13/1/14

I have a question for all my readers. The plot I originally had fell down spectacularly and so I have spent a while staring at a blank document and frowning at myself.

Basically this has led to me practically reinventing the second half of this fanfiction; would anyone here mind if this no longer ended with e/R? Because it is either going to be a really depressing and slightly weird e/R ending or a complete more logical and overall better thought out R/OFC ending … but I don't wanna lose readers due to the fact it is not e/R anymore. E and R will still grow very close but in a brotherly sorta way not a kissy sorta way. I need your opinions!

Also sorry this is so short but this was such a cute way to end it.

Chapter 4

Eponine walked over and held him close to her silently. Enjolras had the sense to back off as Grantaire openly wept onto Eponine's shoulder. Enjolras hated being the cause of this sorrow; but he just had to know what had happened in Grantaire's past to bring him to this point. So that he could help him like he had helped Grantaire's little charge. Because that is all Enjolras wanted, to help people; whether it was to save the world from the corruption of humanity or help a lost boy find a home. Grantaire's brown hair cascaded over his teary eyes and for once Enjolras let his heart decide. He leant over and pushed Grantaire's hair behind his ear. Grantaire flinched and looked up into his eyes, as if to check his motives once again. His eyes were full of caution and distrust and Enjolras couldn't stand seeing it there anymore. His heart twisted in his chest as Grantaire's whole body shook in fear. "I only want to help you Grantaire," Enjolras whispered, staring into Grantaire's eyes in an attempt to show his positive intentions. After his confession, the slave did seem to trust him more but the divide was still evident in his eyes. Had anything really changed?

XXX

"Sir, it is time to awake," Grantaire spoke as the sunlight poured through the now open curtains straight onto Enjolras' face. Enjolras moaned, rolling over and covering his face with one of his pillows.

"R," Enjolras moaned, refusing to relinquish his hold on the pillow despite Grantaire's attempts.

"Master Enjolras, if you do not get dressed now then you will late for your lunch with Master Combeferre," Grantaire insisted, finally wrestling the pillow out of Enjolras' grip and piling Enjolras' clothes for the day on top of his body. Only one thing had changed since their heart to heart the night before, Grantaire had stopped dancing around him like Enjolras would kill him any moment. He was clearly still following orders from Enjolras' father, hence the sir and Master Enjolras, but was acting more like a servant than a slave. However, he still wasn't a friend like Enjolras wished him to be. Although, he was right, Enjolras was going to be late to lunch with Combeferre.

"Ferre! Thank god!" Enjolras exclaimed, hugging his best friend with a sigh of relief. He had been tailed around by Grantaire and had endured a lecture from his father about how he should be making better acquaintances than his current friends before he managed to slide out of the house and walk to the café in blissful silence. "They have all been driving me crazy!" he exclaimed as they hurried out of the cold into the bustle of the Café Musain. Once they were seated, Enjolras dived into the tale of how Eponine now hated him for everything Grantaire had been through and the concept of slavery … for some unknown reason, how his father was driving him even more crazy than usual and how Grantaire seemed to irk him by simply just being there.

"You just need to live with it 'Jolras. You have to admit that Grantaire is better than all your other manservants," Combeferre replied, always the voice of reason. Enjolras shuddered at the thought of the other creepy thirty something year old men that used to help him dress. Combeferre was right, as always.

"I guess Ferre," Enjolras sighed, resting his head on the cool wood of the table.

"And don't forget that little Elise is back today," Combeferre added with a smile, trying to cheer his lifelong best friend up. Elise was Enjolras' eighteen year old little sister who had been away at college for a few months.

"I can't wait," Enjolras grinned, he was eight years older than little Elise and had felt great pride in watching the child he had known all her life grow into the mature independent woman she is now. He couldn't wait until she got home this evening.

XXX

Enjolras continued to talk with Combeferre but the rest of the evening was turning to their slightly more private affairs. Enjolras ran a social justice group who were trying to make slavery illegal. It was going to take a lot of work but Enjolras was dedicated. They talked long into the afternoon and on the way back to his house, Enjolras felt some of the weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He arrived back home to see his sister's cases in the doorway. "Elise!" Enjolras called out but there was no response so he walked up to her rooms. He was about to walk in when he heard people talking. "I can't believe I've missed so much around here. You sound really sweet Grantaire, I really don't know why Jul was so grumpy in his letters," Elise chuckled from inside the room. Enjolras subtly peered in as Grantaire began talking.

"Master Enjolras just doesn't like to be bossed around and wants better for the slaves that reside here," Grantaire replied as he was unpacking for Elise and putting away all her clothes and belongings. The girl in question was laid in her ridiculously pink bed staring up at the ceiling.

"I think I'll like you R," Elise chuckled, her bright blue eyes twinkling and platinum blonde her spread all around her petit face. "And even though it is great to be back I dread it you know," she sighed, rolling over to face Grantaire with sadness spreading across her face.

"Why?" Grantaire asked, settling down on one of the empty boxes to listen. Enjolras had never realised how calm and good at listening Grantaire was; a lot better than him anyway.

"I'm eighteen now, Papa is going to want to get me married off. It was an arrangement he had with mother, he promised that he would wait until I finished my education before a marriage and thankfully he has stuck to that," Elise mumbled with a regretful sigh. "I wish I could marry someone for love R," she added, tears welling up in her eyes.

"It's okay Miss Elise, I'm something will resolve your problem," Grantaire smiled softly, gently kissing the back of her hand.

Now it was time for Enjolras to interrupt. "Elise?" he called out, knocking on the door. Grantaire jumped to his feet and returned to opening the next box of clothes and accessories; Elise sat up, straightened her dress.

"Come in!" Elise shouted back, beaming as she waited to see her brother once again. Enjolras pushed the door open gently, grinning as he saw his baby sister sat on her bed. "Jul! She exclaimed, throwing herself on her older brother. He was about a head taller than the slight girl; they made a beautiful family picture as they embraced. Grantaire continued unpacking, hiding a small smile.