The Rose, the Mirror, and the Map

Beauty and the Beast (2017): A continuation story of the 2017 Disney remake.

Five years after his transformation, Prince Adam is still adjusting to life in the French court and living once again as a human. With Belle by his side, the future seems bright, especially with some wonderful news that quickly spreads throughout France. But despite their happiness, Adam and Belle find themselves in trouble once more as assassins are sent after them both, and the young couple quickly unravel a terrible plot that may stand in the way of their happily ever after.

Rated M for sexual situations and violence.

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Chapter One: An Announcement

The sound of running footsteps echoed down the empty hallways. A pair of hands swept up billowing skirts, revealing slender ankles as they moved furiously up a flight of stairs heading to the west wing.

Heaving breaths punctuated the swift movements of a young woman sweeping her way through a castle. She ran towards the rooms she knew he was in, her heart leaping inside her chest like a bird trapped within a cage.

The double doors flung open from a mighty push of her hand, and the cry she had felt bubbling in her chest froze in her throat when her eyes took in the sight before her.

Asleep in the middle of a very large bed was her beloved Adam, his back turned towards the door she had burst through.

Unlike her loud gasps, his breaths were silent and deep. Her eyes traced his form, bare from the waist up, exposed to her searching gaze. They traced over the deep scars on his shoulders, bite marks from a life now passed, and she winced at the memory of that terrible night in the woods with the wolves.

As her heart settled to its normal rhythm, she approached the bed, her footsteps now a mere whisper across the floors. But, despite her quiet approach, Adam awoke from his slumber, turning towards the noise and opening his eyes.

Those deep blue orbs stopped the woman in her tracks, and a shy smile fluttered across her pretty features. That smile was answered with his own, so she moved to the edge of the bed, sitting down beside him and grasping his large hand in her smaller one.

"Belle," Adam sighed, his love evident in his tone and gaze.

"I'm sorry I woke you," Belle whispered.

Adam sat up. "Why are you out of breath? What is it?"

A beatific smile once again curved Belle's lips. "I have something to tell you."

"What is it?" Adam repeated, with worry etching into his brow.

Belle lifted a hand to his cheek, caressing it as she had after he had transformed. "Do not worry, it's happy news."

Adam stared into her eyes, taking in the warmth there, the love and the devotion, and the nerves as well. "Tell me."

Belle drew in a breath, and gathered her courage. "I'm pregnant."

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Five years had passed since Adam had transformed back from his beastly form. Five years since Belle had whispered her love to him, breaking the curse. Five amazing, although not always easy, years.

Now Belle sat before him, her slender hands grasping one of his, her cheeks pink and her smile radiant, telling him she was with child, his child.

"Are you sure?" Adam heard himself breathe.

Belle nodded, and she let out a breathless laugh when Adam pulled her to his chest, crushing her gently against him.

When she pulled back, he touched her cheek gently, marveling at her and her beauty, marveling at the love he saw as clear as day in her eyes, and how it always seemed and felt stronger with every day that passed.

"I love you," he told her, as he told her many times before, and he felt that love expand in his chest until he was sure it would burst.

"And I love you," Belle said, leaning over to kiss him firmly.

When they pulled apart, they laughed. "We must tell the others," Adam insisted, pulling her to her feet.

The others, naturally, were ecstatic. Mrs. Potts dabbed tears from her flushed cheeks, clenching Chip excitedly against her side. Chip, who was now a young man of fifteen, grimaced at his mother's antics but still patted her on the shoulder.

"We must celebrate!" someone cried.

Belle smiled when she saw it was Lumière, standing besides Plumette. The petite woman had her free hand resting on the shoulder of a little girl, who sported pretty curls and dark eyes, like her mother. Danielle was almost four now.

"We have had many celebrations already, my friend."

"Ah, but why would we not celebrate such good news?" the older man winked, looking positively mischievous.

"As if you need another excuse to throw a party, Lumière," Cogsworth muttered, giving the other man a frown.

"Cogsworth, you old clock, must you spoil the fun?" Lumière asked dramatically, looking crestfallen.

Cogsworth scoffed, but did not respond.

Adam and Belle exchanged a look. "Let me tell the court," Adam decided. "Then we shall let them decide if this news is worth such a party, oui?"

"Of course, Master!" Lumière exclaimed, his loud voice drowning out the others murmurs of agreement.

Belle chuckled, placing a hand against Adam's arm. "I think I will visit my father tomorrow. Surely he'll want to hear the good news before all of France does."

"Shall I join you?" Adam asked, taking her hand to kiss her knuckles.

"If it pleases you," Belle replied, a delicate blush blooming across her cheeks.

"Then we shall leave at dawn. I'll make sure the horses are ready."

"Thank you, my love," Belle murmured quietly, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

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Disclaimer: All of this belongs to Disney, the writers, etc etc. I'm just borrowing it.

Author's Note: The name for Plumette and Lumière's daughter is a nod towards my grandma, who is also French!

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