Chapter 23

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake."

NICE 1830

Enjolras knew he had to go back to Nice. His first child is being born yet he can't shake the feeling that he should be with Eponine, on that hospital bed, helping her fight for her life. He saw the blood.

He hoped it wasn't too much to cause her life.

On the carriage ride home, his mind is split into two.

He has a different life now; his wife is giving birth and all he can see is his past, lying on a hospital bed, struggling to stay alive.

Then he remembered what Eponine told him before he left the palace, on the centre of the inquisition area. I want to know that you're alive somewhere, thinking about me from time to time. I want to know that there's more to this life and I can't know that if they kill you.

He sighed. I want to know that you're alive somewhere too. He thought. Soon, he saw the house. The lights were on the top floor. He quickly rushed into the house, once he got out of the carriage, letting the butler fix his stuff.

He was on the second landing, ready to burst into the room when Favourite stopped him.

"Is she alright?" He asked. She nodded. "She's having a hard time letting out the baby, but she'll be alright." Again, Enjolras forced himself to go inside but Favourite wouldn't let him. Instead, she said that she'll give news leaving him waiting on the second landing's waiting room. His father was there, looking out of nowhere.

"How was the party?" He asked, for casual conversation.

"She's given birth too early." Is all Enjorals said. His father sighed. "It happens Enjolras. Nothing will happen to her. She'll be alright."

Enjolras shook his head. She was sick before this. He was cursing himself, trying to hurt himself, kicking the table in front of him.

He shouldn't have gone to the party.

3 weeks ago

Enjolras just closed a letter from Combeferre. "What's that? You seem troubled?" Daphne asked, who just woken up from her slumber. She coughed.

Enjolras shook his head. "Combeferre was just inviting me to Courfeyrac's birthday party."

"Would you be going?" Daphne asked. Enjolras looked at her and shrugged, "Probably not." He sat at the chair beside the bed. Daphne sat up and stared at him, "Why not?" she asked.

"I have to take care of you. You're close to giving birth." Enjolras said.

"I'm about a month more. You can go." Daphne said.

"Daphne, I insist to stay." Enjolras argued.

"Well, I insist you go." Daphne said. She stared at him. He stared at her. He sighed. She smiled knowing she just won.

His was too tired to walk around, so he sat. Praying that everything will be okay. He held on to something though he didn't realized what it was until his father pointed it out.

"I've never seen that before. I realized you always wore that." His father said. Enjolras looked down on his hand and saw the key.

"Where's the locket?" His father asked. He didn't answer.

He wanted to tug the necklace off, to remove it from his neck but he couldn't do it. He knew that somewhere, deep in his heart, he still loved Eponine. And maybe, he will always.

It's been two hours and still the doors were locked. Who knew giving birth took so much time. When Favourite walked out the door, Enjolras stood up, ready to see his wife but by the look in Favourite's face, he didn't know if there was something worth seeing at the other side of that door. Favourite talked to Monsieur Tholomyes and then slowly walked towards Enjolras.

Enjolras stiffened, waiting for the blow of the information he's going to receive.

"She wants to see you" instead was Favourite's words.

He sighed.

He walked slowly towards the door. He can just hear a faint crying at the other adjoining bedroom. He saw Daphne laying there, faced covered with sweat. She looked weary.

She smiled once she heard him enter.

"Are you alright?" Enjolras asked and she merely nodded. He couldn't stand to face her; to see her at this state.

"Our child is a girl." She whispered. He didn't hear it at first but then the words sort of made sense. He had a daughter.

He held her hands, and kissed it slowly. She laughed. She stared at him, and then at something at his chest and she reached out for it. Little did Enjolras realized that the key was hanging on his neck. "I'm want to name her Diane." she said as she played with the locket in her hands. He tries the name out on his tongue and it seemed right.

"This is a pretty key." Daphne said, finally meeting his eyes. "Where's the locket?" She knew that he didn't have to answer. She knew where the locket was. She knew what type of key that was.

"I bet the locket is pretty as her." Daphne whispered. He didn't know what she was getting at. "How could you have afforded that?" she asked in a whisper but he heard it still.

"I saved almost one year's pay to afford it." He answered anyways. She smiled.

"She is a lucky girl." This time, Enjolras didn't know who she was talking about. "Take care of her when I'm gone, alright?" Daphne whispered silently. She looked over the door to the other side of the room where they can hear the silent whimpers of their baby girl.

"I'm not going to lose you." Enjolras said. This made Daphne smile.

"I want you to be happy, Enjolras. I don't want you to stay alone." Daphne suddenly said. Somehow, it felt so real that she really was leaving. He already lost two women in his life, he can't lose another. Sometimes, it was so futile to love someone. They were always just going to leave. He sighed and pushed the thought back. He looked at Daphne.

"I won't be alone. I have you." Enjolras said. Her smile was faltering. It didn't seem to reach her eyes anymore. She looked so tired. He thought that she should just rest and that tomorrow, everything will be better. But somehow looking at Daphne today, his hopes are getting lower and lower. The cries outside didn't just sound like a child's, but he can hear a mother's whimper through the doors.

Daphne seemed to hear it to. She looked down at her hands, and then wiped the tears forming in her eyes.

"The doctor said I don't have much time." Daphne finally admitted, looking outside the window. Enjolras continued to hold her hand. "I don't want her to grow up without a family. Promise me, Enjolras, that you would stay with her." Enjolras kissed the back of her hand. He didn't know if he could promise her anything. She stopped talking, making Enjolras panic but then he heard her shallow breaths and somehow, he knew that it just might be alright.

He walked out of the door, watching Favourite cry her eyes out. He didn't want to talk to anyone, instead he walked towards the guest room to get some rest because he desperately needed some. Before he slept though, the butler came to his room with a telegram.

It didn't hold anything of importance if you didn't know what it meant but it held meaning to Enjolras. It wrote three simple words, with Courfeyrac's signature at the bottom. She is alright.

A/N

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Merry Christmas, guys :)

-E