- "Why would you come back?" Adam spoke with his jaw clenched

She was silent.

- "You left. You broke your promise and you left! How can I trust you again?"

- "You scared me. Where would I be if not here with you?" Belle asked softly, walking closer to him as he began stepping back.

- "Anywhere. Anywhere other than here." his breaths were sharper, angry hurt all over his eyes.

- "I didn't want to go anywhere. I wanted to be here!"

- "You just didn't know the way home!"

- "You sent me away! Very explicitly screamed at me to GET OUT! You hit the table! I got scared! But I've always wanted to stay!"

- "I won't keep you out of obligation to a promise. You're free to go wherever you wish. Just get out of my palace."

He couldn't figure her out, felt like she was playing with him and his feelings. She was dangerous, he had to let her go.

Armoring herself, she smiled, determined, still walking towards him.

- "No. You are only afraid. I am afraid too. It's okay, we can figure things out together." She gently offered, trying to appeal to him.

She was in a place he couldn't decipher. Through her body language, she clearly wasn't afraid of him anymore. There was something kind of fiery in her eyes, and that scared him, for he knew himself. He knew he couldn't let her in with no intention to keep her. If she did really want to stay, he knew he wouldn't be able to control himself not to fall even more in love with her than he already have. But if he was understanding wrong, he knew it would absolutely destroy him. Either way, he knew what he had to do. He couldn't let her stay anymore. In a calmer manner, he replied.

- "You don't know what you're talking about. I mean it. It's not fair to you. Forgive me for the time it took for me to realize it. You are free to go."

- "No. I want to stay. I am really sorry I hurt you. I was so scared. But never doubt I have always wanted to stay. Do you hear me? I've always wanted to stay. If you really want me to go, I will. But to make it very clear, I really want to stay but I will never push against your will."

There was only silence. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know how to tell her to stop leaving him. But he's too scared, too scared to ask for her to stay, because she was already too close, and he was scared to trust her again, scared that she would leave him again, that he would hurt again, and worst of all, that he would hurt her again. He was nothing but a monster and she deserved better.

- "You don't know what you're talking about. I can't be someone you deserve. You can't stay here. Please, you have to understand, my dear, you can't stay here."

- "Is this why you never come close to me? Are you scared… of me?" she whispered her face morphing slowly to hurt and that made him stop instantly. His eyes looked desperately for hers, to calm down his beating heart. This feeling of wanting to hug a person so badly, to be able to be theirs everything yet afraid to be so close to only to get left.

- "Do you really want me gone?" The words left her mouth, her eyes vulnerable, but defiantly meeting his.

- "You can't stay here."

- "Not what I asked."

- "You can't stay here. You are free."

He is startled as she lifts up his face with a delicate finger, her eyes glistening from tears threatening to spill. His heart picks up the pace again at the gentle touch

- "Once I leave, I will never be coming back. Do you understand that?"

The words felt like they turned themselves into humans stabbing him till he couldn't feel any more.

- "Do you really want me gone?"

She stepped back, giving him the space she felt he needed.

- "Say you want me gone" she gently demanded, but all he could do was calm his breathing.

- "I need to hear you say it. At least have the decency of totally breaking my heart. You owe me that." The room seemed silent now, echoing her words.

- "Say it" His dried up mouth was trying to form the words.

- "SAY IT!"

- "I can't."

She wrapped her hands around his waist pulling him close to her, as he slowly melted in her embrace.

- "If you leave, you have to do it now because I won't cope with you leaving me later. You have to accept me as a monster too" cupping her face. "Do you understand?"

- "I do. I want to stay with you. I am here, aren't I? I've always known what I was getting myself into. And I will only leave if you push me away. Do you understand?"

- "I do."

- "Do you really? Do you understand what that means?"

- "I do. I think I understand more than you. I am a monster, you know, how could you ever come to love a monster?"

- "I already do."

There was no magic sparkle, no choir singing, no transformation with the power of love. There was only a girl loving her monster exactly as he is.
And that was the most beautiful ending anyone could ever wish for.