Hey guys, thank you so much for reviewing! It's nice to know people actually read this.

Along with that I'd to post an apology. My computer crashed so I've been "stranded" for months. But I got a replacement so now I'm back! Yupee! And I brought chapter 6 with me. Enjoy :)

Where do we Stand?

Belle's POV

When I opened my eyes I was alone in my bed. I turned onto my back and yawned while I stretched. The yearning I felt to cuddle with a gigantic teddy bear brought back memories of the previous night and I giggled into my pillow. It had been really strange and a tad bit frightening but not for the normal reasons.

His body didn't cause any ill feelings for me, in fact I hardly noticed, except for that frikin glorious purr. God, it was instantly arousing. Not that I would admit that to anyone.

What really scared me was the future. Normal friends didn't cuddle in front of a fire like that. What did that make us? Where did we stand? I'm so new to this and the fact that I'm interacting with a beast makes it a little harder to read emotions. Sometimes I feel like even he doesn't know how he feels.

Rousing myself from the bed I let my legs drape over the edge while I rubbed my eyes.

"Morning dearie!" Said the chipper armoire. I groaned and snuck a peak at her. How could anyone be so happy so early in the morning?

"Morning" I replied sleepily. I got up and ran a brush through my hair and put on a new dress. The whole time I got ready my wooden friend kept staring at me. Finally, I sighed and whirled to face her. "Alright what is it? What do you want to ask?"

She didn't even skip a beat. "What were you doing with the master last night? You came back oftly late last night and then it was the master who carried you in… he seemed quite reluctant to leave you." She stated and I turned back to what I had been doing so that she wouldn't see my pleasantly surprised expression.

"We were reading in the library and I guess I fell asleep." There a sudden huff as she leaned upon the bed, as if she had once again forgotten she wasn't human.

"Dearie do you know how long I have waited for a good piece of gossip around here? All there is to talk about around here is Lumiere and that feather duster of his Babette. And do you know how long they've been going at it? Hardly anything to say anymore." I didn't really want to think about what Lumiere would be doing with Babette, it was very awkward but it did make me wonder. These enchanted people or objects acted so very human and seemed to attempt to live normal-ish lives as best they could.

"And what of Cogsworth?" I asked out of curiosity. She burst out laughing.

"As if! No dearie he does not have a pretty doll hanging off his arm. That man is… I don't even know how to describe him but he is much too something." Now I laughed and rolled my eyes. I headed for the door to go get some breakfast; hoping that I had distracted her. "Woah, hey you did not answer my question. I know you two did more than just read. So tell me." She demanded.

I hesitated and then sighed. "Alright fine, we cuddled okay? I have no idea what I was thinking and I have no idea how he feels about it but in the moment that's what we did so…" I trailed off.

My friend squealed. "Yay! Oh it won't be long now!"

"What? What do you mean?" I asked even more confused now, but she simply shook her head.

"Oh nothing dearie. Go on now, get something to eat." She shooed me out of my own room.

Not wanting to be caught in other gossip session I did as she asked and left but she had done nothing to clear my head. I shook it to try and gain some clarity but it didn't help. I was so preoccupied with me thoughts that I didn't even notice that I walked right past the beast.

"Belle?" His deep voice shook me from the haze and my head moved sharply to focus on him.

"Beast! Oh I'm sorry, my mind was elsewhere." I said now looking down sheepishly. However, contrary to my belief, he laughed.

"I can only imagine how distracting your thoughts must be. Since meeting you my own have become much more complex." He stated and my eyes met his. Was he trying to compliment me? I smiled.

"A hazard of my company." I said and received another laugh from him.

"A risk I am pleased to take" As he said this he extended his arm. "Would you care to join me for breakfast?" He asked. I stepped forward and took his broad arm.

"Thank you, that sounds wonderful." We entered the dining room and Mrs. Potts was already there on top of the table waiting. The beast let his arm drop and moved to his side of the table. I stood there for an extra minute simply watching him just walk away. I think I was fooling myself and I had to keep reminding myself that he was no prince charming. His lackadaisical manners were another reminder. I pulled out my chair and sat down, my thoughts once more consumed by questions and uncertainties.

Beast's POV

I noticed that Belle was easily distracted this morning and I wish that I could somehow get a glimpse at those thoughts. Was she thinking about last night? I f so were they good or bad thoughts?

Mrs. Potts was scowling in my direction and I gave her a puzzled look. What had I done this time? She would drill me on it later. Right now my attention was focused on Belle and at least trying to decipher her body movements.

Maybe in order to discover her lingering opinion on last night I should try a little experiment.

Breakfast went by smoothly and then Belle rose to leave, to go do… whatever she had to do. I rose as well and followed her out and then we parted ways. I let her go so I could think about my little experiment. I thought back to how much she liked my purring. Even the thought made me smile.

Now that she had had time to think about it all, would she still react the same way?

As I was walking and thinking about how to test this, I was suddenly stopped short by Mrs. Potts.

"Mrs. Potts, do you need something?" I asked a bit roughly. She was giving me one of her disapproving looks. I was in trouble now.

"Master, do you like this girl?" She asked straight out and it caught me by surprise.

"Yes I do" I replied.

"Then you need to become a man you deserves her." She said. I growled a bit. My response was coarse.

"I don't know if you've noticed by that's a little hard when you have a pelt and fangs!" Didn't she realize how hard this was? How precarious each situation was?

"Agreed master, which is why you must help her to see past all that." She made it sound so simple!

"I don't know how!" I said frustrated.

"Well manners for one. I mean honestly you didn't even pull back her chair at breakfast." She said condescendingly.

"Pull out her chair? What would I do that for?" Mrs. Potts only sighed.

"Master, may I speak plainly?"

"Yes"

"Perhaps it's time we resumed your princely lessons."

The idea of more lessons didn't thrill me, but I wanted to change for Belle. I wanted to be a gentleman she would be proud to have by her side. I sighed heavily but nodded.

"Alright, I'll do it." I grumbled.

"Fantastic! I'll alert your tutor." Mrs. Potts said happily and then hopped away with a smile. I sighed again.

"Now, to find Belle" I set off on my mission.

Belle's POV

I was in the library again, no surprise there. But this time I was doing research. I was trying to figure out how the occupants of this castle could have been cursed or transformed or I don't even know what. And I was hoping, though it was a doubtful concept, that I could somehow find a cure or solution. So far I had been through dozens of books and had no more answers than when I first walked in.

I sat back in my chair and closed my eyes for a minute. And then, in the silence there came a sound. My eyes opened and I stood trying to find where it was coming from. I went over to the door and looked into the hallway. It was louder over hear but I couldn't see anything or anyone.

So I walked into the hallway and continued to follow that beautiful sound. It was like a compulsion. I couldn't resist it quite frankly because I didn't want to resist it. I followed the sound into a room and there, writing out some order or something, was the beast. He sat at a desk facing away from me.

I stepped inside silently. I probably wasn't supposed to be here for one reason or another, but I continued on anyway, following the sound of that beautiful call.

He was purring. Deeply so it seemed to echo of the walls and yet it was so gentle and so sincere. I sat down in a chair behind him and intended simply to listen. I can't explain the effects such a sound had on me. It was so calming and soothing. I pulled my knees up against my chest and rested my chin on my knees.

And then suddenly, without warning or any sign that he realized I was here and without turning around or looking back he spoke.

"You came."

*Thank you for reading and please remember to review, especially if you want me to update soon *