"Remind me why we're doing this again?" Everard groused.

I smiled at him, "We're almost there."

"This thing is itchy." He frowned, tugging at the neck of the grey woolly sweater.

"Well... It's your fault you grabbed the first thing in sight at the shops." I replied teasingly.

"I was not aware." He fairly growled, "That their apparel feels like a billion tiny swords." He replied.

"I for one am quite enjoying my shirt." Hook felt the need to say, from his seat beside Rose in the back of my car.

"Yes there were so many colours there! Even peasants can look like royalty now! No offence Violet." Rose blushed.

Violet sighed wearily. "None taken my lady."

I adjusted the rear view mirror to look at Rose, fixing her with a level stare.

"Rose... what did I say about calling people peasants?" I scolded gently.

"That it was rude... and un-modern...." She replied.

"And that goes for you too Violet. In the real world every man is their own master. So do try to act like it." I smiled.

"Sorry my lady- oops I mean Belle!" She huffed in embarrassment.

"Still first names seem so forward." Hook remarked.

I smiled, "Well it's not the 1200's anymore... here we are!"

I have to admit I was a bit worried about bringing my odd group of friends back home. But I was more worried about seeing papa again. I was worried for his sanity...

Everard had explained that I had been gone for twice as long as I had thought. Time worked different in Nodnot.

So as I pulled up to the familiar brown brick building marked. 'Wright's Antiques' I chewed my bottom lip. I parked the car round the back of the house and sighed.

Somebody grabbed my hand, so I looked over at him, Everard. He smiled supportively at me.

"You ready?" he asked.

"No... But I don't think I ever will be." I replied looking at the house again. I heard his door open and reached for my handle.

"Belle!" Rose reprimanded.

I spun around to look at her.

She frowned, "A lady never opens her own door!"

Sure enough, Everard ran around my car and had opened the door for me.

"Oh! Thank you." I blushed.

He bowed dramatically, "My Lady~"

I got out of the car and stood on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

"Not your lady yet mister~" I replied playfully.

We all trudged to the house, and I rang the bell.

There was a sound of somebody coming to the door. I waited impatiently. Everard's hand on my back steadying me.

And then the door opened.

Papa looked well over his age. The Grief had aged him. But as he searched my face. I watched the years peel off of his.

Tears filled his eyes, "Belle...Can it be?!"

"Papa!!" I sobbed, pulling him into a hug.

"Belle!"

After a long minute he pulled back to look at me.

"B-but what happened? Where w-were you? How did you escape?" He asked frantically.

"Well... you remember the castle?"

Papa nodded.

I thought for a moment...

"Everard owns that castle."

Papa nodded slowly, "And what of the beast did he kill it?"

Everard bit his lip.

"...I can safely say... that the beast is not a problem anymore, sir."

"Thank God." Papa sighed, pulling me in for another hug.

"And you. Thank you for bringing my daughter back safely."

Papa pulled Everard into the hug with me.

"It's my pleasure." Everard smiled.

I cleared my throat and Papa let us go, looking at me with great interest.

"Yes Belle?"

"Well. That's not all papa..."

"What?"

Everard stood tall, "I'd like to ask your permission to marry your daughter sir."

Papa froze.

Papa blinked.

...

"Belle? A word in the kitchen?" Papa asked.

"Of course papa." I replied looking back at the group.

Rose mouthed 'Good luck'

I smiled at her, as Papa pulled me into the kitchen.

"What. Is going on Belle?"

I blushed and smiled, "I love him papa. He saved me. And I saved him."

Papa nodded slowly.

"But what about our deal with Devin?"

"Devin was the real beast."I sneered.

"Belle!" Papa exclaimed.

"I mean it Papa.... Besides he won't want anything to do with us after he gets out of jail." I muttered.

"Jail?!" He gasped.

I sighed heavily. "He was drunk...He came after me with a crossbow Papa. He would have killed me too were it not for Everard..."

Papa shook his head. Tears filling his eyes again. "This is all my fault. I only wanted to make sure you could be well taken care of. But I didn't see what was right in front of me... Devin's no good."

I shook my head, "It's not your fault papa... Besides, cheer up. I know a way we can still save the shop!"

Papa furrowed his brows, looking down at the floor.

"How?"

"Papa..." I smiled, eyes twinkling.

Papa looked at me.

"The man who wants to marry me owns a castle..."

"Right..."Papa chuckled.

He stood up and walked to the other room.

I followed him quickly.

"Everard is it?" Papa asked.

"Yes sir." Everard replied.

Hook and Rose looked up from the scrap book they had found.

"Why should I let you marry my daughter?" Papa asked, crossing his arms.

"Because, I love her sir. I'll take care of her. She's the only woman in the world for me, and I'd be lost without her."

Papa nodded, blinking back tears."Are you prepared to take care of her financially?"

"Yes. I have much gold." Everard Replied awkwardly.

"Much gold? Do you mean stocks?" Papa frowned.

I nodded rapidly behind my papa, locking eyes with Everard.

"Something like that." He replied smoothly.

I sighed in relief as Papa broke into a wide smile. "Everard was it? Have you ever been hunting?"

"All the time sir. There's nothing I enjoy better... besides reading." Everard amended.

Papa chuckled. "I can see why you and Belle got off on a good foot."

Over the spring, we had a very short courtship.

Our wedding was in the summer, and it was lovely.

And that folks is the end of my portion of the story.

But the story of Nodnot... is only beginning.

(A/N: Thank you all for this incredible journey. This is the end of Beastly. But next up is a story I'm very excited for! Nodnot: King of the Faeries. That story is filled with. Faeries, Mischief, Wars, and a new group of characters.  Namely the Darling children. I look forward to seeing what you all think of that one! I'll have a little teaser at the end of this book. Be sure to read it because it's important for background knowledge for my next book! I'm so excited! Anyway I hope you guys have a spectacular rest of your day!!! -Bella )