A/N:Alright Hopefully most of my spelling errors have been fixed. Sorry to everyone who read it today and yesterday and had to put up with the many mistakes I made. I can admit that even I got angry reading it :P Thank you for all my kind reviewers, it means a lot to me to know that so many people enjoy my writing. This one starts off a little funny but it gets better at the end trust me. You will enjoy ^_^.

The rest of the day I felt as light as air, I couldn't believe what had happened only moments before. It hadn't occurred to me just how attracted I'd been to Clopin until then. I was also extremely interested in his feelings toward me. Esmeralda had gone dancing a few hours after I'd returned. I was left to my room for the evening until Esmeralda returned and we set out for lunch. Together we conjured enough money for two loaves of bread and decent sized cheese wheel, and a basket of assorted fruits. I still had a handful of coins leftover to buy myself supper. Together we ate near the river that surrounded the city. Djali munched happily on a mountain of grapes.

"Esmeralda, do you and Phoebus share the same feelings for each other?" I asked, knowing full well that her late night excursions weren't just for earning money.

"I'd like to believe so, he's definitely not like any other soldier I've met, even Djali's warmed up to him," she said and as if on cue her cute little goat bleated his reply.

"I wish my luck with guys was as uncomplicated as yours," I said slightly under my breath.

"It's not all that easy Rose, it's still difficult being a gypsy and loving a soldier, some people still don't understand," she said petting her now bloated goat.

"I know it's just seems to go easier for you then with me."

"Perhaps it's because you haven't made it clear that you like Clopin," she said and I felt my face rush with heat.

"I know it's obvious but please don't say it like it is," I said laughing.

"Alright fine, as long as you tell him how you feel,"she said slyly and I sighed.

"I can't get out of this can I," I said defeated. She smiled and nodded.

"Nope."

I groaned and collapsed on my bed. I knew I had feelings for him, I wasn't exactly sure how strong they were or when the started but I couldn't deny my feelings. Now the problem was how and when I should tell him how I felt. It wasn't like I could just walk up and confess my heart out. Or could I? Was it really that easy. I huffed and sat up.

"I wonder how Esmeralda did," I asked myself. She had gone out to see him a few hours ago, leaving me to myself.

"Mademoiselle, if I may intrude?" asked Clopin, peeking around my doorway.

"Oui, Monsieur," I replied, and Clopin entered with no hesitation.

"Where's the Lovely Esmeralda?" he asked scanning our room.

"Out," I said bluntly. He raised a brow.

"I already knew that," he said and I crossed my arms.

"Then why did you ask?"

"I was hoping for a more detailed answer."

"Sorry to disappoint."

"You can make it up to me," he said leaning against the wall across from me.

"Oh really, and how do you suppose I do such a thing," I queried.

"Dinner," he said and I laughed.

"Well if you insist," I said getting up and heading for the door.

"Not so fast," he said, walking in front of me.

"Oh?"

"It's a surprise," he said with a crooked smile.

"Open," he whispered in my ear, and the sight before me was beautiful. It was a quaint restaurant, filled with the aroma of delicious food. We stood in front of a table with two chair and a candle in the middle that gave of a warm glow.

"Clopin how did you?" I couldn't finish my sentence. I was in awe.

"I watched the owner's son for the entire afternoon, he promised me a meal for two," he answered my unfinished question.

"That's right," came a rich voice from behind me. I turned to see a burly man with a small child sleeping in his arms.

"Sir," said Clopin charmingly.

"I'd like to to thank you again for taking care of my boy, he's such a handful sometimes," said the man, smiling genuinely at us. It was the first time I'd seen such an honest look from a towns person.

"The pleasure was all mine ," said Clopin bowing greatly.

"I'll send a couple of menus your way then," said the man.

We took our seats at the small square table. I was still in a state of shock when our menus arrived. The food listed was surreal. It was like a whole new world.

"Clopin are you sure we can afford this?" I whispered once the waiter had left.

"Like I said, it's all taken care of," he said, simply smiling at me. I felt uncomfortable ordering such extravagant food, I wasn't used to it. After a long contemplation I decided that Quiche Lorraine would be my meal of the evening. Clopin ordered Coq au Vin avec crème, and mine when the waiter returned with our bottle of red wine and a basket of bread.

"Merci," I nodded once the waiter left. I felt very out of place and I envied how Clopin could look so calm in a situation like this. I wasn't long before our meal arrived, I was so pleased with the [presentation I didn't want to eat it. Of course the portion size was a little small to what I imagined but after living off bread and cheese for most of my life it was certainly a treat. Once the flavor attacked my tongue I wished I could eat like this for the rest of my life.

"Is it good?" asked Clopin, weirdly enough he was watching me eat.

"Oh yes," I said with food still in my mouth. I didn't want to swallow it yet, I wanted to taste it some more. Clopin began eating too and together we finished both our meals. My body finally felt full for once and I sat back in the chair satisfied once I finished.

"I'm so full," I sighed happily.

"Agreed," said Clopin, sitting back as well, rubbing his belly in a content manner.

The waiter returned to take out plates and offered us dessert, but we were too full from dinner, and I didn't think Clopin wanted to push his luck with more food. The owner was kind enough to offer us a free meal, we didn't need more than that.

We walked back to the court together, slowly.

"Clopin, why do we still live in the catacombs? If the townspeople accept us now couldn't we find housing in the main square?" I asked.

"It's not the simple Rose, there are still many of them who find us vile and consider us unwanted creatures."

"But if we can find work why can't we find housing?" I asked a little irked that people could be so rude.

"Work is work, and someone needs to do it, people to day will hire anyone, even gypsies. Luck to the man who gets a job."

I creased my brow. I just couldn't see why everything was so unfair.

"But Clopin, half of the people who saved Paris were the gypsies."

"But it was also us gypsies who caused Paris to become a war zone."

"That was because Frollo was in charge, he was a fool, and he corrupted people's minds."

"To you it may seem that way, but there are many people, who considered Frollo to be a very wise man and followed his beliefs righteously. Many of them believed that Frollo had the answers to everything."

He was right. To us, he was a monster but to them he was just setting right in the world, even if it meant killing innocent people. They didn't see his evil intent because they loved him. He gave them hope of a better life. Now they probably hated us more than ever because he was killed, and mostly on our own accord. I saddened me to think that we'd gotten so far but really hadn't gone anywhere are all.

"Don't be upset, Mon Cheri," said Clopin tilting my face up to look into his beautiful dark chocolate eyes. The moon's light gave them an enchanting sparkle, and I seemed to find myself lost in them. We were standing beside the river, I hadn't even noticed we'd stopped walking.

"It's such a lovely evening, there's not even a cloud in site," I whispered, afraid of disturbing the peacefulness surrounding us.

"You're the most lovely thing here, not even the moon can say other wise," said Clopin, and his voice made my whole body tingle. The truth in his words hit me like a horse drawn carriage, only it wasn't painful, it was shocking, and good. I wanted to squeal like a little girl but I contained myself. I racked my brain for an appropriate response.

"You really think so?" I asked turning back to face him and he nodded. And then I felt it. A jolt throughout my whole body. I could feel myself being drawn to him. His eyes were like a black whole, sucking me in. He turned away from me and walked to the lakes edge before slipping off his shoes and rolling up his waded into the water, till about knee height and motioned for me to join. I slid off my sandals and bunched up my skirts. I ran at Clopin, splashing water in every direction. Once I reached him, I dropped my skirts. I would hang them up to dry when I got back. I could feel my clothing becoming heavier as the water soaked into the fabric.

"Guess what?" I said and he raised a brow.

"What?"

"Your about to get drenched," I said and I brought my hand back in the water and, with as much force as I could, pushed through the water to make a big enough splash to hit Clopin's entire body.

He stared at me shocked for a second, not exactly sure how to react, but then he too became involved in my splashing fight and together we had a water war. At one point he completely body checked my into the water causing me to fall back onto my rump. By now my clothes were completely soaked and I wasn't expecting to be wearing them tomorrow.

"You're going down," I said regained my stance and charging full out at him. I wrapped my arms around him when I came in contact and together we plummeted into the water. We both cam up gasping for air. That's when we realized we'd gone farther out, more into the middle of the lake. It wasn't too deep but I was definitely up to my breasts in water.

"We should head back now," said Clopin, catching his breath.

"I agree," I answered back. We made our way out of the water and I tried to wring my clothes out the best I could.

"Clopin, thank you, I really needed this," I said. I felt so much more calm and happy. I didn't have to worry about what was going on between Bernard and I, it was just me and him and I was happy spending time with him.

"I'm glad, it hurts me to see you so upset, you really haven't been yourself since you met Bernard." I nodded. I went to walk up the bank but his soft hand grasped my wrist. I spun to face him. He took his hands and placed them on either side of my chin. And then there was his eyes. Studying me so intently. I became entangled within their vividness.

"A kiss from a Rose," he said softly.

Slowly I moved my face closer to his, each inch my eyes closing a little more. I tilted my head slightly, and hesitated before softly connecting our lips. I kissed him twice before looking back at him. I felt his arms move around me pulling me closer and connecting our lips again. Each kiss caused tingles all the way down my spine. His hands weaved themselves in my messy hair and I subconsciously moved my arms over his shoulders. It didn't take long before our breathing became labored and what started out as a soft passionate kiss, became much more. I was so weak in the knees that when Clopin pulled away, I almost buckled to the ground.

"I love the way you kiss me," said Clopin, holding my face in his hands before kissing my forehead.

"Esmeralda," I said after I'd hung up my sopping garments and put on my cotton slip that Esmeralda provided my with my first day here.

"Yes?" She asked, while stroking Djali to sleep.

"Does, kissing him count as telling him?" I asked and she grinned at me.

"No but it's a start."