Chapter Two - Learning About You

Gavroche woke with a start in a warm bed. He couldn't remember how he'd got there. He started to panic and breathe heavily. That was when a young student, Joly entered the room, his cravat askew. "Hello mon petit, how're you feeling today?" He asked in a kind, gentle voice. Gavroche didn't answer and when Joly tried to put another damp cloth onto his brow, the small boy dodged away and said "I'm sorry, monsieur but I don't know you." in a scared tone. "Courfeyrac?" Gavroche whispered under his breath, remembering the kindness that was shown to him by the man he already loved and trusted so much. Joly nodded, a smile spreading across his face as he understood. "I'll get him for you Gav." Joly left the room and went into the meeting area. Courfeyrac was scouting over documents laboriously and when Joly went over, he looked up. "Courf, Gav's asking for you." Joly said. Courfeyrac couldn't help but smile as his heart filled at the small boy wanting him. Courfeyrac could see the stony façade of Enjolras starting to fade as well when Joly spoke when he saw a suppressed grin growing in the place of his usual fixed pout. Courfeyrac left the table and virtually skipped to the door of the side room. "Morning, mon petit." Courfeyrac said as he entered the room. "Morning Courf," Gavroche replied in an elated tone at seeing his role model. "How about we put this cloth on your forehead, eh?" Courfeyrac asked, shifting Gavroche gently into his lap. "Ok." Gavroche mumbled, defeated and reluctant. Courfeyrac dipped the cloth into the bowl of water and squeezed out the excess. He placed it on Gavroche's brow, he shivered as the cold water trickled down his scalp as he lay in Courfeyrac's warm arms. When Courfey rac has finished, he made sure that Gavroche was tightly wrapped in the blankets that were strewed over the bed. "Oh Gav, how did you get like this?" Courfeyrac said into his mess of curls. "My papa didn't want me anymore. Him and mama never loved me. They would beat me often and not feed me. Then when we moved to Paris they threw me out of the carriage because I wanted them to stop cheating people out of their money at the inn." Gavroche said. "I got sick and so I crawled into the alleyway where you found me." The four year old started to sob quietly and Courfeyrac held him close, lightly kissing his head. "I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I will protect you now. You will always be safe and I will raise you as my little brother. Would you like that petit?" Courfeyrac asked. "Oh yes, Monsieur Courf. But I wouldn't want to trouble you." Gavroche said excitedly. "Then it's settled, but you must not call me monsieur, we are family now." Courfeyrac replied, delighted that he could look after Gavroche. "Merci, merci Courf! I love you." Gavroche said, beaming. "I love you too, mon petit frère." Courfeyrac said. "I'll be back in a minute." Courfeyrac said gently as he left the room. Gavroche was the happiest he had ever been in his short, unfortunate life. When Courfeyrac left the room, he went to speak to Enjolras and Jehan, a poet. It seemed that they had been talking about Gavroche moving in with Courfeyrac and his friend, Marius at their apartment as they had a spare room. So when Courfeyrac went back into the side room to ask Gavroche a question, he wore a proud grin which didn't go unnoticed. "Gav, what would you say if I asked you to move in with me and my friend Marius?" Courfeyrac asked tentatively. "Oh Courf, really? I would love to. What would Monsieur Marius say?" Gavroche replied. "I asked him when you were still asleep, and he said that he would of course want you to stay with us." Courfeyrac beamed. "Now we, Les Amis and I, can look after you." Courfeyrac felt as though he could burst with happiness when Gavroche nodded a weak head as he lay in the man's lap. Gavroche quickly fell asleep and Courfeyrac lifted him into his arms and carried him to the door, still in the blankets. It was late evening and when the door creaked open into the main room, only Grantaire and Enjolras remained, Grantaire drunk as usual, slurring over his bottle. Enjolras looked up when they entered and smiled at the sight of his friend and the youngest member of Les Amis de L'ABC bundled in his arms.

The remaining light outside dwindled and wavered as the night was closing in. A slight wind pricked at the two boys now standing outside a luxurious apartment suite. As Courfeyrac unlocked the door to the entrance hall, Gavroche stirred in his arms and rubbed his eyes. "Welcome home, petit." Courfeyrac whispered. When they entered the apartment, Courfeyrac placed Gavroche down and took his tiny hand in his own, leading him down the corridor to the end where three doors lay. One was Marius's room. The one to the right was Courfeyrac's room and the final door next to his was one which would be Gavroche's room. "If you ever need anything, just call out and I will come to you." Courfeyrac said. He opened the door to Gavroche's new room and smiled as he saw the boy's face fill with awe. The room was lavishly furnished with an ornate bed forming the centre piece. The bed was made and had many blankets and soft pillows. The floor was carpeted with plush material and the windows were covered in deep purple velour curtains. Toys bought by Courfeyrac for Gavroche bedecked the floor, nearly stacked in piles. "Is this all mine?" Gavroche asked, nearly speechless. "Of course, now we can look at your toys in the morning so let's get you to bed." Courfeyrac said with a cheeky grin and lifted Gavroche's slight weight and carried him to the bed. Once under the covers, a small voice came out, "Thank you Papa, I love you." Gavroche said meekly. He trusted Courfeyrac enough to see him as his older brother and maybe even his parental role model. Courfeyrac's heart melted and he kissed the small boy's forehead, cuddling him closely. "You know I'm not your real Papa, don't you petit. Courfeyrac asked. "Yes, but you're my new Papa aren't you? You're better than my old one." Gavroche said, simply. "Of course I will be your Papa, Gavroche." Courfeyrac said, his heart leaping with joy. "Now time for sleep, petit." Courfeyrac said. "Will you stay, until I'm asleep, please?" Gavroche asked. "Of course petit." Courfeyrac replied and went over to the bed and started to hum a lullaby and smooth Gavroche's hair until his petit frère was soon asleep, safe in his loving arms.