Chapter 1:

"Please Grantaire!" I asked as I followed him around the house.

"No Genevieve! For the last time stop asking me." He took a swig of his liquor and swashed in around his mouth before swallowing it. "After mother and father died you promised me that you would not ask me about going to the Café. We are doing important things there."

I stood up on the stool so that I could look at him and be a little taller than him. "And you promised that you wouldn't drink father's old liquor in a drunken stupor." He burped and then grinned. I made a face. "Charming."

"You are to be a proper lady, so no protesting and revolting for you." He continued stumbling around the room until he found a chair.

I scoffed as I climbed down from the chair. "What is a 'proper lady'?"

He shook his head as he continued to drink from his dusty green bottle. "I dunno. But whatever it is, you must be that. We cannot pay for a dowry, so we must rely on the goodness of your heart to have a man fall for you." He laughed. "If it is even possible."

I stiffened and turned away, careful not to let a tear fall down my cheek. Grantaire would never let me forget it if I cried over one of his drunken comments. "We cannot afford a dowry because you drank up all of the money that mum and dad left for my dowry." I said bitterly.

Grantaire attempted to stand up, but couldn't. He then tried once more and was finally able to. Then he tried to walk but stumbled and fell over.

"Come, let me help you." I reached for his arm, but he pulled away.

"I'm fine 'Vieve."

"No you are not. You are a drunk." I attempted to grab the green bottle out of his hands, but he jerked it out of my reach.

"Don't you think about it, girl."

Grantaire raised his hand to my face almost slapping my face, but he paused before his hand hit my cheek. I stiffened as I awaited the blow. When I realized that the blow was not coming I relaxed and glanced up at him. He was looking from me to his hand and back. Grantaire looked in the distance and I could have sworn that a tiny tear was rolling down his cheek. He stumbled to the door.

"I said no, and that's final." Grantaire cried as the door shut loudly behind him.

I was used to this form of behavior from Grantaire. Our parents were rather wealthy once, but that changed after they died. When my parents died, Grantaire became responsible for me. Everything was okay for that year, or as close to okay as it would ever be. Grantaire never seemed to be happy. He would never have a conversation with just me, one of his friends had to be involved in the conversation as well for it to last long.

Soon, all of the responsibility became too much for him and he cracked. He spent most of our money on liquor, girls, and luxuries. Grantaire became a drunk and barely came home. When he did, it was because Courfeyrac brought him home so that I could care for him when he woke. Gavroche developed a habit of following Courf around when he was watching after Grantaire. Courfeyrac and Gavroche soon became common people in our home, even when Courfeyrac wouldn't bring Grantaire home. On nights when Grantaire wouldn't be home, Courf would spend the night, sleeping on the floor by my bed, keeping me safe. Gavroche would sleep next to Courf or on the other side of my bed. I grew to love Courf in ways neither Grantaire nor anyone else ever thought I would.

My family in the Paris country side believed that this behavior was immoral for a young seventeen year old girl. One week my aunt visited us and saw the condition in which we lived, the endless cycle of my life.

Auntie Ada took me aside on the last night and tried to convince me that these conditions were dissolute for a girl of my age. "Genevieve, you can't possibly spend the rest of your life caring for that disgrace of a brother."

"What else must I do?" I asked, wondering what her genuine intentions were.

"Come back to Rouen with me. There is a lovely convent where you can live and be taught."

"I want to be married." I requested with Courfeyrac's face in my mind.

Ada shook her head. "The drunk drank up all of your dowry money. I'm afraid marriage won't be possible for you." My heart broke.

"What about Grantaire? What is to be of him?"

She shrugged. "What is to become of all drunks? He will drink himself to death with those friends of his. What is the name of the one that takes a liking to you? Courrac or some rubbish?"

"Courfeyrac." I smiled just thinking about him and then remembered the conversation I was having. "I'm not leaving him."

"Whatever do you mean?" She asked, taken back.

"I'm not leaving. Grantaire relies on me, Ada. I can't leave him."

"Yes you can, mademoiselle." She spat at me, disgusted by the admiration I had in my brother.

"No I can't, Ada. Grantaire is not the only one who relies on me. Gavroche, a street urchin relies on me, he needs me. He has no family to love him except the students like Grantaire and Courfeyrac."

"Some family that is." Ada stuck her nose in the air. "A drunk and a bum."

"It's a marvelous family, filled with love." I pressed my palm to my heart. "Gavroche's sister and family aren't around to care for him as much. I must be a mother to him." I shook my head. "I must be a mother to them all."

"She is an awe-inspiring mother to us all." I heard a male voice say from behind me. I turned around and saw a happy Courfeyrac smiling at me. Grantaire and Gavroche were behind him. I looked at Grantaire and he met my eyes and smiled. I knew that he was sober. No whiskey was in his system. He walked forward. "Auntie Ada, please leave my house."

Ada looked from me to the boys and back to me. "Are you sure this is the life you choose? The life of a rat?"

I nodded and smiled. "It is a life filled with love."

She looked at the ground and then at me. "You are no longer a part of this family. Your mother and father's money, is gone. It is mine." She walked out of the house without a second glance.

I knew that Grantaire just wanted me safe. He didn't want to lose me the way he lost mother and father. But he tried sheltered me and was continuing to shelter me the way a babe should be. I wasn't a babe anymore.

I jumped up and down ripping the ends of my dress. "I hate this stupid dress. I hate being a girl! I should be able to go fight for the stupid cause too!" I yelled and threw a temper tantrum like a little child.

I was yelling so loud that I didn't notice that I was no longer alone.

"Mademoiselle? Are you okay?"

Spinning around, I saw Courfeyrac walking in the front door. "Oh, hello Monsieur Courfeyrac." I curtsied quickly. "I beg your pardon."

Courfeyrac stepped closer and pulled me in his arms. "Mademoiselle, you have no reason to ask my forgiveness." He placed a kiss on the tip of my nose.

I looked down. "Grantaire refuses to let me join the cause. It's not fair."

"I know, but I agree with him." He smiled sympathetically at me and sat on the chair, but still held my hand in his.

"What? Why?" I gasped and tried to pull my hand away.

"Because you are a child, Genevieve." Courfeyrac said as pulled me on his lap.

"But Gavroche attends every event you have about the cause. Is he not a child in your eyes?"

"Gavroche is family to us. He has nothing in his future except us. You have such a bright future ahead of you, Genevieve. You're a child."

"I am not a child. I am eighteen years old."

"Yes you are." He smiled and kissed my nose.

"Most girls are married by my age." Courfeyrac looked down and avoided my eyes. I knew that I said something wrong. "I beg your pardon. I didn't mean to upset you." I lifted his chin up so that his eyes would meet mine.

"You know why we can't be married." Courfeyrac continued to massage my hand in his.

"Grantaire would never consent to me marrying you." I breathed.

"I couldn't care for you properly. I wouldn't be able to provide for you in the way another could and will."

"All I need is your love." I kissed his cheek lightly and smiled. "That's why I want to fight. I want to be able to live with you forever in this life, or even in another." Courf contemplated my words and avoided my eyes. "To die beside my love would be a heavenly way to die." He still avoided my gaze. "Courfeyrac, what is the matter?"

"Enjolras wants to ask Grantaire for his permission to marry you after this work with the cause is complete."

"Why?" I asked in shock.

"Because you're beautiful." Couf smiled.

"Grantaire would never approve. You know of his hidden feelings for Enjolras." Courf looked away from me. "He would never approve, would he?" No response. "Would he!?" I demanded.

"He already has."

I stood up and covered my mouth with my hand in shock. "How could he?"

"Your brother admires Enjolras to a point where he asking for your hand in marriage is a close second to being his."

"I do not love Enjolras."

"It does not matter. Your dowry is gone. No other man is able to marry you."

I sat back down on his lap and started to kiss him. I pulled away. "What about you?" I asked with inquisitive eyes before kissing him then pulling away. "Why won't you marry me?"

Courf gently pushed me off his lap and stood up. He cupped his face in his hands. "I cannot be a husband." He exhaled deeply. "I have no wealth, no means to provide for you."

"I don't know how to be a wife. How can I give him children and care for a home if I never had that myself?" I crossed my arms. "I refuse. And I will be at that protest tomorrow. Let you and Grantaire wait and see. I must care for the family, tis all I have left. "

"You are far too spirited for your own good, my lady." Courfeyrac said as he looked away.

"Courfeyrac?"

Courf faced me. "Yes Genevieve?"

"Why do you no longer love me?"

"I love you more than the world a million times over. That is why I must forbid that you attend these events." I felt a tear rolling down my cheek. Courfeyrac embraced me and held me in his arms and he hummed a tune. "I love you, dear."

We heard a knock on the door and spilt apart. Enjolras walked in with a apprehensive look on his face. "Is everything alright here?" He looked from Courfeyrac to me and back to Courf.

"Courfeyrac was just leaving." I smiled, taking his hand. "Thank you for warning me of the battle that may take place. Here," I reached into my purse and pulled out a franc, "take this for your trouble." I smiled at Courf and he smiled back.

"Thank you Mademoiselle Genevieve." He tipped his hat to Enjolras. "Good day Enjolras."

Once Courf had left Enjolras sat down at the table. He beckoned me over.

"Would you like anything to drink? I'm sure you are very thirsty." I started to walk away but turned around to see Enjolras looking at me with a faint smile.

"Sit, Genevieve," His smile continued, "please."

I walked back to the table and sat down. "Yes, Monsieur?"

"Has your brother yet talked to you about what is to happen with your future?"

I shook my head, letting my blonde curls bounce around my face. "No, but Courfeyrac has." I paused. "We are to be married."

Enjolras nodded. "That is my intention, if you shall accept."

"If?" I asked quietly.

"I am a man of passion, Mademoiselle Genevieve. Love is a passionate feeling, but true love is a passion that cannot be faked or lied about."

"What you are saying is very true." I looked at my hands in my lap.

"I know that I am not the one you love. Alas, another has been pinning after your affection."

"Monsieur, there is another. But I can never be with him, for Grantaire would never approve. I want to be married, but our money is gone."

He reached for my hands. "Perhaps we can learn to love one another the way a husband and wife do in those fairytale books you and Combeferre love so much."

I looked into Enjolras' eyes. He took the loose strand of hair and tucked it behind my ear. He was in fact a beautiful man. Second most beautiful behind my Courfeyrac, but no one could ever know of my affection towards him or his towards me.

"What about the money?" I asked pulling my hand away from his grasp. "Most men want money or some sort of value when they become engaged."

"As I said before, I am a man of passion." He smiled. "I feel passionate about you, just as you felt passionate about not leaving us."

I tilted my head to the side. "What?"

"Grantaire, Courfeyrac, and Gavroche told us all the tale of your Auntie Ada and how she took your parents money and possessions. You stood by your brother and us all. You really care for us, don't you?"

I nodded.

"You inspire me, mademoiselle." He smiled. "Of course nothing about an engagement shall be set in stone until after the revolution. You have until then to decide." He took my hand in his, kissed it, then started to walk away.

"Monsieur?"

He turned back around. "Yes mademoiselle?"

"My brother and the men who are much like my brothers are going to fight and stand for a cause." He nodded and I continued. "Well, it is very much a cause I believe in as well. Would I be able to attend?"

Enjolras' smile grew and he embraced me. "Of course you may mademoiselle. Gavroche shall be there, so we will tell them that you are there solely to care for the little man."

"Thank you very much Monsieur." I curtsied.

Enjolras shook his head. "You are about to participate in the revolution, something that is going to change the world as we know it. Disregard all the manners that you have been taught." He picked up a section of my dress. "Dress in these clothes no more, Genevieve. You shall wear the clothes of a barricade boy and act as one of us. I know you have a fighting spirit, and I want it to surface. Dispose of your lady-likeness until after the battle is one. I am Enjolras, and you will fight with me."

Enjolras then departed and left me to celebrate my victory in solitude. If my love would die, I would die beside him and we will live together in the kingdom of the Lord. Should he live, I will live, and we will be married and live together with our family. Courfeyrac was all I wanted, no matter what Grantaire or Enjolras said.

Love was passionate. But also is death.