Chapter 5

Things went on this way for days, and then weeks. Spring time finally came and Adam healed. At first the thought of seeing all of those who were freed from the curse was too much for him to bear. Belle would join him every day in his new room, bringing him every meal and sleeping by his side. It brought him endless comfort and soon it was easy for Adam to control his urges. After the thoughts he'd had when he relieved himself to fantasies of her, he knew it was her very safety was at risk. This fear made it so much easier for him to hold back the feelings he had begun to develop for her. He could tell she was struggling too. Every time they became too aroused, he could smell that sweetness about her that had caused him so much discomfort the first time he'd sampled its scent, but not when she felt this way, he found it less difficult to suppress his reaction. This wasn't the only reason she was struggling though. Where Adam had spent mostly all of his life secluded to one room, Belle had never stayed put. She had always dreamed of adventure and freedom. Being in this one room was beginning to ware on her cheerful spirit, no matter how much she enjoyed being by his side.

Belle had woken up before him and ventured down to the library, happy to have some time adventuring in her mind before Adam woke and she would return upstairs to be by his side. She lay back on the plush green sofa, her little feet dangling over the edge, her shoes on the floor below, turned in different ways from where she'd kicked them off. She hummed to herself as she flipped through the pages, glancing over at the window intermittently to see if the weather had changed. She couldn't remember the last time she'd went outside. She hardly saw the servants anymore. Adam was too shy to talk to them, especially after his first outburst as Mrs. Potts. It had been such a long winter, and now it was beautiful outside. She knew he'd probably just stay in his room all day, as he had for almost a month now. It was worse than before the curse was broken, but she knew it was probably very difficult to adjust to such a thought. She would be depressed too, she thought, if she knew she'd never be human again.

"Belle?"

She jumped as the deep voice came from the doorway. She poked her head over the back of the sofa and smiled at him. It had seemed like forever since she saw him out of the room. He smiled softly back at her, standing there in a new set of clothes, his fur shiny and freshly washed and combed. He wore a very dark green pair of pants and a white linen shirt with a frilled collar. Around his neck was a black and green cloak with a golden broach in the shape of a lion's head. He stood there with his head hanging lower than normal, sheepishly watching her as he shifted his weight from paw to paw, unsure if he should say anything else.

"You look handsome," she mused, getting up and slipping her shoes onto her feet before depositing her book on the sofa and joining him by the door.

"I had a bath," he murmured, feeling silly once he said it.

"So does that mean you're talking to everyone again?" she asked, arching her brow in interest as she linked her hand over his forearm.

"I met with Lumiere and Mrs. Potts," he began, turning and walking down the hall with her, taking in the sight of her in a dress other than her nightgown. She wore a short pastel orange dress with opaque white stockings and shoes. The dress was simple but elegant, and he wondered if the seamstress, Colette, had made this for her, as his new cape and pants had been made for him. Now that everyone else was human again, things had been very different. Food was much more extravagant and there were always new clothes. Even though he hadn't seen any of them until today, it seemed they had not forgotten him or Belle. He did like the look of her, her hair pulled back as usual but this time with more hair cascading down and in curls. The skirt fluffed out on either side, accentuating her hips. The collar came down over her collar bones and stopped just at the peak of her shoulders. The sleeves were tight and stopped at the middle of her arms, the chest dipping down in the center and pinned with a little cluster of pearls. The stomach area was corseted with a creamy orange fabric covered in while lace. She looked radiantly beautiful. It was clear to him now that the Colette was no longer a sewing machine, she was enjoying her work once again.

"And what did they say?"

"I apologized," he said quietly, her eyes darting up to meet his but he stared at the ground as they walked.

She glanced forward again, nodding a little in happiness at the news then looked back up at him again. "I think that was a good thing to do," she said with a smile, pulling him to the window and leaning her head against it as she held a large paw in her hands. "Can't we go out today?" she said with a sweet grin, squeezing his paw between her delicate fingers.

He smiled a bit and glanced out at the beautiful gardens, sweet roses lining the avenues, leading to fountains and large hedges. It had been a while since he ventured out to see the scenery. He had become so resentful of the flowers. He looked up at the sky, biting his lip a little as she thought to himself. It had already been his idea to take her out, having spoken with Lumiere earlier about if they were in order for Belle. He made a bit of a show, as if the idea was a struggle for him to picture before turning to her and nodding.

"I think we should," he agreed, excitedly taking her hand and pulling her down the corridor and to the stairs. She yelped playfully as he ran down the hall, a happy giggle emitting her lips as they moved to the first floor and through the large dining hall at the rear of the main castle and then out to the large stone stairs leading down to the gardens. He slowed down as they reached the bottom, taking in the sight of the first large fountain, jets of water shooting up past statues or angels and cherubs embracing.

"Have you ever come here alone?" he asked, linking arms with her again as he glanced over the edge of the fountain and into the crystal clear water.

"No," she admitted, looking up at him, "It was a bit too cold by the time I came." She'd been there since autumn and none of the flowers had been in bloom. She'd never even ventured around the castle until winter, and it wasn't until she really explored that she discovered the garden covered in snow and ice.

"I suppose you're right," he said with a little frown lingering over his lips, and suddenly he glanced down at her again, "Are you hungry?" She laughed sweetly at his unexpected excitement. It was so unlike him to bounce from topic to topic, but then again, it was unlike him to talk much at all.

"Well I did each breakfast but I suppose if you're hungry we could go inside," she said, gently stroking the fur of his hand.

"Not inside," he mused, turning and taking her down and away from the castle. There was a long stretch of loose tan gravel, tall white rose bushes on either side, leading deeper into the gardens. He glanced up at the bright blue sky, then down at her again. She really did make him feel happy again. She'd shown him so many things since she'd come, he thought it would be only fitting if he'd show her something too.

Finally they came to a large set of concentric circles, the largest being hedges, then the gravel path, then a grassy one, and then at the very center, a set of four benches and another fountain. On this grassy circle were many trees, shading the middle and a sweet smell filled the air. Adam let go of her arm and walked to the trees, reaching up and plucking a large green fruit and tossing it to her. She quickly reacted and reached up, catching with both hands and glancing down at it. It was a perfect succulent pear, the skin bright green and flecked with brown. She smiled widely and brought it to her nose, inhaling the sweet aroma.

"It's beautiful," she purred as he joined her again. She cupped both hands around it, bringing it to her lips and taking a nice bite, the juices dribbling out and down her cheeks causing her to giggle. She glanced up at him and he chuckled too, taking it from her hands and having a bite himself before removing a handkerchief from his pocket and handing her the small swatch of fabric.

"Thank you," she cooed, still chewing and giggling at her mess. He took her by the arm and led her to the fountain. She placed the cloth down and dipped her hands into the water rubbing them together and over her lips. She wiped her face and hands and Adam then took the cloth back and placed the pear in it like a small napkin before handing it back to her.

"There," he said, taking her by the arm and leading her to the stone bench and the two of them sat beside each other. "If you like that," he said with a little grin, "We have apple trees and cherries too." She smiled brightly at the thought of sweet and sour fresh cherries on top of delicious deserts and in warm pies.

"Why didn't you ever tell me you had an orchard?" she asked, taking a bite and handing him the fruit again, the two of them taking turns until it was finished.

"To be honest, I haven't come here in years. It was my mother's project. She always spent so much time in the gardens. I had never put much thought into flowers," he said with a small shrug. He had always thought flowers were a waste until he'd spent so many years staring at one, keeping it safe and secure. Now when he looked at all these plants without such negative feelings, he couldn't help but appreciate the time it took to make them look so beautiful and how wonderful they really were. He glanced over at Belle, reaching out and pushing a small loose bit of hair from her eyes as she nibbled the last bit of the pear from the core. She glanced up at him with a soft loving smile, reaching up and touching his paw. "I never put much thought into anything."

"You're thoughtful," she said sweetly, placing the pear core behind her on the bench and turning to look into his eyes, "You remembered how much I loved to read." She remembered how amazed she was when he told her she could have the library. All those wonderful books ready to take her on magical journeys, but she had her own little mystery now. She supposed that was just as good as most of the books he'd given her.

"I try to be, because I want you to know I care," he said honestly.

"Did you plan on bringing me out today?" she asked playfully, reaching up and stroking the luscious pelt of her cheeks, the fur silky and smooth. He knit his face into an expression of confusion, wondering how it was that she'd figured that out.

"How did you know that?" he said with a little huff, the breath blowing her hair away from her face again.

"Because you're thoughtful. You must have known I wanted to," she said with a little smile, reaching back now and taking the core. She stood and walked back to the tree, placing the scrap at its roots so it might feed itself again. He glanced at her, tensing his jaw a little as he turned back to the fountain, his heart beat racing a little bit faster. He had planned on bringing her to the gardens. Lumiere had helped him formulate the plan. He had something in mind, something that had been weighing heavily on his heart for some time now, even before she came back and before she'd even said she loved him.

"Belle," he said softly, as she came back and sat down beside him once again.

"Yes?" she answered, reaching out and placing a hand on his paw as he gripped the edge of the bench.

"Can I ask you a question?" he said, his eyes lingering over the gravel pathway between them and the fountain, desperately attempting to find anything to look at but her. She stared at him for a moment, her brow furrowed for a moment before nodding.

"Of course. C-can you look at me?" she said delicately, moving over and sitting on his knee. She wrapped her one arm around his neck the other reaching out and stroking his cheek with the back of her hand. He closed his eyes gently and slipped and arm about her waist, looking down into her eyes. He took a deep breath, and then he spoke.

"What we've been doing…. Is this what you want? You've stayed here with me. Is that what you want? To stay here? To stay with me?" he asked carefully, lowering his eyes until the last word, waiting to see how she would react to his questions. She smiled instantly, her worry melting away as she reached out and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder.

"I do want to stay," she murmured softly, sitting up again to look into his eyes, "Why would you even ask after all this?" He frowned a bit, his other hand now placed on her lap, fingers arced around her thigh to keep her steady.

"Well, what we've been doing…We've been spending all of our time together, even the nights," he said, his voice getting quieter towards the end out of embarrassment. If blushing were possible he would have been and Belle even noticed she could feel his heart beat speedily thumping through his neck as her arm lingered around him.

"Does that upset you?" she asked, concern lacing her voice as she cupped his cheek in her hand, frowning softly.

"No," he said quickly, his voice still a smoky whisper.

"Then why are you so anxious," she whispered back, reaching up and placing a soft kiss on his cheek, tenderly smoothing his shoulder through his cape.

"Belle, we do as husband and wife do," he said suddenly, her hand stopping in its path. She stared up at him, her eyes a little bit wider than normal as she felt her heart all but stop. He glanced up at her, fearful of that response and the both of them sat there in silence for a few moments, eyes locked, both attempting to figure out what the other wanted and then finally.

"Is that what you want Belle because I can think of nothing else in the world that want so much. I want to keep you so desperately. When you left I thought I might die. I love you so much. I just don't know if I can go on this way, sleeping in your arms, knowing I have this wish. I could never ask you to stay if it's not what you wanted, but if you love me and you want to stay here with me, no matter what I am," he said softly, the large knot in his throat almost muting him in his profession, "Then I have to know if it's your wish too to be mine. Do you want to be my wife?"

She stared into his eyes, her own amber ones echoing his desperation as they filled his tears, threatening to cry. She was without expression. He winced gently, his nose wrinkling as stared back at her. He finally looked down, the feeling in his throat nearly consuming his words again.

"I-I understand if you can't. I know I'm-," he began but suddenly her body was crushed against his, her lips pressed against his, her hands clenched around fistfuls of the fabric of his cloak.

"Yes," she whispered, her lips barely leaving his before kissing him again, "Yes. Please."

He needed no further answer, and his lips captured hers, his arms coming to wrap around her, enveloping her in his warm embrace. It was hurried as if it had been a lifetime since their lips had met and passion poured between them as if their very souls were pressing up their throats and joining as one between their parted lips. He allowed her little tongue to linger into his mouth sweetly lapping at his, and his answered back the flat, dog-like edges tickling her and causing a giggle to escape. She pawed at his shoulders, finally slipping her hands back and into his fur at the base of his head, delighting in the sensation of the softness against the creases between her fingers. She did want to be his wife no matter what he was or whatever he would be. She loved him more than anything in the world. And he wanted her more desperately than he had ever wanted anything. She had broken some sort of spell that had been over his heart, helping him to become kind and caring. She had taught him to love and he could never imagine being without her again and now, it seemed, he wouldn't have to.

He finally released her, the both of them parting with eyes still shut tight. He rested his forehead against hers, happy in his ability to control himself. She opened her eyes gently and he did too and they stared for a moment.

He noticed little streaks going down her cheeks where tears had streamed down and he reached up, carefully drying her eyes.

"Don't cry," he whispered lovingly, pulling her close again and hugging her tightly.

"I'm too happy," she sobbed through a laugh.

"So would it be too much if I offered you jewelry?" he said in a playful tone, caressing the bottom of her chin as he lifted it to kiss her sweetly.

"What?" she asked in disbelief, continuing to chuckle as he scooped her up and placed her on the seat beside him, reaching into the pocket of his pants and dropping to a knee before her, his eyes now level with hers.

"Belle," he began, producing a small crystal box and opening it to reveal a beautiful silver filigree ring with a dazzling pearlescent opal snug between the rungs, "Please be my wife."

She all but leaped off the bench and into his arms, showing kisses all over his cheeks and lips, murmuring 'yes' over and over. He clutched her tightly before sitting her on his knee and helping to take the ring from the box and place it on her finger.

"I don't understand. How on earth did you get this?" she asked softly, the ring perfectly accenting her slender finger as she held her hand out to show him.

"It's a family heirloom. It was always meant to be just a token but I always thought it was too beautiful to be just thrown in a pile of riches. It was made for your hand," he mused, taking her little hand with one finger and bringing it to his lips, kissing it softly.

"I love you," she cooed, her bejeweled hand resting on his cheek as she kissed him again.

"And I love you," he said softly, "So what will it be? More gardening or shall we go back and show everyone?" He smiled and glanced into her eyes.

"Can't we just stay here for a while?" she asked sweetly, resting her head on his shoulder, and Adam cocked his head, his cheek atop her head, both of their eyes closed as they embraced.

"Anything you wish," he whispered.