Author's note: Little prologue cuz I'm also with the heart out. Poor Clopin! (He is between death and life XO). I really hope he makes it out of this one.

Songs belong to Phil Collins.

10. Morning Star

All the Court of Miracles is in distress.

Clopin is in a battle for his life and there is nothing they can do except for waiting. He lies motionless on the tent of the wise woman Marie while Esmeralda and Djali wait outside. Her eyes are full of tears and her heart is busted. Nothing has come out of the tent in hours. Finally, Marie comes out with a severe expression.

"Is he all right? Please. Tell me he is just exhausted." Esme begs her grabbing her skirt.

"Is far more worse than that but he might make it, if that is his decision."

"What do you mean?" The young woman is breathless.

"Clopin can fight the illness but it is like if he didn't want to. He is letting go."

"No. No, no, nonono, NO! Why will he?"

"I am not sure. He is asleep now, you can stay with him while I try to find some herbs to cure him. But like I said, is HIS decision." She walks away and they walk in. Clopin is deeply asleep though his breathing is still very weak. His skin is paler than ever and he shivers all the time. Esmeralda sobs. Why would Clopin give in? He has never admitted any weakness, and gets mad when he loses at games. Is not like him to do such thing. Esmeralda caresses his shoulders carefully and after a while, he opens his eyes a little. "Hey, morning."

"Morning. Why are you crying, my ange? I'm just with a cold." He chuckles but a sting of pain stops him.

"Clopin. No games. You are very ill. Why aren't you fighting for your life? For me? For all of us?" She is mad and admits no jokes. His eyes shine with a deep sadness. "Please tell me this is just one of your pranks."

"I wish it was. But is not."

"Why not?"

"Am too old, my dear. I love my people and above all things, you. I give everything I have to keep you safe. My life, all. But right now, I have no strength. You are a grown woman and I can't protect you as I wanted. You have fallen in love and is not me the one you chose, but you are happy. So I have no more reasons to be."

"Clopin, please."

"You know I never meant to see you again
and I only passed by as a friend
All this time I stayed out of sight
I started wondering why

Now I, I wish it would rain down, down on me
Yes I wish it would rain, rain down on me now

You said you didn't need me in your life
I guess you were right
Well I never meant to cause you no pain
But it looks like I did it again

Now I, I wish ...

Though your hurt is gone, mines hanging on, inside
And I know it's eating me through every night and day
I'm just waiting on your sign

'Cos I know, I know I never meant to cause you no pain
And I realize I let you down
But I know in my heart of heart of hearts
I know I'm never gonna hold you again

Now I..."

"Esme. My parents are dead. I have no name. I am old. Frollo is chasing after us and I'm far too ill to do anything about it. I feel useless." He coughs violently and breaths weakly.

"You can't give up just now. I need you."

"No, my dear. Not anymore. But I'm happy that you found Quasi and those friends of some sort. It means you will go on."

"Clopin, you promised me. You promised to stay by my side. To be my big brother and watch over me. If I knew you felt something for me, I would have accepted without a doubt." Esmeralda cries.

"I am too old. I have had fun. I have smiled and everything but, you are a goddess out my reach."

"Clopin, I might have feelings for, well, for those men but you have a place in my heart that no other can have. I am no goddess. I am that little girl you used to play with, care and watch at all times. I am that little Esme who loves your stories. That night, when the soldiers came, you danced with me and I felt something I have never felt after. You saved my life and pay the prize. I cannot leave you to die." He is closing his eyes slowly. "Clopin, please. Te iubesc" He does not answer and Esme cries hard.

This time his mind does not travel back in time. He remains in the dark, floating like a lost wind blow. He has failed Esmeralda. All the gypsies. Everyone. Maybe he was meant to die that fateful night.

Then suddenly, he is in the dungeon after being wiped for hours. Esme is crying but when he opens his eyes, the girl beams a little.

"Is all right, ma jolie. Is all right." Lets her hug him.

"Are you going to die and leave me alone?"

"Never. I will stay with you at all times. I will come up with a plan. You are my morning star, Esme. My hope. You shine like no other."

The vision darkens and Clopin wonders. He is too old. He is too ill. There is no way he can protect his little girl. And she is in love with someone that is not him. He has no reasons to go back into the light.

"Everywhere I turn I hurt someone
But there's nothing I can say to change the things I've done
Of all the things I've hid from you I can not hid the shame
And I pray someone something will come to take away the pain

There's no way out of this dark place
No hope, no future
I know I can't be free
But I can't see another way
And I can't face another day

Tell me where did I go wrong
Everyone I love, they're all gone
I'd do everything so differently
But I can't turn back the time
There's no shelter from the storm inside of me
ooohhh oh oh oh

There's no way out of this dark place
No hope, no future
I know I can't be free
But I can't see another way
And I can't face anther day"

But then, if he is going to give up, why did Esme said "I love you"? She does care for him. He is too old. He is… Her best friend, her big brother, her father in a way, her secret keeper, the person she trusts most. She needs him. But he is too ill, far too weak to do anything. The voices around him are getting further and further. Even if he fought to survive, he is now too weak.

"I am so sorry, Esme. So sorry."

"Clopin." Her voice peals in the dark space. "Please. I know you can do this. Is not your fault that all this happened. I am sorry for not having courage to listen to your feelings, for driving you mad and starting this madness."

"Esme. Please don't cry." He can almost see his little girl sobbing and crying her eyes out. "Please. Is all right. Is all right. Am here. I am here. I am here." He pushes with all his strength. He has to make it to her. His body cries and is too heavy for him to move but he tries over and over again while the voices become more clear. "I AM HERE!"

"Can't believe the words I hear
It's like an answer to a prayer
and when I look around I see,
this place, this time, this friend of mine

I know It's hard but found somehow
To look into your heart and to forgive me now
You've given me the strength to see just where my journey ends
You've given me the strength to carry on

I see the path from this dark place
I see my future
And your forgiveness has set me free
Oh, and I can see another way
I can face another day
(I see the path) I can see the path
I see my future
(I see the future) I see the path from this dark place
I see my future
I see the path from this dark place"

Will he make it?

Let's cross our fingers!

Next Stop: Sorry