Song for this chapter: Once Upon a December from the movie Anastasia. Please listen to it. I choose this song instead of the traditional Beauty and the Beast song. The song goes with the scene. I may re-add this chapter.

Bonnie POV:

Light humming sounds echoed against the walls of the spacious room, and I slowly lifted my heavy eyelids to see Mrs. Potts standing across from my bed sweeping the floor.

"Good morning dear and Merry Christmas," She stated seeming more lighthearted.

"Morning, and Merry Christmas to you as well. I do not want to sound rude, but what are you doing in my room?" I asked looking up at the grandfather clock that sat in the right hand corner of the room.

It was only seven o'clock in the morning.

"Why, it is Christmas morning and there is still so much to be done," Mrs. Potts exclaimed and I was worried Chip slipped too much sugar in her tea.

I sat up in the bed. "So much to be done for what? Is the Beast forcing you to clean my room?" I pestered knowing the Beast would probably force Mrs. Potts to clean my room on Christmas just to infuriate me.

"No dear. It is Christmas day, and we all want your first Christmas here to be special, so we have decided to decorate the castle just for you. Old Lumiere managed to convince the Beast to have a traditional Christmas because heavens knows we haven't celebrated Christmas since the Beast was about Chip's size," Mrs. Pott's explained.

"I don't want you to stress yourselves out, none of you have to celebrate Christmas for me." I reassured Mrs. Potts, and she smiled lightly.

"Nonsense we are celebrating Christmas because we want too. Why I even think Master misses celebrating Christmas. The joy the season brings, the aroma of the delicious food, the decorations, and most of all being around his loved ones."

The spark of light that glowed in Mrs. Potts eyes as she talked about Christmas soon dimmed when she mentioned the Beast loved ones. I was still slightly oblivious about the confrontation between the Beast and the rest of his coven, but based on the somber expression from Mrs. Potts I could sense the feud between the Beast and the Gemini Coven affected the entire castle.

"He is planning a special dinner for you, and he expects you to be prepared and ready by 8 o'clock tonight," Mrs. Potts informed me.

"I am not going to have dinner with the Beast, I don't answer to Beast or anyone else anymore. He will just have to eat dinner alone tonight. Honestly, I would rather just stay in my room all day," I replied and Mrs. Potts seemed bewildered. I knew that my refusal to have dinner with the Beast was selfish, but it was only fair considering the Beast imprisoned my father, threatened to kill him, then he freed my father and took me as his slave.

The Beast's actions could not be easily forgiven especially not on a holiday that I normally celebrated with my father and the Gilbert's.

I got out of bed and walked towards the window to see the morning sun peaking from behind the gray skies.

"But the Beast has a beautiful gown and jewelry for you. You could at least join him for dinner on Christmas night. He barely has even good memories of Christmas thanks to his rotten father. I thought you two were on better terms," Mrs. Potts replied and laughed lightly.

"I am not sure what you mean by better terms. All I know is I do not understand the Beast or his intentions. One minute he is a hostile, belligerent, and a controlling monster, and the next minute he is trying to gain my trust and ask for my forgiveness. It doesn't make any sense."

"Well dear, maybe you should try to get to know one another better. If Malachai hears more about your life then he will be more willing to open up about his. I can tell you from personal experience that the boy loves a good chat. If you two really sit down a discuss things like two civilized humans beings I believe the both of you will be surprised to find out you have more in common than you thought," Mrs. Potts tried to reason.

"I doubt it," I answered.

"Please go to the dinner Bonnie, you have really brought some life into the castle again. I would hate to see of all it end because of one silly mistake."

I sighed from distress. "Fine. I will have dinner with the Beast if it will make everyone else happy," I settled feeling like I was left with no other options.

"Good. I bring your breakfast up to you, and then we'll have to start getting you dressed and ready for the Beast," Mrs. Potts stated merrily.

"I cannot wait," I spoke through my irritation, and Mrs. Potts momentarily exited the room.

After I ate a bowl of porridge for breakfast the hours seemed to pass by like seconds. I decided to bathe and dress in my undergarments before Mrs. Potts and Madame Armoire burst into my room with the shoes, the dress, the perfume, and the jewelry.

Several minutes after I was done placing on my black stockings and my suffocating, tight corset there was two knocks against my bedroom door.

I opened the door and Mrs. Potts and Madame Armoire scurried into the room. Mrs. Potts was held the dress that was hidden behind a white sheet while Madame Armoire held a chest in her right hand and a pair of dark red shoes in the other.

"Oh dear, you have started without us," Mrs. Potts observed gazing at my attire.

"Yes, I am perfectly capable of dressing myself," I reminded them both, but Mrs. Potts and Madame Armoire did not seem to be listening.

"Oh my, you corset is tied all wrong," Madame Armoire pointed out.

"Turn around, and Madame Armoire grab the comb and brush. We are going to make you look like a princess," Mrs. Potts voiced.

"A what?" I questioned.

"Well, not a princess, but a proper young lady dear. You have been in these rags for far too long, and it is time for the Beast to see how remarkable you truly are."

"I don't think the Beast is capable of seeing anything past his distorted reflection."

"And I think it is time for you both to change that," Mrs. Potts said fixing my corset.

I could not find the right words to say to prevent from upsetting Mrs. Potts, so I decided to remain quiet. It was clear that the Beast servants did not realize there was no hope for him. For several brief moments I thought there might be a sliver of good in the Beast, but then my mind diverted back to how I was his prisoner, a replacement for my ill father. Anyone who could imprison a dying man was irredeemable in my eyes.

"Sit right here," Madame Armoire instructed. I sat down in the white painted wooden chair at the makeup vanity desk that sat near door.

I wanted to run out of the door and away from the house, but instead I just sat there and endured the mental agony.

Madame Armoire removed the rag from my head and combed through my tangled hair. I usually just washed my hair with water from the well outside my old home, then once my hair was dry I put the rag back on.

The hours it took for me to prepare for the dinner felt torturous. Madame Armoire styled my hair in a marcel wave which added volume to my hair, but also made it appear sophisticated.

Once she was done with my hair, she applied some red greasepaint onto my lips, and then it was time to put on the dress.

Mrs. Potts uncovered the dress revealed something I would have never visualized.

Malachai POV:

My fingers tapped against the piano on the far right of the ballroom as I stalked the doors of the ballroom waiting for the girl's arrival.

Lumiere told me to practice patience while all I could think about doing was bursting into Bonnie's room and dragging her into the ballroom whether she was fully clothed or not.

My eyes switched to Cogsworth's abnormally small feet as he paced back and forth in the center of the ballroom only causing me to be more unhinged.

"Maybe I she go check on her," I suggested.

"Not so fast Monsieur. You must have patience, I checked on them ten minutes ago, and Mrs. Potts said they will be here in five minutes," Lumiere reminded me.

"Did you just say you checked on them ten minutes ago, and that they would be down in five minutes?" I questioned Lumiere.

Cogsworth stopped pacing like he was bombarded with an epiphany.

"Master, I have calculated the time from earlier today when Bonnie first arose from her bed, and I have made an estimation of when she will be down. Based on my estimation she will be here any minute now," Cogsworth rambled, I did my best to ignore his unnecessary presence.

"Well, if Lumiere checked on them ten minutes ago, and she said she will be here in five minutes then what does that mean?"

"She will arrive soon," Lumiere answered nervously.

I sneered while walking towards Lumiere. "It means she is five minutes late!"

"I want you to go upstairs and retrieve her or tell Bonnie she'll be attending her father's funeral instead!" I demanded leaving Cogsworth and Lumiere scrambling towards the door.

"On it your majesty!" Cogsworth yelled while quarreling with Lumiere to get to the double doors. Cogsworth opened the right ballroom door while Lumiere opened the left, and they both revealed something that I could have never foreseen.

Bonnie POV:

I stood there in the ballroom doorway unsure of how to feel.

I was dressed in a gothic Victorian styled ball gown with a black lace hanging at the ends of my quarter length carmine red sleeves. The color of the dress was carmine red, with a black lace center, and a pattern of black vines throughout the entire dress. My shoes were carmine heels with a black buckle. The shoes were just as uncomfortable and the rib shattering corset. I tried to convince myself that the shoes and the corset did not cause me an indescribable amount of pain, but there was no denying it. It felt like a large stone was sitting my chest and cutting off my airways, yet I still tried to remain poised.

To finish the outfit, I wore a Victorian styled black laced choker.

I caught the Beast staring at me with a look of astonishment, and another look I could not quite place.

Lumiere and Cogsworth both had bright and honest smiles on their faces as they held the door open for me to walk through.

"Right this way ma belle," Lumiere said, and I nodded.

"Thank you Lumiere and Cogsworth," I replied feeling slightly lightheaded.

"It is our pleasure mademoiselle," Cogsworth stated with bow.

My eyes were suddenly locked with the Beast as while I tried to step down the several golden stairs. I held onto the rail, and I placed one foot in front of the other as I moved down the stairs. The Beast still seemed shocked by my appearance, and I wondered would has eyes permanently become like glass not moving by shining brightly.

As I moved closer to the Beast I noticed that he wore a Victorian styled outfit as well with a pair of black trousers, black boots, a long black coat, and a carmine colored vest with black vines that matched the pattern on my dress. We were matching, and I knew it must have been the other servant's idea for us to wear the outfits.

The Beast stood at the end of the golden stairs, and my eyes never left his. He held out his hand for me to hold onto, and I took it hesitantly afraid to accept his gesture.

"Are we going to stay in here before we have dinner?" I spoke first.

"No, I thought you might want to see all the hard work the servants did to make this night special for you."

My eyes scanned the golden, sphere shaped ballroom and I saw in the very back of the ballroom was a Christmas tree, so large it reached towards the ceiling. The smell of fresh pine suddenly hit me, and I saw gifts all around the tree. The gifts were beautifully wrapped in all sorts of ribbons, and the walls of the ballroom were decorated with snow dusted Christmas reefs.

The trees was decorated in sliver and blue ornaments, and for the first time throughout the whole day it felt like Christmas. I stared at the décor in awe.

"You don't like the decorations?" The Beast wondered, he seemed anxious.

"No. I love the decorations, it's simple but beautiful," was all I could say.

"Good. I worked up an appetite just looking at you, so let's go have dinner. While we are gone I'll have Cogsworth and the rest to turn on the tree's light and blow out the chandelier's candles, that way you can see the Christmas lights," the Beast stated.

"Alright, but what do you mean you worked up an appetite by seeing me?" I queried.

"Do you really want to hear the details?"

"Yes."

The Beast eyes narrowed. "I will tell you later," he settled.

We glided out of the ballroom arm and arm until we entered the dining room. The table was decorated with a line of candles, a bouquet of red roses in the center, and pine cones in front of each seat. The small candles sat in the center of the table on both sides of the bouquet.

The table's decorations did not scream Christmas, but they were slightly romantic.

"The table's decorations are very warm," I addressed, and the Beast pulled my chair out for me.

"Just like my soul," the Beast bantered, and I could not help but chuckle.

"You have to have a soul in order for it to be warm."

"Ouch, and here I thought we were trying to get along."

"You set yourself up for it."

"I guess I just have to watch what I say from now on," The Beast remarked, and after he got settled in his seat the smell of fresh hot sweet potatoes filled my nostrils.

Lumiere suddenly entered the dining room with around five of the kitchen's cooks. The cooks carried multiple sterling silver trays with food that dispersed hot steam.

The cook's uncovered each dish one by one revealing dishes like beef stew, sweetened sweet potatoes, seasoned white potatoes, honey glazed ham, cheese and crackers, dried fruits, buttered carrots, and a double chocolate cake with six layers of chocolate cream.

Everything looked delicious and the Beast grabbed his food greedily, tearing into it. I did not even have the opportunity to mention saying grace.

I grabbed onto the white and sweet potatoes, carrots, fruits, cheese, and several slices of ham. After we finished our food, the Beast offered to cut the cake. I nodded for him to go ahead, and he cut himself five slices of the six layer cake.

We both dined on the cake with a glass of chocolate milk to wash it all down. The food was rich and filling, but it didn't give us much time to talk.

"What was the point of all of this?"

"The dinner?"

"This whole Christmas night. I'm sure you don't celebrate Christmas annually, so why celebrate Christmas for me."

"I guess because I never really had a real Christmas dinner. My mom would let me help her and the cooks in the kitchen just to send me up to my room when it was time to eat dinner. I was treated like an animal by my family all because I'm different. My father made me eat dinner after everyone was done, and there was nothing but straps fit for a dog left by then."

"And you still miss your family?" I questioned remembering what Mrs. Potts said earlier about him spending Christmas with his loved ones.

"Hell no. Who told you that?"

"Mrs. Potts mentioned something about you missing your loved ones."

"Oh, no Mrs. Potts just misses the way things you to be before my father cursed the castle. She misses when I was Adonis, and none of the servants were mentally ill."

"I see. Well, I never really had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas either. I do not call catering to Eleanor's every whim and running away from Jerimiah as an ideal way to spend Christmas," I replied bluntly.

"Is Eleanor your previous owner?"

"No. Well, I guess you could say that, it's complicated. My father and I are more like the Gilberts servants than their slaves. The Gilbert family used to be a wealthy and well respected family even though most of them are all died now. The only members left are Jeremiah and Eleanor. Despite our differences Eleanor and I are good friends while her younger brother Jeremiah is in love with me,"

"And do you love him?"

"That is also complicated. I love Jeremiah like he is my little brother as well. I have known him for most of my life, but there is no connection between us. Besides Jeremiah not only has affection for me, but there are a number of girls in the village who seem to catch his eye."

"Then he isn't worth your time."

"Oh, and you are?"

"Hey, when did this become about me?" The Beast twisted lips seemed to curl.

I just gaped at him. "But if you want my personal opinion I think both of your so called friends sound like gadflies. You deserve better Bonnie."

"I am not sure what gadflies are, but yes even I can admit that they are not perfect."

"How about we utilize this depressing moment by dancing," the Beast suggested, and for once I did not argue.

"Sure," I answered taking his hand as he led the way to the ballroom.

When we arrived in the ballroom, I saw that the chandelier's lights were out, and the room was completely dark aside from the trees lights.

There was also a small circle of candles around the tree, and I assumed they were used to highlight the room a little more.

The bright, luminous lights from the tree were breathtaking.

"It's beautiful," I told the Beast.

"May I have this dance?" He asked.

"Of course," I replied back surprising myself with the sudden eagerness.
"But how are we going to dance when it is so dark?" I questioned barely able to see the Beast with the candle light sitting so far away.

"I got it covered. Do you mind?" He asked grasping onto my wrist.

"Go ahead, you were going to take some of my magic whether I say yes or no."

"Well at least you were prepared for it," the Beast stated siphoning some of my magic in the process.

After several seconds of sucking the life out of me, the Beast let go of my wrist and held his hand towards the presents surrounding the tree. About a minute later, the candles started flying through the air and surrounding the Beast and I.

"You made the candles float around us." I gasped in amazement.

"That way you can't complain about not being able to see in the dark."

"Why didn't I think of that?"

"Because you only use your magic to benefit others, it's time to start looking out for yourself Bennett."

"So I can become like you? I don't think so, besides I do not mind helping out my friends or my father."

"For now… Enough about them can we end this night with a dance?"

"I guess so," I replied taking his hand.

Madame Armoire entered the ballroom suddenly, and the Beast placed one hand around my waist pulling me closer.

We held onto each other properly, and the Beast turned his head and gave Madame Armoire a light nod.

She began to sing.

The Beast and I began waltzing around the waxed ballroom floor with the candles floating above us. It felt like I was suddenly gliding or walking on air, the feeling was indescribable. Eventually I retained the lines of the song, and I noted that it was called Once Upon a December.

I had never heard anyone sing like Madame Armoire. I was used to hearing music from a violin or piano never someone actually singing a song. The melody of the song lingered in my ears while Armoire's voice echoed throughout the ballroom.

I watched the Beast and he gazed into my eyes, and for the first time in several days I saw that Beast as more than just a monster. The image of his burned skin, gray eye, and one missing patch of hair on the right side of his head no longer fazed me.

I didn't know whether or not it was the darkness of the room or the light illuminating off of the candles that made my vision blur. Then I discovered something that I would have never imagined. The Beast soft yet serious, calculated expression made me realize that deep down there may have been some good left in the Beast. Maybe he had a heart that functioned. He may have possibly been capable of carrying about someone aside from himself.

When the song ended, the Beast bowed and kissed my hand tenderly. Some foreign part of me wanted to slap him for his abrupt gesture, but I tried to resist not wanting to start an unnecessary quarrel.

The candles were moved back to their rightful place, and Armoire left the room.

"I have a surprise for you," the Beast stated.

"What now?"

The Beast moved toward the Christmas tree, and he grabbed a gift wrapped in blood red paper with a crimson and sliver bow around it. Then he touched my right hand, and we appeared on the balcony outside his bedroom in the west wing.

"Sit," the Beast instructed.

I sat down hesitantly on the narrow piece of stone underneath the balcony's rails.

"Merry Christmas Bon," he voiced gingerly sitting down beside me. He handed me the crimson wrapped gift.

"Here open it."

"You bought me a gift?"

"Yeah, and there's more where that came from. I just wanted you to open this gift first."

I gazed from the Beast to the gift, and I almost felt afraid to open it. There was a look of anticipation in the Beast eyes, and I gave in to temptation.

I tore the red paper to pieces, and then my eyes burned from the gift in my hands.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"Depends on what you believe it is."

"This is my grandmother's Grigmore," I replied in amazement.

"It was stolen from her before I was born, so she was only able to teach me spells based on torn out pages or her memory. You've had this the whole time."

Anger began to rise inside of me. "Yes, my father is the one who stole Sheila's Grigmore after she agreed to help him trap me here in the castle and curse me. Your grandmother was my father's slave, and he betrayed her. I could have given you the book when you first arrived, but I needed to gain your trust first."

"So if disobeyed you, you would have kept my family's spell book from me," I gathered.

"Yes, but only because you could use your magic against me. Whether you know it or not you are a powerful witch Bonnie. That's why I'm giving you your book back, so maybe you can finally use your powers right instead of letting people like Eleanor control you."

"I use my magic only when it's necessary. But since we are on the topic of using magic, do know you if there is a spell inside the book to release the curse?"

"Yeah there is a spell to release the curse, but it is pointless to even look it up. Not all the magic in the world can release the curse on the castle or me. None of us can be cured with magic."

"Then what can you possibly be cured with?"

"Come on Bonnie, you are smarter than this, but if you really must know look it up."

"I will. I want to believe that you can be saved. That everyone in the castle can be saved," I admitted.

The Beast chortled. There was a pained expression in his eyes that showed he was hurting.

When his laughter finally ceased he looked over at me seriously. "If I was cured from my mental aliment, and things returned to normal around the castle, do you think you would began to like living here?"

"I don't know. I don't know how I feel about anything anymore."

The Beast looked away from me like he was thinking about something.

He sighed heavily. "Then you are free to go," he muttered.

I sat their speechless at the Beast's remark.

"What?"
"I know you miss your father, so you are free. You are no longer my prisoner, and your father's life is no longer in danger," the Beast settled.

I twitched unconsciously as my hands that gripped the spell book trembled.

"I'm free," I contemplated.

"Just go before I change my mind," the Beast ordered, and then he disappeared.

I was left feeling confused and conflicted. I decided to return to my room and change into my old servant attire. Once I was done changing I placed my black cloak on, and I made my way to the castle's front corridor with the Grimore in hand.

I stepped outside of the door of the castle and inhaled the fresh cool winter air. The fresh air, and the thought of my freedom was liberating. Part of me felt guilty for abandoning everyone while another side of me knew where my true home was.

I could not abandon my father and family was my first priority. The Beast's words about there being no magical cure to the curse sparked my curiosity, but I dismissed my thoughts about the Beast, and exited the castles territory. Despite the Beast's consideration, he was still a monster. I constantly reminded myself of that. I refused to be swayed by simple gestures or acts of kindness.

The Beast was a monster and my father needed me, and nothing could take me away from the people I loved.

Author's Note: I'm speechless. It has been a long spring semester for me. I had eight classes in all this semester, and my teachers are trying to kill me. I am trying to graduate this semester and move on to a four year college. (So yeah.)

Anyway I have missed everything Bonnie and Kai related. I will never just abandon this ship, and just a fair warning there is only two or three more chapters left.

Thank you for the kind reviews, favs, or follows. You are all awesome!

(Unimportant information) But guys that are supposedly attractive and bad in real life suck….

The top of this dress could be the back view of Bonnie's dress. I really like the sleeves on this dress because it is lace. So just image the dress sleeves looking like that.

listing/237630992/victorian-steampunk-gothic-bustle-dress?ref=related-2

Here is Kai's vest.

itm/SHRINE-GOTHIC-VAMPIRE-CAVALIER-VEST-JACKET-VICTORIAN-TAPESTRY-GOTH-STEAMPUNK-/381053699260

A model of Bonnie's dress. Her dress doesn't have white lace or the sleeves. The dress is red and black.

.

Here is a link about 18th century dresses.

toah/hd/eudr/hd_

Bonnie's choker is under the Victoriana (the black one) Her choker is similar, but doesn't have to be the same.

sections/shopping-around/first-look-chokers