I let go of his hand and jumped back. Adam popped one eye open and gave me a huge grin. My mind didn't know what to process first that a) he was awake or b) he just said "I love you too".

He tried to shift up into a sitting position, but he groaned in pain. I rushed to his side to help him. I offered to call the nurse but he refused. He just requested a glass of water.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Oh since the beginning of your soliloquy. No wait, your monologue. Or is it…?" He stopped to ponder the difference. I had never seen him so…happy in all my life. Ok so it was only five days, but he really changed his demeanour from a brooding emo, to someone who has a personality in that amount of time. That was a miracle in itself.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Never mind. Doesn't matter. I thought it would be rude to interrupt you. Soooo," he drawled as I took his glass away from him, "you think that I am pretty?"

I gave him a playful slap on his arm as I sat down next to him. "Shut up!" He let out a chuckle as he moved up to make space for me. "Since when were you so cheerful? You were stabbed with a knife last night?"

He linked my fingers with his and smiled at me, "I have a good reason to be in a cheerful mood. I woke up to a beautiful girl who loves me for all of my faults and I couldn't ask for more."

My stomach went all mushy at the words. I hid a shy smile and looked away. Adam took his free hand and tucked a small lock of my hair behind my ear. I glanced sideways, feeling my face heat up to a thousand degrees. He cupped the side of my face and turned it to face him. We were both lost in each other's eyes.

Damn, those blue eyes!

He leaned forward hesitantly, flicking his eyes to my lips, awaiting my confirmation. I closed my eyes and prayed to God that I didn't miss his mouth. It seemed it was a time for prayers to be answered.

We brushed our lips gently; a small enough movement that managed to send tingles down my spine yet I found myself wanting more. I pressed my lips harder into his.

I never felt so much happiness ever in my life. For me, there was someone who loved me for me. Not because I am pretty, not because I am new blood, not for my brains, but just for my existence.

The kiss seemed to be going on for ever, when he finally pulled away and grinned. "You are not a terrible kisser either."

I giggled. "Thank you." I managed to manoeuvre myself to lie next to him on my side.

"So, my darling Belle, tell me all about what happened when I fell unconscious."

I had to reorder my thoughts. I told him that Gaston was somewhere in the hospital and the person who brought us there was, in actual fact, Agathe. Through the conversation I could see his expressions change from joy to absolute surprise.

"She told me to tell you that she thinks that you are lucky to have me, because I am the only person who had the stamina to clean up the mess she made."

He was completely still, not a single word left his mouth, until…

"How was that even possible? I did not think that could even happen." He said quietly.

"I don't know, but I thank God for it. If she wasn't there, you would be in the morgue on the third floor."

We were silent until one of the male nurses came in to do some routine check-ups. I decided to leave the cramped room and meet up with the others to tell them the good news.

XXX

In the weeks following the night, we all found ourselves very busy.

Josh, as it turned out, found some video footage of Gaston admitting to wanting to force me to have sex with him (I don't know how, but it is another blessing from above) and once he got out from hospital, he was immediately sent to jail on attempted murder and rape for life. He is again a small fish in a very big pond.

Josh himself managed to get himself a cute husband, Stanley, a few years ago. They both met at a costume party and they haven't been able to leave each other's sight since. Josh is working as a drama teacher at the community centre. Madame de Garderobe had expanded her chain to the village and Stanley works in it as a designer.

Mrs Potts still runs the library, but there are more visitors now and Chip has managed to go to a good university with a rugby scholarship. At least he can have a chipped tooth and no one will bat an eyelid.

Madame de Garderobe and her husband, like I said earlier, have expanded their stores across the country. She is becoming quite popular with designing clothes for models and for theatre. Their daughter, Sophie, has just started ballet, and my, she really has makings for a star.

Cogsworth moved back to England where he married a rich countess. He has currently twins, with another son on the way and loving every second of fatherhood. He comes to France with Rosalind and Benjamin quite frequently, although his wife stays at home. I have only seen her once, and that was at their wedding.

Plumette and Lumiѐre have gotten married and have been living in Canada as scientists: Lumiѐre studying combustible substances and fire and Plumette working in a zoo studying rare birds. I am happy to say that she finally got her freedom to travel (I have got the postcards to prove it).

Papa still works at home, creating strange and interesting inventions. He had got such a good reception for his logging machine that many timber companies want to use it. He has never been happier, even when I moved away. I still visit him regularly though.

Adam and I are living in his father's house (he died a few years ago and as Gaston was incapable of getting the house, Adam inherited it). We are getting married in a few weeks. Adam finally proposed two months ago, even though it has been about six years since we have met and never left each other's side. We are going back to Cape Town for three weeks for a honeymoon (I was aghast that he had never been before). I am working as a helper in a centre teaching illiterate children to read. Adam has become an author (basing many of his stories on Shakespeare's plays), but from time to time he gives inspirational speeches about how beauty is found within. We are both extremely happy.

(I should also mention that I did retrieve Philippe, but I never seemed to have a need for it again)

And Agathe…who knows. I have never heard or seen her since that day. It was like she never existed. I am convinced that she really was a blessing from God.

My dear readers I give you this last bit of advice: Never, ever judge a person on first glance. If I did that, I would have been a single mother to Gaston's child, and Adam would be forgotten to the world and that doesn't exactly sound appealing now, does it?

So, my bokkies, that is the end! It is all done! Maybe one day in the future I will do a sequel, but today is not that day.

I don't know when I will return to writing some more fanfic, because I have used up all my ideas.

I shall return though, so don't you fret!

Thank you all for sticking with the story, and all those wonderfully helpful comments!

Love from thecapefangirl