Chapter 46: The Dilemma

It was a full minute before they broke the kiss. At that point, they looked at each other silently. Both of them were in shock and afraid to speak, not wanting to acknowledge the moment with the wrong words.

Claude was becoming concerned. He'd thought Esmeralda would have something to say after kissing him, perhaps that she'd changed her mind about wanting more than friendship with him. But there didn't seem to be a coherent thought in her mind. She looked just as bewildered as Claude was over the kiss, despite the fact that she had initiated it.

"Esmeralda..." Claude started.

He didn't know what to add to that. There were at least ten things that he wanted to say to her, but it was hard to determine what she needed to hear when she was so quiet.

Esmeralda blushed. She stumbled slightly away from Claude, frantically looking down and then back at his face.

"I..." She struggled. "...I'm sorry!"

Claude was hurt by those words. Did Esmeralda regret kissing him?

"Why?" He asked with concern. "I loved that... Did you not?"

Esmeralda's eyes became wide and pleading.

"No!" Esmeralda practically yelled. "That's not what I mean! It was... Wonderful..."

Her tone was sincere. Claude was slightly relieved, but he struggled to see what the problem was. Esmeralda had clearly wanted to kiss him. Why was she second-guessing that choice now?

"Then what is wrong?" Claude asked.

Esmeralda looked down ashamedly.

"I'm... Confused." She replied. "I'm not sure what I want... And I shouldn't have done that to you..."

Claude understood. Esmeralda was struggling with her feelings about him, and she regretted the implication she'd made by kissing him. She was afraid to disappoint him if that implication was wrong. Claude was sad to realize it, but he didn't blame her for this.

"Esmeralda, it's alright..." Claude assured.

Esmeralda avoided looking at him. Her expression showed a mixture of stress, confusion, and shame.

"Honestly." Claude insisted.

He took her hands in his, which encouraged her to finally look at him. Esmeralda's anxious eyes met Claude's comforting ones.

"We can talk about this." Claude offered. "If you want to..."

Esmeralda wasn't sure if she should talk to Claude about this. She didn't want to say anything to upset him, but it occurred to her that it was likely too late for that now. And if she didn't make her thoughts more clear to him, Esmeralda worried that Claude would be left to assume something more upsetting than the truth. She needed to set the record straight.

"Okay..." Esmeralda finally agreed.

After all the drama that had already happened, the pair still had a long night ahead of them.


Quasimodo returned to the belltower in bliss. Elaine was at his side, and they cheerfully chatted about the evening's events. The bell ringer was still thrilled by the warm welcome he had been given, and Elaine was happy for him.

"That was so great!" Quasimodo said joyfully. "I can't believe everyone was so excited to see me!"

"Well, of course they were!" Elaine praised. "Who wouldn't be?"

Quasimodo looked down awkwardly.

"Well..." He struggled. "The last time I got that much attention... Let's just say it didn't end well."

"Oh..."

Elaine realized that something terrible must have happened. It was sad to think about, the idea of someone as sweet as Quasimodo not being treated well. Was that why he was known for staying in the belltower?

"But that won't bother me anymore." Quasimodo smiled. "I'm so happy. And I'm really glad you were there. It was great to know someone at the table."

Elaine slightly blushed.

"I've never really felt important before." She confessed.

Quasimodo was surprised. Elaine was a good friend who provided him with meaningful support. It was strange to think that she didn't feel important.

"You're important to me." Quasimodo informed.

Elaine blushed even harder.

"Thank you." She said with a grateful grin.

They smiled at each other silently for a moment, taking some time to appreciate one another. Quasimodo soon realized that Elaine should be making her way back downstairs, so he decided to offer a friendly parting gesture.

"Want a hug?" Quasimodo offered.

"Yes!" Elaine replied.

They hugged each other warmly.

Quasimodo was in a better mood than he'd experienced in weeks. He was extremely glad to have had such a good evening, and to have experienced it with Elaine, who had come into his life at the perfect time and kept him from feeling lonely. It was excellent to have a friend like her. Quasimodo was very grateful.

Elaine was extra blissful. Quasimodo was happy, and that made her happy. Moreover, he made her feel special, and being hugged added to that feeling. Elaine loved being held by Quasimodo's strong arms. It made her feel like she was being protected, like the sweet yet brawny bell ringer was guarding her. Elaine felt safe with Quasimodo. Safe and cared for. Being with him was something very pleasant.

"I'll see you tomorrow!" Quasimodo said after letting go of her.

"I can't wait!" Elaine said excitedly.

Though Quasimodo didn't notice, Elaine went away with daydreaming eyes. The eyes of a girl who had a crush.


It was quiet inside the walls of the Palace of Justice. Claude had asked the guards to go for a walk as soon as he and Esmeralda had entered, so they were alone now. Still, it was hard to start a conversation.

"I don't know how to explain this." Esmeralda admitted, looking helpless.

"Take your time." Claude encouraged.

Esmeralda anxiously thought through everything that had occurred that day. She took a breath before attempting to talk about it.

"I realized some things today." She shared. "I realized that Phoebus isn't the one I want. And that's not just about him being rude. He and I... We're just too different. If we'd gotten to know each other sooner, I would have understood that..."

She looked at Claude with both admiration and stress.

"But you..." She started. "You know me, and you like me. I feel comfortable with you. You make me feel accepted..."

"You are more than accepted." Claude assured. "You are adored."

His words were firm, yet gentle. They made Esmeralda feel cared for. Claude had a tendency to make her feel that way. He'd done it powerfully just earlier, when he'd yelled at Phoebus for insulting her.

"Thank you for standing up for me." Esmeralda said sincerely.

"I would never let anyone disrespect you." Claude promised.

The last words of his outburst were especially strong in Esmeralda's memory.

"You told him he missed out..." She brought up.

Claude hesitated. Those words of his had been impulsive, and perhaps they were excessive. But he still couldn't say that he meant nothing by them.

"I meant it." Claude admitted. "I could not understand why he would pass up such a remarkable woman. And when he said those things about you..."

Claude closed his eyes in a scowl.

"...I was truly offended." He finished.

He opened his eyes and saw a somewhat surprised look on Esmeralda's face.

"I care very deeply for you, Esmeralda." Claude said sincerely.

Esmeralda looked at him emotionally.

"And I care very deeply for you." She returned.

She paused, gathering the courage to say what she wanted.

"You're always there for me." Esmeralda continued. "And I love that about you."

She looked at Claude with immense appreciation.

"I love a lot of things about you." She admitted. "And..."

She struggled. Although Esmeralda knew that her feelings were far from secret, it was hard for her to say exactly what she felt. She closed her eyes.

"And I have never wanted anyone so badly..."

Claude was stuck in a blank stare. It was no secret that Esmeralda had feelings for him, but he hadn't expected her to feel this passionately for him.

Esmeralda opened her eyes.

"But..." She started. "Things are complicated... And I don't know if I can handle being... A real couple."

A real couple... Those words had such significance. Being married had not made Claude and Esmeralda a couple, except in the eyes of the law. They'd had a brief sexual relationship, then an awkward companionship, and finally a friendship. But they'd never had a romantic relationship. They had never been a real couple.

"I want to." Esmeralda reminded. "I just don't know..."

Claude suddenly put his hands on her shoulders, prompting her to look him in the eye.

"You don't have to decide right now." He assured.

Esmeralda couldn't believe Claude's patience. He never ceased to amaze her like this.

She'd been restraining herself from touching him. But now she stopped, letting her arms start to wrap around him. She unknowingly drew closer to him, and he responded by coming closer to her. Their faces were soon mere inches apart.

Then they stopped, locking eyes intensely.

Esmeralda's eyes were full of fear and desire. As badly as she wanted the man in front of her, she was afraid of letting him down.

Claude saw that she was struggling, though he wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Do you want to kiss me?" He asked.

"I really do..." Esmeralda replied anxiously.

"Then you may." Claude granted. "If you want me, you can have me."

"I do..." Esmeralda repeated. "But I don't want to hurt you... If I kiss you and then realize I can't be with you..."

She trailed off, but Claude fully understood what she was saying, and he was not afraid.

"I will not expect anything." He promised. "I have never expected you to feel anything for me. Your friendship alone is far more than I deserve, and it will always be enough for me. As I said before, what we have will not change. Should you love me tonight and leave me tomorrow, I will understand. I will still be happy to be your friend, and I will not be angry in the least. I will only be glad that I was yours for a moment."

Claude remembered his original feelings about Esmeralda. He'd wanted her to be his, and his alone. But now, he didn't just want her to belong to him. He wanted to belong to her. Everything inside him wanted her, but only on the condition that she wanted him too.

She did. Esmeralda felt a passion for the man who had once been her enemy. To her, he was no longer the fearsome Judge Frollo. He was just Claude. Claude, who talked with her, laughed with her, taught her to read, held her when she cried, and supported her always. Esmeralda was now aware of how much Claude meant to her, and she urged to give her love to him.

And he was allowing it, even with the knowledge that this may be the only time.

"Claude..." Esmeralda exhaled. "Thank you..."

Claude slightly smiled.

"No need to thank me." He whispered.

Esmeralda reached her hand up to his face, touching him softly. She started to close the distance between them, and Claude leaned into her at the same time.

Their lips locked together, and they stayed like that for what seemed like an hour.