CogsworthI stood assessing the grim situation with increasingly mounting fear and trepidation. “What are we going to do?!” I said in a voice so shrill that the sound almost made me jump. Clearing my throat I started again, “How could we possibly face so many?” From my view at the window I counted at least ten bleak-looking individuals, and goodness knows how many were lurking in the darkness of the trees. We were surely doomed… Adam finally answered while staring intently out the window, “I’ll take care of them.” He spoke in a crisp tone that offered no room for resistant remarks, “You’ll al stay put. Do your best to conceal yourself in the shadows.” With that he stalked out with murderous intent. He had been totally inconsolable since the recent departure of Belle. We all felt the pang of loneliness from her absence. “We need to find some heavy or sharp objects,” Babette’s voice lulled me out of my train of thought. “All we have to do is launch everything we can down at them as soon as they enter.” I shook my head in disbelief, “You are not actually considering joining the fight?! We were told to stay hidden. Besides what use could we possibly be?” Babette jutted out her chin in that annoying way she always did when she grew stubborn, “A lot of help if we had enough
backbone to try.” I looked around helplessly. “Sorry pal, but I’m with her,” Lumiere said quite cheerfully in spite of the dire situation. “Of course,” I muttered. “Come now dear,” Mrs. Potts said gently, “this is our home too. Don’t you want to return to our peaceful life?” Clearly out voted I lowered my head in defeat, “Just what will we need exactly?”
BelleThe wind whipped past my face as I ran feeling like sharp needles in the sudden cold. It had always startled me a bit thinking of the changing seasons in this place, while Halloweentown stood in perpetual autumn. The only thoughts that plagued my mind at present however contained the impending danger headed toward the home I had grown to love. I had to reach it in time! With the house finally in sight, I burst through the door only to have to immediately take cover from the various objects being chunked from upstairs. The floor was littered with pots, dishes, toys, and unconscious citizens of Halloweentown. “What is going on?” I shouted upstairs. The hurling ceased and I heard Lumiere call down, “Belle? Is that you?” “Yes,” I replied with my heart still racing, “What are you doing?” “Assisting in preventing the siege on our home apparently,” Cogsworth said rather stiffly, as if he disapproved of the whole notion. “Where is Adam?” I called up to them. “Outside I think. There were two other men he said he wanted to deal with personally,” Babette told me. Immediately I knew that’s where my father and Gaston were. “Oh no!” I cried as I made my way outside.
As I rounded toward the back of the house I could hear Adam snarling. My heart sank as I saw Gaston, sword in hand, in vicious combat with Adam. All the while my father stood by half in wide-eyed fear and half in triumph. Realizing that attempting to run between the two clashing forces would only add to the chaos, I darted instead for my father. I came upon him with blinding rage, “You have to stop this! Call Gaston off at once.” He looked at me in shock, “How did you get here?” “Mother has more sense than you.” I told him coldly. “Call Gaston off.” I repeated again more firmly. “Nonsense!” he sputtered. I heard Adam howl in pain as Gaston landed a devastating blow. Unable to control myself I lurched forward, calling back to my father as I went, “If you won’t do anything than I will!” I latched onto Gaston’s arm as he sought to strike again, throwing him off balance. In fury he pushed me to the ground, and spun his sword toward me. All at once both my father and Adam were upon him, stripping him of his sword and holding him down with brute force.
“How dare you turn your blade upon a woman?!” I heard some shriek from behind me. Turning slightly I saw Regina there with an enraged raven-haired woman who I could only guess was Zelena. Regina came over to help me up while Zelena stood screaming curses at Gaston. Finally she drew herself up, “All men are truly beasts!” With that she hurtled a curse at Gaston, which immediately turned his sturdy features into that of a frog. He croaked once in horror and ran off croaking wildy into the forest. “Good luck finding someone to love you!” She called after him wickedly.
It appeared that the horror was not over as I watched Adam slump limply to the ground. I rushed over to him and cradled his head in my lap, “Adam, what has he done to you?!” The blood from his wound oozed liberally onto the snow, and the crimson clashed sickly against the stark white. He shuddered and drew in a deep, painful breath, “Belle, you came back to me…” “Of course I did,” I cried with tears pouring openly down my face, “I love you!” I leaned down and pressed my lips softly to his. A small smile touched his face, and then he shuddered one final time before going completely still.
“Nooo!” I cried and clutched his limp body close. “Belle,” my father said gently, “he’s gone.” “Get away from us!” I screeched at him sharply. “I blame you!” I cried while falling into anguished sobbing once more. He shrunk back looking extremely guilty. “It’s time Zelena.” I heard Regina say to her sister. “Oh alright!” Zelena shot back. A curious light began to envelop Adam, and his body lifted from my embrace into the air. “What are you doing to him?” I said in a hoarse whisper as the light grew brighter. When the light finally subsided a handsome man stood staring at me. “Adam?” I asked cautiously with hope suddenly surging inside. “I love you too,” he said with a serene smile. I stood and flung myself into his arms, and we both laughed with delight. When I finally stopped to look around I noticed the sisters had gone. My father had also drifted off somewhere.
I sighed contentedly and rolled over to look into Adam’s face. There was a softness there that stood in contrast to his usual edge. I thought back on all that had happened in the past few months, and smiled as I remembered our wedding day. We held a small, private ceremony, and after lots of thought and discussion, decided to invite my father as well. I was never one to hold grudges, and imagining my wedding day without my father was somehow unbearable. Waking out of my daydream, I did my best to roll out of bed, and unconsciously rubbed my enlarged belly. It wouldn’t be too long before we welcomed our little girl into the world, and I was beside myself with excitement. I hadn’t heard him wake, but suddenly Adam put his arms about me. “You’re up early,” he said in raspy voice. “I was just thinking.” “Have we decided on a name yet?” I smiled brightly, “I’m pretty sure I want to go with Alice.”
**Chip obviously had a birthday. I went back and forth about aging him back down, but ultimately I decided to let him be. He turned out to be rather handsome.
