Thanks to my four reviewers, curryboh, lavadiamond10, XXPay4XtraShippingsXX and xxxMadameMysteryxxx. Thank you so much guys!

Chapter 13: Belle's Home Again

Belle hadn't heard Gabriel's incident in his room, but quickly filled those trunks for her family with things she was sure they would enjoy, from dresses to jewels to any other assorted items she thought her family might enjoy.

Once the trunks were full, Belle picked up the ring she left on the nightstand and thought of Gabriel. She felt bad for him, to leave him all alone, even if it was just for a week. One could never be used to loneliness again once they know how wonderful company is. She took a deep breath and placed the ring on her right ring finger. She didn't even feel herself being transported from one place to another, but almost as quick as a blink, she was home.

She assumed that she was home, for the room she was in was richly furnished and bigger. The bed was big with fine sheets, but the man lying in bed looked anything but well. It was her father. Belle rushed over to him, feeling his pulse, and found him still alive.

He stirred in his sleep and when he opened his eyes, he cried out in shock, "Oh Lord! I must be in heaven!"

Belle chuckled and said, "No Father, it is me, I am really here."

He sat up and took his child into his arms crying, "My dearest! I thought you were dead!"

Belle held her father and cried tears of joy for being back home. The door opened and Jean entered with a tray of food. He saw his sister and not caring about the tray; he let it fall to the ground and ran to his sister.

The happy trio hugged and shed happy tears for being reunited together again.

"Oh Belle! I have missed you! I would have come for you, truly I meant to, but Father had fallen ill and no one else would take care of him. Did I do good?"

Belle smiled and kissed his head. "You did very well, for father needed your help more than I did."

"Tell us daughter, how did you escape?"

"Yes, did you tie a sheet and climbed out your window, or were you a regular David and slingshot a rock into that ugly Goliath?"

Belle chuckled at these suggestions. "No my silly Jean, I didn't escape, he let me go."

Jean and Maurice were amazed. "He let you go? I thought he was a horrible beast."

"On the outside, but trust me Jean, he is truly a kind and gentle soul."

"He wasn't so gentle when I was there." Maurice muttered.

"Loneliness will get the better of all of us. Gabriel has never been cruel to me because I gave him my companionship."

"Who is Gabriel?" asked Maurice.

"That is his name, I gave it to him and it certainly suits him. I promise you, he is very kind."

Maurice would have argued with his daughter, but knowing his daughter to not be a liar, he believed that her good spirits have helped him to be a gentler spirit.

"Bless your heart my dear Belle, I sometimes wonder if perhaps you may be too kind."

Belle grimaced as she thought of Gaston. "Only to those who deserve it."

Jean seemed to have read her mind and said, "He hasn't been here in two months, and good riddance I say!"

"Belle, that reminds me, if he should ask, or anyone else for that matter, tell them you have been with an ailing aunt. I couldn't tell him of the be-I mean Gabriel."

Belle smiled when her father used his name, it felt as if he was truly human.

"I am glad you did, I wouldn't want anyone else to know about him, or else they would try to harm him. Thank you Father."

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Adélaïde and Félicie were returning home feeling rather high and mighty of themselves.

"Did you see he looked at me? He couldn't believe his eyes!" Adélaïde gloated.

"I am sure there will be a proposal by the end of the week." Félicie predicted.

Ludovic tried to sneak into the house but was caught by her smug sisters.

"Well, well, well. Back so soon?" They giggled.

"Don't act as if you aren't as guilty as me." He said as he brushed passed them.

Greatly offended, they chased after him yelling at him and yelling for their father, and once they opened the door they all hushed. They were so shocked by the sight; Adélaïde fell back into her sister's arms.

They thought it was a princess with their father, but it was only Belle, looking more beautiful than she had ever looked. Ludovic found himself a chair as his sisters surrounded Belle, 'oohing' and 'ahhing' over her dress.

"Oh my goodness! The color and the fit!"

"These jewels, how expensive they must have been!"

Belle remembered her trunks and showed Adélaïde, Félicie and Ludovic their trunks, to which they jumped on them like lions in a den. When Belle showed Jean his trunk, he refused.

"Belle, I don't want any of those gifts. You are back, that is enough to make me happy for a lifetime."

Jean hugged his sister with all his might, prompting Maurice to stand with shaky legs and hold tight to them both. "As am I."

Belle hadn't recalled when she had been happier than this moment.

Félicie noticed the ring on her finger and cried out, "Oh that is gorgeous! May I try it on?"

Belle took her hand back and seemed to try to hide it from her saying, "I cannot. He gave me this ring. And he meant it for only me." He hadn't told her so, but she didn't want to share this, the one thing he gave to her by his own hand, it was a precious to her as if it was her life.

Félicie turned up her nose and said, "Very well, keep your ring. I certainly wouldn't want a gift from such a beast. It probably isn't real." She then turned back to her trunk, ignoring Belle, but couldn't get that ring out of her head, and often her eyes shifted to her hand.

After Belle had gotten something for her father to eat, and finding his pulse and color seemed to return to their original state, Belle prepared for a fishing trip with Jean, since he was so excited to show her how much he had improved.

Gaston burst through the house, demanding from the maid to know where Belle was. But before she could even tell him that she didn't even know who Belle was, she appeared at the top of the stairs with Jean.

If it was not possible for Belle to become more beautiful, more desirable than she was before, it was so here. He just stared at her, with mouth agape and eyes wide. "Belle, Belle."

"Yes that is her name, what do you want?" Jean asked, not happy to see him again.

"Hello Gaston." She replied politely.

"You're alive. I was told-"

"Well you were wrong, monsieur. Now, if you will excuse me, I promised my brother a fishing trip."

She tried to get passed him but he grabbed her arm tightly and whispered, "You think you can protect it? It will not be long until I revel to everyone else what it is and what it did. Be sure to take great care Belle, I'll let you go this once, but I will seek you out again."

Belle pulled her arm away, and turned back down, with a hand on Jean's shoulder, who stuck his tongue out at him. Belle was just glad that he had not seen the ring, but she knew that Gaston would keep his word and if she wanted to protect her dearest Gabriel, she would have to hide her ring, not just from him, but from everyone else.

Gaston stood alone on the stairs, but then was greeted by Maurice, who decided to leave his room, to avoid the screeches and screaming of his other children. Wearing a fine robe, Maurice felt no shame in greeting Gaston, but would have rather he didn't.

Gaston grimaced as he saw a healthy Maurice, wishing to have some leverage against Belle. "Hello, monsieur."

"And you. What may I do for you?"

"I saw Belle, when did she come home?"

"Just this morning, it was a pleasant surprise for us all."

"Indeed." Then turning smug, he asked, "Did she enjoy her time with her 'aunt'?"

Maurice wrung his hands but said calmly, "Oh yes, in fact the aunt is feeling better, but she does require Belle to return back after a week."

Gaston was not expecting that. "How odd. Tell me; was there anything…curious in your daughter's behavior?"

"Sir, I may be wrong in what you may suggest, but I shall not stand here and take this, not even from you!" Maurice marched off into his study and slammed the door. Gaston knew that something was going on, and if neither the brother, father or beauty will admit to what is going on, then he will have to try the greedy, selfish and crud.

When he entered the room, he found the brother enjoying his money, while the sisters fought on the floor trying to steal from the other a scarf. They hadn't noticed Gaston until he banged his cane on the floor and all turned heads to him. They all stood and curtsied to him.

"Well, it seems that you are all enjoying your gifts from this 'aunt' of yours." Gaston took a chair and with an air of a novel villain he said, "So, tell me more about this aunt."

Uh oh! What will Gaston learn from these three? Tune in next time! I am trying my best to write the next chapter, but I am a bit stumped. It won't last long and I promise to post it soon after Thanksgiving. Have a Happy Turkey Day my lovelies!