| "Secrets Revealed" Chapter 4 By Erin Maggie couldn't sleep that night. The words her children had spoken to her wouldn't leave her mind and she kept tossing and turning in her bed, sleep unable to come. She looked out the window and, seeing just how dark it was, she guessed that it was at least 2 in the morning. Would Phoebus be asleep or awake right now? Or rather, did he and Esmeralda already pack up and head off without saying goodbye? Sighing heavily, the older woman climbed out of bed and padded out the door and down the short hallway to her son's room. As she nudged the door open and saw the bed rumpled and empty, but Phoebus' clothing still lying in a heap on the floor, Maggie guessed he was either in the kitchen or the living room, as the house was so small. Wrapping her arms around herself, Maggie walked towards the kitchen and instantly saw that a candle was lit through the crack in the door. Not wanting to startle him, Maggie opened the door slowly and, just as she thought, there he was, sitting at the round table, a cup of warm milk in his hands. He didn't seem to notice her come in, as he was deep in thought, so Maggie cleared her throat and watched him lift his head in surprise. She tried to offer him a gentle smile, but was rewarded with a cold look instead of a smile back. "What are you doing up so early, mother?" he asked, lowering his eyes to his drink. "I could ask you the same thing, honey," Maggie answered back, taking a seat in the chair across from him. "I couldn't sleep, to be honest." "Well then, that makes two of us," Phoebus curtly replied, raising his head again and leaning back in his chair. "I wonder why we couldn't sleep." "Phoebus, please, don't talk like that," the older woman pleaded, her eyes desperate. "Why shouldn't I?" the ex-soldier demanded, all the while keeping his voice low as to not wake up the rest of the house. "Sasha told me this evening after Esmeralda went to bed that you told her the truth about Quasimodo and his mother a year ago! Why? I just want an explanation; a good explanation. Was it so hard to try and get a hold of me and tell me the truth, too?" "I already told you why I kept your cousin a secret-" "But not from Sasha, mother," he interrupted again, anger burning up inside of him all over again. "God, mother, do you even realize what I'm going to have to do in a couple of hours once I get home? I'm going to have to go to Quasi and explain to him what you told me. I still don't know how I'm going to explain why he wasn't told this years ago; he's probably going to feel betrayed by me, and that's not something Esme and I take lightly, you know?" "Phoebus, please, I'm sorry," Maggie's eyes brimmed with tears at the harshness of her son's words and tone of voice. "If you're really sorry, then you won't avoid him and instead come and face yourself. Tell the full truth, mother, just like I'm going to do." He pushed back his chair and dumped the remainders of his drink in the sink. "I'm suddenly feeling tired. Esmeralda and I are leaving for Notre Dame by 9, so if you want to say goodbye to her, then is the time to do it." Without another word, he turned around and walked out of the kitchen, leaving his mother alone and now in tears. ***** At that same time, high up in the belltower of the Notre Dame Cathedral, the rooms were dark and the space was as quiet as could be except for the occasional sound of a bird chirping on the ledge not far from where Quasimodo lay. The 21-year old man was laid on his back, blue eyes wide open and staring up at the high ceiling...a ceiling that seemed to never end from his position. Unlike most nights, he was unable to get a wink of sleep. He had been laying here in the same position, his muscular arms wrapped around the large hump protuding from his back, for several hours now. Why couldn't he seem to get any sleep? Was it because he couldn't stop thinking about Phoebus and Esmeralda's journey to Phoebus' family the previous morning? Possibly. He knew one thing for sure, and that was that his friends were very lucky, and they deserved it. They were going to be married and Phoebus' family would soon be Esmeralda's family; his best friend deserved to be part of a family, especially after both of her parents died. But another part of Quasimodo couldn't help feeling jealous. Oh, how he wished he even had a brother or sister! But to have an entire family who loved and cared about you regardless? That would be a dream come true. Removing his arms from where they were, he wrapped the blanket tighter around himself before lifting a hand and wiping away the tears that were threatening to fall. He was determined to not cry. He thought he was used to not having any family right now. He had spent 20 years thinking his mother had abandoned him, and not knowing anything about his father; so when his former master had told him just before he had died that his mother died trying to save his life...yes, he was shocked and horrified to know that he had been lied to. But at the same time relieved. Then came the unexpected sadness. He knew nothing about where he came from or who his parents were. He didn't know if they had any brothers or sisters, or anything like that. Blinking back more tears, Quasimodo ran a hand through his rumpled red hair and closed his eyes. Esmeralda and Phoebus had been kind enough that previous day to offer to take him with them when they met Phoebus' family. It had definitely crossed the bellringer's mind to say yes, but instead, he declined. He didn't know how his friend's family would react to his odd appearance, and he didn't want to interfere. This was Esmeralda's time to get to know her fiance's family before she and Phoebus wed, not his. It was his duty to stay put where he was and pretend like it didn't bother him that Phoebus actually had family. Rolling over onto his side uncomfortable, Quasimodo finally gave in and allowed the few tears to roll down his deformed face and onto his pillow. After another hour or so of just thinking, sleep finally took hold of him and the only sounds in the belltower were the gentle man's breathing and the soft, sweet chirping of the baby birds. ***** "Do you have to go now, Uncle Phoebus?" Zach pouted as he clung to Phoebus' leg the next morning as he and Esmeralda prepared to leave. Smiling sadly, the handsome ex-soldier patted his nephew on the head gentle and knelt to his size. "I must go now, Zachey, but I promise I'll return soon. And when Esmeralda and I return, we're going to be bringing a very special friend with us for you to meet, all right?" Phoebus forced a happy smile on his face, even though his stomach was in knots. "Promise?" "I promise," he repeated, pulling Zach in for a quick hug before standing up again and facing Sasha. As the two embraced warmly, Sasha whispered into her brother's ear. "Give him my love and a hug for me until I see him tomorrow," she urged, squeezing him as tightly as she could. "I will," Phoebus promised once again as he pulled away from his sister and looked around the front hallway. "Where's mother?" After giving Esmeralda a quick hug as well, Sasha sighed sadly and pointed down the hall towards the bedrooms. "She won't come out of her and father's room." Those words were all it took before Phoebus rushed towards the closed door of his parent's bedroom and knocked sharply. Silence. "Mother, I'm leaving now." Although his voice lacked any warmth and although he was still furious, he had still hoped that his mother would at least bring herself to say goodbye to him and Esmeralda. He didn't WANT to stay angry at Maggie; anger wasn't something that he chose to feel because he enjoyed it. He wanted to trust her again, and be able to hug her again like he had when he was younger. After he knocked on the door again and not receiving so much as a reply, Phoebus impatiently spoke. "Aren't you at least going to say goodbye to us?" Once again, silence. He lifted his eyes to the ceiling and counted to ten, trying to stay as patient as possible, although it was becoming more and more difficult. He was about to open his mouth and try again, but instead thought better of it and turned around to head back towards Esmeralda and his sister. "Nothing?" Sasha could tell by the look on her brother's face that it did not go well. As he nodded, Sasha reached over and squeezed Phoebus' shoulder. "It will be okay, little brother. Before Zach and I go, I'll try and talk to her again, all right?" She smiled lovingly and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Have a safe trip, you two, and...well...good luck." Embracing Esmeralda once more, the slightly older woman added, "I'll see you tomorrow." As Phoebus and Esmeralda walked out of the house they had just walked happily into the previous day, and towards the waiting carriage to take them back to Notre Dame, Phoebus wrapped his arm around his future wife's slim shoulders. "I am truly sorry about all of this, Esmeralda." Go to Chapter 5 Back to Fanfic Back to Index |