"Melaina, wake up." Alexander whispered in her ear which made her shiver.

"I don't want to." She mumbled as she turned over and huddled under the blankets. She could hear his laugh as he got off of the bed and tapped her shoulder.

"You have to. Didn't you promise me to go to the meeting with me?" With that, her lids flipped open and Melaina sat up, the blankets falling down and she didn't care this time. As she looked up, a frown appeared on her face.

"Rude." She huffed as he leaned in to kiss her good morning before pulling away. He was already dressed, yet his hair was still tousled from sleep. Melaina had cut it when he had been home during the last two days.

"Well, you get to model your new dress for me." He said as he leaned against their desk and watched her.

"I do." She said as she flung her legs over the side of the bed and got up slowly. A sleeve fell down her shoulder as she stretched and her eyes found Alexander looking at her.

"What is it?"

"I hurt you." He said, and it seemed like his voice broke. Melaina looked down and she saw bruises on her shoulders and she smiled before looking up at him.

"No, you didn't. The boys won't see the bruises, Alexander." She pulled as she tugged the nightgown over her head and grabbed her corset and shift that were lying over the dress on a chair. She stood up and quickly tied the corset before fixing her shift and pulling the gown over her head. was something that Melaina thought belonged as a curtain, but it was easy to wear and of some sort of fashion. She tied the sash around her waist and decided to leave her hair down with the curls trailing down her back. She lifted her head to look at her husband and he held out his hand for her to take.

"We can eat something quickly, can we not?" She asked as she pulled him down the stairs.

"I'm not hungry, Melaina."

"Just a little something. I won't have you pass out." She said sternly as they quickly nibbled on bread and fruit. Melaina was satisfied that he did eat something and they were probably going out to eat after the meeting.

"Come, the coach is waiting." He said once the last dish dried.

The coach was waiting for the couple as they left their house and Enjolras quickly locked the door behind him before he took Melaina's arm and they walked out together. Enjolras instructed the coachman where to go before he lifted Melaina into the coach and quickly followed.

"You didn't have to do that, you know."

"I didn't want your pretty little dress to get ruined."

"Liar." She said with a smile and his response was a quick kiss to her cheek. His face seemed to glow the closer they got to the destination. It seemed to be a wineshop, but it wasn't the one that Melaina was used to. It was one that was in a different location, less of the poor crowded the streets and more of the rich walking the streets. Melaina tore her gaze from the window to look at her husband who was staring at the ceiling of the coach with a grave expression.

"Alexander, where are we?" Melaina never really left Paris when she had moved here after her father had died.

"In a different section of Paris. Combeferre picked the place. I didn't want people following us."

"By people you mean the police." There was one Inspector who was merciless with his charges. Melaina once saw him pick up a boy older than Gavroche and said he was going to be in prison if he didn't get out of his sight.

"You don't need to worry about Inspector Javert. Courferyac did some research and he never comes to these parts. Why should he?" Alexander said as he looked out the window quickly. "We're almost there."

We'll be fine. He just said it. Why am I worrying? Melaina thought as the coach suddenly skidded to a stop. "We're here, Monsieur." Alexander dug a few francs out of his pocket and handed it to the man. "Thank you." Melaina said quickly before Alexander helped her down and gave her hand a quick squeeze. He let go quickly, yet Melaina took her chance to grab his hand and pull him back.

"Alexander." She mouthed his name and he seemed to know what she was going to say.

"I will always love you, Melaina." He said softly before he kissed her forehead and brought her inside. The door opened for them and Combeferre peeked around the door as a smile grew.

"Perfect, you're here!" He exclaimed with a nervous tremor as he brought Melaina inside. Her green eyes flashed around the room curiously and she saw four other groups of men. There were about fifty others with her and she felt very tiny. Most of the boys' looks strayed towards her and some were appreciative, yet one had a lustful look in his eye. Melaina swallowed nervously and made her way towards the boys that she knew. Grantaire was grouped with Courferyac and little Gavroche who lit up at the sight of her. Melaina kissed the boy's head gently. Feuilly, Lesgle and Joly gave her a smile and Lesgle passed her another pin that they had made.

"Thank you. Mine was getting old." She whispered as she heard a throat being cleared. She looked up and saw Alexander looking at her.

"If my wife would be quiet for a few moments, I'd like to get started," He said and a few of the boys looked back quickly before focusing their attention on him. It was quiet for a few minutes and Melaina was going to ask him what he was doing before she heard his voice. It had the lyrical voice of a song, yet strong with the assurance that he knew what he was talking about. His voice grew with the bravado he exerted and as his hands slashed in the air, Melaina sighed in awe. Alexander seemed to glow as he continued to talk about their plans. The leaders of the other groups joined in and asked questions to which he answered that they will discuss the finer points of the plans when he was done. He continued to talk of his reasons why for a few more minutes before Combeferre stood up.

"I think that's enough, Enjolras. We should gather the leaders and pick the plans."

Alexander gave Combeferre a tight lipped look as his arms crossed over his chest. Melaina knew that he was only half way done with his speech and had other important things to worry about. The two stared down when Alexander did something that Melaina wasn't expecting: He stepped down and nodded. Melaina remembered how Combeferre is Alexander's right hand man and he would always take advice from him if it worked with his plan.

The leaders stood up quickly and made their way towards the two men while the boys conversed among themselves. Gavroche took Melaina's hand in his and she felt the little boy shaking like a leaf.

"Gavroche! Is everything alright?" She asked nervously before he looked up at her.

"Yes, Mela! I'm just so... excited." He said in a stage whisper which gave Melaina a reason to smile. His eyes were bright with excitement and as his gaze kept flickering towards Alexander and Combeferre, Melaina thought he was probably thinking of what he wanted to be when he was older.

"I can tell! This meeting has put me in a feeling of.. awe." She whispered back to the boy and he grinned up at her. The two laughed quietly and Melaina ruffled his hair lightly. She felt a gaze on her and her green eyes looked around the room. The boy that had looked at her when she walked in kept glancing at her and grinning in a way that made her very uncomfortable. Her eyes flickered back to her husband who was immersed in his conversation between two other leaders while the three and Combeferre listened quietly.

Melaina leaned towards Courferyac and she whispered softly in his ear. "Do you know when the meeting will be over?" He turned around quickly to look at her and replied quietly. "Only a few more minutes, Melaina. Why? You have somewhere to go?" He asked in a teasing tone which made Melaina laugh a little too loudly and swat the boy on his shoulder.

"Everything alright over there, you two?" Another boy from one of the groups called out and everyone's eyes fell to them.

"Is there a problem, Eugene?" His leader asked him and the man shook his head before sitting down. Melaina felt her cheeks burn as Alexander's gaze fell on her, but there was no look of disdain. Only a bit of irritation. But only a bit, nothing more. There was a moment of silence before Combeferre announced the next plan would be given. He looked over to their group and Courferyac got up and joined his comrades.

"Oh, Alexander! What a great idea of making Courferyac influence the rest of the groups! It worked perfectly!" Melaina called out as she ran over to her husband as the rest of the men left the wine shop. Combeferre gave an instruction to meet at this restaurant in about ten minutes which is where everyone else was going.

"Combeferre thought of it since Courferyac is a natural influencer." He stated plainly as he accepted her kiss on his cheek.

"You're being modest again."

"Ah, well, what did I tell you before? I have to be." He retorted with a ghost of a smile on his lips. Melaina giggled behind her hand as he took her arm gently and brought her outside. The rest of their group was waiting for them with Gavroche bouncing on his toes, his excitement still plain on his face. The other groups were ahead of them by a few feet, yet it seemed that a few were walking slower than the rest. The boy that had looked at her was one of them and he was conversing with another from his group. Melaina pushed a thought away as she heard Combeferre say how he should check up on his wife.

"How is Genevieve?" Melaina asked as she looked back. Combeferre's face lit up and he smiled at her.

"She's doing splendid. The baby's been quiet and Joseph is a good older brother. He loves carrying Carolyn around." Melaina sighed quietly and smiled at him before looking over at her husband. His eyes found hers and she turned back quickly when Combeferre continued to talk about his children.

"How old is Carolyn now?"

"About eight months. She's getting big."

"I would love to visit one day."

"I think Gene would love that, Melaina." He replied as he opened the door to the restaurant for her. The rest of the boys were already seated and Melaina squeezed her way through so she could sit at one of the chairs they saved. Alexander sat down at the one next to hers while Combeferre seated himself on Alexander's left. Waiters immediately came out to pour everyone a glass of wine which Alexander kindly refused. Melaina sipped on her glass and she watched as Grantaire nursed a bottle for himself. Gavroche tried sneaking Courferyac's who tweaked the boy's nose before tapping at his glass of water.

During the dinner, Alexander was quiet and stayed in his thoughts. Melaina felt his hand drift over her leg and brushed against her arm so she knew he wasn't so distracted. With the boys drinking and being their true selves, Melaina could see their personalities shine. Combeferre had manners that would put a prince to shame, Feuilly's enthusiasm made the person he was talking to be put to shame, Courferyac had a gleam in his eyes which made anyone want to listen, Bahorel's smile made anyone cheer up instantly, Jehan's sweet remarks and how he was so peaceful, Joly's facts about everything, Bossuet's witty and sarcastic remarks while Grantaire absorbed everything that was brought out to him. Stitch them together with their passion of the Revolution along with Enjolras's leadership and they made the perfect team.

There was a lot of bawdy laughter from the other tables and it seemed that the boys were drunk. Even Grantaire wasn't drinking as much as he did... which was definitely odd to Melaina. As the plates were cleaned off, the bill paid, the wine bottles thrown away, the boys got up and walked out of the restaurant with hearty smiles. Alexander took Melaina's arm and walked out when they heard voices yelling outside. The man dropped her arm and rushed outside while demanding what was going on. Melaina took her skirts in her hands before following the rest of the men outside. One of the boys who was piss drunk was yelling at a man who had seemed to just stepped on his foot. Melaina couldn't make out what he was saying because of how the boy was shouting, his words slurring together. The man ignored him and Melaina thought he was going to walk away safely.

But, the boy quickly took out his gun and shot the man. The bullet caught his arm and the man staggered to the ground as the boy's friends kicked the gun out of his hand. The man howled in pain and Melaina rushed over to him as did Joly.

"Melaina, get cloth from the restaurant and hot water. Now." He said, seriously before the girl ran inside and told the workers what had happened. They helped bring out a pot of boiling water while Melaina carried two clean tablecloths and ripped them to shreds. She saw someone move in her peripheral vision and watched as Alexander strolled over to the man, his face clean of any emotion except pure calm and seriousness. His hand shot out to grip the man's hair and pushed him down to his knees. The man started to thrash and scream apologizes and cursing Enjolras.

"You have a minute to say your prayers, boy." He said, calmly as he braced his arm. Melaina's fingers were red with blood as they got the citizen's wound clean, but she couldn't stop looking at her husband. At all the power he radiated from his very being. Her husband's eyes focused on his watch, the silver watch his father had given him for his birthday. He mouthed the numbers down and all Melaina could hear was the boy's screams and begging Alexander to let him go.

"Alexander..." Melaina whispered as she realized what he was going to do. Joly took her arm, blood staining the material, but she shrugged it off and ran towards him.

"Alexander!" She cried out as Combeferre caught her around the waist while Enjolras took the pistol from the ground, placed it against the boy's head who was still screaming, insanely now and shot him. The sound made Melaina grimace and the boy's words were cut off.

Digging her nails into Combeferre's wrists like claws, she ran out of his arms and stood, looking at her husband with a look of pure horror etched on her face. She watched him kick the boy's body away and, with a sneer of his lips, said "Get rid of that." The body fell to the ground in which a puff of dust scattered into the air. His friends carried his body away and Melaina watched Alexander look at them with a sharp gaze. Shaking slightly, Melaina skittered back to Joly whose face was impassive.

"The bullet only grazed your arm, keep the bandages on for a few days and make sure to get someone to clean it every two hours." He said calmly as he helped the man up. His ragged breathes seemed worse to Melaina and he thanked the two before walking away slowly. Melaina watched the man enter a house almost twenty feet away and heard a shrill scream as his wife ran out to meet him. Turning around, Melaina focused on the man that she had to go home with.

"Courferyac, bring my wife home." Not her name, but my wife. She frowned.

"Why do I need to go home?" She asked and Enjolras ignored her to clean off the pistol and throw it away.

"Bring her home."

"No, I'm staying." She said defiantly and knew it was the wrong thing to say. His eyes focused on her and before she could react his hands were gripping the tops of her arms as he stared at her.

"You will do what I say." His voice was raw and almost rusty as he gave her another command.

"If I don't? What'll you do? Hurt me?"

"You're impossible." He seethed before pushing her away and leaving her behind. Courferyac walked towards her, but she shook her head.

"I can get home myself."