LOVELIES! HAPPY NEW YEAR! First Update of 2014! As promised, part two of the comfort session, and this one is LOADED with Fluff! Reviews have been a little slow which is leaving me a little sad... so please, pretty please (PLEASE!) leave a comment/review... they do make my day... I especially wanna hear what you guys think of Gav's choices in this chapter...
Warning: Fluff... A LOT of fluff.. probably enough to fill several hundred king size pillow sets..
Disclaimer: Victor was probably never this fluffy... or fluffy at all for that matter, but that's besides the point...
Chapter 27: Can I?
"See, they're ok."
"Was goin on?" Gavroche, his blonde mop sticking up in every direction, his eyes half closed and his reindeer dangling by the antler from his hand.
"See, we're all ok." Éponine smiled, getting up from the bed to retrieve the twins. Taking a deep breath, she knew all Combeferre needed right now was family time.
Once she had left the room, Combeferre covered his hands with his face and let out a shaky breath. Gavroche, now more awake, looked on curiously. Chewing nervously on his bottom lip he took a tentative step into the room.
"P…" he paused, biting harder on his small lip. "Ferre? Are you ok?" He whispered.
Lowering his hands below his eyes he saw the little boy, his oversized Batman shirt slightly crooked as it dangled off his left shoulder. Despite the shirt's large size, it couldn't cover the superman boxers Gavroche gleefully found strewn on the floor at Courfeyac's. (The little boy didn't understand why Éponine was slightly skeptical when he brought them home. He was even more confused when Éponine double checked as to where the shorts were found and then presoaked them for 48 hours before washing them…seven times.)
Sighing once more, he patted the space beside him on the bed.
"C'mere."
Gavroche tried to act nonchalant about the offer, but Combeferre felt a small smile grace his otherwise shaken face when he saw the little boy's eyes light up slightly. Gavroche clambered onto the bed, pulling his reindeer with him, and quickly burrowed under the duvet cover.
"Have you been cryin?" The little boy's eyes widened, he thought only babies and girls cried.
"Yeah Gav, I've been crying. I had a bad dream."
His little mouth dropped open.
"You had a nightmare? But, but…" he stumbled over his words in his disbelief.
"Everyone has nightmares Gav." He prodded gently.
"But, you're the good guy, like Clark Kent! Cause you got the glasses." The boy mumbled, looking down ashamed. Combeferre could feel his tears build up once again as a wonderful feeling of warmth spread through his chest.
"Gav," He choked. "Your sister's brave and she had a lot of nightmares."
Gavroche nodded slightly at this.
"And even Clark Kent had nightmares."
"Nuh-uh." The little boy poked.
"Yeah-huh." The guide poked back. "Everyone has nightmares Gav, and having them does not mean you aren't brave or you aren't a superhero. It just means there is something in your life that's scaring you."
"But being scared means you're a scaredy cat. Like what Courfeyac and Bahorel called Enjolras before he realized he liked-liked Taire."
Combeferre chuckled slightly at this, pulling Gavroche into his lap.
"Rel and Fey called Enjolras a scaredy cat for different reasons, but being scared is not bad Gav, it just makes you human."
"But doesn't it make you a coward?" The little boy asked timidly.
"Never. The only coward in a nightmare is the scary part itself cause it attacks you when you're most vulnerable. Why I bet if any of the monsters from those nightmares you used to have came right now when you were awake, you'd beat them up."
"I did that Ferre!" The boy cried excitedly.
"What do you mean Gav?" Combeferre questioned, thoroughly confused.
"When Parnasse was gonna hurt Ponine, I beamed him with my beebee gun. He used to scare me in my bad dreams, but when I was awake I showed him." Gavroche smiled a toothy grin, showing off his missing front tooth.
Combeferre was silent for a moment, remembering the night of the twins birth. Gav really had saved the day and he couldn't remember ever thanking the little boy.
"You really did Gav. You were the hero that day."
The little boy looked wide-eyed at Combeferre.
"Really?"
"Absolutely Gav! You took out the bad guy and saved the day! Your brother and sister could've been hurt if you hadn't conquered your fear. I should take a page out of your book to conquer my bad dreams."
"You'll be able too," Gav stated confidently. "You're really brave."
"Thanks Bud." Combeferre breathed, pulling the little boy closer to him.
"Ferre?" Gavroche asked a few moments later.
"Hmmm?"
"Can I ask you sumthin?" The little boy nervously fiddled with the ribbon tied around his reindeer's neck.
"Of course." Combeferre answered, wondering why the boy had suddenly become so quiet.
Gavroche began to chew his lower lip again, avoiding Combeferre's ocean orbs at all costs.
"Ferre…" He took in small breath. "Can I call you Papa?"
His little voice was barely audible but Combeferre heard the request. He nearly burst into tears again. He never thought he'd held the same connection to Gavroche as Courfeyac or Grantaire, but what he didn't understand is how Gav viewed things.
Though Gav was closest with Courf or Taire, it was Combeferre he felt the fatherly pull too, much as he felt the motherly pull towards Éponine. Never knowing his mother and only feeling his 'father's' hatred, he found his safety in his sister and soon, with his sister and her boyfriend. Éponine had been with Combeferre for almost Gavroche's whole life and because of this, Gav viewed Combeferre not only as a mentor, but as a father, his father, as well.
In the beats of silence, Gav felt small tears of shame and embarrassment prickle, threatening to fall.
"Neva mind Ferre, it's"
"Gav," Combeferre interrupted him. "Of course you can call me Papa, you didn't have to ask buddy."
Gav's little face broke into a wide and watery smile as he launched himself into Combeferre's arms, burying his face into Combeferre's shirt.
"Thank you Papa."
Combeferre did start crying at this. He was still blubbering slightly as Éponine made herself known in the doorway, tears of her own sparkling in her eyes. She walked carefully to the bed, the twins in both arms, wriggling impatiently as they wanted attention from their Papa as well. Combeferre noticed the bed shift and looked up to see the rest of his family burrow under the covers.
"Hey." He whispered.
"Hey." She replied, moving closer to him, gently placing Ben in his available arm as she pulled Sarah closer to her.
"Ponine! Guess what, Papa said yes!" The little boy was very excited at this, at the thought of finally having someone to call Papa.
"Did he?" She smiled along, laughing slightly when Gav began to tickle Ben's tummy, the little boy gurgling with happiness in return. Sarah, longing for this attention as well, wriggled stubbornly in her mother's arms.
"Fine bébé, you can go to Papa." She handed Sarah to Combeferre and smiled contentedly as Gavroche began to play with her as well.
Éponine leaned onto Combeferre's shoulder.
"See, we're all ok. You haven't failed anyone."
Combeferre nodded slowly, watching his children laugh and interact with one another.
It was less than a half hour later that all three children were asleep, snoring happily.
"I can't believe he wants to call me Papa." Combeferre whispered, still in disbelief over his conversation with Gavroche.
"Ferre, he's know you and I longer than he's known just me. I'm surprised he hadn't started already."
"But what about R and Fey?" He asked, almost worriedly.
"Babe, he sees Taire and Fey more as older brothers than fathers. I mean, they're big children for one and you've always been the one to take care of Gav in fatherly situations. You talk to his teachers when he's in trouble or having trouble. You picked him up after his first fight and talked through the issue with him over catch with that ratty rugby ball I tried to toss all those years ago. Ferre he never knew fatherly love until you entered his life."
Combeferre thought back to all those times and saw what Éponine was saying. Running his hand through Gav's unruly hair he shuddered as the images of the nightmare flashed through his mind as he looked down at his sleeping babies.
"It was so real Ép. I can't… it…"
"Shhh." Éponine once again pulled Combeferre to her chest, tucking his head below her chin and resting it atop.
"I was so scared."
"I know." She whispered. "But we're all here and no one is gonna harm us. All that's in the past."
He nodded once again. She shook her head and captured his lips in a loving kiss.
"Everyone has nightmares Henri, the key is having someone afterwards to chase the demons away. I'm lucky I have you to chase mine away." She breathed against his lips, her forehead resting against his.
"And I'm beyond lucky to have you. I never asked this properly, based on circumstances, but Éponine…" He paused, (not so) stealthily slipping the ring off his fiancé's left hand. "Will you marry me?"
Her face split into a watery smile as she nodded, flinging both her arms (carefully of course) around her love's neck.
"Yes."
Once the ring was back on her finger, the two shimmied down under their sheets and blankets, shifting their children until all were comfortable. Gav was nestled between them; Ben was snoring peacefully on his mother's chest as Sarah did the same on her father's. Awoken slightly during the arranging process, Gavroche let out a loud yawn before sighing sleepily,
"I love you Papa, I love you Mama."
Éponine choked back a sob. "We love you too enfant."
With his free arm, Combeferre brought it around Éponine and pulled her in close, kissing her temple gently before kissing away a stray tear.
He was the last to doze off that night, simply listening to the soft breath and snores of his little family. He smiled at the look of contentment on his beloved's face as she snuggled closely to him (as best she could with Gav and Ben cuddled up against her.) They'd all gone through a lot of hell to get to this point, but he'd go through it a thousand times if it meant to keep them safe and happy. The worries of the upcoming week fluttered out of his mind as his eyelids began to droop. Rubbing Sarah's back gently they finally slid shut, locking him into a peaceful dreamless sleep, the best he had gotten in a very long time.
Whatdija think? Was Gav too forward? Too weird? Leave your thoughts/comments even follow/fav! I LOVE your feedback!
Well... that's it for fillers blocking you from important plot points... at the moment. Hopefully up next (soon...hopefully) the meeting!
Until next time Lovelies! HAPPY NEW YEAR! =D