Disclaimer: You know that Disney and Victor Hugo own
half of these characters right? If you
didn't, you do now. I own the other
half. Check ya later.
"Are you
okay?" he asked.
Genevieve
stopped and turned away from him.
"What is
it?"
Silence.
"Are you
mad at me?"
Genevieve's
voice trembled. "Why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
She faced
him with tears streaming from her eyes and her mouth twisted in pain. "Do what?! Clopin, you nearly got both of us killed! He killed your father, remember?! And you had to go look for him! Why were you so stupid?!"
Clopin
thought for a moment, but nothing came to mind. "I'm sorry," he said softly. Genevieve's eyes were beating down on him. "I was upset."
"Upset and
stupid are two different things Clopin."
His head
dropped. "I'm sorry," he repeated.
Genevieve
suddenly threw her arms around him. "Just don't scare me like that. Don't make me cry like this again, okay? Promise?"
"I
promise," he said holding her. He was
suddenly feeling much better.
Clopin and
Genevieve walked across the Court of Miracles with their arms around each
other's shoulders. They walked into
Clopin's house and were surprised to see a small group of people there along
with Rose and Jack. Jack was looking a
little grim and holding the Gypsy crown. Everyone was looking at him. They didn't notice Clopin and Genevieve.
"I'm home,"
said Clopin.
Everybody
turned and suddenly the mood in the room became brighter. Rose broke through the crowd and hugged
Clopin.
"You need
to start telling me when you're going out," she whispered.
He pulled
away. "What? Did you think I was dead?"
"They were
about to crown me King," said Jack. "No
thank you."
"Sorry,"
said Clopin, hugging his mother again. "I just needed some time alone."
Genevieve
stepped back and smiled, but her face went blank when she saw the man behind
them.
"Daddy?"
Marque Chat
looked at Genevieve, took in her clothes, hair, and face, and realized who she
was.
"Genevieve?"
he whispered. "My Genevieve?"
They threw
their arms around each other and just stayed there. Genevieve was all smiles.
"Daddy? Are you mad at me?"
"No."
"Are you
proud of me?"
"Every
waking moment."
Genevieve
and Clopin both smiled.
Life is
easier with Gen here, Clopin first thought when he woke up. It had been three days and with Genevieve
home his mood improved. He dressed and
went down stairs, but he instantly stopped. Rose, Genevieve, Jack, and Marque all sat around the table with the
Gypsy crown in the middle. They made a
pretty intimidating site. They all
looked up as he entered.
"Clopin,
will you come sit down?" said Rose. "We
need to talk."
Clopin sat
in the empty chair next to Genevieve. He looked up and smiled at her, but she just turned her head and looked
at the hat.
"Clopin,"
said Rose, "it was time you were crowned."
"No," he
said instantly.
"You can do this," Marque
encouraged. "Just give it a chance."
"No."
"Hey
Clopin, I don't know if you noticed," said Jack, "but Pop is dead!"
"Shut up
Jack!!" Clopin shouted. He lunged at
Jack, but his mother held him. He
suddenly wanted to kill Jack for all that it was worth.
Genevieve
firmly grabbed his shoulder and threw him back into his chair. "Clopin, you can do this," she said.
"No I
can't!"
"Yes you
can."
"How do you
know?!"
"Because
you are your father's son."
Clopin
stopped and looked at her.
"It's been
almost two weeks that the Gypsies haven't had a King," said Genevieve. "It's time a new one was crowned. They need you."
"No one
needs me," said Clopin.
"Oh
yeah?" She grabbed his hand and took him
to the door. She opened it, and waved
across the Court. "Look at them,
Clopin," she said pointing. "All of
them. We should be living up there, but
we're living down here. If we live up
there Frollo will get us…we'll die."
Clopin
finally began to understand.
"We need a
leader, Clopin. We need you."
He nodded
in understanding. "How did you get to
be so wise?" he asked her.
Genevieve
smiled. "By hanging around you." Clopin smiled. "So will you do it?"
Clopin
sighed and firmly said, "Yes."
Genevieve
walked to the table and picked up the Gypsy crown. Everyone in the room watched as Clopin bent down on one knee and
bowed his head. "I crown thee, Clopin,
King of the Gypsies," said Genevieve.
She placed
the crown on Clopin's head.
It was foggy
the day Genevieve left. King Clopin,
Jack, Rose, and Marque all said their farewells to her in the graveyard. Marque hugged his daughter.
"Are you
proud of me?" Genevieve asked him.
"Every
waking moment."
Jack
stepped forward. "Okay. If Clopin's King now, and Ma's the Queen
Mother, what does that make me?"
"A stick in
the mud," Genevieve replied sweetly.
"Oh, gee,
thanks."
She hugged
him and he slapped her back softly.
Rose
stepped forward. "You know you're like
a daughter to me, don't you?"
"As long as
you know you're like a mother to me," Genevieve replied.
Rose hugged
her for a long moment then pulled away sniffling and drying her eyes.
Genevieve
finally faced Clopin. "Oh," she said
fingering her jester bell necklace. "Not again."
Out of
nowhere Clopin produced a yellow rose. "Pour vous," he said.
"What's
this?"
"The flower
of friendship," he replied handing it to her.
She hugged
him and said, " You are the Gypsy King. Always remember that."
"I will,"
he promised. She pulled away and he
kissed her forehead. "What do I do if I
ever need you?" he whispered.
From inside
her cloak, she pulled out a note. She
handed it to him and said, "Read it when ever you need me." He nodded.
Genevieve
mounted her horse. She sat there a
moment, then looked down at all of them and asked, "You know I love all of you,
don't you?"
Everyone
nodded. This time, Rose wasn't the only
on wiping tears from her eyes.
"Always
remember that," said Genevieve. She
spurred her horse and rode away not looking back. Clopin watched until she was no longer in sight.
The next
day was cloudy. It looked as if a set
of storms was threatening Paris. Clopin
was sitting by the angel again. This
time he was missing Genevieve terribly. She said they shouldn't write anymore, fearing that Frollo might
intercept a letter. It wasn't easy for
him to be home taking over his father's responsibilities, while she was away in
Calais trying to have a life of her own.
Genevieve's
note was in his hand. I need you,
Gen, he thought, so here it goes. He unfolded it. All that was
written was:
Kiss the
rain.
Clopin blinked, and then he smiled. It was so like her to leave him a vague, yet
meaningful message like that.
Thunder
rolled in the sky and he closed his eyes. It would be raining soon, then… then he would finally feel better.