Madellaine, after about an hour of searching, gave up. The Archdeacon was no where to be found and as she walked down one of the looming hallways, she saw a woman in colorful garb slam a door. She seemed quite upset. Madellaine, startled, kept on and finally returned back to the prayer hall where a tall, thin man with a large chaperone was standing with the Archdeacon. Finally she found him! Before she could speak up she saw the dark shadow of a man with a look of utter despair stalk away angrily, not to be bothered. Madellaine looked around the corner watching his silhouette disappear down the long corridor as her gaze turned to the Archdeacon.

"Oh Father, I am so glad to see you! I-I've been looking high and low for you. May I claim sanctuary for a few days? You see, I-I was recently kicked out of my…home."

The Archdeacon of Josas offered a morose smirk and chuckled a bit.

"Well my dear, you really have no choice as the entire church has been snowed in. As far as I know all of Paris is stuck in this situation. There are souls out there that cannot get inside…"

His voice trailed off concerned as he looked into the young woman's eyes.

"Come my child, I can let you stay in a available room. There is another woman claiming sanctuary here, perhaps you'd like to meet her. She goes by the name of Esmeralda. There will be a dinner at 8:30pm this evening as we did not expect such weather to occur. Quite sudden actually. I must inform you Minister Claude Frollo is also here, as someone that watched the man grow, I would steer clear from him this evening, he looked quite…distraught."

Madellaine slowly nodded her head at all the information. Perhaps that woman she saw was Esmeralda? She assumed so as there really weren't any souls wandering about. Hearing the feared Claude Frollo was also forced to stay indoors she froze. She knew she recognized that chaperone! He was a menacing person and she never recalled him smiling. To hear the Archdeacon describe him as "distraught" made her wonder what happened. She remembered the hunchback sobbing earlier and pondered if it was indeed related…Oh the hunchback!

"Archdeacon, I-I thank you so much for your help…but I must ask. Is the hunchback-"

"The hunchback has a name, it is Quasimodo and yes, he does live here."

The Archdeacon smiled already knowing where she was headed.

"I would not fear the lad…He has stayed in that bellower for 20 years. Human contact has been little besides for-"

The Archdeacon caught himself as he was not sure if he should mention Frollo rearing him. Paris saw Quasimodo call to him on the pillory, the secret had been revealed, although rumors stayed low. Nobody needed to be hanged for challenging Frollo regarding the information.

"-He is a kind man, but quite timid and shy."

She felt immense guilt at her reaction earlier that evening and wondered if it would be appropriate to find and apologize to him. With due time…perhaps after dinner. Madellaine thanked the Archdeacon once more before finding a room and lying down on the cot. She clutched herself as it was still fairly cold. She hoped a fire would be lit somewhere soon.

In the opposing room, unbeknownst to the young blonde, Esmeralda sat upon her cot. Her tears had dried and she contemplated the information declared to her by Claude Frollo. It was not that he hated her, oh, no-no. It was love. Esmeralda played with the coins to her hip sash. She sneered remembering what he called her and rolled her eyes as she lay upon the rickety bed. She felt herself emotional drained. Esmeralda pondered Frollo's antics back when he first trapped her in the church. The sensation of him gently stroking her neck never did give her the impression that he loved her. Only that he desired her. That, to her, was clearly evident. She sighed. As scorned as she was by those hurtful words, she felt herself sadden and feel pity for the stoic Judge. His tears she could not forget.

Esmeralda pondered: his behavior made a lot of sense as she began to piece together everything that's occurred and wondered if it would be wise to reach out to him. But…she felt conflicted. Her compassion reached to many, but she hardly considered the Judge a person, only evil and cruel. To give him something so special and make herself vulnerable could be dangerous. As of now she had the upper hand but he was unpredictable. Esmeralda thought the wisest approach would be not enticing his rage or…lust… any further. A mutual understanding would have to do. Perhaps she could discuss it with him when he should arrive after the Tierce tomorrow morning, if he even shows up…

Esmeralda shut her eyes in exasperation as she sat in the dark of the cell. By this point, optimism was her only reassurance.

The Archdeacon rounded the few monks and nuns on the premises to help prepare whatever means they had. Notre Dame had food stores if worst came to worst, but for how long was always in question. He would soon have to go about trying to clear the large doorways and provide a way for people to get in. It would be a daunting task, but it had to be done. He would need all the help he could get. Entering the small kitchen of the cloisters, he recognized a familiar nun. Sister Rosemary had known Archdeacon Mathias Palomer since she joined the convent 18 years ago. She smiled sadly to the well known cleric.

"Mathias, have you heard anything from outside? The bell tower is frigid and I haven't seen Quasimodo anywhere…"

The Archdeacon widened his eyes.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes! I was going to ask him for help to move some large kettles for a soup but I cannot find him. The monks are in the stores looking for any wood that we can ration to make a small fire. How many parishes are here? This is a blizzard out of the Exodus!"

The nun despaired as the Archdeacon quickly did the math on his fingers. Let's see: Himself, Rosemary, Sister Maria, Sister Ethel, Brother Giovani, Brother Paul, Brother Eduard, Esmeralda, Quasimodo, Claude Frollo and the blonde lass.

"About 11. Will we have enough?"

"I'll ask Brother Giovani when he returns. I should hope, but we must figure a way to clear out some of the snow. Oh how I worry for those unfortunate souls freezing to death…"

Shaking her head she nodded to the Archdeacon as she headed back to prepare supper. Mathias grew anxious. There was so much to account for. Everything was so sudden.

Claude Frollo entered one of the older cells of the Cathedral. He had slammed the door, angry at himself. He let so much slip, this was so unlike him. He never…never had someone watch him completely break down. Claude Frollo always hid his emotions well. He growled in frustration. He glanced around, his eyes a bit red as he saw some of the graffiti, though he'd never admit to it, sketched on the wall. Approaching, he saw the word "ANAKTE" and sighed remembering his dear brother, writing the forlorn words after his tragic death. In a fit of anger, he drew his dagger and began to engrave the siren's name underneath.

'ESMERALDA' it read in bold letters. Dropping the blasted knife he could no longer stand the dank cell and left the room, rubbing his arms as his breath came out as a vapor.

"Blasted blizzard…" He grumbled.

Quasimodo, cloaked in a grey cape had wandered the halls aimlessly. He needed to clear his mind, though it took much longer than he had ever anticipated. His gaze fell to the floor, he did not see the dark figure just in front of him. Both were not paying attention, stuck in their awful moods, to really notice until they collided. Frollo bounced back a bit, his cape flailing and his hat tipped to the side. Gritting his teeth he fixed it as his angry blush slowly subsided. Quasimodo and his master exchanged a gaze of surprise as they both noticed the bright red rims of their eyes but refused to say anything. One out of fear and the other… not really caring so.

They both sighed and went on their way.

About an hour later the loud ringing of a bell could be heard echoing the Cathedral. Slowly, Archdeacon Mathias could hear the sound of bangles resonating through a doorway as Esmeralda walked in smiling softly.

"Hello child, come have a seat." The monk by the name of Giovani said.

"Thanks…" Esmeralda sat down and sighed as she helped herself to a few communion wafers and poured some soup into a chipped bowl. Hearing the uneven step of Quasimodo, he walked in suddenly eyeing her with a look pain as he averted her gaze. Esmeralda sighed as she looked down at the bowl only for him to sit at the far end along with the nuns. She hoped he would have calmed a bit but that didn't seem to be the case. Madellaine walked in eyeing the Gypsy clearly for the first time as she smiled, sitting just across from her.

"…A bit chilly huh?" Madellaine attempted small talk. Noticing bellringer from the corner of her eye, watching her interested.

"I've noticed." The Gypsy sighed, she looked up at the curious girl, when did she get here?

Suddenly the room seemed to darken as Minister Frollo walked in, a glower upon his gaunt face…he hesitated; Esmeralda eyed him for the first time since he had poured his heart out. What was he doing here?!

He stiffened before sneering. Her eyes were red too. Frollo begrudgingly sat as far as he could as her gaze followed him curiously, still hurt of course, but nonetheless amused.

Madellaine began to notice that all three people had red eyes…yes there was definitely drama brewing between the three.

Esmeralda sighed as she shoved a spoonful of broth into her mouth, not realizing they hadn't said their prayer. The Archdeacon chuckled startling her as she looked up with a guilty blush darkening her cheeks.

"My, someone's hungry. If you don't mind Esmeralda, we often give thanks before a meal. Would you like to start?"

Claude Frollo couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Oh…w-well …If you insist."

Esmeralda turned beet red and part of her felt like crying again from the sheer awkwardness of the situation.

Frollo huffed in disgust. What an insult.

"Uncouth witch…" He muttered to himself.

Esmeralda had heard and a pained expression crossed her face as she took a shaky breath.

"Oh Lord in heaven…thank you for this meal, may you bring the people of Paris comfort during this harsh blizzard…" She paused unsure whether to continue as she accidentally locked her gaze with Frollo once again. Her heart jumped and her cheeks managed to burn darker. She couldn't back down and she narrowed her piercing emeralds at him.

"Amen." She huffed and crossed her arms feeling like throwing the scalding bowl of soup at the bastard.

Frollo grumbled an 'Amen' and he took a bite. Madellaine slowly looked over between the two a couple times…things were beginning to add up.

Mathias slowly cleared his throat.

"As you all know the church has been snowed in. It is much too late but by morning I will need all the assistance I can get for moving the snow and-"

"What?!"

Esmeralda's eyes widened in shock at Frollo, who startled a bit as he looked up to see her panicked expression.

Esmeralda let out a sardonic laugh and shook her head. This situation was a joke. Now she truly was screwed. She was now stuck with him.

Mathias ignored her outbreak as he continued, her lips pursed into a scowl.

Dinner seemed to drag on in awkward silence that never seemed to lift. Quickly dismissing himself Claude Frollo left, with a sneer and slowly the room dispersed until it was only Madellaine and Quasimodo.

Quasimodo met the blonde's gaze, but quickly looked back down as he saw her rise. He stumbled trying to leave until, to his surprise she called after him.

"Wait! Quasimodo…"

He turned gingerly.

"I..I wanted to say I'm sorry for the way I reacted…I guess I didn't e-expect you-"

Madellaine paused mouth agape with a defeated expression. The bellringer sighed.

"It's..It's fine." He turned to leave again until he felt her grab his arm.

"No it's not. I'm sure you had a rough day… and I know I didn't make it any better. I am very sorry though. Will you forgive me?"

The bellringer was taken aback as he stared at her in disbelief.

"O-Of course. What is your name?"

"Madellaine."

A small smile spread on her lips. The bellringer looked down before a light blush speckled along his cheeks.

"It's a lovely name."

"Thank you…well I'll see you around…not that I'll be going far."

Her quip caused him to break into a crooked grin as he waved.

"Have a goodnight…Madellaine."

The shy blonde smiled as she waved slightly, watching him disappear up the stairs. Perhaps it won't be so lonely here…

A/N:

Hey guys! Hope this finds you well, thank you so, so much for the awesome reviews! I already have 22 woo hoo!

I apologize for the delay, I just started school and it was tough finding my rhythm... I also discovered how much I really like Harry Potter this past 2 weeks and I spent a lot of time reading Severus Snape and Lily Evans fanfics, which will be my next story. Their dynamic reminds me of Fresme and I think a lot of you would like it. Both Lily and Esmeralda are emerald eyed dames that will call you out in a pinch and ironically both Snape and Frollo are hooked nose brooding men, both falling hard for these girls XD

Regardless, fear not! I plan to update every 2 weeks or so. I don't plan to abandon this and I have some fluff prepared for our famous Gypsy and Judge. Take care and please review and fave I could use some feedback!