Chapter 8: The Envy

Esmeralda woke up to the sound of Claude groaning as he got dressed. It was still dark. The morning had barely begun, but Claude was preparing for another long day.

"Are you okay?" Esmeralda asked with a slight yawn.

"I will be." Claude sighed. "But I'll be awfully busy today. It will probably be late before I'm back."

Esmeralda frowned.

She wasn't a very needy person, but it was becoming harder every day to see so little of her husband. The worst part was that he was usually too exhausted when he returned to give her as much company as she wanted. He was at least consistent in showing up for dinner, but it sounded as if that wouldn't be the case tonight.

"Should I plan on having dinner without you?" Esmeralda asked.

"I think so." Claude replied sadly.

When he was finished dressing, he sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at Esmeralda.

"I'm sorry about this." Claude apologized. "I'm doing everything I can to change it."

"I know you are." Esmeralda assured. "I'll be fine. Just take of yourself, okay?"

Claude nodded before giving her a kiss and leaving.

Esmeralda tried to stay occupied throughout the day. She decided to visit Clopin and some other friends in the Court of Miracles, who were all happy to see her. Djali was especially excited, immediately greeting his human friend with loving headbutts. For a long time Esmeralda sat down talking to Clopin while petting Djali, feeling sorry that she hadn't done much of this recently. Clopin had recently taken most of the responsibility for caring for the goat, since Esmeralda had been feeling less than her best. Esmeralda wished that she could better communicate with Djali and explain why he wasn't getting much attention from her, but the goat didn't seem terribly bothered by not knowing. He enjoyed Esmeralda's company as much as ever, only showing how much he'd missed her by being a little more excited than usual. That was the great thing about animals, they loved you unconditionally if you were good to them, even if you were away for periods of time. It occurred to Esmeralda that she felt similar about Claude being away from her, she never blamed him for being too busy or felt less love for him because of his absence. She only wished that she could miss him without feeling robbed, the way Djali missed her. Djali only felt sad when Esmeralda wasn't with him, not depressed. But Esmeralda was beginning to feel depressed over how little she saw her husband. She wasn't mad at him, but the circumstances that kept him so busy were frustrating, and not seeing him much (while carrying his child of all times) was bringing her mood down more than she admitted.

But it was best to stay optimistic right now. Esmeralda knew that Claude was trying to find a way to spend more time with her, so she thought of that with hope. She also tried to distract herself as well as possible. Perhaps seeing some friends she hadn't spoken to in a while would cheer her up, so Esmeralda decided that a visit to Phoebus and Annette was overdue.

As it happened, Esmeralda and Claude had not spoken to Phoebus or Annette since returning from Italy. That wasn't purposeful, it was just that the couples lived very separate lives. They were friends, but not the kind of friends who needed to see each other regularly. They got together once or twice monthly, and occasionally Esmeralda spent time with Annette while their husbands went off hunting. That was all they really needed, since both couples were happily invested in their lives together and were satisfied just to catch up from time to time.

It had been a while since that had last happened, so Esmeralda expected that Phoebus and Annette would be happy to see her.

She was welcomed with pleasant greetings when she came to their house. The couple naturally asked about Claude, so Esmeralda explained the unfortunate situation.

"He's just so busy right now." She said sadly. "Trying to change the world and all."

"I'm sure you're proud of him for it." Annette said hopefully. "But that really does sound frustrating."

"Indeed." Phoebus agreed. "He'd better be making a little time for you."

Esmeralda chuckled.

Phoebus had lost romantic interest in her ages ago, but he'd never stopped being protective of her. He was almost brotherly in that way, reminding Esmeralda of Clopin.

"It's not his fault." She assured. "He really is spending as much time with me as he can, and he's trying to adjust his schedule. Today is just a longer day than most."

"And what does that mean?" Phoebus inquired.

"It means he won't be back until late tonight." Esmeralda explained. "After dinner."

"Have dinner with us, then!" Annette immediately suggested.

"Yeah, why don't you?" Phoebus agreed.

Esmeralda liked the idea. Dinner with Phoebus and Annette would be nice after not seeing them for so long, nice enough that it dulled the pain of missing Claude.

Dinner was good. Esmeralda enjoyed the distraction of Phoebus talking about his business, and she was interested when Annette spoke of volunteering part-time as a nurse to help a few local doctors. The couple seemed to be doing very well. Esmeralda started to think they might be happier right now than she and Claude were, but she tried not to focus on that so she wouldn't get sad at a perfectly nice moment.

"How's the family?" Phoebus eventually asked. "Is Quasimodo doing well? Clopin?"

Esmeralda smiled.

"Clopin is happy as always." She replied. "And Quasimodo is loving life in town."

"I've passed by his shop a few times." Annette shared. "He's so talented!"

"Definitely." Phoebus agreed. "Well, I'm glad everyone is doing well!"

The mention of family reminded Esmeralda of something she'd been meaning to share. Annette and Phoebus still hadn't heard about the baby.

"Claude and I have some good news!" She said with a rising grin. "I wish he was here to share it with me, but he won't mind me telling you."

Suddenly, Phoebus and Annette both looked at her silently, their expressions uncertain.

"What is it?" Phoebus asked.

"We're having a baby!" Esmeralda announced happily.

She expected Annette and Phoebus to look at her more excitedly after hearing that, but they didn't. Something was wrong. Esmeralda was used to Phoebus looking at her strangely due to some very awkward experiences they'd shared in the past, but this was a very cold expression for Annette. It didn't suit her.

After a few seconds, Annette started to smile in a way that was clearly forced.

"Congratulations." She said underwhelmingly. "That is... such good news."

She looked around at the empty plates on the table.

"Oh, I should clear these dishes away." Annette insisted. "Let me take care of that now!"

Esmeralda was shocked. Normally she would have helped to clean up after dinner, but Annette obviously didn't want her to. She was looking for an excuse to leave the room. This wasn't like her. What was going on?

After Annette hastily carried the dishes away, Phoebus sighed.

"Sorry..." He apologized.

"What was that about?" Esmeralda asked.

"We're glad you're having a baby." Phoebus assured. "It's just that... we can't."

Esmeralda immediately understood the problem. Phoebus seemed like someone who would want children, and so did Annette. If they weren't able to have any, it was only natural for them to be emotional over Esmeralda and Claude having what they wanted.

But was this certain? Phoebus and Annette had been married longer than Esmeralda and Claude, but only by months. It could take time for couples to have children even with consistent effort, so how could they already be so sure?

"Are you sure about that?" Esmeralda asked. "It can take a while..."

"The thing is," Phoebus started. "Annette couldn't have any children with her first husband either."

Esmeralda realized she hadn't considered this. She knew Annette had been married and widowed before, but she'd never questioned the absence of any children. But if Annette hadn't been able to have a child with her first husband, it was possible that she was equally unable to with Phoebus, or anyone else.

"We tried for months." Phoebus explained. "I guess we don't know for sure, but we really don't think it will happen..."

Esmeralda frowned with sympathy.

"I didn't know." She admitted. "I'm sorry about that..."

"I'm handling it." Phoebus assured. "It's disappointing for me, but I'll live with it. Annette is really upset, though..."

Esmeralda thought of how quick Annette had been to get away from her after hearing the news. Would this continue? Was the news that was so good for Claude and Esmeralda too painful for Annette and Phoebus to handle?

"But, we are happy for you." Phoebus insisted. "Congratulations."

He smiled, but Esmeralda could tell that Phoebus was only smiling to be polite.

The room was lit by a few candles. It was getting late. Esmeralda had already changed into a nightgown and climbed into bed, but she wanted to keep some light in the room until Claude was back. Besides, she didn't really feel like sleeping. Between missing Claude and receiving such a poor reaction to the news from Phoebus and Annette, there was too much on Esmeralda's mind.

She pulled the blankets tightly around her, a mere substitute for the touch she would soon be needing from Claude. The most comforting thing she could think of until then was the baby. Esmeralda tried to imagine being a mother. It was a lovely thought, the idea of soon having a child to love and hold. If only that time could come sooner, just to make her less lonely.

Finally, the bedroom door swung open and Claude came in hurriedly. Esmeralda sat up to look at him, expecting to see a tired and sorrowful face. But instead, Claude was approaching her with a smile.

"Hello, my dear." Claude greeted.

"You look happy." Esmeralda noticed. "What's going on?"

"It's all taken care of!" Claude announced proudly.

He stripped off his outer layers as he spoke, shedding his judicial robes.

"I've convinced everyone I needed to convince." Claude continued. "There will be no more of these absurd hours, and the conference will be held at a much more reasonable schedule!"

Down to his civilian clothes, Claude kicked off his shoes and went to sit on the edge of the bed.

"It means I will now have plenty of time for my lovely wife." He said gladly, taking Esmeralda's hands.

Esmeralda couldn't help smiling. This was the best thing she'd heard all day.

"That's great!" She exclaimed. "Claude, I'm so happy!"

"So am I." Claude returned with a wide smile. "I was hoping we might celebrate with a few kisses."

Esmeralda didn't need to be asked twice. She quickly scrambled out from under the sheets and moved toward Claude, climbing onto his lap. He gladly took her in his arms and started to kiss her. Their lips kept colliding passionately for a few minutes, until Claude finally broke the contact to look his wife in the eye.

"Now, didn't I say something about making it up to you?" He reminisced with a grin.

Esmeralda was ready to beg Claude to do just that, but a line of thought interrupted her. Life was already much better than it had been just that morning. Esmeralda couldn't believe that just earlier she'd thought Phoebus and Annette were happier than her and Claude. That wasn't the truth. Not even close to it.

"I'd like that." She replied. "But... could I talk to you about something first?"

Claude looked at her with concern.

"Of course." He replied.

Esmeralda reluctantly got off of her husband's lap, sitting next to him on the edge of the bed.

"I saw Phoebus and Annette today." She shared.

Claude looked puzzled, like he was trying to imagine what could be so bad about this. He and Esmeralda had been through a few awkward experiences involving Phoebus and Annette (mostly Phoebus), but those were in the past now. What could have possibly happened at this point, when amends were made and they were all friends?

"And something went wrong?" Claude asked confusedly.

"I told them about the baby." Esmeralda informed. "They were... not as happy as I thought they would be."

"What?!"

"Phoebus said they tried, and..."

Esmeralda could hardly believe she was relaying a story like this. It was a disappointment she hadn't expected at any point since she and Claude had first pursued having children.

She sadly shared all the details of the conversation, Claude listening in shock.

"Phoebus said they're both happy for us." Esmeralda acknowledged. "But I don't think they are..."

"I'm sorry it went this way." Claude said with sympathy. "I wish I'd been there."

"Maybe it's better that you weren't." Esmeralda suggested. "I didn't know what to do when they reacted that way. What are you supposed to do?"

She shook her head in helplessness.

"I do think they will get over this." Claude said hopefully. "I see why they envy us, but they must get used to the idea at some point."

"What if they don't?" Esmeralda asked. "What if they just can't handle us having what they don't?"

She didn't want to think about it, but she could imagine how upsetting it would be for a couple who wanted children to see their friends have that experience while they themselves could not. It was not an insignificant form of envy, perhaps even capable of hurting a friendship...

"Esmeralda..." Claude whispered, putting his arm around her. "You always want everyone to be happy, and I love that about you. But we cannot help it if others' lives are not as happy as ours, or if they are too jealous to be happy for us."

Esmeralda sighed. This didn't offer her much hope, but she knew Claude was right.

"Right..." She said sullenly.

"Take your own advice." Claude pleaded. "Try not to worry about what you can't control."

Esmeralda managed a nod.

"I guess I have to." She admitted. "I just wish there was something I could do. I wish it was easy to make everyone happy."

"Think more of what you are able to do." Claude suggested. "If it counts for anything, you make me very happy."

That did count for something. More than Claude could know.

Esmeralda started to smile again.

"That definitely counts." She admitted.

Being in love was a great feeling. Esmeralda took in the feeling of Claude's arm around her and his loving eyes gazing at her. It made her want to get back to the excitement she'd just backed out of. She wanted to properly and romantically get to bed with the man she loved, whose touch she had not experienced enough of in too long.

She leaned over, kissing him. Claude kissed her back, slowly at first, with the intensity growing after a few seconds.

Esmeralda smiled suggestively when the kiss stopped.

"Shall we get back to what we were doing?" She asked.

"As long as you're interested." Claude replied.

"I'm very interested!" Esmeralda confirmed. "I want to enjoy it while we can."

That second sentence had slipped out, and Esmeralda quickly questioned why she'd said it. Claude was now looking at her with a confused worry.

"While we can?" He repeated.

"I..." Esmeralda struggled. "I didn't mean..."

"I thought we agreed we weren't going to stop doing it..." Claude remembered.

"We're not!" Esmeralda assured. "I just... I'm worried it won't be as fun a few months from now..."

Claude quickly realized what she was implying.

"Darling," He said firmly, yet caringly. "I've told you I will not lose interest. Do you believe me?"

"I believe you." Esmeralda replied. "But... I'm not immune to being self conscious..."

She knew that most men, her husband included, were very attracted to her physique. And at a point, due to the natural effects of pregnancy, her body was going to visibly change from what it was now. Even though she trusted that Claude wouldn't care, Esmeralda couldn't help being a little afraid of the process. The thought of her husband losing attraction to her, even if she knew it wouldn't really happen, was a thought that made her nervous.

Claude put his hand on her thigh, gently caressing it. His other hand reached up to her face and stroked her cheek.

"I promise," He said softly. "if you ever forget how beautiful you are, I will tell you and adore you until you remember."

Claude kissed Esmeralda's temple. With that, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. There was nothing to worry about. Claude loved her, and he was always going to remind her of that.

"You love me, don't you?" Esmeralda joked, a smile crossing her face.

Claude chuckled.

"Very much." He agreed.

"Will you show me how much?" Esmeralda invited.

"Gladly." Claude replied.

Without another word, he kissed her again, gently pushing her down onto the bed. He then started to bury his face in her neck, starting a line of kisses from there down to her collar bones. Esmeralda took a heavy breath, enjoying the contact.

She'd been missing this for long enough that her urges were stronger than usual. She pushed Claude slightly off of her just so she could pull her nightgown off, and Claude quickly undressed himself too. He then returned to kissing her chest, his hands cupping her full breasts.

He eventually pulled back, moving his hands to her thighs and slowly getting between them. Claude quickly felt how wet she was, which indicated that this arousal had been building up for a while.

"Just take me." Esmeralda begged, grinning in pleasure.

Claude's expression matched hers as he did what she asked, getting into position and going into her. Esmeralda breathed heavily as the pressure in her was relieved. It only got better when Claude leaned over her and pushed his lips against hers, putting his arms under her to pull her close against him. Esmeralda held him just as tightly and wrapped her legs around him.

It was both passionate and romantic. Esmeralda remembered a time when sex with Claude had been so different, back when there had been no respect or affection between them. At the time he had made an effort to please her, but only out of obligation. He'd only wanted her body then, unlike now. Now he made her feel adored, and she knew that was because he loved her. It was more than physical attraction that made him make love to her like this, it was the fact that he did adore her and wanted her to feel it.

It didn't last long before the climax came for both of them, but they weren't bothered by that. The pleasure came and released plenty of pent-up urges, leaving the couple at peace.

Just after they caught their breaths and started to relax, Claude whispered to his wife.

"I will keep loving you," he promised "just like this."

He placed a tender kiss on her cheek and smiled at her. Esmeralda smiled back and kissed his lips briefly before getting into a cuddle with him.

She didn't question what Claude said. Whatever else changed soon, their love for each other would not change.

Here we go!

I was feeling pretty inspired this time, so I was able to get this chapter done in a timely manner. Hopefully I can keep posting at about this rate.

Nothing inspires me more than interested readers, so thanks for sticking with me! Until next time!