"Take it easy darling. The doctor will be here soon."
Adeline smiled into her husband's eyes, "I'm alright Beauregard. The contraction is over."
This was their first child. She could tell her husband was nervous as he held her hand in a tight grip. The servant would be back with the doctor soon. The huge bed had been stripped of its expensive sheets and blankets because Adeline didn't want to ruin them with the blood bound to come. Instead Beauregard had wrapped her in an old, light blanket that was not as nice as their usual bedding but was still very nice.
He cradled his wife in his arms, "I hope our child has your eyes," he said caressing her face, looking into those beautiful blue eyes he loved.
"I hope it has your hair," Adeline giggled.
Just then the doctor came in. It was time for Beauregard to leave. He paced around just outside the door. The screams of his wife in labor felt like claws ripping him to pieces from the inside out.
Not soon enough the doctor let him back in the room, "You have a son."
Beauregard felt the joy of a new father rise in him. When he saw his sweet Adeline was just fine he went over to the crib where his new son lay.
"No!" he cried when he saw the creature wrapped in the blanket meant for his son.
"What is it?" Adeline said sitting up, "What's wrong with him?"
She stared in horror as her husband reached into the crib and reviled to her the monster that was their son.
"This happens sometimes," the doctor said trying to calm the distraught parents.
"Leave us," Beauregard spat, "The servants downstairs will give you your pay." With that the doctor left.
"What are we going to do?" Adeline cried, "We can't claim a child as hideous as this!"
"I'll take care of it," Beauregard turned to go with the misshapen child, "If anyone asks, say the child died. I will have a servant dig a grave."
A cry rang through the quiet of the evening as two gypsies walked down the street.
"Bern that sounds like a baby," the woman said to her husband.
They searched for the source of the cry. They were shocked at what they found.
"Giselle! It's…it's," Bern stammered at the ugly thing in his hands.
"A baby," Giselle took the child from her husband, "Oh Bern!" She looked pleadingly into his face.
"No. No. No," he shook his head, "Just look at him."
"Bern," she said softly, "this may be our only chance at a family."
Bern stood silent. He thought of the years he and his wife had tried to have children. Tried and failed.
He smiled and put his arm around the wife he loved so much, "Alright Giselle. He's ours."
Giselle kissed Bern out of joy, "I think I'll call him Bayard."
She smiled as they walked home. Now her family was complete.
"Wake up," a divine voice spoke to three gargoyles.
At first there was nothing. Then they slowly began to yawn and stretch as if waking up from a good night's sleep.
The voice spoke to them again, "The child," they all glanced at the infant in a broken down crib with them in the bell tower of Notre Dame, "I leave in your care to teach him of love and kindness. His mother was killed on the steps of this sanctuary trying to protect him from the man who has now taken charge of him."
One of the gargoyles spoke, "How are we supposed to care for a child? We're just stone."
The voice spoke to each gargoyle, "Hugo, you will be the one to make jokes and lighten his heart. Victor, you will teach him of many things the children outside will learn that he would never know otherwise. Laverne, you will be the one to console him when he's sad, the voice of encouragement."
With that the divine voice said no more after that and the gargoyles took care of the child named Quasimodo.