Hours had passed, evening was falling outside and the rain hadn't broke once. It was getting exceedingly dark in her room, caused by the clouds darkening the natural world outside, so she lit candles around her room for adequate light. Esmeralda had put what she had seen earlier aside and busied herself with some long awaited sewing projects she had put off for far too long. She had found a comfortable spot at the foot of her bed and was in deep concentration. Her sewing materials were strewn all around her. She had one of her skirts in her lap, trying to tie a new knot in the thread with nimble fingers at the hem. She leaned in closer almost cross eyed, needle in between her teeth, she was just about to conquer the loop, when she was startled at a loud knocking at her door. The thread slipped from her fingers and she growled inwardly with irritation, she removed the needle from her teeth and called out once she heard the rapping again.

"Rrrr…Coming!"

She set her skirt aside, jumped from the bed and swiftly padded to her door. As she opened her door, she was met by none other than Frollo himself. She couldn't help but jump out of her skin a bit. Even though she was used to his overall presence, he still made her jump upon being greeted in an unexpected manner. His stature was always looming, his posture was naturally militant, their heights differed and she kind of experienced a sort of shell shock on seeing him in abrupt moments.

When she calmed, she studied the scene in front of her. Frollo was standing in between two servants holding shiny silver trays, with rounded lids and spotted two, thin, crystal glasses hanging upside down between Frollo's slender fingers. It seemed she was staring a bit too long, because she heard Frollo's purposeful throat clearing. She broke away and met his eyes slightly abashed.

"Is this a bad time?" He asked innocently with a low even tone. He continued as apologetically as he could muster.

"I realize this is an unscheduled visit…I…wanted to…" He trailed off as he momentarily turned to indicate the servants waiting behind him and Esmeralda was quick to pick up on what he was aiming at and instead of making him struggle, she shook her head calmly and intercepted.

"Oh no, it's…its fine, come in." She moved out of the way to let them pass.

"Very well…" He simply stated and glided into the room. His help was right at his heels.

He instructed them to set the trays on her table, which sat directly in between her bed and the fireplace. Once the platters were in their place and the glasses were set by Frollo, both attendants bowed meekly and exited the room. They closed the doors softly behind them.

Frollo watched them leave, his back to Esmeralda. She just stood behind him, waiting as she stared at his prestigious backside and once again caught his sash flowing lazily in an unseen draft.

He eventually turned to face the table, his full side view visible. She could sense some nervousness from him, by his body language. She always knew he was nervous by how he would intertwine his fingers, cross and uncross his thumbs every millisecond. His shoulders were held back as usual and his chest was slightly heaving, while he took breaths through his nostrils. His behavior made her all the more confused. If he wasn't going to ease her curiosity soon, she was going to burst. She made the decision to make an inquiry, but treaded lightly.

"Sooooo…what's under the lids?" She asked and waited for a reply. He finally addressed her by turning to her. He reached into his robes and pulls out a simple scroll, it was rolled up and tied with a simple purple ribbon. He extended it to her, all the while saying nothing and giving none away by his stone face.

She took it with some reservation. Even though they had developed a secret, cordial understanding, she still knew how he was, how dangerous he was and how dangerous he still could be. Anything could be on that parchment. A million things ran through her head while she studied the paper. Was it her release? Or was it a sentence?

Why would he bring all this, if it was a sentence? She thought.

"What are you waiting for?" His voice cut through her like a blade. His voice wasn't threatening though, but it still made her physically jump out of her revere and soon after, another round of thunder and lightning struck outside.

Before she undid the ribbon, she looked up at him to find a hidden playfulness behind his dark chocolate eyes.

She pulled at the silk, it loosened and fell to the ground. It felt like an eternity while she unrolled the coiled holograph.

She began to read and Frollo decided to ease her mind with commentary.

"It's been one year to this very day…the pardon I set for your people."

"It has?" She questioned while rereading the document over and over.

"Indeed it has."

She broke away to see Frollo moving towards the table. She held her breath as he gripped one lid and lifted. The plate reveled the very strawberries she had seen through her window earlier that day.

She lifted her eyebrows in surprise at how large they were and ripe they looked. They seemed large enough for one berry to almost fill her whole hand. Next to the large bowl of strawberries was a smaller bowl of what she made out to be honey.

That must have been the amber contents in those jars. She thought to herself.

She strolled closer to the two bowls displayed before her, setting the small scroll on the table beside her. Frollo's eyes never left her movements, or her reaction, but he knew what question burned in her mind.

"How…?" She was cut off by his explanation.

"They're called Ever Bearing Strawberries. They are able to grow in any climate or weather pattern."

"Okay. So why, then?" She changed the subject tactfully, Frollo moved to the other tray and lifted the etched lid slowly.

"A celebration." He answered.

"A what?" She hadn't drew her attention away from Frollo long enough to notice the two green bottles sticking out from a tall, shiny tin full of ice. Not until Frollo lifted one out and the scratching of the ice diverted her bewildered state.

"I felt it was…appropriate to celebrate one year of the pardon. I also felt that it was important for you to see the legality through a document of your own. Signed and dated, by myself…" Frollo trailed off as he felt Esmeralda take the bottles base out of his hand. He would have scolded her for her lack of manners, but he decided to let it go as she read the label.

"Ayala?" She enunciated and looked up at Frollo to see his reaction on if she may have butchered the name. He didn't react either way, he just continued.

"Yes, Champaign." He informed her. "It's Vintage, a premium label…Grande Cuvée…" As she kept her eyes on the bottle, he couldn't help but steal glimpses of her small reactions of surprise. He kept his ever boiling excitement in check, but it was slightly deflated with Esmeralda's next question.

"Are you okay?" She asked abruptly. Frollo was taken aback, but answered as calmly as he could.

"I'm well, why do you ask?"

"Well, what I mean is…this isn't like you." She tried to meet his eyes, having caught the slight wounded look he gave, but Frollo nodded almost solemnly with agreement and avoided her connection.

"Yes, I do understand that this is…unconventional…" Still avoiding her gaze, he continued, keeping his eyes glued to the elegance of the trays.

"But I figured it would be in better interest to come with good favor…" He gestured to the table. "Than just presenting you with a simple document. It is a mile stone for all involved after all, wouldn't you say?" He met her eyes briefly and gave a weak grin before darting to the table once again. He continued to fidget with his thumbs, as his hands stay clasped behind his back.

Esmeralda took a minute, still holding the half cold, half warming bottle. She watched him secretly out of the corner of her eye and couldn't help but feel almost bad for him on how she was acting. So, she decided to end the conversation with her own simple endorsement.

"Okay." She stated.

Her consent surprised him and he looked at her in astonishment. It was so unlike her to dismiss something like this so quickly.

"Let's do this." She urged.

Frollo stayed silent as she started ripping at the thin gold foil at the top of the campaign bottle. Once she broke through, she unwound the flimsy metal keeping the cork in place. With some work of her thumb, the cork popped and bubbles overflowed.

"Haha! Opps!" Esmeralda chuckled and Frollo grabbed a white linen towel with hast and handed it to her. She haphazardly cleaned the small puddle on the floor and wrapping it around the bottle. She brought it to the two translucent glasses, poured the light gold contents into both with ease and minding over flow by watching the head of the Champaign ascend to the rim of each glass, let rest and disappear.

They both watched the bubbles rise in an endless abundance, while Esmeralda set the bottle back into its place, surrounded by half melted ice. She carefully picked up one glass and offered it to Frollo. But as he was reaching for it, she hesitated and moved the glass out of his reach.

"Hold on, are you allowed to even drink any other alcohol, I mean, other than wine? Isn't it against the rules for you guys, or something?"

Once his leading irritation quelled, he was truly and genuinely impressed. He was even flattered that she would think of him, referencing any possible consequence that this could bring to his rectitude. Of course, he harbored all of this and kept a straight face. He was invariably afraid she could see the reaction in his eyes every time an incident arose. She had a knack for reading people, even him and it was a quiet confrontation that left him too open.

He reached up to remove his chaperone and discarded it in a nearby chair and softly spoke.

"That is only for priests. They label me a minister yes, but that is mostly out of my credentials of being an educator. My rank is exclusive to a judicial jurisdiction. My duties are vindicating the laws. My…resolve however, is the strength god has granted me, but my position falls under government and not religious tradition."

Esmeralda raised her eyebrows at the protracted response, but reacted by nodding her head towards him.

"And, what about that?"

Frollo followed her gaze, he looked down at himself and looked back up, feeling slightly exposed.

"W…What?"

"The collar." She revealed.

"Oh yes…" He traced his fingers along the edge of the card like material, trailed around the back and unsnapped it somewhere concealed. He did this while clarifying.

"As an educator, I have an extensive knowledge of all sorts of subjects…." The collar loosened, he lifted it to reveal a section that was tucked under the top of his amice. He lowered it between two fingers and examined it with no real depth as he explained on.

"…Including theological studies. This…." He held the collar up for Esmeralda to witness. "…Is merely a formality of the church." He ended by laying it on top of his lone chaperone. He finally straightened and met her eyes waiting patiently for her to counter.

"Okay, I'm just making sure." She lifted the glass in approval and he took it without reserve. He was unable to dodge touching her fingers in the process and in his mind's core, he couldn't help but lock away how soft her skin felt. He ignored it as much as he could, thanked her and tried to empathize with her worry for him in a nonchalant manner. All the while his skin tingled by her phantom touch.

"It's completely understandable." He gave a small smile and she moved on to the festivities.

"Alright then. Shall we toast?" Esmeralda hoisted her own glass.

In agreement, he nodded and did the same. Esmeralda found his eyes and smiled, then spoke the only word that was fitting for this occasion.

"To diplomacy?" She searched his face and his smile widened.

"To diplomacy." He agreed. He mirrored her movement and their glasses tinkled in the ceremonious custom that followed celebrations commencing from day one and they took their first sips.

"Mmmmm…it's sweet. A nice one for desserts." Esmeralda took another swig. " You did well."

Frollo made a hidden face. He wasn't too keen on sweeter beverages. He preferred the most bitter of wines, but he swallowed, nodded and responded with a tight throat.

"It's...something." He cleared his throat and Esmeralda gave him a playful, and sardonic look.

"What?" He noticed this and became self-aware of his facial expression and he tried to clean his face of any emotion.

"You don't care for sweets do you?" She probed.

"Not all sweets, just certain drinks is all." He defended himself.

"Why did you choose this one then?" She presses on innocently.

"Is this a game of twenty questions? Or are we going to continue?" His voice hardened.

Esmeralda froze at his change in mood. She could tell she was starting to irk him the wrong way. She wasn't trying to ruffle his feathers, or make him feel like he was the center of any mockery. She needed to remind herself of what kind of man Frollo was. He wasn't a man that was playful, or a man that was light hearted, or a man that took things jokingly. She should have known that all these questions would lead to him thinking she was secretly interrogating him. So, she just turned her attention to the bowl of strawberries and decided to keep things as light as possible.

"Absolutely, we can." But as she was focusing on the ripe berries, she let out a chuckle, which made Frollo snap his head her way and give a look of resentment.

"What's wrong?" His defenses heightening by the minute.

"Oh, nothing, I'm just amazed at how large these strawberries are…" She smiled and then shifted her ogling to the honey.

"…And I've never had honey before either. It seems almost comical, but we gypsies could never afford it, or make it ourselves." She gave him a side glance and she could see his look of contempt soften.

"Is that right?" His voice was softer and his look turned into something Esmeralda described as almost guilt. She could sense that he might see her last comment nothing but a stab at his willingness to keep her people below the standard of living. The truth was, she was beyond the biting remarks and felt that they were no longer needed. The past was the past, no one could change it, all there was…was the present and future. Obviously, he was attempting to amend things and remind her that he hadn't forgotten. So, she took the opportunity to show him her excitement on experiencing something new.

"But, now I get to right?" She said in a light hearted voice.

"Indeed." He answered cheering a bit.

With that Esmeralda wasted no time in taking one of the huge strawberries and carefully dipping it into the honey. She waited until the honey stopped dripping freely from the berry and her hand made a mad dash to her mouth. She bit into the fruit, while making pleasing little sounds.

Frollo just gawked at her, while she enjoyed her first occurrence. He put away every small expression, every detail of her dark lips rounding the redness of the strawberry. Imagining her tongue mingling with the bitter sweet honey, while tasting the tang of the fruit. His jaw hung open a bit too long and he had to catch himself. He closed his mouth and the only thing he could think to do was quickly grab his glass and down the rest of the sweet drink of his Champaign.

Half way through her chewing, she watched Frollo do this and slowed her jaw. This was accompanied with a dumbfounded look.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

Frollo inhaled and exhaled from the breathless intake of the sweet drink "I'm alright…" in the same breath, he quickly grabbed the bottle of Champaign and poured a new glass. The tip of the bottle tapping the edge of his glass loudly.

Esmeralda swallowed the remainder of her food and watched him gulp his second glass down.

"Whoa! Are you trying to out drink me by cheating?" She said in a flippant challenging voice.

Letting the alcohol calm his nerves, he actually came back with a retort that left Esmeralda speechless.

"I wouldn't think of it, I would surely be bested."

She couldn't do anything but look at him stunned. Once she found her voice, she retaliates sportive.

"You better believe it buddy. I've gone up against Clopin and his gang." She looked up to reflect. "I don't remember any of those occurrences, but…." She was cut off by his laughter. The vibration of his heavy laugh jarred her. She wasn't used to hearing a full laugh escape his lips. Low chuckles were the only sounds that he ever mustered in all their sessions together.

Eventually her laugh followed his. Both were still aware of the changing mood and both were still trying to get used to being in a room with each other. Trying to be something to each other, that didn't involve being at each other's throat. It was getting easier, but Esmeralda for one, was kind of relieved that alcohol was in the equation, maybe just at the beginning.

After a long while of watching Frollo eat his second strawberry and her downing her second glass of Champaign, Esmeralda got an idea and broke the silence.

"Wait here." She demanded, holding her index finger up as she moved.

Frollo stayed silent, his glass at his lips, as he watched her move to her bed and clear her sewing materials. She scooped up her blanket in her arms and briskly walked back to him.

She laid out the blanket on the floor and in front of the table, she picked up the tray holding the bottles and carefully set it in the middle of the laid out blanket. Then carried the other that the strawberries occupied. She grabbed her glass, lowered herself and motioned Frollo to do so as well.

"Come on."

With hesitation, he looked around the room briefly, checking to see if the coast as clear to engage in such a leisure act. He cautiously lowered himself, on his knees and Esmeralda went on.

"I just figured it would be nice to continue in a more comfortable setting."

He continued to scan the room as he spoke uneasy.

"Very well."

"Does this make you uncomfortable? I know it's not as formal as it usually is." She asked with growing concern.

As his eyes made their way toward her, he met them, her look of concern eased him a bit and he shook off any lingering effects.

"I'm quite alright." He assured her as he adjusted his position and let out a sigh that reminded Esmeralda of actual steam being released and the pressure finally dispersing. It was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard from him and hoped it was the beginning of him being able to just be present.

They locked eyes and for the first time, both looked at each other with a new growing adoration. Weeks ago, neither would have believed this moment. It would have been laughable, but there they were, sitting across from each other on the floor of her room, drinking, eating and laughing.

Esmeralda grabbed the first, almost empty bottle, filled both glasses once more and asks enthusiastically as she poured.

"So, what should be talk about?"


A/N Another cliffhanger I know. I'm getting good at those. *Dodges various random objects being thrown at head* I promise next chapter will more than make up for it.