Welcome readers! I am so excited to share this labor of love with you finally! After completing Liz Braswell's "As Old As Time" book it felt so incomplete. I craved the sequel, needing to know how Belle and Beast finally came together. My creative brain refused to let it go, and so this was born! An epic adventure of hope, growth, reinvention, sorrow, and trials. Can't make it too easy for them, now can we? If you've never read "As Old As Time" it is okay! Wove in the important details that hopefully aren't too much of an info dump to be boring. But hang in there with me and the story really picks up! Please leave a review for me.

The entire story is complete, but I will post chapters as I edit them.

Disclaimer: I have no association or permission from Disney or Braswell for the usage of their characters or universe. I don't claim to have invented Belle, Beast, or any shared characters. I am just a writer with an idea and a passion for Belle and her Beast. All original characters are mine.

Part 1

Grand Adventure

With arms crossed, the Beast leaned casually against the door frame of the library. "Are you ready to go?" he called out to Belle, watching her place yet another novel into the suitcase that sat open on one of the many tables strewn about the library.

She looked stunning today, wearing the simple blue dress that she favored, although she'd left the apron behind. Her deep chestnut hair was pulled back in a matching blue ribbon, neatly tied at her nape, with that one stubborn lock falling into her face as always. Beast took a moment to enjoy the sight of her. She was magnificent, and it felt so strange to him that somehow this breathtaking creature was willing to dive headfirst into the unknown with him.

Belle's hazel eyes lit with delight upon hearing his voice. He was the picture of casual grace, and a slight smile tugged at her lips as she climbed back up the ladder. Turning to the shelf, she selected another book and studied the title before tucking it back into its spot. Moving further, she reached up to examine another book, and this one she carried down, adding it to her collection.

"You can't possibly need an entire case full of books. Remember, we need to travel light," he gently admonished, raising his brows in a teasing gaze.

Belle took in just how many books she already placed in the suitcase. With a sigh, she recognized the logic of his words. Placing a hand over her mouth in thought, she tapped her lips, studying the titles.

"I suppose I could just select two or three and pack them in with my clothing," she replied, her brow creasing as she tried to decide which ones to keep. Running her fingers across several spines, she lovingly caressed the covers, as if leaving any behind was akin to abandoning them. Focused, deep in thought, she released a hum of indecision, mentally discarding books she felt were less important than others.

"How about you bring one and we'll be sure to buy new books along the way?" Beast suggested, not moving from his lazy stance. Belle's face turned to him, a radiance beaming from within. A rush of warmth washed over him as it always did when she looked at him like that. He still couldn't believe she did. He surmised that he'd likely never get used to it, or cease to feel his heart flip every time she smiled at him.

"That is an excellent idea!" she exclaimed as she dug out the thickest book from the pile, an anthology of fairy tales. Her triumph produced a raised eyebrow and smirk from Beast, as well as a small snort.

"It could be awhile before we stop, and I don't want to run out of reading material." She defended the choice, pursing her lips and attempted to look serious. However, she faltered when a giggle escaped her lips. He stepped forward to take the book from her, sharing a smirk. His paw brushed against her hand, and a feeling of warmth radiated from the gentle contact. They both flushed slightly, shyly turning their heads away like two adolescents discovering the allure of first attraction. He then walked away. She trailed close behind, down the hall, around the corner, and into the open entryway. Placing the massive tome on the pile of luggage that stood to the side of the main doors, she smiled at him in thanks.

Cogsworth was busy directing the staff who were readying the carriage, making sure they secured the luggage. Mrs. Potts fussed in the kitchen, packing enough provisions for a week's travel. Chip was out front playing with the dogs, despite being given strict instructions not to dirty his new frock. Lumière saw to the final packing of Beast's overnight satchel, which contained a light blue lawn shirt, dark blue breeches, matching coat, white waistcoat, and all his needed toiletries.

Ann, the former wardrobe, had one last surprise for Belle, and she was carrying it up the stairs to her mistress's old room when one dog came running up behind her, nearly causing her to tumble down the stairs. She caught herself on the banister, but the hem of the gown ripped in the process. With a defeated sigh, she made her way back down, and resigned herself to repairing it and saving it for their return. She had already given Belle several fresh dresses suitable for travelling, but much closer to the current fashion than Belle would typically wear. Ann had insisted she take them, knowing that the Master's own wardrobe was of a higher quality, showing his station, and she wanted to be sure Belle matched it.

The entire castle seemed alive, like a beehive coming out of hibernation.

Belle looked over at the Beast with admiration. His choice still humbled her, asking her mother Rosalind, the Enchantress, use what little magic she had left after her years of torture at the hands of Monsieur D'Arque, to lift the curse on the castle instead of on himself. From what her mother explained, his curse was layered, starting with turning him into a beast, and then the castle which included the staff. The sacrifice it took for him to put his servants before himself showed just how much he'd grown in the brief time she'd known him.

When she first arrived at the castle some two months earlier, he was selfish, angry, prone to temper tantrums, and demanding. But over the months of trying to unravel the mystery of his curse, and the discovery that her mother had been the one behind it, he'd softened, and was now her dearest friend.

Belle's guilt over touching the rose and ending his chances to undo the curse placed over the household, still gnawed at her. The events that followed were more incredible than any story she had ever read. The castle became coated in thick, vine like webs, and day by day the inhabitants lost a little more of their humanity, until finally the staff was completely inanimate and Beast nearly became wholly animal. Belle knew it was her fault he wasn't human like the rest of his household. However, he never blamed her. If anything, he was content knowing she was reunited with the mother she thought was dead most of her life.

The forgetful spell the Enchantress placed over the world to erase the memory of les charmantes was a powerful one, and only the village of Villeneuve had been released from it. Belle couldn't believe her little village had come to the Beast's aid in rescuing her from the clutches of Frèdrièk D'Arque after he kidnapped her. And she still didn't understand why, only that everyone was being much kinder to her than they had ever been.

The Beast's kingdom, Montiquent, was once a refuge for charmed and unique individuals, drawing in oddities like her father as well as those with magic. But after an unfortunate incident where a human was killed by magic, the King and Queen turned on their people, and systematically rid their domain of charmantes. They took it so far as to pay D'Arque, a scientist, medical doctor, and charmante, to experiment and devise a way of normalizing the enchanted creatures, through tortuous avenues of extracting their magic. D'Arque started with himself, cutting out a part of his brain to rid himself of his gift of sight and Maurice was sure his old friend completely lost his mind with the loss of that part of his brain.

That's when a plague swept through, taking the lives of the King and Queen, and what few humans remained. In an act of mercy, Rosalind protected the young prince and the castle staff from the sickness, hoping he would make better choices.

Unfortunately, he didn't. Lost in grief, with no one but obedient staff surrounding him, he was a spoiled, selfish eleven-year-old when the Enchantress came on the eve of his coronation. In anger and desperation to protect her friends, she cursed him. Knowing her reasons didn't erase the pain and suffering he endured, but he couldn't hate her for it anymore.

When Rosalind lifted the curse on the castle, it was restored to its former glory, and the staff saved from their inanimate state. It surprised him that nearly half stayed, leaving him with a small, but loyal, staff that he knew would stick by him through anything. He understood why many left, especially since the curse became permanent when Belle touched the rose, and all of them eventually turned into unmoving, unfeeling objects before being released from the enchantment. Others left because they didn't approve of the Master's mission. He and Belle were packing to travel across Europe and bring back all of les charmantes, reestablishing Montiquent as a kingdom that was a safe-haven for the people other places persecuted and condemned.

He knew that righting the wrongs of his parents would be an arduous task. But with Belle by his side, he felt a confidence he never had before. She brought out the best in him without even trying.

"I will write to you often," Beast assured Cogsworth and Lumière, who presented themselves to bid the couple farewell. "For now, you both have your orders on what to do. Cogsworth, I want you to guide the reconstruction, and Lumière, I need you to start a new Royal Guard with proper safety measures to ensure that les charmantes feel safe and welcome. Also, Cogsworth, please assist Maurice in creating trade routes and a relationship with the village to ensure plenty of food and other necessary supplies are available for the newcomers. I want to be sure that those who move here are greeted with a warm place to live and food to eat. I will send letters ahead of incoming travelers as I am able."

Both men agreed enthusiastically, talking over one another their assurances that they would handle each task with the utmost of care.

"Oh Master, you shall have the finest Guard…" "Sire, the village will be more splendid than it was when your parents lived…" "I will ensure no unsavory scoundrels…" "I will make sure the kingdom is in fine order…" Beast held up a paw to silence his majordomo and valet from their chatter, giving them a reassuring smile.

"I have every confidence in the both of you," he said, leaving the men beaming with pride. But before Beast could walk away, Lumière gave him a concerned look.

"Are you certain that I might not be of better assistance to you personally on your journey, Master?" Lumière added. "You have never been without a valet before, and if I cannot join you, perhaps I can recommend someone else?"

"Lumière, I am sure I can manage on my own. Perhaps this will be an excellent experience, time for me to gain some independence. Do things for myself." Lumière's face flashed with a horrified expression, as if the idea of the Master tending to himself was beyond imaginable, but it lasted only a moment before being replaced with a smile and a nod.

Everyone turned up to wish the two adventurers good luck and safe travels. Belle and Beast went down the line of servants, bidding each farewell. Rosalind and Maurice were the last to hug the couple goodbye.

A tear ran down the side of Maurice's face as he kissed his daughter's cheek before turning to her companion. "You take good care of her, you hear me? I'm trusting you." Maurice chided Beast as he gave his daughter a last embrace.

Beast grinned at the short inventor, and he felt relieved and proud that the man he'd once imprisoned was now trusting his most prized treasure to his care. Apologizing for that poor treatment was one of the more difficult tasks he'd tackled in the past few weeks. He still didn't feel as if words were enough to make it up to Belle's father. Once reconstruction in Montiquent finished, he wanted to commission a large workshop for Maurice to tinker in.

Belle stepped back and hooked her arm through Beast's, smiling at her father. "Papa, we will take care of one another."

Maurice nodded and returned Belle's smile. Her mother handed her Alaric Potts' journal and whispered a few inaudible words, weaving a simple protection spell, bidding the spirits to keep them from harm along the way.

"Maman, save your strength, we have everything we need in here. And we will soon be with your old friend Madame Marguerite." Belle held up the journal, as she referred to it.

Mrs. Potts had graciously allowed them to borrow it, for it held a coded list of those who had fled Montiquent, and where they sought refuge, and notating different safe havens along the way. It took several weeks for Belle, Beast, Maurice and Rosalind to crack Alaric's cipher, but once revealed, it was the perfect map to follow.

Alaric Potts had been the stable master, and one of Beast's favorite servants, as well as Maurice's best friend. It was a tragic day when Beast and Belle, in their search for answers about the curse and why it had been placed, found his body buried in a corner of the stables. D'Arque confessed to killing his former friend because he'd been smuggling charmantes out of the kingdom. Mrs. Potts was sad, but finally had a sense of closure as to why her husband had disappeared all those years ago.

The time to decipher the code was well spent preparing for their journey and spending late nights sharing stories with one another. Belle recounted tales of her childhood, describing being the odd one out, tinkering with Maurice in his workshop, rejecting Gaston's numerous advances, and even additional details of her and Beast's quest to find her mother. She also told her parents about her first night at the castle. That Beast gave her a room, the magnificent dinner theatre the staff performed, a detail Beast hadn't previously known and scowled at a little since he'd told them she couldn't eat without him, and finally she told them about sneaking into the West Wing and touching the rose. She continued with how when she touched the rose; she saw the moment the curse was enacted, and in that vision, recognized her mother. After that, she kept seeing strange flashes of past moments around the castle each time she passed a reflective surface. They scared her at first, and she had no idea whose memories they were or why she was seeing them. Rosalind explained how those were actually fragments of her memories. She sent them to guide Belle, hoping they would lead her to the truth.

Beast described their search through the library for records of former residents, how the story unfolded leading them to Monsieur Levi's bookshop in Villeneuve. There were sweet moments Belle and Beast both shared: cooking dinner together and reading side by side. The affection they held for one another was evident to the older couple.

Other nights, Maurice shared tales of his many inventions that had either flourished or failed, and he and Rosalind told Belle and Beast about their courtship, and the wonderful friends they'd had. It had relieved the older couple to recognize many of the names in Alaric's journal and they looked forward to reuniting with past friends.

Beast sat, content to listen while the family exchanged these wonderful details of their lives. He had very little to contribute once he and Belle finished describing their time together. They spent some evenings at the little cottage outside the village, and other evenings, Beast hosted wonderful meals prepared for them all at the castle. Oftentimes, Mrs. Potts or Lumière would join in the revelry, recounting old times and sharing stories of their own. Cogsworth found the scene unprofessional and chastised them a few times before taking the hint they didn't care. In his adjustment to being human again, Cogsworth was even more stuffy and formal than usual, which was an endless source of humor for Lumière who kept attempting to tease the older man into loosening up. But to Cogsworth, this second chance felt fragile, and he was determined to be the absolute picture of poise and respect, a solid immovable wall of decorum the rest of the staff could look at as a reminder of what was expected of them.

Beast missed having Belle around the castle every day since she returned home with her parents. Often, he wandered the East Wing, as if he could run into her there at any moment. The first day he paced the hall in front of her door, restless and overcome with an empty feeling. A few times he'd even allowed himself to lie in her bed, burying his face into her pillow, breathing in her perfect scent of lavender, lemon and parchment.

As a distraction, he busied himself with spending time in his father's office, pouring over old papers and documents. Learning all he could about the day to day running of a kingdom proved to be effective in taking his mind off of Belle. The old office was in shambles and covered in dust the first time he'd entered the space. It wasn't surprising, since he'd never set foot in that room after the curse turned him into the Beast, and had only entered it a few times as a child.

He remembered the heavy weight of responsibility he'd felt the first time his father brought him there. It was a frigid day outside, and he'd been told he couldn't go out and play like he wanted. He'd exasperated his tutor with whining about it, and that was when his father suggested he join him in the study to have a practical lesson in what being a king meant. As he now sat in his father's chair, he tried to recall exactly what the former king taught him that day, but the only thing forthcoming in his mind was how he'd felt, perched on his father's lap, the feeling of importance and belonging, along with the burden of wielding authority.

Now it was his responsibility. This was his kingdom, and despite knowing the truth of the selfish and brutal way his parents had ruled, he still wished he could remember something more from that lesson his father gave him. Beast was managing, with some help from the castle steward. He even gathered a stack of the more complicated documents for him to discuss with Belle while they traveled. She was such an intelligent woman, and he valued her input above all others, so he was confident that together they'd make sense of his father's scribblings.

With a last wave of goodbye, Belle and Beast settled into the carriage and set forth upon their grand adventure. The carriage was nondescript, painted black with dark green velvet curtains over the few windows. It was a recent procurement expressly for the purpose of this journey, replacing the ornate white with gold trim royal carriage that would have been far too eye-catching to make use of. The seats were wide and plush, covered in a beautiful green and gold brocade fabric that was wide enough for Belle to lie down comfortably and sleep. Several matching pillows hugged the corners, and two dark green carriage robes lay folded neatly to one side.

Pierre, the head footman, was joining them on their journey. He was to drive and care for the horses. A very average looking man, he easily blended in with any environment. Dressed in well-made but plain clothing to remain unremarkable and draw no unwanted attention, he climbed up onto the bench.

Their initial plan was to travel by day, with Belle and Beast sleeping as much as they could in the carriage, and to visit potential subjects by night, only stopping to stay at various inns or carriage houses when it was convenient. They sat across from one another, settling in as the carriage lurched from side to side along the dirt path. Belle got comfortable, leaning against the side wall, with her knees bent and her feet flat on the bench. The book she had brought was propped up against her thighs as she read aloud.

Beast found the carriage far less accommodating. His size, for one, made it difficult to get comfortable. And then there was the close proximity to Belle, which was an overwhelming distraction, particularly when their knees brushed against one another. He did his best to ignore the brief touches, dismissing them as accidents, convinced he was the only one so affected by the casual contact. Her scent seemed to surround him at all times, and it was heavenly. The combination of lavender and lemon both soothed and excited his palate. He probably appeared too stiff when Belle glanced up at him from time to time.

She smoothly read a story about a gruesome creature spinning hay into gold. Beast missed the relaxed regard they'd established back home. In the tight quarters, all sense of ease vanished. His stomach was in knots as he second guessed every movement, every word he said, and his heart raced with fear she'd notice his odd behavior.

It relieved him when several hours into their journey Belle nodded off. She'd told him that the excitement of finally leaving kept her awake most of the night before. Packing her valise, taking it all out, establishing that she had everything she required, and repacking. She questioned if she had brought enough dresses, for she only had the two she wore around the castle, and a few new ones Ann had made for her, in addition to the one she wore. Despite Ann's protests, she picked her plain blue dress to wear today, for it was the most comfortable. Belle chose not to bring the smooth silk nightgown she wore while staying at the castle, deciding it was an added luxury that she could live without. Sleeping in her shift was nothing new, and being determined to only pack the absolute necessities, she resigned herself to returning to the habit. Worried that the new shoes Beast bought for her wouldn't be comfortable enough for all the walking they were sure to do, she hesitantly packed her old, worn-out pair as a backup.

Beast watched Belle sleep, her head resting against the side of the carriage, and her hands in her lap with her book still open. He grabbed the scrap of cloth she used as a bookmark and placed it in the open anthology before closing it and setting it aside. In his head, he rehearsed a brief speech he'd been working on. He could feel butterflies in his stomach just imagining standing before the previous subjects of his kingdom, a king in the body of a beast. Would they run from him in fear? Look upon him with pity or disgust? Or would they simply see one of their own? He supposed that the reactions would vary greatly from each individual.

Struggling to decide what details of his curse were important to share occupied his mind. He wanted to be open and honest, but trusting others was new to him. And at what point did he request that they release him from the curse? How many les charmantes would it take to break Rosalind's handiwork? And would they even be willing to grant him such a pardon?

So many questions and what-ifs swirled in his mind. He longed to discuss them with Belle, but she looked so peaceful and content that he couldn't bring himself to disturb her. So as the carriage shifted from side to side, he leaned his head against the back wall, closed his eyes, and continued to think things through until he finally fell asleep.