DISCLAIMER: I still do not own any original HoND characters.

Author's Note: Well, well, well, here we are with chapter four of Aurelia. I didn't expect to write so much for the first four chapters. In fact, I hadn't even planned to write this as a chapter at all. I sat down writing earlier today and what I had planned didn't come out, but the following did. This has probably been my favorite chapter to write so far. I hope that none of you are disappointed by it, and I hope that all of you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. To ward off any confusion, I would like to notify you that the italics signify a flashback and the normal text is present time. I would greatly appreciate it if you all would be kind enough to submit a review once you finish reading this chapter.


Chapter Four: Of Claude and Annette

"Claude, you know I can't love you..." Annette trailed off. She turned her head so he wouldn't see the tears falling from her large green eyes.

The young man stared at the woman standing before him, his pale, knobby hand gripping her small, dark one. He took in every angle of her petite frame, her womanly curves deeply accentuated by the snug fit of her dress. The breeze gently tugged on her long black curls which were tied back by a deep violet bandana.

"Oh, but Mademoiselle Cossette, that doesn't stop you, does it?" he asked in what could barely even be described as a whisper. Standing up from his kneeling position on the grass he took her face with his hands and turned her face to his. Pain shot through his heart as he espied her perfect features contorted and obscured by tears.

Annette's body shook as he pulled her in close. Claude ran his long fingers through her hair as he whispered sweet nothings into her ear in hopes of stopping her tears. The young gypsy woman in his arms unburied her head from his chest and looked up at his face. He placed a kiss on her forehead, then proceeding to kiss away the tears still forming in the corners of her eyes, first the left, then the right.

"No," she choked out, a sob threatening to release itself.

"No what?" Claude asked, his heartbeat quickening considerably. A wave of fear passed over him for the next words to come out of her mouth.

"It doesn't stop me from loving you. Claude Frollo, I love you with all of my heart. I would die for you if that's what loving you is to mean," Annette's two emerald pools shone brightly as she spoke.

"And die you did, my love, all because of me," Claude Frollo sighed, staring into the fire, once more fingering the emerald ring on his left hand, the ring Annette had given him the morning before she was executed by her own people. The man sat back in his armchair and called another memory back from his past...

The couple sat under a tree on the bank of the Seine while enjoying their midday meal. Claude had packed a lunch for the two of them to share on the four month mark since the first time they had joined as one soul. This day happened to be one of the rare occassions the two would meet with each other during the light hours.

Annette kept taking quick glances at Claude to make sure he wasn't paying attention and swipe a piece of fruit or break off a hunk of cheese from his plate and replace it with something she found distasteful of her own. Claude was very well aware of her little game, but decided to let her keep going.

"Now darling, do you really think it's fitting to eat that much cheese in one day?" he asked teasingly. She quickly reddened at the revelation that he was on to her tricks.

"Oh puh, you've caught me," Annette pouted, tousling his light brown hair.

"I always do, darling," he grinned at her.

She placed a light kiss on the very tip of his nose, "I know you do."

A look Claude didn't recognize came over his beloved's face as she stared out to what seemed the river, but her eyes were not focused.

"Is anything the matter?" he asked, worry growing within him.

"I don't know, maybe," a semi-peacful look settled on Annette's dark face. "Claude, I'm with child. Your child."

Happiness. Fear. Shock. These and what felt like millions of other emotions flooded through Claude at this bit of news.

"Je t'aime, Annette. Vous et notre bébé," he choked out, pulling her to him.

"Je t'aime aussi, Claude," a deeply saddened look crossed Annette's face.

"What is it, what did you leave out?" Claude asked frantically after seeing her expression.

"Dartagnan knows. The healers told him, as they do with every pregnancy. Everyone in the Court knows that I am not involved with any of the gypsy men. I face trial for having intimate relations with a gadje," she sobbed.

'Oh what I'd do to hang each and every one of those damned gypsies. If only I knew the location of the Court of Miracles, I could tie a noose around the dark neck of each and every one to stand for this disgusting law of theirs,' the newly appointed Judge thought as pure hatred flooded through him for the first time in his life.

Annette took his hand in hers, and slipped something small and cold into it. Claude picked up the object and inspected it carefully.

"It's a ring that has been passed down in my family for centuries. My mama gave it to me the night before she was killed, now I give it to you as a reminder of my love for you. Never take it off as long as you still think of me. I will forever be with you. Whether in body or in spirit, I will be there for you. Any time you need someone to listen to you, I'll be there. I love you Claude. Never forget that. I love you. And if I do not live to morning to tell you of the trial, I want you to remember me, and I want you to wear this ring. Promise me you'll wear it, s'il vous plait," she explained. Claude slipped the ring residing on the ring finger of his left hand off and replaced it with the Annette's ring.

"You will make it to tell me of the trial. You will make it to tell our baby of the trial ten years from now. I promise you, I will always wear this ring of yours as my fondest reminder of you. Now do me the same and wear this ring. This ring has been passed down from first born son to first born son in my family for nine generations. I would like a part of me to be with you at your trial, because I know your laws and I know I cannot stand with you, unless I wish to face the gallows. Je t'aime, Annette. I always will," Claude slipped the golden ring onto the thumb on her left hand, the only place it would fit.

The couple came together in a tight embrace, both with tears running down their faces. Passion ensued as one would imagine, and the judge and the gypsy made love to each other on that secluded river bank in Paris. Annette's slim frame curled perfectly into Claude's larger frame, the two of them fitting into each other as perfectly as a puzzle. Claude placed a light kiss on Annette's cheek as he embraced her once more.

"I love you, Annette. We will talk tomorrow, then?" he asked, not waiting for an answer, but kissing her lips with all the gentleness and love he could summon up.

"I love you, Claude. Remember me," she whispered into his lips, pulling away and running from the riverside, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, Annette. You're still as real to me as if you were sitting in this chair with me," he whispered, tears forming in his cold, grey eyes. His last thoughts before falling into a deep sleep in his armchair bythe fire were of Annette.