Soon everyond had eaten and had a time of slight bonding. But all too soon it was bedtime. Katie was curled up lying next to a fire, petting Sultan. Suddenly, as they all ate, someone had entered the dining room, hiding in the shadows.

"Cerise, why did you bring up the old court composer anyway?" Adam couldn't help but ask.

Cherry rubbed her arm a little nervously. "Well... There's something you should know about him..."

Katie wasn't being rude by being away from the table. And Belle had told her where to go as she, Katie herself, had taken Sultan for a walk to do his business. Belle looked at Cherry. The people at one end of the table and looked a little shocked. The others turned and looked to see an old face they hadn't seen in a while.

"Excuse me..." Forte greeted with a small smile, hiding nervousness around the crowd he was once a part of. "Don't let me intrude..."

Belle looked worried. Katie was almost asleep by the fire she had been shown to to warm up by.

Adam looked a little shocked and then firm. "W-What are you doing here?"

"I'll have you know I was invited here..." Forte explained.

Cherry hid a little under the table, she was now scared and worried of how everyone would react to this.

"M-Maestro..." Fife squeaked, he was a little scared, more of him though than his Master.

Katie sensed the trouble and started to make her way back to the dining room. Belle looked at Cherry, softly.

Mrs. Potts looked the calmest. "Let's hear him out." she suggests.

The others were alarmed by that idea.

"Y-Yes... Hear him out..." Cherry agreed with the woman.

Forte walked over, closer to everyone, he took a seat next to Cherry, looking to his fellow servants. "I do not wish for forgiveness... I just ask that you accept my apology... I shouldn't have tried to hurt you all... But I shan't ever do it again."

The others quietly murmured, they were still alarmed to be among him. Adam had a firm look, he wasn't sure what to do or say, but at least he wasn't yelling or barking at him. Katie looked around as she walked. Mrs. Potts looked at him a long while, then nodded.

"May I please have some tea?" Forte asked Mrs. Potts, that was all he wanted for now, he wanted to calm himself down a little with his nerves.

Mrs. Potts nodded and fetched him some tea. Belle looked nervous, but was calmly thinking over what he said. Cherry ate her food, quietly, she offered some to Forte here and there, but he waved his hand to it, not wanting it. She then shrugged and ate some of it.

The others were silent, not sure what they could say to him without it being offensive in some way. They didn't even know he was still alive and what was he doing with these two innocent girls? Mrs. Potts came back with a fresh cup of tea. Belle looked at Forte. Katie got to the door of the dining room. Cherry looked to Katie, her face asking her if she was going to sit down and eat with them.

Forte gave a small smile to the kindly woman. "Merci." he thanked her.

Mrs. Potts smiled. She had taken them snacks to have with tea. She had accepted Forte's apology. Katie hid a yawn, but shook her head, smiling softly.

"I know this is big..." Cherry said softly.

"It's huge..." Adam muttered.

Cherry flinched a little, she was worried this might be a bad sign.

"He wouldn't be here if he wasn't sincere." Belle admits, softly.

Mrs Potts handed them all a cup of tea before bed. Cherry gave a face of thanks. At least someone out of her and Katie was being supportive.

"We can just go if you please..." Forte said, feeling unwanted like he had before. "I'll take the girls back where they belong."

"No, please stay a little." Belle says.

Katie came in and draped herself over the back of Cherry, like a blanket or cloak. Mrs. Potts hid a smile at that.

Cherry's eyes widened slightly, she looked up and saw what Katie did. "Hey..."

Forte looked to Belle. "Only if you wouldn't mind."

Adam glanced to his beloved.

"We should at least give him a chance... After all, you changed." Belle whispers to Adam.

Katie giggled.

Adam blinked, looking down. "Yes... I did..."

Forte sipped his tea a little, he wasn't expecting to be thanked right away, but he kept any comments and concerns to himself.

"Very well... You can stay as long as you need to... I'll just have a long and hard time forgiving you, Maestro." Adam told the man he was closest to.

"I understand, Sire..." Forte gave his respects after his drink.

Belle hugged her husband and sipped her tea. Katie was about falling asleep.

"Gerroff..." Cherry pretended to be angry with Katie.

Forte looked amused with the two girls.

"Non~ je suis désolé mais je suis fatigué." Katie hums in French.

"Uhhh..." Cherry was slow.

"You girls better get some sleep then," Forte said to them. "You've had a long day of traveling of course..."

Cherry pouted to him. "I'm not sleepy."

"I think you are..."

"No..."

"Allons au lit." Katie half-whines.

Mrs. Potts laughed a tiny bit. "Come on, dear." she says, helping Katie, and going to show her to a guest room.

Cherry went to go too then. "Bon nuit..." she told everyone.

"What did you say, Cerise?" Forte asked her.

"Uhh... I said good night!" Cherry said quickly as she followed Katie and Mrs. Potts.

"Bon nuit." Katie waves, tiredly.

Mrs. Potts chuckled. Belle smiled. That was funny.

Adam watched the girls and older woman leave, then looked to Forte. "You seem close with them..."

"Mostly Cerise..." Forte shrugged his shoulders. "I... Kind of look after her these days."

Belle looked at him, curious. Adam hummed a little at that. Forte looked back to Belle, had she wanted to hear more? Belle gave a tiny smile.

"Well..." Forte rubbed the back of his neck as the others were getting ready for bed and were clearing out. "I suppose I could tell you about it if you really want to know..."

Belle looked at the time, then hummed. "How about you tell us tomorrow, I'm sure you're weary after the day you've had." she says softly.

"Where will I stay?" Forte asked, not sure if his room would even still be avaliable.

Belle looked at Adam, then Forte. "Could one of the girls maybe share their room, just for tonight?" She wonders.

Adam glanced a little hardly.

"Well... If it's all right with them of course..." Forte shrugged about that.

"Yes..." Adam agreed. "Stay with one of them."

"Yes, Sir..." Forte still showed full respect.

Belle yawned a little and put a hand on her stomach, soothingly. Adam smiled to Belle, putting an arm around her. Forte went to go up the stairs and look for the girls to where they would be sleeping. Belle hugged him.

Adam stood with Belle, he had a yawn himself. "What a busy day... And we got an even bigger one tomorrow..."

Belle nodded. The happy couple went to get to their room, sharing good nights with the others.

Katie flopped on her bed, after a soft 'merci' to Mrs. Potts. Mrs. Potts showed Cherry to her room. Cherry smiled to the woman, as she looked around, she had a lot of nostalgia right now. Katie soon settled herself, smiling.

Forte was wondering whether to share with Katie or Cherry, he didn't know Katie that well and he felt very attached to Cherry like he was a closer father figure to her than her own father. Should he go with her or the other one? Katie starfished on the bed, under the covers, leaving no room for a guest to share it.

She couldn't help it when in a double bed on her own. Forte decided to share Cherry's room, seeing how occupied Katie was with her own. Katie didn't snore, her glasses by the side of her pillow. She slept pretty well.

"Good night, Mrs. Potts..." Cherry said delicately as she was tucked into her new bed for the evening, she looked very small and her eyes were getting very heavy. It was indeed a very exciting day.

"Good night, dear." Mrs. Potts says, placing the girl's glasses aside and then left the room.

Cherry let out a yawn and turned over to get some nice shut eye. Forte felt nervous, he saw Cherry sleep soundly, she looked adorable this way. Mrs. Potts didn't notice Forte. Forte wanted to speak with her again, but he just decided to go into Cherry's room and get some rest with her. Mrs. Potts checked on Katie, then blew out the candle in the girl's room, smiling softly.

Adam and Belle got themselves ready for bed. Adam got into his nightclothes and crawled under their covers.

Belle got into her nightdress and climbed in next to him. "What should we name the baby?" She whispers.

Adam tried to think of possible names. "Constance?" he asked, that name seemed popular around their time, especially for aristocrats.

Belle thought a moment, but shook her head.

Adam shrugged. "Umm... Clarice?"

"Hmm... Maybe... How about Gabrielle is it's a girl?" She suggests.

"Gabrielle..." Adam smiled at that name, it actually sounded perfect for their future child. "What a beautiful name..." he smiled, then gently put his hand over her tummy.

Belle giggled softly, smiling. She then yawned delicately behind her hand.

"Better get some sleep... We have a big day tomorrow..." Adam said gently once he got himself settled into their bed.

Belle nodded and hugged up to her husband. Katie smiled in her sleep. Adam smiled, he blew out their candles as they went to get some sleep to prepare for the next morning. The day before the night before Christmas. Also, their party they decided to hold annually at the castle since Christmas was no longer an issue with Adam.