Chapter 26

It all happened so quickly it was like one huge… blur of events for Courfeyrac. One second the people had risen and Enjolras was coming forward ready to release the noose from his neck, but then the next he was falling…

Falling so fast he barely had any time to think, his vision became a struggle and there was the most agonising pain he had ever felt spreading throughout his body as the rope around his neck became tighter and tighter. He was grateful that his hands were not bound, scratching at his next his feeble attempts to loosen the noose made no difference. He could hear the sounds of women screaming, men crying out in anger, gunshots being fired and lastly the sound of his name being screeched from many familiar voices:

Enjolras

Combeferre

Marius

Eponine

Gavroche

Megan….

Gavroche.

He felt his arms becoming limp, his breathing was becoming too much of a struggle his eyes were slowly closing but just before they did he felt his legs and body crash back down to earth. He couldn't make out any of the dark shadows that appeared around him he felt like he was choking just before he closed his eyes he swore he heard the cries of a small boy.

When his eyes next opened he was blinded by the bright light that filled the small room. He felt so weak he came to the conclusion he didn't make it, as his eyes wondered around the small white room he could hear the faint voices of people he never thought he would hear again.

"Courf?" His eyes flickered towards the face of a very happy Joly who was standing next to him looking down, he looked so much paler than before with the clear gun wounds visible from his chest. "What are you doing mon ami? You shouldn't be here." Courfeyrac could see appearing from behind Joly the figures of Lesgle, Prouvaire, Bahorel and Feuilly all looking down at him with smiles on their faces. Courfeyrac felt a mixture of happiness for seeing the faces of his friends he had lost again but also he felt confused, did this mean he was dead? But before he could even ask his thoughts were interrupted,

"Courfeyrac, listen to me you need to go back, you are not needed here just yet." Prouvaire chuckled reaching his ghostly hand out to brush away the small curl of hair covering his eyes.

"Why? Why can't I stay?" His voice was stronger than he thought and the words just seemed to come out of him.

"Courf if there is one thing we have learnt being here" Bahorel began to answer, taking a seat at the end of the small bed, "Is that we all have our time to go, and right now you are needed, in more ways than you think." Feuilly's smile became wider as he saw Courfeyrac's face becoming more strained he clearly didn't understand it was almost cute.

"Gavroche Courf, Gavroche needs you, Taire Ferre and Enjolras really need you although at this time I am loving his new nickname I can't believe we didn't think of it before" There was the beautiful sound of laughter echoing the room. This was what Courfeyrac had missed. "But most of all that lovely mademoiselle Megan needs you, you found yourself a keeper there my friend, so don't leave her." If saying goodbye to his friends the first time was hard then the second time was defiantly the hardest thing Courfeyrac had ever done.

"Don't worry mon ami we will see each other again, just… not now. So go, enjoy life and please for my sake don't go and catch cholera the second you return." Courfeyrac couldn't help but crack a smile at his friend's sweet gentle advice and soon the figures of his five friends began to fade away but he would always remember the smiles on their faces even when his eyes closed yet again he could still see them.

"He's so still." Gavroche had never left Courfeyrac's bedside, his small hand clutching his brother's… No, his father's hand. He had vowed he would not shed another tear and since Courfeyrac's rescue only hours ago he had kept to his vow. But that did not stop the sound of fear and worry in his voice, and everyone could see that he was trying to build up the walls, trying not to let any emotion out. Megan who was sat behind Gavroche brought her arms around his small waist and held him close, she too had not left Courfeyrac's side.

"I know Gav, he's just… sleeping. He will soon wake up." Megan only just was able to finish her sentence. They were the only two sat in the room as the others sat together next door back in Cosette and Marius's home all praying for a miracle.

"What happens if-"

"Don't say it Marius!"

"Enjolras you saw how long he was hanging there, you can't possibly tell me that-"

"Enough! Please!" All heads turned in horror to see Cosette on her feet looking what seemed to be anger. "For the last few hours all you have done is argue, when Courfeyrac is in there fighting for his life! Can we please just stop this, do you really think Megan and Gavroche would want Courfeyrac to have your petty arguments be the first thing he hears?!" Both Enjolras and Marius nodded in agreement and sat back down, Eponine on instinct took Enjolras hand and gave it a soft squeeze. Enjolras gave in to her touch lowering his head so that it rested on her shoulder, he closed his eyes and repeated to small prayer for Courfeyrac's life to be returned over and over again. Grantaire and Bella sat nearest to the door leading to where Courfeyrac was lying, Grantaire was quietly whispering soft words of comfort to the weeping Bella, and she knew that if Courfeyrac left her sister's world would be crushed, all she had ever wanted was for Megan to be happy. Combeferre sat beside Marius resting his hand upon his friends shoulder in a quiet attempt to keep him seated and calm. Cosette had quickly returned to her seat next to Valjean who gladly welcomed her back into his arms rubbing her back softly, he had an expression in his eyes of sorrow. He had never met Courfeyrac properly but he already felt attached to the young boy as he did to all of the children seated before him.

Back in Courfeyrac's room Gavroche felt the warm comforting arms of Megan leave his waist, he turned his head slightly only to see Megan walk up to Courfeyrac and planting a small kiss onto his forehead, he could see tears forming in her eyes, could this mean? No it couldn't! Courfeyrac would never leave him, not without saying goodbye.

"Megan."

"I'm sorry Gav… He's gone."

He refused to believe it even when Megan leant closer to press a soft kiss to Courfeyrac's lips Gavroche refused to believe it. He watched Megan turn and head towards the door shaking his head tears of his own streaming down his face, he was about to call Megan back from the doorway when suddenly he felt the sheets beneath his twitch. Gavroche turned to face Courfeyrac's still form trying to locate where the twitch had occurred and soon he was faced with Courfeyrac's fingers slowly twitching,

"Courf?" The confusion in Gavroche's tone was what made Megan turn around, but soon she realised why. She was by his side in seconds joining in with Gavroche with bringing Courfeyrac back into their world.

"Courfeyrac? Please, please open your eyes." They continued to plead with his sleeping form, and soon they received an answer, Courfeyrac's eyes began to flicker and soon they opened completely.

"Gav? Megan?"

He was soon attacked with hugs from both Megan and Gavroche and he soon managed to find the strength to wrap his arms around the both of them. Gavroche untangled from the embrace and ran next door, leaving Megan no choice but to attack his lips with her own. Courfeyrac within seconds retuned her kiss, bringing his hand up to her neck bringing her closer. It was passionate and wet from the tears both had shed, but they were quickly interrupted by the rest of the Amis running into the room lead by Gavroche. Never had there been a more emotional moment in any of their knowledge, everyone including Valjean attacked Courfeyrac with embraces however Enjolras's lingered a little longer as he whispered

"I'm so sorry mon ami. Please forgive me." When he pulled away Courfeyrac replied not with words but with a small smile and a nod to match. Gavroche climbed up upon the bed again and positioned himself so that he was seated next to Courfeyrac resting his head in the crook of Courfeyrac's neck. They all sat speaking for what seemed like hours telling Courfeyrac of how the people had risen, how Enjolras and managed to save Courfeyrac by shooting the rope that was keeping him in the air. But most importantly they told him how they had managed to accomplish their dream, bringing down the monarchy. After hours of talking Courfeyrac looked down to see that Gavroche had fallen asleep using his body as a pillow, he smiled and he was quickly reminded of Joly's words of wisdom

"Enjoy life.." He looked around to where his friends sat, some of them beginning to drift off into an easy slumber and right there and then vowed to make sure he would make his lost friends proud. He gave Gavroche a small kiss on the forehead and he then closed his eyes ready to dream of the good times he will soon have with the Amis.