A/N: I am back, after a whole year ended and almost a month passed. Anyways:

Someone: Well actually this is probably my ...most reviewed story I've ever had while running with it so um yeah. But thank you! And luckily, I haven't abandoned it because here it is!

Ayatsu: Aw, thanks so much! I'm sure you're not horrible at writing. But if you think so, then I will continue this story to keep up what you want to see from a fanfic!

Shadowfang14: Thanks! and ironically so am I have no idea where this story is going each time I pick up my laptop and begin writing it I'm really never sure what's going to happen...well we'll see I suppose!

Alright well here's the next chapter!

Beatrice's POV:

She gasps ever so slightly as the rooted hand touches hers, but doesn't allow the Beast to see it. What she has just agreed to will cost her way too much. Beatrice knows it, but she will not allow herself to admit it in front of him. He'll take it the wrong way. He'll think she's truly scared, when really, she's not scared of him. No. She's scared of failing. Of failing this and not getting Wirt back, of having to stay with the Beast, of having to become one with him as a collected soul.

The moment passes in an instant and she withdraws her hand, glancing up at the multi-colored eyes of Wirt. They were looking at her, and for a brief moment both stared at each other intently, then looked away quickly. Beatrice had felt something else there like an electric shock, but she didn't want to admit it, because it had been Wirt she was looking at and not the Beast.

A few awkward moments passed where the only sound to be heard was that of her breathing deeply. The night air brushed across her freckled face, giving a small tickling sensation, and the sounds of night creatures roaming the branches and areas of the forest coming from behind gave off the sensation of fascination and horror. It was then that the Beast, no, Wirt, raised his head a little higher as he was indeed taller than Beatrice, and spoke.

"When do you want to begin?" It was Wirt alright, the uncertainty was there. She found she wanted to sob over the magnificence of hearing him once more, but held back any such notion and nodded slowly.

"I would say tonight. I have no idea what I will tell my parents, but I'm sure they don't care. In the least, it's just good to have Wirt back."

"I suppose I agree," Wirt nodded, then a grimace passed over his face, "but I don't think … he agrees."

"Well what else did you expect? I did just make a deal with that dreaded thing that you had to be here at all times. I don't know how you're staying as you right now, but I suppose it's a weird magic soul thing, isn't it?"

"Yeah something like that. So um…you should probably get Greg." Uneasiness shone through Wirt's expression as he was obviously not sure what to do at this point. Breathlessly she nodded and turned and walked away, heading to the house.

It was a miracle that she'd been able to bargain but now she had to be careful. Even mentioning too much around him was going to be dangerous. They couldn't take any unnecessary results, not anything that would cause the Beast to suddenly appear and destroy every plan they'd made. Of course, a deal is a deal, but it was still extremely risky and nothing could be done to endanger Greg or her. She didn't even know where they were going so much as she knew she had to be careful. Beatrice carefully walked inside and found Greg in one room on a couch, staring at a wall with Jason Funderberker at his side croaking on the occasion. It seemed everyone else was upstairs.

"Greg?" She whispered, and the small boy turned his face to look at her.

"Is Wirt here?" An excited look passed over his face briefly before it died when he remembered all that had happened in one instant.

"Actually, yes, but Greg… we need to be careful, okay? We're going on another adventure with him and it will be Wirt as long as we stay on his safe side. "

Greg nodded slowly, still looking completely uncertain as to why she was acting like this. He obviously wasn't comfortable with his position, and Beatrice wanted to comfort him, but she couldn't offer him comfort. She wasn't going to force something that wasn't real upon him. It was the same promise she'd made to herself earlier; that no comfort that wasn't real would be given to Greg. The kid was too smart for that, even if he was dull and never really knew what was going on sometimes. He loved his brother too much to take such condescending comforts.

After taking his hand, she pulled him up. They walked out the door and Beatrice gently guided Greg to where Wirt stood, gleaming multiple colored eyes staring at the both of them. An emotion showed in his face, a small amount of emotion like that of caring. Her eyes traveled across his face as she observed the emotion, amazed at him, and watched as he realized she was looking at him. The emotion disappeared almost instantly. Looking down at Greg, she noticed he was a little tense but he mostly looked happy that he was looking at the real Wirt again.

"Here he is, Wirt. Now, are you ready to go?" She said, staring at the creature before them.

"I suppose we are. Are you not taking any extra clothing?" Why on earth was he concerned about that?

"Do I truly need it?" She didn't even stutter while saying this, as she'd found it really cute when he'd asked this.

"I guess not." He shrugged. It was Wirt alright.

"Let's go. Where are you taking us?"

"This is a rescue mission? I know someone we can go to."

The uncertain tone was still in his voice. Yet Beatrice found that somehow she trusted him just enough to nod at the rescue mission mention and look down at Greg briefly to make sure the younger boy was alright with this. He was still staring intently up at Wirt, love and longing in his eyes. It must've been hard for him.

The Beast-no, Wirt, started walking away, and she pulled on Greg's hand so he would follow. They walked after Wirt through the bushes and the trees, Beatrice found she almost got caught in a bush. She was a little upset over the fact that Wirt was going somewhere that he wouldn't tell her about. Hopefully it wasn't dangerous. Even if this was Wirt, she still had her doubts about the Beast staying away for all that time. Chances of him trying to come out and take control again were very high, deal or no deal.

As they walked on through the thick blanket of night, Beatrice began to observe the areas around her. Remembering how it had been as a bird, she found that she wasn't a fan of walking. It was rather torturous, as flying had been so much easier with so few branches in her way. Now it was like being blind. Bushes cut across their path so abruptly that she always managed to get smacked with one as it came flying back from either Wirt, who walked ahead, or Greg, who accidentally let go of them on the occasion that he wasn't really paying attention. Beatrice found herself muttering quietly under her breath at points where she wondered how any of this was possible and why she was even here.

The night continued onwards as they did, it was as if they could only move by it so Wirt was speeding up continuously. They just kept going. The world appeared to be holding its breath, and the night was so thick it felt like a heavy pressure down on top of them. Greg appeared to be sleepwalking at the moment, Beatrice could tell from the way he wasn't really moving very fast. Every once in a while she had to pick him up when he nearly fell down. He kept stumbling behind Wirt.

Finally, it seemed they were at some place. Wirt had slowed down and was gazing forlornly at the house in front of them. Beatrice stared at it, it seemed rather old and beaten down by weather. A small cabin in the middle of the vast woods.

"Is this the place you wanted us to be at?" She turned questioning eyes onto him.

"Yes."

"Wirt, this is Lorna's place!" The sudden exclamation from Greg was surprising and Beatrice looked to him, then back to Wirt.

"Lorna? Who, might I ask, is she?"

"A friend." The tone in Wirt's voice suggested this girl may have been something else at one point. Maybe even still, and Beatrice found she didn't like that. She didn't know why, but she didn't.

Wirt moved slowly forward, his cape billowing out behind him. Thoughts went straight through her head as she saw his tall figure in the dim light that came from the sky now. Beatrice chased the thoughts away as she figured that wasn't what she should think. It wasn't right of her to think of Wirt like this.

Then, Wirt stopped in the middle of the yard, as if he had just realized he couldn't go to the house on his own. He turned to give her a blank stare, with what appeared to be an amazed look on his face for some reason. She shook her head, rolling her eyes, not believing him.

"Could you… knock?" He said quietly, give her a soft look through his multi-colored eyes. She stared in actual amazement, but nodded, approaching the door slowly.

Greg followed close behind her, making happy noises. Apparently he knew this girl. Whoever she was, Beatrice was sure she was nice if Greg liked her. Knocking softly on the door, she waited quietly for someone to appear. It appeared they were in a swamp, she was rather surprised they hadn't fallen in while walking to the house itself. Slowly, the door opened and then appeared a-a pale girl with black hair and a confused look on her face, she obviously didn't recognize Beatrice, but then she looked down and saw Greg, and a smile appeared on her face.

"Greg?! Where's…Wirt? And who are you?" She had a soft, quiet voice, smooth and sweet. Beatrice could see why Wirt had been so kind towards her.

"My name is Beatrice. And…Wirt led us here, but I don't know why he brought us here. I'm sorry if we appear to be rude, but I'm sure Wirt is happy to see that you're here. But…I'm sorry. He's not actually…Wirt. Exactly."

"Oh…what do you mean?" Lorna's face showed fear.

"She means this." Wirt suddenly appeared next to them. Lorna's eyes widened, and she seemed to be caught with her breath, she only could look at Wirt.

The Beast himself looked rather sad. His expression had turned downwards, his face sort of sagging. Clearly being seen like this but anyone but Beatrice and Greg was uncomfortable to him. In fact he looked resigned. Lorna looked extremely shocked.

"W-wirt? What happened?" Lorna stuttered.

"The Beast…we…it…transformation."

"What he means to say, the darned stubborn pushover, is that he ended up merging with the Beast and is becoming….well, one with the Beast. It's a dangerous situation that shouldn't be seen by anyone and I'd suggest not getting involved in any of this." She blurted quickly, staring at Lorna, and ignoring any look Wirt was shooting her, as she knew he was glaring or maybe just staring in amazement at her, shock more likely.

"Beatrice…that's … no." Wirt sighed.

"So, you're becoming…him?" Lorna whispered, staring in amazement at the both of them. Greg pulled gently on Beatrice's sleeve, and she looked down to see his reassuring smile. He was trying to comfort her.

"Yes, basically."

"Oh…Wirt…I'm sorry." Lorna didn't seem to be able to show her actual feelings, or those were. Whatever the case, Beatrice could only give her a strange look, wondering what was going on inside the girl's mind.

"It's…it's just…I need you to help us." Wirt said, giving a look to Lorna which Beatrice didn't exactly enjoy. She was starting to realize something more was on about these two, and she disliked it a little. Yet then she didn't know why she felt so bad about it, and critiqued herself, glaring.

"Help you? In what way and…how?" Lorna stared, and then nodded slowly. "I could…help…somehow."

"We need to take you with us on our trip."

"Why would you take me?" Beatrice was asking the same question in her head, why on earth would anyone take that girl with them?

"Because we need more help then we're going to get."

"And what do I do?"

"You come with us and we're trying to get him to be back." Beatrice allowed herself into the conversation because she was growing tired of standing there waiting for things to happen.

"Well…I … I suppose I could." She seemed so hesitant that Beatrice was ready to leave.

"Wirt let's go." The red-head turned away and started walking back.

"Wait, Beatrice! You have to stay here. No going anywhere. I tell you."

"But she doesn't want to come, Wirt. Also remember. No ordering me around." Turning to him with an angry expression, she glared at him.

"Well she does and she is. I'll make sure of it." Wirt growled, looking at her with a glare as well.

"Fine. Then make her come now."

The pale girl began to approach Wirt, looking scared but reaching out her hand for a shake of some sort. The root like hand shook it. Beatrice sighed in exasperation, taking Greg's hand and following behind the two who were now walking off in some direction. Apparently Lorna was just going to go off without letting anyone know, even if someone was at her home. Good grief. At least she'd tried something.

Waiting near the edge of the trees, she watched for Lorna and Wirt, who seemed to be waiting on the porch. At least the girl had some sense in her to tell someone, or get something at least. Greg was impatient but at the same time seemed very happy to see his old friend. She wasn't so pleased with all that had just occurred, but at least someone was happy. Right now, Beatrice was mostly focused on figuring out how to cure Wirt and stuff. Then they could focus on the idea of inviting other people into it. At least, that's what she had planned on original.

A/N: Well I hope you enjoyed that. Hopefully I can update soon. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed and please, review, review, review!