Hello again, my lovelies! :) Back again with another chapter! Thank you all for popping in on this story from time to time!

Happy Reading!

Set before Chapter 16 - this is not that important but it does mention a character from Ch 16 | Also, I don't normally like smooshing chapters that share a similar topic (unless they're "Parts") but just letting y'all know that the topic here is the same as Ch 63 x) ...I didn't really have anything else that was "ready" :(

Also not sure what sort of feels y'all are supposed to get from this... it started off as comical but went in the opposite direction I had intended in the end... wrangling characters is hard! So, good luck! :)

Summary: Belle has invited Agathe for a nice supper OR Belle finally realized that Gaston may have been a little right about the woman…
Number of years married: 22
Sons: 5
Daughters: 3


~:~ Those who grumble get no dessert ~:~

Agathe looked around the house. "It's certainly changed here from the last time you invited me." She looked at the various artwork each child had done throughout the years that Belle had hung on the walls. "You've changed also." She smiled at Belle.

"I have, a little, I suppose." She smiled and wiped her hands on her apron and looked up at the sound of the door opening. "Ah, Gaston, we're having company over for supper."

He gave a hum and hung his crossbow and quiver on the coat rack. He glanced up and Belle could see him tense at the sight of Agathe.

"We're having company over for supper," she repeated, knowing the sight of the woman threw everything out of Gaston's head. "Get washed up and come help me set the table."

He managed another hum though he took a while to manage toward the hall.

When he returned, Agathe was sitting in the common room. He stepped into the kitchen where Belle was stirring gravy. "What what what what what? Why why why why why?"

"Gaston, if you're not going to speak in proper sentences, please set the table." She moved to check on the bread in the hot box but he blocked her way. "Gaston, please." She pushed him a bit when he didn't move. She took the bread out and the hot pan passing in front of his torso had him moving away. She set it on the counter.

"Belle-"

"Yes."

He dipped his finger in the gravy and ducked away from her swat. "What... why is she here?"

"I've invited her to supper. You will be on your best behavior."

He snorted - something akin to 'that's likely' - and failed to miss a second swat. "Ow. Is she staying the night too?"

She gave him a glare before shrugging. "I don't know. That's up to her."

"You gave her an option?" he blanched incredulously.

"Shh!" She handed him a pot and ladle for the gravy while she tended to the baked turkey. "Yes, I gave her the option. The weather's been awful as of late and it's a long walk back to the village."

"She'll complain about the things she is given- or not given!" he protested in a hushed whisper. "You know how much she loves to pass her judgment on how things should be, especially when she has no right!"

"Gaston. Gravy. Now."

He grumbled.

She huffed. "Don't just stand there. We are the hosts. It is our duty to serve our guests."

"And our children."

"Yes," she said automatically… then she paused. "Oh, that's right." She wiped her hands on her apron and went to the beginning of the hall. "You lot have five minutes to get ready for supper! If I hear any grumbling, you'll get no dessert!"

A pitter patter of feet sounded in bedrooms and washrooms. She turned to the kitchen again where the table was being set nicely by her now non-grumbling husband who had heard her words. She gave him a kind smile. "I'm glad you've had a change of attitude, dear." Her eyes lit up at the extra placemat on the table. "Oh, how lovely!" she praised just to bolster her husband - yes, she occasionally would encourage that ego of his especially when he was stubborn on doing things she wanted. She turned to the common room "Agathe, supper is almost ready. You may come sit at the table now."

The woman smiled and gave a nod. "Thank you."

Gaston watched the woman without watching her, wanting to know where she was going to sit so he could sit as far away from her as possible.

"Where will you be sitting, Belle?" she asked.

"At the head of the table, nearest the door. Gaston usually sits over here near the kitchen." She smiled sweetly at their guest and then her husband who was giving her a hard warning glare. She matched his glare.

Agathe sat beside the seat Belle had pointed to.

The married woman hissed at her husband when she passed him. "Be nice!" She swiveled on her heel with a plate of wild turkey and set it on the table. She and Gaston wordlessly fixed the table with other plates of food and that pesky pot of gravy.

Then the two parted ways to sit at their far away seats as their children joined the table. Belle glared at him and he gave her a false smile.

He wasted no time in taking a big swig of the ale Belle had hidden in the cupboard - the one that was saved for special occasions. And by god, this was a special occasion: a woman he didn't like taking up space in his own house! He needed this.

Belle smiled kindly at the rest of the table and served herself and Agathe. She tamped down an amused smile when Gaston took another drink, sulking in his cup. She could see the gears turning in his head, no doubt coming up will all sorts of snide remarks he probably so wished he could freely say. She raised her eyebrow when a snort slipped out. "Is something the matter, dear?" she asked.

He managed not to narrow his eyes at her mock-concern. "No, nothing is the matter. Just want to wish my family and our… guest a pleasant meal."

Nathaniel and Julia - sitting opposite each other - exchanged amused looks.


Dinner conversation was pleasant between Belle and Agathe - with Gaston stewing at the other end of the table. Then the children spoke up… particularly a very curious Agatha.

Agatha looked at Agathe. "Miss Agathe, how do you spell your name?"

"A-G-A-T-H-E."

"Ohhhh."

"And how do you spell yours?"

"Mine's ending with an A." Then she beamed brightly. "We share names!"

"Yes, you do, but she is not your namesake," Gaston reminded her.

Belle shot him a look. "Gaston, please."

But their child and guest didn't seem phased. "Oh yeah, I'm named after my Granmama. Daddy says she was very kind and loved everything and everyone. He said she would have loved me lots!'

Agathe smiled at the girl. "I'm sure she would have." She took another bite and cast a glance of mutual dislike at Gaston who narrowed his eyes.

Julia eyed the woman's tattered clothing - she had heard Pierre say that Agathe was a beggar because she never got a husband. "Have you ever been in love, Miss Agathe?"

The woman blinked at the sudden question.

"Julia," Gaston scolded lightly. Though he wasn't a fan of the woman, his kids better have some manners.

She shook her head, "It's alright. It's a harmless question." She looked at the girl who did look a bit worried for speaking out of turn. "No, I've never been in love."

"Do you think there's someone out there you can love?" Thomas asked.

Julia sent him a small smile - a thanks for not letting her sink alone.

"I'm sure there is," Agathe replied with a thoughtful smile. "But who's to say he'd love me back?"

Thomas frowned a bit then said, "Hm, I guess…" He pushed the last of his peas around his plate in defeat.

Belle tried to smooth over the wilting mood, "That's very kind of you, Tom." She scanned her children and saw most of them were finished and on the verge of being bored. She smiled. "You all may be excused if you wish."

But no one moved because the word 'dessert' had been uttered before they arrived.

She smiled, "I'll let you all know when you can have dessert."

They grinned widely and scurried back to their rooms.

Agathe wiped her mouth and set her napkin on her plate. She looked at Belle - her face a little pinched and her eyes filled with soft pity.

It made the hair on the back of Gaston's neck prickle. He might just need another ale if he was going to last through the rest of this night.

"May I ask something?"

Belle paused in gathering up the fallen crumbs from around her plate. "Uh, sure." She offered an encouraging smile.

The sour pitying look on Agathe's face didn't fade. "Why did you settle for him and not anybody else?"

Belle frowned. The question was… odd, in a way. She could understand Agathe's views on Gaston - heck, some of the villagers shortly after they got married, questioned her decision... but now? She felt the question was twenty-two years too late... "There was no one else-" She saw Gaston shift and her eyes snapped to his form. "Not like that, Gaston, and you know it." She sent him a glare until he had the decency to look apologetic. She huffed and looked back at Agathe who was judgmentally glaring at Gaston. She shook her head and tried to explain. "It's just, I always wanted something more than this little town… Then when I got it, it was awful and miserable and- I just knew staying would be the biggest mistake of my life." She met Gaston's eyes again, this time a touch of sadness and fear were there at what could have been.

He offered a small smile - reassuring her.

She slowly matched it.

Agathe hummed in disdain. "I disapprove. I think it would have turned out alright in the end. All you had to do was wait and see."

Belle frowned and scoffed. "You don't know what I went through. Staying wasn't a risk I was willing to take."

Gaston sighed audibly. "And this is why I don't like having her as company."

She didn't object to his attitude this time. She watched him stand and excuse himself, saying he'd be outside. She may not have scolded him in the moment but she was still a host… "I am sorry for what he said just now."

Agathe shook her head and looked at Belle with sadness. "Oh, I had such high hopes for you, Belle. You were different from the rest of Villeneuve and you deserved a life so much better than this. You've wasted it all on some selfish, arrogant hunter."

Belle's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me? Wasted my life?"

The pinched pitying face was still prominent. "You were so kind. You had your chance to share your kindness and heart with another who was much more deserving than this oaf."

"I don't know where all this is coming from, and why you're bringing it up now? You think now, I'm going to change my mind? Leave him and my kids because I'm much more deserving of a better life?" she said bitterly. She let out a sharp laugh. "You know, all these years, I thought Gaston was making things up when he said he didn't like you, but now I see it. I really see it." She didn't smile at the woman and stood from her chair and ducked her head outside. "How's the weather?"

"What?"

"You heard me."

He looked around and up at the sky. "Uh, peachy."

She smiled stiffly and went back in. She grabbed Agathe's tattered shawl from the coat rack. "I'm sorry but staying the night is no longer an option."

"Belle," she started to argue with a scoff.

"Taking shots at my husband is one thing," she began darkly. "But telling me my children are a waste is an entirely different matter. Now, I'll admit dinner was nice. But you have clearly overstayed your welcome. Please leave."

"I did not say anything about your children- they are wonderful kids-"

"You said I have wasted my life being with Gaston. Like it or not, those kids are here because of him. You have implied that my children are worthless. Nobody says that about my kids. Not even somebody I sympathized with and even thought of her as my friend. Get out of my house."

Outside, Gaston watched, stunned, when Agathe stepped from the house. He didn't feel too bad about it as she was still shaking her head with that pitying sour look on her stupid face. He watched her until she disappeared down the lane. Then he went back inside - his wife was vibrating with anger. "... what happened?"

Belle's jaw was still clenched and she shook her head. "You were right," she said irritatingly. "She just complained about things. And stuck her nose in where it doesn't belong."

He gave a small hum... and he made the sensible decision to inch from her. "... you okay?" he asked once he was in the safety of the kitchen. He thought of offering her a sip of ale but decided against it. Needless to say, he raised his eyebrows when she marched over and grabbed his tankard and took a long swig. "I see," he said like she had just answered his question.

She folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the counter, still scowling.

He offered a small shrug - still kind of unsure what to do. "I didn't hear what she said."

She let out a bitter laugh. "You don't want to. It'll just obliterate your opinion of her."

He gave a nod. He glanced at the counter where the dessert sat - chocolate mendiants. Then his head tilted as an idea went off in his mind. He glanced over - it was risky but maybe it would lighten the mood and wouldn't get him banished to the couch. Maybe.

He cleared his throat and took a tiny step to the side. "Well... I thought you said those who grumble get no dessert," he teased carefully. He braced himself but then grinned when he caught her glaring at him.

"I am not grumbling."

"Really?" he dared further.

"Yes, I am not," she puffed. "Grumbling is when you don't like what's happening despite other people's agreement. Last I checked, nobody in this house actually likes her. They're like you - but not as bad. They just liked her because their dear old mother thought of her as a friend."

He squinted in thought. "What about our Agatha?"

Belle brushed it off. "She's just fascinated by her name, and you know it."

He chuckled and reached to swipe one mendiant, but Belle got the plate before he could make it.

"And are you grumbling?"

He grinned. "With your definition of grumbling, no, madam, I am not."

"Good."

"Shall I call our rabble?"

Her lips were still pursed in a scowl. "Fine."

"Or not, because it does look like you're grumbling-" He dodged her swat with a laugh.


A/N: I intended for this just to be annoying for Gaston but Agathe just took it away...

Also what Belle meant by "not like that, Gaston, and you know it" - I have no idea because this piece has been sitting in my docs for a while… So your guess is as good as mine x) It just felt very Gaston-y so that's why I kept it in

Alas, we shall see actual fluff again soon! And some children focused chapters!

Until next time! ;)