Part Two: Chapter Three

Libertè awakened to the smell of her favorite pastries. Today was her sixteenth birthday. It had been a week since her parents had decided to let her study politics, and she would start classes in two weeks. She jumped up out of bed to get ready for the day, slipping on her favorite red dress and tying back her long, blonde curls with a matching red ribbon. Libertè made her way to the kitchen to eat breakfast with her family.

When she entered the room, she was almost tackled by her two younger siblings. She laughed as Gavroche hugged her waist, and Jolie wrapped her arms around her big sister's legs.

"Happy birthday, Libby!" they said in unison.

"Thank you," she laughed.

Once the younger children had detached themselves from Libertè, Enjolras walked over and wrapped his arms around his daughter.

"Happy birthday," he said, placing a kiss on her forehead.

She smiled up at him, and he took her hand, leading her to a seat so she could eat some breakfast. Eponine placed some of Libertè's favorite pastries down in front of her, and then wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart," she said.

"Thank you, Mama."

"You're growing up too fast," Enjolras sighed while he thumbed through a newspaper.

Libertè just laughed when she caught the half smile playing on her father's lips. Everyone finished eating their breakfast, and Eponine shrugged on her shawl.

"Alright, we need to go get Henri. It's time to head to school."

Gavroche and Jolie followed Eponine out of the room, but Enjolras caught Libertè by the arm, preventing her from leaving. She spun to face him.

"Libertè, could you do something for me?" he asked.

"Of course."

"After school, send the others home, then could you go pick up a book for me?"

She nodded, and he placed a few francs and a slip of paper that had the name of the novel written on it in her hand.

"Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome. Goodbye, Papa," she said, kissing his cheek.

"Goodbye, Libby," he called after her as she left the room and followed Eponine.

He hoped that the errand would keep her out of the house long enough to do everything they needed to do.

0000

Later that afternoon, Libertè walked her siblings and Henri halfway home before heading to the bookstore. She quickly purchased the book Enjolras wanted and made her way home. When she stepped through the front door, Enjolras was there waiting for her. She narrowed her eyes at the mischievous grin on his face.

"Here's the book you wanted," she said, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Thank you."

He took the book from her, and Libertè gasped when his hand suddenly covered her eyes.

"What are you-?"

"Just wait and see," he said.

He grabbed one of her hands with his free one and, keeping her eyes covered, slowly led her through the house. Finally, they stopped, and Enjolras uncovered her eyes. Libertè gasped again at what she saw. They stood in the door to the sitting area, which was completely decorated. Everyone she loved was sitting in the room. Courfeyrac and Giselle were sitting in two chairs, Gavroche, Henri, Jolie, and Brigette were all on the floor, and her mother was sitting on the couch.

"Happy birthday," they all said.

"Thank you! This is wonderful!"

Enjolras and Libertè walked over and sat on the couch with Eponine. Jolie and Brigette got up and ran over to Libertè with bunches of flowers in their hands.

"We picked these for you, Libby," Jolie smiled.

"Oh, they're beautiful. I love them!" she exclaimed.

Libertè hugged her little sister and Brigette, and Eponine took the flowers, placing them on the side table. Then Henri come up to her and held out a pretty rock with the letters LR carved on the top.

"I thought you might could use it to hold down your papers since you're going to the university and all. I carved your initials onto it," he said shyly.

"Thank you. That was very kind of you, Henri."

She gave the little boy a hug, causing him to blush.

"Why don't you give her your present next, 'Roche?" Eponine suggested.

He reached out and tied a braided leather strip around her wrist.

"It's a bracelet. I hope you like it," he said.

"Oh I do. It's very nice."

Libertè gave her brother a kiss on the cheek, and everyone laughed when a look of disgust came to his face, and he wiped his cheek off with his hand.

Next, Giselle and Courfeyrac passed her a large box that was from them. Her eyes widened when she opened the box and saw what was inside. It was a beautiful, royal blue dress and a matching hair ribbon. Pinned to the collar of the dress was a cockade that bore the colors of the French flag. Only the adults and Libertè knew what the cockade was from. It was the same one that her father, Courfeyrac, and all their friends wore when they fought at the barricade. Not the second barricade where the people were victorious, but the first one that cost most of Enjolras and Courfeyrac's friends their lives. When the younger children got a little older, Enjolras and Courfeyrac tell them about the barricade, but for now, Libertè was the only one who knew. Enjolras told her about the barricade when she was thirteen.

She held the dress up out of the box so the others could see.

"It's gorgeous!" she breathed.

Then she pointed to the cockade and looked at Courfeyrac.

"Was this yours?" she asked.

He nodded with a smile and looked at Courfeyrac curiously. He knew she was wondering why he gave that to her.

Enjolras leaned in and whispered in her ear so that only se and Eponine could hear him, "You were the first child of the barricades."

A thought stirred at the back of Eponine's mind about Marius and Cosette Pontmercy. Technically, their child had been the first child of the barricades. However, they had been gone for many years, and they didn't stick around to support the people in the second fight or see freedom come to the people, so they didn't count.

Libertè smiled and thanked them for the gift. Then, Enjolras handed her a small package and a letter.

"Your grandmother is very sorry she couldn't be here, but she sent you this," he said.

She opened the small package and pulled out an elegant fountain pen.

"This is very nice," Libertè said.

Then she opened the letter and read it to herself.

It read:

Dearest Libertè,

I wish I could be there to celebrate with you, but I haven't been feeling well enough to travel. I hope you like what I sent you. I thought it might come in handy with all the speeches and essays you'll be writing soon. Your father has told me that you want to study politics, and I couldn't be more proud. I think it is wonderful that you are willing to step up and do something different than anyone else. If there is any advice I would give you, it would be to always fight for what you believe in and never give up. If there is anyone who can change this world other than your father, it is you. You have grown into a remarkable young lady, and I'm proud to be called your grandmother. Have a wonderful birthday, my dear, and always remember that I love you.

With Love,

Grandmother

Libertè closed the letter and smiled.

"I'll have to write her a thank you letter," she said.

Eponine handed her two rectangle presents wrapped in plain brown paper.

"These are the last two. The top one is from me, and the bottom is from your father," she said.

Libertè opened the two presents quickly. The one from Eponine was a beautiful leather bound journal, and the one from Enjolras was a novel.

"It was my favorite when I was your age," he said.

"Thank you, Papa. Thank you, Mama," she said, hugging them both.

Everyone talked for a little while longer, but eventually the younger children needed to go to bed. Libertè told everyone thank you one last time. Then Courfeyrac, Giselle, and their kids went to their wing on the manor, Libertè took her things to her room, and her parents went to tuck Gavroche and Jolie into bed. Libertè had just climbed into bed when Enjolras and Eponine came into her room. They both walked over and sat on the edge of her bed.

"Did you have a good birthday?" Eponine asked.

"Yes! It was wonderful! Thank you so much!" she exclaimed.

"I'm glad you liked it. Goodnight, Libby. Love you," Eponine said, hugging her daughter.

"I love you too, Mama."

"Goodnight. Sleep well," Enjolras said, kissing Libertè's head.

"Goodnight, Papa. I love you," she smiled.

Enjolras smiled back, "I love you too, Libby."

Then, he shut the door, and she drifted off to sleep.