Epilogue

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love."

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

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"Mila!"

Safira rode her horse through the city with a deep frown on her face. She had lost sight of her rambunctious daughter and was slowly beginning to panic. It seemed that she couldn't take her eyes off of her for a moment before she drifted off, her attention span being that of a fly.

Safira managed to relax when she spotted the redhead standing amongst the other children before Clopin's famous street puppet shows. Safira sighed in relief as she hopped off her horse and began to walk towards the ten year old with the intention of scolding her. But the sound of Clopin's storytelling brought Safira's attention to the small stage.

"... As the cathedral poured fire, the evil Judge Frollo was defeated by The Green Eyed Gypsy, The Hunchbacked Bell Ringer and the legendary Black and Gold Soldiers!"

The children erupted into applause and cheers as well as a few adults who watched. Safira smirked at the bright smile that erupted on her daughter's face, her frustration forgotten. She walked to her and placed her hand on her shoulder, bringing the turquoise-eyed girl's glance upwards.

"Mila, what did I tell you about running off?" Safira questioned her patiently.

"I'm sorry, mother," She stated, her smile unwavering, "I just love that story."

Safira brushed a few locks of curls away from her face with an affectionate smile. Milagros had grown up used to her parents addressed as "The Bell Ringer" and "The Black Soldier." Though Safira had placed her military career behind her to raise her daughter, her past would never leave her behind. Safira feared for when Milagros would grow and become more conscious of her mother's detailed past. Safira had once been proud of her fierce reputation but now with her children in the world, it was something she was suddenly not so proud of.

"Just don't run off like that again," Safira sighed as she took her hand, "Come. Your siblings are probably driving your father crazy."

Milagros gripped her mother's hand obediently. Safira hopped onto her horse before she pulled her daughter up to sit behind her. Milagros wrapped her arms tightly around Safira's waist as she rode the family horse towards the cathedral where Quasimodo was currently wrestling with mischievous triplets.

When Safira had announced her second pregnancy during Milagros' fifth birthday celebration, she and Quasimodo decided to move from the bell tower and into their own home. It had been extremely difficult for the both of them, more so for Quasimodo who had never known any other home, but the bell tower had no room for their growing family.

Quasimodo was still the city's bell ringer and had begun to earn his pay for his service just after Milagros' birth. His works of art were also a significant source of their income and with Milagros having inherited her father's artistic abilities, she assisted him regularly and eagerly.

When they had been surprised by the arrival of not one but three infants, it was mentally easier to move into their new home. Milagros had taken to their new home and to be being an older sister very well. With each year that went by, she proved to have her father's gentle nature and kind demeanor; graced with his coloring and her mother's features, she was as lovely on the outside as she was on the inside. The triplets, on the other hand, were a lot more to handle than their sister.

Quasimodo and Safira had been blessed with three very active and mischievous children. They possessed their mother's strong spirit and stubborn attitude, much to Safira's dismay. And much to Phoebus' amusement, they all inherited his – and their father's – golden hair and earthy-brown eyes.

Safira and Milagros arrived just in time to hear the commotion in the bell tower.

"Marcel, put your shoes on!" Quasimodo called out from above the bell tower, "Marie, please get down from there."

"Maurice is hiding my shoes!" The blonde whined frustratingly, his eyes like pits of russet fire as his lightly freckled face began to redden angrily.

"Maurice…" Quasimodo raised an eyebrow towards the mischievous boy warningly as he hopped down from the wooden beams.

"Alright, alright…" Maurice grumbled as he rushed off to find his brother's shoes.

Safira chuckled as Milagros rushed over to bring her sister down from one of the lower wooden beams.

"I figured they would be driving you crazy."

"Mommy!" The three cried out in unison and darted to their mother's arms as she knelt down to hug them.

"I was doing fine," Quasimodo smirked as he approached her.

She stood up with Marie and Marcel hanging off of each hip, greeting her husband with a kiss.

"Are you ready, love?" She questioned him as she carried the two youngest of their children, "Zephyr's birthday dinner is starting soon."

"Yes," Quasimodo nodded as Maurice climbed up his father's back, his legs dangling off either side of his neck as he gripped his auburn hair, "Let's go before they lose their minds."

Quasimodo reached for his eldest daughter's hand, holding it as they made their way out of the bell tower and to Chandra's home.

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The arrival of Safira, Quasimodo and their four children brought a cheerful smile out of Zephyr's face as he rushed to eagerly greet his cousins. Quasimodo and Safira were relieved of their energetic children as they all rushed outside to play, leaving them to greet the family.

Chandra, Phoebus, Esmeralda, Madellaine and Pierre greeted each other warmly; kisses and handshakes exchanged.

"I swear Mila grows more beautiful every day," Esmeralda smiled as she greeted Safira with a kiss to her cheek.

"Zephyr is becoming quite the handsome young man as well," Safira returned with a grin.

"Well, of course," Phoebus slung his arm over his sister's shoulder, "He looks like his father!"

The rolling of Safira's eyes brought a deep chuckle from the blonde-haired soldier. They gathered around the living area where pleasant conversation ensued. Stories were shared of the children as well as blissful recollections of the past.

"Poor Judge Leopold was the target of the triplet's pranks yesterday," Safira recalled, shaking her head embarrassedly.

"He was a very good sport about it," Quasimodo chuckled as he placed his hand on Safira's knee, squeezing it lovingly.

Indeed Leopold was very patient and kind towards the triplets. He openly adored Phoebus and Safira's children as he had lost his only child long ago. He held a soft spot for Mila whose politeness and maturity shone brightly. He was a regular buyer of her wooden carvings as a result, placing them in his office. Safira had been touched when she had seen the figurines lined up in his office.

"Mila's growing up too fast," Chandra smiled, "Pretty soon you'll have to be chasing the boys off with a stick."

"I think they will know better than to even try," Safira grumbled lowly.

The soft laughter that followed was short-lived by the sudden appearance of Milagros rushing into the house, wide-eyed and visibly shaken. She was breathing raggedly, having ran with all her might.

"Mom, dad! T-The triplets!"

Safira and Quasimodo stood immediately, their expressions dark as they followed Milagros outside. The rest of the family darted soon after and they were met with the sight of a boy not much older than the triplets being attacked by the blondes. Zephyr was attempting, and failing, to pull at least one of the blondes off the boy who was fighting back despite being outnumbered.

Safira and Quasimodo gasped in alarm, rushing over immediately. Quasimodo grabbed Marie and Maurice in each of his arms with ease. Safira grabbed Marcel and struggled as he attempted to jump off his mother's arms in his fury.

The boy who they had been attacking stood up instantly, his face angry as his mother was soon rushing over in outrage. She began to question her son before Quasimodo and Safira even had a chance to find out what had happened.

"What in the world is going on?!" The woman exclaimed indignantly.

"Those brats attacked me!" He pointed at the triplets who were staring at him with deathly glares.

"Is this true?!" The mother grabbed her child protectively, staring at Safira and Quasimodo with deep disapproval.

"He said our father was a monster!" Marcel shouted, pointing at him accusingly.

"And he said mother was a crossdresser!"

Safira and Quasimodo exchanged glances before Safira patiently attempted to address the mother of the bully.

"Look, we're sorry-"

"As you should be!" The mother huffed, "But it's to be expected of children raised by such a freakish family."

Safira's patience disappeared. She grit her teeth as she nearly shoved Marcel into Quasimodo's arms, forcing the hunchback to juggle all three as she began to approach the woman dangerously. Quasimodo looked towards Phoebus pleadingly as his children continued to try and climb out of his grasp. Milagros gasped in obvious fear as her mother seemed to be storming towards the woman threateningly.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Phoebus stepped in at this point, standing in between the woman and Safira, speaking down to Safira lowly, "The children, Safira."

Phoebus' words brought realization to Safira who never stopped staring at the woman. Her infamous blue eyes sending enough fear into the woman to shut her up.

"Come now, Leonard," The woman spoke quietly, "Let's go home."

Phoebus shifted to force Safira's eyes into his. She looked up at her brother, her expression tense but his own face was firm as he uttered a quiet reminder.

"You're not Sacha anymore."

She grit her teeth before dropping her gaze, nodding understandingly. She turned to face the family who were looking upon her almost expectantly. Her face broke out into a smile, dimples delving into her cheeks.

"Who's hungry?"

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Quasimodo and Safira sat in bed after having tucked their children in. Though Safira had put on a good act for the family after the little spat, Quasimodo could feel the heaviness in her heart. It wasn't until they were alone that he attempted to speak to her about what had happened.

"Are you alright?" He looked at her, her lips tightened as they always did when she was upset.

"I'm fine," She insisted but her tone suggested otherwise.

Quasimodo knew her better than that. He leaned forward, bringing a hand to her back, rubbing it soothingly.

"You're upset about what happened with the triplets."

"Of course I'm upset," She sighed as she ran a hand through her hair stressfully, "This is exactly what we never wanted them to go through… the taunting and bullying."

Quasimodo offered a gentle smile to the troubled woman. It was almost funny how the tables had turned between them. Initially, Quasimodo had been the one needing the reassurance that their children would be alright. As he looked at her now, he realized she needed that same assurance she had given him.

"When you stop and look at it," He began with a chuckle, "They handled it just like their mother would have."

His words were enough to bring a small smile out of her. She slid into his arms with a deep sigh, closing her eyes at the comforting feeling of his arms around her, his lips pressing against her forehead. Undeniably, the triplets had proven that they were not a force to be reckoned with. It still didn't bring anymore peace to the worried parents.

They sat in a comfortable silence, each engrossed in their thoughts as they held onto each other. Safira was almost grateful for the knock on their door that brought her out of her overthinking.

"Come in," Quasimodo called out.

They watched as one-by-one, their triplets stepped in. They stood with faces that could only be described as shame. Milagros followed last, standing behind her younger siblings as she urged them gently to step forward.

"Mom. Dad," Milagros spoke from behind them, "They have something they want to say to you."

"Oh?" Safira raised an eyebrow as she and Quasimodo watched them curiously.

"We're sorry we fought with Leonard today," Marcel started sadly.

"We just got so angry," Maurice added passionately.

"We tried to walk away like you told us we should do, daddy," Marie grumbled lowly, "But he wouldn't stop talking…"

Quasimodo and Safira's expressions softened as Milagros stood behind her siblings for moral support. They looked towards each other, struggling to keep the smiles off their faces. Turning back to their children, Safira extended her arms out, beckoning them into their bed. They rushed over to their parents immediately, the six of them adjusting themselves so accommodate them all on the bed.

As Quasimodo and Safira lay facing each other, Milagros cocooned herself in between them. Maurice lay against his father's hunched back, Marie sliding behind Safira's bent knees while Marcel did the same behind Quasimodo as their heads laying on their hips. Laying contently with their children piled around them, they were unprepared for the innocent question brought by Maurice.

"Why did Leonard say daddy was a monster?" He asked with child-like confusion as he pressed his cheek against his father's back.

Safira and Quasimodo looked at each other for a moment before Safira cleared her throat to answer.

"Because," Safira began carefully, "Daddy is the strongest man in all of France. And no normal person has the strength he does."

The effect of her words on the children were that of wonder.

"I want to be a monster when I grow up!" Maurice exclaimed excitedly.

"Me too!" Marcel agreed, "And I want to ring the bells like you do, daddy!"

"You will someday," Quasimodo chuckled, "For now, its bedtime."

Safira leaned down to kiss Milagros' red hair lovingly, reaching back to stroke Marie's golden locks as the children began to fall asleep. Quasimodo and Safira looked into each other's eyes knowingly, a silent agreement ensued between them.

As they closed their eyes, their children sleeping around them like wolves huddled for warmth, the unusual couple knew what they would face. Life was never easy for either of them. Both were unique beings, feared and ostracized for their differences and had found comfort in each other's brokenness. They had faced evil in the face and had done so together. Whatever evil their children would face, they would not do so alone.

Every step of their future, they would face all obstacles as they did that night:

Together.

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Author's Note:

I, very emotionally, conclude this as the end of our story.

I started this story years ago and am so proud and joyous that I have finally finished it.

Thank you to everyone who read it, reviewed it, praised it, flamed it and helped me grow. You're amazing!

I plan on bringing more stories to life so if you enjoyed my writing style then subscribe to me as an author for any future stories I write!

XOXO

"When life gives you something that makes you feel afraid, that's when life gives you a chance to be brave."