Chapter 78: The Farewell

Quasimodo was almost reluctant to return to the cathedral in the morning, knowing that it wouldn't be long before his father had to leave on the important mission. But Claude assured him that they would see each other before then, so Quasimodo left after joining Claude and Esmeralda for breakfast and saying a fond goodbye to them. His time with them had been good, but he really did need to get back to the church to attend to his duties and, more importantly, to speak to Elaine.

He found Elaine right away and asked her to come upstairs with him. They ended up looking at each other awkwardly across the table, each nervous to begin the conversation.

"So... I thought about it..." Quasimodo started.

Elaine blushed with fear.

"And?..." She whispered.

Quasimodo looked down at the table, anxiously tapping the wood with his fingers.

"I could have fallen in love with you ages ago," He said regretfully. "if I hadn't been so afraid..."

"What do you mean?" Elaine asked.

"After I saw Esmeralda with Phoebus, I felt like an idiot. I thought it was stupid of me to ever hope she would be interested, that anyone would be interested. I was so sure no one could love a face like mine that I just gave up. I thought I'd have my heart broken again if I ever had feelings for anyone else, so I was too scared to think about you and I being together."

Quasimodo finally dared to look Elaine in the eye.

"But... When I did think about it..."

He started to smile.

"...I really liked the idea."

Elaine's unease instantly went away. A cheerful grin quickly rose in her face, making Quasimodo smile even more.

He reached over the table, taking her hands in his. They looked at each other with adoration.

"What should we do?" Elaine asked.

"We should talk." Quasimodo replied. "I never asked you enough about yourself. Why don't you tell me about the convent? And your family? Tell me everything! I want to know everything about you!"

Elaine believed she was the happiest girl in Paris that day.

Claude spent the day preparing for the journey. He spoke with the captain of the guard, who understood that he was to watch over the city and ensure that the soldiers were kept in line. Due to the breach that had previously taken place, Claude also lectured the palace guards about maintaining proper security, as well as reminding them that Esmeralda carried the same authority as him and was to be treated with respect.

Packing the things needed for the trip didn't take long, and sketching out a travel plan with Phoebus was simple enough. All that was left to do was emotionally prepare, and Claude planned to do that tonight by having dinner with Esmeralda and Quasimodo. They would have one more meal as a family before Claude had to leave.

The thought of the three of them being a family was still a very new thought, but Claude hadn't been able to disagree with Quasimodo when he'd used that word. That boy was his son in every way that mattered, and Esmeralda was close enough to both of them to be considered a family member. But if anything, Claude was a little surprised that Esmeralda seemed to take so well to this idea of being a family. He asked her about it when they went to the cathedral that night.

"I've honestly felt that way for a while." Esmeralda explained. "I mean, the reason Quasimodo said that is because I told him he could count me as a family member."

"I'm glad to know that." Claude said appreciatively. "I suppose I was only worried that... Never mind."

"What? You were worried about something?"

"Well, I just didn't want you to think you were merely considered family on account of..."

He struggled to say the word. It felt so filthy these days. But Esmeralda still understood.

"Oh..." She murmured, taking on an awkward tone.

Claude wished he'd kept his mouth shut. He hadn't meant to bring up the thing between them that shouldn't have happened, the marriage. Claude and Esmeralda certainly didn't think of themselves as being married. The fact that their wedding had happened in this very church was something they preferred not to acknowledge. It was an ugly memory, that forced disgrace of a marriage which was only still alive in the eyes of the law and the church. As far as Esmeralda and Claude were concerned, it was over. It was something better not to talk about.

"Well, I know it's not that." Esmeralda assured. "I know it's just because I'm loved."

She smiled. Claude smiled back.

He stopped her just as the approached the last of the stairs, slowly taking her hand and kissing it.

"You're very loved." Claude confirmed. "Never forget it."

They looked at each other lovingly for a moment before resuming the climb, shortly arriving in the belltower. They were welcomed by the sound of a cheerful laughter and quickly saw where it was coming from. Quasimodo and Elaine were having what looked like a very pleasant conversation.

"I hope we're not interrupting anything!" Claude said when he approached with Esmeralda.

Quasimodo looked up with a smile.

"Oh, hi!" He greeted. "I guess it's time for dinner."

"I suppose I should be going." Elaine suggested.

"You can join us if you want!" Esmeralda invited.

"Really?" Elaine asked. "I don't want to be a bother."

"I don't believe you are capable of that." Claude assured.

Elaine smiled widely.

The four of them sat down to dinner. It was a good meal, and they all enjoyed each other's company. They talked about some mundane matters before Esmeralda raised the topic that was on everyone's mind.

"You two seem happy." She said to Quasimodo and Elaine.

"Well, we had a good day." Quasimodo said happily.

"We've just been talking." Elaine shared in a jokingly suspicious tone.

"A lot." Quasimodo added.

They were holding hands under the table, but not in a secretive way. They evidently didn't intend to say what was going on, not because they wanted to hide it, but because it was so obvious that it didn't need to be said. They were conspicuously in love.

Esmeralda and Claude were both happy to see it. Quasimodo deserved someone to love, and Elaine was perfect for him.

"Nothing of interest, I see." Claude jested.

"Nothing at all!" Quasimodo joked in return.

"Well, it's wonderful to see you both happy before I leave." Claude said gladly.

"We should do this again when you're back." Esmeralda suggested. "Have dinner together, all four of us."

"Absolutely!" Elaine agreed. "This is so much fun!"

"Indeed it is." Claude admitted. "In fact..."

He placed a bottle on the table and opened it.

"I'd like to make a toast." He said proudly, pouring some wine into glasses for everyone.

"What are we toasting to?" Quasimodo asked.

Claude held up his glass.

"To the best friends and family I could ever ask for." He announced.

Claude was pleased to see his three companions smiling as brightly as he currently was. They all raised their glasses and clinked them together, then sipped the beverage.

"This is the best wine I've ever tasted!" Elaine praised.

"Wow! It really is!" Quasimodo agreed.

"Specially made." Claude explained. "I bought it just for this evening."

"Claude, you shouldn't have!" Esmeralda insisted.

"Well, if you don't want it..." Claude said suspiciously.

Suddenly, he picked up Esmeralda's glass, took a sip from it, and put it down with a smirk. Esmeralda returned the smirk before taking Claude's glass and sipping from it. They both chuckled, looking at each other fondly.

They weren't aware of the way their eyes shined as they looked at each other, or just how intimate that shared laugh sounded.

"I think Jean deserves some of this expensive wine." Claude decided. "I'll thank him for his friendship as well."

"He'll appreciate that." Elaine approved.

Claude took the bottle and started away, down the stairs. It was only after he was gone that Esmeralda started to ponder the intimacy of that laugh, and the shine in hers and Claude's eyes when they'd looked at each other.

The Palace of Justice was hard to navigate in the dark, but Esmeralda had walked through it enough times to know where she was going.

She should be asleep by now, but sleep was the last thing she wanted at the moment. Claude was going away in the morning, and Esmeralda was unhappy with that fact. She was even unhappier than she'd been earlier, before that look she'd shared with him over dinner. Esmeralda couldn't get over the memory: Claude drinking from her glass, her drinking from his, that playful chuckle, the way they'd looked at each other...

They'd been trying to act normal, to behave like they weren't in love, but it wasn't working perfectly.

Esmeralda knew that the smartest thing to do was ignore this and keep trying to act normal, but that wasn't what she was doing now. She was looking for Claude in the middle of the night instead of going to bed like someone who wasn't bothered by him leaving for a few days. But this somehow felt necessary. Esmeralda felt that she would miss something if she didn't go to him now. She didn't know what it was, but it was far more interesting than sleep. Even if this was a bad idea. Even if seeing him would only further remind her that she loved him.

Light shone from under the door of the hall containing the fireplace. Esmeralda hesitated to enter, but soon cracked the door open quietly.

Claude was kneeling in the middle of the room, working on something with his hands.

"What are you doing?" Esmeralda asked, approaching slowly.

Claude looked up at the sound of her voice.

"Trying to figure out how to set up a tent." He explained.

Esmeralda saw that Claude was indeed struggling with a tent. Thankfully, that was something she had experience with.

"I can help." She offered.

Claude eagerly accepted Esmeralda's help. The process was quicker with her guidance, and soon the tent was set up perfectly. Claude was relieved. He'd wanted to figure this out before leaving so that Phoebus wouldn't mock him for not knowing how to put up a tent.

"Excellent!" Claude approved.

"We have to go inside!" Esmeralda instructed. "That's the fun part."

"Is it now?" Claude asked.

"Growing up, Clopin and I made a lot of tents just so we could hang out in them. It's very fun!"

Esmeralda went into the tent and sat down, motioning for Claude to join her. He followed, sitting next to her, where they both had a small view of the fireplace. Claude supposed there was something nice about being in a tent. It was as if the world was contained to the outside and a smaller, more private world was inside.

"It certainly is comfortable." Claude admitted.

"I didn't realize this was new to you." Esmeralda said curiously. "You said you hunted."

"I did. But I never stayed in tents."

"You never did mention hunting before. Why is that?"

Claude frowned.

"I can't quite call it a good memory." He shared. "It was a hobby I had for... Unfortunate reasons."

Esmeralda was hesitant to ask what those reasons were, not wanting to drag out bad memories. But Claude could tell from her silence that she was curious, so he started explaining anyway.

"I was in law school." He started. "Those were the days when I started to be ruthless. I was beginning to feel a need for power, something to make up for how weak I felt. Hunting animals was a convenient way to accomplish that."

His expression became guilty.

"I lost interest when I started hunting people." Claude elaborated. "I was appointed prosecutor almost immediately after law school. Not long after that I was a judge. That power was like the finest wine to me. I was so drunk on it..."

The regret in his voice was haunting. Esmeralda quickly sought to comfort him.

"You're not like that anymore." She reminded. "You're good. You're selfless! You've been working so hard to make things right, and everyone is amazed! You've fixed nearly-"

The passion was lost with the word "nearly". Esmeralda trailed off.

"Everything..." She slowly finished.

Perhaps that sentence would have been better unfinished. The fact that not everything was fixed was a cold and upsetting fact. Esmeralda saw in Claude's eyes that he was saddened by it.

"Claude," She started again. "I-"

"No." Claude interrupted. "I won't let you apologize for that."

He held his hand up to Esmeralda's cheek, looking into her eyes.

"You are lovely." Claude told her. "Noble. Kind. Kinder than I ever believed anyone could be... And I know you would forgive everything if you were able."

Esmeralda felt tears rush to her eyes. She wished that conflicting emotions didn't trouble her, that she could look at the man she loved without also seeing the man who had taken her from her friends. Anger and affection clashed. She did want to forgive him, but she was constantly reminded of the way things were when she went outside and saw that she was the only one of her people in the whole city. That reminder was both devastating and infuriating, no matter how badly she wanted those feelings to go away. And she did want that.

"I would..." Esmeralda confirmed, tears beginning to fall.

Claude wiped them away before taking her in a deep embrace.

"I'm sorry." He told her. "I can never say that enough times... I'm sorry I've put you in this position."

Esmeralda didn't speak. She just held onto Claude, letting her eyes dry on his shoulder.

His hand moved over her back soothingly. She'd almost forgotten just how pleasant his touch could be. Nothing could make her feel as warm and cared for as being held by him like this.

He kissed her cheek after they let go of each other.

"I'll miss you these next few days." Claude said softly.

"I'll miss you too..." Esmeralda returned.

She couldn't take her eyes off of him. That kiss on the cheek didn't feel like enough, but Esmeralda was afraid to ask for more. All she seemed to be able to do was stare, wishing hopelessly that Claude would kiss her lips.

"What is it?" Claude asked, sensing that Esmeralda wasn't saying something.

"I just really want to kiss you..." Esmeralda replied weakly. "But..."

Claude eyed her quietly. He hadn't expected her to seek another kiss from him after the disaster that had come from their last kiss. The circumstances were quite different now, but it was still easy to see why Esmeralda was hesitant to ask for a kiss. She'd already chosen not to pursue any kind of romance with Claude, and kissing was sure to imply a relationship they didn't have.

Then again, tomorrow would bring a difficult parting. While Esmeralda didn't know it, the journey was going to be a dangerous one. And although Claude didn't doubt that he would make it back alive, being hurt was a real possibility. It made him want to kiss her before he left. But that would have to be her choice.

"I am at your call and command..." Claude whispered. "to kiss when you please."

Esmeralda barely smiled when she recognized his words. He was quoting Sir Gawain.

"You thought that was stupid." Esmeralda reminded.

"I did." Claude admitted with a slight smirk. "That won't stop me from repeating the words if they are useful."

Esmeralda looked down at the floor.

"But you're not a knight, and I'm not a lady."

"You are as far as I'm concerned."

Claude dragged his fingertips over Esmeralda's cheek, inviting her to look at him, which she did.

"But regardless of that," He said firmly. "my original offer remains. If you want me, just for a moment, you may have me. I will expect nothing more, I will only cherish the moment."

Esmeralda wanted that moment. Even if she didn't feel free to love Claude, even if she never did, she wanted that moment.

She touched his face, just as he was touching hers. Their eyes met intensely. Esmeralda started to lean toward Claude, who leaned toward her in return.

Their lips barely touched at first, but the kiss soon deepened as they became comfortable. They held each other tightly while they kissed, not wanting to let go.

When it stopped, they still didn't let go. Esmeralda's hands moved over Claude, feeling the outline of that muscular form that she found so attractive. He let out a relaxed exhale while she touched him, letting his own hands drift as well. Esmeralda couldn't ignore the desire she felt when her fingers found their way under the neckline of his tunic, starting to feel the skin underneath.

She stopped. Claude looked at her confusedly, hoping that she wasn't suddenly feeling guilty for this. But the look on her face wasn't one of guilt. She was looking at him with longing eyes.

"I think... We should take this to the bedroom." Esmeralda managed.

Claude was excited by the idea, but he still worried that she wasn't certain. He didn't want her to regret this.

"You're sure?" He asked.

"Yes." Esmeralda confirmed.

As if to prove it, she kissed him again. Her lips moved against his passionately, so Claude eagerly returned the passion.

He carried her out of the tent, journeying through the hallway to his room, where he laid her down on the bed and continued to kiss her.

Their clothes quickly came off. Their hands traveled all over each other. It all happened speedily, up until Claude stopped and slowly lowered himself downward, laying his head on Esmeralda's naked chest. He listened to her heartbeat, just as he had done on the night when he'd nearly lost her. Claude couldn't get over how grateful he was that she'd survived. He lay like that for a moment, just taking in the feeling of her warmth.

He kissed the scar on her breast, then found the scar above her pelvis, the one caused by the stab, and kissed it too. Esmeralda immediately knew that the scar would always remind her of Claude, and she saw no issue with that.

Her hands traced over the scar that covered his chest, slowly moving up to his shoulders and over his arms, feeling his chiseled features. Claude leaned over Esmeralda until their bodies made close contact, kissing her with a growing intensity.

His hard shaft rubbed against her womanhood, sending a rush of excitement through her body. Esmeralda breathed loudly as she felt it, parting her legs to show that she wanted him in her. Claude did what she wanted, briefly positioning himself and pushing into her.

He made love to her passionately. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, inviting more of the sensation. This was more intense than their previous experiences, in the best possible way.

Esmeralda's grip on Claude tightened when she climaxed. She felt like she could hold onto him forever, but was soon reminded of the fact that she had to let go. The look on his face said it was time, so she reluctantly removed her limbs from him.

It wasn't a second too soon. Claude barely managed to pull out of her, his seed spilling out almost immediately. He used a rag to wipe it away, but was surprised by a feeling of disappointment. For the first time, he realized he would have liked to finish inside her.

"What's wrong?" Esmeralda asked, noticing Claude's disappointed look.

"Nothing." He replied, starting to lie down next to her.

"Did you not like it?" Esmeralda asked worriedly.

"No, it's not that." Claude assured, kissing her forehead. "I just realized... I didn't want to end it that way."

"Neither did I..." Esmeralda confessed.

Claude looked at her curiously.

"For the feeling?" He asked. "Or for what would come after it?"

"Both." Esmeralda replied. "What about you?"

Claude considered it. He could imagine how it would feel to finish inside her. The sensation and the intimacy of it were inviting. But when it came to the likely aftermath...

It surprisingly occurred to Claude that he was even more interested in that part.

"Both." He said sincerely.

Their eyes met with fascination while they lay side by side. This was a conversation they hadn't been expecting.

"You really want that?" Esmeralda asked.

"I never thought I would," Claude began. "but that was before I had you."

Esmeralda took a moment to ponder the matter. She knew what to plan for right now. It certainly wasn't the time to attempt to have children, but for some reason they were talking about it.

"I wish we could..." She sighed. "But..."

She didn't need to finish. Claude knew exactly what she was thinking, that she would have easily let him impregnate her if things were better between them, but that it simply wasn't reasonable at a time like this.

"I know." Claude told her. "I'd expect nothing else."

Of course he didn't expect her to bear his children under these circumstances, however nice the thought may be. What amazed him was that nothing aside from Esmeralda's opinion on the matter would have prevented him from having children with her. Not even his fears of being a bad parent would have stopped him, not when Esmeralda made him feel so much more capable of handling it. He'd never felt that way about any woman before. Even if he'd happened to want children in the past (which he hadn't prior to learning appreciation for Quasimodo) it would have been unthinkable before meeting Esmeralda. He'd never before had the love for a woman to be willing to make her a mother. But now that he had that, it wasn't possible. At a time like this, it wouldn't be fair to either of them, or the potential child.

Esmeralda looked like she wanted to apologize for not being able to do the things they both wanted, from simply lying together for more than a night to starting a family. But again, Claude showed that she didn't need to. He took her in his arms and reassured her.

"I understand." He promised. "And I love you regardless."

Esmeralda tightened her arms around him.

"I love you too." She returned.

Thanks for your patience! I hope you enjoyed this long chapter as a reward.