Chapter 10: How Does A Moment Last Forever?

It all went by in a blur.

It had been a month since the incident in Lagos, but time didn't stop the government to create the Sokovia Accords. They were all in the common room arguing while Belle, Beast, and the servants listened intently. Beast's arms were around her, knowing she did not like seeing her family fight. It didn't help that Mama and Papa were on a 'break', at least, that's what they called it.

Steve had gone to Peggy Carter's funeral later in the day and everyone went to bed without a word.

Belle tossed and turned, fluffed and unfluffed her pillow countless times. She stopped believing sleep will come and through off her covers and ventured towards the kitchen, book in hand.

She grabbed a glass of milk from the fridge and sat on the couch, opening to where her bookmark held her place.

She soon heard large footsteps come her way and she didn't have to look to know who it was. "Oh, Belle, it's you."

"I couldn't sleep. When I couldn't, Papa used to let me stay up and read until I did. Want to join me?"

Instead of an answer, Beast sat down beside her and she leaned on his shoulder, "Why couldn't you sleep?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

"I'm sorry Belle."

"It's just-! I don't see why they can't talk this out!" Belle huffed and laid her head in his lap.

"What's your opinion on this, Sokovia Accords?"

Belle stared at the blankness of the tv screen, "I don't know. I see validity in both arguments. I just wish for a compromise to be met."

Beast caressed her cheek with his paw and her hand dashed up to hold it there, needing the comfort.
"There was another way I used to fall asleep. Papa or Mama," her voice died and started again, "would sing to me, that lullaby from my music box, but I left it in my room."

The Beast moved his paw to turn her face to look at his, "Would you like me to sing to you?" The surprise was evident on her face, "I'd heard your father sing it enough to know the words, if it's alright."

She slowly nodded and stood to be sitting in his lap, laying on his chest as he sang, "How does a moment last forever? How cana story never die? It is love we must hold onto. Never easy, but we try."

He was surprisingly good. His deep voice mixed with the tune was a sea of tranquility. "Sometimes our happiness is captured. Somehow a time and place stand still. Love lives on inside our hearts, and always will. Minutes turn to hours. Days to years then gone. But when all else has been forgotten, still our song lives on. Maybe some moments weren't so perfect. Maybe, some memories not so sweet. But we have to know some bad times, or our lives are incomplete. Then wen the shadows overtake us. Just when we feel all hope is gone. We'll here our song and know once more, our love lives on. How does a moment last forever? How does our happiness endure? Through the darkest of our troubles. Love is beauty, love is pure. Love pays no mind to desolation, it flows like a river through the soul. Protects, proceeds, and perseveres. And makes us whole. Minutes turn to hours. Days to years then gone. But when all else has been forgotten, still our song lives on."

He peered down to see Belle fast and peacefully asleep. He picked her up ever so carefully bridal style, and took her to her room. He laid her down and tucked her in under the covers.

As he was about to leave he turned back and finished the song, "How does a moment last forever? When our song live on." He then left for his own room, still feeling her phantom warm on his body.

~

It was the middle of the next day and the bombing of the UN was on every channel.

Belle had gone to the bookshop, getting more Shakespeare to read to Beast. When she got back the smell of paprikash invaded we nose and Vision was sitting on the couch ,with a noticeable frown, next to Beast.

"What's wrong?"

"Tony told him to keep Wanda here. She didn't take the news very well."

Belle dropped the books and hugged her brother, "Oh Vish, I'm so sorry! But, Papa must've had a good reason right?"

"He said it was to protect her." Vision stared at the chess set in front of him, mind swirling in utter defeat.

Beast stood to excuse himself and went down the hall to leave them be. He was going to go to his room when he heard crying. He walked farther down the hall until he found the source and understood.

He lifted his arm and knocked on the door, "May I came in?"

"Yeah." Came the quiet reply.

Beats opened the door and found Wanda sitting in the fetal position on her bed, surrounded by used tissues.

He stoically sat on her bed and waited for the crying to stop before she talked, "You hurt his feelings, you know."

"I didn't mean to."

"We do a lot of things we don't mean to." They we're both silent for a moment. "You know, it could be worse."

"How?"

"You could look like this." He pointed at himself and got a laugh out of her.

"I've been in your mind. We both know that that isn't so bad."

"Perhaps."

"Where's Belle?"

"Attending to her brother," he replied. "You should apologize."

She smiled, "Perhaps."

"He just wants to protect you. I stay here, yes, for my own safety, but more likely because she wants me to stay."

When he got no response he got up to leave. "I know about how to break the curse." He froze in the door frame. "The objects' minds aren't as closed off as yours. Don't worry, I haven't told anyone. And I also know why you can't tell her."

He turned back to look at the small sokovian,  "And coming from the girl whose looked in her mind recently, I can honestly say this: she cares about you just as much as she cares about you."

Beast felt his heart beat faster and the corners of his mouth lift, "Thank you Wanda."

"Anytime."

~

It was when she heard about Steve and Sam's arrest she realized it was Beast's birthday. She spent a good half hour laying on the couch, wondering what to get him.

She then though about how he stood to the side at her party, away from the others. How he didn't like leaving his room. He just wanted to fit in, but didn't know how.

It hit her like a freight train. She knew what to get him. Today was the day to be his Androcles. Today was the day to pull out his thorn.

Later that day, Beast found her music box in his room. She must have left it there on accident. But when he prepared to take it back to her, he saw a note taped to the top.

'Happy Birthday my Beast,

I know you never feel like you fit in around here, but I want you to know my life would never be the same without you. That said, open it, and see what I mean.

All my heart, your darling Belle.'

So he opened it. And his heart caught in his throat. It was the same as when Belle first received it. The only change was that the figures of her parents were with the rest of the figures.

And in their place was a figure of him, reading with Belle.

The Beasts felt a tear fall down his face as he just sat there, and listened to the lullaby, quietly singing along.

~

They were in Beast's room when Clint came for Wanda, finishing a Midsummer Night's Dream.

When they heard an explosion and fighting they raced out to see a giant hole in the ground. Beast went down and pulled Vision out as Belle fussed over him.

Tony came by with Nat, King T'challa, and a kid in tow (the latter two doing double takes when they saw the Beast).

When they left to go after Steve and his team Belle basically broke down in Beast's arms. Her family was being torn apart from the inside out.

Something was occurring in Beast, his heart moved for the woman in his embrace. This strong, smart, beautiful woman who had showed him that his appearance doesn't matter.

"I just wish I knew everything would be alright." She sobbed.

Beast placed a kiss on her forehead, "It will be."

He let go of her and made for the door, "Where are you going?"

Beast looked back at her with intense eyes, "I care about you Belle. More than I've ever cared about anyone, and it hurts me to see you this way."

"What are you-" she couldn't find the words, confusion clouding her mind.

"I'm sorry."

He then shut the door and locked her in. She pounded on the door repeatedly, shouting his name and for him to let her out. He whispered through the door, "Everything will be alright."

He walked down the hall, forcing himself to ignore the pleading voice of the woman he ha scone to love.