LOVELIES! I am SO sorry it's been so long! School has been very hectic and though this chapter's been knocking around in my head, it took a while to get it out... But here is a fluff filled chapter :) (With a bit of a cliffe (but a nice one) at the end...)
Don't worry though my lovelies! I've got a couple more ideas up my sleeve if some of you are worried I'm just dragging out hours instead of days, I'm gonna have some excitement up ahead!
Don't forget to leave a comment/review!
Warning: FLUFF!
Disclaimer: Nope...
Chapter 21: Meaning of Family
The boys made their way to the private room, arms full of plush toys, trinkets, treats, and anything else they found appropriate in the hospital gift shop (which would've been significantly more if the gift shop keeper didn't lose her cool…). Nearing the room, Gavroche noticed the custodian brush past them.
The man looked familiar, but as Gav strained to look back at the retreating form, he couldn't place the face.
"Gav, what's up?" Courfeyac questioned, noticing the boy's curious eyes.
"Nothin Courf," he responded. "That janitor looked familiar, maybe he cleaned my room." Gav shrugged.
At the doorway, Gavroche dumped all the chocolate bars he'd been holding (which was barely even half the stock they got their hands on.) in Courfeyac's unprepared arms and bolted into the room. A wide and cheeky grin broke across his features when he saw his sister up on the bed, holding two little babies.
"Wanna meet them Gav?" Combeferre whispered, kneeling to the little boy's height. Gav nodded, slightly timid at the thought of being so close to the babies.
"I won't hurt 'em, will I 'Ferre?" He whispered.
Combeferre shook his head. "Naw Gav, Ponine's their Mum, they're strong babies." Éponine, tearing her gaze from her children, stuck her tongue out at her fiancé. "Yeah, but with you as their Daddy, they'll be doubly strong."
Combeferre laughed, lifting Gavroche onto the bed.
"Hey baby, you wanna meet your niece and nephew?" Éponine cooed, outstretching her hand from behind the little girl wriggling in her arm. Gavroche nodded timidly before moving closer to his sister and the bundles in her arms. Peering down at the little bundles, Gavroche began to giggle.
"She's just like you Ponine, fidgety." He reached out a finger, holding it above the little girl and smiling widely when she took a firm grasp of it.
"Looks like everything split 50/50," Courfeyac chuckled. "This little bugger's fast asleep like his daddy." Placing the piles of candy down on the table, he moved closer to the bed, the rest of the group squeezing into the small room.
"Ép, honey, they're beautiful." Musichetta breathed, pushing forward to getting a better look (and hopefully a cuddle) at her little niece and nephew.
"We've raided the shop!" Bahorel cried triumphantly, he and Bousset lifting their burden filled arms, Éponine would've laughed, if she wasn't so touched and overworked with emotions.
"Dear Lord, Pon, are you alright?" Grantaire blanched slightly, despite everything in the last couple of months, it was a bizarre site for Éponine to randomly cry.
She nodded, breaking into a watery smile. "I'm wonderful Grant, better than I have been in a long while." Her gaze flit down to her bundles. "I'm absolutely perfect."
"Well, what should we be calling them?" Joly questioned. "Should I get my old Flintstones car ready?" The others joined in his light banter, but soon Combeferre, his chest puffed out like a proud daddy, commanded attention of the room.
"No, we have not named our children after stone-age children, but if you lot kept your traps shut, I'd be more than happy to tell you their actual names."
The group continued to laugh for a bit more before they quieted down.
"Now, may I introduce to you all, Benjamin Henri and Sarah Aimee."
"You named your daughter after the group?" Enjolras asked, his voice sounding watery.
"Well, technically it means Loved Princess, but it was coincidental." Éponine shrugged. "Anyway, Ben's name means Son of the right hand."
"When did you guys dig into name meanings?" Cosette questioned. "You've been calling them Pebbles and Bam Bam for eight months!"
"Well, I had to flip through at least one of those baby books to keep Joly from fretting over me constantly." Éponine sighed.
"I was only trying to help." Joly whined. Musichetta patted his cheek gently while Bousset squeezed his shoulder affectionately cooing,
"We know babe, we know."
"Well," Jehan demanded. "Can we hold them?" The little poet was nearly bouncing with excitement, his new poetry anthologies clutched to his chest. Combeferre and Éponine shared a knowing look before giving their children a worried glance.
"Dear God," Feuilly sighed. "Parenthood has made them a singular being. They're going to be worse that Marius and Cosette." The group laughed, except Marius and Cosette of course, who immediately tried to defend their relationship.
"Yes yes Pontmercys, your relationship is a beautiful beautiful thing, but there is a more important matter at hand." Grantaire interrupted, patting both his friends' shoulders as they huffed in defeat.
"That matter would be?" Marius asked, still a little put off.
"Which baby I get to hold first." Grantaire declared, moving closest to the bed. Éponine laughed.
"Well, Benjamin might be a little easier to hold because he's out for the night," She paused, eyeing the heavens. "Hopefully, but Sarah seems eager to meet everyone."
As recent as two years ago, Grantaire would've been the last (if allowed at all) person to hold a baby. Grantaire and the bottle went hand in hand for most of his childhood through university. His friends, after their discovery that past spring, knew how he got his hands on the stuff, and why he clung to it like an infant a bottle. Then of course there was his father's death, and that's what probably drove Grantaire over the edge, and well, the scars still lined his wrists. But it was after a near death experience and Enjolras's near insanity at discovering a near dead Grantaire that sobered the cynic. Now, nearly three years completely clean, he was (well above anyone's wildest imaginations.) one of the most trustworthy and dependable of the group. (Enjolras liked to point this out, but Grantaire would argue afterwards that he's always been dependable, but they were just wary of how well they could trust him regarding their own safety and wellbeing.)
Despite this, Grantaire's confidence was still a sore spot. Looking from the little girl to her father, Grantaire sought approval.
"R, you're not going to break her." Combeferre chided, carefully lifting Sarah from Éponine's arm and handing her to Grantaire.
"Hullo little one." Grantaire breathed. "I'm you uncle Taire." He laughed when she took hold of one of his many necklaces that dangled down his neck.
"Ponine?" Gavroche whispered, drawing her attention back from Grantaire, Sarah, and all the other Amis who were now crowding around the infant.
"Yes Roche?"
"Can I hold Ben?"
Éponine looked to Combeferre and Courfeyac. The former nodded nervously while Courfeyac moved to the other side of the bed to be behind Gavroche.
"Alright Gav, but you have to be really careful ok? Support his head and the second you get tired or bored of holding him; tell me, Ferre or Fey, ok?"
The little boy nodded timidly, but he scooted closer to his sister and held his arms out.
"Gav, don't be so scared, the baby won't break, you just have to be careful." Courfeyac comforted, squeezing his shoulders supportively. Éponine expertly placed baby Ben in Gavroche's arms. The jostle startled the little boy and no sooner did he begin to blink in the scenery did he begin to whimper, finding he was no longer in his mother's arms. Gavroche panicked for a moment, but soon bent slightly to kiss little Ben's forehead.
"Don't worry Benny, Ponine's right there, I'm Gavroche, but that's too long, so you can call me Gav, or Roche. I'm," He paused, but knew what he really felt to these children, what he felt towards the baby's parents who were smiling at him lovingly. "I'm your big brofer. You need something Ben I'll help ya. I promise."
Éponine leaned back into Combeferre, tears streaming openly. Combeferre squeezed her to him, watching his friends, their family, fawn over the newest members. They laughed as Sarah soaked in the attention, never even whimpering as she was passed from person to person, in fact, (and Jehan and Bahorel will argue over who coaxed it from her.) they swear she laughed.
Once Gav had finished holding Ben, Courfeyac more than happily took the now awake child from his arms, Jehan at his side in moments.
"Poor bugger, you'd better hope Ponine's eyes carry her eye sight with them." Courf laughed and Jehan made faces at the little boy was finally beginning to wake up and take in his surroundings. Realizing he wasn't in either his mother or his father's arms, he let out a shrill cry, causing Sarah distress and soon too shrieking babies drowned the laughter of the room.
"Oh dear, my poor little babies, already missing Mama?" Éponine sighed, but was sufficiently surprised when both babies were quieted, by the unlikeliest of saviors.
Sarah, who had once enjoyed being passed from person to person had finally arrived in Bahorel's arms. The fighter, who was not only the tallest, but the bulkiest member of the group, looked quite out of place with an infant in his arms. Sarah was about the size, if not smaller than his forearm. When she began to shriek he didn't panic, he simply brought the little girl closer to his face and whispered sweet nothings and lullabies to her. Sarah was quiet (and possibly even smiling) not two minutes later.
Meanwhile Ben, who had only made it through Courf, Jehan, and Feuilly, had landed in Bousset's' arms when he began to wail. That alone had terrified the poor bald and relatively unlucky young man. Fearing he'd either drop the child or frighten him even more, he proceeded to pull funny faces at the little boy. When this began, Ben, who appeared interested in the funny man, let his cries cool, then come down to soft hiccups. After a few cycles of faces, Ben had not only calmed down, but he too appeared to be enjoying the man's faces.
Éponine watched awe struck and overwhelmed with love. Here were her boys, each unique, silly, terrifying, and brilliant in their own rite and her babies were not in distress for more than five minutes before they set into action to calm them and make the feel better. Much like her boys had done for her all those years ago, and even all those months ago. Each one meant so much to her and she was relieved she and Combeferre had these uncles, guardians, guides, role models, and (thank GOD), babysitters to rely on.
Soon, after each baby had been held and coddled over by every member of the group at least twice and their eyes had long drifted shut (along with Gavroche's, who was now curled into Éponine's side.), the group began to shuffle out, giving the new family some space. Before everyone could shuffle out though, Éponine lightly squeezed Combeferre's arm. He understood the signal and nodded.
Extending his fingers he pointed out a couple members.
"Can you guys stay for just a sec?"
See! It's not a bad cliffe! So this being said... Poll's still up!
Also, I might do some more of those one-three shots in this universe... any ideas? Love to hear 'em!
Leave a comment/review or follow/fav (or both... they make my day :) )
until next time lovelies! =D