Hey guys! Thank you all for the kind words on these stories, they really mean a lot! I read all of the reviews and they always brighten up my day! So this one shot is a little different, it focuses on Belle and Lumiere! I love Lumiere a lot and wanted to write something with him and this idea kept bouncing around in my head all week! So I hope you enjoy. Also, updates my not happen as much because I got a new job that I am starting this week! I hope to not fall behind, but it may take a bit to just settle in.

Hope you enjoy reading!

Even in the summer months, the castle held a cold chill at nights. It helped when the days were long and hot, as they tended to be in this part of France. Still, as Belle pulled her robe around her a bit tighter, the cool air wasn't as welcoming when walking around at such a late hour.

Holding the small candelabra aloft, Belle quietly walked down one of the many halls in the east wing. She didn't wish to disturb anyone at such a late hour, the staff had been working long and hard all day and she knew they needed their rest. The next few weeks looked to be hectic, between the surrounding village leaders being welcomed to visit, and some of Adam's own family coming. The thought of his family made Belle bite her bottom lip, worry creeping into her. She was excited to meet them, of course, but she didn't want to be looked down upon. She feared that they would see her as just a "peasant" girl, as someone who wasn't worthy of Adam's time.

Though she knew these types of thoughts were silly, they still lingered in her mind. Even when she brought them up to Adam, he could only shake his head and assure her that he would never let someone talk to her like that.

"Family or not," he had said, kissing the crown of her head as they hugged, "they do not matter. All that matters is that we are here, together. And I would sooner throw them out of this castle then let them speak ill of you Belle."

Slowly walking down the steps of the main foyer, Belle shook her head at the memory. Adam didn't seem to have the fondest feelings about his extended family. They were together when he read the letter that said they would be coming to visit and the darkening of his expression was all she had to see. He had talked about his father in bits and pieces, mentioning that he had passed right before the curse, but never spoke of any other family members. It left her confused, she figured he would have a long extended family being royalty. But she knew it to be a touchy subject and was something to tackle at a different time.

Walking past the dining room doors, Belle made her way through a side hallway. Ever since the castle had been restored to it's former glory, she hadn't had the time to explore its hundreds of rooms. Even when the castle was cursed, she never explored this section. Had it been closed off? She didn't recall seeing the hallway, though she must had passed it a number of times. It caught her curiosity.

Climbing a staircase, mindful of her steps, Belle's eyes widened as she made her way to the top. The hallway in front of her was massive, paintings adorning each wall, a carpet laid the entire way down it. How had she not been up this way before? Holding up the candelabra as high as she could, she walked over to the first painting she saw. The detail and artistry on it was breathtaking, something she would surely have to show her father in the morning. The portrait was of a woman, young and very beautiful. A familiarity sparked in Belle's brain as she gazed over the image, but with what she wasn't sure. Something about the eyes…

"Mademoiselle?"

Letting out a yelp, Belle jumped and tried not to drop the candelabra. Clenching it tightly in her had, she quickly turned towards the voice, heart hammering in her chest.

Lumiere stood at the top of the stairs, without his wig and dressed down slightly from his usual golden suit. It took her a moment to recognize him before she calmed down, sighing to catch her breath.

"Lumiere...you almost gave me a heart attack," she said quietly, smiling at the older man.

A smirk on his lips, Lumiere bowed slightly, "I apologize mademoiselle," he replied, standing up straight, eyebrow raised, "I wasn't expecting to see anyone up this late at night."

Heat rushing to her face, Belle pouted, "I...couldn't fall asleep, so I thought a walk could help tire me out a bit."

Sleep had always been a tricky thing with Belle. Her mind raced a mile a minute sometimes and she found herself up late at night coming up with new ideas for inventions, or caught up in a story. Sometimes, she found herself lying awake at night worrying where her life would lead her. Would she be stuck in this small village for the rest of her life? Never able to see the cities and lands that her books described in such loving detail, full of life and adventure? It ate at her every time she closed her eyes in that small house.

Now, though, it was more about nerves. Meeting a royal family, living up to what the people would need from her and Adam. She had faith in herself that she could accomplish anything, she already had so many plans. Setting up a library for Villeneuve. Turing the castle library into a small school room so that boys and girls could come and learn. Being able to travel to other places and establish new connections to help the kingdom. It was everything she could have ever dreamed of, so far beyond the small town she felt trapped in.

Doubt found its way into her sometimes. It was silly, she thought, to worry about such things. But she would and it usually came as she tried to go to bed, a voice in her head whispering to her.

Tonight they had been louder then she would have liked, which is how she found herself wandering the castle halls.

"What are you doing up so late Lumiere?" she asked, "You all worked so hard today, I would figure you'd be asleep."

"Oh how I wish," he sighed, shoulders slumping, "I happen to be an unlucky fellow who was given the duty of checking up on the castle this evening."

Giggling, she walked over to him and patted him lightly on the arm, "Well, we can do it together since you found me. How does that sound?"

A grin stretched across Lumiere's face and he nodded, "That sounds lovely mademoiselle, company is always appreciated on these long tours."

"Lumiere, I've told you to call me Belle," she teased as they walked down the hall side by side.

"Of course, of course," he acknowledged, waving one of his hands, "but old habits die hard, no?"

Holding back another laugh, she shook her head. Lumiere always had a way to make her laugh, from the first moments she got to the castle. His personality was infectious and he was ever the showman. While dinner's were never like the first one she had in the castle, Adam had rolled his eyes the first time she told him about it, the former candelabra still knew how to do a presentation like no other.

Belle's eyes trailed the paintings on the walls again, "Lumiere, the paintings in this hall," she asked, "Are they all of Adam's family?"

"Yes, for the most part. If I remember correctly, the master's mother's family is on this side," he explained, waving his hand to the right wall, "while his father's are on the other."

Her eyebrows furrowed, "Maybe that's why we've never been to this wing…," she mumbled under her breath.

"That is a possibility," Lumiere chimed in, turning the corner of another hall way, leaving the paintings behind, "The master doesn't have a lot of love for his father's side of the family. And most of his mother's sadly," he paused, shrugging sadly, "most of them had passed on before she did as well."

"That's terrible…," she muttered, "what was she like?"

Confused, Lumiere glanced to the smaller brunette, "Who?"

"Adam's mother. He doesn't speak of her often, but the small bits he has said," she paused, looking up at him with a small smile, "it sounds like she was a lovely woman."

Nodding slowly, Lumiere held out an arm for Belle to take. They had made their way to the top of a staircase, one that was a steeper than some of the others in the castle. Mouthing a 'thank you', Belle took his arm gently and they carefully walked down. The castle still held so many surprises to her as she looked around, the detail on the walls and the railings truly something to behold.

"She was a lovely woman," Lumiere began, a sad smile tugging on his lips, "When the master's mother was alive, this castle was so different. She brought a sense of joy to it, love. She took the time to learn most of the staff's name, to my shock. I had worked for at least two royal families before ending up here, and she was unlike anyone I had ever seen.

"There was a warmth about it, something I could never explain. And she loved the master so much. Not a day went by when you didn't hear them laughing," he chuckled, "It wasn't perfect, but the environment here was inviting."

"Then everything changed…" she whispered, a sadness coming over her. When she had helped Adam back to the castle when he was injured, Mrs. Potts mentioned how cruel his father was. Before then, she had gotten that sense. The family portrait in his room in the west wing, it had been torn in multiple places. The worse of it was on his father's, which she had barely been able to make out.

"Sadly yes. It was hard on everyone in the castle, though it was worse for the master. His father didn't help in the matter, the man was very cold. Distant."

They reached the bottom of the staircase, the two of them walking in sync as they walked down a curved hallway. A small couch in a small alcove caught Belle's eye and she tugged on Lumiere's arm. Walking over to it, almost dragging the man, Belle let go of him and sat down. Setting down the candelabra, she turned to Lumiere as he made himself comfortable next to her.

"Did you want me to carry that?" Lumiere asked, motioning to the candle, "As you know, I have a good relationship with them."

Laughing quietly, she shook her head, "You don't have to, I don't mind carrying it," she answered, her mind turning back to what he had said earlier, "Adam's family that is coming, they are from his father's side? How do you think that will go?"

Lumiere winced at the thought, the mere idea of those people visiting sending a shiver up his spine. When the master showed him and Cogsworth the letter, all he could do was mutter curses under his breath. Those people were awful, the worst he and the staff have ever dealt with. It was the king's older brother, who thought himself the greatest man in the world. Lumiere had a few other colorful words to call him, but he kept those to himself.

The master had looked distressed as they read the letter, pacing back and forth. He held no love for his uncle, despised the man, but he felt it his duty to welcome him into the castle. Cogsworth had agreed, though he too wasn't happy about the matter.

He could only pray that the visit was short lived.

"I'm not entirely sure, though I'm sure the master will put up a good front about it," he replied with a nervous laugh, "the former king's older brother was never...the best person to deal with, if I were to put it mildly."

"Sounds extremely charming," she deadpanned, leaning back against the wall, "hopefully his trip won't last too long."

Fighting back a yawn, a small smirk formed on Belle's lips, "To change the subject though...how are you and Plumette? She's been in such a happy mood the past few days."

If he was still a candelabra, Belle was positive that Lumiere's candle flames would be the brightest they could possibly be. The mere mention of Plumette, who Belle adored with all her heart, always seemed to put Lumiere in a better mood. Even as enchanted objects, she could see how much they loved one another. Nothing could drive them apart.

"Well! We are fantastic, Plumette is truly one of a kind. She's just been so happy to be human again these past few weeks, like we all have," he said excitedly, "though the other day we did happen to have a surprise picnic I set up for her. Something small, but she seemed to love it all the same."

"A picnic?" she asked in delight, "that is so sweet of you! Picnics are absolutely a treat, and with the lovely weather we're having! I'm sure it was wonderful."

He nodded his head happily, "It had been so long since I was able to do something like that for her, it was fantastic to see her so happy."

The smile on Lumiere's face couldn't stop growing, just the mere thought of her brought a wave of happiness over him. She was everything to him and had been for so long. The fact that now, after all those years as objects, he could be with her again. Hug her, kiss her, be with her and the glow that she brought with her, it was almost too good to be believed.

The curse had been going on for so long, he had started to give up hope. No one had been the castle in years, no one seemed to remember it at all. Each passing day was another closer to their demise. It was heartbreaking, seeing the curse slowly eat away at the staff. At their master, who they rarely saw. Anytime Lumiere would see him at dinner, he would catch the looks that the once-man would send him, something akin to sadness. But he would never express it, just eat and be on his way.

Everything changed though when the older man, Belle's father, arrived.

Lumiere knew the moment she traded places with her father that she was the one. He felt it in his heart and was even more reassured of that when she didn't back down from their master. A fearless, beautiful girl. Someone with compassion, understanding of what had happened to them. Truly, she was the girl who could save them all, who could look beyond what their master had become to who he truly was.

A small yawn broke Lumiere from his thoughts and he blinked, turning to Belle who was rubbing her eyes. A chuckle escaped him, "You seem tired mademoiselle, perhaps you are ready for bed?"

A grumble, which sounded like a "no", came from her though it was hard to tell when she was yawning again. Laughing, the older man got up and held his hand out for her. She gave him a playful annoyed look before accepting it, grab the candelabra from the ground.

Gently, he pulled her up and they made their way down a few halls, chatting quietly as they walked by doors which held staff members within them. They had walked by Cogsworth's door and Lumiere pretend to go and knock it, rile up the older man, but Belle shot him a pointed look that was pretending not to be amused. They both laughed silently to themselves, walking up the grand staircase before stopping at the stairs that led to the east wing.

"It was a marvelous evening to spend with you Belle," Lumiere beamed, kissing the top of her hand lightly. He squeezed it before letting it go, bowing dramatically to her as she laughed.

"The same to you Lumiere, you are delightful company to keep," she replied with a small curtsey, her face glowing with a smile, "we must do it more often."

Climbing the stairs, she turned back one more time and gave Lumiere a small wave before continuing back to her room. Each step brought a new wave of exhaustion to her and she all but ran back to her to room. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out. No voices to bother her, no worries in her heart.

Just a familiar tune with lively dishware and colorful explosions. And a certain golden candelabra trying his best to make her feel at home and welcomed.