So, what did the older siblings do? Let's find out!
*Warning: child-parent separation, anxiety
Summary: The family of Gaston and Belle runs on trust. It only takes one mistake to learn that lesson... but the lesson isn't always painless.
Number of years married: 16
Sons: 5
Daughters: 2
~:~ Broken lines ~:~
Nathaniel sat at the head of the wagon. He shushed his brothers and sisters and held Daisy's reins almost a bit antsy. "Papa! Can we go on ahead?" He used his most convincing voice. He knew Papa trusted him. It was only a matter of looking presentable that would let Papa give them permission.
Gaston glanced up from his work at the anvil. He gave a nod. "Go on. I'll be home later."
Gilbert folded his arms and glared at his brother as Daisy started. "This is foolish, not to mention we're going to get in big trouble-"
"Oh shut it, Gilbs," he laughed. "Have a little fun! You too, Jules. Get your head out of your books and have a some real adventures!"
She agreed with her brother, "Gilbert's right, we're going to be in so much trouble-"
Nathaniel scoffed and continued to steer Daisy and his brothers and sisters down the path, a road their father had repeatedly said they were not allowed on...
Well past sunset...
Gaston shut the door behind him and took off his jacket. He looked up at his wife who stopped in the walkway. "Hey," he greeted with a tired smile. "Nathaniel and the others here?"
She shook her head. "No..."
He did a double-take. "No?" He frowned and looked out the window toward the stables. He could see that both the wagon and Daisy were not there.
Belle stepped forward, worry starting to stir in her belly. She wrung her hands. "They weren't with you?"
"They were, then-" And he remembered what had been asked of him. "They asked if they could go on ahead. I said yes-" The surge of disappointment he felt for them disobeying him was quickly overrun with the reality that their children were missing. He tried to conceal his fear from Belle. "That was hours ago."
He could see the anxiety settling on her brow. His insides twisted.
"But they know the way home," she voiced. Her breath hitched and fear started to show through. "What if- what if something happened on the way here. Why didn't you stay with them?" She started to feel incomplete and empty and she needed to place the blame on him - on something! - even though she knew he would never let anything happen to their kids. "H-have you any idea where they could have gone?"
"No," he gave honestly. He tossed his jacket back on and gathered up his crossbow. "But I'll start in town."
Town was eighteen miles away, Belle noted silently. And the sun had long set. She worried her bottom lip. She couldn't escape the helplessness of her voice. "Gaston-"
His hand on the side of her face was firm but comforting. He met her eyes. "If it takes me all night, then it takes me all night." He slung his quiver over his shoulder and strapped his pistol to his belt. He looked up at her. "Stay here and try not to worry. I'll find them."
She never thought she could feel this weak without her children. "Gaston, promise me. Please- I can't bear to lose them-" she whispered.
He pulled her into him for a moment. "I know, I know. It'll be fine." He secured the saddle on Alerion again. He was about to take off when he heard her footsteps.
She pressed a few blankets at him. "They- they might be freezing when you-"
He watched her stop her words as if hope were already slipping away. He kissed her head. "Thank you."
Eighteen miles later, Villeneuve held no definite answers save for one - that a young lad of about fifteen and four others headed down a path past the city, toward a dark forest.
Anxiety pooled in his gut as he led Alerion down that very path. He hadn't been down this road in sixteen years - not since he rescued Belle. He held his torch high with his pistol at the ready. He saw the remnants of bones of the wolves that had attacked her all those years ago along with shreds of her old brown coat.
He never thought he could experience such an icy feeling of dread. It wasn't like him to lose hope, but he was helpless at not knowing the safety of his children... His children that seemed to crave adventure just like their mother. He felt sick.
Why they couldn't be happy with the interesting life they already had, he did not know.
Soon enough, he came upon frozen gates that were wide open - eerily inviting the weary traveler. He swallowed nervously and led Alerion through.
Finally seeing the place Belle had been held prisoner - this looming dead castle - struck him to the core. Anger quickly coursed through his veins at the gall of that wretched beast to lock her up in a dungeon, daring to part her from her father. But just as quickly as his blood began to boil, it turned to ice as he realized their children must be inside.
Gaston noticed Alerion had grown anxious and he as well felt as if someone or something was watching him though he knew the beast had been long dead. Still, he didn't urge his horse faster nor did he dare to call out.
A wisp in the wind caught his eye and he spotted the remains of a pink and red rope hanging from a tower. He winced at the great height; he was truly amazed she hadn't broken her ankle that night.
He dismounted Alerion at the sight of the double doors. He was grateful the moonlight lit everything though the structure casted a very ominous shadow across the grounds. He tied his horse to a post then he unstrapped his rifle from behind his back. He took a breath and entered the castle.
A musty smell greeted him and he wheezed. He squinted into what the moonlight could reach but both his eyes and ears were greeted with nothing. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He hoped they hadn't gone exploring.
Who was he kidding, they had.
He cursed aloud and crossed the room toward a mantle and fireplace but a sound above caught his attention. He stopped, noticing the staircase that led up into the castle but he couldn't see past ten steps. "Nathaniel? Thomas?" he chanced.
Nothing.
He ignored the twisting of his gut at the silence. He knew his children. They went into the unknown with no mind of the consequences - just like Belle and her decision to take her father's place. He hesitated up the stairs to the second level.
"Agatha? Julia?" he tried again. He had been very surprised Julia was along too. She was the most grounded child who had no desire for such adventures. But she was protective of Agatha.
Still no answer.
Alerion's fierce neigh outside gave him a start, plummeting him back into sickening fear. He couldn't remember the last time he was filled with such dread.
And even more dread when he came to a divide in the stairs. He stood for a moment then took those that winded away to the right.
He had passed two hallways before he knew he should have gone left, but he couldn't explain it - something kept pulling him forward. And he soon realized what it was-
Something broke to pieces under his boot. He lifted his foot and looked down, frowning. It was a small white saucer. He moved the torch around and thought it odd that the doorway was almost shielded - as if someone or something tried to stop another person from entering the room. There was a candlestick, a feather duster, a clock, a teapot and a small teacup. Gaston found himself picking his way through the mess, careful not to break anything else.
He swallowed down guilt when he finally looked around.
The walls were torn, fierce claw marks covered every inch. The bedposts were broken and the bed was overturned, the mattress and blankets in shreds. The wardrobe was cracked and gutted, its drawers and shelves pulled out. In the corner of the room by the window, he saw the crumpled sheets and ribbons of the red rope he saw outside the castle.
This was the room it had her in. This was the room she had escaped from. In a castle he thought Maurice had made up. He couldn't breathe.
Then he was down the stairs again in an instant, racing back to the divide in the staircase and instead of going back to what used to be the foyer, he continued up to the way he should have gone in the first place. "Nathaniel! Agatha!" he shouted.
His next breath was caught in his throat and he stopped short at the edge of a large and gaping hole. His heart leaped into his throat and he saw a thin portion of what was left of the stairs. He took it and continued up the steps. "Julia! Thomas!" he knew he sounded desperate.
Footsteps sounded above again then a small voice followed, "P-Papa?"
He let out a relieved sigh. "I'm here. Stay there! I'll be up!" He mounted more and more steps in the direction of Thomas' fearful voice.
"Oh Papa!"
A solid mass collided into his chest and he hugged his son tightly. "We've got to leave. Now."
Nathaniel appeared in the firelight. His face held regret and guilt.
Gaston's blood drained from his face. "What is it? What's happened? Are you all here?" He couldn't deny the clip to his voice.
The teenager looked solemn - in no hurry to answer - and Gaston suddenly shouted, "Tell me!"
"We're all here, Papa," Gilbert answered instead. "Just..."
"Agatha slipped and fell," Nathaniel finally spoke.
Gaston noticed his daughter at the far end of the light. He took a deep breath and coaxed her over. He looked at her knee and her leg. "It's only a small cut, sweetheart. Mama'll fix it up just fine." He kissed her head and picked her up. "Come, we must leave."
Gilbert nodded and led the way out while Gaston brought up the back. He noticed Nathaniel kept to himself, almost not even caring if he veered to closely to edges that led deep into an unknown pit below. The hunter realized he shouldn't have snapped but he couldn't take it back now. He couldn't speak until they were all on level ground outside the castle.
Daisy had meandered over to Alerion while he was gone.
Nathaniel watched his father set his sister on the wagon. He swallowed when he turned around - he waited for his firm scolding or the raised voice he deserved again. He wouldn't even blame his father if he hit him.
Everyone held their breath.
Gaston's jaw was clenched but he didn't speak. He unbuckled the blankets from his saddle and handed one to Julia and Thomas and Nathaniel.
The older girl moved first - hesitantly sitting beside her sister.
The hunter glanced at the others. "Come on," he said with a nod. "On the wagon."
They obeyed quietly and sat silently though anxious to get the blankets wrapped around their shoulders. But Nathaniel hadn't joined them. He looked at Gaston. "Papa?"
"Not now," he grunted. "Up onto the wagon."
Nathaniel nodded and climbed up. He sat at the front with the reins in his hands. He stared down at his hands hoping to disappear. Julia nudged him and nodded her head toward Papa. He looked up and met his father's eyes.
They were conflicted - upset, worried, not quite angry, not quite mad, not quite disappointed. Either way, he felt like he was in some hot water. He swallowed. "P-Papa?"
Gaston let go of a sigh. "Please take your siblings home. I'll be right behind you."
"But Papa-"
"We'll talk later."
Belle enveloped her children the second all were through the door. Gaston felt guilt rise up inside him - she shouldn't have had to worry about her children in the first place. He should have been watching them. He should have made sure Nathaniel was on the road back home. He grimaced and went back outside, busying himself with putting Daisy and Alerion back in the stables.
He refilled their water and set down new hay for each horse. He took his time - not at all ready to go back inside. He could hear her scold them from where he was.
But after a long while he realized he had to go back inside. He affectionately petted both horses before returning.
Agatha fighting back tears as Belle cleaned her scrapes with alcohol was the first thing he saw. He knelt beside her and she cried into his shoulder when he hugged her. "It's alright, darling. It's alright."
"It hurts," she wailed.
"I know it does, sweetheart," Belle sighed sadly. "I'm sorry. Just a bit more, alright?"
She nodded but continued to cry.
"Nathaniel told me what he did," his wife said quietly. She looked up at him and he could see the disappointment in her eyes. "I said there must be a time and a place for these adventures. That he can't just disappear-" She sighed and bandaged Agatha's cuts. "I sent him to bed. I sent all of them to bed. Agatha-" She kissed the white cloth and scooped up her little girl. "Come on, let's get you in bed. You must be so tired."
Agatha nodded.
Gaston put away their aid supplies and locked the front door before sitting on their bed with his head in his hands. He didn't look up even when the door closed behind her.
"Where were they?" she asked quietly. She sat beside him and ran her hand over his back when he didn't respond. "Gaston?"
He lowered his hands. "... at the castle."
A chill crawled up her spine and she suddenly remembered everything clearly from the day she spent in that castle. She stood quickly and turned away from him.
"I'm sorry," he said brokenly.
She shook her head and glanced at him. "It's not your fault."
His face held a pained grimace and he struggled in the smallest of smiles. "If I had stayed with them- If I had just watched them-" He stopped talking and looked to her, and she turned at his silence. He held out his hand and she wiped the sudden tears that fell from her eyes before taking his hand. Then he took a breath, "I- I saw it."
"Saw what?"
"The room it kept you in."
More tears fell without her permission and she sat beside him. She shook her head and she remembered, "They were- I mean-" She let out a shaky breath. "He had me in a dungeon. His servants- they were the ones that gave me a room. I- I escaped out the window-"
"I know," he cut in. He kissed her palm. "And I'm sorry."
Her brown eyes looked to his greys and she frowned. "Whatever for? This- what Nathaniel did was not your fault. I shouldn't have snapped at you when you left to find them. You must know I knew you had done nothing-" She looked up at him.
He turned his head for he couldn't look at her. "That night I saved you," he began, "I didn't believe your father. I thought he was just.. crazy old Maurice. I was going to turn back but I heard your scream." He winced at the memory and the events that followed after he dashed into the wood. "I'm sorry."
"Gaston, I don't understand..."
"Before- I wanted to marry you because it would make me happy. I- I did not care for your happiness much. Then Maurice said you were lost, and I thought if I was the- was the hero to his daughter, he'd accept me.. or at least see that I was to be his son-in-law when we found you." He felt like he would never be forgiven if he kept talking.
But he kept talking.
"We had been out for days, and there was still no sign of you and this path he was ranting about. I had grown tired of it all. I- I would have left had you not- had you not-" He cleared his throat and sighed, "Belle, seeing it all- seeing where it kept you- where you escaped from- how far you ran- how much you wanted to see your father again- I have realized I've not loved you properly all these years. I have not held you day and night thinking if I had made a different decision we would not be here-"
She watched him for a moment then she turned his head toward her. She held his face in her hands. "I did not expect anything less from you and how you were before I married you."
He looked wounded at that.
She laughed fondly. "I am not making fun, do not worry."
He turned his face in her hands and she ran her fingers over the side of his face. "Belle-"
"We are here, my love. What you did not do never happened. We are married. We have children. You are mine and I am yours. And nothing can change that." She kissed him. "And I love you, even more, now that you have seen- now that you understand." She lied down and pulled him with her, smiling when he hovered over her, grateful that they had grown together since that fateful night.
The only thing that makes me sad about this AU is that Monsieur Jean never remembered what he forgot, his family :(
I almost put in an encounter with the Enchantress... but then I decided to save it for another fic - a crossover :)
