Thanks to JanEyrEvanescence12, xxxMadameMysteryxxx, XXPay4XtraShippingsXX, lavadiamond10, curryboh, Sylxx, Blue Moon Moments, Guest, angel897 and to jballerina25.

Chapter 16: Happily Ever After

Belle appeared back at to her room, and as soon as she could, she was up and running around the castle for her Gabriel.

She called for him, shouted until her throat grew dry and her voice hoarse. She was blinded by tears as she searched for him, but found him nowhere. She called for him, and he gave no answer. She nearly gave up, wondering just where could he be. If he was not in his room, nor the ballroom, or the dining room, then where could he be?

And then, she realized how silly it was of her to have not thought of it. She cared not that it was raining out, or that she lost her shoes in the mud, she had to get to the rose garden, she just had to.

"Gabriel! Please answer me! Gabriel, I am here! I came back!"

She heard no reply, but as she entered the rose garden, and there, underneath the tree, Gabriel sat, soaked to his fur and slumped down as if asleep.

"Gabriel?"

He lifted his head, and with bright eyes and a wide smile, a sight that Belle had longed to see.

"Belle? Belle!"

"Gabr-"

But she was silenced by the sudden appearance of Gaston, with sword in hand, jumping over the wall. With a quick slice to Gabriel's arm, Gaston rushed to stand in front of Belle, and said, "Get away from her you beast!"

"Gaston, you fool!" She pushed him away from her, making him face her.

"Run Belle, I shall save you!"

"The only thing I would have to be saved from is you."

Confused, Gaston repeated, "But I am here to kill this beast and save you!"

"You are the only beast I see here!"

Gaston then gave her a slap so forceful that made her fall down. In that instance, Gabriel jumped on Gaston and tackled him to the ground. Gabriel had made a promise long ago to never harm an innocent, but that boy was no longer an innocent that moment he harmed Belle.

Gabriel tried to fight him, but his body, weakened by the distress of never seeing Belle again, wasn't strong enough to disarm him, and so Gaston had the upper hand, kicking him like he was nothing.

Belle couldn't tolerate this cruelty, and finding the biggest rock she could find, she tossed it square at Gaston's head. Gaston stopped, and reaching for the back of his head, he felt and saw in the light of the moon and some of it washing off his hand, blood.

"You little bitch!" Gaston yelled at Belle, "I was ready to offer you everything, and you repay me by hitting me?" Gaston pointed his sword out toward her. "You want to die with your beast? Then, very well."

Gaston charged toward Belle, who slipped on the mud and fell down, defenseless to him. Gabriel stepped in between the two, just before Gaston could stab Belle, and with his mighty hand, Gabriel lifted him by his neck, and with all his might, tossed him hard against the garden wall.

Gaston will never harm Belle ever again.

Belle felt relieved that all that was over, but it wasn't. Gabriel fell to his knees and rolled onto his back. Belle knelt next to him and saw that there was a deep stab wound in Gabriel's chest, just below his heart.

"No, oh no, God no!" Belle cried as she tried to stop the bleeding.

Gabriel took her bloody hand and held onto it tightly, "Shh, don't cry. I did it for you, and I am happy to do it. You are alive, and with me in my last moments. I am happy now."

"But I could make you happier!" Belle sobbed uncontrollably, "If you stay with me, I could make you happier. I will make you better and you will see how happy we can be."

He raised a hand to her check and smiled. "This has always been my dream, always this face, and the feeling of peace. I love you."

Before Belle could say anything, his hand fell from her face and lay limp on the muddy ground, and then, his breath silenced.

Belle was in shock for a moment. No, this wasn't happening, it couldn't be! He isn't the one that was meant to die, the good never die in the stories, and it couldn't be true here either.

"No, no, please you can't leave me! I won't let you leave!"

She flung herself onto his chest, holding tight to him, crying. And then, so quietly, that it seemed no one could hear, Belle whispered, "I love you."

But someone did hear.

Lela appeared, staring at the poor girl and the poor beast. Not being seen by Belle, she raised her arms in the air, like a bird flying up into the sky, and soon, the rain turned into snow, and with each snowflake that landed on Gabriel, it seemed to have lifted him up.

Belle lifted her head to see the silent snowflakes fall down and feeling Gabriel rising from her hands, she quickly moved back and watched in wonder what was happening before her eyes. She watched as paws became feet, a bird turned into a man and fur turning into hair.

Lela helped him land softly on the white earth, like placing a child in their crib. Belle's curiosity got the better of her, and leaning over the new form, she saw a face, a human's face. This face was that of a young man, with black hair like a raven, strong jaw line and check bones, and a gentle mouth.

Belle reached out a hand to this fair face and as if her touch had awoken him from a spell, he slowly opened his eyes. Belle wondered what he would have looked like, but mostly, his eyes. They were a beautiful blue-grey color, very different from the red eyes she was used to, and yet, they still held the tenderness, the same gentleness that she had seen many timed before.

"Belle?" The voice was still the same, he truly was no different than who he was before.

"Gabriel, you came back."

Confused, he lifted his hand to his face and was shocked to feel skin, not feathers. He then reached his hand out to Belle's face and gasped with delight in feeling her for the first time, rather than imagining how it would feel.

"Belle." He whispered, and then with a gentle strength, he pulled her close to him and with his other arm wrapped around her, he kissed her.

Lela smiled and with silent tears of joy, she watched as the man she always thought as her own child finally has his happy ending.

After their kiss, Lela appeared to them saying, "I have watched over you since you were born, Gabriel, and I must say, there is nothing in the entire world that could make me happier now. Thank you Belle, thank you for saving him."

She gave a gentle twist of her wrist toward Belle, and her muddy dress became a white dress with diamonds and her hair pined up with pearls tucked in. Gabriel too wore a white and silver outfit matching hers.

Gabriel stood up and gave Belle a helping hand up into his arms, never wanting to let her go. "Oh Belle, the last time I held you in my arms, I was a beast, but now, I may hold you like any other. And it is all thanks to you Belle, all thanks to you."

"Come," Lela held her hand out, "Your family awaits for you."

Gabriel and Belle hurried away, while Lela, seeing the limp body of the Marquis, twisted her hand into a fist, and he melted away, as if he had never existed. And then gave a final touch to all the flowers in the garden and on the land, to bloom in their most vibrate colors.

Gabriel and Belle approached the castle just as it was opening and Belle saw her father and Jean in the front, amazed at her beauty and of her new beau. The sisters were mouth agape at the sight of this handsome prince; surely this could not be the beast Belle spoke much of.

"Father, Jean, everyone, I wish to introduce you to Gabriel, my beloved."

Gabriel approached with welcome arms for Maurice and Jean. "I am honored to be amongst those of whom Belle loves so dearly. I would also wish to apologize for my rude behavior before."

"I understand. And I welcome you greatly, for Belle's love is truly something to be happy of. Belle?" Maurice extended his hand out to which Belle grabbed and joining their hands together Maurice kissed them and said, "I am happy for you my dear. I couldn't have hoped for better, though, I am glad that he is human again, but still, to know you are happy makes me happy. May you have my blessings and love."

Jean came up to Belle and hugged her. "Oh Belle, I am happy!"

"But, where is Gaston?" asked Ludovic.

Before Belle could answer, Lela appeared before them, "In this palace of Love and Beauty, no Hateful or Ugly thing shall stay long here."

"But he stayed here!" Adélaïde accused, as Belle grasped tightly to her beloved.

"But he was beautiful, despite his ugliness, unlike Gaston. Gaston was the first to go, just as you three shall have to leave. I have seen what you three have done to poor Belle, and there is no mercy for the wicked."

Adélaïde, Félicie and Ludovic grouped together, like frightened children. "You, you wouldn't! Father, please tell her, tell her we have been good children!"

"You know I would, but a lie is an ugly thing. And we don't want that, now do we?"

Lela looked thoughtfully on them, "Now, because you are all three different kinds of ugly, and certainly not as terrible as Gaston, your lives shall be spared. But you shall not be yourselves. Ludovic, you are a lazy good for nothing and you shall carry the burden of being useful all the time, and so, you shall become a teapot. Adélaïde, because you are so vain in your appearance, you shall always wash the very mirrors you adore, as a feather duster. And Félicie, so envious of all you see, you will always watch but never partake, as a candelabra. And, though I doubt any of you will learn your lessons, if you are able to find it within your hearts to grow and love, you will remain as these objects for as long as your sister's happiness lives on."

All tried to escape her grasp but in a single snap, they turned into what she cursed them to be, and with the rest looking on, Maurice said, "Well, at least they will contribute well to others now."

Lela feeling rather pleased, lifted her head as if she heard something. "Oh no you don't, Livia!" She outreached her arm and as if she was grabbing something, she grasped her fist tightly and pulled in the fairy Belle first saw.

"I know you; you were the one who told me to fear Gabriel."

"She was also the one who poisoned Gaston's mind and of your siblings. As well as cursed poor Gabriel." Grabbing her by her hair and pulling her close to her, she cursed, "You are the worst offender, and all must be punished."

Wrapping her free hand around Livia's throat, she caused her to become a statue, and with all her might, she pulled on the stone hair and the dark fairy's head came right off.

Jean was frighten by the sight, that he grabbed hold onto his father, as Belle held to Gabriel.

"You are all now free to live here happily and no fear of any danger of evil to enter here again. You may have your happily ever after, as you all deserve."

"Thank you, but why couldn't you defeat her before?" Gabriel asked.

"Livia was always gained her power by control, you were her last and strongest hold for power, but once she lost you, she lost all her power, and I gained the upper hand. And now, no one may be afraid of her ever again. Now, I am to assume there shall be a wedding soon."

That afternoon, Belle and Gabriel with many witnesses of happy servants and of a happy father and brother, they were married. As the bells rang, red rose petals fell at them in all directions, as they kissed for the first time as husband and wife.

In their live long days they were the happiest couple to have ever lived. Maurice and Jean were happily spoiled by Belle and her giving husband, and their servants always happy to wake everyday to serve generous and caring masters.

Adélaïde, Félicie and Ludovic never became humans, for Belle was always happy, as her family grew, with a daughter named Rose to increase the couple's happiness. Gabriel and Belle had thought it only fitting that Lela was made the Godmother of the child, since if it weren't for her, there would not have been a Rose.

Rose grew to be quite a beauty, with her father's black hair and gentle way with all things along with her mother's hazel eyes and love of stories, she was always a joy to be with. And within a few years of her birth, she had a brother to have more adventures to share.

One day, Belle and Gabriel watched through the windows their Rose pretending to be a knight, riding her little pony as little Maurice the princess in the castle, wearing his sister's old dresses, as Jean was dressed as a fierce dragon holding the baby princess captive, while older Maurice sat in his chair, laughing heartily, smoking his pipe and applauding his granddaughter of her triumph.

Belle rested her head on her husband's shoulder, whispered dreamily, "I hope this never changes, that we always stay as happy as we are now. Do you think that is possible?" she asked looking up at him.

"Anything is possible; you loved me as a beast, didn't you?" He kissed her forehead. "We shall remain happy."

"Can you be certain of it?" Belle asked.

"I am as certain as, well, the sun rising in the east. Happiness is a tale as old as time, it will never go away."

Belle smiled and said, "Yes, that is true. It is like that, it is like a song as old as rhyme, and even if we die we will never truly leave, will we?"

"Us? Who could ever forget Beauty and the Beast?"

With that, they embraced each other and of the rest of their lives, with bright hopes and joys ahead, for it was certain as the sun, rising in the east, or as song as old as rhyme, the tale of Beauty and the Beast.

Whew! What a story huh? Took me a while, but I am quite proud of it, hope you all enjoyed the ending, it took me a long time to figure out what to do with those three.

Just so you guys know, the story itself is over but as I promised Obscured Angel, I will make a final Author Notes page where I will point out what B&B movies I had gotten my inspiration from. But that will not happen until after Christmas. And so I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday!