Okay, this chapter is really long! I just kept on writing. So,I decided against the graveyard scene. But I felt there should be something between the history and Don Juan. So this chapter is Belle and Charles having a moment. (Yeah, I know, their moment is in Don Juan, but...) There's a lot of fluff in this one. Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Charles sat by himself in the center of the stage. Candles were littered around the stage, casting their light in all directions. He looked around. The set for Don Juan had already been built and put into place. Tomorrow was opening night. It was sure to be exciting. And not just because of the opera. He leaned back on his elbows and gazed up at the chandelier that glittered in the darkness.

"You know, it's not becoming for an opera star to be sitting in such a position, in the dark, alone."

Charles jumped at the melodic voice that emanated from the lone Box Five.

"Angel of Music? Is that you?"

Belle stepped out from the shadows and jump onto the stage. "Guilty as charged. What are you doing out here, alone?" She questioned the young tenor.

Charles didn't speak, but merely gazed upon the woman in front of him. She was in her usual black attire. She was still wearing her porcelain half-mask. But something was different. As she made her way towards him, he stood up.

"I said, what are you doing here alone?" Her voice hardened. "This is my theater, and I say how it's run. Answer me."

Charles shifted nervously from one foot to the other. "Nothing. I was just thinking about...things."

Even in the dark he could see Belle smile. "Would I be one of those things?"

Charles visibly blushed at the question. "Maybe..."

Belle put her hand on his face. "I don't mind if you think about me," her voice was soft and sing-song. "Are you happy about tomorrow night?" Her other hand, she placed on his chest. She giggled as his heart quickened at her touch. "I know I am..." Her fingers traced circles on his chest. It seemed she could read his mind. "You're allowed to touch me, if you want..." Her voice faded as Charles' hands explored her curves beneath her cloak. She removed her hand from his face and wrapped her arms around his neck. She placed gentle kisses along his neck.

Charles felt his hands moved across her body with a fevered passion. He wished to touch skin, not cloth. He wanted to possess this body of hers with all its' sins and flaws. He bent down and started to kiss her cheeks. Her face and neck were the only skin showing. One hand unhooked her cloak and he almost laughed as it hit the floor with a gentle swish.

Belle felt his skin beneath his thin shirt. Her fingers traced the small buttons that acted as gatekeepers to his smooth, flawless skin that beckoned her touch. She started with one button and undid the rest. She felt Charles pull back as cold leather touched his skin. Belle pulled her gloves off and she felt his body relax as skin touched skin.

He began to undo the single button of her pull-over, revealing her bare shoulders once more. His hands moved up her bare arms and then up her neck. He traced her cheek-lines with his thumbs and looked into her eyes. Their blue orbs shown with pleasure, pain, and an unending sadness that made them an almost unearthly beautiful.

Belle shared his gaze and saw passion within the brown orbs that were his eyes. She sighed as he started to massage her neck Her hands began to explore his bare chest.

Charles began to sit down and pulled her down and placed her in his lap, her back facing him. As she sat in his lap, she laid her head in the crook between his neck and shoulder.

She placed her hands on his and pulled them up onto her chest. She let out a sigh of pleasure as he groped her chest with longing.

"A name...what should...I call you?" He asked through uneven breaths.

Belle stiffened. She hadn't used her name in such a long time. It pained her to think about it. But this was special case. "Belle..." It seemed so foreign to her.

"Belle? Doesn't that mean 'beauty'?"

Her voice was so full of pain when she answered him. "Yes..."

Charles let go of her hands and began run his along her back. "You were named perfectly..." He stopped when his fingers ran across a long scar. "What...this scar..." He leaned in to look closer.

Belle tensed as he touched her scars, but relaxed when she felt his breath on her skin.

Charles slowly unzipped the back of her dress.

Belle quickly held up her dress so it wouldn't fall. Air hit her bare back as Charles let out a gasp of surprise.

"Belle...these scars, what are they from."

She felt the tears fall down her face as she spoke. "They're...from a ghastly past that I really don't want to talk about." She turned around to look at him.

Charles didn't mean to make her cry, it broke his heart. She looked so vulnerable and helpless. "I'm so sorry Belle. I won't mention them ever again." He smiled when she smiled. "I like it when you smile, it's so beautiful." He lifted her chin with his thumb. He leaned in so close to her face, their noses touched.

"Oh...Charles. How can you be so perfect? How can you stand to touch a monster such as me?" She pushed away slightly.

"No, don't talk about yourself that way. I...love you..."

Belle started to cry again. But this time, they were tears of joy. She moved so that she could face him. "Do you really mean that? You're not just saying that. But...would you say it if I wasn't wearing my ma-" Before she could finish, Charles reached up and removed her mask.

He reached and touched her face where it had been. "I love you as a whole person." A single tear slid down his cheek.

Belle hugged him. "I love you too, my Angel..." She sobbed into his chest. "Oh...how I've waited for the day someone could love me...and really love me." She looked him in the eyes and smiled.

Charles pushed some hair that had fallen into her face behind her ear. He moved close to her face again.

Belle moved as well. But instead of stopping inches away, they kissed. Both had tears in their eyes now.

Neither were aware of a pair of chocolate brown eyes watching them from one of the boxes.

}{

Rachel had decided to talk to Charles. She wanted to get his opinion on canceling the engagement. When she had come earlier, she couldn't find him anywhere. She did find another dancer who had his attentions set on her...

Matt Giry had tried to help Rachel find Charles. Without success, he started to talk to her about courting and marriage. At first she thought he was talking about her and Charles. But as soon he grabbed her hand, it was perfectly clear who he was talking about. He had kissed her as if she hadn't been engaged. It was absolutely perfect. When Charles kissed her, it wasn't a full kiss. It was always as though he was saving his kisses for someone else. She knew for who, too. Matt realized what he had done and ran away quickly.

She began to walk around the theater. It suddenly struck her to look in the auditorium. Rachel reached her regular box and looked out into the darkness. An undignified scene assaulted her eyes.

Charles and Belle were on the stage, surrounded by candles, kissing. Charles shirt was completely unbuttoned. Belles' dress was unzipped and about to fall down in the front. And they were kissing? She gasped quietly. Belle wasn't wearing her mask and in the candle light, Rachel could make out Belles' deformity. It was hideous! How could he be kissing her? 'That's it! I'm stopping this.' She walked out of the box and made her way to the stage.

}{

Belle pulled away. She looked at Charles and smiled. "Thank you..." She kissed him again, this time much deeper. So deep it was, she pushed him to the ground.

Charles opened his eyes and blushed. He was on his back and Belle was on top of him, her cleavage about to spill out her now very loose dress. He broke away from her kiss.

Belle frowned. "What's wrong?" When she saw he had pointed at her chest she gasped and grabbed her dress. "I-I'm so sorry..." She started to giggle.

"I don't mind..." He reached up and grabbed her. She gasped as he switched positions, him on top. Belle continued to giggled as he felt her up, gently. He was about to kiss her again when...

"Charles! What are you doing?"

Charles looked up to see Rachel standing at the edge of the stage, shaking and red-faced. "R-Rachel? What are you doing?" He got up and walked towards her. His pants fell down mid stride.

Rachel gasped.

Charles blushed and looked down at Belle who was laughing. She held up his belt. He hastily grabbed it and pulled up his pants.

Belle smiled and pouted. "Sorry, I got a little carried away." She stood up, making sure to hold up her dress.

Her back was to Charles and Rachel. Rachel gasped when she saw the scars. Those must have been from the gypsies. They covered her whole back.

Belle heard Rachel gasp. She turned around and gave her an icy smile. "Hello, Viscountess..." She smirked. "Did you enjoy the show?"

Rachel blushed. "How dare you, you wretch! I don't know how I could feel pity for someone who would do what you're doing, on the stage no less."

Belle glared at her. "Pity? Who says I want your pity?" Belle walked towards her. They stood a foot from each other and glared. Charles tried to step between them, but Belle stopped him. "It's okay, Charles, I can handle this." She looked Rachel right in the eyes. "Wretch? You would dare to call me a wretch? Insolent girl, how dare you speak to me that way!" She grabbed Rachel by the collar. Charles pulled her away. She thrashed in his arms, but did not break free. "A wretch! She called me a wretch..." Tears started sliding down her face.

Rachel grabbed Belle by the arm. "You-you infuriate me! You steal away Charles under the guise of his Angel of Music. It was you, that first night in his dressing room, you were the voice! I can't believe I didn't realize it until now."

Belle broke free from hers and Charles' grasps. "So? I loved him! How was I suppose to show my love without showing myself? I wanted to be loved for something other than my appearances."

"But you were loved as an angel! That's not the right way, you should have-"

"Should have what? What could I have done with me being who and what I am? How would you expect me-Me!-to be able to do anything to show my love the way you can? And you! You have known nothing of the sufferings of life..." Belle looked away and began to cry.

Rachel was about to say something but stopped herself. "I'm sorry, Belle, you're right."

Belle glared at her. "How do you know my name?"

"Madame Giry told me. She told me all about you, the fair, the gypsies, the-"

Belle grabbed Rachel's arm, squeezing tightly, and pulling her to her face. "You...will...not...speak...of...that...Never!" She yelled through her tears. She let Rachel go and fell to the stage. "Why...did you have to..." Belle sobbed into her hands.

Charles, who had stood still through the whole ordeal, ran over to her and held her close. "Shh, it's okay, Belle." He stroked her hair. She continued to sob. He turned to look at Rachel. "How could you? I hope you know that the engagement is over, for many reasons."

"I already knew because that is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. That's why I was trying to find you. I knew that the two of had something special..." Her voice and face softened. "I found someone."

Charles smiled. "I know, Matt Giry."

"How-how do you-"

"He asked me if it would be okay for him to court you."

Rachel looked at him, shocked. "Really?" She smiled. "Well, what did you say?"

Belle, still sobbing, looked at Charles as well. "I said as long as he loved you and treated you right, that I wouldn't object."

Rachel ran over and hugged him. "Thank you!" She kissed him on the cheek. Looking at Belle she shook her head and apologized. "I shouldn't have said what I did, it wasn't right." She hugged her. When she pulled away, she laughed at the look on Belle's face. It was a shocked look. "I hope you two are happy together. I know you will be." She stood up and walked away. She called over her shoulder, "I will come and see the performance tomorrow. I know you will surpass yourself, Charles. And I cannot wait to here your composition, Belle. Goodbye." And with that she left.

Charles suddenly stood, leaving Belle on the floor. He looked down, extending his hand. "Here, let me help you."

Belle took his hand and pulled him down. They both laughed. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. His hands made their way to her hips. He massage her sides, making his way up to her chest. Her hands massaged his chest as they continued to kiss. She pulled away. "Come on, tomorrow's a big day. You should rest. I promise, we will finish this after the performance-" He kissed her again.

"Don't speak..." He pushed her to the floor.

Belle started to laugh. "No, someone might find us..." Her voice faded and she stopped dead as she stared off passed him.

Charles turned around. He gasped. "Madame Giry!"

Madame Giry looked at the couple. No surprise could be found in her gaze. "Must it be on the stage? Anyone could find you here. At least have the decency to be on a bed or sofa." She walked away without another word.

Belle and Charles just laughed. Belle stood up. Making sure her dress was zipped, she started picking up her articles of clothing.

Charles sat there, watching her. Finally he stood up and buttoned his shirt.

They stood for a moment. Then, without words, they walked in opposite directions, away from each other.

Was it okay? Too much fluff? And there's a cat-fight between Rachel and Belle, just for you blackribbonredroses. Don Juan is next1 I decided no lair scene after that. There is no point to it, everything is resolving! R&R! ^^