Chapter Thirty Two
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths!
Heh, yeah, I know I'm cruel but come on, did you guys really think a story titled Half and Half would make it so Ben didn't spend half his time on the Isle? Besides now Beast gets to see Leah's suffering first hand and I think that's a reward in and of itself lol
Tracie Adams: Oh thank you!
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Aww! Bal Pen Pals—hey it even rhymes! Still I think Ben would be happier with being able to see his friends in person.
danifan3000: Honestly it's hard to say right now
AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! I'm so glad you liked it! I loved writing it—granted I love writing any chapter that has a Leah punishment lol
Blue Wolf blade 16: I'm so glad you liked it!
Katt Kiki: Glad you liked it! :D
Guest: Oh thank you!
jedblack1997: Yep, the evil Grandma has finally found justice!
SaikoGoyangi: Glad you liked it!
Olliviabensonnlovesvu: Ask and you'll receive! :D
twilightgirl587: The day Leah puts herself in someone else's shoes is the day the sky falls lol
alexis: It should happen soon :D
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Beast held back a sigh as he wiped down the counter of Lord Hades' restaurant. It had been a few days since he received a letter from Belle, personally telling him about how it had been Leah who had been the one messing with the food supply and who had been the one responsible for all of the deaths and that he could come home, and if Beast was honest…he didn't know how to feel about that last part.
Yes, he missed his wife. Yes he missed his children. Yes, he missed the sun and the life he had in Auradon. But…as he continued to live among the people of the Isle, as he continued to grasp the lives he had subjected them to…he couldn't go home. He didn't deserve to go home.
The only issue now was he didn't know how to tell Belle.
It's not fair to her, me dragging my feet, he thought. And it's not fair to Ben to always be going back and forth every six month, or Abby as well once she's old enough to start coming. It's not fair to have their education always be interrupted though I know Belle would probably work with their teachers; with how much she values education, I know Belle would never let our kids slip through the cracks.
"Okay, what's eating you?"
Beast looked over at Hades and tilted his head. "What do you—?"
"You've been wiping that same spot for about fifteen minutes now. I'd be impressed if I wasn't more concerned I'd need to get a new counter because you wiped a hole in mine," Hades told him. "I'd thought you'd have been jumping for joy at the idea of leaving this hellscape of a rock."
Beast sighed. "I…I don't think I should leave."
"…What?!"
"I'm being serious," Beast said as Hades stared at the former King in shock. "I miss Belle and of course I miss my children but…"
"But?"
"But as I look around at these people, these kids who have been forced to live in this mess that I was at least partially responsible for…" Beast said with another small sigh. "I should have checked on the Isle, I should have investigated what was causing the delay the first time we got a report of a delayed shipment—."
"But you didn't," Hades said and Beast nodded.
"But I didn't," he said.
"And because of that, you want to stay here?" Hades said raising an eyebrow. "You might be even more selfish than I thought you were."
"I…I beg your pardon!"
"You heard me," Hades said. "That whole speech of yours, I only heard you say how you'd be impacted, why it matters to you, how you missed your wife and your kids. Gods, hearing you talk, I can understand how you and Gaston used to be friends."
"How is it selfish to continue with living here?" Beast asked. "I don't deserve to go back to Auradon and it would put more strain on Belle anyway, trying to figure out what my new title would be. Not to mention Ben would likely riot if I made it so he couldn't see Uma or Harry anymore."
"Then tell Belle that."
"I…huh?"
Hades chuckled as he saw the confused look on Beast's face. "You need to Beast up and tell your wife what you're planning on doing. Otherwise, you're making even more work for her regardless of your intentions of making it so she didn't have to worry about extra work. Knowing what I know about our High Queen, she's likely hard at work with Persephone and the castle staff trying to see exactly where you could fit. And do you really think it's fair to your sunspot to be excited that his father's leaving the Isle only to find out that's not the case?"
"Well…no…"
"Then you know what you need to do," Hades told Beast. "Come on, Steph should be doing a portal call today so we can make sure you've got time to talk to Belle."
Hey Steph? Hades thought as the two men closed up the restaurant.
Yeah Hades?
Can you do me a favor?
Have you finally gotten through to whatever stubbornness our former King is exhibiting and got him to agree to talk to his wife?
I did in fact do that. It's like we've been together for eons or something, you know me so well. Can you make sure Belle's at the portal? This conversation really should be one that's made face to face, and Belle has done a good job implementing improvements but we still don't have cell coverage or internet.
I think the hospital and the food might be a bit more pressing dear.
Hmm…you may be right about that. Still though, the internet thing might be a good idea to look into, especially once the sunspot starts going to school.
What do you mean, Hades?
You're honestly telling me Belle hasn't started to make plans to enroll her son in school? I thought six years old was when mortals started to go…wait, on that note, what are we going to do about schooling for Mal? It's not like she can go to Dragon Hall half the year and then whatever school she goes to in Auradon.
Hades, I think we need to pick one thing to focus on, Persephone said. Okay? Let's just get Beast talking to Belle and then we can focus on Mal's schooling and working with Belle about Ben's schooling for when he's on the Isle.
Okay, Hades nodded. Persephone was right, that was the best course of action. Plus then he didn't have to deal with a moping Beast all over his Underworld.
"Hello Hades," Persephone said as he and Beast stood in front of the portal.
"Hey Steph," Hades said with a small smile. "Thanks for the head's up about Leah's arrival date. Uma and Harry were quite excited to greet her with smoke bombs as soon as she stepped foot on the Isle."
"Why am I not surprised?" Persephone asked, shaking her head. "And how did they make these smoke bombs?"
"Apparently Anastasia Tremaine supervises their smoke bomb making," Hades said. "According to Uma, as long as they don't make a mess or purposefully spill any product, Anastasia's fine with them making their smoke bombs though sometimes she will leave her daughter Ava to supervise if she has to help deliver a baby."
"That almost seems like a recipe for disaster, especially if you're leaving Harry and Uma alone."
"You heard they have supervision right?"
"Hades, you know as well as I that Ava Tremaine is not enough supervision for those two. At the very least, talk to Clayton and see if his son will agree to join in the supervision." Persephone said and then shook her head. "Well anyway, I don't think we should take up too much of Queen Belle's time especially since we've got the access to the mental link and she doesn't."
"Right, right," Hades nodded before pausing to mutter into Beast's ear. "Talk to your wife or I swear to all the Gods of Olympus, I will drop kick you into the Straight of Ursula until you come to your senses."
Beast nodded, if only because he knew Hades would make good on his threat, and sighed softly as Hades walked off.
"How…how have you been Adam?" Belle asked softly. "I haven't…we didn't hear anything from you when the news broke about Leah being sentenced…"
"I know…and I'm sorry," Beast said, his voice just as soft as Belle's was. "I didn't mean to worry you or anything, I just…"
Belle gave Beast a sad smile. "You're not coming back, are you?"
"How did you…?"
"Adam, I've lived with you for how long? Not to mention we have two children together. I think I know you by now," Belle told him.
Beast couldn't help but give Belle a small smile of his own as he heard that. "I want to Belle, believe me, I do. I just…I see all these people who we cast to the side and yes, some of them are adult villains who tried to kill us, either with weapons or their stupidity, but a lot of them are kids."
"You've come a long way from thinking Mal was making up her story to sew discord in Auradon," Belle said, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Yeah well…living among the kids can do that," Beast shrugged. "…Though hopefully I'll never have to smell rotten eggs again since the food won't be a factor."
"Rotten eggs…?"
"Some of the VKs took to pelting me with them when I arrived here," Beast said. "However, judging by the way Leah's been treated, I think the VKs have a new target. I can't say I'm complaining much to be honest."
"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me," Belle said with a small smile before she sighed. "I won't lie Adam, I'll miss you. But…I think Ben will at least be happy he won't have to say goodbye to his friendships with Harry and Uma."
"Belle…what are we going to do about Ben's schooling?" Beast asked. "It's not fair to him to have separate schooling throughout the year, not to mention how much Dragon Hall and the Auradon school systems differ."
"I've actually been thinking about that," Belle said. "I've been working with Fairy Godmother and Lady Persephone and…if you don't completely hate the idea Adam, I was thinking you could homeschool Ben while he's on the Isle? Fairy Godmother can work with the other heads of the Auradon schools to create lesson plans, and that way Ben won't be behind when he comes back here for what little schooling he'd get."
"What do you mean?"
"Adam…Ben would be in Auradon for Spring and Summer," Belle said. "Schooling is primarily Fall through Spring, he'd be getting the majority of his schooling on the Isle."
"Oh…right…" Beast nodded. "Wouldn't it be better to have Yen Sid teach Ben? He teaches over at Dragon Hall so he's used to it—."
"Adam, that's not fair to him," Belle pointed out.
"I just…do I have the temperament to be a teacher?"
Belle shook her head. "In all honesty, no. But I know you Adam, you would never yell at Ben. Plus you'd be working with Lady Persephone so you wouldn't be alone. And Mal will be with him so Ben will be used to working with other kids."
"Alright…if you think this will work Belle."
"I'm positive it'll work Adam." Belle told him and Beast couldn't help but feel a bit of optimism as well. How could he not? Belle was so on top of things, she'd thought of issues and solved them before they had even dawned on him. His wife was amazing.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"For what?" Belle asked.
Beast sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't respond to your letter right away, I'm sorry you have to deal with all of this, I'm sorry I'm on the Isle in the first place. You don't deserve all this stress Belle and I really hope the castle staff is at least providing you aid."
"Everyone's been more than helpful," Belle said with a small smile. "Though I won't lie, I'm a little worried about Chip. You know how he used to have all his friends over? Well now, there only seems to be Lucas."
"Are they distancing themselves because of me?" Beast asked.
"I don't know," Belle sighed. "Mrs. Potts has tried to talk to Chip but all he will tell her is that Ben needs him more than his friends do right now."
Beast smiled slightly. "I think I know what the issue is. It's not Chip's friends distancing themselves but Chip's overworking himself. Tell him he's to take a day off and spend time with his friends, and I know he loves Ben like a brother but I mean friends his age. He's a teen, he shouldn't be burnt out so young."
It was Belle's turn to give a small smile as she heard her husband say that. "I have no doubt Ms. Potts will be on your side when it comes to this, Adam. I'll make sure Chip gets a day off. Though he may argue that he doesn't need it."
"That's the problem with teens, they think they're invincible," Beast said, shaking his head.
"I think that goes for everyone dear," Belle said, giving Beast a loving smile. "I'll explain everything to Ben, but I think no matter what he'll just be happy to see you. He misses you."
"I miss him too," Beast said. "But it won't be too long until he'll see me again."
"I know, and thankfully young Mal and her Cerberus have been extremely helpful in keeping Ben's spirits up," Belle said. "Unfortunately though…Ben's having a similar issue with his friends as Chip has been having. I only ever see Emir, Lonnie and Akiho over here…though Ariel and Eric have sent invitations to both Ben and Mal to spend time with young Elle."
"Good," Beast nodded. "She deserves to have friends…hey Belle, I just thought of something—."
"You realized Auradon Prep and the other schools in the system aren't very well equipped to handle a student in a wheel chair?"
"Oddly enough, that was what I was thinking. How did you know?"
"Lucky guess," Belle shook her head. "I'm working with Eric and Fairy Godmother on that. Right now the argument has been spending the funds to retrofit the schools with things for only one student to use. It would appear as favoritism."
"Belle, young Elle is a Godling and we do have shipping routes. Wouldn't it look more like you were trying to keep Poseidon happy?"
Belle sighed. "You're right Adam…I guess I've spent too long in trying to think about what Leah's next move would be or her next complaint that now that she's not a thorn in my side…"
"I get it," Beast said with a small smile. "I wish I was there with you Belle, I wish none of this had ever happened."
"…So do all who live to see such times," Belle said, her voice soft and Beast shook his head.
"Did you really just quote Tolkien at me?"
"Well would you rather I quote Romeo and Juliet?"
"Belle, you do that and I swear I will find a way to hide every copy of that play even if it means I have to bribe Ben and Mal and Chip to do so."
"You wouldn't!"
"Try me."
The two of them stared at each other for a minute before bursting out in laughter. Beast wasn't going to lie, it felt good to laugh with his wife."
"I miss you Adam," Belle said once her laughter had faded.
"I know," Beast said with a small sigh. "And I wish more than anything I could be there with you but I just…I can't."
"I get it," Belle said. "I may not like it one hundred percent but I get it. You stay safe okay?"
"I'm practically wrapped in bubble wrap," Beast promised and Belle giggled once more. The two of them said their goodbyes and Beast resisted the urge to sigh as the portal connection shut off. He made the right choice.
So why did it feel like he hadn't?