A/N: Hey! Sorry for the late update! But guess what? I'm writing a BOOK! That's why I may not update as much as possible. It takes a lot of work and focus, and I thank you for your cooperation in advance. Please remember to R&R, and I hope you like this chapter! ^_^

Chapter 5

Arabella's POV

I woke up feeling sore from sobbing so much. I sat up and stretched, groaning in the process. Clopin was so helpful, the way he comforted me. For the first time in so long, I felt confident. Thank God not many knew of my ordeal with Clifton, because I don't think I can take the pity.

Clopin walked into the caravan. "Oh. You're awake."

I flashed him a smile, "Yes, Clopin. Thank you for comforting me last night. I feel better about myself knowing I have someone as amazing as you in my life."

"Uh-huh," Clopin said, seeming as if he were thinking about something important.

"Well, I think I shall go for a walk. I-" I had promised Esmeralda and Phoebus that I would take care of Zephyr for the night so that those two could have some much-needed alone time.

"Whoa, mon amour!" Clopin swooped me up in a hug. "Who needs the outside? Fresh air, bah! It's quite overrated, actually. L-Let's stay in here!" He kissed me full-force on the mouth.

I practically melted into him. Maybe I should stay here... No! I had slept enough of the day away already! One of the things I hated the most was staying inside all day, and I had done enough of that over the past year.

"Mmmm," I moaned as we broke apart, "I don't think so, Clopin. As much as I'd like to stay in here with you, I think-" My sentence was broken off with another one of his amazing kisses. This time, I couldn't resist. Just one hour. I'd be out in an hour, ready to start the day.

I backed up onto the bed, bringing Clopin with me. I knew we wouldn't be able to go all the way. We never could, due to the "incident", but we could get pretty far.

I pulled his shirt off, and he grabbed fistfulls of my hair. He started kissing down my jaw to my neck. He hit that sensitive part of my neck that Clopin knew so well. "Oh, Clopin," I moaned, pulling off his tights to join his shirt on the ground.

Clopin kept sucking on my neck, but reached around to my back and started untying the strings that held my dress together. He shoved my outer layer of clothing off, leaving me in only my undergarments. Finally, even those hit the floor. This was the furthest we would ever go. Me completely naked, and Clopin wearing only his underwear. At this point, I would usually whimper, or start crying. Then we'd stop and never talk about it again.

We both just stayed completely still. Me, in deep thought, and Clopin staring at me, wondering if we would go further, but knowing the answer anyways. "Arabella, if you don't-"

I shook my head, "Just a little further. Just a little bit." I wanted him so bad it hurt. I knew we wouldn't be able to make love. Not now, definitely not now. Maybe not for awhile. But we could go a little further.

Clopin smiled, and continued kissing down my neck. "Mmm, okay, mon amour. Tell me whenever you feel uncomfortable." He fondled my right breast carefully, looking up at me. Just waiting for me to stop him.

I moaned in assurance, and pushed him off me. He thought I meant to stop him, but instead, I motioned for him to take his last piece of clothing off.

I stared in wonder at him. I had never seen him naked, even though he had seen me undressed. Realizing that I was probably scaring Clopin, I looked up at his face. He laughed and wiggled his eyebrows before kissing me again.

I pulled him on top of me again, and ran my hands up and down his back as continued kissing and fondling my chest. I moaned his name, and he moaned mine. I grabbed his jet black hair, and kissed his neck this time.

He moaned, "C'est magnifique!"

I felt his hands lower from my chest, and slide down my stomach, and get lower. And lower. And lower. I whimpered. "Clopin, t-th-that's far enough. I-I need to take a walk. I promised Esmeralda and Phoebus that I'd take care of Zephyr for them tonight."

"What time?"

"That's the point, I have no idea. I should leave now. And I-I'm starting to feel uncomfortable."

He gave me a sad smile, and rolled off of me to look for his strewn clothes all over the floor of the caravan. "Oui, Arabella. But why don't you skip out on Zephyr? We need some alone time as well. Quasi and Madellaine love the kid, they can-"

"It's their anniversary," I muttered, grabbing my clothes and trying to put them on as fast as possible. "Besides, I made a promise. And you love children! I thought that you'd enjoy having Zephyr for the night!"

He nodded earnestly, "I do adore Zephyr, but I adore you more. Do you really think you need a child to keep you up right now? After all the stress you've endured?"

I squinted at Clopin, trying to figure out why he was acting so strangely. I grabbed the closest mirror and tried to make my hair presentable. "I'm fine, thank you. And I think taking care of a child for a night is just the thing to lift my spirits."

I headed out of the caravan, but Clopin blocked the door. "Oh, mon amour, please stay with Clopin."

I tried to sidestep him, but he blocked me again. "Clopin, what is wrong with you? Let me out at once!" I was sincerely annoyed.

"Okay, okay," his shoulders drooped in defeat, and he ran a hand through his thinning hair. "Please brace yourself, Arabella."

"Clopin, what is it? What is wrong?"

He sighed, "Our argument last night? Well, we were so loud, and the Court was so quiet that they-"

"No," I clapped a hand over my mouth, "Clopin, no!"

"I'm sorry, mon amour," he shrugged, looking down at the ground. "I tried to keep you busy. I didn't want you to know that they knew. Please forgive me. I was trying to protect you."

"They heard that I'd been...raped?"

"They heard it all."

"Oh, mon Dieu!" How could I face everyone in the Court now that they all knew my deepest, darkest secret?"

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter! I hope that the next one will be up soon, maybe sometime this week, so keep your eyes peeled! Please remember to leave a review on your way out! ^_^