Everyone ate dinner in the Great Hall that night. Quasimodo was enjoying the hot lamb stew and fresh baked bread. Frollo had only fed him under-cooked meat and stale bread. At night, he would sometimes go through the trash buckets for any scraps people wouldn't eat. Even then, he would go to sleep hungry. This was the first time he ever had a good home-cooked meal. He barely talked through the dinner. It wasn't a problem since Rose did most of the talking. She went to tell them about the hayride she went on earlier that day. She went on like nothing bad had even happened that day. She acted as if she didn't get chased out of town by the homicidal natives. Quasi was curious of this, but said nothing. She was happy and that's all that mattered. After dinner was finished, Rumple cleared the table with a flick of his wrist.

"Can we have cake now, Papa?"

"Not yet, flower. I believe your mother still hasn't given you her present." Rose turned to Belle.

"That's right. Let me get it." She went over to the corner by Rumple's prized spinning wheel. She shuffled around the heap of gold and pulled a box from under it of the same color. She knew Rose knew better than to play around Rumple's wheel, so it was the perfect hiding spot for it. Belle returned to the table and placed the box in front of her. Rose picked up the box and shook it.

"What is it?"

"Open it." She ripped the wrapper from the box and removed the top. She looked inside and gasped. She took out the white stuffed unicorn and held it up. She admired the red rose sown onto it. She hugged her new stuffed animal.

"It's a unicorn! I love it, Mama!" Belle smiled.

"I'm glad you do, sweetheart. Happy birthday." Rose hugged Belle.

"Thank you." Quasi smiled at the scene before him, but suddenly felt sad. She had been nothing but nice to him all day. She stood up to his abusive master and freed him from the fair. She made him happier than he's ever been in his entire life, yet he had nothing to offer her for a birthday present. Rumple sensed his sadness and addressed him.

"Something is troubling you, hunchback. What is it?" Rose and Belle turned their attention to him.

"Well, it's just...Rose has done so much for me today alone. I feel bad that I can't repay her. I don't have anything to give her for her birthday." Rose placed a hand on his.

"It's okay, Quasi. You already gave me a present." Everyone was confused by her statement.

"What do you mean?"

"You're my first friend. Now, I have my papa, a new mama, and a best friend. I have my family and I'm happy." Quasi smiled at the young child. He had never made someone happy that didn't end with him being hurt. The girl was an angel. He could travel to every realm in existence and he would never find anyone even close to her. He owed her so much, yet all she wanted was his friendship. She smiled and hugged him. He gladly returned the gesture.

"Then I promise to be the best friend ever." Rumple smiled. His daughter was truly happy. For years, he had always done his best to keep her happy, but she was never this happy. She had finally gotten what she truly wanted. She now had a mother to love and care for her and a friend she could talk to and play with. He wasn't a child, but Rose had a way of bringing out the kid in people. They broke away from each other and Rose looked up to her new friend.

"Have you ever had strawberry cake?" He chuckled.

"No, I haven't."

"Papa makes the best strawberry cake in the world! He makes it every year on my birthday." Rumple chuckled.

"And you always try to eat the icing before it makes it on the cake every year."

"It's almost as good as the cake!" Everyone laughed at the child's exclamation.

"Well, your mother and I both made the cake this time." He snapped his fingers and the cake appeared on the table. Quasi knew it would take a while before he got used to Rumple's magic. He produced a two-layer strawberry cake with strawberry icing and the words "Happy Birthday Rose" written in red icing on top. He arranged five candles under the words to make a smiley face and lit them. "Make a wish, flower."

"I don't need to. I got everything I wanted." She turned to Quasi. "You make a wish, Quasi."

"Oh, no. I couldn't..."

"Come on! If you wish for something hard enough, it'll come true! All my wishes came true. Yours can too." Quasi wished for many things and he got a lot of them that day. He was free from his master, he was free from the fair, and most of all, he found a friend that didn't treat him like a monster. She accepted him right away.

"You've made most of my wishes come true already, but there is one thing that I still want."

"Don't say it out loud! It won't come true if you do!"

"Alright. Will you blow the candles with me?" She smiled and nodded. Quasi closed his eyes, made his wish, and they both blew out the candles. All he wanted was for people to treat him the way Rose did. He wanted to be seen as a normal person. He didn't want to feel like a monster. In that castle, with those people, he wasn't. Once the candles were out, Belle helped Rose cut the cake. Rose gave everyone a big slice expect Rumple. He still didn't care much for strawberry, so he only took a small slice. Once everyone had their slice, they dug into it. Quasi had to admit that the cake was very good. He would go as far as to say it was the best sweet he had ever tasted. He knew he would enjoy his stay at the Dark Castle.

After everyone finished their cake, Belle took it back to the kitchen and put it in the glass container. She then returned to the Great Hall and took Rose for a bath. Quasi was left alone with Rumple and he felt very nervous. He at least felt better when Rose was around with him, but facing the Dark One alone would scare anyone. He had heard the tales of his past deeds and deals when the fair first came to the Enchanted Forest. He heard of him being ruthless, heartless, and demented. Even knowing that he was a dedicated father and tender lover, that didn't change who he was or what he could do. He could still be just as cruel as Frollo, maybe even crueler. Rumple felt his nervousness and understood.

"I know what you're thinking, hunchback. You know of the tales told about me and you feel threatened, correct?"

"I...uh...well..." Rumple raised his hand to stop him.

"Thought so." He rose from his chair. "Well, I can assure you don't have to worry about me harming you."

"I...I don't?" Rumple gestured for him to stand and he rose from his chair as well. He then led him from the room to the hallway.

"No. Not only did you save my daughter's life today, you are also her first and only friend. She would never forgive me if I did something to you. The last thing I want to do is upset her."

"Oh. I...Thank you, master." Rumple raised his hand again.

"No, no. I'm not your master and you will not address me as such. You are a free man now. You may leave whenever you please." They ascended a set of stairs and walked down another hallway.

"Of course. I'm sorry. I promise not to overstay my welcome. I will leave as soon as I can."

"No rush. Rose would love to have you here as long as possible. Belle wouldn't mind having someone else around either, but you cannot stay forever."

"I understand. Once I know what I want to do, I'll leave." They stopped in front of a door.

"Good. This will be where you'll be staying for the time being." He flicked his wrist and the door opened. Quasi looked inside and was in shock. It was a large bedroom with a wooden dresser and nightstand. The was a king-sized bed in the middle of the room next to a large window covered by heavy drapes. There was a door on each side of the room. One led to the bathroom, the other was a closet. Quasi had never seen a bedroom so magnificent. He couldn't believe it was where he would stay. He always slept on a makeshift bed of straw and hay with a thin blanket. This was a drastic change. "Will this suffice?"

"Oh, of course! This is...amazing. I've never had a room anywhere near this nice before. I've...never had a room before." Rumple heard the sadness in his voice. The man had a terrible past and he had no intention of going back. Rumple cleared his throat.

"Well, you know where you stay. I have work to do in my tower, which is off limits."

"Of course."

"If you need anything, just ask the castle and it'll provide it for you. Feel free to have a look around the castle. All restricted areas have spells to keep people out. Do NOT try to enter them or you'll end up a pile of ashes. Do you understand?" That last statement struck fear into Quasi's heart.

"Yes. I understand."

"Good." With that, he disappeared in a purple smoke. Quasi went into his new room and sat on the bed. It was the softest bed he ever felt. He knew he would love it there. He figured he would tour around the castle the next day for he was too tired that night. Even then, there was one thing he wanted to see. He went over to the window and opened it. He climbed out and climbed up the rafters to the roof. He sat down and looked up at the night sky. It was the one thing he could enjoy while he was with the fair. The sky was so clear, he could see every star. He would look at them and make pictures from them. He would sometimes even make up stories for them. It was like watching a play. Being on top of a castle, he felt closer to them. He wished he could reach out and grab one to keep with him forever. Quasi's life was changing and he was hoping with was for the better.