Please forgive the hiatus this fic took. I haven't forgotten about this story though I can't blame you if you have. I've started my job in Walt Disney World in Hollywood Studios at the Beauty and the Beast show and life has been hectic craziness and I haven't the time, muse, or energy to write another chapter. But, at long last, here we are! Enjoy :)

Clopin smirked looking away from Gilles as he walked off into the darkness. It was then that the reality of the situation truly connected with him. His smile faded and he knew he had to do something. He turned back into his caravan throwing on his tunic.

The woman turned over in bed to look at him.

"Where are you going, my King?"

He looked to her wearily. "It's a matter of kin."

She looked away from him, feeling a tad of shame at the mention of family.

Clopin saw the sadness in her eyes and leaned over to caress her face.

"Take that frown off, it doesn't fit someone of your beauty… just as those bruises don't."

She placed her hand on top of his. "You are good. Unlike my husband."

It was then Clopin's turn to feel guilt.

"Tomorrow, I shall have harsh words with your husband. But until then don't let yourself worry about it. And please do get some rest," he said as his hand slipped away from her face, leaving her holding nothing but air.

He walked to the door but gave her one last glance back.

Her large eyes flickered up to his.

"Even the moon lost in its night needs to sleep, Celina."

Esmeralda sat up in bed staring into the dim light of her lantern. It glimmered softly against the tent's fabric. It reminded her of the iridescence of the stars. She hadn't seen them all that much in her life but once she had ran away from the city, and felt the freedoms to walk alone at night, she was captivated by their beauty.

"La Esmeralda?" He heart leapt as Clopin's voice came from outside. She jumped out of bed and threw on her robe.

"One moment."

She ran her fingers through he ragged main and brushed the tears from her eyes. After she felt mostly composed she answered his call and opened the tent flap.

Her large eyes looked up to his pained ones apologetically. He could only rush into her tent to embrace her.

In his embrace her problems seemed so distant. It felt so right. She closed her eyes and pretended for a fleeting moment he was staying for the night.

He pulled away leaving his large hands on her shoulders, "how did you manage to escape the guards?"

"I leaned one or two things from you over the years…" she smirked with sadness still lingering in her eyes, "Mind telling me why my trunk was packed for me?"

He sighed, his hand covering his face, "the hell you have put me through today, woman," he mumbled before looking back into her eyes.

"I was drunk and angry. Now I'm slightly less drunk and glad your alive."

She blinked, "I was saved."

"By who?"

"By the hunchback of Notre Dame."

Clopin narrowed his brow.

"Clopin you wouldn't believe what a kind boy he is! He's an artist too and he's carved small wooden figures of you and all sorts of people. He lives in the rafters of the building all alone with only cold stone surrounding him. But oh, you wouldn't believe the view of Paris he has!"

"Frollo keeps him as a son?"

"No! As a prisoner. As a slave just to ring his bells. Clopin we have to do something."

He shook his head, "if he ever knew of our location it would only be a matter of minutes before Frollo did as well."

"He's not like that!" She protested. "He would never do that to us!"

"And that did he say of Frollo? That's he's cruel to him? The he killed his mother? That he's the villain in this?"

Esmeralda was silenced. She remembered how he had called Frollo kind.

"Not exactly… but he's just confused!"

"He has him controlled like a puppet. And he might mean well but if Frollo even had an inkling of a feeling that he's been meeting with a gypsy he'll torture the truth out of him."

Esmeralda's blood ran cold. She went to reach around her neck for the woven band by stopped herself. It would look too suspicious.

He searched her eyes for a long moment. "You've been crying."

She glanced to the floor suddenly worried she'd have to explain what had just happened.

"It's all right. I know what he did."

She frowned as Clopin raised her chin to meet his worried stare.

"And he will be punished."

She wondered for a brief moment if she should tell him of her run in with Frollo. No. She thought better of it.

In that moment, she realized his hand had strayed from her chin to caress her cheek.

She raised her own hands to hold his there. She wished desperately they would never leave.

"I'm tired of meeting like this," she finally said.

"Like what?"

"In the night after you've had enough to drink that you found your way back to me."

He laughed humorlessly, not amused by her allegation. "Oh little girl. You think you have me figured out then."

"I told you I'm not a girl anymore, Clopin."

He frowned wanting to explain to her how stupid she had been calling Frollo out in the middle of a crowd.

"Don't ever put you life on the line again for a man with white skin. Do you understand me?"

Her eyes began to swell with tears as he removed his hand from her face.

"Will you stop talking down to me like you're my father? You aren't! My consequences have nothing to do with you!"

"If you die because of your own stupidity that is one thing Esmeralda. But if you are killed under my watch than I shall always blame myself. It was selfish and immature of you to only think of yourself."

"Selfish? When I freed that boy I proved something to every Parisian. That we have a voice! I didn't do it for me!"

He rubbed the temples of his head as she went on.

"I did it for every gypsy who wished they could change something instead of having to pretend like the gadje can see straight them. Like we aren't even there."

She took his hands so he'd be forced to look Into her eyes.

"And when I was running into Notre Dame all I could think of was you. If I'd ever see you again. If I'd have to leave again."

He had to glace away from the intensity of her gaze, but her next words she uttered forced him to look back.

"If you… loved me. If you'd ever say it or if I'd ever know it."

"I love you Esmeralda. As I loves Seria."

She shook her head, "Not like a sister, Clopin."

"Than no," he said as gently as possible, "I cannot."

She began to cry shaking her head. His words effortlessly ripping down some fantasy she had spent years building up.

"You can't say that to me. I see it in you! I see it in your eyes every time we meet."

He sighed taking her hands and squeezing them tenderly, "Then you are mistaken." He turned to leave but stopped as she continued to sob.

"I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you all my life." She whispered.

"It can't be like that, Esmeralda."

"Why?" She asked forcefully turning him around. "Tell me what is so unattractive about me? Even that old priest can't take his eyes from me!"

He shook his head as she gripped his tunic.

"Just one kiss. Just one kiss and then it's over," she pleaded.

"No. Then it's just begun."

As he blinked to turn she pulled his face down to hers. In the next moment, her lips connected with his. His eyes widened as she passionately began to kiss him.