Hey everyone! So sorry for the delay in updating... When I'm not at work or class, I'm at rehearsal... Even over fall break. So here's the fruits of my "I should be memorizing but I want to write fan-fiction" labor. I hope you all enjoy! This is the chapter where things pick up... Be prepared.

~Rosey

Chapter Six:

Combeferre could tell there was something wrong with Enjolras the moment he walked into the child's bedroom the following day. Little Julien sat on the bed, his hands folded in his lap, his blue eyes trained on the ground, his lips in a set line. Etienne frowned a little, stepping inside the room and shutting the door behind him.

"Julien?" Combeferre spoke up quietly, going over to sit by him. "Are you alright?"

The blond just nodded, wordlessly, not looking up. Etienne's frown deepened and he reached over to put a hand on Enjolras's little shoulder. "Julien? Please talk to me?"

The small boy was quiet for a very long while before finally looking up, meekly. "I... My father's home today."

The bespectacled child blinked, then looked down. "Oh. I see. I've never met him before."

"I haven't much either. I met him two years ago for the first time." Julien shifted a little on the bed for a moment. "I didn't like it very much."

Combeferre swallowed a little and squeezed Enjolras's shoulder lightly. "I'm sorry. Would you like to go on another outing? Get your mind off it?"

The blond was very quiet for a minute, and Etienne decided mentally that he officially despised Enjolras's father more than anybody on earth for making the feisty child so subdued. Finally, the five-year-old spoke up in a tiny voice. "May we maybe to the lake again please?"

The older child's face broke into a smile and he nodded, eagerly. "Of course! We can even go fishing again, and feed the ducks!"

Enjolras brightened up a little at this. "I liked feeding the ducks."

"I did too," Etienne smiled, getting to his feet and reaching for Enjolras's coat to hand it to him. "And guess what?"

"Hmm?" the blond looked up as he slid his coat on.

"Bet I can beat you to the door!" Combeferre grinned, turning and bolting out the door.

Enjolras shifted a little, unsure. His father didn't like childishness like racing... But maybe he could run quietly? Maybe he could be act his age just for a minute? And with that, little Julien turned and raced out after his friend.

Combeferre grinned when he saw Enjolras running after him, relaxing as his little friend did. He turned to keep running, pausing long enough for Julien to make it a few steps ahead of him, ensuring the small boy would win.

It was then Etienne realized that Julien had stopped running, and was frozen in a now-open doorway, his eyes going wide, and his body rigid, looking like a scared, tiny little boy... Which... He is...

Monsieur Enjolras stood in the doorway of his office, his graying blond hair slicked back in perfect precision, his stony eyes glaring at his son, his height nearly reaching seven feet as he towered over his tiny child. Julien trembled in his shadow as the man spoke in an icy, even tone. "Julien. Rene. Enjolras."

Combeferre was also frozen, having never seen the man in person before. Finally, he found his voice. "Um... Hello, monsieur. My name is Etienne Combeferre. I'm entertaining Julien... Is something wrong?"

"Ah," the giant man turned to face Etienne, and the boy under his gaze felt his blood run cold. "You're the child paid to be my son's friend. It would take payment to pretend to like this one, wouldn't it? Little burden of a brat."

Julien's eyes grew wide and pained, but Combeferre's eyes hardened and his jaw clenched. "Actually, sir, I've been greatly enjoying my time with Julien. In fact, I don't think it's necessary to pay me at all."

Enjolras's little chin trembled slightly, though he tried desperately to stop it. His father's icy glare turned on his son again, and he spat through clenched teeth. "Don't you cry, boy. Crying is for children. You are five years old, not two!" He turned back towards Combeferre, who was all but shaking in fury. "I apologize for this boy making you tell such lies. We will raise your pay, or you may leave if you wish."

By now, Etienne was furious and was speaking in a very calm voice so he didn't start yelling. "Sir, I am telling the truth. And I can't accept any money for spending time with Julien. I enjoy it and I won't be leaving."

Monsieur Enjolras huffed coldly. "So you're determined to keep up this lie, hmm? Very well. You may escort him back to his room. I shall have a very serious talk with him about this later on." At the prospect of this 'talk,' Julien looked down and bit on his lip so hard to keep it from trembling it drew blood.

Combeferre, however, was not stepping down as his eyes blazed dangerously. "Monsieur, with all due respect, I don't believe that will be necessary. As I said earlier, I am telling the truth. And honestly, I'm slightly offended that you believe me to be dishonest."

Enjolras looked up meekly, his blond curls falling into his eyes, his voice a hoarse whisper. "Ferre... Please, don't..."

The bespectacled child stopped talking, his mouth set in a thin line, looking Monsieur Enjolras in the eye, almost challenging him. He set a gentle hand on Enjolras's back to comfort him, and frowned when he felt how the small boy was shaking.

Monsieur Enjolras spoke in a cold, stony voice to the two children before him. "You may go."

The smallest child gently pulled on Ferre's hand, speaking weakly. "Please, 'Ferre, let's just go..."

After shooting one last glare at Monsieur Enjolras, Combeferre turned and gently escorted Julien back to his bedroom, both children feeling Enjolras's father's glare burning into the back of their skulls.

Once inside the room, Enjolras locked the door for the first time since Combeferre had been coming to visit him, looking down at the floor, utterly ashamed. Etienne bit his lip and knelt down to Enjolras's eye level, speaking softly. "Julien? Are you alright?"

Not looking up, Julien began reciting words that shattered the older boy's heart... Words the tiny child had obviously said far too many times before. "You do not have to come back. I have behaved badly and am a disgrace to the family. There is no need to turn in a letter of resignation. You will get paid for your troubles. I am very sorry."

Combeferre frowned, tilting Enjolras's head up to look him in the eye. "Enjolras, I am not going anywhere. I don't want to be paid. You are no trouble, and I have loved spending time with you."

A single tear slipped from Enjolras's eyes and a horrified look crossed his face as he felt it fall, turning bright red and brushing it away hurriedly. "I am so, so sorry... It won't happen again, I'm so sorry..."

Etienne's frown deepened as he reached up to wipe a few more tears off the small marble cheeks. "You have nothing to apologize for, Julien. You did nothing wrong."

Enjolras shook his head yes quickly, almost in a panic. "Yes I did! It's wrong to cry!"

Combeferre frowned and had to resist hugging the tiny, precious boy... Stroking those thick blond curls and rocking him gently. "There is nothing wrong with crying, Enjolras. I cry sometimes, and I am older than you."

The small blond looked up, sniffling. "You do?"

"Mmmhmm. I do. So if you feel like crying in front of me you can. I won't be upset by it, and I promise I will never, ever tell your father."

It was very tempting, but Enjolras shook his head stubbornly, sniffing again. "I can't. I'm sorry."

The older child bit his lip, his heart broken for the small boy before him. "Alright." A pause, then, "May I hug you?"

Enjolras hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I suppose you may."

Combeferre smiled and hugged him tightly, taking a deep breath as he finally took the small child in his arms as he had been wanting so desperately to do. Julien hugged him back, reluctantly at first, then tighter, sniffing helplessly.

After a moment, Enjolras pulled back first, feeling himself becoming attached which, to him, was a highly dangerous thing to do. Etienne frowned a little, but then smiled warmly. "Well. Thank you, anyway. For letting me hug you."

Julien swallowed thickly and again made a plea to Etienne to stay. "I promise I'll be better, 'Ferre. I won't act childishly again, and I'll even shine your boots if you'd like. I learned how to from my nanny she said it was the only thing I was good at-"

"Oh, Enjolras, no," Comebeferre instantly wanted to hug the small boy again. "No, no there is no need for that, I assure you. And when you are around me you may act as childishly as you like. Also, I hope you don't think of me as a nanny."

The blond swallowed again, looking away. "Ferre?"

"Hmm?"

"I wish you could stay here tonight." He blinked furiously as more tears welled in his eyes. "Father won't be happy... He has to... Talk to me. He's going to be so mad..."

Etienne frowned and put a hand on Enjolras's shoulder. "Maybe I can talk to him about it."

At this, the smaller child quickly shook his head. "No, please... I don't want him to get mad at you and make you leave. Please don't. I can handle it, I promise..."

The older child frowned and bit his lip. "Alright... If you're sure it won't help..."

"I'm sure," Enjolras nodded quickly. "I'll be fine. I promise just... Just so long as you come back tomorrow?"

And, unable to help himself, Etienne wrapped Julien in another tight embrace. "I promise I will. No matter what. I'll be back. I'll always be back."

And Enjolras nodded a little, burying against him, trying with all his might to believe his best and only friend.

And there it is! The introduction of the antagonist of the story, Mr. Enjolras himself. Please, let me know what you all thought of this chapter!

Stay revolutionary!

~Rosey