It was getting dimmer and dimmer outside as the ship advanced out to the open sea.

Esme and Claude had been looking around the ship when thy noticed the change in atmosphere.

"It is getting late," Claude murmured as he looked out toward the endless stretch of open in front of him. "Perhaps we should go into the bedroom."

"Can't we stay out here a little while longer?" Esme protested. "I like the breeze…"

"Alright." He took Esme's hand and guided her towards the back of the ship. There was a small little door that led to a room that was screened off from the rest of the ship. The walls of the room were all screen, so you could lookout and se everything. There was a large bed swathed in the whitest of white sheets.

"This is amazing…" She breathed. She reached out to touch the white bed just to be sure it was real…

Claude did not say anything. He just remained quiet watching Esme's every move. His eyes stuck to her face like glue.

Esme walked around the bed, letting the rocking of the ship be fully felt under her feet. There was something about this moment that she wanted to savor… Something she wanted to keep special.

She approached Claude then slowly watching as his eyes stayed among her. When she was close enough so she was touching his chest his mouth parted slightly and his eyes gazed down upon her.

Esme looked not at his eyes, but at his chest, thinking about everything. She was on her honeymoon with Judge Claude Frollo. Judge…Claude…Frollo… He loved her so dearly, and she reciprocated the feeling. She let the silk of his robes linger between her fingers. She took one of his hands in hers and examined it. The top was pallid and his fingers were long. She turned his hand over to reveal his palm lines.

"This line here," She whispered, "means you need something only one person can give you. And this one," She pointed to one that ran along side the first one "means you are hopeful for this." Esme sighed as she realized that she had always been what he needed. She was born to love him. Otherwise…one line told her that he had a cruel side that could only be tamed by this one person. His whole hand was a sad love story. And this love story was not about the damsel in distress, rather, the most powerful man in Paris. This man who needed love. Only the kind of love Esmeralda could give him.

Claude looked at Esme as she studied his hand. He looked at his hand as well wondering how she could tell so much about him from lines. And it was one thing that she was able to tell these things about him, another thing was how bloody true it was.

Esme turned his hand back over and looked deep into his clear blue eyes.

"I love you." She leaned in and kissed his chest.

"I love you Esme." He replied with one hand behind her neck. He progressed to kiss her fully on the lips, lightly using his tongue inside of her mouth.

A sound emerged from Esme's throat as he maneuvered his way around her mouth.

"Esme…" He began.

"Yes, yes, I would like to." She said looking into his eyes knowing exactly what he both needed and wanted.

He smiled at her ability to know what he needed with a glance.

"But first, I would like to give you something…" He went into the luggage that had been placed in the bedroom and put something in his robe. When he turned back to Esme she was looking at him with curious eyes.

"I had thought of you when I saw this and knew you would love it." He revealed a bright red piece of lingerie.

Esme felt her mouth go agape and her heart rate rise. She stared at the piece of clothing and then at Claude.

"If you do not like it I can put it away." He replied to her silence.

"No no! I love it! I am just shocked that you would…purchase this sort of thing…wasn't it embarrassing for you to be seen buying such a skimpy piece of clothing?"

Claude turned red. "Well I did not particularly pick it up from the store; I had one of the servants do that for me."

"Well that makes sense." She muttered to herself. "Shall I put this lovely piece of clothing on?" She taunted him, reaching out to him and twirling her fingers in his hair. She loved the way Claude's eyes never left hers.

All Claude could do in response was nod his head eagerly. He felt so excited to be on his honeymoon with the girl he never thought would hold any affection for him. But here they were on their way to Italy…

"Alright then." She snatched the garments from him and went into the bathroom.

There were two pieces of lingerie. A top and a bottom. The top was a bra that rarely had any fabric to cover herself with. The bottoms were underwear-like pieces with more fabric than the top, but not as much as normal undergarments. And above all, it was very lacey. "Where was Claude," She wondered to herself, "When he saw this?" She blushed realizing that Claude had probably been in a lingerie store, and continued to dress in the meager outfit. Okay, she was not going to lie: the piece fitted her perfectly accenting all of her voluptuous curves. It gave away much of her sun-kissed skin only hiding vital parts of her.

Esme let her hair down so it streamed past her bare shoulders in a waterfall of black shimmering locks. She smiled, very pleased with her look, and anxious for Claude's assessment.

Esme opened the door slowly, gouging Claude's anticipation.

Claude felt his heart sputter as he saw the bathroom door open. She walked slowly out of the room letting his eyes rave all about her body. She pirouetted in front of him.

"What do you think?" She asked watching his eyes as they hungrily devoured her body.

"You…are stunning…" He whispered embracing her and trailing his hands down the side of her body. His spindly fingers traced little patterns on her back.

She pressed her body against his, letting him feel her.

After a moment, she said, "Claude, thank you…"

"Mmm…for what?" He asked wrapping his arm around her and swaying back and forth.

"For being you. Thank you for not being the person I originally thought you were."

Claude stopped swaying her looked at Esme. "How did you think I was?"

"I heard you say at one point how you would torture anyone who refused to say anything about my whereabouts… I thought you were just a cruel man who only needed his… sexual desires relieved. I never thought you actually wanted to be in a real relationship me because I never thought you could possibly love me. I thought a man of such a high, powerful stature could never love a lowly gypsy like me… When I saw you at the festival, and how you looked at me that first time, that first fleeting glance, I knew had you mesmerized, and it scared me. I tried to hide from you. But it was no use. I heard you saying you wanted me alive. No one suspected why. And I jumped to the conclusion that you only wanted to use me as a toy as you made love to me and then tossed me aside. But now…I have seen a part of you that I never thought I would ever see. I have seen a man who is capable of such great things. I have seen a man who has such strong emotions to give, and now I realize that you were just frustrated because you had no one to give them to… When you found me in that cottage during your search, I will admit I was terrified. But I saw how gentle you were being with me. You allowed me to have space. You did not try to violate me the first chance you got. I saw that you actually…you actually were in love with me. Now I know that everything happens for reason. If Phoebus had not dragged me into that place, you never would have found me. I would have never grown to love you. God had us destined for each other." Esme put her hands on the sides of his face. "I am sorry I never realized this sooner. So thank you for giving me the happiest days of my life. Thank you for the amazing relationship that no one else will ever able to give me. Thank you for everything." She pressed her lips against his eagerly hitching on of her legs around his waist. She ran her fingers through the silk of his hair. Esme pushed him towards the bed where she pushed him down. She undressed him with lightning speed, her tongue grazing all over his body. "Thank you. Forgive me for being so stubborn at first…thank you for allowing me to love you on my own without force."

Claude moaned and molded himself to her. He removed her pretty lingerie slowly, feeling as Goosebumps emerged on her bare skin.

"Then thank you my dear Esme…for hearing…all those things about me and yet still be willing to let me love you…because holy Maria do I love you…" He pressed his lips behind her ear. "I will always love you…"

"I love you too. I love you…"

The next morning, Claude and Esme awakened a bit earlier than they had before due to the rocking of the ship and the smell of the salty sea air.

Claude remained with his arms wrapped around her burying his long nose into her forest of dark hair. He inhaled her and gently wove his fingers through her.

Esme stirred and opened her eyes to gaze affectionately at Claude who was caught in a moment.

There came a knock upon the door.

"Yes?" Claude asked.

"I would just like to inform you that breakfast is all ready."

"Thank you." He inhaled Esme once more before the two of them rolled out of bed to get dressed.

When they entered the dining area the table had been set for the two of them.

They sat down and began to nosh on the delicacies that had been laid out for them.

"Everything is so delicious!" Esme exclaimed. "I have never tasted food this good!"

Claude smirked at his wife. "Only the best for you my sweet."

Esme reached across the table to put her hand on top of his. "Thank you."

Claude smiled and placed his other hand on top of hers.

When they were all finished eating breakfast they decided to watch the waves.

"It is so beautiful." Esme said not tearing her gaze away from the irregular waves of the ocean.

"It is," Claude remarked, although clearly unimpressed. "But not with you standing here in comparison…" He touched the ends of her hair with one long spindly finger.

Esme leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"You have been doing that lately." She murmured.

"Doing what?"

"Telling me how beautiful I am."

"Only because it is true, Esme."

Esme paused and looked out to sea. "Phoebus never told me I was beautiful." She whispered. "He only told me how great I looked with no clothes on."

Claude swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat.

"You do not have to worry about him any longer my Esmeralda. He shall never hurt you again." He whispered, hugging her to him.

"He never loved me. He just wanted my body. How could I have been so stupid Claude?" She whispered, tears coming to her eyes.

"Esme, listen to me. Look! Look at me. You were not stupid. It was he," Claude was reluctant on saying Phoebus's name out loud. "Phoebus…who was stupid. Beyond stupid really. He was an idiot for taking advantage of you. You only sought love. That is not a stupid thing to do."

"I just wish he had not won." She said sadly. "Why did he have to take from me the one thing I can never get back? Why?"

Claude remained silent.

"I wanted you to take that gift from me. I wanted to give you my gift without thought. I wanted you to be the one who had my gift alone. But you never can have it. All because of him…" She sobbed.

"Shh… Esme…Shhh…It is okay. I am here… Do not be upset-"

"But I am upset! I cannot help it! It has been gnawing away at me for the past couple of days! He stole my virginity Claude! He raped me!" She drew away from him and buried her head in her hands.

Claude did not know what had gotten into Esme. One moment they were enjoying a pleasant moment together, the next she was crying…

"Esme…my darling… I am so sorry. Please…let me hold you…"

Esme curled back into Claude's grasp letting her tears fall upon his robe.

"He is dead now my Esme." He crooned softly. "You will never see him again."

"I know that. But it still haunts me… The memory of him…" She trailed off as more tears came into her eyes.

"What can I do to help you?" Claude asked wishing to see her smile.

"I do not know…" Esme replied. "Just…kiss me…"

Claude nodded and bent his head down so their lips met.

Esme put her hands on the sides of his face. "Make me forget him Claude," She pleaded. "Make me forget what happened. Make me forget my own name!" She pushed against him and he wrapped his arms around her body.

Claude kissed her tenderly, not wanting to upset her. He traced the outline of her mouth with his tongue. He slid his tongue into her mouth and explored.

Esme was feeling better the moment their lips had met. He was so good at this! All thoughts of Phoebus soon evaporated from her mind. The only thing she could concentrate on was Claude and how she wanted him to keep kissing her like this.

"Thank you, Claude. Thank you." She lowered her head to break the kiss.

"Anytime." He whispered.

A/N: Oh gee….I wonder why Esme is having some mood swings….read next chapter to find out! (Although it should be pretty obvious…)