Little Gaston

Chapter 19

"Gaston don't run so far ahead," Belle said with a smile, following the eager little through the forest, Adam walking by her side.

The weather was getting a lot colder, with winter approaching, and a first layer of frost was visible on the leaves.

"Hurry mama," Gaston called out, and a moment later she heard a small shout and the big body thudded to the ground when he slipped.

"Are you okay?" Belle asked, panicked, and she could feel Adam poised to run his way, already hairs growing long on his arms, but the little immediately answered.

"Am, mama," Gaston said, already getting up clumsily, the diapered bum being pushed high in the air and the large body following, and there he was off running again, full of energy.

It had been raining the last couple of days, and Gaston had reluctantly stayed cloistered within the castle walls, entertaining himself with toys when he was small, and doing small woodwork when he was big.

But he was an outdoor person, and thus, the moment the rain had stopped and a reluctant sun was showing here and there through the clouds, he had so excitedly run up to them, asking to go out.

He had been big at the beginning of his question, but by the end of it, he had been bouncing full of enthusiasm, his headspace slipping at the prospect of going outside.

"We can go walk," Adam had said, interrupting Gaston's cheer with a hand on the man's crotch, "after you get a dry diaper."

The little had grumbled a bit, but he had let himself be changed easily enough, and now dressed in enough layers to please both Belle and Adam, they were walking in the forest, now reaching the large pond before they would return.

Belle was carrying a bouquet of branches with colourful leaves and flowers, Gaston enthusiastically finding some still blooming or half frozen ones, knowing where to find the ones that bloomed this time of the year.

"Here, these will make you look pretty," Belle said, taking some smaller flowers and putting it in Gaston's hair, being held by his hair ribbon, "yes, very pretty indeed."

Gaston blushed and looked pleased with it, smiling shyly while he tucked his hand in his mouth for a moment, frowning when he felt the fabric of the glove. Belle gave a tug on his elbow.

"That's dirty sweetheart," the woman said, gently putting a strand of hair behind his ear.

"Oh," Gaston said, still feeling a little shy after being called pretty, "oh, mama handsome."

"Handsome?" Belle asked, blinking in surprise before smiling, Gaston having used the term once before for describing her, "oh, well I can go with that."

"And me?" Adam asked, taking one flower and putting it behind his ear, posturing slightly.

"Silly," Gaston said with a giggle, and Belle had to laugh as well at his shocked face.

"Well, that's what you get for trying too hard," Belle said, plucking the flower from his hair, and putting it back in her arms.

"Going to find more," Gaston said, running off again while Belle and Adam followed him.

They kept on leisurely walking around the pond, Gaston running back and forth with more and more flowers, sometimes disappearing from their sight.

A sudden splashing sound made the two caregivers look up, seeing Gaston fallen in the shallow edge from the pound, a squished flower in his fist.

"Gaston, are you okay?" Belle asked, she and Adam running to him, Adam faster seeing he wasn't carrying half a forest of flowers.

"My flower!" Gaston cried out, tears dripping out of his eyes, while his muddy hand was held out the crumpled flower.