The next days were spent showing Abby how to get back home from every which way Enjolras could think of. Abby wasn't one who liked to be cooped up inside his flat, and was constantly asking Enjolras to take her out. It wasn't too long before Abby was able to go out and return by herself.
Finally Spring came, and Abby couldn't have been happier as she pulled Enjolras through the park on a sunny April afternoon. He, along with the rest of his friends at the cafe, were used to being taken to the park by Abby for a walk. Today just happened to be Enjolras's day, though everyday was Enjolras's day to Abby.
She looked up at him and smiled "I'm so glad it's warmer out now. Aren't you 'Jolras?" she asked him innocently. He thought about the report he was supposed to be writing for school right now but nodded and smiled back at her "Yes, I'm happy it's warmer out to" he replied.
Abby stopped and picked a flower that caught her eye. She examined it and continued walking next to Enjolras "I think I'll give this to Nanny" she told him after a minute. Enjolras had to chuckle at this "I'm sure he'll love it" he told her.
Truth was, 'Nanny' was actually Grantaire. In a short amount of time 'Gran' had evolved into 'Granny' and had eventually turned into 'Nanny', which was pretty much what Grantaire had become, her Nanny. He was always watching her and taking care of her while the others were at school. Enjolras had finally given him a second chance at babysitting her, and this time when they all returned Abby was playing Go Fish with a surprisingly sober Grantaire.
As they neared the cafe on the other side of the park, Abby began to run happily, tugging at Enjolras's hand "Come on 'Jolras" she told him. She tripped on the front of her skirt and Enjolras pulled her up by her hand before she fell "Slow down. I'm sure Winecask won't be going anywhere" he told her. She looked up at him "Why do you always call him that?" she asked.
He shrugged "Because that's all that he is, a winecask" he told her simply. She sighed and smoothed her skirt, frustrated that she'd been tripped up again "Why must I wear these stupid dresses?" she asked him, he couldn't help but chuckle again, she always asked at least once a day. "Because you're a lady, and ladies where dresses" he told her.
She pouted and made a face at him "Then being a lady is stupid!" she told him, stamping her foot. He began walking again, Abby instantly jumping to walk next to him. As they reached the street Abby took Enjolras's hand as he lead her towards the cafe. Some of the bigger men who wondered the street later in the day frightened her and drove her to hide behind Enjolras whenever they were around.
Once they entered the cafe though, she instantly left Enjolras and ran up to Grantaire "Nanny! I got you a flower!" she said proudly, handing it to him. He laughed "Why Lassie this is a beauty! Nicest flower I've ever seen!" he said with a bit of a drunken slur. Courfeyrac came up behind her and picked her up, holding her on his hip "There's the Cafe princess!" he told her.
Abby laughed "Hi Courfeyrac! Have you finished my crown yet?" she asked him. He smiled "Well of course! I wouldn't dream of not finishing! However, the evil monster, Combeferre-a-saurus is guarding it at that table over there. You'll have to defeat him to get it" he told her, as seriously as he could muster. Courfeyrac set her down and she huffed, marching over Combeferre, who was too preoccupied with his book to notice what had just been set into motion.
The little girl quietly crept towards Combeferre's table, Courfeyrac and Grantaire waiting excitedly for the little girl to do the inevitable. Suddenly she charged and tackled him off his chair, he let out a surprised yelp before they both fell onto the floor in a heap. "What was that for?" he demanded as Abby stood and brushed off her skirt, before picking her 'crown' up off the table and putting it on her head "Courfeyrac said I had to defeat you to get my crown. So I did!" she told him happily.
Combeferre glared over at the two, who were laughing their heads off, Grantaire laughing so hard he fell off his barstool. Enjolras raised his voice over the noise "Alright Alright! It's time to start the meeting!" he declared. Combeferre stood and brushed himself off, before sitting at a table as far away from Courfeyrac as he could. Joly and Lesgles, who had been trying to beat Prouvaire in a game of poker for the last hour stopped to pay attention.
Abby went over to Grantaire and helped the drunk to his feet "Darn Nanny" she said as she plopped herself into a nearby chair once he was back on his barstool "Their starting their boring talk again". He laughed and took a swig of whiskey "Well don't you worry Lassie, they can't possibly have that much to talk about tonight!" he said. She adjusted her crown on her head. It was a nice crown to her, obviously Courfeyrac had worked hard on it.
The crown was a ring of red velvet, with wool stuffed into it, and had gold trim winding around it, with a veil to finish it off. Abby looked up "Nanny, where's my paper and ink quill?" she asked him. He reached into his sack which he had placed carefully under the bar counter and pulled out the items Abby requested "Think you'll finish your drawing today lassie?" he asked.
She shrugged as she put the paper down on the table and looked at her progress so far "Maybe". She dipped her quill in the oil well and began carefully drawing lines. The students continued to talk, Grantaire continued to drink, and Abby continued to draw. Finally the students meeting ended and everybody began getting ready to go home for the night.
"Nanny, I think I'll finish it at home tonight since I'm so close" she told him. He nodded "Suit yourself Lassie. Just make sure to show me when ya finish" he told her in a drunken slur, before picking up his sack and heading back to his apartment, which he was finally able to return to after his ankle healed and his landlady let him back in. Combeferre merely bid Abby goodnight and patted her on the head before going out the door after him.
Courfeyrac picked Abby up and kissed her on the cheek like he always did, reminding her to take good care of her crown, and to always wear it to the cafe. She told him she would and he put her down before heading out for the night. Once he was gone, Prouvaire insisted on trying on her crown. He told her he was quite jealous that she was Courfeyrac's favorite as he handed the crown back. Smiling, he went out the door and took the hand of a young woman who was waiting.
Finally Joly and Lesgles bid Abby goodnight, and promised her that next week they would teach her how to play poker on the day they had no classes. Once Abby was sure they'd keep their promise, they left. Enjolras finally took her hand and they began to head home "'Jolras, what do you always talk about in there for so long?" she asked him. He looked down at her "Things that are beyond your understanding" he replied "But, basically, we're talking of a better world, so that when you're grown up you can be free" he told her.
His words confused her and she merely shrugged "Well, I'm glad you talked so long, because my picture is almost done!" she told him. He raised an eyebrow "Oh? And what's it a picture of?" he asked her. She giggled excitedly "It's a surprise!" she told him. He mocked disappointment and made a puppy dog face at her "Aw, but can't you at least give me a hint?" he asked. Her eyes flashed with mischief "It's what I want for my birthday next month" she replied.
Enjolras gasped "Y ..Your birthday?" he asked, he honestly had no idea when the girl's birthday was. She nodded "Yep, May 6th. And I'll be 6 years old!" she told him plainly "When's your birthday?" she asked. He laughed "July 6th" he replied, she pushed him playfully "Wow! Same day as me only 2 months later! And, how old you gonna be?" she asked him. He rolled his eyes and pretended to be annoyed "20" he replied. She gasped "You're gonna be OLD!".
They finally reached Enjolras's flat and Abby immediately went to the table and sat down, focusing on finishing her picture. Enjolras took the chance to sit at his desk and at least start his paper. They sat in silence for a long time before Abby finally jumped up excitedly "FINISHED!".
Sighing, he put down his quill and turned to look at her "Well?" he asked. She smoothed out her skirt before parading up to him and handing him the picture proudly "You'll be the first one to see it. I hope you like it!" she told him. He stared at the picture for a long time, trying to determine what it was a picture of.
Finally Abby rolled her eyes "It's a pony!" she told him, pointing to a fat blob that Enjolras guessed had started as an ink blot. She pointed to the stick figure standing next to the blob, a little line connecting from the arm of the figure to the face of the 'pony'. "And that's you!" she told him, she pointed at a smaller stick figure that was sitting on the blob "And that's me!" she finished.
Handing her the drawing back, he smiled "You want a pony?" he asked her slowly. She nodded "Oh yes! I love horses! I always petted them when Mama left me out in the street while she worked" she explained to him. He cringed internally at the thought but merely nodded "It's time for bed now" he told her. She sighed "Well ok, Tomorrow Courfeyrac's watching me right?" she asked.
Enjolras nodded and Abby yawned, taking her crown off and setting it on the table. She kissed Enjolras goodnight before going into her room and closing the door behind her. Enjolras sighed and went back to finishing his paper, but his eyes kept wandering to the picture she'd left on the desk.
"A pony?" he asked softly to himself. He didn't have the space in his little flat to keep a horse of any kind, and he was sure boarding at a stables was expensive. Suddenly an idea popped into his head, Combeferre had room for a horse at his place, maybe he'd let him keep a pony there.
He finished his paper and headed to bed, tomorrow after class he'd ask. A pony, he would have never guessed, but maybe a pony would be good for the little girl. Maybe a pony could come in handy as a messenger in the battle to come? He hoped so.