Truly sorry my friends, but last chapter really did seem too short for my tastes. I deleted the previous Chapter 36 and replaced it with this longer version. So even if you've already read the previous one, you might want to take a look at this one. I feel that adding the bit I did at the end will help hold you over until next chapter and makes this one a bit more interesting. I also found that my previous Chapter 36 seemed a bit bland and not much happened that was interesting. So, I added a good 700 or so words at the end to help move the story along a bit.

In any case, please, read on!

Chapter Thirty-Six

Into the Sunlight

Third Person

Sophia's POV

The next thing she knew, she was being lifted carefully into someone's arms. A pair of very strong, very warm, and all too familiar arms. Phoebus and Esmeralda were speaking but she didn't really have the concentration necessary to keep up. Instead, she simply focused on controlling her breathing, taking deep, slow breaths, and keeping her mind clear of most thought. It was about the only way she could find to block out the agony her body was in and keep herself from writhing around. Sudden movement was not advisable at the current moment. She needed to empty her thoughts, focus on nothing, and yet everything, but the pain. She felt Quasi's grip about her shoulder and knee tighten slightly, giving her a small squeeze as if to relay some form of comfort.

And then they were moving.

It was hurried and yet, not rough or jostling. They turned, probably heading out of the corridor they had been currently in and began making their way down another. They stopped briefly, pausing only for a moment or two. She could hear Esmeralda and Phoebus conversing again; Quasi too said a word or two, then fell silent. He did, however, give the shoulder he was clutching another gentle, comforting squeeze. This time, Sophia gave a low hum in response, not quite feeling up to attempting to speak again. Whatever was contained in her friends words, she did not know. She was too focused on trying not to focus. There was the rustling of chains and they were off again, traveling down the corridor, then turning into a stairwell, and continuing onward. Sophia let her head rest against the juncture of Quasi's neck and shoulder, settling in the small hollow that resided there while her cheek rested against his collarbone. It was quite comfortable.

Down and down and down they went. They twisted and turned, following whatever path Phoebus or Esmeralda decided to venture. By now however, Sophia thought they were nearing the bottom of the second staircase. She caught whispers of conversation, but not enough to put together what exactly they were discussing. This was probably due to the fact that they were several feet ahead of Quasi and herself and that was because Quasi was slowed down considerably, not just by her added weight, but also because they were going down steps. He probably didn't want to risk keeping up with the others in case the pacing was too fast or too rough.

On the brighter side of things she had managed to open her eyes again, abet barely. Only enough to make out the stones of the walls they passed and the light of torches. But even while glancing about at her surroundings, her gaze kept flitting back to Quasi. From her angle she could only see him in profile and then only from an upward point of view. Her eyes flitted to his face, which was a shade or two paler than normal and that one lock of vibrant crimson had fallen back into his good eye again.

Sophia chuckled softly. Some things, no matter how small, never change.

"And what, pray tell, is so humorous?"

She tilted her head back slightly to see him better. A ghost of a smile was slowly tugging at the corners of his lips and a bit of color had returned to his cheeks. A smile of her own stretched wide across her features as she reached up to tuck his stray locks behind his ear.

"Y-your hair." She replied simply, her throat still sore from the lack of use.

"And what about my hair?" He asked, still smiling, though it seemed strained and did not quite reach his eyes.

Quasi's strained expression was not lost on her, but she chose to let it go. He was under enough stress as it was and her pointing it out aloud was not going to make him feel any better. Instead, she gently tucked away the crimson strands and as she did so, the pads of her fingers lightly brushed along the contour of his ear. The skin there was smooth and quite soft, something she wasn't exactly expecting. But then, she had never touched his ear before either.

It was a whole new experience.

Suddenly she felt him stiffen, then shiver as her fingers continued to trace along the shape of the appendage and, fearing that she had done something she should not have, pulled away her fingers as if she had been burnt.

"I-I'm sorry," Sophia clasped the offending appendage in her other hand and her fingers began to twist about out of nervousness. Unable to look him fully in the eyes, she fixed her own on anything and anywhere but him. Her words began tumbling out so fast, she wasn't sure he was even able to discern what was being said. "I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have done that. Wh-what were you saying be-before, Quasi?"

But whatever Quasi might have said, or was going to say, was instantly lost when the wound on her side suddenly flared to life and gave a very painful twinge. She grimaced and clamped her teeth together as hard as she could in order to refrain from becoming vocal. She buried her face deep into his tunic and tried to focus on the ever present scent of bell polish and wood shavings. She gave a shuddering breath and succeeded in swallowing a small sob that threatened to find its way past her lips. Sophia then felt herself being shifted about and the next thing she knew, a cool hand had pressed itself against her temple, gently smoothing away the tension that had risen there.

"Shh." The unmistakable bell-like tinkle of Quasi's voice trickled through her mind and chased away most of the discomfort. "Shh, Sophia, all is well. Do not apologize, just . . lie still for now."

The wave passed as quickly as it had come and, if it was at all possible, she felt even more exhausted then she had before.

Third Person

Quasi's POV

He watched as Sophia took another shuddering breath and snuggled deeper into his tunic, continuing to rest her curly head against his shoulder. He didn't mind the weight against it, in truth, having her so close felt rather . . . comforting. It eased him somewhat, though did not chase away all the worry and stress he was currently feeling. Suddenly, his thoughts drifted to the memory of her feather-light touch upon his ear. The sensation had been something he had never felt before, but then no one had ever touched his ear in such a way, and he shivered again at the memory.

Almost instantly however, the cold reality of Sophia's physical heath came swooping down upon him; filling him again with the sense of urgency. So he continued down the rest of the staircase, mindful not to move at too fast a pace. He briefly noticed that Sophia's eyes had closed again but he could still feel the gentle rise and fall of her shoulders, one of which was grasped firmly in his right hand. There was no cause to panic, not yet at least.

When he reached the bottom, he was greeted with the sight of Phoebus and Esmeralda, who were both waiting for him. The ex-Captain however, had looped one of his hands under one of the links of chains that bound a third figure, thus eliminating any chance for his escape. Quasi chanced a quick glance at the older man but then hurriedly looked away. Not aware that he was doing so, he held Sophia just a little bit closer to him.

"How is she?" The moment Esmeralda had seen him, she wasted no time in approaching. Worry however, was clearly seen upon her face and her eyebrows were deeply furrowed. "Has there been any change?"

Again, Quasi's gaze flitted to Frollo's bound form. He was standing slightly in front of Phoebus but was angled in such a way that from Quasi's view, the man was standing profile to him. A cold, steel gray eye shifted and glared at the young hunchback for a brief moment before flitting back to an opposite wall. Quasi shifted nervously and tried focusing on answering Esmeralda.

"T-the wound in her side is giving her the most trouble." He managed nervously, still watching the former minister from the corner of his eye. "If she speaks too fast or moves too much, it becomes irritated."

Esmeralda nodded in understanding and leaned in closer to examine Sophia's small form.

"We cannot stay here." Said Phoebus, being the ever voice of reason. "Sophia needs a place of healing and this," He suddenly spat, giving a harsh tug upon the chain that bound Frollo and shot the man a withering glare of his own. "Needs to be taken to the Palace of Justice."

But then a sly and sinister grin crossed over the golden-haired man's features and he roughly jerked the older man towards him. "Of course, we could just leave you for the crowd that's just beyond those doors." Here he nodded his head towards Notre Dame's giant oak doors; one of which, possessed a great, gaping hole near its lock. "I'm sure they would be more than glad than to dispose of you. It's no more than you deserve."

For the first time, Quasi saw a look of pure, unadulterated fear cross Frollo's face and those gray steel eyes widened in growing horror. A small part of Quasi felt sorry for the minister, but that pity was soon washed away when he looked down at the tiny figure he held in his arms. Frollo had nearly killed her, had nearly killed Esmeralda. Did the man deserve pity? Did he deserve mercy? Still, as much as Quasi now despised the older man, he found, deep in his heart, that he felt some sort of sorrow for him. If in only the fact that the man had never discovered what love really meant.

"No, please!" Frollo begged, his eyes wide with pleading. "Have mercy! They will kill me!"

"Why?" Asked Phoebus coldly, but even. "Give me one reason why we shouldn't."

"Because, we would be no better than him."

Everyone turned in surprise (all except for Quasi, who only had to glance downwards) as Sophia began to shift herself to where she was more or less sitting than laying in his hold. Quasi tried to placate her into laying back, but she shook her head slightly in light protest. He heaved a small sigh at her refusal to stay still, but assisted the young redhead in finding a more practical position. In order to keep her balance, however, she wrapped her small arms about his neck, careful not to choke him as she did so. Quasi simply helped guide her arms around him, finding that while she was recovering slightly, he did not want her to do more than necessary. Quasi also took note, that when she had spoken, her voice had, for the first time, come out strong and clear. More color had returned to her complexion, and her eyes had regained their former spark. Even her hair looked a shade or two brighter.

Phoebus, once he had recovered himself, shook his head and shot another withering glare at the former minister. "It really doesn't concern me," He said bitterly, resenting every word he spoke yet feeling he had no choice in the matter. "I'm not the one he almost killed."

As if to diffuse the steadily growing tension, Esmeralda suddenly turned her head and looked curiously at Notre Dame's middle double oak doors. Faint cries and shouts were heard from the other side, even from the distance they were currently standing at. Quasi too turned to look and found that bright, golden light was seeping in through the fairly large hole in one of the giant doors. Daylight, it seemed, had finally come.

"Come," Said Esmeralda, turning about so she could face everyone. She gestured to the doors and small smile spread across her face. "A new day awaits. And there is much to be done before the sun beds itself over the hills once more."

And so they continued forward.

Third Person

Sophia's POV

"Quasi?" She asked quietly, her voice low enough that neither of their friends or Frollo, all three of which led the way to the great doors, could hear them. "Are you well? You look, a bit pale."

It was true, his face had again lost some of its color in the short amount of time since the started walking towards the entrance. He didn't look at her, but heaved a small sigh and shook his head.

"It- It is nothing, Sophia." He finally said after a moment of silence, though it was clear by the expression of apprehension on his face that it was not nothing.

Now it was her turn to sigh, but she did not press. If he did not want to tell her right now, than that was perfectly acceptable. After all, she had not exactly been honest with Quasi for the past few days. She had hid so much from him. All the men her mother was trying for her to court, her fake engagement to Phoebus, her true feelings for him . . . it seemed that even though the list was rather short, what few it did contain was very heavy. Sophia felt ashamed of herself now. After all her talk of saying how much she trusted Quasi, she couldn't trust him enough with her raw feelings. How he even could stand to hold her right now she did not know.

Would he forgive her? Could he forgive her?

Suddenly Quasi halted in his steps and Sophia raised her head to see why he had stopped. Phoebus and Esmeralda were paused just before them, in front of Notre Dame's doors. They both turned to the other, smiles wide upon their faces, gave a small nod, and with a flourish of style all their own, flung open the twin doors. Bright, blinding light spilled into the dark expanses of the cathedral, chasing away the darkness of the night before and filling it with the promise of a new and brighter day.

Sophia raised her hands to block out the intensity of the golden rays while Quasi had to turn his head to the left as he had no hands to shield himself. Their friends, along with a very reluctant Frollo, on the other hand, sprung instantly into the sunlight and out into the open air. Cries and shouts instantly roared to life and fierce applause greeted Sophia with a ringing her ears would never forget. But after a moment or two she realized they were still encased in the shadow of a pillar. Even more alarming, Quasi seem to shrink away from the light, as if somehow terrified by it.

"Quasi?" The young redhead asked cautiously, her concern for him growing. "Quasi, what is wrong?"

"I-I can't-" He trailed off, his voice so small that she had barely heard him.

He turned his head away from her, that one lock of hair falling into his one good eye as it always did. She was beginning to understand that one lock of hair acted as sort of a shield for him, protecting him from what he feared or from what threatened him. A way for him to hide away so the rest of the world couldn't touch what was left of his broken, shattered being. That lock of hair was one of the only things protecting him, a piece of himself that would rise up and shield the remains of a man who, if from the start, could have lived a much more love filled life. But, Quasi couldn't hide away completely from the world. Not anymore. The door was open now, there was nothing holding him back. Nothing of course, except himself.

"Quasi," Sophia reached up and gently cupped his cheek, turning his head back towards her. His pale blues eyes filled with insecurity and a hint of fear. She offered him a gentle smile and rubbed his cheek with the pad of her thumb. "You do not have to do this alone. I am right here, with you. We'll go together."

He closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. He took a few moments to collect himself and she let him, understanding why this was difficult for him. He was frightened of the outside world, it had not treated him kindly and yet, yet there still was hope. There was good, if you looked hard and close enough. And she would help him and so would Phoebus and Esmeralda. He had those who loved him and cared for him and they would not leave him behind. She would not leave him behind or abandon him. After today, Quasi would never be alone. Not on her life.

Then his eyes fluttered open, new determination and trust swimming brightly within those pale blue orbs. "Very well, together then."

Sophia's smile widened to the point she wondered vaguely if it would extend passed the lines of her face and rested her head against his strong shoulder, still keeping her arms locked about his neck. Quasi leaned down and nuzzled his nose in her curls before raising his head high. He took one last deep, shaky breath, and, together, the two of them stepped into the blinding sunlight of Paris.

Third Person

Quasi's POV

His eyes instantly dilated at the sudden change in lighting. Everything went white then, slowly, hints of color and shapes poked through and spread across his line of sight. The previous noise had all but ceased and instead, a deafening silence greeted him. He vaguely wondered, for a moment, if perhaps he had stepped through the wrong doorway. That was, until, his sight cleared completely and the all too familiar Parisian square came into focus.

It looked as if all of Paris had suddenly poured itself into the square. Faces of all sorts stared back at him. Old and young. Long and squat. Dirty and clean. Men, woman, children, and even the small, pudgy, round faces of babes gazed at him with the same strange expression. An expression Quasi had never seen before and thus, had no idea how to place. He knew at once it was not fear (for he had become all too familiar with expressions of that sort), yet it was not exactly happiness either. It was more . . . raw. As if each and every one of them had been stripped away of any complex emotion and left to simply being stunned. Quasi did not know how else to describe it.

Unnerved by the sheer number of people staring back at him, Quasi began to question his decision to leave the safety of the cathedral. But before he could turn back and retreat, Esmeralda was by his side. One of her slim, tanned hands reached out to lay against the bicep of his right arm, her thick mass of dark hair wafting slightly as a gentle breeze passed. She turned her head just enough to offer him a warm, encouraging smile, which helped ease some of the nervousness that had settled in his stomach. And then Phoebus stepped forward to flank him on the opposite side, standing tall against the rays of the morning sun, his face devoid of emotion, yet a silent challenge lay behind his hazel eyes, as if daring anyone in the crowd to attack them. His left hand was still tightly wound around Frollo's chains, who, as a matter of fact, was currently being shot dark and thoroughly disgusted looks by some of the members of the crowd.

Coupled with the silence and the unidentifiable looks, Quasi was still nervous as his own eyes flickered through the crowd. Even with the presence of his new found friends, he still did not feel comfortable with what seemed like all of Paris looking at him. There was no jeering, no scowls, no screams, but this, this seemed worse somehow. Worse because he didn't understand what they were truly thinking or feeling. Before, they had no quarrels with voicing their displeasure of him. But now, now he didn't know how to respond to this . . this . . whatever it was. No one moved or even seemed to breathe. They just stood there, watching and looking at him in such a way it was as if they had never seen him or anyone like him before.

And then, the long silence, which to Quasi seemed to stretch out forever, broke.

A long, ear-piercing shriek of grief and despair rang out near the middle of the crowd and then suddenly townspeople were being shoved from one side to the other. A rather small woman in her late thirties, who was now nearing the early stages of middle-age, suddenly burst through the middle of the crowd, a wild look in her dark brown eyes. Her light, brown hair was escaping from what had previously been a neat and tidy bun from the top of her head, falling haphazardly into her face. Her rather thin face looked gaunt and far too worn for someone of her age, but it worsened still when her wild, frightened eyes fell upon the limp figure that lay in Quasi's arms.

"No," The woman whispered desperately in a tiny, hoarse voice. "No, no, no, no, no!"

Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and her thin frame began to shake violently, her face paling so fast she looked as if it faint. But as suddenly as it came, the vulnerability vanished, only to be replaced with something Quasi was all too familiar with. The woman's expression of horror and loss melted into one of contempt and utter malice. Her face darkened and a rage and hate like nothing he had ever seen in Frollo, filled her brown eyes. She was still shaking, but this time it was not just out of grief. And her rage filled eyes set themselves on him, glaring menacingly and hatefully into Quasi's own terrified orbs.

"You beast!" The woman shrieked at him, her voice reaching such high an octave that everyone who stood close to her visibly cringed and scrambled away from her.

Quasi immediately shrunk back, away from the woman out of both fear for himself and concern for the young redhead he held. Fearing that the woman may wish harm upon him, he held Sophia even closer to him. But the woman suddenly came charging up the stone steps, not a care in the world who was watching her. The murderous look in her dark brown eyes frightened him so much that he tried to back away but found, to his own horror, that his legs were frozen in their place.

"You monster! What have you done to her?! What have you done to my daughter?!"

Well, I think this helped moved things a bit. I thin Lea's been out of the picture for far too long. Now, not only do we need for Sophia to heal, now we also have to keep clean to her mother about Sophia's true feelings for Quasi. Not to mention all the drama with Phoebus and her PRETENDING to be married. Oh dear, things are going to be rather chaotic aren't they? Not to worry, things will be sorted. In the end.

But poor Quasi! Mother's do tend to be out of control in situations like this. But, we'll see how things come together in the next chapter. See you soon!