Chapter 4

Combeferre sat himself on the end of the made up bed positioned in the corner of Grantaire's spare room, he felt so tired inside but he couldn't bring himself to fall asleep. From where he sat he could see right across the hall where Eponine's room was, the door was slightly ajar and curiosity getting the best of him Combeferre rose to take a peek. Something was different about Enjolras ever since the barricades, in his mind Enjolras would be working non-stop creating plans for their next move, but it wasn't the case. He paused outside the door and peeked through the gap between the door and doorframe and for a moment the medical student just stared at the sight before with an open mouth. Not quite processing what he was looking at.

"Shut your mouth mon ami, you'll catch flies. We wouldn't want that would we?" Came a voice, Combeferre turned around to face the speaker only to find Courfeyrac's boyish face, showing the signs of his lack of sleep more than his forced attempt of a joke.

"No Courf, we wouldn't want that." Combeferre replied coldly.

"Hey, come on Ferre I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's nothing you've done, I'm just confused."

"Confused about what?" Courfeyrac asked looking more concerned at his friend by the second, Combeferre was never known for being this… anxious about anything; sure he got a little worried everyone did, but he would be more relaxed about it and deal with the situation in gentle manner. Something had to be really wrong or dangerous for Combeferre to be acting this way. It slightly scared Courfeyrac to see his friend like this. Combeferre looked back to where he once was staring then back to Courfeyrac and with a heavy sigh spoke.

"See for yourself." Moving away from the door so that his friend could see, Courfeyrac slowly stepped forward and peeked his own head through the gap. It took him a few seconds but he now finally understood where Combeferre was coming from, he was witnessing the impossible.

"Is tha-wha-I mean...?"

"I know Courf, I know. Now you see why I'm confused?"

"Yes." It was all he could muster up to say, they were both witnessing their once marble leader cracking. For Enjolras was now lying asleep next to a still looking Eponine his head balancing just above hers. A hand resting in her hair, while the other on her waist, it was quite the sight for both me.

"What do you suppose is going on there?"

"I don't know Courf. But whatever's going on there it seems to be working." Courfeyrac tore his head away from the couple and gave his friend a questioning look. He didn't need to ask as Combeferre continued. "Just look at Eponine, she looks calmer, her breathing is normal and she has stopped shivering. Maybe, maybe she could survive… I- I just don't know anymore." He said shaking his head and moving back into the spare room, keeping his head down.

Courfeyrac watched his friend retreat back into their room. It saddened him to think that this rebellion and its consequences had effected two of the strongest men he had known. Not wanting to disturb both the sleeping couple and Combeferre, he walked into the living space and gave a small smile to Grantaire who hadn't moved from his position at the window.

"How's Gav?" Was Grantaire's immediate reaction to seeing his friend, he remembered watching Courfeyrac's attempts to calm the boy from another night terror.

"He's fine now, actually he's sleeping soundly for the first time in… God knows when." The news made both men smile, at least there was a definite sign of moving forward.

"You're doing an amazing job with him Courf, he looks up to you, you're practically a brother to the lad."

"But is being a brother to him enough? You know what he has had to go through. He needs someone who will be a father to him. I can't give that to him, I can barely look after myself let alone a child." Courfeyrac blurted out. He took a deep breath and looked straight into Grantaire's eyes, "What do I do?"

The day passed too quickly and soon the sun was setting, Grantaire and Courfeyrac spent their time reminiscing about the good old days before the barricade, they both felt that talking about their friends would be better than not talking about them. It was painful of course but after a few hours they both felt pain-free and lighter. They were in the middle of a conversation involving past lovers when Combeferre walked into the room, looking much more waken than he did before.

"Ferre! How are you feeling?" Courfeyrac stood to greet his friend. Combeferre smiled, the first genuine smile they had seen in days.

"I'm better Courf thank you, Taire was right I needed sleep. How's Gav?"

"He's still asleep, but were gonna wake him up for something to eat in a bit." Grantaire chimed in before Courfeyrac could even respond. As if on cue the half of boy in question appeared at the door,

"Did someone say were getting food?" Gavroche mumbled, he looked much better there was colour in his cheeks and his eyes looked brighter. Grantaire gave a small chuckle,

"Yes Gav, we are indeed, now are you going to join us?" Within seconds Gavroche bounced over to join Courfeyrac on the larger sofa, giving all three men a small cheeky grin. Gavroche hadn't eaten this good since he ran away from the Thenardier's all those years ago. So when Grantaire mentioned that his neighbour who lived below his apartment who was away for a few days said they could take what they liked, it was good news all round. For the past three days the group had been able to have a decent meal a day, but soon they would run out; this meant one thing, going out of hiding. But that didn't stop them from appreciating the food they had. Once each of them had a plate of whatever Combeferre could make from the various vegetables and meats from the slowly decreasing stock, Gavroche was the first to break what he thought was an awkward silence.

"Where's Enjolras?" His question was mainly directed to Courfeyrac, but it was Combeferre who answered.

"I think he's still asleep Gav," Gavroche nodded and returned to his dinner, it wasn't even five minutes later when Combeferre spoke again this time looking a bit more nervous than he did before, "a-actually I better wake him up, I need to check on Eponine." Courfeyrac and Grantaire shared a look, they remembered Combeferre's medical prediction for Eponine.

"No Ferre, let him wake up on his own he needs all the sleep he can get." Grantaire quietly mumbled, Courfeyrac told Grantaire earlier where Enjolras was sleeping and considering the situation…

"But-I need to-"

"Ferre, I'm sure when Enjolras wakes up he will make sure Eponine is fine, finish eating please mon ami, you'll work yourself to death." Courfeyrac regretted that statement the second he made it, as silence once again fell onto the small group, even Gavroche's face fell slightly but making an attempt to change the subject mumbled,

"Where is he sleeping?"

It must have been the gradually rise in voices in the other room, but soon enough Enjolras's eyes fluttered open, it was the first decent few hours' sleep he had gotten since the night of the barricade and he felt more energised. He looked down to the sleeping form in his arms, she looked so still. It scared him. He was careful when sitting up properly, placing Eponine's head on the pillow with great care.

"Ep?" His voice was quiet and gentle, it matched the gentle strokes of his fingers as he caressed Eponine's hair. "Come on Ep, please." The seconds felt like minuets and the minuets felt like hours, it was crushing him inside. It was no use in trying anymore. She had broken her promise. He pressed his forehead against hers, ignoring the tears forming and rolling down his cheek, dripping onto Eponine's face. He was about to call for Combeferre when suddenly he heard a small groan, he opened his eyes and sat up quickly, wiping the tears from his eyes. He saw her chest moving as she took deep breathes, Enjolras sighed with relief and held her closer. A small chuckled brought Enjolras back into reality as he looked down to the now awake Eponine, who was looking up at him, a small weak smile on her lips.

"Kept my promise. Your turn." She smirked. The remark made Enjolras chuckle, even after all this time she can still somehow get her way. But she was alive and for Enjolras that was all that mattered, maybe now things could start to get back to some normality.

Little Did They Know.