Author Notes: I had meant to add this chapter in to the original story, but due to a little mix-up in trying to work it in, I was not able too at the time. This chapter would take place between chapters 18 and 19, (before the library) and involves the celebration of Christmas at the castle. Please enjoy

Bonus Chapter -Christmas

The month of December was drawing to its last days and Christmas would soon be making its arrival. This would normally have gone unnoticed by those in the castle. Having been under such a siege of dreariness had long stripped the yuletide season of any formal celebration. The Beast had never shown an interest in Christmas since his mother died and following the placement of the curse staff had indeed lost any care for it themselves.

With its warm messages of sharing joy, being among family, it had severed as a highly overbearing reminder of the past Christmas's when life in human form was all they had known. Still there were some who remained faithful to this holiday and observed it in their own quiet way. Then there were others who were helpless to be aware of this event as it lingered in deep memory.

Belle had seemed oblivious to the approaching date and the Beast spoke nothing of it. This year would be no different than any other. If Belle had any desire to celebrate than she would simply have to do so on her own. At least that's what seemed to have been unofficially decided, and Mrs. Potts being the kind of woman she was, had a feeling more than one might benefit from a mention of Christmas.

She planned her move well at dinner one evening, which as luck would have it, fell on the very night of Christmas Eve. "So my Dears, best pull out those extra quilts, I trust it's going to be a chilly Christmas Eve tonight."

"Oh is it, I didn't realize." The Beast shot Mrs. Potts a sullen look, wishing she would do better to remain occupied with her own business. His expression went ignored and it was too late anyway, the topic was all out in the open. "Do you have Christmas here?" she asked innocently. Why did this have to come up now? He had done so well with keeping his temper in check and now that old flame was trying to blaze to life. "Not recently." He replied through gritted teeth.

He knew how just how this would pan out. She was probably going to regale them all about her passion for celebrating Christmas, how it was such a wonderful time of year and he would then get angry and have to destroy her visions of creating the prefect party here. If ever he needed to control himself it was this moment now and it was a struggle he had to somehow take on headstrong.

But Belle did not in any way seem offended by this and in no way try to dispute his statement. This came as a striking revelation to anyone who heard it. "Oh that seems just as well to me?' Forget striking, this was more intriguing. Why would she be so accepting of this? "You…don't like Christmas?"

'It's not that I don't exactly like it, really there was a time when Christmas was the highlight of the year. But the last two years…were a …lot more difficult to celebrate. My father was…well he tried to make things cheerful that first year, but we were both so grief struck and then last year…I was alone. It felt nothing like Christmas. I'd almost rather just not think about it."

It was a perspective so close to his own, this sharing of feeling let down by a season meant to bring happiness, only it no longer could. It had never been the same to try and have Christmas after his mother died; it had been just too painful. He had never felt deprived in forgoing every Christmas since, but the servants, well not in memory had he questioned their feelings on this subject. If they had fostered any resentment it had never been discussed.

Only now to hear Belle, this girl who was just starting to bring light back into his world and had such a way about her, saying that she'd rather there be no Christmas. It felt….wrong, but what could he do? "I used to enjoy Christmas too." He admitted, and it was a hard fact that was also the truth. "But then…like you said things had changed and I guess then Christmas did as well." "And you think of all those Christmas wishes you used to make and how the thing you wish for now most in the world, can't come true." Belle chimed in

The Beast knew what she meant and a huge part of him wished now she never had to experience life this way. Maybe she didn't have to any more. "Perhaps it doesn't have to be like this, I mean with Christmas being…" "Swept under the rug?" Belle offered, bringing around a smile from both. "I know it's late for this but would you like to have a little Christmas, just keep things simple?"

Back alone in the cottage, it was hard for Belle to picture enjoying this holiday. But here was the Beast, who had gone through feelings similar to what she did now, and besides did she really plan to avoid Christmas forever? "That …could be nice, what did you have in mind?"

So it was that Christmas became reunited with the castle that year, although it was done so on very simple terms. There was no tree with a gleaming star, or decorations filling the halls. There were no boughs of holly adorning the mantles or garlands wrapping up the stairs. Yet none of this mattered to anyone.

It was a welcome celebration of joy none the less with the singing of carols and at the teacups insistence, the baking of cookies. The gifts nothing more than wishes of cheer and tiding of the season, which actually were by far the greatest gifts that could be given. There was no denying it was still a small celebration, but it was a start non the less