Mrs. Potts was right about Belle and the Prince, and about everyone else in the castle for that matter. They all needed time to adjust to their new lives and the new expectations placed upon them.

For the prince, happy as he was, there was much he needed to sort out and get used to. The most obvious matter was the change in his physical form. For many years he had lived very much as a beast, sleeping on the floor, stalking down prey and dragging the carcasses back to the castle for supper, tearing through the castle with a mix of animal agility and brute force. Now . . .he slept in a bed, dressed in fresh clothing each morning, ate his breakfast sitting straight-backed at a table while taking proper care to use the correct utensils and not make a mess. Shoes were something he hadn't put on since the enchantment had been placed. Being unaccustomed to both the leather boots he now wore around the castle and the somewhat different center of balance in his new human form caused him to often trip over his own feet. Belle, of course, found this highly amusing while he, of course, found it extremely embarrassing.

Then there was also the matter that when he was last in human form he had been a boy of eleven, and now he was a man. He had spent his adolescence in the form of a beast, so getting used to his adult body was something of a second adolescence. The prince struggled to process the powerful feelings he felt for Belle along with his bewilderment that he was no longer a beast. He often felt awkward about his new body which made him shy around Belle and overwhelmed when alone.

With Belle he conducted himself as a perfect gentleman, pulling out chairs, bowing, only touching or kissing her when she signaled her interest. He had never been in a romantic relationship before and was still learning the delicate balance of give and take that comes with adult intimacy. He loved her so it was no chore but it was, nonetheless, an adjustment.

Beyond this, Cogsworth was yammering about needing to catch up on the current state of affairs, needing to learn the names and ranks of important officials, needing to find ways to reach out to his subjects. He didn't mean to be uncooperative, but with so many changes going on around him and within him his first priority was Belle. What would be the point of being human, of being a prince, if he had to live his life without Belle at his side as his wife?

Belle had much to consider as well. Being in love was new to her too, the lightheadedness, the preoccupation, the rush she felt through her body whenever he so much as touched her hand. And of course, the man she was in love with was new too, new at least in form, and at times she struggled to realize that her love for the beast and her love for the prince were, in fact, the same.

This prince. This prince she was reading to and eating breakfast with, laughing with and kissing, who she sat up with until all hours talking with and who she leapt out of bed first thing in the morning to go meet. She had loved the beast. She found herself both loving and feeling attracted to this prince. It made her feel guilty, as though she were betraying the beast somehow. Each time she found herself looking too long at his broad chest or handsome face she looked away, ashamed. Was she so shallow as to find this young, strong, handsome prince quite pleasing to look at?

"I suppose if I were to marry the bea—Adam I would be a princess," Belle remarked one morning to Mrs. Potts, who had come to tell her the master was awake and breakfast was ready. That was something else Belle struggled to get used to. If she were to marry Adam, Prince Adam, than she would be a princess. And any children they might have, if they had children, would be royal children.

"Of course love," Mrs. Potts said, smiling warmly at her, "You'll make a lovely princess."

"And . . .I suppose being a princess comes with certain . . .expectations?" Belle asked, putting a robe over her shift and walking to her wardrobe to select a dress for the day.

"I suppose it does," Mrs. Potts answered gently.

"I've read a lot about royal life," Belle commented, "There are rules for everything. How to dress, how to eat, how you must address others, how they must address you . . ."

"Are you unhappy love?" Mrs. Potts asked, coming closer to face Belle.

"What? No," Belle said quickly, "No, not at all. I love the bea—the prince, I mean—Adam. It's just that I . . ."

Mrs. Potts surveyed Belle with a look of motherly concern. Belle looked back at her, a little sheepish. What would Mrs. Potts think of her? And what right did Belle have to complain? Mrs. Potts had lived a life of servitude only to be rewarded by a curse that turned her into a teapot for ten years.

"Mrs. Potts?" Belle asked.

"Yes, dear?" Mrs. Potts responded, maternal enough to sense that Belle needed to talk.

"You must have lived in this castle a long time," Belle commented.

"Yes, I have." Mrs. Potts responded.

"And you never wanted, I don't know, something else? More freedom?" Belle asked, a sudden fire in her eyes. Belle loved Adam, but the thought of marriage, where her future was inextricably linked to her husband and the thought of being a princess, where her life was chained to the castle, made her feel like she was being asked to give up her freedom all over again. She remembered how she felt after Gaston proposed to her. How she had wanted someone who knew she wanted so much more than they had planned. She was still that person. The transformation may have changed many things, but not that.

Mrs. Potts smiled at Belle. To Mrs. Potts, Belle was many things—strong, kind, smart, lovely. A perfect match for the stubborn, moody, and sheltered prince. She was fond of Belle, she always had been. Nevertheless, Belle was little more than a child to Mrs. Potts. She looked at Belle in her robe, which was a little too large for her petite form and kept sliding off of one shoulder, which Belle had to keep pulling back up as she spoke. Whisps of hair had come loose from her ponytail, refusing to be tamed. Belle stood facing Mrs. Potts with an expression that was both respectful and a little impetuous.

"I think we've all wondered what our lives would have been like if things were different, at one time or another," Mrs. Potts said carefully, "When we were under the spell, there were times where I wished I could be anywhere else."

Belle felt a rush of sympathy for Mrs. Potts, and nearly wanted to hug the old woman. She wasn't sure if Mrs. Potts would be uncomfortable with this, and so restrained herself.

"But I had Chip, and Cogsworth and Lumiere, and yes, the master too, to look after." Mrs. Potts said. She looked at Belle and smiled, "I love those boys. And they needed me. At some point, being there for those you love becomes more important than having adventures. I daresay being there for those you love becomes the adventure."

Belle smiled at Mrs. Potts and nodded.

"There, there child. You don't have to decide anything right now, except for what dress you'll wear today. The master will give you as much time as you need."

Belle nodded again, and again pulled the collar of her robe up over her shoulder.

"Will we being seeing you for breakfast?" Mrs. Potts asked.

"Yes." Belle answered, "Please tell Adam I'll be right there."

Mrs. Potts gave a quick nod and turned to go, her skirts rustling as she made her way to the door.

"Mrs. Potts?" Belle said, just as Mrs. Potts was about to step through the doorway. Mrs. Potts turned to look at her.

"Thank you." Belle said.

"Of course dear," Mrs. Potts replied, then quickly left the room to notify the master that Belle would be joining him momentarily.

Belle turned back to her wardrobe. She missed the days when it could talk to her, make suggestions, compliment her. It was strange, but at times she felt a little lonely now that everyone in the castle was human again. She hesitated, looking all of the dresses over carefully, running her slender fingers over the fine fabrics. She wondered which one Adam liked her best in . . .she shook her head at herself. Was she truly becoming this kind of woman? A woman who couldn't even decide what to wear without first considering her beloved's opinion? She sighed and selected a deep purple dress with gold trim. She liked the color and Adam hadn't seen her in it yet.

She arrived in the dining hall fresh faced, hair styled in a half up twist. Adam had been sitting at the table but stood when he heard the clicking of her shoes approaching.

She went up to him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Good morning, Belle." He said.

"Good morning," she replied, smiling at him. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

"It's no trouble to wait for you," the prince said as he pulled her chair out for her. He looked her in the eyes and added, "Please know you are always free to take as long as you need."

Belle smiled and sat, taking a deep draught from her goblet. The prince seated himself across from her at the long dining table and looked at her, taking her in. Each morning he could hardly believe she was still there, still as beautiful as ever, still looking at him like she might leap from her chair and kiss him at any moment.

"You're looking very lovely today, Belle." Adam said, "Is that a new dress?"

Belle dabbed the corner of her mouth with her napkin to hide her smile and cleared her throat.

"What? Oh—this? No, I don't think so," Belle demurred. She surveyed him as well. He was looking quite princely in a navy blue jacket with charcoal trim.

"You look handsome," she said. An expression of surprise crossed the prince's face. She had never told him he was handsome and, after living so long as a beast, it was not something he expected to hear. He wasn't sure if he should like hearing it or not. The enchantress had certainly made sure that he would never forget the words 'true beauty is found within'. He shifted a little in his chair, his adolescent-like self-consciousness making him blush. She felt that feeling of shame, felt that she shouldn't notice or care that he was handsome. A sense of discomfort hovered between them. Belle considered quickly changing the subject, but instead she pushed her chair away from the table and ran to his side.

She leaned down and held his face in her hands. She looked deep into his eyes.

"I love you," she said, "I loved you before and I love you now."

Adam reached up and took one of her hands in his.

"I love you too. It's all right, Belle," Adam said, he hesitated then told her, "I like it that you find me handsome."

It was true, he did both notice and enjoy Belle's lingering looks, the way she sometimes brushed her fingers across his chest before pulling her hands away a little guiltily, as though she were a child who had just been caught doing something she shouldn't. He half expected the enchantress to appear to punish him for being pleased that Belle found him handsome. When nothing happened, he relaxed. He smiled at Belle and said teasingly, "Just try to remember that true beauty is found within"

For a second a look of guilt passed over Belle's expression, but realizing the prince was teasing her she pushed his shoulder and exclaimed, laughing, "I think I know that!"

Belle smiled at him, relieved that she could be more open about her newfound physical attraction to him. She looked down at his sleeve.

"Where do you keep getting all these blue clothes?" she asked. She looked back up at his face and raised an at him eyebrow teasingly.

Adam blushed again and cleared his throat. He looked past Belle and towards the doorway that lead to the kitchens.

"Where is Mrs. Potts with our tea?" he murmured, glancing sideways at Belle, who was trying not to laugh.

Belle put a hand under the prince's chin and turned his face back towards hers.

"I like you in blue because it brings out the color of your eyes," Belle told him. She added dreamily, "I've always loved your eyes."

She stood up straight, kissed his forehead gently, and then made her way back to her seat at the other end of the table. The prince watched her and considered asking her to marry him again just as Mrs. Potts bustled in with the tea tray.