Time seemed to fly after that night. Minutes, turned to hours, into days, and into weeks. Abby's birthday came and went, so did Enjolras's. During that summer, since Enjolras had no classes, Abby would bring him out with her to do all kinds of things.
Summer nights were spent in the park, sitting on what had become 'their' bench, looking at the stars. Enjolras would point out constellations, while Abby would make up her own, or just start counting the stars in the sky, naming each one and giving them their own reason for being. And while Abby was having a fine time, as the days went on, Enjolras began to worry.
Since the students had no school, they'd spent their time planning. Talking of the revolution to come, and of the way they would fight for the republic. He knew that if it came down to a fight, Abby would most likely get hurt, one way or another, maybe even killed. And so when fall rolled around, and began turning into winter, he began writing letters to a convent outside of Paris. They agreed to take her in, and a date was set.
It was a very chilly November as Enjolras led Abby down to the cafe for the very last time. As he walked her he was beginning to regret his decision, but he knew it was what was best for her. When they entered the cafe all the students were silent, some even had tears in their eyes. Abby stood and looked at them, very confused "What's the matter? Who died?" she asked innocently.
Enjolras took a deep breath and knelt to her level "Abby, I know it's hard for you to understand. But you can't stay with me anymore. You're going to a convent to live now" he told her gently. Confusion swirled in her striking green eyes "Y... Your sending me away?" she asked, her voice beginning to choke up "But I... I was just starting to think..." her voice trailed off and she began to sob "I don't want to leave!".
He stood up and Abby went around, hugging all the students tightly, crying on their shoulders and telling them she'd never forget them and that she loves them. Enjolras waited quietly at the door and greeted the sister who came at last to take Abby away. He handed her a small sack that had her things in it, not much was in it, her favorite doll, a picture or two, and a carefully wrapped glass unicorn, which he'd given her for her 6th birthday and which she loved.
Abby finally returned to him and hugged him as tightly as she could, by now she'd cried all her tears so she was silent. Finally she turned and bid her final farewell before following the sister out of the cafe and into the awaiting carriage. At first the two girls were silent, but once out of the city, the sister began asking her questions, to which she replied to the fullest of her ability.
She didn't know how far away from Paris they were, but when they reached the convent Abby knew at once she wouldn't be happy. In ways she was right, in ways she was wrong. The sisters all treated her very kindly, and taught her how to read and write, and helped her how to draw better. Winter passed Abby in a blur, all she truly remembered was lying in her bed at night, holding her doll to her chest and thinking of Enjolras, Gavroche, and the other students.
Abby turned 7 at the convent, and not long after her birthday, she knew now was her time to escape. And so, one night as the sisters were all sleeping, Abby packed the sack Enjolras had sent her with, slung it over her small shoulder, and climbed out the window, disappearing into the night like a little shadow.
After wandering and being on the run for nearly a month, she found a small town and sat on the street. She was tired, and ragged, and hungry, and her feet hurt since she'd lost her shoes when trying to take a shortcut through the woods during her first week. Suddenly she heard a voice "Hello there little lady, why so down?" he asked. She looked up to see a young man. He smiled at her "My name's Feuilly, what's yours?" he asked.
She smiled "I'm Abby. Do you know how to get to Paris?" she asked him. He thought for a moment "Well, I suppose since I'm heading that way looking for work. You see, I'm not really from France though, and I'm not that good with directions, so..." he told her. She laughed "Well then we can get lost together. Isn't that better than getting lost alone?" she asked.
He nodded "I suppose I see your point of view. Say, how about we get a bite to eat? You look starved" he said. After eating their fill at a nearby cafe, they set on the road toward Paris, or so they thought. Whether they were or not, it didn't much matter, because for two lost travelers, they were having the most grand time traveling on the road together.
Abby would often point and explore things along the road, and Feuilly would tell her all about they different places he'd been, and where he'd worked. They traveled for a month together, often having to settle down on the side of the road for the night, in the middle of nowhere. Abby would tell Feuilly all about the students, and Enjolras, and the things she was trying to get home to.
One night, as they were lying on the ground waiting for sleep to come, Feuilly asked her "Is Paris worth coming all this way for? Do you think it will be?". There was a short silence before Abby replied "Yes, It's worth returning for. I'd walk forever if I had to if it meant returning to my friends. They've become my family, you know, when my mother died they took me in. I have no one else to go to, nothing left to be here for" she explained.
The next week they finally arrived in Paris, and they both had to stop and admire it. Feuilly smiled "Gee, It's better than I thought it would be" he admitted, Abby laughed "Come on Feuilly! You must come meet my friends!" she said, tugging him down the road happily.
When they reached the cafe Abby stopped "What's the matter?" he asked her. She took a deep breath "Oh, I'm just a little nervous. I haven't seen my friends in nearly a year!" she told him. She was trembling with excitement as she turned and entered the cafe, Feuilly right behind her.
Only a few of the students were there, Abby recognized Joly and Lesgles at the far table playing poker, Grantaire in his usual spot drinking, and Combeferre absorbed in yet another book. None of them seemed to notice her, so she quietly crept up to Grantaire and tapped him on the arm "Grantaire, do you remember me?" she asked him.
He looked over at her and his eyes became wide as if he were seeing a ghost "MY GOD! SHE RETURNS!" he shouted, standing to pick her up, and twirl her around. The other students looked up and most of them had the same reaction "Abby?" Joly asked. Once Grantaire put her down she ran up to him "Joly! Lesgles!" she said happily "I missed you so much!" she told them.
Joly embraced her happily as she came to him "Abby! We've been thinking about you and wondering what became of you. And now look, all ragged and, you're so much bigger than I remember!" he exclaimed. Lesgles laughed "She's a lady now I'd say", Grantaire shook his head "No no, she's still a lass to me. She always will be!". Combeferre came over and stood, looking her over "Enjolras won't be pleased" he whispered to Lesgles.
Lesgles merely shrugged "Well the others will" he said "Let's not worry about it now. Hey, who's your friend?" he asked Abby. She smiled and went over to Feuilly, leading him over to the group "This is my new friend Feuilly, he helped me get here. Without him, I'd most likely be on a road somewhere far away" she introduced.
Grantaire shook his hand enthusiastically "Anyone who helps my Lass all this way is a friend o mine!" he announced. Just then Prouvaire entered the cafe, carrying a mountain of book. "PROUVAIRE!" Abby yelled happily, he threw all the books in the air and jumped at the voice "Abby?" he asked, frozen on the spot now.
She ran up and hugged him, nearly knocking him over "Oh Jehan! I'm sorry I scared you, I'm just so happy!" she told him. He patted her head "Well I'm happy too! It's good to have you back!" he told her. Not far behind him was Courfeyrac, who ran up to her and hugged her, squeezing the breath out of her "ABBY! The princess! I missed you so much!" he told her.
The students were still celebrating when suddenly Enjolras entered the cafe, and the room went silent. Enjolras was about to ask what was going on, when his brown eyes locked with a familiar pair green ones "A... A... Abby? Abbigale?" he asked hesitantly.
Abby nodded and took a step forward, tears in her eyes, before she burst out running and hugged Enjolras, sobbing "Enjolras! Please don't send me away again!". He shook his head and pushed her away "You won't send me away again will you?" she asked him through her sobs. He blinked "Of course I am" he told her, the other students gasped.
"Enjolras, why must she leave again?" Lesgles asked, Courfeyrac nodded "Yea, let the girl stay now" he told him. Enjolras shook his head "And who's this man?" he questioned, looking at Feuilly. The man stepped forward "My name's Feuilly, and I traveled with her all the way here" he explained.
Enjolras pushed Abby away as she tried to cling to his shirt "Why would you bring her all this way?" he asked "A child?". He shook his head "I didn't. She'd already been traveling a month alone before we met. We were both going to Paris, me looking for work, her looking for you, we decided it'd be better traveling with someone than alone. It was all her own" he replied.
He was silent for a long while, before instructing "Everyone leave, now". They all looked at each other in slight confusion, before gathering their things and all filing out the door. Now Enjolras and Abby were completely alone in the cafe, and Abby's sobs began to quiet as she calmed down with less people in the room.
Finally Enjolras took Abby's hands, crouching down to her level "Why did you come all this way Abby?" he asked her gently. She sniffled "Because, you're my family, and family has to stick together" she told him, he blinked "Well, you've come all this way almost on your own, lord only knows what you've seen in that month by yourself in a world I myself have yet to see. I suppose, you must stay now" he told her.
She leapt into his arms, knocking him over "Oh 'Jolras!" she cried "I'm never leaving you again! I promise!". Suddenly Abby stopped crying and looked up at Enjolras, he had tears in his own eyes "Why are you sad?" she asked. He smiled and laughed, "I'm not sad Abby" he told her, choking on a sob "I just can't believe your here. I thought I'd never see you again" he admitted, beginning to cry.
Abby laughed at him "'Jolras! You told me that crying was weak!" she said. He shook his head "I lied" he merely replied before wrapping his arms around her. She hugged him tightly and closed her eyes "Can we go home now 'Jolras? I've come so far to get here, and I'm so tired. We slept on the side of the road a lot. A bed would be nice" she told him.
He laughed and stood up, picking up Abby's sack in one hand and holding Abby's hand in the other, he began leading her out on the street and back home "So Abby, why don't you tell me how you got here? You're so big now, and... ragged" he told her, examining the tattered remains of her dress that was a little too small. She smiled "Well, it started about 3 months ago, in a place I like to call 'Middle of Nowhere'".
The next morning Enjolras sat at the table writing when Abby came in, still wearing her rags "Um, Enjolras?" she asked. He looked over at her "Yes?" he asked. She looked at him, in the most serious way she could "We have a problem" she stated. He looked at her with an equally serious face "Oh? What kind of problem?" he asked her.
"None of my dresses fit me" she told him, still as serious as she could be, almost monotone. He took a sip of the coffee on the table "I see, well that is a problem isn't it?" he asked her. She nodded "Yes. Go fix it" she said, throwing him his wallet. He gasped "Wha? Where'd you get this?" he asked her. She smiled "You still keep your money and valuables hidden under your mattress?" she answered, like it was obvious.
He grabbed his coat and left his flat, grumbling slightly. Tricky Abby was back now, but this time, she was a lot smarter and less innocent than she had been before. He knew he'd have to be careful.
Not really happy with the way this chapter turned out. But, I'm too hungry, and tired to change it. So, review and tell me whether you thought it was any good.
I only have 2 MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL left, so, that means more chapter updates! YAY! Oh and don't worry, I'm not gonna pull the time skip thing, because now they're about at the age for the BARRICADE! YAY! Get excited cause that's gonna be a depressing read! Haha
ON the brightside to that though, I don't kill off, you know, EVERYBODY. Just you know, most of them... REVIEW! And THANKS FOR READING!