Beauty and Beast Inc

Chapter 17

    While we sat stringing the popcorn I turned to Mrs. Potts and cleared my throat, "so is Christmas Eve a fancy occasion around here?" I asked.

She smiled and nodded. "Yes, we get all formal and gather around for dinner and then afterward we all open one gift and sit around drinking eggnog and coffee and talking. Well, all of us but Elias. He usually goes back into his office to work."

I nodded and jumped as I pricked my finger with the needle. I was about to say something about formal wear and my lack of owning any when Chip jumped up.

   "We're done!" he shouted and ran for the ornament box. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!" he squealed, bouncing on his feet with five ornaments cradled in his arms.

   "Whoa there, hold on," I leaped forward and took some from his arms and started hanging them up beside him. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer started playing next on the radio and Chip started belting out the lyrics like he was singing in Madison Square Garden. I burst out laughing, bent in half at the waist with tears in my eyes. Mrs. Potts started chuckling and soon all of us were standing there laughing like a bunch of hyenas. 

   After the laugh attack, we finished hanging up the ornaments with the additional help of Codsworth and Lumiere even wandered in to my surprise and aided in the draping of the popcorn garland. I stood with Chip holding my hand as we admired the Christmas tree in its blazing glory after we had finished. It glittered with hand-made ornaments and a popcorn string along with the boring ornaments Elias had on before. But this time it shined with much more personality and hominess. It reminded me of my father and I's tree in France when we hung up the same old, hand made decorations every year but it was a tradition and I found my eyes watering just thinking about it.

  "Mrs. Potts is dinner almost ready? I need time to try and throw together a formal outfit," I asked, turning to her and trying to blink away the tears in my eyes. Chip ran off to clean up the art supplies and I praised Mrs. Potts on how well she seemed to be taking care of him.

   "Yes dear, Elias wanted me to tell you he left something for you in your room that might help with that wardrobe situation," she answered with a mischievous smile.

   I gave a slow nod and made sure she didn't need any help cleaning up before running off to my room and throwing open the door to see a garment bag laying on my bed. Nervously I walked over to it and drew aside the tissue paper to see a little envelope.

   My Little Rose,
Sorry for how I've been behaving, I hope you enjoy the gift. 
   Elias

I tossed the envelope aside and ripped off the rest of the tissue paper and drew out the most stunning cream-colored satin gown. It ran over my hands like water and shimmered in the light of my room. I quickly ran to the bathroom and slipped it on, admiring myself in the mirror and thinking back very briefly to that yellow ballgown I saw in the store with Elias the first time he took me shopping. It wasn't very provocative nor conservative as the front rose up to four inches below my collarbone and the straps were loosely tied together in the back with a matching satin ribbon. It hugged some of my curves and made me feel just incredible as I braided my hair up into a bun and slipped on a shawl and made my way downstairs as Mrs. Potts rung the bell for dinner.

  I made my way into the dining room where Codsworth, Lumiere, Chip, Mrs. Potts, and Elias stood mingling around the table where platters upon platters of food had been set out. All the men were in suits, including Chip who looked so incredibly adorable with his little bow tie, while Mrs. Potts adorned a gorgeous blouse with her hair all done and absolutely beaming.

   "This is incredible," I mumbled when I pushed open the door and all eyes turned to me.

   "Well I'll be damned..." Lumiere muttered and Codsworth shot him a glare then smiled at me.

   "You look lovely Belle. Truly stunning," he complimented.

   Mrs. Potts was giving me a knowing, obnoxious grin about the dress but I could see the happiness in her eyes. Chip ran forward in his double-breasted blue suit with polka dot bow tie and hugged me tightly. "You look like a princess!"

   I laughed and took his hand. "Will you be my prince for the evening?"

   He nodded and started pulling me towards the table. "As long as I get to slay dragons. Will you slay the dragons with me?"

  "Of course!" I looked up smiling, and my eyes turned to Elias who was starring at me with a slight flush in his cheeks. His hands were shoved in his pockets and he was shifting his weight from foot to foot which I immediately knew meant he was uncomfortable. I smiled at him as I approached my seat right next to his and he pulled out my chair.

Without thinking, I leaned forward and kissed his cheek lightly, catching us both by surprise. "Thank you for the dress, it's absolutely beautiful," I whispered as he sat down.

  He nodded, his cheeks even more red than before. "You're welcome."