Happiness is something that a person gets used to very quickly, and considers so habitual. And the absence of happiness is usually very noticeable. Gaston had been a happy and cheerful man all his life, and so, when that terrible period of longing in his chest and difficult choices was over, when the fear of losing his beloved evaporated - it was so wonderful to just be himself and be happy. An ordinary day seemed the most beautiful, especially the morning, when the already high sun made him open his eyelids, the first thing he felt was the warmth of the body of his most beloved person - Belle, and now he could hug her as much as he wanted.
There was no need to restrain himself in any way, to hold back, he could be himself and enjoy her love indefinitely.
Belle was still asleep, and Gaston held her tighter to him and stroked her hair, thinking in his head about their first date.
He wanted to show her the forest - the forest as a huge living thing with its own smells and sounds. Gaston was part of the forest, yes, he had taken the lives of its inhabitants, he was something of a predator, but in so many years he was already an inhabitant as well. The forest did not forgive mistakes, but if you accept its rules and live by its laws, the forest will show you amazing things. If you learned to tread as quietly as a deer, if you learned silence and patience, if you trained your body to resist cold, heat and weather, at some point you could not live without the forest.
The forest gave freedom and some kind of unity with nature, the forest showed secret paths, clean air and silence gave rest after the noise of the town with its market and tavern. It was possible to breathe fully, muscles became strong after a long walk and crossing places where it was difficult to pass an ordinary person, hearing and sense of smell became more acute. And her soul became calmer, as if the forest took away all the worries and all the sadness.
Belle hid from the world in books, her imagination took her to impossible air castles, and she did not see the beauty of nature that was very close to her. The forest frightened her, she once let slip that wolves had once attacked her. Gaston wanted to open the door for her to the world that was very near at hand, yes, sometimes dangerous and frightening, but so beautiful if one went there with an experienced guide.
His wife opened her eyes, awakening to his touch. She pressed herself against him, seeking the warmth of his body, trying to return to the dream world, but Gaston was already stirring her, kissing her face. He was finally awake and didn't want to waste any time.
"Wake up, we have a lot to do today! First date!"
Belle kissed him back and sat up on the bed, her fingers drawing incomprehensible patterns on his chest:
"Do you think Lefou will be really mad that we didn't show up at the tavern last night?"
Gaston laughed. Angry at him - Gaston - Lefou. That would be very funny.
"Let him be angry all he wants. When he marries himself, he'll understand why a man wants to stay with his little wife in the evening and not go to a tavern."
Belle blushed and got up to get her clothes. Gaston, his hand on his chin, admired her figure in the morning sunlight.
They dressed and went into the kitchen to make sandwiches for the picnic. Belle began cutting the bread and Gaston volunteered to help her. To be honest, he only got in the way because he kept kissing her, either on her neck or on her forearm, or catching her little hands and kissing her fingers. The girl would blush again and, laughing, kiss his lips, cheeks, and eyes. Lovers always act a little silly and alike, but it was a wonderful feeling. There was some special meaning lurking in those tender touches, jokes and kisses, and there was no time to spare. It was understandable why the newlyweds were called that, and why they were given a little time together after the wedding, but they were of little use to another people until they had had enough of each other.
At last the sandwiches were finished, and Gaston went about his primping.
Teeth cleaned, chin and cheeks smoothly shaved, the hunter sat down in front of the mirror. Hair. It had to be perfect. Gaston gazed into his reflection - he wonder how his face reflected that he was happy?
Whatever they said, happiness was in his face. His eyebrows were perfect, no frown or wrinkles on the bridge of his nose, his eyes sparkled, oh, that beautiful blue color, his cheeks were covered with a pleasant blush, no need to specify what thoughts were going through his head, but his hair... It needed work. Gaston brushed his hair and began to gather it into a braid, but one strand or the other got out of it. Belle was ready and waited patiently, watching his struggle with his hair with a smile.
Finally, she set the basket of sandwiches on the floor and walked over to him. The girl smiled slyly and mussed his hair.
"What are you doing, Belle!" Gaston howled.
"You're better this way, look," she said.
Belle pressed her cheek against his, and they both looked into the mirror. The mirror reflected their beautiful faces, perfect examples of male and female beauty. "You look like a Viking when your hair is like this..." she ran his black strands through her fingers.
"Like who?" Gaston watched in the mirror as Belle looked at him and admired him - finally! And it was more than pleasing.
"They were the mighty warriors of the northern lands," his wife replied.
"All right, then. Come," he stood up and offered Belle his arm. She took him under his arm and, grabbing a basket, they set off into the woods.
The day was sunny, when the man and the girl entered the forest and followed the trails, it was quiet and clear. The birds chirped softly and the nocturnal animals were asleep, so it was safe. The hunter led Belle in such a path to the lake that it was comfortable to pass even in her shoes, the paths were wide enough and there were no stumps or snags nearby where snakes could hide. At last they were almost close to the forest lake. Gaston was already anticipating a pleasant pastime, when suddenly his keen eye noticed that someone was sitting by the lake. It was a couple - a man and a girl.
Gosh...
They took a few more steps and stopped - Belle had noticed that the place by the lake was occupied. Gaston recognized the blue camisole and brown hair of the prince, and the golden mop of hair and black and beige uniform of his maid, apparently Paulette.
What were they doing here? After all, this was his lake!
"It looks like we've been beaten," Belle said peacefully. "Can't we go somewhere else?"
"No, of course we can't. This is my lake, my secret place. I've been coming here for fifteen years. Okay, I won't make a row, but ask them nicely to leave."
Gaston strode forward before Belle could object, and she had no choice but to follow him.
Gaston approached the couple, and Prince Adam and Paulette raised their heads as they heard his footsteps.
"Good afafternoon," the hunter bowed slightly to the prince. He returned the greeting and then fell silent when he saw Belle.
"I don't mean to disturb you in any way," Gaston began as politely as he could, and Paulette and the prince suddenly blushed, "but this lake is mine, so to speak. I have been hunting for many years, and I have come here almost every day for fifteen years. Today I want to be here with my wife, could you... would you-" he stammered a little, "be so kind as to find another place?" Gaston took a breath, and decided that it was necessary to point out a direction to which the prince could be removed. "For example, there is an equally lovely lake if you go to the right down this path here," the man waved his hand, pointing the way."
Prince Adam stood up, visibly worried that he and Paulette had been seen together, and also because Belle was nearby. But his blond eyebrows shifted in a fit of irritation:
"Look, but since you know this forest well, you're probably aware that there's a huge anthill near that lake."
Well, his Highness was no fool.
Belle came closer, and took Gaston's hand.
"Gaston, there's no need to send anyone away... We can just walk or find some picturesque clearing."
"Oh, no, no," Paulette intervened. "You can sit next to us. There's plenty of place for everyone, and our conversations are not private."
"Of course there's space for everyone," the prince said, probably because he didn't want to drive Belle away. He stepped back a little, and made a gesture with his hand, as if inviting her to put the basket on the ground.
"Our conversations would be private, but come on," Gaston gave in. Maybe it's better this way.
The prince and Belle looked at each other, and at last the prince touched his breast and exclaimed joyfully:
"Belle! It's me! It's me!"
Belle looked at the prince and recognition appeared in her eyes:
"Yes... It's - it's - you!" She stretched out her arms as if she wanted to embrace him, but then she looked at Gaston and lowered them. The prince did not move.
"Do I look like a jealous fool?" Gaston asked, and gave Belle a little nudge in the back. "Come on, give each other a hug."
He was happy, and therefore magnanimous. Belle loved him, and so he could let the prince hug her. He would even let Lefou beat himself in an arm wrestle.
Belle and Prince Adam hugged and then broke the embrace and stepped back from each other.
"I'm so glad you've become human..." the girl said quietly.
"If it weren't for you, I'd be a monster forever," the prince replied.
Gaston beckoned to Paulette:
"Paulette, let's take a little walk."
Belle looked angrily at Paulette for some reason. It was funny because Gaston loved only her.
"We won't be long."
What must be said must be said. Gaston and Paulette retreated deep into the forest so that Belle and the prince could be alone.