Ch. 16: Beauty Underneath

"Tell me a secret," Gabriella asked one day as she and Tristan sat on the roof looking at the sky.

Tristan looked at her, "I don't have many secrets." Gabriella looked at him with a raised eyebrow as he chuckled, "You first then I'll tell you."

Gabriella looked at him then back at the sky, "I would always wish on a star. It was ridiculous but I always wished for the same wish even to this day."

"Aren't you going to tell me?"

"If I did, it wouldn't come true," she gently pushed his shoulder. "Okay now your turn."

Tristan looked at her before he took her hand. "When I came to town that day when I met you, I was just going to walk around. It was the first time I ever left the Castle since my accident and I just wanted to be away from everything, to just forget it." Gabriella could see his gaze darted away as he squeezed her hand. "I was just walking and I've seen beautiful women before and they were pompous and god awful then there was you," he looked back at Gabriella.

He blushed slightly, "You were sitting there and I wondered why beautiful person like you was alone? I walked over to you and I knew right there…"

"What? What did you know," Gabriella moved closer to him.

He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear before whispering, "You were always special." Gabriella blushed and Tristan kissed her forehead, "That's my secret. I knew you were special when I first saw you."

B&B

It was days later, Tristan woke up in the morning with a smile on his face. The sun shinned and things seemed all right. It was a day he was going to make special. He got out of bed, dressed into his normal attire. He approached the mirror and smiled at his reflection for the first time.

Today is the day, Tristan smiled to a mirror, I'm going to tell Gabriella today, I'm going to tell her that I'm in love with her. He turned from the mirror and walked out of his bedroom with a smile across his face. He went down the staircase, sliding down the ramp as he walked into the kitchen kissing Abby's cheek and ruffling both Aaron and Luka's hair before walking out.

Abby looked at Aaron who gave a confused look. "What was that about," she asked her husband. Her husband just chuckled and shrugged.

Tristan went over to the garden fast, like he never ran before. He had moments where the curse would bother him, Gabriella would notice and she would try to distract him from changing. It worked occasionally but when the moon wasn't out, he would confine himself in the cage.

He approached the garden, looking for some red roses. He hummed a simple tune before he heard a small crack of a twig; he immediately turned fast knowing that it wasn't anyone he knew. Tristan turned to see a sword at his face, pressing back against the wall, "Hello Tristan."

Tristan looked up at him, "Hello Andrew. You look quite different."

Andrew sneered at him, "That's because you did the damage."

"So happy I did," Tristan growled.

He tried to move but Andrew pressed the sword against his neck, "Ah ah, no moving. I come here to tell you some news."

"Why should I even listen to you?"

"It involves Gabriella's best friend." Tristan looked at Andrew as he lowered his sword a bit. Tristan moved a bit as Andrew began to speak, "You see recently she became very…ill. It was very unfortunate, no one can take of her and recently she was giving to Arthur." Andrew watched Tristan's expression become confused and worried. "I see I caught your interest."

"Talk," Tristan ordered.

"Well you see, Gabriella was the only one close to Lucille and so when she got ill, her family can't take care of her so they sent her to Arthur for taking care of but we all know that he can't take care of anyone. Why do you think he gave his daughter away to you," he laughed. "More money for him."

"You're lying," Tristan argued as he moved closer but was stop by the sword.

Andrew waved his finger, "Now why would I do such a thing?"

"You always did."

"But why especially when it affects you also? I know you are in love with her but how would Gabriella feel to know that her best friend is basically dying right now?" There was a silence from Tristan, "You have too good of a heart, Tristan. If you love her, what do you do? Especially when I'm around."

Tristan felt his heart dropped. He hid his expression from the emotion he was feeling, he looked away from Andrew before walking away pushing him back. He stormed back into the Castle as he heard a voice in his head, Zelda's voice, Hall of Portraits.

He ran faster up the stairs pushing through the chamber doors to see Zelda staring at him. "Is it true," he immediately asked.

Zelda nodded, "It's all true unfortunately."

"How long, Zelda," she looked away from him as he approached her. He touched her shoulder, "Let me see." For a moment, Zelda looked at the young man and she could see for the first time the most emotion she ever seen in his eyes. For the first time, she could see his emotions and it was the first time she could see that he's begging her.

Zelda waved one of the paintings suddenly the image changed to a small moving vision. Tristan approached the painting as he watched it zoom into Gabriella's home. In one of the bedrooms, there was Lucille laying in the bed, sweating harshly. She coughed a bit as Tristan listened to her shallow breathing. "Gabriella is the only one who can get her better," Zelda told him. He looked up at her seeing the pain and confusion in his eyes but he shook his head. "Tristan," Zelda said so gently, "it's what you think what's right."

Tristan nodded before he simply turned away, walking out of the room.

B&B

"Please tell me you are joking," Aaron asked Tristan.

Everyone all sat in the main hall, Abby and Aaron without Luka while Constant and General listened. Abby shook her head, "Tristan, what are you going to do?"

Tristan ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know, Abby," Tristan told her quietly. "I have to tell her."

"No you don't," General argued.

"I can't lie to her."

"Why? Tristan, think this out, if you let her go…"

"I know but, I can't," Tristan sighed.

Abby could see the utter pain in his eyes as she walked over and hugged him softly. She leaned in and whispered, "Follow your heart, my brother." He looked up at her as she ran her hand through his hair, "Mama would understand." All Tristan did was nod.

Gabriella hummed to herself as she sat in the art room. She was busy drawing when she heard the door open; she looked over her shoulder to see Tristan. "Excellent timing, Tris," she smiled, "you can help me with this drawing." She looked back at him seeing the seriousness on his face; she stopped smiling as she stood up, "What's wrong?"

"I need you to see something," he told her. Gabriella walked over to him, taking his hand immediately as he began to walk her to the Hall of Portraits.

She watched as Tristan placed her in front of a portrait, "Tristan…"

"Just watch," he ordered. Gabriella nodded as Tristan waved his hand slowly over the portrait. It moved and soon the image he once saw appeared in front of her. Tristan slowly watched as her expression became sadden and fill with pain. She placed her hand over her mouth as the image of Lucille appeared. She leaned back against Tristan as he whispered, "She's in your father's care but I don't know how long."

"I need to go but," she turned and looked at Tristan who was sad. "Tristan…"

"I will have Abby get your things ready. Take anything you want and in the next sunrise, you can leave for home," Tristan told her. She leaned to touch his cheek but he pulled away and walked out of the room.

As told by Tristan, Gabriella had packed her things but she felt her heart sinking harshly. Her heart was stuck in a hard spot between Lucille and Tristan. She stood up from her bed, walking over to Tristan's room; she knocked on the door softly. "Enter," she heard him say; her heart sunk further hearing the sadness in his voice. She opened the door to see Tristan sitting on the railing of the balcony, looking out at the sky. "Tristan…"

"Gabriella," he stopped, "please don't make this painful for me. You have to go back, whether I like it or not. It's about your friend's life."

Gabriella walked closer to him, feeling the tears building up in her eyes. He wanted to let her go for her, for Lucille. He was doing this selflessly and it hurt her so much to see such a beautiful soul so hurt because of her. He turned and looked at her, their eyes locking as he walked over to her.

"You have to go home," he whispered to her as he looked away.

Gabriella cupped his cheek, "Remember what I told you about what I wanted in a wish?" He nodded as she brought his eyes back to hers, "My wish was to find someone who was my home. Tristan, you are my home."

She leaned up and kissed his lips tentatively, Tristan wrapped his arms around her body holding her tightly as he kissed her back. The kiss ignited as they deepened it with Gabriella wrapping her arms around Tristan's neck. All the tension finally melted between them as Gabriella pulled back, her lips still inches from his.

Tristan looked down at her with the night taking over them. Gabriella gazed up at Tristan's bluish gray eyes seeing love and sadness mixed together. The night would become the safe haven for them for the world did not exist; slowly Gabriella began to back toward the bedroom pulling Tristan with her. Tristan felt his heart bound against his chest as he followed her, he held her hand tightly praying that this was not a dream. She could never want this with him and yet they were reaching that point.

"Are you sure," he whispered his fear to her.

Gabriella gently leaned up kissing him. "I'm sure," she assured him as they slowly fell back into the bed. Slowly the clothes began to melt away as barriers, touch was their sight and no words were exchange. Gabriella felt Tristan's hand glide up her body softly, delicately treating her as if she was so fragile. He leaned down and kissed her jaw line as he took her hand into his, linking them together. They looked at each other, their eyes locking and they smiled gently knowing that this night was theirs for the taking.

His hand traveled down her spine slowly, her beautiful skin under his touch. She nuzzled into his bare chest while her hand traced his scars in her sleep. He looked over to see Zelda standing at the doorway of the balcony. Tristan gently kissed her bare shoulder before he gently turned her over; he then stood up placing his pants on as he went on the balcony.

"This won't break the spell," Zelda told him.

Tristan nodded, "I know. The curse won't break without an 'I love you' I know that but I want a favor from you."

He looked down toward Gabriella, "She's needed somewhere else. I need you to take her home."

"Tristan," Zelda tried to argue but he raised his hand.

"You own me at least this."

Zelda sighed and handed him a small ring that had his crest on it. "This will bring her home, it's also a way to remember you but it will not bring her back to the Castle," she explained.

Tristan clutched the ring and slowly began to walk back but turned back at her. He bowed his head, "Thank you." This caught Zelda off guard before she gave a sad look as she disappeared. Tristan walked back in and slipped back into the bed, he gently kissed Gabriella's cheek then her jaw line; she turned her head sleepily looking up at him.

"Hi," she greeted.

He smiled back at her, "Hi." Gabriella leaned up and kissed his lips softly. He laid her back as he brought her hand into his, kissing the back of her hand. Tristan then slipped the ring on and Gabriella looked at her hand.

"What's this?"

"Just a way for you to know I'm always there." Gabriella smiled again before she kissed him again; he pulled back as she nuzzled against him again. I will be back home after I see Lucille, I can be back with you, Gabriella thought sleepily.

Tristan swallowed the lump in her throat. He wasn't going to forget this night, all nights he had with her he would never forget but this one was the one that clinched to him. Tristan sighed deeply as he let his hand run down her cheek one more time before whispering into her ear, "I love you."

Gabriella groggily awoke, expecting to feel Tristan's warmth from her body. She raised her head to realize that this wasn't Tristan's room. She sat up, holding the sheet against her, realizing that this was not even the Castle. This is my room, she looked down at the ring that sat on her finger. She quickly stood up, slipping on a nightgown before she noticed a small note on her nightstand with a small white rose. She noticed Tristan's neat handwriting immediately as she sat down.

Dear Gabriella,

What I write come from my heart. I have been working on this letter for so long but now I finally got the right words to say. I look at you now sleeping in my bed after our night together. My heart beats so much, so hard and I always wondered if it was ever possible for anyone to love this face. A face of a monster filled with scars and I thought I would never love but then I met you.

Gabriella, what I have done is because I need to. Your friend needs you and this is my way to setting you free. I want to protect you from Andrew who threatened to hurt you. He has so many times. I'm a monster, Gabby but you saw past through that. You see the beauty underneath and you can see this forgotten life…you made me believe in love again and I tell you now and forever my heart is yours. Please don't come back to the Castle…stay with Lucille.

I will love you forever,

Tristan

Gabriella clutched onto the letter in her hands placing it over her heart as she slowly sat on her bed and began to cry. Unknown to her, Tristan was in the Hall of Portraits as a wolf howling away his pain and sorrow for he would forever remain a beast.

Oh, you guys are going to hate me…yes this made me cry but you know I will bring us through this. The stories' title is base on a song called Beauty Underneath from the musical Love Never Dies. But anyways, I promise that I will bring you though but review, PM, etc. Love ya!