The River's Just a River
A/N: I have a butt load of homework, but I won't worry anyone who will be where I am by telling you what it is I have the homework for, so... Well, I'll be writing on Sat's/ Sundays, and depending on how my schedule works, you can expect updates on Mondays through fridays. I'd write more on the A/N, but i'm semi-braindead right now, so I'll get back to you on that long A/N. Thanks for the reviews, I like how I almost made someone cry. Yeah, hope you like this chapter and I officially ship Joly/ Azelma. if you know any good fics, I'd love to read them, I can't find diddly squat. Also, if you know any good Fred/Angelina from harry potter fanfictions, I like those too. thanks. oh wow, i made this a long A/N YAY!
I sat on the porch, sadly for a few hours, knowing I was safe there, and when it felt like it was late enough, I decided to go and visit my siblings. Gavroche would want to see me first. Gav was always eager to see me; he treated my visits like privileges, and that always made me feel bad because I used to not visit him often.
So, I got up, and dusted myself off, mentally dusting off any emotions that would make him suspect that anything was wrong, and I marched out of the dreadful 12 Rue de Plumet and towards Courfeyrac's flat. I knew where Courfeyrac lived, because I'd been there on many occasions. He was my friend, and he liked inviting me over to his house as long as I brought my (though it seemed like his) brother.
This time, I took the long way around, avoiding the ABC café, because I didn't want to have to see him this soon. Him being either Enjolras or Marius, I didn't want to see either at the moment, though my heart still cracked at the thought of Enjolras. You let him go, it was your own dumb fault, and you could have stayed with him and forgotten about Marius!
Several minutes later, I reached Courfeyrac's apartment building and stood outside looking up at the window. Would he be mad at me for coming? It seemed like he was pretty mad at me the other day, but he had my little brother, and I really needed to see Gavroche now. And, I still cared about Courfeyrac, as a friend; I cared about all of Les Amis. Plus, I was still going to help with the barricades, so I'd see him sooner or later, so….
"Courfeyrac!" I shouted upwards, "Courfeyrac!"
Nervously, I stared upwards hoping that nobody I didn't want to hear my voice heard. There was movement of the curtains, and his window opened, Gavroche popped his head out.
"You're here! I'll open up!" Gavroche shouted down.
I smiled at his messy head of hair, and his sleepy eyes, and he disappeared from the window. A moment later, Courfeyrac popped his head out of the window too, and he smiled at me politely and waved. To me it seemed awkward, and possibly forced, but he changed my opinion quickly.
"Good to see you, friend, good morning," Courfeyrac smiled.
Neither of them said my name, because if you just shouted out "Eponine!" my disguise would do me no good. A few seconds later, the front door opened and Gavroche pulled me in quickly locking the door behind me. Once we were safe inside the building, Gav wrapped his arms around me and buried his head in my chest.
"You're here, Eponine," he sighed, "Come on upstairs."
After saying this, he climbed the stairs four at a time- remarkable for his smaller legs- and I chased him up the stairs, panting heavily by the time we reached the top. At the door to his apartment, Courfeyrac stood with the door open. Gavroche hurried past him and inside and I approached the door cautiously.
"Welcome, Eponine," Courfeyrac said, softly, and he hugged me tightly.
My eyes were shut as I rested my head on his shoulder. Then, he pulled away cheerfully as he always was, and led me inside the apartment.
"I haven't made breakfast yet," he said, as he closed the door behind us, "Fancy anything?"
"No, not really, so how's it been?" I asked.
"We're going to strike against the National Guard, we'll show the king how the people must be treated, show him how he's been treating us, and we'll free France!" Gavroche pronounced.
Both my eyebrows arched at this, and I stared at him disbelievingly. Man, he sounded like-
"He sounds like a mini Enjolras, has the same hair-ish too, just not quite as curly," Courfeyrac laughed.
"How is my future brother in law -who now has to teach me about running a rebellion-? I'm going to make him make me second in command," Gavroche announced, beaming.
"That's not fair! I'll get shoved down to fourth, Combeferre would be third where I was, and you'd be more important than me," Courfeyrac whined.
"But did your sister melt the man of marble's heart?" Gavroche teased.
"I don't have a sister," Courfeyrac mumbled fake angrily.
As I watched them tease each other, a smile appeared on my face, but I still felt bad… should I tell them we broke up? I mean, they hadn't asked if we were together, 'Vroche just asked how he was.
"Hahaha, well Enjolras is fine," I said with a smile.
Suspiciously, Courfeyrac looked me in the eyes to see if I was lying, but I stared forward at him, keeping the smile in my eyes without an effort. He wasn't able to decode me, and he smiled back, relieved.
"I've got sweet bread, want some of that for breakfast?" Courfeyrac suggested.
Both Gavroche and I nodded, and Courfeyrac eased up and hurried out of the living room to get us the bread, he seemed considerably happier now that he "knew" Enjolras and I hadn't broken up… he'd find out sooner or later, but for this moment, I wanted to just be around the happy Courfeyrac and my happy brother.
"I can't wait until the barricades in two days!" Gavroche grinned, "tomorrow we get the cartridges, load everything, and the day after, we fight for Paris! It's going to be great, we have great men fighting with us, and the National Guard won't have seen it coming!"
"Listen, 'Vroche, if things get too dangerous-"
"It's going to be dangerous, it's a war, Eponine," Gavroche said seriously, "But don't fear, I'll be armed and ready to take anyone out who tries to harm my friends or me."
"But if we start losing-"I started.
"I'm confident we won't," Gavroche shook his head.
Uhhh… Gav was so stubborn sometimes! But I was even more so, and I was cleverer than him. Instead of letting a triumphant smile spread across my face as I realized how I could trick him into doing what I wanted, I looked at him seriously and cockily.
"Wow, you're confident you won't? Fine, bet on it," I said.
"We're betting on a war?!" Gavroche gasped, "All right."
"Fine, if we start losing, if we're down to only seventy men, you and me are gone," I suggested.
"No!" Gavroche roared, "I can't abandon my friends like that!"
"But you're not going to lose are you?" I asked.
"We're not losing… but…hmmm… uh… fine, deal, but only because I know we're not losing," Gavroche muttered.
"Good," I sneered, sitting back.
"Fine," he smirked, turning the other way.
From behind Gavroche came Courfeyrac, smiling. He nodded at me as he stepped in and mouthed thank you before 'Vroche could see. I felt a sudden rush of admiration for my friend, he cared so much for my little brother, and Courfeyrac was pretty much my brother too.
"Here we go," Courfeyrac said, setting the tray down on the table before us, "I've got water too."
The sweet bread was wonderful; I hadn't had some in so long… 'Vroche seemed content as he ate, and I took small bites to savor it for as long as possible. Courfeyrac didn't eat, but he lay down on the couch and tried to fall asleep with his face in the pillow.
"I'm going to visit Azelma, want to come?" I asked Gavroche.
"Non, Courfeyrac promised he'd teach me how to shoot today," Gavroche said.
"I did not," Courfeyrac muttered, his voice muffled by the pillow
"But you will anyways, won't you?" Gavroche asked.
"Yes, but after I get some rest," Courfeyrac groaned.
"It's settled then, you should go visit Azelma now before Enjolras calls all Les Amis to action and then it will be hard for you, 'cause who knows where he'll send Joly and then when you find him, you'll have to look for Zelma who would either be next to him, or hiding behind a corner stalking him, it would be a lot of work," Gav explained, sounding tired.
"Girls," Courfeyrac muttered.
"Tell me about it," Gav nodded.
Rolling my eyes, I got up and hugged Gavroche goodbye, then as I left, I sat on Courfeyrac making him "oof" as I did it quickly. Laughing, I made my way to the door before calling goodbye to him and leaving.
Wow, that really did work. I was feeling loads happier, and I'd decided to ignore the little white lie I'd told Courfeyrac. Feeling lighter and happier, I hurried over to Joly's flat humming to myself along the way to keep me busy. This reminded me of why Gav hums all the time, it helps keep him happy, something I taught him when he was little.
Gavroche was on the floor, crying, his arm was badly bruised and I looked at him, my heart broken at the sight of my hurt little brother. Father was gone now, I didn't have to worry about him, now I could take care of my little baby brother.
"Hey, Gavy," I whispered.
"Hi 'Ponie," Gavy sniffled.
"Don't you fret, little Gavroche, you won't feel any pain," I whispered, "Just hum Gavroche, singing's too loud, but if you hum to yourself, you'll feel better."
"Why?" he sniffed, his big blue eyes looking into mines in awe, fear, pain, and wonder.
"Because, Gavroche, if you hum to yourself a happy tune, a- um… happy spell, yeah, a happy spell will be cast on you," I said, making it up as I went.
I sat on the floor next to him, and put my arm around him, and began humming his favorite song…
Finally I was in front of Joly's house. It was a really small house from the outside, but on the inside it was huge- especially to a gamine like me. Calmly, I walked up to the door and knocked gently. Holding my hands together, I waited until the door opened. When it did, Azelma's worried face looked at me. Once she recognized me, she looked relieved and wrapped her hands around me. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she had on a really cute light green dress.
"Oh, I thought you were another patient, come in," Azelma sighed.
"Joly overworking you?" I grinned.
"Nah, I can't imagine how he did this all on his own," Azelma groaned, "He's training me so I can help him at the barricades, my idea of course, and he called me brilliant," she swooned.
At this, I forced the smile. Uhhh… Did both my siblings have to be involved with the revolution? I followed my sister, and admired her long, brown ponytail as we walked past the small living room and into the "patient room" which would have been the dining room. Joly is a germ freak, so he turned his dining room into a patient room and eats in the living room. He stores everything, food, medical supplies, wine, all in the kitchen, and upstairs were three rooms.
He asked his parents to upgrade him from a one bedroom flat to a three bedroom flat when he first started bringing patients home, and they sent him the money for the cheapest he could find. I never actually remembered how rich most these boys were, but whenever I went to Joly's house, I felt like a slave friends with a prince. Even though his house wasn't big, it was really small for the amount of rooms it had, it was still much more than I had.
"Another one, Zelly?" Joly's voice called as we walked in.
"No, Just Eponine," Azelma responded.
Joly was kneeling, fixing a kid's bloody leg, whose mother was behind him, holding his shoulders teary eyed. There were stuff on the table, and Joly was picking things up and replacing them. On another chair was a young man, clutching his stomach and looking really sick. There was a bucket next to him… and there was a woman who was holding her arm, blood seeping through her fingers.
"Oh, Hi 'Ponine… Zelly- err- Azelma, do you mind taking care of Madam Desiree?" Joly asked, never looking away from his patient.
"I've got it," Zelly said and rushed over to help.
"Zelly?" I questioned, walking over to the empty chair by the wall, and occupying it.
"Sorry, just a nickname… if you want me to stop calling her that, I will," Joly blushed.
"Hmm… no, I think Zelly is cute, what do you think, Zelly?" I teased.
I glanced over at my sister who was wiping blood of Madam Desiree's arm, and she was blushing furiously. Oh how I enjoyed it when I had opportunities like this!
"Shut up, Eponine," Azelma said, her voice shaking.
Laughing, I sat in my seat and watched them take care of the patients, both looking equally focused. Occasionally, Azelma would have to ask Joly what would be best to put on the wound, or to get her the right thread and needle for stitches… I looked at her, surprised that she even knew how to do any of this, but she continued working on the patient, looking determined, and blushing when Joly approached to check on her.
Naturally, Joly was the first to finish, and he tended to the sick guy with the bucket, asking him his symptoms, and stuff. He gave the boy medicine and sent him off, without asking for pay from either of them. Both left him a franc that he tried to refuse, but they left it on their chairs, and sighing, Joly picked them up when everyone- even Azelma's patient- was gone.
"I hate it when they leave money," Joly murmured and looked down for a minute at the floor.
Meanwhile, 'Zelma was cleaning up, carrying things to the kitchen, and then mopping up any blood. It felt good to know that I had such a kind hearted friend and sister. When Azelma was finished, Joly thanked her.
"Let's go to the living room now, I'll wash my hands and be there," Joly said.
"I need to wash up too!" Azelma cried, following him to the kitchen.
Giggling, I walked into the living room and sat down on a nice chair next the couch. I looked around until Joly and Azelma came in laughing a few awkward minutes later. They sat on the couch together, and Joly instantly leaned back, Azelma leaning on him, and his arm went around her. When he looked at me, his laughing smile vanished, and he coughed, sat up, and put his hands together so his arm was no longer around my sister and only smiled politely. 'Zelma sighed, and leaned away from him, resting her head on her hand which was propped on the arm rest.
"So… how have you been?" I asked.
"Good," Joly nodded casually as Azelma replied even more dreamily than Marius, "Great."
"Um, Joly, just out of curiosity, how old are you turning on your next birthday?" I asked.
"Twenty years old," he blushed.
Azelma glared at me outraged, but I laughed, and gave them a sorry glance.
"I'm teasing, Joly," I said.
"Yeah," he nodded, forcing an awkward laugh at precisely the wrong time.
"Sorry," I giggled, "Here I come causing mischief…"
Azelma was still glaring daggers at me, so I changed the subject quickly- I'm smart, you see.
"Oh, I, um, just visited Gav," I explained.
Her eyes softened, and she sat up, "What did he say?"
There was a hint of a pout in her voice, but she'd softened; I'd be okay, she would get over it quickly.
"Ah, nothing, just blabbed about how committed he was to the cause," I sighed.
Both Zelma and Joly laughed at this.
"He could be the younger clone of Enjolras," Joly laughed.
"I know," Azelma agreed, "He's so obsessed with this, one time he was asking me if I loved the revolution enough, over and over again,what was that about?" she laughed.
I laughed with them, but I couldn't ignore the pinch in my heart when Joly mentioned Enjolras. We laughed about Gavroche, and started talking about Grant's funny moments and things felt as great as they did when I was with 'Vroche and Courfeyrac.
"So what kind of patients have you tended to?" I asked Azelma.
"Joly's taught me everything from sick people to helping the nearly dead," Azelma explained, "Right now he's having me focus on injuries, like stab-wounds, shots, bruises, infections, stuff like that so I can be prepared for the barricades."
At this, Joly looked even more uncomfortable and looked up at me, worried that I was going to strike. Sometimes these boys treated me like a dog, nice one moment, biting the next.
"Ah… well, Gav and I have a plan in case if things go wrong at the barricades," I explained.
"They won't," Azelma said.
"Shut up, you sound like Gavroche," I muttered, then said in a normal voice, "If the numbers rank down to seventy, we're out, and you should come."
There was a pained look in her eyes, she always followed me, and she glanced over at Joly. No. She wasn't choosing which she was going to follow- was she? The answer was me, I was her big sister after all!
"You should go, Azelma, if we're in danger of losing, you could lose your life just helping with the sick," Joly said, softly.
"But… I couldn't leave you," she whispered, then quickly added, "guys."
"I wouldn't want to put your life in danger," Joly said, "You're young-"
"So are you!" Azelma cried.
Suddenly, there was an urgent knock on the door, and Joly scrambled up and rushed over to the door. When Joly was gone, Zelma turned to me.
"I'll think about it," she said and I nodded in response, unwilling to say anything. After an awkward pause, she added, "He's usually not this busy, gosh, today's an unlucky day," Azelma explained.
"I got this one, Zelly," Joly called.
"Okay," she shouted back.
"I've learned a lot from him," she said, "He's such a great teacher, and I felt bad about him wasting his time teaching me how to do things, but he said not to worry about it, because if he could teach it to someone else, he knew the material well. He said I helped him study."
"My sister, the excellent study tool," I teased.
"Remember when Papa made me break that glass with my fist?" Azelma asked.
Frowning, I nodded, recalling that horrible time. He'd done it to earn the pity of a benefactor who was a philanthropist, Father wanted as much money from him as possible, so if the window was broken and the room was cold, he might have wanted to give more…
"I could take care of it now, I know how to fix those kinds of wounds," she explained.
"That's good," I smiled and suddenly felt awkward, "I should go now," I murmured.
"Oh, Eponine, you don't need to go now," she sighed.
"I've got some catching up to do; I'll see you later, okay?" I asked.
"Yeah," Azelma sighed.
She walked me to the door, chit chattering softly about her life with Joly and how much she got to help people, and how much she'd learned. We reached the door, and I hugged her goodbye before stepping through it. When I stepped out the door, into the sun, I remembered something I forgot to ask, and turned with a smirk to face my little sister.
"Oh, Zelly, I forgot to ask, are you and Joly… dating?" I asked, smiling this time for real.
Another layer of blush piled on her, and she looked at me as if deciding whether or not she could confide in me. She was so readable; I knew the answer before she said it.
"Oui," she whispered softly.
"Oooh!" I shrieked, "Have you kissed?!"
"Bye, Eponine," she grinned, closing the door in my face.
Ah, young love. I walked away from Joly's house smiling brightly, but the further I got from the house, the more I remembered, and the sadder I got. By the time I'd reached the corner, I was sad again; those happy moments were just a memory again.
Frowning, I walked and I reached the river and remembered jumping in with Enjolras to escape 'Parnasse. I hadn't seen Montparnasse for so long, but I was certain he was alive and looking for me. This time, I looked at the shimmering river and realized that, the river's just a river.