It was very likely he wouldn't even be there. And yet Celeste found herself, again, walking the lonely streets of Paris at night with the cloak she had finished stitching only a few hours ago folded in her arm. The air was still chilly as she tugged her own black cloak closer to her. The night was clear this time. As usual the cobbled streets were completely deserted. The moon laminated the few small lingering clouds and stars glimmered and glistened. Even if Clopin didn't show up Celeste was glad she went out to see the calming scene.

She stood at her usually spot by the bridge. She was strangely tired and let out a yawn, something a lady should never do. She had been waiting there for over two hours just indulging Paris's nocturnal sounds, sights and smells. 'Maybe I should just leave it here for him' she debated to herself. 'But someone could take it or it could get blown into the river. Should I wait until I see him again? No, I can't carry this around until then.' With a last glance at the sky and at the cathedral Celeste sighed. 'I suppose I shall try another night.'

She shifted her feet to head back down the bridge and towards home. "Bonjour mademoiselle." Celeste jumped at the familiar voice and muffled her shriek somehow. She turned around to see a mask less Clopin casually sitting against the end of the bridge atop the wall, one purple slippered foot dangling on the side, the other up so this elbow could rest on it and his cheek lay in his palm, smirking at her with a dreamy face.

"What a cruel trick monsieur." Celeste caught her breath. "What possessed you to do such a thing?" she frowned at him.

"I apologize. I only wished for you to know I was here. You were waiting for me after all, no?" She stiffened and blushed.

"I came to return this to you. That is all." She extended the arm with the cloak folded over it. Clopin jumped back on his hands almost to a handstand but elegantly pushed himself off and landed on the ground as softly as a cat. She was taken aback as he strutted over to her and took the cloak. Upon feeling the itchy yet cozy fabric leave her arm she felt certain emptiness, as if a part of something she held dear to her had been taken from her, but she couldn't understand why.

He held up the cloak and examined the patchwork. "I see you fixed it up for me. And here I believed us to be even."

"We were, but then you told me that tale of the gypsies and the war, so I owed you again. But this is where is ends. Logic says we never need to cross paths after this." She hoped she had put together all loose ends loud and clear.

He threw on the cloak and adjusted it. "That would make me very sad, to never see you again." He stepped closer.

Celeste was at a lost for words. Here Clopin said he wanted to see her again and was getting closer. Her heart was pounding and she felt her blood rush to her face. What was happening to her? Why did this always happen when she was so close to that smile?

"Wah-what to you mean monsieur?"

"Won't you please call me Clopin?" He came even closer so there was only a small space between them. He leaned forward. Celeste couldn't move. She found herself trapped in that gaze of his, those entrancing black eyes and that sly smile that could see right threw you. The whole thing was strangely pleasing. She couldn't quite place why she felt this way. So many factors seemed to go into it. Here she was, at her favorite place between heaven and earth, at some ungodly hour in the morning with a man who has saved her life and seemed to be affecting it with every time they met. He has made her rethink everything she had once believed. How could he, a gypsy effect her so much? It seemed for this reason she should hate him, and for the longest time she was sure she had. But suddenly, it seemed like she owed him more then a patched up cloak.

"Clopin..." she found herself whispering on his request. The quiet and solitude that at possessed the streets every time she had been there suddenly shattered with the yell of a guard.

"You two!" It came from behind her. She wiped her head around to see a patrolling guard. Her heart began to race in panic. "Gypsies! What are you doing out here? You're under arrest."

She tried to gasped, but before she could Clopin's gloved hand was tightly around her wrist. "Looks like we were caught. Let's go!" He said, still smirking. Before Celeste's mind had time to agree with her, she found herself being dragged by Clopin over the bridge and dashing around the corner of the church with a guard screaming after them.

Celeste only could mindless fallow wherever Clopin was taking her. She only looked up at him, only seeing his hat with the large feather covering the back of his head. She realized this is the first time she would be with Clopin outside of the city square. It didn't matter to her where she was going. She felt like she was being trapped again. Being chased by a guard like her father, or fallowing a gypsy. But she didn't want to think about that harder decision. Right now, she felt she would fallow Clopin wherever he would go. It was like an escape, an escape from all the horrible events currently plaguing her life. It was as if Clopin was saving her again that night.

The guard continued to scream from behind them. It only hit her then that that could be caught. What would her family say if she was arrest with a gypsy late at night? Panic filled her again. What will they do? Where could they hide? They seemed to be sticking around the perimeter of the church. They rounded another corner and there was a gate that lead into a small courtyard. Clopin opened it and they dashed in a hide behind the wall to catch their breath. If the guard found them, they were at a dead end. Celeste looked up at Clopin who was now looking around for a solution with an expressionless face. He seemed worried now too. The guard was surely getting closer, but there was nowhere to go.

A low whispering voice came from nowhere. "Quickly! This way!" The two looked around the courtyard. Hidden in the corner a dim light was spilling out of a door into the church. A short but large shadowy figured held the door open. When it saw they had seen it, it disappeared inside. They only hesitated for a moment until the heard the guard yelling again and they ran to their savior.

Clopin shut the door. It was very warm inside. It looked like the back of the church. There were only wooden beams and a narrow staircase that was brightly lit leading up.

The voice came again. "Up here." They looked up. It was surly a man. He was crouching on a beam high above them. How did he get up there so fast. "This way." He signaled them before swinging out of sight, jumping from beam to beam, going higher and higher. Seeing no other choice, Clopin and Celeste headed up the stairs.

They were silent the whole way up at a loss for words. Both were still rather confused. But Celeste felt certain she knew who this was. A stout man who wouldn't stay in sight for very long, who could swing from beams and knew his way around the church. It had to be the bell ringer. But why would he help them? Celeste felt somewhat scared again. She didn't know why she felt this way around the hunchback but she found herself moving closer to Clopin. He saw this and put his arm around her. It made her feel strangely safe.

They did eventually reach the top of the stairs. Celeste gasped. The space was brightly lit even though it was late at night. The many candles reflected off the bells making even more lights. It seemed clear they were at the top of the bell tower of the cathedral Notre Dame. It seemed they had claimed up multiple stairs, looking up the tower still went higher. Among all the wooden beams were more and more brass bells. All the beams needed to keep the tower up took up most of the room but there was still a vast amount of space.

At the end of the room was the front of the cathedral. There was a large open window looking out at Paris. In front of it was a table with something on it. Celeste and Clopin walked forward together. There was a miniature hand carved model of the city along with some citizens. Celeste could not believe how truly magical the cathedral was both in and out, even in places she didn't expect.

"You shall be safe here until the guards have gone." Their savior mysteriously reappeared. The sudden voice made Celeste jolt and grab Clopin tightly for a moment. Up in the rafters was a misshapen shadow gracefully swung down to the floor only to still hide in the shadows. "Leave when you're ready." he said shyly. He began to retreat further into the shadows until she stopped him and stepped away from Clopin. "Wait!" The figure stopped. "You're the bell ringer, Quasimodo, are you not?" He fiddled with her large hands nervously.

"Y-yes."

She thought she had something to say but now she went blank. "H-how did you know to help us?"

He sounded even more nervous. "Well I-I um, I watch you two. Every night. From the tower, on the bridge. I saw them chase you." Celeste turned to the window that looked out over Paris. The bridge was indeed clear visible. As she turned back to Quasimodo she bumped into the table and knocked two unpainted figures over. She reached for them to put them right side up. She gazed at the first figure. It was a hand carved version of her. The other one was Clopin, hat, mask and all. They were so beautiful they almost brought her to tears.

She went back to were he stood in the dark hiding his deformed face. She sincerely asked, "Won't you please come out? So I can thank you to your face?"

He hesitated. After he shuffled his feet for a moment, Quasimodo stepped into the candlelight. It was the first time Celeste got a perfect view of the famous face. He looked at her for a reaction. Mustering all her courage she swallowed her fear. Surprisingly it didn't take much force. She took her hands and grabbed one of his. Hers were much smaller and darker. She smiled at him. "Merci, Quasimodo." He wasn't able to say anything back. Clopin then came over. Celeste stepped aside and Clopin gave him and friendly handshake. "Thank you my friend." He patted him on the back making poor Quasi jolt forward. "We'll never forget this." Celeste chuckled.

Clopin took his place next to Celeste smiling. Quasi did a slight nervous bow but was clearly smiling proudly for what he had done. He started to turn away. Celeste stopped him again, "Quasimodo," he faced her again. "I must ask, why did you save us?"

"Well, I suppose I am rather intrigued by your relationship. When I watch you two on the bridge, it makes me happy. It's like Heaven's Light." Celeste was taken aback by his answer. Quasi smiled. He then climbed off up to the bells. She figured he had some work to do. Now she and Clopin were alone.

She walked over to the window again to gaze at the beautiful city. Clopin walked up next to her.

"Its so beautiful." she said in a dreamy voice.

"Paris; the city of love you know." Celeste turned to him quickly. His voice had startled her. She had not realized he was next to her. And he was close. She had never been so close to his handsome face. In the candle light all of his admirable featured showed brightly. It was strange. For the first time she felt awkward around Clopin. Her face felt hot and her stomach churned. The silence was so uncomfortable.

Clopin did a kind of hushed laugh, or more a sigh with a smile. "I am certain you weren't very fond of being chased and forced to hide in church. I am at fault for this." He avoided her eyes. Was he apologizing? Celeste had not once blamed him for this. She didn't even find herself upset about it. Clopin then slowly lifted his head. For once his face was not full of jest, but a look of affection in his dark eyes. "However, I am glad I am here with you."

Celeste was certain her face had a dark blush. She felt even hotter now and at a lost for words. His face looked so sincere. Celeste just then realized how taken she was by his face, his jesters, his character, and everything he did. She could never avoid him, and now she was sure she never wanted to be away from him. "Clopin..." she whispered.

There had been no need for a response. Clopin had now gotten closer to her face. Close enough that there lips had met. Celeste, never feeling happier, closed her eyes and was lost in the kiss over Paris, the city of love.

EEK! Its been too long! Explaination is on my author page. I hope this chapter is worth it! I think so, heh heh. A few things, one, on my author page i have some links to banners i made for my story. Also there is one of how i picture clopin rather then the disney-fied version. kinda the same but handsomer. not drawn by me. Lastly I need somewhat of a beta reader. I have two ideas for the ending, but i dunno which. so whoever does not mind the ending being spoiled, please leave a comment and i shall message you. Thanks! Hope you enjoyed! Finally got quasi in here. esmerelda and pheobus shall be back too!