Heaven Starts With You
One Year after Jean's operation…
Erik smiled faintly as he chose groceries from the local market. Not far to his left was Jean; he was entertaining several people by playing the little harmonica that Jean's doctor had given him after he awoke. Said doctor had never seen anyone recover as quickly as him, and less than two weeks after the amputation Jean had woken up and shouted loudly,
'Where the bloody hell's my leg!'
It took Erik five minutes to calm his son down as he attempted to crawl out of bed and beat the living hell out of the terrified doctor. Six months following and Jean was hobbling around proudly on a pair of crutches hand carved by Nadir. It had now been a year and Erik was beyond excited at the knowledge that today was Jean's birthday. This would be the first one Erik attended and he couldn't help but feel cheery as he took his son's six-year-old hand and walked calmly through the busy market street. Jean was just as excited as his father and as he leaned carefully on the crutch on his left side, grasped his father's left hand in his right and turned shinning amber eyes towards him.
"So what you'd get me for my birthday, Da?"
"A dead rabbit…"
"DAD!"
"You'll just have to be a good boy and wait until tonight."
"Why tonight?"
"Because that's when Antoinette will be done baking your cake."
"Ooo I haven't had cake in forever…"
"Which is precisely why you'll be a good boy right?"
"Yes sir!"
Erik let out a hearty laugh and pet the top of Jean's head as they crossed the street and headed towards a fountain in the middle of a small park.
--Several Blocks Away
Gustave was extremely happy, his mother was gathering supplies for his birthday cake and she promised that later on when they finished said cake, he could open the three gifts he had received from his mother and the two others he had received from Madame Duboix. Genevieve had sent a card and Gustave had nearly wet himself laughing as his mother nearly knocked down her door and demanded to know why she signed it, 'happy birthday you deformed freak.' Honestly that sort of thing never bothered him because he always had his mother's love. Wearily, Gustave grasped his mother's hand tighter as they made their way from their favorite market vendor towards the small park.
"Mum?"
"Yes honey?"
"Do you have any left over francs?"
"Why sweetheart?"
"I want to make a wish at the fountain!"
"Alright dearest, you can make a wish after we visit the fruit vendor."
"Okay Mommy!"
Smiling happily, Gustave and Christine continued their journey towards the park and eventually the main market.
--One Block Away
"Da?"
"What?"
"Can I have a franc?"
"Why?"
"I wanna make a wish at the fountain."
"Fountain?"
"Duh, the one at the park."
Cuffing Jean softly on the side of his head, Erik shook his head before digging into his pocket and withdrawing a franc.
"Alright! Thanks Dad!"
"Hold your horses! I have to get flour for your cake before we can go to the fountain."
"Aw man, can't I go by myself."
"When pigs fly I will let you go by yourself."
"So…that's a no…?"
"Correct."
Sighing in feigned disappointment, Jean followed his father towards the bakery with a dejected look upon his face.
--Fruit Vendor's
"Mom…Can we go now?"
"Just a minute Gustave…"
"How about now?"
"Not right now Gustave."
"Please…?"
"NO GUS!"
"But-."
"Just sit quietly alright?"
Pouting, Gus decided to take a 'seat.'
'And by take a seat…I'll go visit the fountain!'
--Bakery
"Dad are you done yet?"
"No."
"Now?"
"No Jean."
"How about now?"
"No son."
"Now?"
"NO!"
"How about-?"
"NO JEAN NOW SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!"
Pouting, Jean decided to go take a 'seat.'
'And by take a seat…I'll go make a wish at the fountain!'
--The Fountain.
Unknowingly, both boys smiled on opposite sides of the fountain as they pulled their francs from their pockets and held them tightly in their fists as they closed their eyes and wished with all their might…
'I wish I could find Jean.'
'I wish I could find Gus.'
Simultaneously, the boy's drew back their small hands and with all the strength in their bodies tossed their coins into the crystal fountain water. Suddenly two loud noises cried out through the crowds, breaking the boy's thoughts.
"JEAN!"
"GUS!"
Both children heard the cries and suddenly spotted each other from across the way. The entire world came to a halt as both twins began running (and limping) at break-neck speed around the fountain and collided halfway.
"Jean! You're alive! I've been looking for you forever and-."
"Gus! You're okay! I thought you were dead after that fop-."
"What happened to your leg!"
"Where have you been hiding?"
"I found someone you're not going to believe it!"
"I found someone too!"
As if sensing it, both boys looked up and were shocked to see…
(Jean Paul's POV) "Mom…"
(Gustave's POV) "Whoa, it's like a big copy of me…"
Standing several feet away from the boy's collapsed forms, were Christine and Erik. Before either twin could react, Christine ran with all her strength into the arms of the man she thought had died long ago. Slowly, Erik's strong arms circled her form and together they collapsed onto their knees crying as a stunned Jean and Gus looked on.
End Chapter 23
A/N: Whew! Yet another chapter! E/C moment (for sure) coming up next chapter, but finally the family's reunited! Yeah!
