Chapter Text
Christening Gracielle is a small public act in the church of Toulouse and after that, the family retreats to their home and celebrates the day with hot chocolate and cake in the garden.
Maurice delights in playing hide and seek with Charles and Marie, while Belle feeds the baby in the shades of the great willow tree. She smiles to herself when she thinks of the frowning midwife at the wife of a prince tending to her child in such a common way. Adam does not mind, in the contrary, he´s happy that Belle is keeping her lively ways, and that she´s not bending to mostly unspoken aristocratic rules. He enjoys the simplicity of their life and whenever visitors shake their heads upon the incredulity, he reminds himself that he´s never the same again as he´s been before.
He´s pulled out of his reverie when Gracielle burps loudly and content, snuggled up against Belle´s shoulder.
“Someone´s got a full belly!” he laughs.
“Yes, and she needs to sleep now.” Belle smiles.
“I will do that.” Adam takes the baby and lovingly cradles her in his arms as he puts her down in the basket on the bench. She shall spend the afternoon in the garden with them, part of the family bliss. The baby gurgles content and Adam strokes a finger over her soft cheek. She´s grown nicely already and he is fascinated by the new life they are granted.
🌹 🌹 🌹
The castle church bells ring loud and happy.
The couple vowing love and respect to each other mean their words like only those who have lived through the curse will ever understand.
Adam realises that what Beast has sensed with Belle is still there, but his physical demands have diminished to more bearing pressure. And yet, he can´t wait to take her upstairs to their bedchamber. The marital act of consummation is met with equal enthusiasm by Belle, who cannot hide her excitement at becoming his true wife.
Once they make their way up the stairs – Belle lacing her arm with Adam´s and her heart beating wildly in her chest and her feet wobbly under the wide skirts – they hardly look at each other. Better just make it to the bedchamber before they forget themselves while still in the hallway...
Belle does not need help with her gown – not tonight. Even if Mdme Armoire had been assigned to assist, by the time she´d knocked on the door, the groom has fiddled with the ribbons at the back of Belle´s dress and has more or less lifted her out of her underskirts. Adam has seen Belle in her undergarments before – it´s nothing extraordinary nor surprising to him. The same spot where they have kissed the first time after he´s found himself transformed into human form, this is where they stand now again, kissing, and fiddling with buttons and chemises.
Seeing his wife naked on the bed before him makes Adam realise how unknowing and how wantonly helpless, he is. He doesn't know how to make Belle the happiest woman tonight, but he wants to, oh yes!
He should not think too much, she´s said that before… but brooding is a part of him since he´s spent nights over nights fretting how hopeless his situation is. And now, she´s here, waiting for him to join her in their marriage bed. And he does.
Belle smiles when he curls up with her, his hand slowly moving up and down her arm and then, her belly. She does the same, mimicking his moves and she likes the touch of his strong body under her fingertips. She doesn´t tell him that she misses the cozy and soft fur. This is the real him, the man inside the beast who was trapped in his unwanted form.
“Have I ever told you how proud I am of you?” Belle says quietly, admiring what she sees of her husband. His true form and all that belongs to his manly body. He notices how her eyes glide towards his middle and he can´t stop the obvious growing of his longing for her. Belle bites her lips and looks up and into his eyes again. “How you managed to handle that large body and yet you were so kind to me, so noble and – cute!”
“Cute?” Adam shifts to pull Belle closer to him and she wraps her arms around his neck and swinging one leg around his hip which makes their crotches touch. That´s when Adam almost loses control, dismissing the cuteness.
“When you tried to impress me. That was cute.” Belle states softly.
“And I thought I was impressive…”
“You were!” Belle trails a fingertip down his torso. “Impressively cute.”
“Now I feel offended.”
“What if told you that I am sure you will not be cute tonight, but hot and bold!”
“That sounds challenging.” Adam gulps.
“I am sure you´ll make an impressive figure.” Belle smiles and leans in to kiss her husband. “Now, then, I am ready to become your wife.”
“I… yes… me, too… I mean… oh Belle… I just don´t want to mess this up.”
“You can´t!” She presses her breast into his hand that lingers between their chests. “Don´t forget that you´ve got instincts. They might not be as sensitive as the beast´s. But they are valid and reliable.”
“Instincts….”
“Yes.” Belle rolls onto her back and pulls Adam on top of her, meeting his feverish kiss with gusto. When he lifts his head do look fondly at her, she smiles. “And my instincts tell me that it is time to make love now.”
This beautiful confession makes Adam close his eyes and kiss his wife again. She´s right – it´s within him to make her happy and to meet her needs.
The curse is broken, and a new life is about to begin. The start is unforgettable for sure!
***
6 months later…
Still feeling like newlyweds, Prince Adam and his wife Belle stroll through the garden, enjoying the soft glow of the late summer afternoon.
When they sit down on the bench under the willow tree, Adam takes Belle´s hand and delights as she´s scooting closer to nestle into his side.
“Belle, are you happy here with me?” he asks, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“Oh, Adam, of course I am. How can you ask?”
“It´s just like a dream to me, you know.”
“And you shall never wake up, then.” She giggles and leans over to kiss him softly on the lips. “I don´t want either, you know.”
“I wonder how I deserve this.” He sighs.
“You changed, Adam. And you learned that love is nothing you can buy with gold, nor order with your title.”
“Yes, indeed. It´s within us – and to find the one to share it with – that´s the greatest gift of life.”
Belle smiles and nods and then looks down at their clasped hands. “And the gift is expanding, too.”
“How do you mean?”
Belle places his hand on her belly and her eyes shine with utter delight. “That your love is growing a new life within me.”
Adam now feels hot and cold. His heart leaps and his stomach churns at the same time. “You… You are…?”
Belle laughs and nods wildly. “Yes, Adam, I am with child!”
“But… oh my god… so fast?” he blurts nervously.
“I might remind you that we´ve been married a few months now, my love.”
“Feels like yesterday.”
“True.” She bites her lips. “Are you okay? You look a little flustered.”
“I am… I mean… I am excited, and happy, and thrilled, and mostly excited….” He stares at Belle with wide eyes, and she laughs again, delighted in his honesty and his voice so sweetly staggering. “How will we know what to do?”
“We will!” Belle strokes his face. “Because we have instincts – and the essence of life within us!”