A/N Sorry it took so long to post the next chapter. I have been really busy with the Holidays and my other story, Wayfinders, a Moana fanfic. Feel free to check it out! Please be sure to review my story and let me know what you think so far. It keeps me motivated to keep going.

2 – Christmas

Christmas was a truly magical time in the palace. The year that Rose turned 10 was an especially magical one. Adam loaded up all the children, including Chip who was now considered an adult, and they went up into the mountains in search of the perfect Christmas tree. After looking for several hours, they all agreed on a beautiful tree that was more than 12 feet tall and was almost a wide around on the bottom. It took Adam, Chip, and Lumiere to carry the massive tree back to the castle but it was worth every bit of effort that it took. Once the tree was in the ballroom, the children set to work making decorations to hang on it. From his wheelchair, Reese worked with Claude to string popcorn while Rose and Annette strung cranberries and dried oranges. Once the garlands were strung around the tree, the children set to work making paper snowflakes and angels that were then hung on the tree.

Once the children were done adding their decorations, Chip, Belle, and Plumette placed candles on the tree ever so carefully. They made sure that the candles were secure and not in danger of falling off. When the tree was completely decorated, Chip and Mrs. Potts served everyone hot chocolate and cookies. Rose thought the tree was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

That night, Belle gave Rose a special surprise.

"You are almost 10 years old now. How would you like to have tea at bedtime every night and book time?"

"Really mama?" Rose asked, nearly hitting her mother in the face in her excitement. That was something that only the grownups were allowed to do, read in bed.

"You will be allowed one cup of tea and one hour of reading time each night." Belle knew her daughter well and knew that this would be the best gift ever. What better night to start it than Christmas Eve? She leaned down to give Rose a hug and kiss as Adam walked in followed by Chip with a tray for tea.

"Thank you daddy!" she screamed as she jumped up to give her father a tight hug around the neck.

"Now," stated Adam. "Make sure that you abide by the rules or we will take this privilege away. I love you and will see you in the morning." With that, he set her back down on her bed, wrapped his arm around Belle, and together they left the room.

Chip brought the tray over to the nightstand and gently set out a steaming cup of lavender and chamomile tea for Rose. Once everything was in order, he grabbed the tray and looked at her.

"I will be back in an hour to take your cup and put out your light."

"Thank you, Chip! You are one of my very best friends!" she exclaimed before diving nose first into her favorite book, One Thousand and One Nights.

Rose felt like she had hardly started reading when Chip showed back up.

"Mama said it's time to go to sleep." He picked up her empty teacup, set her book on the desk across the room, and blew out the candle on the nightstand. "Goodnight, Rose!"

"Goodnight Chip!"

The next morning, Rose woke up to the excited sounds of her brother being wheeled down the hall. She quickly jumped out of her bed, threw on her robe, and joined her brother, Claude, and Annette as they made their way down the hall to the ballroom. Christmas was always a family event for not Just Belle and Adam's family, but for the whole palace. There would be presents and then a great breakfast. And Grandpa Maurice never missed it!

The children loved tearing into their presents. Belle and Adam always got gifts for their children as well as Claude, Annette, and Chip. Reese was given a new set of paint supplies as he was a prodigy where art was concerned. Grandpa Maurice promised to teach him some new things. You would never know that he was only five!

Rose was thrilled with the pile of books that she unwrapped. When all the gifts had been opened and breakfast had been demolished, Adam told Rose to go get dressed and put on her coat and boots. She was unsure why she needed to do so but obeyed right away anyways. She pulled out a warm flannel dress and put on her coat, hat, and boots. She almost ran into her father at the bottom of the steps in her hurry to return to him.

"Where are we going, Daddy?" she asked, somewhat breathlessly. She noticed that Chip was also there dressed up in his winter clothes.

"We are going out to the barn. I want to show you something." He held the door open for Rose and Chip and they followed him to the barn. Rose was not sure what to think. She had no idea what her father could possibly be hiding in the barn…until she saw her.

Inside the barn, there was a beautiful black horse with a white mark on her nose in the shape of a moon. Someone had tied red and green ribbons in the hair of her main.

"Meet your very own horse," Adam said.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?" she squealed with delight. She had been wanting her own horse for a while now. "What is her name?"

"That is for you to decide. Chip is going to saddle her up and take you for a ride, that is, if you want him to." Adam laughed at the look Rose gave him. Of course she wants to ride her horse.

Rose let Chip help her up into the saddle when she was ready to go. Chip had his own horse, Romeo, a tan horse with a black tail and mane. They rode side by side for a bit, Rose basking in the joy of having her own horse. Finally, it was Chip who broke the silence.

"What are you going to name her?"

Rose looked at the majestic steed below her. "I don't know, there are too many good options. I kind of like the name Juliette."

Chip chuckled at that answer. "That would make our horses Romeo and Juliette.

Rose smiled as she reached down to pat he silky neck below her. "Juliette. It's perfect."

After about thirty minutes of riding around the grounds, it was time to go inside. Once Chip had put the horses away and taken care of them, he walked inside with Rose. They hung their coats up on the coat rack right inside the door.

"Would you like some hot cocoa?" he asked her.

"Yes please," was her somewhat distracted reply. "I am going to the library to read one of my new books!"

Rose was not a bit surprised to find the rest of her family in the library. Her mother was reading, her brother was painting, and her father was sitting at his desk. Adam looked up as Rose entered the room.

"Did you have a good time?" he asked.

"It was the best. I think that Romeo and Juliette are going to be best friends."

"Is Juliette the name you picked for her?" Belle asked over the book she had in her hands.

"Yes. Can I ride her every day? PLEASE!"

Belle and Adam held each other's gaze for a moment before Adam finally responded.

"Yes you may, but only if Chip rides with you. We do not want you riding alone!"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise to always ride with another person."

About that time, Chip appeared with hot cocoa for everyone. Rose settled into her window seat with her cup and one of her new books, Oliver Twist. She was immediately lost in her book and never heard the conversation her father had with Chip, telling him that he was going to be her riding buddy. Nor did she hear the slight groan that he let out at being given that task. He was going to be on babysitting duty!