Hello readers, I have some important things to say, first of all... I'm sorry this took so long, really I am but I had auditions to attend and I had rehearsals that stretched well into the night so I'm really busy... But I made this chapter longer than the others as compensation... Second of all... Thank you jorholic73 for your support, TheIronMask for your compliments, iamthebooktheif (I should be thanking you for taking time to read my story) and also Pearl Bramble of Willowbottom for the multiple reviews you left me... I shall try and fix that problem... Third of all... This chapter is dedicated to my good friend jorholic73 because its a special day for him today and he has been supporting me even before this story got posted.. Last but not least... REVIEW AND of course Enjoy :)
It was hours later when Beau finally threw in the towel. As defiant as he had tried to be, he couldn't help it... He was human... He was hungry...He needed something to satisfy that empty void in his stomach. With an encouraging nod from Madame, he took a deep breath and opened the door.
The creak of the door was not loud by any standards but to Beau, it echoed around the castle like the loud blaring of trumpets and he half expected the beast to come pouncing out the corner, ready to devour him for his defiance... But of course, she didn't and Beau heaved a huge sigh of relief... With a deep breath he started to roam the dark hallways.
Lumiere who was tasked with guarding Beau's door by no other than Cogsworth, did not notice this of course... In fact he was to busy frolicking with his bien-aimé to even care...
"Come ma chérie! Tickle me fancy!" he demanded in mock aggression while he chased a giggling Babette around the curtains.
"Oh no!"
"Oh yes!"
"Oh no! No! No! No!" Babette shrieked ducking under Lumiere's flaming arms.
"I've been burnt by you before!" she reminded him sternly but ended up giving into his passionate embrace. It was only when the Madame coughed awkwardly from the other room did Lumiere spin around. His jaw dropped, followed by Babette who huffed grumpily, shocked that her darling would be so careless with her...
Down in the kitchens, Mrs. Potts was in the delicate process of trying to get Chip to join his brothers and sisters in the cupboard, to get him to go to bed...
"Come now Chip... Back into the cupboard with your brothers and sisters..." she chided gently. Chip frowned and shook his head unwillingly.
"But I'm not sleepy..." he grumbled, pouting ever so slightly, his blue eyes wide with innocence... Mrs. Potts sighed, knowing exactly what the tiny teacup wanted...
"How about a story?" she offered.
"Yay! Story!" Chip cheered happily... Being the youngest did have its perks...
Getting into a comfortable position, Chip nodded eagerly a sign that his mother should start...
Mrs. Potts took a deep breath and began...
"Once upon a time... In a kingdom faraway..."
"I don't want that story! I've heard that one so many times! Tell me another! Tell me another!" Chip begged.
Mrs. Potts blinked in surprise.
"But darling... I don't know any..."
"Tell me about the King of this castle... No one ever talks about him!"
Mrs. Potts gasped in shocked.
"CHIP!" She said loudly... Horrified that her son dared bring up such a taboo subject. Quickly she turned around to ensure that the mistress wasn't there... The mere mention of the her parents guaranteed a violent outburst from the violent beast and sometimes Mrs. Potts wondered how long her son would be immune from the mistress's feared temper... True, the beast did have a soft spot for the little teacup, she did play with him when he was just a mere toddler and Chip of all people was the first to approach her when the curse took hold... He was the one who had convinced her to come out of the West Wing when she had locked herself in, refusing all food and water... However the beast was definitely not known for her consistency towards treating others and Mrs. Potts was sure that one day... Even Chip would tick her off...
Mrs. Potts shuddered... The image of shattered China appearing in her head...
"Chip... Promise me you'll never speak of this again..."
"Mama..."
"PROMISE ME!" Mrs. Potts demanded, her tone fiercer than ever before causing Chip to recoil in surprise.
"I promise..." Chip said quickly not liking his mother's behavioral change...
"Good..." she concluded firmly before giving Chip a sad smile.
"I'm sorry darling... Mama's feeling a little under the weather today... Forgive me?" she asked gently noticing Chip's sudden uncomfort...
Chip nodded slowly.
"Alright mama... I'm going to bed now alright?" he said sweetly noticing how tired his mother looked. Planting a quick kiss on her cheek, Chip bounded back to his usual spot in the cupboard and closed his eyes. Yawning, before slowly falling asleep...
Mrs. Potts sighed as the cupboard doors creaked shut. As delightful as it was to have guests in the house...The past two days had just been pure pandemonium thanks to him... An emotional rollercoaster of ups and downs...
"CLANG!" came a loud crash of metal pans, snapping Mrs. Potts out of her revere. Scowling, she turned to face the castle's chef...
"Careful... We don't want any of that breaking do we?" she warned.
The oven groaned. "I don't care! All day I slave and FOR WHAT?! A culinary master piece gone to WASTE!" he wailed miserably.
Mrs. Potts rolled her eyes. "Oh stop your grousing, it's been a long day for all of us..."
There was an audible snort from Cogsworth.
"If you'd ask me, he was just being STUBBORN! After all, the mistress did say please..." Cogsworth muttered angrily.
Mrs. Potts blinked, surprised by how much Cogsworth's expectations of the Mistress's etiquette has dropped... He did know that she was still human beneath all that fur didn't he? Basic manners should be present in any respectable person, and the mistress should be no exception... But then again... Even Mrs. Potts was in doubt of how much humanity the Beast had left...
"Well yes... She did say please for the first time... In years..." Mrs. Potts admitted.
"Exactly!" Cogsworth exclaimed tossing a towel into the cabinet.
While the two bickered about their predicament, it just happened that Beau recognized the voice of the kindly old tea pot who had offered him tea hours ago. Carefully, he peered his head into the kitchen and seeing Mrs. Potts, started to make his way towards her...
"But if she doesn't learn to control that temper... The s..."
"SPLENDID to see you and about Monsieur!" Cogsworth interrupted loudly noticing Beau's presence. Beau took a step back in surprise before rolling his eyes at himself. He really should get used to being greeted by household objects at this point... After all... This was a beast's castle, what could possibly define normality here?
Nodding politely, he reached out to shake the clock's hand only to have it grabbed by an enthusiastic candlestick that, unknown to Beau had been tagging behind him for the past ten minutes...
"A pleasure to finally meet you mon ami!" Lumiere said enthusiastically. That was true on his part... Honestly, hopping around with no feet for ten minutes was no easy task... Beau was lost for words while Cogsworth rolled his eyes, obviously annoyed.
"This is Lumiere..." he said dryly.
"At your service monsieur! If there is anything I can do for you... Anything at all... JUST NAME IT!" Lumiere offered happily ignoring Cogsworth's horrified face.
Beau smiled, touched by Lumiere's generosity.
"Thank you for your kindness but I..." A loud growl erupted from Beau's slim stomach causing everyone to stare...
"Monsieur... You must be starving!" Lumiere declared shaking his head while Beau grinned sheepishly.
"Come this way..." Lumiere gestured before being forcefully pushed back by Cogsworth...
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" the clock declared, his arms thrown out to add emphasis.
"Have you forgotten what the mistress said or have you gone completely mad?" he hissed at Lumiere, his finger jabbing accusingly at the candlestick's chest, his moustache literally ticking with uneasiness. Lumiere sneered before burning Cogsworth's finger.
"Have a heart Cogsworth..." he pleaded, his tone serious...
The clock puffed his chest out pompously, prepared to drag Beau back to his quarters by the hair if necessary... Why did Lumiere insist on making his job so miserable? Did he think that being head of household to a spoilt, ill tempered, unreasonable beast was easy? It was hard... IT WAS DANGEROUS! He had to keep everyone in the castle safe... To minimize conflict with the Mistress... Why did Lumiere keep trying to jeopardize this... And why did everyone else seem to listen to him more? Didn't they realize Lumiere was just going to lead them into trouble one day... Oh... and when that day happens... It'd be retribution Cogsworth promised himself. However, the young man had nothing to do with this...With a sigh, he softened... a little...
"Mrs. Potts, get the young man a crust of bread and a glass of water, then make sure he..."
"Cogsworth, he's not a prisoner... He's a guest! We should make him feel welcome here!" Lumiere argued. There were unanimous shouts of agreement. Cogsworth groaned. Oh democracy...
"FINE!" he hissed completely exasperated. There were cheers of approval...
"JUST KEEP IT DOWN!" he warned while Lumiere guided Beau into the dining hall.
"Of course, of course..." Lumiere nodded absent-mindedly... not even absorbing half of Cogsworth's warnings...
"But what is dinner without a little... MUSIC..." Lumiere smiled.
"Yes yes music... MUSIC?! HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" Cogsworth shrieked only to get knocked aside by the heavy doors...
