"Because I love you..."

This sentence from Regina echoed in Quasimodo's mind as he dreamed. He practically pursued him. He had longed for a woman's affection for some time, even if he couldn't really admit it. When he first met Regina, he had often thought of the gypsy. But that had changed. She seemed to forget about Esmeralda. Since when was he not really aware, or he did not want to be aware of it. Regina somehow made him feel that she would understand him ... and he couldn't even say that about Frollo. But was that reason enough? How could he get involved? A feeling that he didn't understand at all? Still ... He didn't want to forget the gypsy, it was like a deception to him. Part of his thoughts seemed to be submerged in a kind of fog, unreachable. It had always been difficult for Quasimodo to come up with a clear thought; he could only do that in emergency situations, such as when the gypsy was supposed to be hanged. He couldn't think about what he would do if he woke up again. Did he even want that? Did he want to go back to this world full of strangers? It always seemed to him that death was the easiest. Then he would have no more worries, maybe even forget what had happened. All people were equal to God, he had learned that from Frollo very early on. He would not be mocked and beaten in heaven. When he thought about it, he felt his consciousness return. He slowly opened his eye and saw Regina sitting on the edge of the bed next to him.

"Well? Did you sleep well?" She asked him.

Quasimodo blinked at her in confusion. He had just been to heaven ... So he thought. That was a very sudden change in the environment. He tried to sit up, but Regina pressed him back onto the bed.

"You still have to take it easy," she said.

"Where am I?" He asked confused.

"In your parents' house," said Regina.

Quasimodo growled and clenched his fists. He didn't want to go here! He glared at Regina, who hung her head.

A red-haired, muscular man stood at the end of the bed and looked at him. Quasimodo couldn't really tell who he was.

"Don't be angry with her," said the man, also very slowly like Regina when she spoke to him, "Our house was closer than the Medicus'. That's why we brought you here. She was so worried about you. You should be happy to have a girlfriend like that. "

"Who are you?" Asked Quasimodo.

"I'm John McGrobain, and your father," said the man and smiled at Quasimodo. Quasimodo was now so irritated that he didn't know what to think. This man was his father, he had given birth to him and abandoned him. Quasimodo would have to hate him for that. But this man smiled at him. Why? Why didn't he show disgust or disgust?

"I know you thought badly of us and I don't blame you. Yes, I gave you to the gypsies ... But ... Just out of necessity. Your mother was so weak after the birth. Her life stood at stake. How should I take care of you then? That was too much for me. I was still so young ... I don't expect you to forgive me now. But maybe you will give me the opportunity to make it good again said the man with tears in his eyes. Then a woman stepped beside him with a little girl on the tip of her skirt.

"This is your mother. Until recently she thought you were dead. I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth. So you don't need to be mad at her. And this is your sister, Mary."

His mother ran to the edge of the bed next to Regina and fell on her knees: "My son! My son!" She sobbed. Mary stopped next to her father and stared at Quasimodo in silence.

"Go ahead, say hello to your brother," John said and patted his daughter gently on the back. Mary walked slowly, intimidated, towards the bed.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt you.", Regina said to her and then turned her gaze to Quasimodo. Mary curtsied and said a little intimidated: "Bonjour."

Quasimodo looked at the little girl as kindly as he could and nodded his head: "Bonjour."

Mary looked at him with wide eyes and was surprised at the gentle response that came out of the mouth of this strange looking person. Her mother always told her stories about goblins who, for example, hid a pot of gold on the edge of the rainbow. Although this man was taller than the goblins, as Mary had imagined, she thought that something like a goblin could look like that. That this man was her brother was difficult for the 5 year old to grasp, even though her mother had always told her that she had a very special brother. It would probably take some getting used to. Mary hoped he would stay so she could get to know him better. Quasimodo took another long look at his family and an unknown, pleasant feeling crept into him. It was a little like the feeling he had when he rang the bells. Apparently he felt comfortable and in good hands here.

His mother rose and then put her hands on Regina's shoulders.

"Your girlfriend also told us your story. So we know everything about it," she said.

Quasimodo looked at Regina, who still hung her head. He took her hand and said, "Thank you."

Regina looked at Quasimodo with wide eyes. He seemed to be really serious. He leaned back in bed and closed his eyes. He still felt pretty exhausted.