The Lumiechelle Saga, Part 4: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Chapter 8: I'll Be Home For Christmas, a beauty and the beast fanfic

Since November is finally here, I'm going to continue this story at last. And finally we get some action! Yay!

Michelle and Lumiere met in the early morning in Belle's library, as she had allowed them to use it for their preparations of the "best Christmas ever!". The Maitre'd looked around nervously.

"What is it?" the brunette girl asked. She wore a white dress, with fur collar and light blue boots, reaching up to her calves. They were lined with fur as well.

"I just…what if Babette sees us? She might get jealous."

"So what? Your…girlfriend…needs to get a grip!"

Lumiere nodded. "Especially since she is pretty much a physical goddess, in looks and personality . She doesn't need to be jealous at anyone, including you!"

"Yeah…whatever!" Michelle felt as if an icicle had been forced into her heart, while her stomach and fists had quite different kind of reactions to this confused, love sick fool. "Well, what do we need to think about first? Elena and Fife are responsible for the music, the dinner has been planned, Angelique did the decoration, Belle and Prince Adam organize the party…what could we contribute to make this the best Christmas?"

"Remember, the night we first met? We danced All night long…hey, let's organize a dance contest!" Lumiere suggested.

Michelle grinned. "Great idea and…" she blushed. "You still remember that night?"

"Of course! How could I forget? Babette whore such a lovely mask to her uniform!" He said, hugging himself. "Oh, Babette!" He sighed long and deep. "wherever I go, I still smell her perfume!"

"Lumiere!" Michelle yelled. "This is about Christmas not your lover! Are you taking this even seriously?"

"Oh!" the servant looked at her in embarrassment. "Forgive me. Love carried me away like the waves carry a boat over the calm ocean!" He cleared his throat. "Anyway, a dance contest! Or maybe even a singing competition. Of course no one from the choir may participate."

Both of them chuckled. "Elena, our little soprano, won't like that!" Michelle said, stifling another laugh.

"True." Lumere nodded. Then she sighed. "I miss these moments."

"What moments?"

"Moments were we…have fun. Since you got back with Babette, we hardly talk."

"Yeah," Lumiere looked to the ground. "The truth is, ending our friendship would be the worst thing ever."

"It is!" Michelle agreed. "I still…I love you!"

Lumiere looked at her, he narrowed his eyes. "Michelle…I…I love you t-" suddenly he cringed, as if he was in pain. He screamed and fell to the ground. "Lumiere!" Michelle got down on her knees, putting her hand on his back "What is it? Are you alright?"

"Arghhh!" he groaned, clutching his chest. "My heart! What the hell is going on?!"

"Hihi, I see you still care for this brat! Well then", Babette emerged from one of the shelves. She was surrounded by emerald green light. Her eyes were glowing in the same color and her pupils had turned into ovals. "I will replace any love in your heart, no matter for whom, with love for me! But first I will get rid of the creature!" Babette raised her hand and Michelle started to float above the ground.

"What?"

Babette made a throwing gesture and Michelle went out of the window.

"Now," she kneeled down, cupping Lumiere's. " My powers aren't strong enough yet, but thanks to Michelles broken heart and the slowly dying love between Belle and that Beast, I will be able to completely take over this foolish girls body and make you my dependent, infatuated slave!" The demon cackled.

"You…Babette? No! Who are you?" Lumiere asked shaking, when suddenly chains wrapped around his body and he also left the ground floating behind Babette or rather the thing being possessing her body.

When Michelle awoke, she sensed the smell of ale and sweat. "Eww!" she whispered. When she looked around it became quite clear where she was: Molyneaux. Or rather, it's tavern. She looked into the familiar face of LeFou.

"Michelle? Is that you?"

"Y-yes? How did I get here?"

The little guy shrugged. "No idea. The blacksmith found you this morning, laying in the snow. Unconscious. He took you here, so you could warm up. Are you feeling well?"

"I…I guess so." Michelle lied, thinking about what happened earlier this day. "Lumiere…"

"Huh?"

"Lefou!" She grabbed his shoulders I need a carriage to get me back to the castle as soon as possible!"

"Um, I think you'll have to wait." He gestured over to the window. It was snowing. No- that was a blizzard!

"Damn it!" The girl muttered under her breath.

"So, you are living in the castle now? And you're looking quite fancy. What happened that night anyway? That night when Gaston…you know. I mean the terrible Beast and his demonic furniture are gone, our Prince is back, but…what exactly happened?"

"Well, you know…that Beast had locked the Prince and his staff away and, um, put me and Belle under a spell so we'd believe he's a good guy. That's why we acted so….strange. But then Gaston managed to free us all and kill the monster, but it managed to take him with it, you see?"

"Hm…yeah, that's what I thought." LeFou stated. "Poor guy."

"Yeah." Michelle hated the fact that she had to portray Gaston as some sort of Hero. But that was the only way Lefou would believe her.

"And…what brings you back here?"

"Something's going on in there. A new kind of magic."§

"D-dark magic?" the little man stammered.

"I supposed…" the brunette walked over to the window, thinking at her beloved castle. A sigh left her throat.

I'll be home for christmas

you can plan on me

please have snow and mistletoe

and presents on the tree

Christmas eve will find me

where the lovelight gleams

i'll be home for christmas

if only in my dreams

Now the other men inside the tavern and the three Bimbettes joined the poor girl in her lament.