Warning: You might need a tissue like I did.

Disclaimer: Songs do not belong to me, I'd Stick with you is again from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame 2 and Big, Bright, Beautiful World (Reprise) is from Shrek the Musical.

Ch. 9: It's Okay to Cry

"Listen carefully; Tristan's curse is getting worse. When the opportunity comes, you make sure that he's gone. It would restore my youth that witch took away from me."

"But when?"

"When the time comes, ever since that witch cursed my son, I was punished as well. My youth and my beauty were taken away from me. But when it comes, I want him gone."

The sun slowly went through the window, shinning onto Gabriella's face. She turned her head awaking to see Tristan beside her. She wiped her eyes of the sleep and smiled at him. She could see the peace on his face and decided to take a couple minutes in with him. Her gaze slowly went to the scars that took over his face; she slowly lifted her hand touching his scar hesitantly. The feel of his skin against her hand was slightly rough then she felt the smoothness of his face too.

Tristan could feel the touch, slowly opening his eyes turning his head slightly feeling Gabriella's hand still. Their eyes locked as Gabriella smiled softly, "Good morning."

"Hello," Tristan whispered. His body tensed slightly as Gabriella suddenly resumed touching his face. It was agonizing for only hours before he had no scars covering his face and her hands were doing the exact thing. In addition, he had her lips against his, her taste and touch against him. He now wished that Zelda never did this action.

Gabriella watched as Tristan turned away a bit, having her remove her hands. "Do they hurt," she inquired. Tristan shook his head as he sat up with Gabriella beside him, "How did it happen?"

A dark look crossed his eyes but he answered quietly, "My father." He shook his head as he glanced at her, "he messed with the wrong person and this is the ending result." He looked away in anguish but immediately he felt Gabriella's hand on his cheek, she wanted him to face her but Tristan removed her hand gently before stepping out of the bed. "Come with me," he asked her.

"To where?"

"We still need to get your morning roses," he answered.

B&B

"I met him," Gabriella quietly said. She sat on the bench in the garden while Tristan looked down at the roses. He looked up and raised an eyebrow even though he knew what she meant. Over the time they were getting closer, Gabriella was comfortable about talking about her dreams with Tristan who never judged. It was the first time that she had someone listening to her. "He was there at the ball and it was so different," she told him.

"Your dream boy?"

"Yes," she nodded. She watched as Tristan returned to the roses, touching their petals gently. His eyes seemed sad which was very unusual for Gabriella to see on her friend's face. "Tristan," he looked up at her, "have you ever been in love before? I'm not sure what love is anymore."

Tristan's heart suddenly sank. He was in love, he was in love with her and he couldn't say it without fearing she would turn away. He took a deep breath in before answering back, "No, I have not and I doubt I will."

"Why?"

Tristan plucked a red rose from the bush out of his own accord, slowly twirling it in his hand. "Ever since I was little, people seem to leave. No sign love except from Sofia, Aaron, and Abby-"

"And Luka," Gabriella smiled thinking of the little boy.

Tristan nodded with a soft smile, "Yes and Luka but, after the accident, I knew love was doubtful. Who can love this face? It's hard to not look in the mirror without seeing a monster."

Gabriella slowly stood up and walked over to Tristan. She gently wrapped her arms around Tristan, hugging him gently. He hugged her back before handing the red rose to her. She took the rose, looking at it; this was the first time he had ever gave her a red rose. It was smooth and delicate as she looked up to him. "I don't see a monster," she whispered to him. Their faces were close as she continued to speak to them, "Your scars are not you, Tristan. You are so much more. You are kind and smart, you make me laugh." She touched his scars, "These are not you."

Tristan smiled weakly, "Promise?" She could feel their breaths close, his face close to hers and she could feel that certain spark again, she wondered why she felt it with him so much but something drew them closer. They were slowly leaning into each other, their lips about to touch…

"Tris, Gabby," both separated fast at the sight of Luka entering. He looked at them curiously seeing the blushing face, "Everything okay?"

"Yes Luk, everything is fine," Tristan stated as he looked at the little boy. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing," Luka stated as he looked down at his feet, "but your father left already."

"That's good," Gabriella stated to Tristan. She suddenly remembered that Tristan told her that his father rarely came. "You told me he never comes," Gabriella stated to him.

"I'm not proud of him and I didn't expect him to come," Tristan told her. He then looked at her before looking back at Luka, "Is there a reason why you are here?"

Luka smiled, "We need to get ready for breakfast." Tristan nodded before looking at Gabriella, "I'll see you inside." She nodded and he gently kissed her forehead before walking off.

As she watched him walk off, she looked down at the rose in her hand, smelling the sweet scent before smiling widely.

Luka walked with Tristan in the snow that crunched under their feet. He looked up at his best friend before poking at him, "Did I interrupt something?"

Tristan looked down at the boy and shook his head, "Everything is fine, Luk. I promise."

After breakfast, Tristan wandered the Castle a bit. His mind drifted away slowly, he could feel his inner wolf ready to break out. He was getting worse as the days progressed but he didn't show it. The curse didn't have a time limit but it was hard to determine what was he and what the monster within him saying. It was so much and he hoped that he didn't hurt Gabriella in the process.

"You can't hide it forever," Tristan turned to see Andrew standing against an archway on the staircase. He jumped from his hiding spot, circling Tristan, "Your curse is taking over you."

"So?"

Andrew chuckled, "Tristan, once it takes over, you know what happens. You are no longer a man and one day, that forest will take over this Castle."

"I wasn't the one who gave their soul to the Devil."

"Your father gave me a price. He took me from my brother and left me with you so I can have riches. I didn't expect the shadows waiting for someone in the Castle to enter there at night."

Tristan continued to walk, "As long as I'm living, no one will enter that forest." He was ready to walk off before Andrew smirked to himself.

"You know Gabriella is very attractive," Tristan turned around and immediately pushed him against the wall. "Did I suddenly hit a soft spot?"

A low growl erupted from Tristan, "You touch and I'll make sure that you will die a slow and painful death."

"Tristan, you've had many opportunities to kill me and missed each one when it came. She won't love you, you know that? All she'll ever see is a monster," Andrew whispered. He pushed Tristan off before turning away, walking. As he passed by a wall before he noticed a knife striking the wall by his head, he quickly looked up to see Tristan standing against a suit of armor.

"That's how close you are," Tristan simply stated before leaving.

B&B

"So Gabby, how are things with you and Tristan," Abby inquired as they all sat with Sofia by the fireplace.

Gabriella looked up from her book confused, "What do you mean?"

Abby chuckled and Sofia smiled as she said, "Tristan and you seem to be always together that's what she means, sweetie. It's a rare thing to see Tristan bonding with anyone these days besides Luka."

Gabriella touched her pendant before smiling, "I wish he saw what I see in him."

"What would that be?"

"How wonderful and caring he is. He just sees him as a monster," she sighed.

Sofia nodded, "You saw his father. That influence never took over that boy and I think he gained his mother's personality." Sofia stood up and kissed Gabriella's forehead, "I'm going to go up but Gabriella, Tristan is something more than you can expect."

Before she could say anything back, Sofia walked away.

Sofia climbed up the stairs feeling her old age taking over a bit. She opened the door to Tristan's room, seeing him standing at the balcony. She kissed the boy's cheek before looking at him, "Your thoughts are getting the better of you, love."

"I know, Mama," Tristan told her.

Sofia kissed his hand, "Sweetie, you are not a monster. You are so much more and I know Gabriella will love you the way you love her." Tristan looked at her, surprised as she laughed softly, "I see the way you look at her but Tristan, it's the beauty underneath that counts." Tristan nodded before she kissed his cheek again, "Good night my son." She then closed the door before leaving.

In the middle of the night, Gabriella abruptly woke up to a loud and anguishing cry. She immediately stood up and looked over at the painting to see Constant crying on the General's shoulder. "General, what happened," Gabriella worried.

The General shook his head before Gabriella opened the door, walking down the hallway. She approached a door to see Andrew standing at a doorway, looking inside. She walked passed him and she gasped to see Aaron hugging Abby as Tristan looked down at the bed. In the bed was Sofia, her eyes closed peacefully as if she was asleep. "She died in her sleep," Andrew explained, "Aaron was doing a check on her and he noticed that she was not up. He then checked her pulse to realize that she was gone."

"The cry," Gabriella quietly inquired.

"Tristan."

Gabriella looked over at Tristan seeing a deep sorrowful look in his eyes. He approached Abby, whispering into her ear then looking at Aaron who walked away with her. Gabriella moved to touch Tristan's shoulder but he simply shunned it away before closing the door. Everyone walked away, leaving Gabriella alone in the hallway softly crying for the lost of Sofia.

B&B

Tristan stood in his room. He looked around feeling everything finally breaking past his barrier he built up. He went into a fit of rage, throwing everything in his room. He looked up at the sky as he yelled, "Why does everyone I love leave me?" He threw his book aside before finally feeling all his energy gave out. He sat on the floor, knowing that he couldn't do this with Abby and everyone. He had to be strong for them, for Gabriella, and for Sofia.

B&B

The Castle was quiet with no sounds at all over the next couple of days. Gabriella watched as Tristan handled everything for Abby as they buried Sofia. She was there too but every time she tried to comfort Tristan, he pushed her away. He seemed more isolated and tired, his eyes were not the beautiful blue grayish color they usually were but darker.

Almost like his father's.

They walked back inside together while Tristan stood behind and slowly walked back into the castle. He entered and walked passed everyone before hiding away from everyone. He needed to be alone but Gabriella didn't want him to be alone, he needed someone to confide too like she did with him.

When the night fell, a soft rain began seeming like the sky mourned with the Castle. Gabriella was in the library reading a book by the fireplace when she heard the door open. She looked up to see Luka walking in, his head looking down and his eyes slightly puffy. "Gabby, can I stay with you," he quietly asked. Gabriella nodded, placing her book down as the little boy ran over to her and going into her lap, burying his face into her shoulder.

"It's okay to cry," she whispered.

Luka looked up, "Can you sing for me? Tristan has been so sad that he hasn't sung for me lately. I know why, I miss my grandma too. I just-"

"It's okay, Luk. I got you," she whispered against his forehead, kissing it. She gently began to rock the little boy in her arms. "What was the song Tristan sang to you?"

Luka looked up, "Through all the thin and thick…

Closer than frack and frick

We two will do the trick…"

"I'll stick with you," Gabriella sang into his ear.

She ran her hand through his hair before kissing his forehead, feeling the little boy slowly relaxing against her.

"Fast as the clock can tick

I'd be here just as quick

No one I'd rather pick

I'd stick with you…"

Gabriella stood up, lifting the boy up carrying him into his bedroom. She looked around the room and smiled, seeing similar furniture arrangements almost like Tristan's. She glanced around seeing a small painting that she recently had done of Tristan and Luka. She gently touched Tristan's smile before sighing. She returned to the little boy, tucking him in before leaving the room.

As she closed the door, she suddenly heard a small bit of music. Her heart began to pound realizing that no one else played the piano in the Castle besides one person; she immediately walked down to the hallway, up the staircase to the art room. She slowly opened the door to see Tristan sitting at the piano.

His glasses were on as he stared at the piano keys. He could feel the tears he held in, slowly going down but he wiped them away at the sound of the door. He began to play the piano again as he quietly said, "She taught me how to play. She wanted me to learn so I can play whenever I wanted too. She had a favorite song that she wanted me to sing after my accident. She wanted me to laugh."

Gabriella slowly approached and Tristan knew she was there, coming to talk to him or listen to him. The last couple of days, he was quiet and isolated and unknowingly to him, it hurt her a bit. She sat next to him as he looked up at her; she placed his hand on hers. "Show me," she told him.

Tristan gently pressed the fingers down slowly, guiding her as he began the melody.

"It's a big bright beautiful world with happiness all around.

It's peaches and cream if our dreams come true…

It's a big bright beautiful world with possibilities everywhere

If true love is blind maybe you won't mind the view?"

Gabriella watched as Tristan continued to play the melody, her head on his shoulder. He closed his eyes in agony, finally letting his grief and his heartache take over as he continued to sing.

"I know I'm not the handsome prince for whom you waited.

I don't have a fancy castle and I'm not sophisticated.

A princess and a monster, I admit it's complicated…"

His voice suddenly cracked and Gabriella gently touched his cheek turning his face to face hers. She began to start playing for him, singing to him.

"Through all the thin and thick

Closer than frack and frick

We two will do just a trick

I'll stick with you…

Fast as the clock can tick

I'd be here just as quick…"

She brought his face to hers, pressing her forehead against hers, gently whispering to him.

"No one I'd rather pick

I'd stick with you…"

She stopped playing as Tristan leaned into her touch, crying on her shoulder. She held him close whispering to him how everything will be okay that she would be there. He looked up at her, "Promise?"

She took his hand, placing it on her heart whispering back as she wiped a tear away from his eyes. "I promise," she whispered.

It was with that promise, Tristan finally smiled again.