WOW talk about a delay in updating a story. I am so, so, SO sorry for the wait for all my readers, but mostly for the ones who have read and have encouraged me this whole time. I own nothing, but the "new" plot and the chracter of Chantal. Also I have a vote fot my next story at the end for you all my readers, so please read the end comments if you wish to put some imput into my next story. Anyway, enough chit chat, without further adu, I give you the final chapter.

"Master, you cannot be serious?" Concern and confusion filled Lumiere's mind as he followed the prince back up to the West Wing. Only an hour ago, the entire household staff had been called together in the throne room. Everyone had been anxious to hear his news, but no one was prepared for it.

"You cannot be thinking of asking/….." His voice trailed off unable to complete it. Wringing his hands together, he tried another approach. "What about us, your Highness. I don't mean to be self centered and we are with you as well, but-"

"Then why does it feel you are against me?" the prince asked, quickening his pace. Remains of the beast's temper shown through his voice. "And was I not clear enough? I shall ask her for it for me alone…nobody else will suffer." He paused for a moment, a faraway look in his eye. "Lumiere….you must understand….she hates me…this physical man I have become….she wants…" He took a deep breath. "She loves the beast…"

Lumiere stared at him, a sense of pride swelling his heart. The man before him was not the same spoiled child or the cruel beast that had tormented the staff with a single glance. Through Belle and Chantal he had changed and grown into a fine man who cared for others in his life. Why could Belle not see that her beast and the prince were one and the same?

Carefully, he took a step forward, resting his hand on the prince's shoulder. "Your Highness, I…understand the reasons, but are you willing to give up your humanity again? I mean…will you be able to life with it?"

The prince let out a small chuckle. "I lived with it for many years I can manage."

Lumiere nodded. "Oui, of course, but what about your people? Surely they want their prince to return?"

A low growl rumbled in the prince's throat. "I don't care….the people managed without me and they will do it again….Belle and Chantal are who matter must to me." Without another word, he turned and walked up to his chambers, a determination in his step as he climbed the stairs.

Lumiere watched silently until the master was out of sight. His face fell as a sense of dread filled him. "Oh my, what will happen now?"

XxX

"Maman, why is so dark?" Chantal asked.

Belle blinked and looked up, pulling Philippe to a halt, her eyebrows knitting together. The cloudless blue sky had darkened within mere seconds as they neared the castle. She felt Chantal snuggle closer to her, apprehensively in the saddle. Belle tightened the reins as she glanced up at the dark clouds once more. How had they moved in so quickly? The air around her felt suddenly hot as she prayed that the rain would stay bay for a little while longer. Beneath her, she felt Philippe's body tense as though he could sense the unseen in the air.

Her eyes survey the landscape around them, but still saw nothing. Kicking Philippe into a walk, she suppressed a shudder as a familiar sensation swept over her. She yearned to gallop back to the castle, but Chantal's presence kept the urge down. Still, she cannot escape the feeling of dread with each step of Philippe's hoofs seeming to be so slow.

As the tower spirals came into view, she wrapped a secure arm around Chantal and kicked Philippe into a gallop. Her backend continually slammed against the saddle, but she ignored the pain as she leaned slightly forward in her seat as though she could just will them to arrive faster.

By the time they reached the courtyard, Belle's muscles ached. She heard Chantal ask after her wellbeing, but she could not answer. She raised her eyes to the darkening sky and gulped. There was something strange going on and somehow Adam was involved. She forced herself to walk, her legs felt as though they would buckle beneath her and yet somehow she was able to get inside the main hall where Lumiere had just entered.

He stared at her in shock before he rushed over her. "Madame you're back-"

"Where is he, Lumiere?"

Lumiere tried to calm her. "Madame, Bell, he will be back down soon, there is nothing to worry about. Please be calm."

She knelt down and caressed her daughter's hair. "Sweetie, can you stay here with Lumiere and the others. I'll be right back."

Chantal stared back at her, her blue eyes wide as she could sense the unspoken trouble. It amazed Belle how perceptive a child could be at times even when she would try her hardest to spare her like when Gaston flew into one of his tempers. Yet, now she did not know what she was going to face and she would not put her daughter through any more pain; one so young had already suffered enough pain and sadness.

Forcing a smile, she said, "You know…you had that invention you were working on before we left. Why don't you go finish it and you can show me later, all right?"

Chantal nodded. "Okay, Maman."

Belle hugged her and kissed her forehead before she stood up.

Lumiere took Chantal's hand and gestured down one of the corridors "He is in his chambers, Madame."

Belle nodded and watched Lumiere as he turned and led Chantal away back toward the library in the east wing. Taking a deep breath, she turned and took off at a run toward the once forbidden West Wing, the same unknown sensation of terror filling her heart.

Despite her exhaustion, she flew up the stairs; her dainty feet seeming to fly on an invisible gust of wind. She shoved the door open and winced in surprise as a bright white light blinded her. Her heart raced as she stepped carefully into the chamber. The light felt warm and comforting against her face, but its unnaturalness sent a shiver down her spine. Pushing through her own fear, she kept walking further inside. Her eyes trying in vain to see the prince, his name perched on her lips.

"Adam!" Her voice seemed to cut through the light as patches of it began to vanish.

Belle blinked rapidly; each time vanquishing more of the unnatural light until there was only a few torches and the full moon to light the chamber. Her breath slowed as she scanned the chamber once more. Yet, still she could not see Adam.

"Where are you?" she croaked, her throat suddenly hoarse.

Her mind raced with a million questions. Where was he? Had something happened to him? She shook her head. No, she could not think like that, but still with each passing moment the possibilities grew worse and worse.

A low moan broke into her thoughts as she turned and ran out onto the balcony. Her feet came a halt, her hand resting on the threshold, her mouth a gape in confusion, shock, and wonder. A young man laid in a fetal position; his back to her, almost rocking back and forth in an unknown agony. Part of her longed to go and comfort him, but something kept her back as though she understood it was a private moment for him. Silently, she stared at him, her eyes surveying his form. His pale pink and dark pants were torn in places as the beast would have worn them. His cries of frustration still held an undertone of a fierce growl as he muttered to himself.

Belle strained to make out the words, only catching snippets.

"So close…it was working…why?"

Belle gulped and took a small step out onto the balcony. "What's wrong?"

Adam froze and shook his head. "Oh…why didn't it work?"

She moved over and knelt down near him, her maternal instincts outweighing her fear of his meaning. Reaching her hand out, she asked, "What didn't work?"

He jerked away from her and pushed himself up onto his knees. His head hung low as though he refused to meet her gaze. "I…oh Belle it was perfect and she had agreed to do it, but it didn't work."

"What didn't work, Beast?"

He looked up at her and stood up. "That's just it, Belle. I wanted to bring the beast back to you and it was working, but something went wrong."

Belle sat frozen upon the ground; his words rolling around in her mind. Some part of her said he was lying, but a larger part knew he spoke the truth. He was willing to give up his human body for her. She took a deep breath, trying to find the words she craved. Yet, only one question escaped her lips. "Why…would you do that?"

Adam moved over and knelt down next her. "Belle…I could see it in your eyes…you wanted the beast back….it was what you wanted."

She opened her mouth, but paused. Was it truly what she wanted? When the transformation had first occurred, she had longed for the best to return. Yet, now could she say the same thing? Memories of the beast swept through her mind: the strong beast who braved a storm to find her daughter, the gentle beast who read with her for hours in the library and played with Chantal, the beast who supported her when she spoke of her lost children. Never lifting a neither claw nor hand against her or her daughter or talk down to her as she was a child.

Even as a perfect prince, he never raised a hand to her, allowing her be left alone in order to come to terms with the transformation and making no demands of her. He was no monster as her husband had been. She looked up at him and stared into those fierce blue eyes of the beast; the same ones which shone with affection for Chantal and the ones Belle could lose herself in with their promise to protect both her and her daughter. Carefully, she reached up, running her hand through his reddish brown mane, warm tears beginning to escape her eyes.

"It is really you."

Adam reached out and mirrored her action as his own fingers ran through her hair. He smiled gently and nodded. They stayed that way for a while just looking at each other.

After a moment, Adam removed his hand from her hair and asked, "Are you sorry that I was not able to turn back into the beast?"

She shook her head. "But you are the beast…fur or not." She paused. "But for my own curiosity, do you have any idea why it failed?"

Adam shook his head. "No…I was promised it would work and if you had not come when you did I am certain it would have worked."

"Oh." She blushes. "And you would have really done it for me…for us?"

Once more, he nodded. "Yes…don't you trust me?"

Belle gave a small smile. "I... do and I love you."

As the words left her lips, she realized the truth of them. Her marriage had been done out of duty to her father and her mother's memory. Love had never entered her mind when she thought of him. She shivered as she recalled Gaston's rough hands upon her as he took her for his own pleasure or raised in anger at losing his desired sons and heirs. No, true love could never come from that life she had lived with him. It felt strange, she had never known love between a man and woman and yet somehow she knew she could not live without Adam by her side and Chantal's.

As if reading her mind, Adam stood up and held out his hand. "Come."

Belle accepted and together they turn and head back down to the library. Belle cannot help, but smile at hearing the sound of Chantal's excited voice floating down the corridor. Belle entered the room and smiled as she saw Chantal and Chip working together on her invention with Lumiere and Mrs. Potts keeping a watchful eye on them.

Chantal looked up and called out to her, smiling. "Maman, it works, it works!"

Belle walked into the room and knelt down beside the children as they both began to explain how it worked; their eyes lit with fresh enthusiasm. Belle glanced over and caught Adam staring in on them from the threshold, leaning against the door with a genuine content stare as he watched them, allowing them to have their moment.

Her heart swelled as images of own father watching her from the distance ran through her mind. In those moments, she had known more than words that he loved her. In Adams's eyes, she saw the same thing now.

Belle turned back to Chantal. "Sweetie…do you want to stay here?"

Chantal looked at her, confused. "Here….in this room?"

Belle smiled and ruffled her hair. "No." She stood up and beckoned for Adam to join her. He did and smiled down at Chantal. "I think, Chantal, your mother was thinking….would you like to stay here with me, Chip, Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, and Cogsworth and all the others."

Chantal looked between them. "Forever?"

Belle smiled and nodded. "Oui, ma cheerie."

Belle let out a real laugh as Chantal launched herself up into her arms in a great hug. Smoothing her daughter's hair, Belle placed a gentle kiss upon her head. She smiled as she felt Adam wrap one of his arms around her waist while the other lay against Chantal's hair.

"Hey Chantal, look at this. What is this?" Chip called, pointing to an open book upon the floor.

Chantal wormed out of her mother's grasp and ran back over to her friend. Once more, the children were lost in their new ideas for more inventions and how they were going to accomplish it. Belle sighed as she leaned her head against Adam's chest, content.

It still astonished and saddened her that Gaston had been unable to see the brilliance his daughter possessed. Somehow Adam had been able to see it in a stranger's child and even encouraged her interests. She still could not believe any of this was really happening after the previous day of burying her husband in the ground.

She felt Adam shift, bringing her out of her thoughts, and she turned to look at him.

He gazed down at her, a light of understanding in his eyes. "You know…I will never replace your first husband."

Belle stared at him, taken aback. "You were always more a man than he was in all those years of marriage. He was the true monster."

"He gave you Chantal."

Belle sighed, looking back at her daughter. "Oui and would never give her up. " She paused and looked at him, turning his face toward hers. "But you are the man I truly love." She reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

"And I you, Belle." He took her hands in his and smiled. "You know we never did finish the story of King Arthur."

Belle smiled. "No, we didn't."

He returned the gesture and led her further inside the library. Together they joined the children as a true family began.

Well that is it. I wish to thank all my wonderful reviewers and people who have followed and just faverited this story, it really means a lot to me. I am sorry if this chapter seemed short, but it felt like a good way to end Belle, the beast, and Chantal's story.I know the beast didn't do a lot of action in trying to prove himself to Belle, but I thought that once she fully connected the two as one person and that he was willing tpo do what he did that it would remind her that she does love him and that he is the same man/ beast she fall for. So. please review and let me know what you think.

Also on my profile page, there are two story ideas for my next Beauty and the Beast stor (the summeries aare on the profile page too, one called, Beautiful Memories and the other A Wild Rose (which may be a crossover or moved into the Fairy tale section I'm not sure),but I'm leaving it up to you guys which one do I do next? Please put the answer in your review or send me a private message. Though I warn you it may take a while for etheir story to be put up because I am starting my senior year of college this fall and I want to make ethier story the best it can be.

Anyway, I just want to rethank all of you, you the reviewers are the reason I kept working at this story. So I hope you enjoyed this last chapter and the story as a whole. :)