken up.
"Come on, Ced!" Nathie laughed. "Come on!"
Julia grinned. "Come on, Cedric. Jump! Jump on Papa!"
Gaston felt his love for Belle and his family swell at the sight of Cedric taking a daring leap with all his might. He landed against Gaston's side to which the man over-exaggerated the impact. He grinned when Cedric giggled.
It seemed over all too soon.
"Alright, you lot," Belle called behind them. "Papa's got to get inside and you've got to go to bed."
But the stubborn spawn of Gaston - as Belle so lovingly put it on their most aggravating days - wouldn't dare to leave without argument. For a solid five minutes, they quarreled... back and forth... children against parent... while Gaston recovered his bearings.
Then he interrupted. His voice wasn't stern or upset. "That's enough. Go on to bed. Whoever is not up by sunrise will stay home."
Belle sent him a curious look and he waved her off.
Seven - well, six (Cedric was half asleep in Belle's arms) pairs of excited eyes gazed up at him. "What is it, Papa? What are we going to do?"
He chuckled. "You'll have to go to sleep to find out," he said. He looked up and winked at his wife who playfully rolled her eyes.
And without argument, they raced inside.
But Belle was amazed at how seriously curious they were. Was it the surprise that had them excited or was it finally getting to spend the day with the very man who had been gone for such a long time? She believed it was the latter.
In record time, all were tucked in and kissed goodnight... Belle waited out in the hall as Gaston was requested for an extra goodnight from all. Except Cedric for he was out before Belle had put him on his bed.
Gaston closed the door softly. He turned to the woman he had been longing to be close to for the past three months. He smirked and tugged her close.
"I've missed you," he rumbled as his lips found her forehead.
She leaned into his embrace and inhaled his woodsy scent. "How was your trip?"
He groaned. "Too long." He gently twisted his fingers through her hair. "And you? How was everything here?"
She crinkled her nose. "Far too lonesome." She relished in hearing his arrogant chuckle - she would never admit it but it was music to her ears.
"Lonesome, eh?" he asked. He narrowed his eyes with hunger. He backed her into the bedroom. "Don't tell me you've forgotten what it's like to be with me?"
She tugged at his lapels and looked up at him. "I dare say I have."
"Well, let me remind you then," he growled. Then he caught her lips hungrily.
I keep forgetting they have dogs... I mentioned it in the very first chapter and then I never mentioned it again...
