As has been often said, when one wanted time to crawl, that was when it tended to fly and soon it was time for Beast to go to the Isle.
It was a solemn group that stood in the front hall of the castle, the muffled sounds of cameras clicking away outside. Snow had tried her best to keep the news away from her colleagues but the news finally broke.
Not that Belle could blame Snow for that. The majority of the two weeks without the press breathing down their necks was more than Belle could ever ask for.
Still...she wished the scene in front of her didn't have to happen even if she was thankful Lady Persephone had made sure she and Mal were elsewhere as to afford the royal family some privacy.
"Be a big brave boy and look after your Maman and sœur fo me, I'll see you soon," Beast said softly as Ben clung to him. "Know this, I am so proud of you Ben."
"I don't want you to go papa...you could still hide...I'm sure Emir or Akiho have room in their castles to hide you so you don't have to go to the Isle," Ben whispered, his voice barely audible as his face burrowed into Beast's chest.
Beast couldn't help but smile sadly as he heard that. "But then Emir and Akiho would get in trouble and I know you don't want that to happen."
"No...but I don't want you to leave either," Ben said, not letting go of Beast. Beast wasn't going to lie, the sniffles coming from his son were chipping away at his willpower. He didn't want to leave either.
"Da da?" Abby said, her voice soft as she looked at him; the confusion evident on her face.
Beast tried to give her a reassuring smile. "You be a good girl for Maman okay? You'll see me again when you're a bit older but I've left you and your brother a video so you'll remember me."
He looked over Ben's head and locked eyes with Belle, his eyes pleading with his wife to make sure his daughter didn't forget him.
I won't, Belle's look promised. Your daughter will know who you are. The real you and not the you people tell her you are. I promise...and I love you. Please be safe, don't do anything risky and keep your head down.
"Listen to Lord Hades," she said softly. "He might be the only one on the Isle who'll help you...and I want you to be safe. I love you, that will never change."
"I love you too, Belle," Beast told her. "And I'll be as safe as I can be."
He looked down at the five year old still gripping onto him for dear life, as if breaking his grasp would allow his father to disappear. "Ben..."
"Yes papa...?"
Beast sighed. "You're...you're going to have to let go now..."
"But...if I do then you go away..." Ben whispered and shook his head. He didn't want his papa to leave.
Belle swallowed the tears that threatened to come as she tried to keep herself from breaking down for her children's sake. And yes, that included Chip. Mrs. Potts had suggested he attend to give Ben moral support, plus the teen was family to them.
"Ben...sweetheart...it's time for you to let go now," Belle said, her voice soft as she willed it not to crack.
"No! Papa stays here! Papa stays with me and Abby!" Ben said, his voice just as soft as Belle's had been but the firmness was audible as he clutched onto his father.
Chip bit his lip, knowing he was about to do something that Ben wouldn't like but he also knew that Belle couldn't pull Ben off of Beast while she was holding Abby.
"Come on Benji, it's...it's okay," he said softly.
"No! No Chip, don't! Let go! He stays here! Papa! Papa!" Ben cried as Chip gently tugged the five year old away from his father, Beast reluctantly leaning down slightly to assist Chip in peeling Ben's grip off of Beast's jacket.
"Thank you Chip," Belle said softly as Ben struggled to get out of Chip's grip so that he could get back to his father. Not that Chip was gripping all that hard as to prevent injuring Ben but he was still keeping a somewhat firm grip to prevent the five year old from escaping.
What is Chip doing? Ben thought. I have to get back to papa! If I don't, papa's going to leave! And that can't happen! I won't let that happen! Chip's not going to be the reason I lose papa!
"I know, I know Ben, I'm so sorry. I wish I didn't have to do this either Benji, you'll see him again, it'll be okay. I'm sorry," Chip whispered as he held his surrogate younger brother.
"No you're not! If you were sorry Chip, you'd let me go! Papa can't leave! He's got to stay here with me and Abby and maman! Papa!" Ben called as Beast gave Belle a sad kiss on the lips before kissing Abby on the head one last time and turned to leave.
Chip bit his lip, holding Ben's hands as he tried to not take anything Ben was saying to heart. He knew he didn't mean it.
"No! Papa!" Ben cried as Beast walked out the door, the servants quickly closing the door as to prevent any of the press outside from catching a glimpse of the crying Crown Prince desperately trying to get out of Chip's grasp. "Why didn't you let me go? I could have stopped him Chip!"
Chip sighed, not sure what to tell Ben. He wanted to let him go...but he knew he couldn't have done so.
"You're a meanie Chip! I hate you!" Ben cried and finally tugged himself out of Chip's grasp, running off to his room.
Chip bit his lip, wincing slightly as he heard a muffled door slam. As if Ben was wanting to convey his anger but at the same time he didn't want to cause his sister to cry from the noise. He had expected that but it didn't make it hurt any less.
"He doesn't mean that Chip," Belle said, her voice soft as she rubbed Abby's back as her daughter began to whimper, more than slightly confused as to what was going on.
"I know Belle...doesn't mean it doesn't hurt," Chip said with a small sigh. "I'm...I'm sorry about all of this. I wish there was something I could do."
"It's not your fault honey, but thank you. And you're doing more than you know, being there for Ben."
"I don't think I'm doing all that much...all I did was make him mad at me," the teen said with another small sigh.
"He's a heartbroken and confused child, Chip honey. If you hadn't done what you did, he would have never let Adam go," Belle said with a sigh of her own. Not that it would have necessarily been a bad thing...
She shoved that thought down. She couldn't afford to think like that, not when she had three upset children.
"I know...so why does it still hurt that Ben hates me?" Chip asked.
"Because you love and care about him," Belle said, her voice gentle. "And I don't think he'll hate you for long. I don't think he hates you at all actually. He's just hurt and confused and misses his father..."
"I know..." Chip whispered.
"It's not going to be easy for a while," Belle sighed. "With the election, I'm not going to have time to sit and cuddle with him and read to him constantly. I hate to ask, especially since I know you're a teenager and you probably don't want to spend a ton of time with a five year old but...could you?"
"Of course! I mean...he may not let me since I'm not exactly in his good books with what just happened but you don't need to ask, Belle," Chip said. "It doesn't matter that he's five and I'm a teen. He's my brother."
"Well...maybe not right away but give him time. And thank you Chip, I greatly appreciate this...and now I should go and put Abby down for a nap and then check on my son. Make sure he hasn't tried to follow Adam or anything."
'Of course," Chip nodded. "...Do...do you want me to put Abby down? Ben probably needs all your attention right now."
Belle couldn't help but give Chip a small smile. "Thank you Chip but I can't ask you to do that. Not after all you've already done."
"It's no trouble Belle," Chip said. "I could go get mom to put her down for you if you'd prefer? She's...she's probably in the kitchen...cooking her feelings."
Belle sighed. "If you could, Chip, that would be a big help."
"Sure," Chip nodded and headed off to get his mother, leaving Belle alone. She sighed and held her daughter close, trying to keep her tears from falling onto Abby's head.
Is it better that Abby is so young for this? Belle thought. Or is it worse? Better that she won't remember the pain from this day or worse because she'll barely remember Adam either...at least not until she's four...
"You asked for me dearie?" Mrs. Potts asked, her voice gentle as she came into the front hall.
Belle nodded and gave Mrs. Potts a small smile even though she knew it was likely tinged with sadness. "Would you mind putting Abby down for her nap? I...I need to talk to Ben."
"Of course, Belle," Mrs. Potts nodded as Belle handed the young Princess to her.
"Thank you."
Mrs. Potts turned to leave but then paused. "Belle...are you alright dear? I mean, of course you're not but..."
"I...I can't not be okay Mrs. Potts," Belle whispered. "I...of course I'm not okay. I just lost Adam for the rest of my life and now my children's stability rests on my winning the election...but I can't not be okay. I can break later. My kids need me now."
Mrs. Potts nodded. "Alright dearie...just know you're not alone Belle. If you need someone to talk to, I've an open ear. Two of them in fact."
"Thanks Mrs. Potts," Belle said with a weak chuckle as she turned to leave to check on Ben. I hope Adam left some of his things...just so I can have his scent. I know it seems odd but...sleeping in the bed alone...I haven't done that since before we were married...
"Ben?" Belle asked, pulling herself out of her thoughts as she knocked on her son's door.
"Go 'way!" Ben's voice called, sounding muffled as if he was crying in his pillow.
Belle sighed softly. "I'm sorry to say, sweetheart, that my ability to 'go away' ended when I became your mother. Particularly when you're upset."
"Want papa! You're not papa, you're maman! Don't want Chip neither! He's a meanie, he let papa leave!"
"I know you want your father, sweetheart."
"Why'd Chip make me let go of papa?"
"Because he didn't have a choice. Papa had to go, believe me, Chip's just as upset that he had to do that to you as you are."
"Papa didn't have to go! He could have gone to live with granddad! Chip was just being a meanie head—papa could have stayed!"
Belle sighed. "I know it doesn't make sense now, Ben. One day it will though, I promise. And you will see him again....in fact, do you want me to come in and help you pick some things to take with you?"
"I want papa!" Ben called and the muffled sounds of him crying once more into what Belle assumed to be his pillow broke Belle's heart. At least Abby was too young to be hurt by this. Normally she wouldn't have done this but she wouldn't just stand on the other side of the door while her son cried his heart out.
Luckily Ben didn't lock the door, not that I think he could. The lock's just slightly out of his reach, she thought as she walked into her son's room. Her heart broke once more as she saw the sight in front of her.
Ben was curled up on his bed, his face pressed into his pillow with the stuffed reindeer and stuffed tiger his friends had given him almost shoved under his body while the stuffed Cerberus Mal had given him for his birthday almost stood watch on the other end of the bed. Belle frowned as she saw his precious stuffed dragon had been thrown across the room.
She knew he'd asked Mal if he could borrow it as he had lent it to her while she was staying with them but she hadn't known why.
Walking over to where Flamey was, Belle bent down and picked up a scrap of paper that was next to the beloved toy.
-Ben...I appreciate you trying to sneak Flamey into my bag but you need him more than me. I love you and I'll see you soon. Love, papa
Belle sighed as she bent down once more and picked up the stuffed dragon.
"Well...it looks as though Flamey learned to fly," she said, her voice gentle as she walked over to Ben's bed.
"Don't want 'im," Ben muttered.
"Why not? You love Flamey."
"He was supposed to go with papa!"
"But your papa wanted him to stay with you Ben," Belle said. "And I'm sure Mal would have wondered where Flamey went as well. Your father wanted Flamey here to keep both of you safe."
Ben shook his head. "He's supposed to keep papa safe! You and papa said there're bad people on the Isle...and Mal for some reason cause she's from the Isle too...but mostly bad people!"
"I know, I know sweetheart. But papa has Lord Hades to help keep him safe."
"But Flamey could help Lord Hades!"
Belle sighed, softly rubbing Ben's back as she sat on the edge of his bed. She wasn't even going to question how a stuffed dragon could help a God, such was the innocence of a child.
"It'll be okay Ben," she said. "I miss him too. More than you know. You don't have to be a big boy right now, you just cry it out. Maman's got you. I know I'm not the person you want right now but that doesn't change the fact that I'll always be there for you. Even if you don't want me."
"It's not fair," Ben sniffed. "Why do Abby and I hafta lose papa?"
Belle sighed. "I know it's not fair sweetheart, trust me."
She rubbed Ben's back once more as Ben whimpered. Not for the first time, Belle felt completely helpless. She hated seeing Ben this upset and there was nothing she could do. Not for the first time since the council meeting, she hated Leah for seconding that motion...and even found herself hating Phoebus for making the motion in the first place. She knew he didn't do it out of malice but that didn't change the fact that he did it.
Didn't he know he was tearing a family apart? Belle thought as she bit her lip. Didn't he know that he was dashing the hopes of a five year old boy who loves his father?
Ben sniffled before getting up and curling next to her.
"Maman's here my sweet boy," Belle said, her voice soft as she gently rubbed his back.
"I'm sorry I told you to go away," Ben said, his voice just as soft as Belle's.
"You were upset sweetheart, it was understandable."
"I just...I wanted papa. I still want papa..."
Belle sighed softly. "I know...I understand Ben. But it's okay sweetheart, you just be upset. No one'll blame you for being upset, it's been a really upsetting day after all....maman's upset too."
"You...you are?" Ben asked, looking up at Belle with wide eyes. He didn't know if he liked that, his maman being upset. That just made him more upset though he tried to not let it show. Instead he tried to give his mom the biggest hug he could.
"Thank you sweetheart," Belle said, a sad smile pulling at her lips. She hadn't even realized Ben had heard the last bit of what she'd said, her voice had been so soft. But then again, he did have enhanced senses. Keeping the childhood magic of Père Noël had been tough for that very reason. "It's okay...well no, it's not but it will be at the very least. We'll...we'll adapt and we'll learn how to do this together. It's...it's going to be just fine. You'll see. Soon you'll be...you'll be used to going back and forth."
Ben couldn't help but bite his lip as he heard that. "But...I'll miss you," he whispered.
"I know my sweet boy," Belle said. "I'll miss you too. But it'll go by faster than you think and soon we'll be together again. You'll see. I promise."
Ben sighed softly. "Is...Is Chip mad at me?"
"Oh no honey," Belle said, having barely heard her son's question with how soft his voice had been. But she'd managed. "He's just worried. Maybe a little hurt but he could never be mad at you."
"But...I...I told him I hated him," Ben said, biting his lip. "You and Papa always say words have power...and they can hurt people..."
"They can," Belle nodded. "If you mean them. Did you mean it when you told Chip you hated him?"
"No!"
"Then Chip has no reason to be mad at you," Belle said, keeping her voice gentle. "He knows you were just upset. But do you want me to get him for you?"
"...Will he want to talk to me, maman?"
"Of course he will honey," Belle said, holding her son close to her. "He's your brother after all."
Ben sighed softly. "...Okay."
"I'll be right back," Belle said and gently kissed the top of Ben's head before walking out of his room. It wasn't long before a knock sounded on his doorframe.
"Come in," Ben said softly.
"Hey Benji," Chip said, his voice gentle as he walked into Ben's room. "I'm really sorry."
"Why...why are you sorry?" Ben asked. "I...I said I hated you."
Chip sighed and held Ben close. "I'm sorry because I had to do something that hurt you. Even if I didn't want to."
"...If you didn't want to do something then you don't have to be sorry. Maman said you only have to be sorry if you mean to hurt someone."
Oh Benji, something tells me that's not what your mom meant, Chip thought but just gave Ben a small smile.
"...I'm sorry too," Ben said softly. "I...I just wanted papa..."
"I know, I know Benji," Chip said. "Don't worry about it. Like you said, you didn't mean it. But I'll tell you what. Soon you'll be able to see him and you'll get into all sorts of adventures with Mal and her friends."
"...Mal doesn't have friends...she has allies," Ben said softly. "She wouldn't be happy if I used friends."
"Well you're not talking to Mal, you're talking to me," Chip said as he held Ben even closer. "And you listen to me Benjamin Florian, the Isle might have not so nice people on it but for six months out of the year, it's also going to have you. And I want you to promise me something."
"What Chip?"
"That you don't let the Isle dim the light in you okay? Cause I'd be really sad to see that happen."
Ben nodded as fast as his head could go, looking almost like a bobble head. He wasn't entirely sure what Chip meant but if making the promise meant that he wouldn't hurt Chip again, Ben would be more than happy to do that.
"Good man," Chip smiled. "Now come on, let's pick out some books you want to take to the Isle? You'll need a good selection to last you six months after all."
"Mal said they don't do much reading over there," Ben said but Chip smiled as Ben hopped off the bed. It was a lot better than seeing an upset Ben, that was for certain.
Ben couldn't help but smile as he saw Chip smile. If...If me being happy makes Chip happy...then I'll be happy, he thought. Even if...if I don't feel like being happy. Papa always says that being happy for other people was the Kingly thing to do.
"And knowing you, you'll change that," Chip told him, pulling Ben out of his thoughts. "Now come on! Super Benji's got to go to his fortress of Knowledge!"
"Chip!" Ben giggled as Chip picked Ben up to look as if he was flying as the two of them made their way to the library. Meanwhile, over in Belle and Beast's shared office, Belle sighed as she looked at Cogsworth.
She couldn't put off preparations for the election any longer. She would not let her children's stability be another thing taken from them. She could sob herself to sleep that night.
The nation needed a Queen. Her children needed a mother.
"Let's get to work," she said.