Time seemed to pass by and both children began to grow to liking numerous things. That very secretive visit was ever suspected and it was never spoken of.

Quasimodo, after seeing the wonders Rapunzel brought forth with her paintings, was deeply intrigued with the woodwork around the tower.

Mother would travel from time to time, and one day… considering the day she found him, she came home with new things in her basket. There she brought several sea shells, white and had some carving tools. But she hid these things, observing the two by a side glance.

The two were so very close. But one thing worried her.

Not only did she have a sort of daughter, she now had a son. A boy who was already figuring things out. He knew the hair held magical properties. He knew how the magic came to be when they sang together. He had grown sorely close and protective of the treasured girl.

All this because she did not have the heart of doing the most regretful of things, which was killing him. Now, it was even harder. He trusted her as his mother, just as Rapunzel did.

It had to stay that way, as long as possible.

Rapunzel was soon turning eleven as he was becoming ten. Their spirits quite strong, she knew there was going to be a day when both of them were going to want to go beyond the tower and the glade.

Quasi ran to the stairway, feeling the smooth wooden banisters, seeming like he had an idea. Studying the painting on it, of an orange vine and an apple at the top, he imagined how it would look if it was made of wood. Sadly, he hadn't any tools.

Rapunzel opened her paint box, her green eyes glowing as she picked a brush.

"Quasi?" she smiled as she looked over to him.

He looked back at his sister.

"I ju-just thought of something! Something new." his spirited voice came and his eyes were bright with it.

"You have? Oh, what is it?" she then got up, her gold trailing across the floor.

"Y-you paint things… and I do too. But… but, wh-what if I can carve? I want to so much…"

Gothel overheard quite clearly.

"Carve? That… that would be so wonderful!" chimed the girl.

"…I can make new toys!"

"Yes! And so much more to paint!"

"Moth-… u-um… Mother?"

"Yes, Quasimodo." the woman replied, with a slight smile.

"…I-I was wondering… I…I really l-like wood making… I read about them…"

"Indeed, you have, darling." Gothel looked to him.

When Quasimodo would ask for something, it was less likely that he would get what he asked for. But he would get something altogether different. It was rare that he would ask though, for he knew that Rapunzel had to be looked after first. She was beautiful. He was not. She had a purpose. He did not. He did not deserve any coddling and Mother never coddled him, but she was kind. Never had there been a beating or a raised tone. But he learned to earn what he wanted. He earned meals and bed by keeping the tower as clean as a fiddle each day. Rapunzel learned to cook, sew and organize. Gothel made sure that they did each thing perfectly and with effort.

When he wanted something, there was price to get it.

For Rapunzel, she earned as well. Becoming lady-like and to not follow the once in a while bad influence Quasimodo would show. No talk of leaving the tower, and even climbing around was prohibited.

But artistic influence was a different matter. It kept their minds at ease, it distracted them from other things. It brought Rapunzel ease and it should do the same to Quasimodo who was just starting to become a restless one.

She was raising him and she felt so close to him herself, but the greatest matter was the magical purpose for this tower. Hiding the Flower was her first priority for many years and it still was.

He was not supposed to be here. If only the boy did not wander into the glen.

That day, he was frail, starved and crying. He was curled beside one the trees across the river, frightened. Gothel found him there, at first enraged and even speechless. She had a dagger, but she could not take it into her hand. The moment she saw those eyes, she froze. The same eyes her Flower had when she was scolded. A little boy, deformed and ugly… lost and alone, helpless…

She could not do it. It was even worse now. She grew fond of him. He protected her flower. He would always protect the flower.

There was giant rat one night that scurried into the tower. She was not there when it happened. This rat, giant and black, had scampered up the leg of the bed where Rapunzel had slept. It near bit her toe and it would have if the boy hadn't awoken to block its path to her bed.

The boy, a hunchback, bandy-legged and stout, had a look about him and his child-like glow had gone during that moment as he held a coal warmer high over his head. He was intensely focused on the rat's movement before there was a loud sound.

The rat was gone.

Rapunzel was curled in her bed before she got up to look. The fate of the rat was not kind. She gasped with her hands over her mouth and her wide eyes full of shock.

Gothel awoke at the sudden bang and saw the reason for it. She nearly screamed in shock and horror. Quasimodo had looked up at her and he dropped the coal warmer before he began to back away towards his bed.

"Quasimodo…"

When he heard her shocked voice, he looked ready to cry before Rapunzel shook out of her daze and got down to hug him.

Since that day, Gothel fully trusted the boy. As he had given her his inquiry, she smiled warmly at him and back up at Rapunzel.

"Well… I do not see a reason why not. But… you do know the drill." she hinted as she waved a finger at him before she set her basket down on the table.

"Oh… oh yes, Mother. Yes." he nodded, quite eagerly.

"You must do something for us before you may have it."

"Yes."

"And, I have paid a great deal for these." Gothel smiled as she revealed a chipping hammer and carving knife in the bottom of the basket.

His eyes went wide.

"Before you may have them, there is something you must promise me."

He then turned submissive as his face fell a little. Rapunzel was painting something new from across the room.

"You are growing up so fast. You and her. And this glen must remain in secret. Why?"

"B-because there are…those who steal."

"That is right, boy. And if your sister is found, they will hurt her and take her hair for their own. I am trusting you to keep her safe. The time will come when someone might find this place. There might be a day when I am not here."

She held the boy by his hands, being serious with him. He gulped, thinking of a variety of things that could happen.

"The world is an awful place. Any ray of sunshine, it will snuff it out like a candle. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes, Mother…"

"No matter what happens, you will always be there with her."

He nodded.

"And you will do anything to keep her safe."

"I-I will, Momma…."

"Anything."

"Any…thing…" he replied, his eyes growing misty.

He finally got what he wanted. The carving tools, yet the promise he gave to his mother and Rapunzel… it was a true, solid one. Worried, he came back to Rapunzel as she painted the wall with some light purple. She turned to see him tightly wiping his eye and he looked ready to break. But he was holding his new tools in his other hand. Her bright smile instantly fell.

"…quasimodo… why? Why are you crying?" she asked.

"N-nothing…" he choked in return, scared of how truly horrid the outside world was.

"Please tell me…. I hate to see you cry."

"…I don't like the outside…" he said and that made her eyes water.

"I thought you wanted to go outside…. I do."

"I … do…too, but…Mother s-said that… there are people af-after…you…" he sobbed between his words before she dropped what she was doing and hugged him…just like that night.

"It's all right, please don't cry…. There are people like that…but you will always be with me, right?"

He hugged her tightly.

"Alw-ways…" he struggled.