Apologies again friends, for taking so long with this story. I lost ideas for it for a little while there, and then life just got too busy to really write. I had originally intended to get this out before Christmas, but work stole my life for a while there. This one might be short, but I do hope you all enjoy it . :)

Chapter 13 - You Changed Me

Time passed quickly over the little town; autumn turning to winter. With each passing day Maurice observed his daughter and Gaston growing ever closer. Of course, they still would have their arguments, but now instead of ending in storming off from one another in a huff, they ended in a fit of laughter at "how stupid they were being." Gaston, it seemed, truly had changed; and so had Belle.

Maurice had been especially surprised and pleased all the same, to see Belle making friends with other townspeople as well. On several occasions since the Masquerade Ball Belle had spent a good deal of her time forming a friendship with Hannah. Although neither would have suspected it, the two had a great deal in common, especially when Hannah took her walls down and was herself as opposed to the person her sisters expected of her to be. They were able to share in lunches and conversations, often bursting into laughter as if they had known each other for years.

Before any of them had quite realized it Christmas had come, and per their invitation, Gaston had shown up to Belle and Maurice's house on Christmas morning, a few simply wrapped packages in his arms. Belle opened the door to greet him, her eyes mirroring her bright smile.

"Bonjour Gaston! Merry Christmas!" she moved aside to let him in, the skirts of her red dress swishing quietly.

"Merry Christmas to you Belle, and might I say you look ravishing." She giggled as he bent down to place a kiss upon her cheek, his stubble tickling the skin there. No sooner had she shut the door that his nose caught the scent of something delicious. "Is that…turkey?"

"Of course…or did you already forget that one you hunted just the other day?" Belle said. Gaston looked at her a moment before letting out a chuckle, shaking his head. He strode over to Maurice, handing the older man one of the wrapped packages in his arms.

"Why thank you Gaston!" Maurice smiled Gaston, watching him take a seat in the armchair across from him before untying the cord around his wrapped gift, tearing into the paper. He opened his gift, letting out a gasp of awe. "Gaston! This must be the finest tool set I've ever seen! Thank you, son!"

Maurice turned his gaze to watch Belle retrieve the two oblong packages from under the tree and hand it to Gaston.

"This is from my father and me. We really hope you like it." She took her seat and watched him eagerly. And in his excitement of for once receiving an actual Christmas gift from people who actually cared about him, Gaston lost all self-control for the moment, acting as a child would as he tore off the paper. Upon his lap was revealed a shiny and brand new hunting rifle like Gaston had never seen. He was struck speechless, picking it up to studying its every angle.

"This is…"

"An invention all my own, I've studied all sorts that hunters use, and well; I couldn't find one that seemed suited just to you. So, I improved upon them all and invented my own!" Maurice smiled proudly, watching as Gaston moved from the gun to the smaller box in which was stored cleaning supplies and ammunition. After a silent moment Gaston cleared his throat, looking from Belle to Maurice and back.

"Thank you…" was all he was able to manage before finally clearing his head, looking to Belle. He handed over his own gift now, wrapped very much the same as Maurice's had been. She gave him a suspicious smirk as she felt its weight before diving into the paper.

"A new copy of King Arthur! …I guess mine is getting pretty beat up, isn't it? And…Don Quixote! Oh I can't wait to read this one. And…" she paused, confused as she flipped into the cover of the next tome. It had a plain brown leather cover and she thought that perhaps the title was inside. But instead all she found were blank pages.

"It's for you to write your own book. I figure that with all the books you've read and with your imagination, why not get your own story down? Become a famous author just like the ones who wrote your books."

"Gaston…I-…thank you." She smiled to him, trying to blink away the few shining tears that had made themselves present at the rims of her eyes.

The rest of their afternoon had passed by peacefully; and Belle had been especially pleased that her meal was given such a high praise from both men.

When it was nearing sundown Gaston momentarily excused himself from the house before he returned and retrieved Belle's thick cloak from the wall. He made his way over to her, beckoning her to stand so he could place it over her shoulders.

"Come on. We have one last Christmas adventure before the day is up."

"What are you up to?" she asked. She couldn't help but smirk as she raised an eyebrow.

"If I tell you, it would ruin the surprise, now wouldn't it?" he turned his head to Maurice, giving him a nod. "Maurice."

"You two enjoy your evening."

Her father was in on it too? What had he planned?

Belle's question was quickly answered as when they stepped outside it was to see Philippe hooked up to a gorgeous sleigh.

"Would you join me for an evening ride?"

"I'd be delighted." She couldn't stop the giggle that escaped from her throat.

They spent their ride up laughing, and then laughing even more at Belle's attempt to get Gaston to sing carols with her.

Before long Belle found that Gaston had steered them into the same clearing they had visited that summer. She stared in astonishment at the scene before them. The snow was perfect; completely untouched by anything but nature.

"It's beautiful…" Belle cautiously stepped down from the sleigh, her eyes trailing from the frosted trees dressed in icicles, to the sparkling snow laid before her. She saw the tracks of a deer, smiling at the very fact Gaston had taught her well enough to see that. "It's amazing…Gaston?" she turned when he hadn't said a word. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw him kneeling there in the snow, a strange expression on his face; it was an odd mixture of fear and admiration. He opened his mouth once…twice…and closed it again. Belle had never before seen him at such a loss for words. "Gaston?" she swore she could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

"Belle…I'm not one for words. I can't sound like those books of yours….so I'm just going to get it out. You changed me Belle." He spoke slowly, pausing to take in a breath. If he were honest with himself, he was completely terrified, staring at the woman before him. Anything he had planned on saying had completely left his head. He had fallen in love, simple as that, and that also terrified him. Anything that he had once been had changed thanks to this woman. He took in another breath, knowing that if he didn't speak now she'd think he'd gone mad. "Belle…you made me somebody better. And I-well blast it all I love you Belle. Will you marry me?"

Belle stood in shock, his words processing in her head. A voice inside of her told her that she needed to respond by now and she started with nodding, sniffling back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Yes…"

"Yes? You-you said yes? You said yes!" Gaston stood, his joy knocking him completely out of character as he stood up to hug her, spinning her around. Their laughter mingled together, echoing in the empty forest. He ceased their spinning, placing a gentle hand behind her head to bring her into a kiss that she returned. She was placed back to her feet and she looked up to him, her cheeks flushed.

"We should get you home before it gets too dark. Can't have my future bride catching her death out here!"

There was that old Gaston. Belle smirked. He led her back to the sleigh, throwing a blanket over the pair of them before ushering Philippe forwards. Partway through the ride Belle had scooted closer to Gaston, resting her head against his broad arm. She was just beginning to drift off when a terrifying sound ripped through the air. Belle jumped about a mile high, and Gaston was occupied with trying to calm down Philippe. She looked around, realizing the old path they were near; it was that same one from when they had had to rescue her father.

"What was that?" she managed to whisper. Gaston was looking around, his senses heightened as he strained to see or hear anything else.

"I don't know…it came from that direction." His eyes searched through the brush. Beside him Belle shivered, more from fear than cold.

"It sounded like some sort of beast. There's not anything like that in the woods is there?" she queried, looking to his face as he stared into the woods. "You don't think it was that beast from that old castle, do you?"

"I don't want to stick around to find out." He turned about face, flicking the reins once more. Philippe was more than happy to leave, hurrying down the old familiar path home.

There you have it folks! Hope you all enjoyed it :). We have another chapter or two left here! So stay tuned!