While there was no way they could be forgotten for good, seeing him smile like that--so different from when he was joking and mocking, something warm and light--made all thoughts of the Council and every danger and inconvinence they brought with them vanish from Belle's mind. Because wasn't this what she'd wanted, when she'd kissed him, when she'd decided to go back? Not breaking the curse, per se, but making him happy. And seeing that on his face after those long, dark lonely years, hearing those words made a laughing sob bubble up through her throat and, before she could even consider hesitating, she threw her arms about his neck.
"Gods, you have no idea how much I've missed you," she said, mouth just inches from the crook of his neck. Because she knew him well enough, knew the fear he'd had in believing she really loved him, to know it was impossible for him to truly know the depth of how much she did and how she'd felt no anger or resentment but only longing all those lone years.