Claude never had a problem with inclement weather. He enjoyed heavy rains. When others would run for safety and feel uneasy, he was at his most content. If Audrey allowed him to, he would most definitely spend all day outside.

To Audrey, it was yet another charming difference between him and the rest of the mundane world and even though Audrey understood his love of storms, she had to call him back to the house by necessary means. She knew just how treacherous and how deep the waters could get by her many years of living near the ocean most of her life.

Naturally, she explained this to Claude and he never argued. The main reason he never did, was because he fully trusted her. She was genuine in her reasoning and never once led him a stray. She had never done anything to him that would make him think otherwise. Besides, he found things to occupy his time whilst in the house.

His favorite pastime was sitting at his window reading, with Trinity by his side. Both would sit, listening to the rain and if Trinity got restless, Claude would crack the window for her and she would gleefully sniff the cooler air the showers brought. He never opened it fully though. He guessed that Trinity wouldn't appreciate water splashing on her.

"I can't imagine a cat ever wanting to be out in this." He regarded the feline and let out a small giggle when she would move back with trepidation when a few heavy drops of rain hit the glass loudly.

"It's alright Trin. You're safe in here with me." He stroked her back and she rested back down on the ledge.

His soft laugh would occupy the otherwise empty room those days.

But today, Audrey wished she could witness the same tranquility as before. Today was different.

Today, the rain clouds sent a message of despondency. They laid low and hung heavy in the sky.

Today, they matched Claude's own weary eyes.

All the fascination they once held was replaced with insufferable grief. All of the fears that had loomed over both their heads finally fell upon his face at the moment he heard hooves tromping up the stone pathway.

The sound itself made the reality set in and Audrey was forced to face the fact that she was going to lose him once again. She wasted no time in reaching for him and wrapping her arms around his small shoulders from behind.

Claude sat frozen in her arms and she felt the resistance immediately. The numbness had already started within him. It was her worst fear coming true before her. She couldn't let it take him.

Remind him Audrey. He needs to hear it from you…

"Try to remember that you will be back soon." Despite her encouraging words, Audrey's voice broke and she couldn't fight off her own tears any longer. "…And…" She paused for a moment to see the horses coming into view. "…Don't ever let them change you." Her voice was earnest but warm. "Please promise me that."

Claude's callous demeanor resigned and he leaned back against her. Audrey soon felt the tension in his back become malleable to her warmth.

She of all people do not deserve this detachment from you. He chided to himself, but only nodded his acceptance to her plea.

A soft meow from Trinity caught Claude's attention. He hadn't even realized the brimming of his own tears until he cocked his head toward the little cat and saw more than two of her.

They fell at an angle over the bridge of his nose.

He gently broke from Audrey and scooped Trinity up into his arms. He pressed his cheek against her soft pelt as her purring intensified. He looked up at Audrey with blood shot eyes.

"Promise me you will take care of her."

Audrey nodded while she sniffed in sadness and wiped her own tears from her eyes.

"…And you…" He whispered to Trinity through a tight throat. "…You be good. I'll be back as soon as I can okay."

He hugged her tight for the last time and hesitantly lowered the cat down at her place on the window's edge. Trinity looked up at him and calmly blinked.

Claude and Audrey both looked through the window when they heard the carriage driver's distant halt command and confirmed that the coach was parked at the front of the house. Claude's stomach lurched when the dark doors silently opened and his mother Catherine exited.

Like all the times prior, she refused to stride to the door and always chose to stand coldly next to the open coach door, awaiting her son.

Audrey kept an eye on the twenty seven year old outside and shook her head in disappointment.

What an unfortunate turn of events all this turned out to be. Audrey thought to herself, crestfallen.

When it came to Catherine Frollo, the truth was always clear in Audrey's own mind. Even though Audrey never openly mentioned a thing on the matter of Catherine's disposition.

In a logical sense, she couldn't bring herself to put all the blame on Claude's mother. In a small way, Catherine was a victim, just as Claude was.

So young…too young for motherhood.

Audrey was always certain that at one time, Catherine had dreams of her own and was embittered by her own loveless prison that stole them away. But that sympathy always fell short however. Audrey refused to justify how neglectful and passive aggressive Catherine was to her son. Despite Catherine's own unhappiness.

How could you blame your dissatisfaction on the one being that had no choice to take it on in the first place? To make him pay for your loss of convenience.

Claude brought Audrey back to reality when he moved towards his bags. He bent down slowly to take hold of the handles with each hand and sauntered sadly towards the door. Audrey followed in toe.

Suddenly, Trinity sprang off her perch at the window and flew past both of them with a loud chirp of excitement. She noticed where the two were headed and stood waiting at the door to be let out once Claude reached her. Claude kept his lifeless eyes on the cheerful cat as he approached the foyer.

A new wave of sorrow came over him when he noticed her tail playfully flicking back and forth. Her eyes were wide with their usual buoyant enthusiasm at the prospect of going outside with her friend and spending the whole day exploring with him.

"She doesn't understand." He spoke in an unsteady voice.

Audrey moved along side him and saw his bottom lip quiver. She decided against trying to smooth out the situation with words. She felt it wasn't working in the long run anyway. Instead, she went over to the door where Trinity was waiting.

Trinity looked up and caught Audrey moving her way. She let out a few loud meows and made impatient circles on the ground expecting the door to open. Audrey bent down and picked the squirmy cat up and hugged her to her chest mindfully.

"Sorry girl, not today." She said softly.

Audrey was expecting a fight, but was surprised to see that she stayed still while Claude tenderly took hold of her head with each hand. He ran his thumbs ceremoniously up the tiny white cross on her forehead, leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her brow. His cheek followed suit and Trinity affectionately rubbed against it, wiping the paths of tears away from his cheeks.

A small smile crossed Audrey's face. It was the first smile she cracked that day. But she couldn't resist on recognizing the minor, but significant detail.

"I think she understands more than you know." She pointed out.

For a while Claude surveyed Trinity with a debatable eye, but nodded in confidence on the shared credence with his aunt.

"Don't worry, she'll be okay." Audrey assured him, giving him a warm smile. Trinity even mewed with solidarity. At least that's what Claude wanted to believe.

"I know she will." He exhaled lightly and straightened. He gave his aunt his best look of poise, even though she still could see remanence of worry in his red eyes.

Before Claude allowed another round of emotions to take over, he quickly turned, snatched his bags and crossed the threshold to the outside. Audrey followed him with Trinity still in her arms.

Thunder growled across the sky when she reached the top of the stone steps that led down to the circle drive. Claude continued to descend without looking back. Audrey held no ill feelings toward his choice not to. She knew it was probably wise to just get it over with. The prolonging wasn't helping the process of separation. Regardless of that, she still could feel her heart physically ache and her throat tighten. There was no easy way to go about saying goodbye.

She watched him lift his way into the carriage and disappear into the darkness of the coach.

It was like he slipped through a portal, never to be seen again.

You'll see him again Audrey. Just pray for him in these bleak days to come.

Audrey and Catherine locked eyes for a second before Catherine followed her son briskly into the car. Audrey restrained any impulse to respond to her, it would have been fruitless. Catherine only gave her a stringent look before she climbed up the small stairs and shut the door with a tight click. The driver was given his orders to proceed away and before she knew it, Audrey was alone.


Large rain drops started splattering fiercely against the small window Claude sat next to. He heard his mother prompt the driver and the carriage began to move at the drivers command. When they rounded to the other side of island, he turned to see Audrey and Trinity still at the front of the house before they both disappeared from view.

The house was now at his back.

In his head he pictured the house getting smaller as they moved away and just like before, he decided against looking back. Just thinking of that image stirred up sorrows he couldn't afford to express now. All he could do was sit and try to quell his inquietude. He found that focusing on the scenery outside was helping. That's when something caught his eye moving the opposite direction several yards away.

He recognized them quickly too.

Gypsies. He said to himself, mystified.

Their carriage glided past the caravan with growing speed and Claude thoughtlessly leaned to get a better look.

It seems as though they're moving towards Au…

"Why on earth are you acting so intrigued by those verminous heretics?"

The chiding voice made Claude's blood and thoughts freeze in unison. He straightened at once and sat in masked terror. He evaded his mother's burning scrutiny, but could still feel the smolder of it.

You idiot! How could you be so careless? He berated himself.

His brain started actively over loading with reasons to defend himself, but he couldn't think beyond his own careless error. The skin on his back began to crawl and it ached at the prospect of punishment for even looking at all.

He knew all too well about his parents protests against the gypsies. He knew how wicked they saw them and how they saw their choices in life to be an abomination. Not to mention the voluntary separation from the one true god of their faith. But out of all of those, thievery was the main issue. An issue that was costing money of some of the wealthiest in Paris.

or so they claimed.

Aunt Audrey always added that last bit and rebellion resonated in his core as he recalled.

She always told me it was because they never had the opportunities the rest of us were given. That some may have resorted to crime, but most used their honest skills to get by.

She also told me that there were all sorts of different people in the world that did bad things. That they came in all sorts of skin colors and creeds. But she also reminded me that there were good people and they came just as diverse.

Aunt Audrey was one of those good people. He concluded wholeheartedly.

He didn't know if she had actually aided any gypsies in the past. He had never asked, nor did she ever mention it. But he wanted to believe that she might have and that she still did.

When all the world's ugliness seemed so impossible to overcome, she was always there to make it seem less daunting for him.

That was just the kind of person she was.

Claude snuck a guarded side glance out of his window and his heart deflated when he no longer saw the colorful wagon in his marginal sight. He dropped his head to stare at his lap with a sullen look.

"Let us hope that none find your aunt's company. It would be most unfortunate for her."

Claude turned his head toward the direction of his mother. Naturally curious, he automatically had questions about the vague comment. But he heard the pseudo silky tone in her voice and it did not fool him. He was well aware of her usual passive aggressive under current and fear replaced his interest right away.

The question of "why" hung in the back of his throat. It struggled to be released, but Claude swallowed it down. He dared not ask. He paid dearly in the past when it came to questioning either of his parents. Instead he tried to avoid looking directly at her. Afraid to find truth lying in those dark blue eyes. Sadly, just like past attempts, he failed and was met with a self-assured smirk that left him feeling even more inauspicious.

Catherine knew what kind of power she had over him, it prevailed over any remaining strength Claude had left. He broke contact with her and looked down at his lap once more in defeat.

The answer that hung behind his mother's lips was never spoken. He would find out soon enough that she never had to.

There was nothing he could do. There was no defense against the outside world other than building a wall. A wall he had been constructing for quite some time.

"Don't ever let them change you…"

"Don't ever let them change you…"

"Don't ever let them change you…"

Her whisper replayed over and over until it was just a fading ghost in the wind.

Her open heart was too good for this world. No one was deserving of it. That final thought was the last thing that made its way through his sealed heart.


Audrey still stood on her top step well after Claude's coach disappeared over the hill.

She stared past her front garden, not really focusing on any detail around her. Her mind was conjuring up too many ideas. Ideas that weren't helping her cope. She tried turning her thoughts off by concentrating on Trinity's healing purrs and it helped until Trinity abruptly stopped.

Confused, Audrey looked down and saw that Trinity had locked onto something ahead in the distance. Audrey followed her line of sight and fell on a tired group of gypsies heading her way.

Audrey was used to the line of travel some gypsies took between the coast and Paris. It was about that time for some of them to make their way to less harsher climates.

At least twice in the coming fall season, she would see fires set up in camps just outside the perimeters of her property at night. But none ever ventured too close to her home, until she would let them know she meant no harm and that she didn't mind aiding them.

She supposed word got around of her hospitality. For this group didn't stop at her lands borders. They were making their way towards her front door.

Trinity didn't seem alarmed, just inquisitive and Audrey was sure she would try to bolt out of her arms once the wagon made its way to her gravel drive. But she stayed put.

"How bout we fill these walls with some much needed distraction little girl?" Audrey said playfully and scratched the top of Trinity's head.

The fluffy feline simply let out a carefree meow.


AN: Sorry this took so long to post. I've been feverishly working on it to get it as perfect as possible. But, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you guys in the next. :) :)

PS I wanted to give thanks to embezz002 for your kind words and don't worry I'm not giving up on this story. I see my work to the end. ;)