To the Guest who commented on the last chapter, asking about Belle's love confession to Gaston... that is Chapter 14 - Love is beauty, love is pure :)

Happy Reading!

Summary: Takes place after Late talks - In which Gaston shows her she doesn't have to hide from him.
Number of years married: 1


~:~ Perfection ~:~

Belle frowned at her reflection in the mirror.

Gaston was out for the day. Said he had to squeeze in at least one hunt before... before...? Well, she might have stopped listening after a while. But he'd be out the entire day and that was the point.

Which meant she had the entire house to herself.

She dropped her nightgown and stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom - shockingly bought for her and not Gaston's vanity though she still snorted in disbelief at that. She stared hesitantly at her reflection.

Why did there have to be so many changes? Sure, her body had softened and rounded out to accommodate the life growing within her - a child she so dearly loved - but... She turned to the side and traced her finger along the curve. It wasn't easy to accept these new and uncomfortable and embarrassing and awkward flaws of hers especially since she still hadn't allowed her husband to be.. intimate with her. It wasn't about admitting their wrongs and reconciling about that night, it was about him becoming inevitably and utterly repulsed by what he saw.

And she'd rather push him away first before he did her.

She turned again and cringed at her lumps and stretch marks and-

She started at the sound of heavy boots walking down the hall. Panicking she quickly shielded her body with the bedsheet, the quilt on top leaping to the floor at her sudden movements. Her eyes were wide and frightened like a deer's. What was he doing home?!

He stopped in the doorway, surprised to see her at such a state of undress. He refrained from looking in the mirror at her bare backside. "I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" he asked.

She was too stunned to reply, still not quite believing he was standing there. She just clung to the bedsheet tighter and tried to shrink against the wall.

He sensed her discomfort but she hadn't been this exposed in front of him for months.

He knew she was uncomfortable with these changes to her body but he had assumed she'd take it in her stride much like she did everything else - but she hadn't. Instead, she had hid even more from him as if she were ashamed she had softer curves. And now, her glowing body enticed him and he needed to know what she looked like underneath that sheet-

Her shaky and timid voice stopped him. He hadn't realized he'd stepped closer. "You're supposed to be out-" She swallowed nervously and looked up at him. He was standing too close to her and she grew worried at what he might do. Oh, she wasn't ready to lose the father of her unborn child.

He nodded vaguely though his eyes remained glued on her fingers that clutched the material tightly. "Storm's comin'. Didn't want to worry you by stayin' out." He briefly met her eyes.

"Oh-h-h.." how thoughtful.

He cleared his throat and took a few steps back. He removed his coat and boots - holding on to a hope that it would make her look less startled. "How- how are you?" he asked also hoping to break the ice.

"F-fine," she managed.

His eyes studied her form. "Are you sure?" His brow was creased and he looked genuinely concerned.

She nodded too quickly.

He still stood a bit away. He held out his hand to her, holding still as if he were trying to feed a wild deer berries.

She bit her lip and took in his posture - he didn't seem impatient or demanding. Perhaps he wouldn't pull her towards him and yank off the bedsheet. But she couldn't think of anything else he could do. She hesitated in accepting it.

"Do I frighten you?" he asked carefully.

Butterflies fluttered in her belly and her cheeks burned with more embarrassment than being caught undressed. "Of course not. It's just-"

He heard the words die quickly on her tongue as he stepped closer. He caught the edge of the sheet and ran his fingers down the material. He gave it a little tug and she flinched as if he had struck her. But he didn't let go nor did he unravel the material. Instead he wrapped the bedsheet further and tighter around her.

She held her breath as his hand pressed against her back, pressing her body gently against his, but when the other lifted her chin, she breathed out in relief. She didn't realize how she had missed his closeness these past several months. She could even feel the way they fit together perfectly despite the changes to her middle. And upon meeting his eyes, she could tell he was not opposed to these changes whatsoever.

That and she had a vague feeling that wasn't his pistol against her thigh.

She squirmed a bit - entirely unready for that at the moment.

He pulled away and gave her a half smile. "I'll make supper tonight."

She gave him a soft kiss of thanks and nodded, watching him leave the room, not daring to admit she missed his warmth.


I'm sorry! I had to - HAD TO - put in that Dracula Untold reference! xD