“I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Belle worried, biting her lip.

“You’ll be fine,” Clopin insisted, giving her a little push in the direction of Esmeralda, who was standing at the ready with a powder puff in hand. “Go on, Esme, do your stuff.”

Esmeralda beamed at Belle, dabbing at the powder. “In this disguise, there’s no way your own mother would recognise you, let alone Frollo.”

“But I-” Belle was cut off as a blast of powder hit her face before she was even ready for it and she coughed. Clopin laughed and leaned back against the dresser, watching as Esmeralda quickly got to work making Belle up to look और like a tattered सड़क, स्ट्रीट beggar than the beautiful young woman she was. His दिल was hammering. Belle’s too, but in anticipation. Eventually, Esmeralda beamed and spun Belle around to face Clopin. “There! What do आप think?”

Clopin grinned and handed Belle the glasses that would add to part of her disguise. Thankfully they had no lenses. “Perfect! I don’t recognise you.”

“I feel like a Geisha,” Belle insisted, pulling the glasses on. “What if I get mistaken for one?”

“You won’t,” laughed Esmeralda, hugging her, proudly. “Anyone can tell you’re not Asian!”

Belle still looked unconvinced. Clopin, seeing this, glanced at Esmeralda. “Is Poca ready?”

“I’ll go see.” Esmeralda left and Clopin looked at Belle. “What is it?”

“I’m still scared about going out, even like this.”

“Belle, you’ll be fine. You’ll be with the girls and Facilier.”

Belle shivered. “But...Clopin, I can’t explain it, I just...feel safer here.”

“I know, Belle.” Clopin laid his hands on her arms and looked her in the eyes. “But आप can’t spend your life being safe. आप have to take risks every now and again. Even I know that. But you’ll be perfectly fine. I promise.”

Belle looked him in the eyes and knew he was right. She relaxed and nodded. “You’re right. I’ll try to be brave.”

“Don’t try, Belle. आप are brave.” Clopin kissed her forehead. Belle felt a sudden flurry in her stomach, like butterflies, when he did that.

“All ready to go?” asked Esmeralda, skipping back to them.

Belle nodded. “Yes.”

“Good luck,” Clopin advised as they turned to leave. “And look out for each other.”

“Leave it to me, Clopin,” Esmeralda grinned, wrapping an arm around Belle and leading her from the room.

Belle looked back over her shoulder once at Clopin. He was busy lighting up his flaming batons to entertain the children. She smiled and then allowed her फ्रेंड्स to lead her outside.

The सेकंड the sunlight hit her, Belle realised just how much she had missed it. It felt so warm and soothing, and as she watched Esmeralda and Pocahontas and even Facilier wandering around without shoes on, she too suddenly felt the desire to take hers off. It would, after all, add to the illusion that she was a gypsy like them. She quickly kicked them off. Pocahontas, seeing this, grinned and picked them up. “I’ll put them back,” she whispered, tiptoeing back into the Court of Miracles.

As mud and dust washed over her toes along the cobbled streets, Belle felt free for the first time in her life. The gypsies might not have an easy lifestyle, but it was in no way boring या restrained. Now she could understand what Clopin had meant द्वारा gypsies not doing well inside stone walls. They needed to be free and outdoors, and now she was beginning to feel a little like that.

“This looks like a good place to set up,” Facilier said, finally, as they reached a side street. “Remember to run if आप see Frollo या any of his lot.”

Since gypsies normally ran away whenever they saw Frollo या any of his lot anyway, Belle knew that this would be nothing new to him, nothing to arouse his suspicions. She flopped onto the ground beside Pocahontas and began to sort through the materials that she used to make dream catchers with. Facilier set up his तालिका, टेबल in a jiffy. Esmeralda began to beat on her tambourine and twirl, light on her feet. “Ok,” Pocahontas smiled to Belle, “it’s fairly easy to make these. आप just tie the thread here and then wind it all across like a spider’s web...”

Belle picked up on it easily, and soon she had made quite a few द्वारा herself. Several people came along to buy some, as well as to watch Esmeralda dancing and Facilier’s magic tricks and they earned quite a bit in the अंतरिक्ष of a few hours. Belle began to relax since no one, not even people she knew and saw every दिन out and about usually, even gave her और than a passing glance, let alone recognised her.

“Hey, we’re doing pretty good so far,” Esmeralda grinned.

“I think I’ll go and buy us some lunch,” Pocahontas said, getting slowly to her feet.

“I’m for that,” Facilier agreed, shuffling the cards in the deck in a way that mesmerised Belle.

Pocahontas left and Belle started to make some और dream catchers. “Good job on those,” Esmeralda said, admiringly.

“Thanks,” Belle smiled. “I think I’ve found something I’m good at.”

“You’ve gotta have some kind of talent, surely?” Facilier persisted. “You were raised in a cathedral; surely आप can sing?”

Belle blushed. “Well, yes, I can, a little.”

“Probably not a good idea in public,” Esmeralda reminded them. “Frollo might recognise your voice.”

“That’s true.”

Pocahontas came back with a wrapped parcel of रोटी and cheese. “I got these as well,” she grinned, holding up a bunch of grapes.

“Poca, you’re a star,” grinned Facilier.

“Shh!” Belle stiffened. She could feel Frollo’s presence somewhere nearby. Turning her head, she saw him, deep in conversation with a man she didn’t recognise. He was tall, dark haired and muscular, and carrying a large hunting musket. Automatically the four of them scrabbled to their feet. Facilier zipped up his तालिका, टेबल inside a case and muttered “Split up; let’s meet back at the Court!”

He and Pocahontas scampered one way and Esmeralda turned to dart the opposite way but Belle couldn’t help lingering to overhear what Frollo was saying. Thankfully he hadn’t spotted her yet.

“No sign of the girl yet, Minister Frollo,” apologised the burly man.

Frollo sighed and clenched his hands into fists. Even from as far away from him as she was, Belle could see that he hadn’t slept; his eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles beneath them. “Well, keep looking! I want that girl found even if I have to burn down all of Paris!”

The man flinched. “What did this little filly do to tick आप off so?”

Frollo growled under his breath. “Just find the girl!”

“What are आप doing?” hissed Esmeralda, grabbing her arm. “We’ve got to go!”

Belle turned her head and saw Frollo looking in their direction. His eyes locked on hers and for an instant she thought she was caught, and then he barked “Gypsies!”

“Run!” yelped Esmeralda, pulling Belle along behind her. Blinded suddenly द्वारा terror, Belle barely noted where they were going, but somehow, weaving along through the streets of Paris, they found themselves safely back at the Court of Miracles, without having been followed. Esmeralda plunged inside, dragging Belle in her wake. Once safely inside the catacombs, they both leaned against a wall, breathing hard.

“Did he recognise you?” Esmeralda asked.

Belle shook her head. “No. He would have कहा something. I know him that well at least.” She breathed out. “Do आप think the others made it back alright?”

Esmeralda frowned. “I hope so.”

Suddenly a skeleton put its hand on her shoulder and she jumped with a startled shriek. Belle whipped around with a loud gasp. But it was only Facilier. “Gotcha!” he laughed, gleefully.

“Oh, आप idiot!” Esmeralda exclaimed, swatting at him.

Pocahontas popped up behind Facilier and hugged her lover. “That was a close one.”

Belle smiled and nodded her agreement. “Let’s go,” Facilier said, dumping the skeleton with the others and leading the way back to the main room of the Court.

“What happened?” exclaimed Clopin, seeing they all looked a little dishevelled.

Belle suddenly found that she couldn’t stop herself from flinging herself into his arms and hugging him tightly in response.

“Frollo spotted us,” Facilier replied, picking up Lilo as she came hurrying towards him. “We got away though.”

“And he didn’t recognise Belle,” Esmeralda added, triumphantly.

Clopin glanced at Belle. “Are आप alright?”

Belle smiled. “I’m और alright than I’ve been for a long time.”

“Let’s get all that stuff off your face,” grinned Pocahontas.

Belle felt much better after she had had a wash and changed her clothes; और like herself. As she changed in her small but cosy room, she found herself questioning why she had had that sudden mad urge to throw herself at Clopin like that. She never questioned their sharing a bed, but why suddenly had it gone farther than that? She had a feeling that she knew the answer to that, and yet...and yet she had her doubts.

Watching him, however, as he practised tricks worthy of a court jester for the entertainment of the others, all doubts melted away and Belle was certain of what she was feeling within her heart.

“I never knew I could feel like this,” she thought, “not even in my craziest, wildest dreams.”

She spent a fruitless ten मिनटों pacing before bed, thinking, wondering whether it was a good idea to make her feelings known. Whether या not Clopin felt the same way about her, she knew that he cared about her enough to let her down gently. Finally making up her mind, she padded to his room.

Clopin glanced up as she came in. He offered her a smile. “Everything alright?”

Belle took a deep breath. “Clopin...will आप किस me?”

Clopin was taken aback. He had not been expecting that. Automatically he stepped towards her. Belle looked up at him, the quivering in her stomach becoming greater. “Are आप sure that’s what आप want, Belle?” Clopin said, softly, his breath tickling her face.

She nodded. “I want आप to किस me.”

Clopin hesitated no longer. Pulling Belle close to him, his mouth claimed hers and Belle felt an immense passion ripple through her body. His hold on her was nothing like Frollo’s, it was welcomed and gentle. Belle pressed as close to him as she could manage. For now, she knew, there was no need for words; actions could speak louder after all.

After a few और fiery kisses that intoxicated them both, they fell asleep, cuddled up together, and for once Belle’s dreams weren’t haunted with evil nightmares.