The days passed into weeks slowly, my wound closing up some. Because of the clown man's act of dressing my wound the first time, I teased him constantly with sayings like "That's probably the first time you've seen a woman naked, eh?" Of course it wasn't the truth but he would smirk and blush. According to Clopin, as long as I didn't make any sudden movements, the wound would heal completely with a faint scar. I told him I didn't mind the reminder since I got to tell the story of how I saved Kara.

Speaking of, we had both agreed that since I saved her life, she would never use the blackmail on me. Still, I promised myself that I would tell Clopin about my meetings before someone else told him first. He had been angry when he saw me in Claude's arms...I wondered faintly what his reaction would be to find out I had seen him many other times…

Nearly every moment I slept, I kept hearing Kara's promise about Frollo, "I swear I'll kill him…" It made me worry about Frollo. But as long as she stayed in the Court of Miracles, I told myself she wouldn't dare act upon it…yet.

It had been a week and odd days since Snow died in front of her older sister. I noticed that she stared at the hand that grasped her sister once…We both wondered what they did with the body. Did they give her a half ass funereal? Or just throw her into a pile of decaying bodies? Or worse, did they just leave her there?

Finally on that night, Clopin yanked me towards a small fire which was kept alive by Kara. Sitting down on the ground, I glanced between the two. Clopin kept glancing at the shy Kara while she imitated his actions, their faces turned pink when they caught themselves staring. Such children, I thought while silencing a snicker.

"So…Kara…first things first…tell us about your family and how you came to be here." I stated, snapping them both out of their thoughts. The fire crackled and hissed as if sensing the dark cloud hanging over her as well. In the firelight, her brown eyes glimmered with a light red but not quite pink. Her eyes intrigued my curiosity the most.

Bringing her long legs up to her chin, she wrapped her arms around them and stared into the flames. "…I was eleven years old when my mama died. Snow was eight and rejected by all, even our papa. One day when I walked into the house after school, I saw my mama lying in bed. I asked her something about my friends but she wouldn't reply. Frustrated, I finally ran over and shook her arm…her head tilted towards me and there lay a bloody smile on her face. Her beautiful eyes that had once shined with unconditional love were cold and…dead.

"My father would go to work and go straight to the bar after my mama's death. Through the next two years, I helped Snow and took up many chores around the house. I suppose in some twisted way, the death caused my sister and me to grow closer.

"On my thirteenth birthday, four guards came into our house. No, they were dressed as guards but they were really debt-collectors. Papa told me and Snow to hide under the bed. As I covered my baby sister's eyes, I saw my papa get beaten before me…he had gambled away everything. Later I found out that those men had come for us…he had sold me and Snow into slavery…but he hid us so he wasn't all that bad, right?"

Not waiting for an answer, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and continued, "The next few years were kind yet cruel. I sang for money while Snow helped around the village. Everyone loved to pick on her though…Her hair was white as…well, snow of course. As she grew older, she heard rumors that our mother had given birth to a demon; her. It boiled my blood to hear such things. One day she asked me if she really was a demon. I told her, I said, "Snow, you are blessed with white hair because you are an angel. Your red eyes are meant to test people of their ignorance and tolerance. Never think you are a demon because you are too nice and sweet to be so evil." She had smiled and hugged me.

A few weeks ago, I was singing in a tavern when I saw Snow being dragged off. Her screams for help, my help, was louder than the drunken fools I was entertaining. By the time I fought through the crowds, she was gone. So I dressed up as a boy and asked around. I had found out she was in the dungeons but…the soldiers saw my hair stick out and…well that's when you two came along."

Watching in jealousy as Clopin hugged her lightly, I felt…pity. I had lost my mother by murder as well as my father…but this girl…she had lost her mother to an illness and her father to debt-collectors…she and her sister nearly sold into slavery! Such a harsh life and yet…she didn't cave into the darkness. She fought for her sister…

I suddenly felt alone. Watching her face turn red, whether from the fires warmth or the warmth of Clopin's embrace, I felt a maddening amount of jealousy. Looking away, I felt the desire to punch, kick, and scream…

Not trusting myself, I slowly got up and walked outside into the graveyard. Through the years with Clopin, I had learned to be as silent and stealthy as a ninja. My bare feet made a light pattern as I traveled in and out of graveyard rows. It was February but the wind was still chilly and crisp. Inhaling it, I smiled at the hint of rain once again.

Jumping from tombstone to tombstone, I stood on top of a horse one. It was the grave of the old captain. Not my father but…Hmm…What had they done with his body? Second thought, I didn't want to know. Sitting on the horse carved stone, I let out a sigh.

How would I tell Clopin about my meetings? Just blurt it out? "Oh hey, Clopin, I've been talking to the Judge in secret several times. Apparently I'll be living with him in about; oh I don't know, two weeks? Oh well, have to go dance!"

Psh, that'd be a great conversation alright. Resting my head on the horse's mane, I closed my eyes and felt the sun's warmth sink away. The evening coldness nipped at my half naked body, gnawing cruelly until I shivered violently.

I felt an arm slither around my wrist, making me yelp and fall backwards. Just before slamming into the hard ground, the same arm caught me and pulled me up. It was Clopin. Glaring, I snapped, "You idiot, are you trying to injure me further?!" With that being said, I tried to punch his shoulder.

Quite calmly he grabbed my wrist before it connected to the yellow cloth covered flesh of his. Kissing my knuckles, he replied, "My apologizes for scaring you Lavender. However, I don't need to try to hurt you more since you've seemed to do a good job already. You could have fallen off that horse and broken your neck."

Giving the dullest glare I could manage, I questioned, "I could have broken my neck…I could have broken my neck? You're the one who scared the living sh…" He covered my mouth in an attempt to muffle the curse with his own lips. Surprised, I pulled away and looked at the ground, interested in a worm crawling to its home.

He brushed my jet black hair behind my ear, looking at my averted eyes, "What is wrong, Mon Cherie?" His voice was rough and thick with his accent. I always loved how with one word using that dark silk voice, he could make my soul melt.

The worm struggled over a small mountain of dirt. I realized I was like it, fighting be free and safe. Watching it, I strangely found the courage to start speaking. "Clopin…you'd care for me no matter what right? No matter what stupidity possessed me even for the briefest moment? You'd never kick me out of the Courts or hate me, right?"

His amused yet lustful gaze turned dead serious. "Why? What did you do, Lavender?"

Damn this was going to be a lot harder than I thought! Hesitating, I looked at him and bit my lip. The worm, I noted, had made it on top of the mountain. "I…I've been meeting Frollo at the church to discuss my father and his promise that I would marry him when I turned fifteen! And I also told him that I'd live with him for a while after two…more weeks." Blurting it out like that took a load off my shoulders and placed an even bigger one of me.

The worm slowly made its way down the dirt hill. Clopin's gaze was full of every emotion except anger. He stared at me for a minute and asked many questions. I quickly mentioned that father's bringing me here must mean he broke his word so there had to be some reason for it…so I wasn't planning to actually live with Claude until I found out why.

At first I thought that was it, Clopin was calm and understood it all. Boy was I wrong…

"What in the hell is wrong with you?! You've never kept secrets from me before! Frollo could have poisoned or locked you up when you went to see him!" Clopin's voices bounced off each stone, making his words repeat painfully.

I couldn't look him in the eye. Glancing at the worm, I saw it crawl quickly into its home…must have been terrified by Clopin as well. Lucky little insect didn't have to face him. "He could have but he didn't! We spoke nothing of the Court of Miracles, just my father and mother. You hit me when you first saw me and him, so excuse me for having reason for not telling you about this before."

Clopin stared at me in shock. Apparently he forgot how much teenagers could rebel. "That's why Kara and I went to the Palace. She had seen me and him…talk and blackmailed me." Okay, so that part could have gone without saying.

His eyes grew wider, "What?! She did what?! Lavender…How come you didn't tell me anything?!"

Sighing, I hung my head in shame, "Clopin I'm so sorry. I just…I didn't think you would understand and…I just wanted to find out about my father and mothers secrets without you."

Although he looked injured at this, his voice was hushed yet strong, "You could have asked me. What does the Judge know that I don't?"

Suddenly I felt a white hot fury consume me. Pulling out of his grasp, I glared, "Ask you? What could you have known about my father? You killed him, remember?! Claude knew nearly everything about my father! He's the one who told me that when I was five, I was promised to him. My father became captain because he swore my hand to the judge! Could you have told me that, Clopin? Perhaps he even knows who killed my mother!"

Clopin's eyes were full of rage, regret, and shame. "You want to know information about your parents?! Okay, how's this; your mother was ordered to death by your precious judge! He ordered the captain to kill her for, guess what, being a gypsy!"

I stared with my mouth agape, a new cold over me. Tears filled my eyes as I shook my head, "You lie!"

He grabbed my wrist and shouted, "I'm the King of Gypsies! It's my job to find out how my people die! That's why we put your father to death as soon as he got here! The only reason we didn't kill you was because I swore to your mother I'd protect you!"

I felt my head become light as a cloud, my vision blurring to make it seem as though there were triple Clopins. I didn't feel the tears fall from my eyes, I didn't feel his bruising grip loosen, I didn't even feel the pain and hatred I should have towards him.

Blindly, I pulled away and ran as much as my legs would carry me. I hadn't the slightest clue where I was going but I suppose my subconscious mind did. Looking up, I froze to see the Palace of Justice.

Trying to compose myself, I looked at my wardrobe. It screamed "Gypsy thief" for it was a long purple skirt with a black scarf around my waist, the green top low cut. Walking over to the two guards, I said in a serious cold tone, "You two, I need to speak to Claude Frollo immediately. It's life or death…" Ironically in this case it was life or death. If they killed me without Frollo knowing…

They looked at each other and laughed, "What makes you think we'd take a pretty girl like yourself in here?" I felt my face heat up. "Go home to your mommy, girl. Only criminals come here."

Ah so I had to commit a crime to see the Judge, eh? Smirking, I grabbed an apple from a fruit cart that passed us. Taking a bite, I chewed thoughtfully as the guards watched. Suddenly I flicked it at them, the apple slamming into the fat one's face. The one with the mustache frowned, "Alright, alright, come on!" Damn, they were letting me see the Judge. I was really hoping to do that again!

I paced back and forth near a window, waiting for "his grace." Realization hit me; I had just ran away from the Court of Miracles…Did that mean I was an outsider completely now? Was Clopin searching for me?

"What do you…Lavender?" Frollo's angry voice was blown away by surprise. "What are you doing here?"

When I turned to see him, I heard Clopin's harsh words about my mother. Putting on my best fake smile, I answered, "Hello to you dear Claude. My family and I fought, I fear. You said you had a room ready for me…is it alright if I stay here I mean?"

Frollo's sneer melted into a smile, his eyes…the eyes of a killer were soft and calming. Nodding, he turned and stated, "Follow me. Your room will be across from mine."

As I stepped behind him, I noticed that long red ribbon cloth on his hat floated in the air. Temptation called and won; I reached out and smacked the light colorful thing. It was so fun! Poking and grabbing it from the air, I jumped when Frollo turned and glared at me, the ribbon in my hand. Sheepishly grinning, I pointed at the cloth, "…Um…"

He raised an eyebrow, "Stop clawing it, Lavender, you look like a kitten. Now, this is your room." Pushing open the great wooden door, I stared in amazement; the bed was an actual bed with a cherry wood canopy. Next to it was a small nightstand decorated with flowers. Across from the bed was a dresser full of clothes already along with a mirror.

"It's…beautiful." I whispered, smiling. The judge grinned and kissed my cheek.

"If you need anything, my dear, don't hesitate to…" He started to say something before I interrupted him.

"Claude...I do need something…" My voice light as I stared at the room.

He asked, "Yes?"

Slowly, almost hesitant, I turned to him and questioned in a soft tone, "…How did my mother die, Claude?"

And that's it for this chapter! Next: Lavender finds out the truth from Claude. Was Clopin lying? Plus, romance is in the air! A few days after Lav stays with the Judge, she roams the market and sees Clopin in a puppet show. Guess what happens! Review please.