"Jake, please, I'm so sorry." A woman about nineteen exclaimed. Her blue eyes showed deep concern and regret. "I really didn't mean to hurt you, I'm sorry." Even as she spoke, tears clouded her vision.

"Why did you marry him then?!" Jake shouted, punching the wall.

She seemed unfazed. "…I had to. I'm sorry."

Jake jolted awake; sitting up on the pathetic excuse he called a bed. Panting, he looked around and failed to see the pale woman he dreamt of. Wiping away the tears and sweat, he stood up on shaky legs and sighed lightly. No matter how many times he dreamt of their last meeting before she was killed…it always hurt him more than be cared to admit.

"Lilac…" He whispered softly, closing his eyes for a brief second. When they had said their farewells, when she had apologized for marrying Arthur Black, her voice sounded so pained. If he had known they would never meet again, he would have…

"Joseph, where is your father at?" Kara placed her hands on her hips, frowning. The child looked up and shrugged. Placing one hand on her growing stomach, Kara sighed heavily.

"He was at the market. Esmeralda took me home. Is he okay, mama?" His huge eyes widened with concern and worry.

Sighing, the brown haired woman placed a see-through smile on, "I'm sure he probably went to talk to Lavender. Of course when he gets back…" Turning, she walked inside to cook something, "I'll strangle him for ditching us."

Joseph turned and watched the other children play tag, hide and go seek, and some other games. One day, he knew, he would have to protect them…help them…make sure they were safe. Why not start today? He had to make sure his father was okay, not for his own sake but for his mothers too. She was worried which frightened him even more. Although he was young, he was old enough to understand that instead of gypsies fearing the name "Judge Claude Frollo", they now feared "Jake Tetherman."

Getting up, he tip toed outside and ran through the city. At this time of day, this early in the morning, the city was unusually quiet. Where was his father? Deciding to check the Taverns first, he started to walk there.

A hand grabbed his shoulder, making him spin around. It was his uncle Frollo. "Uncle Claude!" He cried out, slightly relieved, slightly scared. Lately he had heard his mother and father, as well as many other gypsies, talk about Frollo's madness. When he overheard the conversations, he pictured his uncle with crazy hair and even shallower and paler skin than normal.

Instead, his hair was slicked back like always with that funny triangle looking hat on his head. His eyes weren't menacing as he once believed but rather scorning with concern. "Joseph, what are you doing here?" He asked. It took nearly all of Frollo's will not to say "I'm not your real uncle, don't call me that." When he had gotten stuck with his daughter yesterday, he was a little mean but none the less nice. Of course Lavender wouldn't know about that.

Joseph gave a guilty smile. "I am looking for my dad. Do you know where he is, Uncle?"

Much to his embarrassment, Frollo's first thoughts were "He probably left them for another woman." Although he had gotten to know the gypsy King as much as a cat knows a dog over the years, he knew Clopin was faithful to the ones he loved. Did Jake…?

"No but I'll have my guards search for him. Come young Joseph, we'll go back to my home." He said with an air of arrogance around him. Although the boy was too young to realize how cold his uncle was acting, he clapped his hands. He was going to ride in a carriage, dark but still, and go to a palace where Lavender lived!

I was rocking Aimée back and forth, singing a song while twirling around the fireplace room. We were dancing to imaginary music while she giggled. I suppose I was still happy about her coming back home.

"Little Aimée, how are you?

Little Aimée, had you missed me too?

Little Aimée, are you happy now?

Little Aimée, what do you say, should we mock your father and fake a nice bow?

Little Aimée, should we poke fun at your dad?

Little Aimée, let us hide out snickers as he gets mad…"

My made-up song was interrupted by a familiar deep voice laughing. It was Frollo…wow, he laughed! "Mock me? Fake a nice bow? Snicker at my anger? My wife, are you feeling okay?" He grinned at me. Holding Aimée on my hip, I laughed and walked over, kissing his cheek. He kissed my lips and ruffled his daughter's shoulder length black hair.

"Sorry my husband, I was teaching our Princess to dance!"

"…Without music?" Ah, he was back to his jolly old self. Joy.

"Exactly, that's why I was singing!"

Suddenly another voice exclaimed, "I like your singing!" I looked behind Claude who drew his cloak back as if it were magic, revealing Joseph.

Smiling, I placed Aimée on the ground so she could hug him. He rolled his eyes, smiling. "Thank you Prince Joseph, my mother gave me such a voice. Speaking of, where is your mother and father?"

Looking at Frollo, I have him a silent questioning look that said "I'm shocked you let a gypsy kid in here, what'd you do with the parents?"

He simply scorned at me, angered at such an accusation. I stuck my tongue out in amusement. Paying attention to my somewhat of a nephew, he answered, "Mama doesn't know I left to find father. I can't find him since yesterday!"

Frollo, although worried, decided to get back at me. "See what a bad influence you are on the boy, sneaking about?" I slapped his shoulder playfully, snickering in my mind when he looked shocked that I had hit him in front of Joseph.

"Guards, search for the King Gypsy called Clopin. Don't harm him at all, just bring him back and explain that his son is here." The judge ordered his buffoons off. Looking at the Kings son, I saw he was really scared and worried.

"Hey, let's go make blueberry pancakes! You can help me and Aimée! Perhaps Claude will join." I smiled.

My husband said as he walked off to conduct another search, "Perhaps Claude will not ruin his outfit with unnecessary cooking." Rolling my eyes, I scoffed and took the kids to the kitchen.

Three hours later…

Walking behind Claude with a flour covered, blueberry stained mouth daughter, I hugged him from behind. He hadn't the slightest idea that I just left a flour imprint on his back. When he turned, he smiled and then gaped. "What happened to our daughter?!" He exclaimed, clearly amused by the sight.

Placing her in his arms, I giggled when he glared at his now ruined outfit. "Go clean her up while I talk to Joseph, my love." Suddenly Aimée grabbed the ribbon from his hat and placed it on top of her head. We both, surprisingly, laughed at this.

"I wonder if he's okay…" A woman sighed heavily, pacing the floor. Although her back ached, she kept walking to calm her nerves. "First Clopin, now Joseph! I need to go to Lavender…maybe…" She didn't finish the sentence. Gathering a few things, she walked to the Palace of Justice and found no guards around. Strange…

Clopin carefully opened his eyes, wincing from the light that poured through the holes of the barn. It was noon, perhaps late afternoon. His head hurt from the blow still and his limbs were sore from the rope. Glancing around, he failed to see his kidnapper and grabbed the hidden dagger. Carefully not cutting himself, he slashed through the first set of ropes.

That's when the door opened. Acting as if his hands were still tied behind his back, he waited to see the man. And yet…nothing…There wasn't a breeze so how did the door open? Ignoring it for now, he focused his attention on the rest of the ropes. As he tore off the restraints, he felt an unusual breeze of coldness. What in the hell?

Snapping his head towards the door, he thought he saw a woman standing there with a smile. Her waist long black hair covered some of her face but dark blue eyes sparkled at him, a gentle smile on her pale face. Lilac Hellrose…

Ripping off the ropes, he placed the dagger on his hip before running over there. Nothing. He was sure that he had seen…Suddenly the door hit him. Looking at it with annoyance, he froze to realize that it was impossible to keep it open without holding it. That meant…searching for her spirit, he silently thanked her and ran back to the city.

"Kara, my dear! Hey!" I looked up to see a distraught friend.

"Lav, have you seen…Joseph!" She cried out, hugging her son. He had just finished eating pancakes and was nearly covered in syrup. She ignored it for now.

"Claude found him trying to search for…" I started to speak but stopped, staring at the doorway.

"Clopin…" I whispered softly.

Gasping for air from running so fast, he smiled at us and said, "I know…where Jake…Tetherman…is!" Kara and I looked at each other.

"I'll go get Claude!" I started to leave but slammed right into the man I was married with.

Two guards was behind him, obviously they had found Clopin and brought him back. Grasping my hand, he pulled me where Kara and her family were. "Where is he?" We both questioned at the same time.

Clopin looked at me, ignoring the question and slowly, regaining his breath, he walked closer. He stared at me for a long time, making me worry. Suddenly he hugged me tightly. "Lavender…" He whispered, trying to put words together. "Jake captured me."

"What?!" Kara exclaimed.

"…Sit down, Lav, for I have a tale to tell from what he told me."

Shaking slightly, I sat in a chair and stared at the man before me. I hadn't seen him this shaken up and confused for a long time. Slowly, he retold the story of Jake and my mother.

"…Oh my God…" I whispered, feeling light headed. Standing, I was just about to yell something when I fainted.

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