(Hi guys! Thanks again so much for your support! I've tried to respond to all my reviewers of the last chapter, except to Jen, Chaudfontaine and annevalerie. A big thanks to you as well! Also I'd like to thank the followers and favorits. Means a lot to know this story is appreciated :) Enjoy this chapter!)

He had to keep running. That was all he knew. Keep running and don't look back. Don't pay attention to the snow covered trees; the carol singing crowds; the merry faces all around. Just keep on running.

If he'd stop running they would catch him and if they'd catch him they'd hurt him. He didn't understand why they wanted him; he'd never done anything to them.

He was panting now. Panting heavily and tears were running down his face. He was terrified. He heard them call his name; taunt him. He was getting tired, but he couldn't stop running. If he stopped, they'd catch him and that was not an option. He just needed to get home; get home as soon as possible. He'd be safe there; he'd be protected.

But he wasn't fast enough. They were getting closer and closer and it wouldn't take them long to catch up on him. He was panicking. No, no, no keep on running; just keep running.

"Hey, girly boy! Wait up! We only want to talk to you. You're something special, wait up"

"Yeah! We just want to touch your hair; it's all long and blonde and we can't help to be amazed by it. We've never seen a girly boy before!"

No, no, Enjolras, keep running. Don't let them catch you. Just keep running. But it was too late. One hand grabbed him by the shoulder, while another encircled his waist. He was pulled down on the snowy ground and pinned there by three larger boys. "Please don't hurt me".

"Hurt you? Why would we hurt you, such pretty girl", the biggest of the three boys teased, while he made a pouty face and batted his eyes at Enjolras.

"I'm not a girl!", Enjolras snarled.

"Oh, but you must be. Just look at you", the other whispered softly, while carding his hand through Enjolras' golden locks.

"Get the hell away from him!" a voice from behind them yelled furiously and then a body collided hard against the boys pinning Enjolras down, successfully knocking them over. "Don't you dare touch him! Fight like a man and find someone your own size."

Enjolras watched in shock how his eight year older brother placed himself between the young blonde and the other boys. He watched how the other three attacked Henri and how Henri blocked almost every single punch. But then he saw the knife. And Enjolras could not help but shout his brother's name in warning, causing Henri to look back so that the largest of the boys could take him off guard.

There was a sharp hiss and then Henri slipped to the side, holding onto the wound in his abdomen.

The varmints ran afterwards; leaving younger and older brother alone. They were slowly surrounded by more people, who kept whispering softly. Enjolras could hear them think clearly though. Murderder. Murderer.

Enjolras knew they were talking about him. This was his fault. He killed his own brother. He was a murderer. What would his father say? "Please Henri...Please, don't leave me? Please, I'm so sorry. Please, brother, please come back?"

Tears were streaming down his face; he was sobbing uncontrollably and clutched his brother's body desperately. "Henri, please come back, please?"

Combeferre snapped awake when he heard the strangled cry and was by Enjolras' side immediately. The boy was twisting and turning in his bed; drenched in sweat. Pleads were falling from his mouth and he whispered the same name over and over again. Henri. Combeferre had coaxed the blonde through many nightmares, but never before had he heard that name.

He placed a gentle hand on the side of Enjolras' face and leaned in closely so he could whisper directly in the boy's ear. It was a tactic that proved to work and he had learned it early on during Enjorlas' fever dreams that first week they were together. back then he had first tried to shake the boy awake, to snap him out of his dreams, but that would only have to reversed results. The approach he took now would take a lot longer, but it always worked and it always calmed Enjolras down.

This time proved to be no different. Combeferre spent a good fifteen minutes whispering comforting words and carding his hand through Enjolras' sweat soaked hair. His other hand was curled tightly around that of the younger one.

"It's just a dream Enjolras. It's just a dream, you can wake up now. I'm right here with you. Just listen to my voice and focus on that. It's all going to be fine, mon ami, you'll see. Just wake up for me now."

Finally the blonde blinked open his bright blue eyes and when they focused on Combeferre, his whole face crumbled and he started sobbing mercilessly. He buried his face in the older boy's chest and shook violently.

Combeferre was momentarily shocked. Enjolras rarely was this outward with his emotions; he always tried to compose himself; to stay strong and proud. But now he completely fell apart and Combeferre realized he was just sitting there doing nothing. He quickly wrapped his arms around the small form and held the younger boy tightly.

It wasn't the first time he had had to console Enjolras after a nightmare, but this time it seemed different. Usually the boy woke in fear and panic and Combeferre had to assure him that he was safe and not alone. This time however, Enjolras' body was wracked by sobs of what seemed to be grief. Between his gasps for breath, he whispered broken apologies and he kept repeating that one name. Henri.

Combeferre tried his best to comfort Enjolras. He encouraged the boy to just let it all out and he held him close through it all. He whispered gentle words; rocked back and forth slowly and pressed a soft kiss on the blonde's temple. They stayed like that for a good twenty minutes until Enjolras had significantly calmed down. He was still breathing shakily and he leaned heavily against his older friends' chest. Combeferre kept his arms placed firmly around the blonde; not yet feeling like letting go. He rested his chin on the top of Enjolras' head and sighed deeply. He needed answers this time. Not another I'm fine or a I don't want to talk about it.

So instead of asking Enjolras to tell him what he was dreaming about, he went for a more forward approach. "Who's Henri?", he whispered gently, while pulling back ever so slightly so he could look at the younger boy's face.

Enjolras immediately looked down and tried to pull away, but Combeferre wouldn't let him. Not this time. He brushed back the few blonde locks that had fallen forward and lifted the boy's head again. "Who's Henri, Enjolras?" he asked again.

This time Enjolras looked him in the eye and Combeferre could almost feel all the pain and sorrow shining in those piercing blues of the boy in front of him. He noticed how the blonde's lower lip started to quiver again and Enjolras bit down on it immediately. Then he took a deep breath and whispered quietly: "He was my brother".

Combeferre nodded and smiled sadly. "Older brother I assume?"

Enjolras ducked his head down in response, sniffed once and murmured that was indeed so. "Eight years older", he mumbled in such a low voice that Combeferre almost didn't hear him. "He was the star of the family...the first-born...everyone loved him, he was tough and proud and strong...he was going to be the heir of Father's heritage..."

Combeferre swallowed. In all the time they were together, Enjolras never mentioned a brother. But then again...he hardly mentioned any familymember, so this shouldn't come as such a surprise. Combeferre hesitated a little to ask his next question. Enjolras looked so lost and young at that point. Much younger than his fourteen years. He carefully took the clammy hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Did he pass away?"

Enjolras inhaled sharply and Combeferre noticed how he was fighting to hold his tears back. He also noticed how he failed miserably at that as they were once again leaking from his eyes. When the blonde nodded jerkily a few times, Combeferre pulled him back in and held him close for another few minutes. "I'm sorry", he whispered sadly.

But then suddenly Enjolras shook his head violently and shrugged Combeferre off. "It's all my fault he died", he cried brokenly, "They were out to get me, not him and then I called him and he turned around and they stabbed him! It's my fault. I might as well have killed him with my own hands! I'm a murderer! But I didn't know then...I'm so sorry 'Ferre, I didn't know, I was only five. Please don't hate me, I'm so sorry"

Enjolras was on the verge of a hysterical break down and it suddenly hurt him to breath. He started to shake again and he tried to get away from the medical student, who was now looking at him with such sadness and shock. It was almost unbearable to look at. Now he hates me. He hates me as well and I'm alone again.

Before Enjolras could pull away fully, Combeferre tightened his hold on his forearm and Enjolras gasped at the sudden pain it caused. As soon as he stopped fighting though, Combeferre tugged him back and loosened his grip a little before grabbing the blonde by both his shoulders. "Stop it Enjolras and don't say that. You're not a murderer and I don't hate you; I could never!" The medical student breathed heavily and felt more than a little desperate. Enjolras told him too little to really come up with any arguments, but he had no doubt what had happened all those years ago was not Enjolras' fault. The kid was five years old for God's sake.

"Calm down alright, just calm down, for me?", he tried gently, searching those panicked and fearful eyes, "I don't hate you and I doubt I ever could Enjolras... And I highly doubt that you are to blame for whatever happened.. But you have to give me more than just those few statements, so come sit next to me here and talk to me slowly about this. I'm only interested in what you remember and what you have to say, not what others have told you."

Enjolras shook his head dejectedly, but did as he was told nonetheless. It was hard and painful to talk about the death of his brother and it went slow and in no way smoothly. Combeferre was there to coax him through it all the way. His heart ached for the boy as he told him what he remembered and he silently damned to hell all those who had put it in his head that he was to blame.

When Enjolras was finally finished, all the blood had drained from his face and he looked exhausted. He didn't dare to look Combeferre in the eye; he was so afraid of what he might see. "I'm really sorry, Combeferre, please don't send me away."

The older boy once again wrapped his arms around Enjolras and held him close. Then he spoke softly, but firmly in the blonde's ear. "I want you to listen very carefully to me now, Enjolras. What happened all those years ago, was an accident. You did nothing, and I repeat, nothing, wrong. Do you hear me? It's not your fault you were chased. And it was your brothers own choice, as heroic as it was, to jump in the fight. It's a tragic accident, but an accident nonetheless, mon ami. That means there is no one to blame, except that filth that stabbed your brother."

Combeferre was silent for a moment, waiting for a response, but he got none, so he continued. "And how could I possibly be mad at you for this, or even hate you. I could never, I swear, so don't apologize to me about this and don't be scared that I'm going to send you away, because I'm not. Not now, not ever. Am I making myself clear?"

He noticed how his shoulder was slowly but surely getting soaked with Enjolras' tears, but he smiled when he felt the boy nod slowly. He then rubbed his arm a few times across his back and said: "Good, I'm glad...Enjolras, I just have one more question for you though. You don't have to tell me about it, if you don't want to, just give me a yes or a no, alright?"

Another small nod.

"Did it all start with your brother's death?"

Enjolras hesitated. He was sure Combeferre already knew the answer, but still he wanted to hear it from him. He slowly pulled back and forced himself to look the medical student in the eye. A last lone tear slid down his face and he nodded weakly.

TBC.

(Okaaay, first revelation of Enjolras' past. Hope you aren't disappointed...It's a sad story. In the upcoming chapters we'll slowly learn more about it all. I hope this chapter was worth it. Please review and let me know what you think? Till next time!)