I realize that in my chapters of Gaston and Lissa's hunting trip, Lissa was 11 and I didn't even mention Lefou, but in my previous chapter I made her 7, and he was around. Sorry about that. That's the hazard of not putting an entire story in chronological order.
The verse from the song can mean all kinds of scenarios. But seeing as this story already had so many bitter arguments, I'll stick with these sad memories.
"Maybe some moments weren't so perfect
Maybe some memories not so sweet
But we have to know some bad times
Or our lives are incomplete,"
Gaston becomes seriously ill, fighting for his life!
"Gaston?" Mrs. Legume entered her fifteen-year-old son's room. "Breakfast is ready."
"I'm not hungry." Gaston moaned.
"Well, you'd better get dressed then. What are you doing still in bed? Come on. Get up, you'll be late for school!" Mrs. Legume scolded.
"I don't feel like going to school today, Mother." Gaston said dismally. His mom walked over to him with her hands on her hips.
"This wouldn't be test day now would it?" She teased.
"No." Gaston mumbled. "I don't feel good, Mother." She noticed that he was tenderly rubbing his mid-section.
"Oh, you don't, hmm?" She raised her eyebrows. "Let me see." She reached underneath his pillows but found nothing then she peeked inside his boots. She was searching for traces of sweets or some other tidbit like extra rawhide jerky he might've sneaked during the night. It wouldn't be the first time he'd pulled that kind of stunt to get out of going to school. But he was practically a man now, and was expected to do better than act so childish. His mother knew one way to find out whether or not he was faking. "Well, if you're going to neglect your lessons, how about you go fetch me some quail for supper, hmm?" She suggested. More than once, Gaston had feigned illness to forgo school then suddenly had a 'miraculous' recovery when his mother asked him to go hunting. But it had been a while since she'd last had to use that tactic. Gaston never resisted a chance to go out and show off what a marvelous hunter he was!
"Do I have to?" Gaston asked hoarsely. He miserably looked up at her with a pleading face.
Mrs. Legume's smiled quickly faded. Gaston never turned down hunting! She came closer to him. "Son, are you ill?" She asked.
"I don't know." Gaston shook his head. "I feel lousy, and I'm not hungry at all."
"Are you in pain?" Mrs. Legume asked. She felt his forehead.
"Mmm-hmm. All around." Gaston grimaced, motioning his hand in a circle on his stomach.
"Is it bad?"
"Sometimes."
"When did this start?"
"Last night. It woke me up. I thought it would go away, but I woke up this morning and it still hurts."
"Well, you don't seem to have a fever," his mother said with relief, "but you might've pulled a muscle with all that horse back riding and sit-ups you've been doing. Can you get out of bed?"
"I'll try." Gaston moaned. He felt worse than he was letting on. He sat up but it hurt. Swinging his long legs over the bed, he slowly tried standing, but his hand went right to his middle."It hurts." He shook his head.
"All right, lay back down." Mrs. Legume told him. Gaston was much taller than her now but she helped him back into bed. "I think I'll let you stay home today and rest. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good." Gaston slightly smiled. "But do I have to eat? The smells are making me feel very ill."
"No, you don't have to." Mrs. Legume said, smoothing his hair on the top of his head. "You take it easy." She left the room. Gaston was embarrassed at how pathetic he must have looked, but he was almost glad for any excuse to get his mother's fond caresses and gushing. But he hoped this wouldn't be for long.
"Gaston's not going to school today." Mrs. Legume told Lissa who was sitting at the dining table. "He's not feeling so well."
"Is he all right?" Lissa asked.
"I think so. But I want him here to make sure. I want you to keep it quiet around here, all right?"
"Certainly, Mother." Lissa nodded. "May I go visit Belle today? Or do you need me around here?"
"No, that's all right. You may go see Belle if you like, after you practice your penmanship." Mrs. Legume said. She kept telling herself that Gaston would be fine, that this was just a sore muscle spasm from how active he'd been. But Gaston and Lissa's mother always worried when her children were unwell, and it had been especially harder for her not to panic any time it happened, since her husband's death four months ago.
When Lissa returned that day, Gaston was still in bed and Lissa could tell by the look on her mother's face that she was trying not to show that she was getting worried. "Mother, is Gaston still feeling bad?"
"Yes, he is." Mrs. Legume nodded. "I wouldn't worry too much, except that he won't eat anything! He turned down his lunch and he didn't eat breakfast."
"That doesn't sound like him." Lissa shook her head, feeling a little worried herself. "Can I see him?"
"If he's awake. But try to keep it quiet."
Lissa slowly opened the door to her brother's room and peeked inside. Gaston was lying on his side, with his head sunk low into the pillow. He looked very uncomfortable. Lissa carefully stepped in. "Hi," she told him as she came to the bed.
"Hi," Gaston mumbled, rolling his eyes.
"Still feeling bad?" Lissa asked.
"Mph. It comes and goes." Gaston shrugged. He winced and turned over onto his back.
"I'm sorry you don't feel well. And Belle and her father say that they hope you get better soon." Lissa said cheerily.
"That's...nice of them." Gaston sighed. He covered his side with his large hand.
"Is there anything I can get for you?" Lissa offered.
"No." Gaston shook his head.
"Okay." Lissa said and she left. "Mother, Gaston's not that sick, is he?" She asked worriedly.
"I'm sure he isn't." Her mother lied. "But why do you ask? Does he want something to eat?"
"No. He just looks so pitiful." Lissa said. "And he was holding his stomach. He's so...he just didn't seem like Gaston."
"Well, I guess it will be the two of us to look after him and get him back on his feet then, won't it?" Her mother put on a very pasted smile.
"Yep." Lissa smiled back. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Lissa opened it. It was 13-year-old Lefou.
"Good day, Mrs. Legume." The young, pudgy, but polite boy said timidly, removing his hat.
"Good day, Lefou." Mrs. Legume smiled.
"I heard that Gaston was sick. Is it anything serious?"
"No, I'm sure it isn't." Mrs. Legume shook her head, but Lissa saw the worry in her eyes. "Would you like to visit him? You always make him feel better."
"Can I?"
"Certainly. Lissa will bring you to his room."
"Come on." Lissa smiled and Lefou followed her to the sick room. "Gaston? You have a visitor." Lissa announced. Gaston grimaced but he tried to smile when he saw who it was.
"Lefou! Come in." He said. Lefou obeyed and walked to the bed.
"So, how do you feel?" Lefou asked.
"Like someone keeps jabbing me in the bread basket!" Gaston groaned, massaging his sore spot.
"That sounds tough." Lefou winced sympathetically. "Well, I'm sure in a couple days you'll be back on your feet."
"Maybe." Gaston said miserably.
"Hey, you're really the lucky one!"
"Lucky?!" Gaston spat. "What, are you nuts, Lefou? I feel like someone's trying to pull my gizzard out! It hurts like heck. And you call me lucky?"
"I didn't mean it that way." Lefou said pitifully. "I mean, laying around in bed, you have a great excuse for not going to school today."
"Oh." Gaston nodded.
"You get to lie around all day while we have to sit up perfectly straight and not anger the headmaster in any way!" Lefou added. "It's torturous."
"Well, when you compare it like that, my suffering almost does feel lucky!" Gaston grinned.
"See?" Lefou smiled.
"Almost makes me wish I could be sick everyday!"
"That'd get tiresome after a while, wouldn't it?"
"Eventually, I guess." Gaston shrugged. He still felt awful, but he wasn't thinking very much about it right now. His mom had been right: Lefou could always cheer Gaston up! "But I'd almost rather go through anything but sit under the old buzzard's squalling!"
Mrs. Legume hoped that this was just a passing bellyache, but she grew more worried when that turned out not to be so. By that night, Gaston was running a fever and his discomfort hadn't subsided, plus he felt very queasy. His mother tried hard to get him to take as many fluids as possible, but he still refused food. She convinced him to have a little broth, but he soon vomited it. Lissa tried to help keep her big brother comfortable. She tried to help with his care, whatever her mother needed. She even offered to sit up with him part of the night, but her mother told her no, that she was too young. Lissa reluctantly went to bed, but she prayed hard for Gaston to feel better, and soon!
The next morning when Lissa woke up, there was no change. She immediately went to Gaston's room. She'd been hoping he was better, but he was still sick. "Where's Mother?" Lissa asked.
"She left to get the apothecary." Gaston replied glumly. "She's hoping maybe he can help me."
"Do you feel any better at all?"
"Not really." Gaston sighed. "Sometimes it's not that bad, but then it gets really bad! It hurts all the time though."
"Are you sure you didn't cut yourself?" Lissa suggested.
"Of course not." Gaston rolled his eyes. "I think I would've noticed. I constantly feel like I'm going to throw up."
"I sure do hope Mr. Gault can help you." Lissa said nervously. "I don't want Mother to have to call for Dr. Haggard!"
"Don't worry. It won't come to that!" Gaston exclaimed, wide-eyed. Dr. Haggard was the tiny village's physician, but a lot of people didn't want to call for his services unless they absolutely had to, especially families with small children. He may have had a medical degree, but he was cold, brutally blunt, stuffy attitude, and if they taught compassion in medical school, Dr. Haggard certainly had not retained that information. He was a cut and dry kind of man, and he treated his patients more like objects than people. He wasn't pleasant and he did not have a reassuring bedside manner. Even tough Gaston who was a man now didn't want to see him if it could be helped! And Lissa was scared of him. "I'll get better before I'd ever let Mother go to that old goat for help!"
"I hope so!" Lissa gulped. "Is there something I can do?"
"Could you close the drapes please?"
"Sure." Lissa nodded and fulfilled his request. "Is that better?"
"Much." Gaston nodded. Lissa felt his forehead. She liked playing the role of nurse to her big brother when the chance came. "What are you doing?" Gaston furrowed his brows.
"You're still hot." Lissa said.
"I could've told you that." Gaston grumbled.
"No, really! You're quite hot. Would you like some water?"
"No!" Gaston shook his head. "Please, no." Just the thought of digesting anything made him feel more queasy.
"All right." Lissa sighed. She briefly left then returned with a bowl of cool water. She sat on the bed next to him and laid a wet cloth on her brother's head.
"That's cold!" Gaston complained.
"Then it should feel pretty good." Lissa smiled.
"Mph." Gaston rolled his eyes, then winced again.
Their mother returned shortly with Mr. Gault. After a brief examination, he prescribed some remedies for Mrs. Legume to try and said that he hoped they worked. He said that if that didn't improve Gaston's condition then they should send for the doctor. Mrs. Legume gave Gaston the medicine, hoping and praying it would get him back in good shape. The medication did dull the pain and help him sleep at least, but the fever remained and the queasiness lingered. Lissa offered to sit with Gaston so her mother could nap as she'd been up most of the night. Her mother argued, but Gaston insisted she do it. While Gaston tried to sleep, Lissa wrote in her diary and read the book that Belle had lent her. Lefou, again, came by to visit his pal after school.
That evening, Gaston was still not better and he still refused to eat. He couldn't stomach the thought of food, literally. Lissa and her mother tried to make him comfortable, but he was feeling very wretched. Lissa wanted to stay up and help, but her mother still said no. "I'll be right back, son." She told Gaston. He miserably grunted.
"Mother?" Lissa asked sadly.
"Yes, my pet?" Mother smiled as her daughter climbed into bed.
"Gaston is going to get better...isn't he?" Lissa gulped.
"Yes, my precious child. He will." Mother said softly. Lissa lay her head on the pillows as her mother tucked the covers in around her.
"I hope he feels better soon." Lissa sighed.
"Me too, darling. Don't forget to say your prayers."
"I won't!"
"That's my girl." Mother smiled wearily. She kissed her daughter's head. "Now you try to go to sleep. You'll see. We'll get Gaston better."
"I'll pray for him." Lissa smiled.
"Yes." Mother nodded. "Goodnight, my sweet girl." And with that, she departed. She didn't at all feel as confident about Gaston's condition as she pretended to, but she didn't want to alarm her daughter. Lissa turned on her side, snuggling under the covers more for reassuring comfort than warmth.
"Gaston, son?" Mother spoke lightly as she reentered his room. Gaston grunted in return. "I thought I might try giving you a massage." Gaston winced.
"Do you have to?" He asked unhappily. He really didn't want to be touched.
"Maybe it will help, maybe it will relax you so you can rest." Mother said as she sat back down on the bed next to him. "See? Lavender oil, very soothing." She held a fancy bottle and poured some onto her hands. She rubbed them together and pulled the covers back. "All right. Lift your shirt up for me." She said calmly. Gaston gripped her hand with his.
"Mother, please don't hurt me." He begged, an anxious look on his face. Mother stared at him pensively. This was so not like her bragging, cocky teenager. Right now he was a frightened young boy. And she couldn't escape the tremors racing through his fingers. She tried to ignore the adrenaline racing down her spine in fear.
"I won't hurt you, my love. I'll be gentle, Gaston." Mother said soothingly. He pulled his shirt up to his chest and his mother barely touched him. He whimpered. "Does that hurt?" His mother stifled a gasp.
"Mmm-hmm."
"I'm sorry, son." She said sympathetically, and tried to calmly rub him down. Gaston leaned his head back, moaning.
"Mother, what's the matter with me?" Gaston asked fearfully.
"I don't know, Gaston. But it will pass."
"You promise?" Gaston breathed worriedly.
"I promise." His mother said confidently. She silently prayed desperately that she would be able to keep that promise! Although Gaston was emotionally soothed by her soft touch, it didn't take away the inward pain. And she also noticed how his reflexes became rigid no matter how gentle she tried to be, as if setting up a guard. That bothered her but she wasn't sure what to do. She held his hand and gently rubbed his arm and that calmed him enough to fall into a light sleep, though he winced every time he moved. Mrs. Legume was grateful that he was resting, but his condition didn't settle well with her nerves. She'd never seen a sickness like this and she was very concerned for her little boy.
4 Hours Later
Lissa was jarred awake to someone shaking her shoulder. She looked up to see her mother. "Lissa! Lissa, wake up for me! Please!" Her mother begged anxiously. It was the middle of the night.
"Mother, what's wrong?!" Lissa gasped in alarm.
"I want you to stay with Gaston." Mrs. Legume panted, the fear in her voice very evident. "He's very, very sick! He's in great pain. I have to go get Dr. Haggard right away. I won't be long."
"Oh, Mother. Do you have to get the doctor?" Lissa moaned.
"Yes, I do. Now you try to help your brother."
"I will."
"Thank you, my love. Be brave." Mrs. Legume kissed her head then burst out of the house.
Lissa threw on her bathrobe and ran to her brother's room. She was shocked at what she saw. Gaston was twisting and turning in his bed, whimpering in agony. He was clutching his mid-section hard and he couldn't get any relief. If he stayed still, he felt horrible, but if he moved, he felt like his insides were coming apart. Lissa gasped and began to shiver. Gaston was always so tough and overconfident. The sight of her brother so vulnerable and in such pain was disturbing. She ran to his side. "Gaston, I'm here. It's okay." She tried to console him. In the candlelight, she could see that he was pale and sweating badly. She touched his forehead and jerked back her hand, he was burning up!
"So...so...cold! It's killing me...I can't stand it!" Gaston cried out in anguish, looking up at his younger sister with desperation in his eyes. "So sharp...Lissa, hel...help me, please! It hurts!" Lissa tucked his covers on him, trying to help him get warm but he continued to shiver. She grasped his hand and patted his arm, trying to comfort him.
"Mother will be back soon." She said, with tears in her eyes. She was terribly frightened, especially without Mother here, but she'd try to be brave.
Maurice was startled at the sound of someone pounding on his door. "Maurice! Maurice!" Mrs. Legume called from behind the door. Maurice raced to the parlor.
"Papa! What is it?" Belle asked sleepily but with wide brown eyes as she clambered down the stairs.
"I don't know." Maurice shook his head. He lit a candle and opened the door. "Why, Alice!" He gaped in surprise, but grew deeply concerned by the terror on her face. "What's the matter?"
"Maurice!" Mrs. Legume panted frantically. "My boy is very sick! He's in terrible pain and I don't know what to do! I sent for Dr. Haggard, but..."
"Try to breathe, Alice." Maurice said calmly, gently touching her hand. "That's it. Would you like me to come over? Maybe I can help."
"Please!" Mrs. Legume begged.
"I'll be right over." Maurice said.
"God bless you!"
"Papa? May I go too, please?" Belle asked. Maurice stopped. It sounded as if Gaston was seriously ill, and if he was, he didn't want Belle to have to witness it, not after...not after he'd watched his wife wither away. But Belle was determined and brave for a girl her age. She wanted to help people. Maybe she could offer comfort to Lissa. And he figured that's why Mrs. Legume had interrupted their sleep: she was a widow with two children, a son she depended on who she felt she was close to losing, and she needed a strong shoulder to lean on.
"Yes, Belle. Thank you." Maurice smiled lovingly at his generous daughter.
Lissa almost shrieked when she saw Dr. Haggard enter Gaston's bedroom without their mother! Gaston was in horrific pain, but he gripped his sister's arm and glared up at the man. "Where's Mother?" Lissa asked.
"She ran off somewhere. She said she wouldn't be long." The doctor said flatly, setting down his kit. He had snapped at Alice for waking him in the middle of the night and had seemed rather peeved at the way she'd begged and begged him to come look at her son. "Let's just get this over with." Lissa froze. She'd never trusted this man and she certainly didn't feel peaceful at all at the prospect of him 'professionally' examining her brother! She looked down at Gaston. He didn't look any better, only worse. But he wore an angry face. "All right, lad. Where's the pain?" The doctor asked gruffly.
"Can we wait for Mother, please?" Lissa asked. She didn't like this man and his cold manner right now didn't help her terrible unease.
"No." Dr. Haggard rolled his eyes. "I'm tired and wouldn't be here unless I absolutely had to be. Answer me, Gaston." Gaston glowered up at him. To heck with medical degrees, Gaston had no intention of letting this man touch him! Not when he felt this horrible-which was getting worse by the minute-, and definitely not without his mother at his side to offer comfort!
"I won't tell you!" Gaston growled, pursing his lips.
"Am I gonna have to slap you around?" The physician snarled.
"You do, and I'll break your arm!" Gaston retorted. Lissa watched, petrified and trembling.
"Please, don't!" She cried. The doctor's jaw narrowed and he reached his hand down to strike the boy's face, but Gaston was faster and clenched him hard by the wrist. Dr. Haggard may be a grown man, but Gaston had a grip like a vice. The older man huffed and tried to free his arm, but found that he couldn't.
"You're not touching me without my mother present!" Gaston snarled. Just then, his mother rushed into the room. Gaston felt like an angel had just entered!
"Oh, Mother!" Lissa gasped, clinging to her.
"Gaston, let him go. It's all right. I'm here now." Alice said soothingly, coming to the bed. Gaston hesitated. The so called doctor felt more like a threat to him than help, and he had frightened Gaston's younger sister. But the sharp pain in his gut fired again, breaking his focus. Begrudgingly, he released Dr. Haggard who rang his arm, trying to get back the circulation! "Lissa, you go wait out in the parlor, darling." Alice told her daughter.
"But, I want to help." Lissa said.
"You will be helping. Please." Alice smiled bravely. She didn't like this any more than they did. She knew how her children despised Dr. Haggard, and personally she wasn't comfortable with his manners either. But this was an emergency.
"All right." Lissa nodded, and left the room. She sadly curled up on the sofa, anxiously waiting and praying. She hoped that the doctor wouldn't hurt Gaston or make him feel worse. Just then, the front door opened. Lissa was overjoyed to see Maurice and Belle step in, and behind them was a tall man she didn't recognize. "Belle!" Lissa jumped off the sofa and ran to her friend.
"It's all right, Lissa." Maurice said soothingly, touching her shoulder. "We're here to help."
"I'm so glad you're here!" Lissa exclaimed. "I don't like Dr. Haggard. I'm afraid of him."
"Maybe I can help." The stranger tipped his hat with a friendly smile. "Hello, Miss. I'm Dr. Singer. I've been visiting Dr. Haggard for a few days. We went to medical school together. He acted a bit angry tonight when the lady came to his office. I thought perhaps I could help." Lissa didn't know this man, but he acted kind and his gentle manner put her at ease.
"Will you?" Lissa asked. "My brother is really sick. His stomach hurts really bad, and I'm scared for him. I'm scared he's going to die!"
"You must be brave, lass. I'll see what I can do." Dr. Singer nodded.
"His room is..." Lissa started to say, but was interrupted by a piercing cry of agony. It was Gaston. He sounded as if someone had thrust a spear through him. Lissa and Belle both jumped. His strained voice was painful to hear.
"I think I can find it." Dr. Singer said confidently. "Thank you, Miss."
"Gaston!" Lissa began to shed tears. "What is he doing to him!?" She was afraid to imagine Dr. Haggard's treatment. Belle wrapped her arms around her friend.
"Would you like me to go and make sure he's okay?" Maurice asked. Lissa nodded. Maurice hurried to the sick room.
"Come on, Lissa." Belle said calmly, taking her hands. "Let's pray together." That was Belle, always strong and fearless.
Gaston flinched again and roughly shoved Dr. Haggard's hand away from him. He hurt unlike anything he could remember before, and he didn't appreciate the gruff doctor prodding and poking his tender guts. If he was stronger right now, he would've tossed the man out on his ear. When the doctor had touched him, Gaston had felt like his already fiery ache had been jabbed with a knife. Fifteen or fifty, it didn't matter: he was in severe pain and wished he would just die! It hurt that badly, and all he wanted was relief from this unbelievable affliction that had come on him so suddenly. He wished he was dead, he couldn't bear this much longer. His mother-who was standing on the other side of the bed letting him clench her hand-was desperately fighting not to tremble at the sight of her son in such turmoil. But she was growing pale with fear. Something was definitely wrong! "Doctor, what is it?" Alice asked anxiously.
"I don't know." Dr. Haggard shook his head casually. "This is unlike any illness I've ever seen. I'll give him some opium, maybe he'll sleep. That's about all I can do."
"What?!" Alice gasped. "Doctor! He's in pain! I've never seen him like this. Something's very wrong! I've tried remedies and everything I know how but it hasn't worked!"
"There isn't much I can do, Mrs. Legume." Dr. Haggard shrugged nonchalantly. "The best we can do is...'
"NO!" Alice shouted. "Look at my son, doctor! Look at him! He's dying! Help him, please!" Gaston couldn't help screeching in anguish. He felt like his body was going to burst a gasket any second. "No, you examine him thoroughly! You..."
"Perhaps I can help." Dr. Singer spoke up as he stood at the foot of the bed. Maurice lingered in the doorway watching. Dr. Haggard glowered at his colleague.
"Where did you come from?" He hissed.
"The lady was distressed and came to you for help tonight," Dr. Singer answered, "but it seemed to me that you treated her like a nuisance when she was greatly afraid for her son."
"This isn't your village. It's none of your affair. Get out!"
"Excuse me!" Maurice interrupted. "I am a member of this village and I don't feel comfortable with your methods, Doctor." He told Dr. Haggard. "The lad is in great pain. For crying out loud, he needs help! It seems to me that you should do more than just give him a sleep drug. And every minute that you stand here arguing may cost him his life!"
"Oh? Are you a medical expert now, Maurice?" Dr. Haggard huffed rudely in Maurice's face.
"Get out!" Alice yelled at Dr. Haggard. She didn't have time for this. She'd already recently lost her husband and couldn't bring him back. She was not going to lose her precious son too! Not without a fight, not when she could stand between him and death's door! "Get out of my son's room, now!" Dr. Haggard scowled and snatching his medical bag, he stormed out. "Sir?"
"Dr. Singer." The gentleman nodded.
"Can you help my son? Please help him!" Alice cried. She couldn't hide her tears any longer.
"I'll try, Ma'am." Dr. Singer said. He set down his bag and removing his coat, he came to Gaston's side. "Gaston, is it? I'm Dr. Singer." He said quietly.
"Thank you, Maurice." Alice whispered to her friend who looked at her thoughtfully.
"M-Mother! Keep him away! Don't let him touch me!" Gaston wailed helplessly. He knew he was seriously ill but he didn't want any more rough hands around.
"I'm sorry, Gaston." Alice cried with tears, tightening her hold on her son's white-knuckled hand. "Please let the doctor take a look at you!"
The new doctor carefully felt Gaston's forehead and could easily tell that Gaston was running a dangerously high fever and that his color looked really bad. He rolled Gaston's shirt up to his chest, exposing his constricted abdomen. The lower right quadrant was terribly swollen. "Why that..." Dr. Singer cursed under his breath about Dr. Haggard when he saw it. He hated to do this to the young man who was suffering immensely already, but the doctor had to know for sure what he was dealing with. "Gaston," he said cautiously, "I'm going to place pressure on your stomach, and it probably isn't going to feel very good. You let me know if it hurts too much, all right?" Gaston only gritted his teeth in return. The doctor gently palpated his belly and Gaston not only screamed bloody murder, but he also almost sprang off the bed. Alice tried to calm him, though she wasn't in such good shape herself.
"Do you know what it is?" Maurice asked. He'd never seen Gaston in such an alarming state, and he was very worried for the boy.
"I believe I do." Dr. Singer said grimly. "Mademoiselle, how long has your son been ill?"
"Since yesterday, and he's just gotten worse and worse." Alice cried.
"No appetite?"
"None at all."
"Can't keep anything down?"
"Barely."
"Did the pain start here," Dr. Singer had his fingertips just above Gaston's inflicted tender spot, trying not to touch him, "or did it travel all around at first?"
"He...he said it started all over," Alice answered, "but he's been hurting there a lot!"
"What is it, doctor?" Maurice prodded further.
"This boy should be in the hospital! But there's no time for that. This definitely looks more and more to me very much like acute appendicitis." Dr. Singer replied dismally. "I don't have much time to explain. It's a disease in the intestine, greatly effecting the abdominal cavity, causing excruciating pain and inward inflammation. Mademoiselle, I'm afraid I must operate immediately!" Dr. Singer said in the most serious tone he could.
Alice became white as a sheet and clutched her son's shaking hand. "O-operate?" She gulped. She felt like she was going to pass out. Maurice watched her closely. He couldn't begin to the imagine the emotional turmoil she was being put through right now.
"I'm afraid so. This cannot wait." Dr. Singer insisted, in fact, he started rolling up his sleeves.
"Are you positive, Sir?" Maurice put in.
"Monsieur, I only know one thing: this is one very sick young man. From what I see, the lad's appendix is severely inflamed and about to burst, if it hasn't already! And if I don't go in right now, he's going to die!" Dr. Singer told them urgently. He looked to Gaston's mother for permission. She looked down at her son. His eyes were shut but he nodded.
"Please do what you must!" Alice begged. "What do you need? How can I help? Have you ever done this sort of thing before?"
"I know exactly what to do. I'm a surgeon, Ma'am." Dr. Singer told her. He gave her instructions. Not wanting to inflict the poor boy in worse torment than he already was, the doctor gave Gaston a strong dose of opium. Within moments, Gaston was overcome by the drug and passed out.
"What can I do?" Maurice asked.
"Could you stay with Lissa?" Alice asked. "I'm sure she's really scared."
"Of course." Maurice smiled and started to leave. "I'll be praying." He said, then left.
Dr. Singer double checked to make sure Gaston was unconscious, which he was but the physician gave him another dose of the drug for good measure. "Ma'am, you're not going to like this, but it must be done." He tried to warn Alice.
"I know, but I'm not going to let my son die if he can be saved!" Alice cried.
Holding the knife with a steady hand, Dr. Singer began his incision. Alice shuddered at the sight of the doctor having to cut into her son's flesh, and she had to look away. But she was determined to fight through her fear. Gaston needed her to be strong and wild horses couldn't have dragged her away from him. But then, the scent of blood filled her nostrils, and in spite of her strive to be strong, her knees buckled and she fainted. Dr. Singer grimaced, but he'd already begun his task and had to finish if his patient was going to survive!
Both girls looked up anxiously at Maurice as he came into the parlor. "Papa? Is Gaston going to be all right?" Belle asked.
"What's going on? Where's Mother? What happened?" Lissa blurted. Maurice sat down in his deceased friend' Henry's chair. The girls gathered closely to him. Maurice took Lissa's hands in his.
"Lissa, your brother is very sick." Maurice began slowly.
"I know." Lissa said sadly. "Is he...is he going to die? Like Papa?"
"Dr. Singer found out what's wrong. But I'm afraid he's having to perform surgery."
"Surgery!" Both girls gasped. "Oh, Papa. Not really!" Belle gasped, shaking her head.
"Yes, Belle. I'm afraid it was necessary." Maurice said.
"Surgery? You mean like when Mr. Gault pulls someone's tooth?" Lissa asked worriedly.
"Yes, Lissa. Only it's much, much more." Maurice tried to explain without frightening her too much. Lissa began crying. Maurice pulled her into his lap and Belle came close behind her. "It's all right, Lissa." Maurice said softly. "Dr. Singer knows exactly what he's doing. He'll help Gaston."
"I don't want Gaston to die!" Lissa whimpered, burying her head into Maurice's shoulder.
"Shh. There, there." Maurice crooned.
"Does it hurt?" Lissa asked.
"No, the doctor gave Gaston some medicine so he won't feel it being done. And when it's over, he should start feeling better. And your mother is in there taking good care of him." Maurice said. He only hoped that would be the real outcome. He'd heard about Dr. Singer from other villages, and the man seemed confident and kind. Maurice still hoped he wasn't make a grave mistake. He also couldn't imagine his friend Alice's inner turmoil at having to watch her son go through so much, and only able to help him so much. He knew she had to be in as much emotional turbulence as Gaston was in physical.
"Well, if he can't feel it and Mother's with him, then I'm glad." Lissa tried to smile.
"Me too!" Belle agreed. Gaston was a big pest to her and she didn't like him very much. But even she wouldn't wish something like this on him!
It was two hours later that the doctor came out into the parlor. He'd had to help Alice to a chair and wake her up once he was through with the procedure. He'd known it wasn't going to be easy for her watching her child under the knife, but he had admired her determination to help her son, no matter what. Dr. Singer found Maurice in the chair, with Lissa curled in his lap resting her head on his shoulder and Belle kneeling and leaning her arms and head on the arm of the chair, with her father's large hand tightly gripping hers. "Doctor?" Maurice cocked his head in his direction.
Lissa looked up wide-eyed. "Doctor? Where's Mother? Is Gaston all right? Is he feeling better now?"
The doctor chuckled. "One question at a time, please." He grinned. "Your brother is still sick, but he looks much better to me already. He slept through the whole procedure. He is still a little feverish, but it's not convulsing him anymore!"
"So, the surgery was a success?" Maurice asked hopefully.
"Yes." Dr. Singer sighed. "And just in time! It would've been too late if we'd waited only a few more moments."
"So, Gaston is going to get well?" Belle asked.
"I hope so, lass." Dr. Singer said. "We'll see how he recovers, but I already feel pretty good for his prognosis. His mother is with him right now."
"Is he awake?" Lissa asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid not. He's sleeping right now. He should start feeling better very soon."
"I want my Mother." Lissa sighed. "Can I see her, please?"
"Yes, but be very, very quiet. Your brother needs lots of rest. I'll take you." Dr. Singer reached out his hand and Lissa took it. He led her to the sick room. Alice slowly looked up and she smiled wearily at the sight of her daughter. Lissa quietly hurried over to the safety of her mother's arms.
"Thank you, Doctor." Alice breathed.
"Yes, thank you for saving my brother!" Lissa smiled.
"Glad I could help. Well, I'll leave you two alone." Dr. Singer smiled back and closed the door.
"Oh, Momma! I was so scared." Lissa cried on her mother's shoulder.
"I know, my love. I know!" Alice crooned, crying also. "So was I. But Gaston's alive, and hopefully he'll recover from this." They sat there together just holding each other.
"You looked exhausted, Sir." Maurice commented as Dr. Singer sat down at the table across from the inventor and his daughter who was sitting on his lap.
"No operation is easy," Dr. Singer sighed, "but I believe it was the right thing to do."
"How did you know it was appendicitis?" Maurice asked.
"I've been researching and studying up all I can on the disease for a while now." Dr. Singer. "Last year I watched a patient die from it, a young boy of eight. I tried to help him, but I didn't truly know what I was dealing with, and tragically, I was too late. His parents were beyond devastated. Since then, I've been trying to find out all I can about the sickness. I didn't want to make the same mistake. The little lad had all the exact same symptoms as Gaston had, that's how I knew. When I found out that the sickness could be cured by surgery, I delved into all the information I could, especially since I already had a degree as a surgeon."
"So, it has been cured before?" Maurice asked. Belle listened quietly.
"Yes." Dr. Singer nodded. "Four years ago, in London. Doctor Claudius Amyand, who is actually French, was working at the St. George's Hospital in London, when he had an 11-year-old boy with a perforated appendix. The patient, Hanvil Andersen, had undergone successful herniotomy, and so they surgically removed his appendix."
"Did he recover?" Belle asked.
"Oh, yes." Dr. Singer smiled. "The doctors said that he made a spectacular recovery and was discharged a month later."
"Well, that's good to know." Maurice said.
Lissa struggled to stay awake with her mother. She wanted to be awake when Gaston regained consciousness, but she was sleeping on her mother's shoulder. Alice was emotionally, physically, mentally exhausted. She had come very close to losing her only son, and she still shuddered at the reality. She clasped her arms tighter around her little girl and rocked back and forth with her. "Thank you, Lord," she breathed heavily. She was beyond grateful for Maurice's intervention and Dr. Singer's compassionate, professional expertise.
Dr. Singer came in periodically to check on his patient. Gaston still had a fever, but it was very low-grade and he was in a peaceful sleep. "Mademoiselle, why don't you and your daughter get some rest?" He suggested kindly. "I'll sit with your son."
"I don't want to leave him." Alice shook her head.
"I understand." The doctor nodded. Maurice poked his inside.
"Alice, would you like me to put Lissa to bed?" He offered.
"Would you?" Alice smiled gratefully.
"Of course." Maurice smiled warmly. He entered gently lifted Lissa up into his arms, her sleeping head resting safely on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Maurice!" Alice shed tears.
"No problem." The kind man said. He carried Lissa up to her bed chamber where Belle lovingly tucked her friend in. Maurice grinned at his daughter, admiring her selfless nature for one so young, and also the way she acted just like a little mother.
Alice woke a few hours later. Gaston was grunting. Alice's eyes instantly flashed open. She sat down on the bed next to him and touched his face. She was beyond grateful that his color had returned. "Gaston? Son? I'm right here." She said quietly. Gaston flickered his eyes open and rubbed them, loudly clearing his throat.
"Mph. Uhhmm..." He grunted. "Oh, hello, Mother." He gave a tired smirk.
"Oh, my son!" Alice cried and hugged him tightly.
"Mother, oh please." Gaston rolled his eyes. "Mother, you're stealing my breath away." Alice slightly released him.
"I almost lost you last night, Gaston!" She cried with happy tears.
"Well, I guess I'm one tough bull, aren't I?" Gaston cocked his head. For once, his mother was grateful for his bragging attitude.
"How do you feel?"
"Like a lazy dog." Gaston sighed contentedly. "It's great! Well, my stomach does feel pretty sore."
"I know. But that will pass."
"Are you going to sit here all day and let me starve to death?" Gaston teased. "Mother, I'm famished! Would you please fix me some food? The inner sickly man is crying for nourishment!"
It took a few weeks, but Gaston quickly recovered from his physical ordeal. There were times his mother literally had to tie him down to the bed to prevent him from causing injury to himself. Oh, he was definitely back to normal! Cocky, show off, know-it-all, the near death experience had not diminished his personality in the least. All the boys in the village were fascinated by his operation, and Gaston never grew tired of proudly showing off the scar on his abdomen to anyone who asked to see it! To him, it gave him very special attention and made him a celebrity. Personally, Lissa couldn't stand to look at it. It made her cringe. His mother was not pleased every time he exhibited his scar, but no matter how many times she scolded him for it, he didn't learn.
Lissa walked into her brother's room. "Mother said breakfast is ready." She told him.
"All right." Gaston tucked his shirt inside his trousers. Lissa gulped as she'd caught a brief glance of his scar. "What? Did I miss a strand of my beautiful hair?" Gaston asked worriedly, touching his scalp.
"No." Lissa shook her head.
"Oh, I see." Gaston said. "You're still afraid of this, aren't you?" He lifted his shirt up and smirked at the mark.
"I'm not afraid of it," Lissa said miserably, "I just don't like it."
"Come here. Come on and touch it." Gaston smiled.
"No!" Lissa exclaimed, shuddering.
"Oh, for...come here." Gaston beckoned her. "Come on. It's not gonna bite. Just come on." Lissa slowly stepped toward him, cringing.
"No, please. I don't want to." Lissa begged. Gaston gripped her hand.
"Don't be such a scaredy." Gaston rolled his eyes.
"I don't want to hurt you."
"Aww, come now. The stitches have been out for weeks. This old thing stopped hurting a long time ago. Just touch it, you won't hurt me."
"Are you sure?" Lissa asked uneasily.
"Sure I'm sure. Go ahead. Nothing's gonna happen." Gaston said casually. Lissa hesitated. She really didn't want to do this.
"You sure it won't hurt?" She gulped.
"I'm positive. Go ahead." Gaston grinned, leaning back on his arms. Lissa took a deep breath, and softly pressed her small hand on his long, slinky stomach. "Aaargghh!" Gaston yelped loudly, falling back onto the bed, clutching his side. Lissa sprang back at his agonized scream, shaking, wringing her hands and wailing.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She shrieked. "I didn't mean it! I'm sorry, Gaston! I..." Gaston was shaking...with laughter! He was laughing derisively, slamming his fist on the bed. "It isn't funny!" Lissa cried, almost in tears. Gaston sat up, trying to catch his breath.
"Ha, ha, ha! You should've seen the look on your face." He snorted merrily. "I really scared you, didn't I?" He asked triumphantly.
"You mean...you did it on purpose?" Lissa sputtered.
"Of course." Gaston announced nonchalantly.
"That's horrible! You scared me to death! Why would you do that?"
"Oh, just for fun." Gaston cocked his head.
Had Lissa been Gaston's age at the time, she would've given him an off hand comment and left the room. But she was only a child, and still didn't always understand sarcasm when she heard it. She felt very hurt that Gaston had played such a trick on her, and how terrible she'd felt thinking she'd actually hurt him. Her face was hot with anger, but then that very rare mischievous side of her kicked in and she narrowed her eyes at her smug big brother. Lissa was the golden child in the family and almost never acted in malice. But this time she was going to teach him a lesson! "Wyah!" She hollered and lept at him, knocking him back down onto the bed.
"Whoa!" Gaston gaped, totally taken by surprise.
"That was so mean!" Lissa shouted and reached back, grabbing one of his pillows. Gaston raised his eyebrows.
"Ooo. So you want to play rough house, do you?" He asked haughtily. Lissa thwacked him with the pillow. "Oohf." Gaston grimaced, pretending to be more hurt than he was. Her aim was pretty flimsy for his ever protruding biceps. She hit him again. "Hey!"
"It's not nice to play tricks like that on people." Lissa moaned, whacking him, straining feathers on the bed.
"Aww, yeah?" Gaston smirked, feeling the challenge. He sat up and snatched her by the shoulders, forcing her across his knees. He started tickling her neck. Lissa was still mad at him and didn't want to be distracted from it. But she could not help giggling against her will.
"Stop it!" She protested, laughing and feebly tried to smack his large hands away. Gaston dug his fingers into her shoulders harder. "Don't tickle me! Gaston...stop!" She laughed until she slinked down and fell on the floor, goose feathers spilling out of the pillow. Gaston grabbed another pillow and clomped her on the head. She jumped back to her feet and aimed to defend herself. "I'll teach you to try and scare me!"
"Is that all you've got? You hit like a girl." Gaston stopped and scowled. Lissa whopped him again and again. He gleefully returned the favor. They were spreading feathers all over the place. Lissa was still mad, but they laughed. "Ahh. Help! Mother, help!" Gaston joked loudly. "She's hurting me! Lissa's beating me up!" Lissa attempted to hit him really good this time, but he beat her to it and knocked her to the floor. She sat up, trying to frown but laughing. Gaston threw the other pillow at her.
"Ahem!" Alice announced her arrival. She stood in the doorway, raising her eyebrows. There were feathers everywhere, including in her children's hair. "What's the occasion?" Alice asked dryly.
"It was her fault." Gaston pointed at his little sister.
"No, it was his." Lissa argued. "He was being mean, Mama."
"She attacked me." Gaston said. "Just came right at me and started in."
"He played a dirty trick." Lissa interjected.
"Your breakfast is getting cold." Alice said with her arms crossed. "But neither of you are going to get a bite...until you clean up this mess."
"Aww, Mother!" Both children groaned. She ignored them and shut the door behind her. "Now, see what you did?" Gaston huffed.
"If you hadn't been so mean, I wouldn't have done it." Lissa retorted.
"Humph." Gaston pursed his lips, fluffing the feathers out of his hair. Just then, Lefou burst into the door.
"Gaston! Come, you've got to see." He panted.
"See what?" Gaston asked.
"There's a big fight right now at the tavern." Lefou announced. "The men are really letting into each other. They're even starting to fight out on the street! They're sending for the constables!"
"I'm coming!" Gaston's eyes lit up and he jumped to his feet, rushing to the door. Anything to get out of cleaning this mess. "Let's go, Lefou!"
"Hey! What about this mess?" Lissa groaned.
"Well, I guess you'll just have to clean it up, won't you?" Gaston smirked. "After all, you started it." He stepped out into the hall. "Have fun." He waved sarcastically and ran. Lissa sat there glumly, flabbergasted. She punched her elbow into the pillow and set her chin on her fist.
"I did start the pillow fight, didn't I?" She huffed. "This is not the way I was hoping to start my day." She muttered, blowing some feathers out of her face.
The Year the War Ended
Lissa is 16.
Lissa was enormously excited! A letter had arrived from Gaston! It had been two weeks since she and her mother had received word from him and Lissa raced home as fast as she could. She couldn't wait to see the look on her mother's face when she told her the good news! "Mother! Oh, Mother!" Lissa called happily as she burst through the front door. "Mother, you'll never guess..." Lissa gasped frightfully at the sight before her. Her mother was lying on the floor, unconscious. "Mother!" Lissa shrieked and raced to her side. "Mother! Mother?! Can you hear me?" Alice did not respond at all. Lissa felt her forehead with the back of her hand. Alice was burning up. Lissa panicked and cradled Alice's head in her lap. "Help! Somebody help!" She shouted anxiously.
Jean the potter heard her cries from the open door and hurried inside. "Lissa, are you all right? What is the matter?" He asked.
"My mother is sick!" Lissa cried. "She needs help! Please help me!" After sending someone else for the doctor, Jean helped Lissa get her mother into bed. "Thank you." Lissa looked up to him.
Dr. Haggard arrived with his intern Dr. Tanner. Lissa wasn't comfortable with the elder physician being in her house, but he was the official town doctor. However, the younger Dr. Tanner-who was learning to possibly take over Dr. Haggard's practice later on-was thoughtful and calm. After a brief examination, Lissa's heart dropped when Dr. Haggard plainly told her one word, "Influenza."
When her mother was conscious and not so distressed, Lissa read Gaston's letter out loud to her. Mrs. Legume feebly smiled in places and her eyes took on a faraway look. "At least, it sounds like he is doing well." She sighed.
"Yes. I sure hope he can come home soon." Lissa agreed.
"He would if he could." Alice said, then drifted right back to sleep. Lissa watched her worriedly. That little sliver of conversation had worn her mother out! Lissa was frightened.
"Dear Gaston,
I'm glad to hear that you are well. That's a relief, especially after hearing some of the stories about some of the soldiers who have fallen sick.
Mother is ill. Influenza! I was running home with your last letter and found her on the floor. She's been in bed for four days now. Dr. Haggard says she is not doing well. I'm afraid, Gaston! She can't speak for very long, it wears her out. She doesn't look like Mother. She looks...she looks so...just so sick. This bout is very rampant. I can't believe how hard and fast it hit her.
Gaston, I'm very, very frightened! I'm really scared! Mother can barely function, even with all the quiet and rest she's getting. She's just getting weaker. I've done everything the doctors have said, and kind neighbors have been trying to help, but it isn't doing any good! Sometimes when I watch her sleeping, she barely moves at all. It scares me so much every time!
Don't worry about me catching it. I'm all right, physically. I won't get sick. Oh, how I wish you were here, Gaston! I miss you very much and I'm afraid to be alone. I keep praying Mother will get better, but it seems like the harder I pray, the worse she becomes. I don't know what to do. I feel so alone right now, even though Mother is here, and I wish you were home.
I miss you! Be well. And please write as soon as you can.
Love, Lissa"
Dear Lissa,
I was sorry to hear the bad news in your reply to my letter. Mother must get well! You tell her that I refuse to win this war until she does! I am praying every night that she will recover. I do hope she will be all right. Tell her I miss her very much.
And you take care of yourself, my dear. I don't want to receive the news that you have fallen sick too! It would give me a good excuse to come home, but try to stay strong. Fighters run in our blood. Best wishes to Mother.
Well, it's off to the field. Will write again.
Gaston"
3 Days Later
Lissa was in the parlor, sitting on the sofa. She had a sickly knot in her stomach. Dr. Tanner was in the bedroom, checking on Alice. Since he was planning to take over Dr. Haggard's practice, the elder physician decided to let him take over his cases. Besides, Dr. Haggard didn't like being bothered with 'hopeless' cases, feeling they were a waste of his time. Lissa's heart was racing. Her mother had taken a turn for the worse, and she was really scared. She knew in her heart what Dr. Tanner was going to say, and tried to prepare herself for it, yet inwardly she prayed with all her heart that it wouldn't be so!
Pere Robert, Maurice, and Belle were there too, trying to support her. Lissa froze and everyone else watched solemnly as Dr. Tanner entered the parlor from the bed chamber. He slowly walked in and came over to Lissa. He touched her shoulder. "She wants to see you." He said dismally. Lissa anxiously looked up at him. She knew. She knew by the tone of his voice and the hopeless look on his face. Tears already started to well up in her eyes as she rose and entered the bedroom. Dr. Tanner looked at his audience and shook his head.
Lissa closed the door behind her, and stood there. This was the moment she had dreaded and prayed so hard against. And now it was here. She sorrowfully approached the bed. She could barely recognize her once vibrant, lively mother. The woman was so frail and weak now. She slowly opened her eyes and faintly smiled. "Elise, darling," She said softly, "come." She reached out her hand. Lissa reluctantly took it and crouched down on the bed next to her . "Tears, darling?" Lissa sniffled. Alice softly brushed her face. "It's all right, Elise. I'm happy, truly! I'm ready. My only deepest regret is leaving you behind, you and your brother. I love you both very much. But I can't stay here anymore. It's time for me to go."
"But, what will we do without you?" Lissa wept. "What if Gaston never comes back? Mother, what will I do without you? I need you!"
"Shh." Alice said soothingly, tears welling up in her eyes at her daughter's pain. "You'll always have me, Elise. I'll always be part of you and Gaston...as long as you remember me."
"I could never not remember you!" Lissa cried, her heart breaking. "I love you, Mother!"
"I love you too, sweetheart." Alice smiled. At this point, Lissa couldn't hold it in any longer. She fell on her mother's chest and sobbed. Alice gazed down lovingly at her and held her close, softly stroking her hair.
4 Nights Later
Belle woke up to the sound of weeping. Since the funeral, she and Maurice had offered for Lissa to stay with them for a few days, so she wouldn't be alone in the house. Belle rose from her cot and came to her bed where her guest was sleeping. Belle hadn't even known her own mother, but there were times that she deeply missed her. She couldn't imagine having a real mother for so long and then losing her. She shuddered to imagine what it would be like if anything ever happened to Maurice! Belle knew she wouldn't want to live!
Belle sat down on the bed and touched her friend's shoulder. "Lissa?" She spoke softly. "Lissa, I'm right here." Lissa's shoulders shook with sobbing. Belle stroked her hair the way Maurice always did to her when she was sad.
"Oh, Belle. It hurts!" Lissa wept heavily. "She's really gone! I miss her so much!"
"I know." Belle said sympathetically. "I'm so sorry this happened. I wish I could make it better."
"It just hurts so much. Have you ever felt this way?"
"No." Belle shook her head. She took her friend in her arms and let her cry.
"Th-thank you." Lissa blubbered.
"It's all right." Belle smiled.
"Girls?" Maurice poked his head inside their bedroom. "Is everything all right?" Belle shook her head. Maurice came to the bed and sat down. "It's all right, Lissa. Go ahead and cry. You'll feel better."
"I don't think anything in the world could make this feel better." Lissa cried. Maurice understood. He had still never told his daughter about the tragic truth of what happened to his wife, trying to spare her the pain. But he understood Lissa's heartache.
"Not right now." Maurice agreed.
"I wish Gaston was here. I miss him so much! I just want him to come back!" Lissa wailed. A couple hours later, she'd calmed down even though there were still tears on her face. She lay on the bed, holding her brother's sketch a lock of her mother's hair close. In the moonlight, she could see them. She pressed her mother's hair to her lips. "Please be all right, Gaston." She whispered sadly. "Please come home!"
I was weeping during the near ending of this chapter. It's been almost a year since our sweet dog died, and the memory is still very vivid to us.
I also wrote this chapter to show that, all Maurice ever demonstrated to Gaston was kindness! The many ways he was a good friend to his family, ways Gaston didn't even know about. And what did the big, surly brute do? He tried to murder him! How could he?!
I hope you all enjoy my next Gaston/Lissa fanfic as much as this one, if not better.
I know this chapter was long, but this story is coming to an end soon, so...