Belle was surprised how quickly she adjusted to a new life. Though she was a little afraid to venture outside just yet, she spent each day instead helping Tiana and Naveen to cook and clean and keeping an eye on the younger children whenever Jasmine or Facilier or Jack were out. The girls came to love her; especially when she read to them. Amongst the few things she had taken with her, she had carted all the books she actually owned along with her, and a few of these were fairytales or fantasy tales from her childhood, perfect for the younger children. Sometimes Clopin took it into his head to act out a story from her books with his puppets, or even make a puppet step out of character and talk to the children about their experiences; like he did when she told them the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, and Clopin had a “Jack” puppet talk to the children afterwards about how he and his mother became very wealthy and he met a nice girl, got married and lived happily ever after, “and that mean old giant just stamped around up in the clouds.”

“Read us another,” Lilo begged.

Belle laughed. “Alright, but just one more and then you need to go to bed.”

Jack watched, smiling, as she started to read another story. Boo was drawing on a sheet of paper with some wax crayons; probably trying to draw out Belle’s story. He could remember their mother reading to them like that back when she was still alive. Belle would make a great mother someday, he decided.

“And the Fairy Godmother waved her wand and all was forgiven. Cinderella married her Prince and together they lived Happily Ever After,” Belle finished.

“Yay!” Lilo chirped, clapping her hands together.

“Yeay!” Boo imitated.

“Alright, come on,” Dr Facilier said to his daughter, kneeling beside her. “Time for bed.”

“Alright,” sighed Lilo, and then yawned. “Goodnight, Belle; thank you for the story.”

Belle smiled. “You’re very welcome. Goodnight, Lilo.”

Jack bent down by his sister. “Whatcha drawing? Let me see.”

Boo held up the piece of paper she had been drawing on. Jack grinned. “Hey, that’s great.” He pointed to a figure in blue. “Is that me?”

“Cha!”

“And that one’s you, in pink?”

“Ga!” Nodding, Boo pointed to Belle and babbled happily.

“And that’s you,” Jack added, holding up the picture for Belle to see.

Belle smiled. “Well, I think it’s excellent.”

Boo rubbed her eyes and began to yawn. “Come on, then,” Jack said, picking her up. “Thanks for keeping an eye on her, Belle.”

“It’s no trouble,” Belle insisted. Boo gave her a little wave and Belle returned it.

“You’re really good with them,” Pocahontas observed, coming up to her.

Belle smiled and got to her feet. “They’re very sweet kids. I shudder to think what hardships they’ve been through.”

“We’ve all suffered hardships here,” Pocahontas sighed. “That’s kind of why we’ve all drifted here; even you.”

Belle repressed a physical shudder at the memory of Frollo’s abuse. “What about you? It can’t have been easy for you, being torn from your homeland like that.”

“It was terrifying,” Pocahontas agreed. “I was only twelve years old. We were shipped over in these tiny, squalid boat hold, and back then I had no idea what anyone was saying to me, because it all sounded like gobbledegook. They had us in chains and fed us on scraps. It was awful. Sometimes people got sick and no one came down to clean it up. It was disgusting.”

“Oh, my God,” Belle murmured, sympathetically.

“When I got here, I was sold to a man named Maurice. Or rather, he took pity on me because I was so young and paid to take me in. He was a nice man; he was an inventor. He taught me French and how to read and write and later I used to help him invent stuff, and run errands and do chores and things for him.”

“What happened to him?”

“He died. Fever.”

“Oh.”

“I miss him.” Pocahontas sighed. “He was like a father to me. After he died, his house got repossessed and I was left on the streets. I was sixteen, that was four years ago; and then I met Esmeralda and she brought me here. I’ve been with her ever since.” Pocahontas hesitated. “People think we’re strange. I mean people out there, not in here. You don’t think that, do you?”

“No, of course not.” Belle remembered something. “You know, I once read a book where a character said “Any love is better than no love.”

Pocahontas smiled. “Thanks, Belle.”

It was like that most days, but Belle found herself growing to love her new life, and her new friends. Dr Facilier seemed a little sinister on the surface, and his magic tricks sometimes had her shrieking in fight, but deep down anyone could see that he was a devoted father who loved his daughter very much. Belle resolved to try and find a book to do with voodoo, especially for Lilo, since she seemed fascinated by the subject.

Jack, for his part, though fiercely protective of his little sister, and sometimes with an attitude problem (Belle had been the accidental witness to an argument he had had with Aladdin over something silly) was very sensible and kind hearted, and Boo was clearly the most important person in his life.

Jasmine was very feisty, but also kind, and loved to make her sister laugh. Belle had often caught them in the middle of teasing banter, or a tickling match. Naveen could be like that, with Tiana, Belle reflected, with a smile. They made a cute couple. As for Aladdin, nice as he was, she sometimes couldn’t help wondering if he had really kicked the habbit of stealing. Food was one thing, after all they had to eat, but it worried her that one day he might be caught pickpocketing and get arrested.

“Don’t worry about him, Belle,” Clopin replied, wisely, when she voiced her fears to him. “Aladdin’s got street smarts; he won’t get caught.”

Belle smiled. “I suppose you’re right, but still, I think he should be careful.”

Clopin hesitated. It had been almost a week and he felt the need to ask. “Belle, are you...happy here, with us?” He had to stop himself from saying “With me?”

“Well, yes,” Belle replied. She didn’t need to give it a second thought. “Everyone’s very nice, and, well, for the first time in years, I feel like I’m part of a family.”

“Pretty dysfunctional family, if you ask me,” squawked Iago, landing on Clopin’s shoulder. That was something else that Belle had learned; whilst Iago was pleasant enough, he had a bit of an attitude problem too, and sometimes came across as rather pessimistic.

“I’ve never heard you complain before, Iago,” Clopin replied, coolly.

“Awk!” Iago ruffled his feathers. “Sheesh, a guy can’t voice an opinion around here, can he?”

He flew off again. Belle smiled. He wasn’t really offended, Iago, that much she had come to know too, and the next morning he would act as if their little spat, if you could call it that, hadn’t even happened. “Well, I like dysfunctional families, anyway,” she added, nervously.

Clopin smiled. “Well, I’m glad. I mean, I wouldn’t want you to feel out of place or anything here.”

“Are you joking?” Belle turned to look over at Jasmine catching hold of Shanti to get her ready for bed. “I’ve felt more...in place here than I ever have out there.”

Clopin nodded. “Maybe you should risk venturing outside soon. It’s not really healthy to be indoors so much.”

“I couldn’t.” Panic rose within her. “What if Frollo saw me?”

“You could go in disguise.” Clopin grinned. “Esme could help you there; she’s the best at disguises. There’s no way he’d recognise you.” Sensing Belle’s unease, he added “And you wouldn’t be alone; I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

Belle managed a small smile. “I’ll think about it. Thanks, Clopin.”

“Don’t mention it.” He turned to go, but Belle stopped him with her words.

“I mean, thank you for all that you’ve done for me.”

Clopin turned. “I haven’t done that much. You’ve done more for me.”

Belle shook her head. “You’ve been a great friend, just when I needed one. And now I’m here, I don’t feel scared or alone. So, thank you.”

Clopin looked her up and down, feeling a stirring within his heart. “Well, you’re welcome, Belle.”

Although, Belle reflected later, it didn’t matter how at home she felt with everyone else, how unafraid and un-alone she felt in the Court of Miracles, because each night, without fail, she found that she couldn’t fall asleep alone in her own bed. Whether it was just because it was a new place, or because she was terrified of having nightmares about Frollo abusing her again, she never found out. But each night, once she had changed for bed, her feet would automatically lead her to Clopin’s room. And, every night, without fail, Clopin would draw back the blanket, without saying a word, and she could clamber into bed beside him. And then she would sleep, nestled in the comfort of Clopin’s embrace.