Hey guys! Thank you all so much for all the kind reviews! It means the world and I'm so happy people are liking these little stories! So this one takes place while the curse is still in tact and it's right after the snow ball scene, which was hilarious.

'Maybe throwing the snowball wasn't the best idea…'

That was the first thought that came to Belle's mind as she lay on the snowy ground. She blinked rapidly, ignoring the throbbing from the back of her head, and tried to re-play what just happened.

Her train of thought was broken by what she assumed was the Beast's laughter coming from the other side of the railing down below. It was deep, but somehow light at the same time. Had she heard the Beast laugh before? He was usually very stoic and even if he did make a joke, it was dripping with sarcasm or a roll of his eyes. But his laugh...it sounded nice.

'Though he's laughing at my expense, so is it really that nice?'

She laughed to herself, staring up at the powder blue sky above her, snowflakes slowly falling. There was a warmth that crept into chest as she lay there, a warmth that Belle had grown used to in her time here in the castle. It was something she couldn't explain, but it always seemed to come around when she was with the Beast. She had begun to see past the cracks of who the Beast presented himself as and see the man Mrs. Potts had mentioned in passing, the prince looking to be set free. It was new little things every day, finding him in the library, discussing books with him over meals, and watching how interacted with the castle's staff. It was like a puzzle she was slowly putting together.

But what did it mean? Belle was usually very sure about her feelings, but coming to this castle had her questioning everything. It was all so new, so strange, but exciting at the same time. Like one of the stories she had burrowed while she lived in the village.

This wasn't the village though, far from it. Here, she had finally found someone who didn't mock her for her love of literature (Romeo and Juliet aside, they still bickered about that from time to time in a playful manner). She had found a companion, a friend, who she could talk to for hours about the latest novel she had discovered in the rows of books within the library walls.

"Belle?"

His gruff voice made her jump slightly, had she zoned out?, and she debated getting back up. The ground, covered in snow most of the time, was rather chilly and the snow was starting to melt through some of her clothing. On the other hand, it was very peaceful and she did enjoy the view quite a bit. And it wouldn't hurt making him feel bad, he did throw a giant snowball at her face.

She heard his heavy footfalls coming up the stairs quickly and turned her head, a smile stretching across her face. As he approached the top of the stairs, expression mixed with different emotions, he tripped over his paws slightly and caught himself before falling. A hand flew to Belle's mouth as she tried to cover her laughter, his expression was priceless!

Grumbling under his breath, the Beast's eyebrows furrowed as he watched her laugh, confused; "Y-you didn't…," he stopped, rubbing the back of his head, "you didn't reply when I said your name, so I thought…."

Belle was trying hard to stifle her laughter, she could see he was genuinely worried, but his expression was just too good!

"I know, I'm sorry, but," she waved her hand at him, feigning offense, "that's what you get when you hit me in the face with a giant snowball!"

"As I recall, you're the one who started it," he countered, looking down at her with an arched eyebrow, "you have no one else to blame but yourself."

"You didn't have to throw it at my face!" she playfully chimed.

Shrugging, the Beast took a few steps closer to her, casting a shadow over her view. Frowning slightly, she patted the ground next to her and the Beast's expression changed from confusion to almost a bit of disgust, "You really want me to lay on the ground with you?"

"You say it as if I'm trying to torture you," she replied, rolling her eyes, "I am patting the ground, so yes, yes I would."

A frown grew on his face, it was one she always saw when he didn't know what to say, and he looked away. Snow fell around them as she watched him, it wasn't uncommon for him to mentally debate things from what she could tell. It was something Lumiere brought up once to her, 'A man of few words!' the candelabra declared, and she always found it fascinating to watch. What was he thinking?

He sighed deeply, looking back down at her, "Fine...but just this one time," he grumbled, lowering himself down on the ground next to her. As he leaned back, she noticed that he had deliberately left a little bit of space between them and she frowned.

When they would spend time together around the castle, he always left that little space between them. At first, she hadn't noticed it. But it was when they were in the library one night and she had leaned over him to point out something in a book, that he had moved slightly away. She hadn't said anything, confused by the action, but let it pass as a one time thing.

It wasn't. Anytime she would get close to him, he would movie just the slightest and she wondered if she should maybe ask the castle staff about it. Belle ended up keeping it to herself, not wanting to start anything within the castle.

When she took his hand today and saw his face, the confusion, the awe, it dawned on her then. It must have been so long since he had someone around him, someone small, a bit more fragile. Of course the castle staff was always here with him, but she thought this was different. She was human, someone who could be hurt easily, by accident. He was worried. Which was a sweet concept, but she didn't want him to feel that way. She didn't want him to worry, to act differently around her because he thought he could hurt her. He wouldn't, she knew that now.

She scooted closer to him, her arm brushing his, and smiled, "I promise I won't tell a soul," she teased, "I'm sure Mrs. Potts won't be happy when she sees us carrying snow into the castle…"

"They did just clean it up the other day…" he added, trailing off.

They lay their together in silence, Belle watching the clouds slowly move their way across the sky, covering the sun. It was peaceful, just the two of them being like this, and she stole a quick glance over to the Beast. Who also happened to be looking at her at the same time.

Heat rushed to her face, embarrassed at being caught, and his eyes widened slightly, but she didn't break eye contact with him. That warm feeling in her chest was spreading and she didn't want to let it go.

She smiled shyly, "I know Cogsworth says he's the head of the house...but I think Mrs. Potts has a bit of a better...handle," she laughed, the Beast shaking his head, and continued, "on things around here."

"Very funny...I'm sure she'd be happy to hear you say that, though," a smirked tugged on the edge of his lips, "most of the staff can run things better in the castle then Cogsworth most of the time."

Laughing, she playfully smacked his arm, "Don't be mean, Cogsworth...he means well…?"

Beast's eyes darted from her to his arm, a small look of awe on his face before he frowned, trying to play it off, "Well...just don't tell Mrs. Potts I hit you with a snowball in the face,: he shuddered, earning another laugh from Belle, "I'd never hear the end of it."

"Oh Mrs. Potts!" Belle said dramatically, placing her hand on her forehead as if she was fainting, "you wouldn't believe what happened, it was devastating!"

Their laughter echoed through the garden, Beast's low and gruff, while Belle's was light and lively. This is what she had been missing at the village, someone who could understand her. While she loved her Papa very much, she was his world and her his, it was nice to finally find someone else who she could interact with.

The blush on Belle's cheeks didn't leave her as they laid their laughing, and it wasn't just from the cold air. The warmth, the happiness that she had come to get from being around the Beast was something she would treasure. It was surprising and unexpected. She couldn't compare it to any of the stories she had read.

As she listened to him laugh, turn to her and smile, his blue eyes filled with a happiness she rarely saw, she felt her heart skip a beat. There was something here with him now that wasn't there before.

And she didn't want the feeling to go away.