She knew she had to wake up, but she certainly didn't want to. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so soundly, or had such wonderful dreams. She awoke to the morning rays of the sun poring through the high windows. And judging by how high the sun appeared in the sky, she had already slept in much longer then she had intended.. It was with that discovery, that even in her still 'non-coherent state' she realized something was wrong. Her room didn't face the East?.. How was she seeing the sun?.. It then dawned on her where she was. His room. She had fallen asleep so deeply that she had slept through the whole night, and most of the morning, without ever stirring. She never meant to stay there all night.. She was just so exhausted, and being in his room had such a calming effect on her, that she just couldn't help herself.. She just thanked god he wasnt home to find her in there.. What would he think?..

But as she began to grasp full consiousness from her restful sleep, she noticed something else was wrong. The curtains were undoubtably closed when she had wandered into the room and fell asleep last night. She remembered being unable to see any light from the outside moon or stars, and now they were pulled back causing the rays of sun, which had been there to awaken her, to illuminate the entire room.. 'How is that poss...?' Her thoughts were put to a halt as she realized there was something covering her from the autumn chill. And it was not a blanket. Her heart started pounding uncontrollably with the new revelation that suddenly hit her. He was home.

"Well, sleeping beauty has finally decided to awaken now has she?"

Her head snapped up at the sound, and turned to the direction of his voice. He sat in his high backed leather chair legs crossed, his elbows rested on the arms, as his hands were together in front of him, finger tip to finger tip, both index fingers touching his lips in a gesture of contemplation. All the while just staring at her. She couldn't understand how she had not noticed him there..

Just seeing him sitting there confirmed what she was starting to feel for him. Such a strong feeling of pure joy at his return coursed through her. She could feel herself about to cry. She loved him.. So much more then she had first realized. It was almost frightening. But she loved him.

Without a coherent thought on her part she quickly jumped up and out of bed and all but ran to him, throwing her arms around him, and buring her face in the crook of his neck.

To say he was taken aback was an understatement. He was completely immobile, and his expression was of utter shock. He didn't know what he expected when he saw her get up so quickly, he thought maybe she was getting ready to run from the room, from him, fearing his anger of finding her in his room. But this. This was a throw back.

He didn't move at all with her embrace, he couldn't, not even if he wanted to. Another moment passed with straight silence on both their parts, when he then awkwardly and hesitately put his clawed hands on her sides slowly pulling her forward to face him. His fingers tingled at the contact, he couldn't believe how perfect his discolored hands fit at her waist, it was disconcerting.. He shook his thoughts and brought his attention back to the present.

Her eyes were downcast when he first pulled her forward, but then she brought her eyes up to meet his awaiting ones. His breath caught in his throat when he saw unshedded tears pooling in her eyes. What is this?

"Belle.."

"... I'm sorry." She fumbled quickly.

What? An apology? At first he didn't know what to think, til it dawned on him. She knew he would be upset finding her in his room. No wonder she embaced him, she was afraid. And the unshedded tears were proof.. She was trying to avoid his rage.. His heart felt weighed down at the thought. He then schooled his features into a mask of indifference. He wouldn't harm her, no, but there was still something to prove his displeasure and suspicions of her being in his room.

"Dearie, theres no need to cry, I'm not going to harm you."

She couldn't help looking at him in confusion. "I..I know that.. Why.."

He cut her off. "Then there is no need to embrace me to avoid a punishment thats not forthcoming."

Her hands slowly slipped from his shoulders to rest at her sides. Her light smile broke at his words. Of course thats what he would be thinking, she should've known.. But regardless her heart hurt with that thought.. But even though she didn't think he'd welcome the true reason for her unconsiously forward act, she didn't want him thinking that fear of him was in any part the reason.

So with a light breath she placed a now sad smile to her lips.

"I'm sorry that I came to your room, and I'm sorry for embracing you if it was displeasing. But don't think for a moment that my action was of, in anyway, caused by any fear of you." With that she slowly got off his lap and made to leave the room. With a hand on the knob she stopped and turned back only slightly "Welcome home." Was the last thing she said before exiting and closing the door behind her.

His expression went from indifference to shock again as he just continued to sit there staring at the now closed door she exited from. What did she mean?.. Not Fear? This wasn't what he was expecting when he had come in. Yes, he was awaiting her to wake up so he could shake her up abit from finding her in his room, somewhere she should not have been. But that wasn't at all what happened.. He ended up being the one shooken up. He didn't know what to make of her reaction when she saw him. She had hugged him so tightly.. His heart started to pound at the recent memory. She had no hesitation in her to embrace someone like him.. grotesqute as he was.. Only desperation would even prompt someone to do that to him, if they even dared. But she stated it was not out of fear from him or of any punishment.. That just couldn't be. But whatever it was he was going to find out. Now. He then got up and exited the room following after her.

Belle had entered her own room throwing herself on the bed face first. She was stupid to throw herself at him like that.. But she was just overwelmed.. Him being home, and seeing him sitting there across the room.. What had come over her? She was having a hard time controlling her newly discovered feelings for him and she couldn't understand why..

He would never believe her if she told him the truth..

Her thoughts were interupted by her bedroom door abruptly flying open. She couldn't help the startled yelped that escaped her lips and as she nearly fell off the bed, and scrambled to righten herself.

He snickered at her reaction "Frighten now are we Dearie?"

She snapped her head in his direction giving him alittle glare. "Oh, I don't know, when someone suddenly bursts unexpectedly into anothers room uninvited it tends make them jump." She realized her own mistake.

"Ah uninvited, you mean like this little someone here.." Pointing in her direction. "did to the now accused?" He gestured dramatically to himself.

She had the decency to look ashamed. As a light blush crossed here cheeks and brought her hands to rest in her lap, and turned her eyes downward to look at them.

"I am sorry.. I shouldn't have entered your room.. I promise it won't happen again.."

"..And what were you doing in there?" His suspicion unconsiously creeping back into his voice.

Her light blush turned into a heavy one at his question. How was she going to explain herself?.. She couldn't tell him, he'd never believe her if she did. His room was the only place she could sleep. Everything in there made her feel as if he was right there with her. The only comfort she could find without him..

"I couldn't sleep.. so I wandered the castle, and ended up there, thats all.. Theres nothing more to tell.." That was pretty much the whole truth..

"Theres something else your not telling me." His statement held no question. As he walked over to were she sat, grabbing her chin in his hand and bringing her face up to meet his. "Your embrace?" After the question left his lips he held his breath. He didn't 'Want', he 'Needed' to hear her reason why. Why would she do that?.. He tried his best to crush the speck of hope in his heart that she had actually done that because she had wanted to, but he couldn't.. not completely..

The look in his eyes caused the words to slip from her mouth without a thought. And on a light exhale she answered. "I missed you.."

Thanks again for all the R&Rs! Thats it for chapter 5 Hope it didn't disappoint too much.. Lol Thanks again! :D