Forte may not have looked it, but he was quite strong. He took Cherry to her room and set her on the bed.
Cherry giggled, looking like a little girl, she even tried to tug on his silver hair. "You're a silly man... Silly, silly, silly..."
"Sleep off the alcohol." Forte says quietly.
Cherry giggled, still grabbing him. "Let's dance!" she called, then cackled out loud.
Forte took her hold off and helped her into night clothing and made her go to sleep. He locked the door behind him and went downstairs where everybody else was.
As Mrs. Potts got to the end of her story, Adam came in with Belle. "Merry Christmas to one and all!" he called.
The others clamored and went to go see the prince with his new princess.
"And Merry Christmas to you, sir!" Cogsworth greeted back.
"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Lumiere was delighted.
Avenant put his arm around her and he looked to see Belle and Adam. Ah, that was definetly them, Adam looked a little familiar though, but no doubt that Belle was.
Chip was standing with his mother. Mrs. Potts smiled. Belle looked up to Adam and then smiled at her friends. Katie looked over at Adam and Belle. Forte shut the doors and locked them purposely so Cherry wouldn't be in hysteria and plus, so this Avenant fellow wouldn't go after her, he tucked the key in his coat pocket and quickly went downstairs.
Adam reached into his coat and handed Chip a present for him. "I believe we have something for you, Chip."
Avenant still remained mysterious.
Chip looked surprised. "A present for me?" He asks, surprised. "Can I open it mama?" He asks.
Mrs. Potts looked at the adults a moment, teasing Chip slightly, but then nodded. Belle watched him, grinning. Katie was about to go and let them know, her mind coming back to her for now. Adam watched with a smile, there was nothing more thrilling than a child opening a present. He hoped the boy would love it.
Forte watched Chip tear at the wrapping paper, that was a nice sight indeed... He then sighed as he felt he could never become a father like he had always wanted to, he always had the wish of becoming one, but he was always to busy to even settle down. Besides, who could ever love someone like him? Avenant didn't want Katie to leave, but that might make everyone suspicious, so he just let her go.
Chip tore open the paper and looked excited. "Look Mama, a storybook! Would you read it to me?" He asks her.
Mrs. Potts smiled. "Of course, dear." she says.
Katie glanced back at him, warily a little.
Adam smiled at this, then looked back to the crowd. "Maestro?"
People stepped back, showing Fife. "Yes, Master?"
"Would you do us the honors, old friend?"
"I'd be delighted!" Fife giggled, he then played his instrument to start the music.
"Where are you going, mon cherie?" Avenant grabbed Katie by the arm.
Forte smiled to Fife, but then looked over, he could sense some trouble. Chip smiled. Belle looked happy for Fife.
Katie blushed, caught by his gaze again. "I-I was going to t-talk to P-Prince Adam." she says. After all, she had said she was friends with him.
"But we promised a dance..." Avenant whispered sharply to her.
Forte walked over to Katie and Avenant, checking over them, folding her arms, he had a feeling about those two being alone together. "Is there a problem here?"
Katie bit her lip, indeed they had. She then looked at Forte. "Oh, bonjour, Maestro Forte... This is Avenant." she starts to introduce.
"Ah, you are this Avenant..." Forte glanced.
Avenant quickly made something up. "I'm her fiance."
"Oh, do tell..." Forte smirked as if he didn't believe the man, but luckily, he could often hide sarcasm well, especially among those lower class to him, a lot like Cherry's deadpan snarkiness.
Katie blinked at the sudden change of her current relationship status.
"Yes... We're old friends..." Avenant made up as he went along, not realizing or knowing that Katie wasn't from this time period.
"Congratulations... Mind if I take the lady to the punch bowl to bless her?" Forte asked, using an old tradition.
Avenant glanced to him, but allowed it, believing it would be all right. "I want her back though." he chuckled.
"Of course, sir..." Forte said respectively, then went to take Katie for the 'blessing'.
Katie followed with Forte. She put on a small confused smile, to keep up appearances for Avenant to see.
"Why aren't you staying with Lumiere?" Forte whispered to her sharply.
"I was on my way back over and he came up to me." Katie frowned slightly.
Forte sighed and shook his head. "I believe it was you who advised to stay with someone at all times... Cerise and myself were very worried about you, Katie... Well... Before she started to drink your punch..."
Katie looked at him. "She drank my punch..." she huffs. She then got back on track. "I know what I was doing, Maestro... and you know what, stuff your blessing... I was being careful even when on my own," she huffs. "You better return to Cherry, to keep an eye on her." she says, and made to walk off, towards the group, but going the longer way.
Forte held her back. "Katie, what's gotten into you? I may not have known you as long as her, but I can tell you wouldn't normally be this fussy..."
"Look... I was looking forward to a nice evening as we were invited to the party, I discovered the note and I was told to keep an eye out and to be careful... I'm small, yes, but I'm an adult!" She narrowed her eyes at him. She pulled away again.
Forte was shocked by her force as she went off. "Katie!"
Avenant looked to Katie, waiting for her to come back to him. Katie ignored Forte, taking the long way again, probably going to pass Avenant. She grumbled quietly. Forte looked a little worried to Katie.
"Ah, Katie, 'ow are you zhis evening?" Lumiere asked Katie with a friendly smile.
"Annoyed..." Katie says quietly, sighing heavily. She looked at him "Is Prince Adam still around?" She asks quietly.
"I saw 'im go to zhe balcony with Belle," Lumiere explained, worriedly about her mood. "'e had a present for 'er too."
Katie looked at him. "Well, when he comes back in, tell him Avenant is here..." she says softly. She then prepared to continue on.
Lumiere looked alarmed now. Katie looked at him and offered a small weak smile before going off.
Adam had given Belle a present of her own and it was a pink rose from the gardens that was just for her, it strongly resembled his old enchanted one. Belle looked at the rose and the Adam.
Adam smiled back to her and they looked to the starry sky together. "Joyeux Noel, Belle."
"Joyeux Noel, Adam." Belle smiles and then kissed him.
Adam kissed back, this was a happy moment for them, they were unaware of what had been happening.
Avenant saw Katie going and he looked a bit dark. Forte sighed, a little worried for Katie himself, he then went to go back upstairs and see if Cherry had fallen asleep already, he also had a tiny bottle hidden in his pocket. It had been aspirin, it had not been made yet and he kept it in his pocket for her in the next morning, knowing she would have the worst headache in the world by the time she would wake up. Katie glanced around for Avenant.
Avenant grabbed Katie by the arm with a grin. "There you are..."
Katie looked at him. "Oh..." she blinks.
Anvenant grinned darkly. "You don't look too bad... Maybe I'll spare your life..."
Katie blinked rapidly. "I won't let you hurt the others." she whispers.
"Do you want to get hurt as well?" Avenant threatened, no longer being very nice to her.
Katie paled. She tried to get her arm free then stopped. "What if I gave you something for not hurting them?" She suggests.
Avenant gave her a look. "I'm listening..."
"Tell me what you want... If I can, I'll give it you." Katie tells him.
Belle shivered a little, but smiled.
"I want revenge," Avenant told her sharply, looking to Belle and Adam. "They've made me lose my brother... They made the villagers live without him! All because of that blasted Belle, she wouldn't accept Gaston and make her the luckiest girl in all the land!"
"I can't give you that... But what about me?" Katie suggests quietly.
Avenant made a move similar to his long gone older brother and grinned darkly. "You or your little friend will marry me."
Katie took a gentle inhale. "I'll marry you... But you can't hurt the others." she says softly, but firmly.
Avenant looked a little firm about her proposition about not hurting the others.
"I'll give you all myself... Just... Please." Katie says softly.
Avenant growled, but he gave in. "Very well..." he agreed to it. "But don't you dare try anything funny."
"I won't." Katie says, crossing the fingers behind her back, just in case.
Belle came in with Adam, smiling up at him.
Avenant saw Belle and Adam and coming from the corner of his eye and looked sharply back to Katie. "Act natural." he told her firmly, not seeing what she did, and put his arm around her.
"Great music, Fife." Adam told the younger man.
"Oh, umm... Thank you, Master." Fife chuckled bashfully.
Katie took a quiet breath again. She put on a small smile, trying to hide her worry. Her hands were carefully folded now in front of her.
"It was beautiful, Fife, I hope you have many more chances to show your talent." Belle smiles.
"I hope so too..." Fife blushed to her.
Katie looked over at Adam and Belle.
Belle smiled. She looked around a moment, happy. "Oh... Who's that with Katie?" She wonders. She could focus when she tried.
"You alright, Belle?" Adam asked, looking down to her.
Fife went off to see the others as they praised him for his solo and how he had always wanted one.
"Shall we go see them?" Avenant asked Katie if she wanted to see Belle and Adam.
"Just as long as you don't be mean." Katie says quietly. After all, he probably would anyway.
Mrs. Potts congratulated Fife, smiling. Avenant gave a firm nod again. Fife felt like he was accomplished for once in his life. Katie nodded then. Mrs. Potts smiled. Chip just grinned at Fife. Mrs. Potts smiled, knowingly.
Fife looked back to Mrs. Potts after looking to Angelique. "She always looks so beautiful..."
Mrs. Potts nodded, going to get him to let Angelique know. "Someone is sure to want to court her." she says.
Fife rubbed his arm nervously and went to speak with the castle decorator in private. Mrs. Potts smiled in silence. Fife was still nervous to speak with the woman, but once they finally talked, it ended in a tight hug.
Even Cogsworth and Lumiere applauded Fife, even if they believed at first he was a nuisance, this was a really good night for him to shine. Angelique giggled with her compliments to him and he felt empowered with her.
"Look, there is someone with their arm around Katie." Belle says quietly.
Adam looked over and saw the two, his eyes widened as this seemed rather familiar to him somehow.
Avenant decided to go to Belle and Adam with a grin. "Well, hello there..."
Katie looked at Adam, flickering her eyes to Avenant and back. She kept a smile on her face.
"Bonjour," Belle greets. "Katie, who is this?" She asks.
Adam couldn't help but study Avenant, something about him seemed very familiar.
"I'm her fiance." Avenant said for Katie.
Katie nodded. "Oui." she says softly.
Belle looked surprised.
"What is your name?" Adam asked.
Avenant looked to him, he then revealed his name. Adam looked alarmed and aggressive.
"Ah, ah, ah, I am not going to hurt a soul..." Avenant said with a grin. "Just so long as I get what I want."
Belle looked confused. Katie glanced at her gently. She bit her bottom lip nervously, but trying to keep her brave front.
"You better not try to hurt her..." Adam warned Avenant firmly.
"If she disagrees with our little deal, I'll strike when you least expect it." Avenant promised them darkly.
Belle looked at Avenant, then Adam. Katie looked at Avenant too.
"I would also like to stay since Katie and her friend are staying here." Avenant added in.
Adam's face paled slightly, but he allowed it, trying not to seem suspicious and jump to conclusions. "Very well... She has her own room with one bed..."
"Well, there's no harm in sharing, isn't there?"
"No, I suppose not."
Belle saw the similarities between him and Gaston. Katie blushed a hundred shades of red at the mention of sharing a bed.
"Well, I'll take good care of her..." Avenant promised slyly, no one could tell for sure if he was being honest or planning something for later.
Adam gulped, he was a little nervous about this, but he allowed it to happen. "Very well..."
Katie blushed even deeper. She fanned herself gently with her hand. "It's a little warm..." she murmurs.
Belle looked worried a little. She then went to fetch Mrs. Potts.
"Maybe she should get some sleep... It's been a long day after all..." Avenant did not leave Katie's side.
Katie was still trying to cool down. Belle found the woman reading to Chip now.
"Now, mind showing us a room?" Avenant seemed eager to take Katie away now.
"Erm... Let's wait until Belle comes back..." Adam didn't know Katie that well either, but he didn't want this creep to be alone with her.
Belle was bringing Mrs. Potts over. Katie was almost falling if not for Avenant's hold.
"Oh dear, what happened?" Mrs Potts asked, coming over to check on Katie.
Katie looked at the woman softly.
Avenant looked to Mrs. Potts. "Oh hello there..."
"She doesn't look well..." Adam looked to Katie.
Mrs. Potts checked over Katie. "I think it's bed rest for the rest of the night..." she says softly. She went to take Katie to Katie's current room.
Katie bit her lip softly.
"I'll go with her..." Avenant went to follow the two women.
Mrs. Potts looked at Avenant, not knowing who he was.
"I-It's okay, Mrs. Potts..." Katie sighs softly.
"It's okay... I'll take care of her..." Avenant promised.
Mrs. Potts nodded unsurely, but took them to Katie's room. "Wait out here until I help her change." she says.
"Oui, madame." Avenant respected the older woman's wishes.
After the door shut, he looked all around with a rather evil smirk.