Elsewhere, Amelie had the unenviable task of putting Sophie to bed, but was finding it difficult since she didn't like sleeping in the art box and liked to hide from it as a game, to her mother's frustration, since she did it every night and Raymond didn't really do anything to help.

'Sophie, it's bedtime for you, little lady,' Amelie called out, 'and I've made the box nice and cosy for you.'

It seemed that Sophie was hiding again and Amelie sighed heavily and rubbed her brush against her, as she hopped around the studio, looking for the naughty little paint bottle.

'I'm not in the mood for your little game tonight. I know you don't like sleeping in the art box but you still need a good night's sleep if you want to play with Leon tomorrow. Come out right now, little lady!'

'Raymond, help me out here! Help me look for Sophie so she can go to bed!' Amelie said to her husband, who was asleep himself, snoring loudly.

'Raymond, you lazy lump, WAKE UP!' she screamed, which startled him out of his slumber.

'What the.. Amelie, why did you do that? I was having a nice dream until you rudely woke me up! What is so important that I had to be disturbed?' he moaned.

'Sophie is playing her little hiding game again and I need you to help me find her so I can put her to bed, it's past her bedtime.' Amelie said.

'Aw, can't she stay up a little longer? It's just harmless tomfoolery,' said Raymond, but a firm stare from his wife meant that the answer would be a definite no.

'Oh, alright,' he said, 'Sophie, listen to your mother, you need to go to bed.'

'BOO!' said Sophie, who popped out of her hiding place only to scowl when she saw the art box set up for her, which she didn't want to sleep in nor was she sleepy.

'It's bedtime for you, Sophie and no silly arguing about it, little lady,' said Amelie, noticing her daughter's expression.

'But I'm not sleepy!' Sophie protested, 'and I don't want to sleep in the art box!'

'Yes, you are,' Amelie said.

'No, I'm not!' Sophie replied, pouting.

'Your mother's right, darling, you need a good night's sleep after the day you've had.' Raymond said.

'No, I'm not going to bed!' squealed Sophie, trying to wiggle out of her mother's grasp.

'Come on, you're clearly a very grumpy paint bottle who needs her sleep,' said Amelie, pushing her gently towards the box, 'Why must we go through this every night?'

Knowing she had been beaten and seeing her mother's cross face, Sophie gave a yawn and reluctantly hopped into the box and settled down, eyes nearly closing.

'There we go, that wasn't too hard, was it?' said Amelie, as she tucked Sophie in.

'Mama?' Sophie then said.

'Yes, darling, what is it?' Amelie replied.

'Will I ever be a girl again?' Sophie said, 'and will Leon fall in love with the mistress and break the spell so that you, Papa and everyone else will be what they were before?'

Amelie faltered, not entirely sure what to say, feeling very conflicted about telling her daughter the truth or to lie. Seeing her cute, innocent face full of hope and not expecting disappointments made her heart tug at the strings and feel even more uncertain about the spell breaking, especially after hearing the Beast throw a huge temper tantrum about dinner and Leon refusing to eat with her.

Looking down at the drawing Sophie had done of the three of them as their past human selves in her typical style of blobs, yellowing and crumpled with age, surrounded by crayon stubs, along with her other fading drawings, made Amelie sigh and wonder if they would ever be human again.

'Mama..' Sophie said, wanting her question answered, which made Amelie snap out of her reminiscing and face her daughter, her big green eyes full of the eagerness, hope and optimism of the little girl she once was which made her feel guilty about what she was about to say to her, as she felt she deserved to know the truth, but.. she just couldn't do it. She couldn't gather her hopes and crush them.

She was only a little girl and she needed to still hang on to hope, whatever little was left of it.

Amelie had to lie to her daughter for the first time in her life.

'I think so, darling,' she said. She didn't sound terribly convincing, but Sophie seemed to be drinking it up like water, 'I believe your new friend Leon might make it happen if he and the mistress try hard enough with our help to fall in love but you have to understand that it takes time…'

'Which we haven't got!' said Raymond, seeing though his wife's ruse, as he was well aware of the truth and was furious inside that Amelie was lying to Sophie.

'Raymond, please don't interrupt me,' said Amelie, annoyed, 'but I promise you will be a girl again soon. Just keep holding on to hope and it will happen, wait and see.'

'Do you promise Mama?' Sophie said.

'With all my heart,' said Amelie, although she could see Raymond frowning at her and she could only wish she believed what she was saying as easily as Sophie was.

Sophie gave another yawn and slowly drifted off to sleep, satisfied with her mother's promise and was eager for morning to come so that Leon would play with her.

'Good night Mama and Papa,' she said sleepily, as she drifted off. Both parents gave her a kiss and Amelie stroked her with her brush.

'Goodnight, darling,' they both said, 'we love you very, very much.'

'Sleep tight, don't let the brushes tickle you,' said Raymond, as they lovingly watched Sophie, as she slept peacefully, her soft snores the only sounds that could be heard in the studio. Quietly, as not to wake her, they jumped off the table.

Once away from Sophie, Raymond whispered angrily,

'Amelie, why did you have to lie to Sophie about being human again? You know that's not going to happen, given how the mistress has been for the past ten years! Why didn't you tell her the truth? I mean, did you even believe half of the things you said?'

'I had to Raymond!' Amelie hissed back, ' Sophie is only a little girl..'

'Paint bottle, Amelie,' Raymond corrected her, 'It's what she's been for years and will be forever!'

'No she won't be!' Amelie said, 'and I couldn't let her be disappointed by the truth about the beast that used to be her friend! She needs to stay positive and not to give up hope which is what you all basically have done! We're her parents and we need to set a good example and be positive ourselves!'

'In case you haven't noticed, Amelie,' said Raymond, 'there has been nothing to be positive about since the curse happened! If I hear the mistress roar one more time, I'll be needing eardrum replacement surgery!'

'You don't have any ears, Raymond!' hissed Amelie.

Neither one said another word for a while, the argument having been cut short, until Amelie silently went up to a shelf near the window and lifted a sheet off the wall, which revealed the portrait Raymond had painted of them together, holding each other close and smiling, for their wedding anniversary the year before the curse, covered in dust and the paint was peeling away.

They both looked at it silently, their argument soon forgotten as they held each other close, reminded of what they had been and probably never be again but could if…

'If only Leon could break the spell,' they both said, as their silent misery surrounded them. All they could do now to free themselves of it was to hang on to the little hope they had left and be positive for their daughter, who slept soundly in the art box.

In the kitchen, the staff were busy throwing away the now cold and uneaten food that was to be a grand (well, grand as they could make it) dinner for two, but since one had refused it like it was something unpleasant Sultan would bring in, it was instead going to waste.

Chef Bouche was the most dismayed, as he and Rebecca, being his assistant, spent two whole hours preparing the culinary masterpiece, only for their efforts to be in vain. He let everyone know about his anger and frustration by literally letting off steam.

Chip was getting ready to go to bed in the cupboard, his old sleeping place, which he had hoped never to sleep in again, just like Sophie's dislike of the art box. But he was going to again to his dismay and embarrassment, as several plates which were once some of the kitchen and scullery maids snickered at him.

'Well, goodnight everyone,' he said rather flatly, as he went into the cupboard, giving the plates a hard stare.

'Goodnight, Mama,' he then said to Mrs Potts, who was standing next to him.

'Chip,' she said, 'aren't you forgetting something?'

Chip gave a groan for he knew exactly what it was and while he liked doing it as a little boy, it had become more embarrassing as a teenager, especially with the kitchen and scullery maids watching him.

'Mama, not in front of everyone, especially the maids, they'll laugh at me,' he hissed, as they giggled at him, but Mrs Potts was not to be deterred.

'I still expect my goodnight kiss from you and you're never too old to give your mother one. It's nothing to be embarrassed about.' Mrs Potts said, as the maids made kissy faces at him.

'Mama, don't make me do this,' Chip moaned, but his mother persisted and Chip kissed her on the cheek and the plates, spoons, forks and the other teacups laughed and teased him. Had he been human, Chip would've blushed and died of embarrassment or wanted to crawl into a dark hole.

'Thank you dear,' Mrs Potts said, 'now off to the cupboard with you,' kissing him and he went inside the cupboard, still embarrassed about having to kiss his mother in front of everyone.

'Goodnight, Mama, sorry about before,' he said, quick to apologise.

'That's alright, dear, goodnight,' Mrs Potts replied and smiled at her son, as he went to sleep and went over to where Chef Bouche and Rebecca were, as the dishes and a large majority of the food were being tossed carelessly into the sink and waste tub, as if they were no use to anyone.

It was a good thing that they weren't alive so there wouldn't be any deaths due to the rough way they were being thrown in the sink.

'Is everything alright, Rebecca?' Mrs Potts said to Rebecca, noticing the distressed look on the ragdoll's face at seeing her hard work being thrown away.

'No, Mrs Potts, it isn't,' said Rebecca, ' Chef Bouche and I slaved and worked very hard on that dinner and Lumiere and I arranged it so beautifully on the table like a grand feast and it has been for nothing! Two hours of fine cuisine going down the drain!'

'It doesn't matter now, mademoiselle,' Chef Bouche said bitterly, 'I know you and I worked very hard on what was to be a piece de resistance of the finest food we had available to us but it has been FOR NOTHING! NOTHING!' as steam shot out from him.

'It's only fit to be garbage, never to be enjoyed all because of that boy! He should've known better not to refuse dinner with the mistress!'

'Oh, stop your grousing, you two,' Mrs Potts said, 'It's been a long day for all of us,'

'I'm sorry Mrs Potts, but you know that I don't like it when any meal I make gets rejected or goes unfinished.' Rebecca said.

'I know dear and you did your best,' said Mrs Potts.

'It's such a shame the meal you and Chef Bouche made so splendidly had to go to waste,' said Cogsworth, coming in the kitchen, ' It looked very delicious.'

'Thank you Cogsworth and Mrs Potts,' said Rebecca, 'but if you ask me, the boy was just being stubborn. After all, the mistress did say 'please,'

'She only did that because I told her to!' snapped Cogsworth, ' but you're right, Rebecca, she did for the first time in forever.'

'And nobody asked you, Rebecca!' a shrill voice said, which belonged to Nathalie, who was one of the plates and had a sneer on her face which was aimed at her rival and she was eager to rip into her.

'Oh, go soak your head, Nathalie, the sink's still full,' said Rebecca, smirking at her.

'Ha ha, very funny, Rebecca,' Nathalie said, bemused by Rebecca's little joke, 'You think you're so clever, don't you? It's such a pity your culinary skills have deserted you since your meal has been rejected yet again!'

'Maybe so, but unlike you, I can still do this!' said Rebecca, waving her arms and legs around, being the only one in the castle, apart from the Beast , to still have them.

Before Nathalie could retaliate, Mrs Potts said,

'Girls, please stop your silly arguing. Go back to the cupboard, Nathalie and leave Rebecca alone.'

Nathalie sulked, while muttering, 'Trust you to take her side,' and went back to the cupboard while sulking at Rebecca.

'Anyway,' Cogsworth said, 'what are we going to do about the mistress? Our last hope has literally come out of nowhere and she has all but destroyed it in her tantrums and her uncontrollable temper!'

'I don't know anymore, Cogsworth,' said Mrs Potts, sadly, 'but what else can we do? We tried our best but if she doesn't control that temper of hers, we'll never break the..'

She was soon interrupted by Lumiere coming in the kitchen in a harried way, with a flustered look on his face, with wax dripping down.

'Lumiere, what's wrong?' said Rebecca, concerned.

'Cogsworth, Mrs Potts, mademoiselle Rebecca, he's gone! I can't find him anywhere!' Lumiere managed to say.

'Who's gone?' Mrs Potts said.

'The boy is ! I was keeping guard like Cogsworth told me to and when my back was turned, he left his room and when I looked in, he wasn't there!' said Lumiere.

'Were you frolicking with Babette again, when this happened?' said Rebecca.

'Uh..' Lumiere said.

'Of course you were, you idiot! How could you let this happen AGAIN, Lumiere?' said Cogsworth, 'I've should've known better not to trust you! I'm going to give you what for, you fool made of wax!'

'Cogsworth, let me explain,' Lumiere said but before he could get a word in or before Cogsworth could deliver a punch to him, Leon came into the kitchen, having found it fairly easily than he had expected, stopping the little clock in mid-punch and making everyone stop and turn in his direction.

'Ah monsieur, it's so good to see you!' Lumiere said, relieved to see Leon and to not get punched in the face, 'I don't believe we've had the pleasure of introducing ourselves, non? I was to do it first, but that idiot Remy beat me to it,'

'I don't think we have, although I did see you in the dungeon and with your mistress earlier,' said Leon.

'Well, let me introduce myself, monsieur,' said Lumiere, offering a unlit candle for Leon to shake, 'My name is Lumiere and I am the suave, charming maître'd of the castle and it's an absolute pleasure to meet you, dear boy and to serve you!'

'Nice to meet you too, Lumiere,' said Leon, shaking his candle, 'My name is…'

'Leon Dupont, yes, I knew that already, Mrs Potts told me.' Lumiere said.

'And this is Cogsworth, the head of the household,' he then said, pointing to him as he nodded and bowed.

'Splendid to make your acquaintance, sir,' Cogsworth said.

'And last but certainly not least, this lovely young mademoiselle, the ragdoll you see before you, is our brilliant assistant cook and doll maker, Rebecca!' said Lumiere, as she came over to Leon and curtseyed to him.

'An extreme pleasure to meet you, monsieur,' she said, 'I can only hope that you are nothing like Remy because I don't need another person like him around me!'

'Is he your boyfriend, then, Rebecca?' said Leon, which made her screw up her face in disgust.

'He most certainly is NOT!' said Rebecca, outraged, 'Never has been and never will be, despite what delusional fantasies run through his stupid and obnoxious mind! Can't that idiot get it through his thick skull that I have absolutely NO INTEREST in him whatsoever?'

Leon smiled at her, thinking of Amandine as she said it.

'Anyway, monsieur, if there is anything we can do for you this fine evening, which is still young, please don't hesitate to ask!' Lumiere said.

'Well..' Leon said, as his stomach growled louder than before, 'I guess I am a little hungry and I would be grateful if you could get me something to eat, if it's not too much trouble.'

'It's no trouble at all!' said Rebecca.

'And judging by that growling stomach of yours, I say that you are practically starving!' said Mrs Potts.

'Well, what are we doing standing around? Let's get the boy the most magnificent dinner he's ever had before he keels over!' said Lumiere, which made the dishes light up in excitement, 'unless, of course all the food has been thrown away.'

'Oh no, it hasn't,' said Rebecca, 'there's still plenty left,' as she instructed the dishes to load up and reheat the food that hadn't been discarded, along with some freshly made dishes.

'Oh no, you don't!' Cogsworth said, outraged at the servants disobeying the mistress's orders, 'the mistress made it clear that we are not to give the boy anything to eat and I shudder to think what the consequences would be!'

'But Cogsworth, we can't let him go hungry any longer and I'm not having any more of my meals going to waste!' Rebecca said.

'She's right, Cogsworth, so have a heart and let us give the boy the dinner he deserves!' Lumiere added.

Realising that it would be no use arguing, especially since he would most likely be on the losing end of it, Cogsworth sighed and said,

'Oh, alright, do what you want! Stuff the boy senseless with food for all I care but do one thing for me- PLEASE keep the noise down!'

Not wanting to waste another minute, as the food was being prepared (and reheated), Lumiere led Leon to the main dining room and said,

'And what is dinner without a little music, for old time's sake?'

'MUSIC?! Oh no, no, no, Lumiere, I forbid you to sing that song!' Cogsworth said, only to get the door slammed in his face.

'Why do I even bother?' he said, hoping that the mistress would not find out about the latest flouting of the rules and her orders.