Once Upon A Time… Belle Came Back
“
Belle?” The beauteous brunette smiled widely, “It
is you.””
Adam did not remember letting go of the hunter’s hand. He could not recount pushing the other off him. He had not recollection of running down the corridor at breakneck speed and would later deny sobbing like a child as he embraced her. But the feel of her fragile form and the rosy smell of her soft brown curls would be etched into his memory for an eternity to come. She seemed equally pleased to see him, whimpering gently into his shoulder. It was the happiest day in his life.
An eternity later, they finally broke away and Adam was able to get a good look at her. She was in a golden winter gown, long with the middlepoint of the sleeve stretching out towards her knuckles. Her torso and the layers of her skirts were adorned in diamonds. Around her head was a simple gold circlet and her hair had grown to her stomach, tied in a fish tail and slung over her shoulder.
She placed a gloved hand across Adam’s cheek, lips trembling, “
Mon Dieu, you haven’t changed a bit!”
“Just look at you!” Adam laid a small kiss on her forehead, gently taking her arm, “Oh Belle, I’ve missed you so. Where have you been? What have you been doing? What brought you here?”
The little woman laughed gently, “One question at a time, dear one! There’s so much to tell I don’t where to begin!” she bit her bottom lip, “There’s something I have to tell you…”
Adam pulled the small figure closer to him, hugging her again, “I want to hear all about it – everything! But you must stay longer than the night. Say you will.”
She laughed again, “Where would I stay, my love?”
“Your old room, course! Oh…” he suddenly remembered they weren’t alone, “Why don’t you go inside,
chérie? I believe I owe you a dance.”
Belle frowned a bit, her eyes darting past Adam. However, she nodded and returned to the hall. Adam was suddenly aware of how silent it had been – how long ago had the music stopped? Why had he not noticed it? Of course, he was busy…
Almost afraid, he turned around. Gaston. He was still there, in the same position that Adam had pushed him in, face blank as a clean sheet.
“You wouldn’t mind moving your things, would you
chérie? It was her room after all.”
“Don’t.”
“Huh?” Adam blinked.
Gaston’s face scrunched into a sneer. “Don’t. Call. Me.
Chérie,” he growled.
“
Chérie, I…”
“Don’t you dare call me the same name you call
her.”
Adam blinked again, surprised, “Gaston, are you…jealous?”
The face turned surprised, then blank, “No.”
The prince took a step forward, watching the other back away, “You are, aren’t you? You’re
jealous! Of Belle!”
Gaston leant against the corridor wall, scoffing, “Of
her? That frail little cock tease? Please.”
“And you’re sure you’re not jealous?” Adam moved until he was in front of Gaston. The hunter tried to retain his blank expression, but his contempt and hurt was poorly disguised. Adam felt a twinge of guilt, but mainly pride: Gaston would need to feel something for him in order to be
jealous, wouldn’t he? It made him feel wanted,
loved.
He felt a warmth rise to his chest, wanting to touch Gaston so badly. Gaston’s eyes were downcast, lips pursed in a pout and unresponsive when Adam lifted a hand to caress his cheek. Placing a hand on the hunter’s hip and closing the space between them, Adam leaned forward. Gaston shakily tilted his chin up, lips parted invitingly. Adam exhaled, excited. Finally, after all this time…
The tingling at the back of his neck made Adam open his eyes, finding himself staring in Gaston’s eyes and freezing up. Gaston’s eyes spoke levels of pure… hatred.
As if he were light as a feather, Adam was thrown onto the ground fast and hard. Stunned, he looked up at the now-menacing figure sneering down at him. His hands were balled in fists and were shaking slightly – everything seemed to be shaking.
“Go ask your
wife for
a kiss,” was the final remark before Gaston stomped off, breaking anything in his path.
***
Adam brushed himself off and forced a smile, “Missed me?”
Belle grabbed his hand and rested against his chest. “They all hate me,” she whispered.
Adam looked around, “Who – the guests?
N’inquiète pas, chérie, they don’t matter. ”
Belle shook her head, “You didn’t see them. When I walked in…”
Adam looked around at the hall and understood – the furtive glances and stage whispers. Even the previous lack of music made sense. Belle’s presence surprised them all, and they did not seem too pleased about it. Their loyalty melted Adam’s heart.
She peeked up at him, eyes glistening, “Oh Adam - did I break you that badly?”
He ran a finger down her plait, “Honestly, do I look broken to you? People in this social circle are just gossipmongers – abundant money and free time can do that.”
She cocked her eyebrow at him, “For the sake of my sanity, I’m going to accept that excuse.”
The blonde gave her hand a kiss, “Shall we dance and give them more to talk about?”
Belle smirked and moved closer. Kings and counts tutted. Duchesses and princesses gasped, before whispering at a rapid rate. Adam did not care – in fact, this was an exciting twist that would surely have everyone talking until the spring. It was not how he had initially hoped to enter society, but it was just as effective.
And, in reality, he had truly missed dancing with Belle.
***
Her tongue felt foreign in his mouth, her lips far too small. Her hair was too long for his liking, and her breasts pressed against his chest made him feel a little nauseous. It felt as if she was going break if he held her too close. He could feel her saliva in sliding in his mouth, thick and foamy. This really wasn’t working.
Belle pulled away, shifting as away from him as the bench would allow, “This really isn’t working.”
“Don’t know why we thought it would,” Adam pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I mean, I love you, but…”
“This is supposed to be different. I’m supposed to
feel something…”
“Things have changed.”
“You have changed, my pet.”
“As if I’m the only one who has?” Belle all but snapped, pulling her wolf pelt cloak closer to her body, “I thought you hated Gaston. I also thought he
died. Have another secret to share – hiding breasts beneath that shirt, perhaps?”
Adam blanched, “I…er… I mean… look, the only reason I saved him is because it was something
you would do.”
“Yes, of course I would. But I wouldn’t exactly gyrate against him. Then again, he isn’t really my type.”
If the prince went any whiter, he would blend with the snow, “
ANYWAY…What was that thing you wanted to tell me again?”
Belle laughed, watching the snow cascade diagonally, “What do you know about the New World?”
“There’s a New World?”
Belle shook her head, “Rumour has it there is. There’s a ship in London leaving for it. Just imagine it Adam,” her eyes clouded over, “
me, over the ocean! I’ve danced with gypsies in Paris, slept in Scandinavian ruins and I swear I saw a mermaid once! But
this! This would complete me…”
“So you’re going to board a ship? You know what sailors think of women, right?”
His wife shrugged, “I’ll sort something out. Let them try and stop me!”
Adam tittered, placing an arm around Belle’s arm, “I love you sometimes.”
Belled snuggled against him, “Good boy. I’m freezing – let’s go back inside.”
***
Everyone stared out the bay window, not believing their eyes. What was once a beautiful backdrop to a winter ball now sported a blizzard, the blazing snow blocking everything from view.
“What should we do, Master?” Cogsworth asked in a small voice, mouth open like a fish.
Adam’s jaw hardened. This was not quite the way he imagined the end of his evening. At his arm, Belle tightened her grip, frowning into the icy air.
“It’s far too dangerous to let anyone leave. Cogsworth, do we have enough rooms? We’ll keep the guests here until the morning.”
Cogsworth jumped, saluting before running off. Within hours the rooms were full of sleeping royalties and democrats. Most of the servants, fatigued at organising so many rooms in so short a time, had finally slouched off to collapse in their quarters. This left Adam alone with Belle, the pair of them bonding as he walked her to her room. They spoke of everything: what Belle saw in her travels; how Adam came across Gaston; the languages Belle could speak and the past few months Adam spent with Gaston.
“So you’re friends now, I assume?” Belle wiggled her eyebrows suggestively as her husband opened the door for her. She stood in the space between her room and the corridor, watching the prince blush.
“H-have you not been listening to what I’ve been saying? We’ve been fighting through the
summer!”
“Yes, of course,” Belle nodded a little too fast, “He must hate me though. Being your wife and all.”
Adam sighed, “I told him not to worry. I mean, we’re…”
“Changed?” Belle smiled, “That too. But does
he know that? And where is he anyway?”
“I don’t know..I haven’t seen him since…” the thought hit Adam cold, “oh no.”
“What is it? Adam!” Belle nearly tripped over her gown running after him. The prince barely registered her, marching with only one place in mind.
Mrs Potts was in the entrance hall, putting out the last of the candles. She jumped slightly when she heard the clamouring of his boots and turned to see the flushed, hassled pair.
“Master! What are you..?”
“Where is he!? Where is he, goddammit!?” Adam thundered, turning on her with wild eyes. His nursemaid frowned, “Who dear?”
“Adam! Calm down!” Belle shouted, running ahead of him for fear that her husband might beat the woman senseless. It was times like these that he scared her. She stood between the two, glaring at Adam before turning kind eyes on Mrs Potts.
“Mrs Potts, have you seen Gaston?”
The old Englishwoman frowned slightly, “Did something happen?”
“Please, Mrs Potts, just tell us. Even if it is to calm Adam down.”
Mrs Potts looked to her, then at the prince. She sighed slightly, “Last time I saw him was…oh no.”
Adam made forward but was blocked by Belle’s hand to her chest, “What do you
mean ‘oh no’!? What the
HELL are you hiding woman!?”
Mrs Potts looked pallid and ashen, “I last saw him when he went out for some air. I…I think he’s still out there.”
***
A/N: N’inquiète pas: don’t worry.
