Part Two: Chapter Seven

A few days later, Enjolras had a chance to talk with Courfeyrac, and they reached a decision. Campaigning wouldn't begin for a while, but they wanted to have a plan. They brought their families together after dinner one evening in the Rousseaus sitting area to tell them the decision. Eponine and Giselle already knew, but they wanted to make a formal announcement to their families. Enjolras and Courfeyrac stood together at the front of the room while their families waited for them to announce their decision. The wives already knew so they were anxious to see how the children would react.

"Courfeyrac and I have talked a lot about if we are running for re-election, and if we are, how we plan on running. It has been decided that I will not run for another term as president," Enjolras said.

The younger children listened, but didn't understand everything completely. Libertè was the only one who looked surprised.

Courfeyrac cleared his throat, "I will be running for president. Enjolras has agreed to run as my vice-president.

Libertè's shocked look faded into a half-smile. After that, they sat with their families and talked for a while. When it got late, Courfeyrac helped Giselle up out of her seat and to their wing of the manor, as she was very pregnant. The baby was due to arrive in only a couple of weeks.

After the children were in their beds, Enjolras and Eponine went to bed as well. As they settled in under the covers, Eponine turned to face him.

"I think you two came up with a very good idea," she said.

"I do too. You won't be too disappointed about not moving out on our own somewhere, I hope."

She laughed, "I think I'll live."

Eponine moved so that her head rested on Enjolras's chest, and his arms draped loosely across her back. Within minutes, her breathing slowed, and he felt her completely relax into sleep. Enjolras kissed the top of her head before falling asleep as well.

0000

Just a week after it had been decided that Courfeyrac would run for president, the children were home from school and Eponine was sitting with Enjolras in his study. Courfeyrac burst through the door of the study, startling them both, and saying that Giselle was going to have the baby. They followed Courfeyrac to his wing on the manor after telling Libertè and Gabriel, who was at the house studying, to keep an eye on the children. Libertè and Gabriel moved to the living area so they could keep a closer watch on the kids when Henri and Brigette suddenly showed up.

"What are you two doing here?" Libertè asked.

"Papa sent us," Henri answered.

"I'm going to be a big sister!" Brigette squealed.

Libertè smiled and stood, swooping the little girl up into her arms and tickling her.

"Are you excited?" she asked Brigette.

The little girl nodded with a huge grin on her face. Libertè looked to Gabriel, and then back at the kids.

"Alright. Why don't we take everyone outside?"

"Sounds good to me," Gabriel said.

The two friends took Gavroche, Jolie, Henri, and Brigette out to the garden to play while they sat under a tree to continue their studying. They stayed out there for a few hours, but eventually it was dinnertime.

"Gabriel, could you take them inside and make sure they clean up for dinner? I'll go make us something," Libertè said.

Gabriel stood and called for the children to come inside. Libertè went to the kitchen to start making dinner while he took them to wash up.

0000

Right after dinner was over, Enjolras showed back up and told the children to come with him. Gabriel told Libertè goodnight before she followed her father and the others to Courfeyrac's wing of the manor. Once they reached the wing, Courfeyrac came out of a room with a huge smile and motioned for Henri and Brigette to come in. The door closed, leaving Enjolras, Libertè, and Jolie sitting outside the room.

"Where's Mama?" Jolie asked, climbing up into Enjolras's lap.

"She's in there," he said, pointing to the door that Henri and Brigette had disappeared behind.

A few minutes later, Eponine emerged from behind the door with a bundle of blankets in her arms. She walked over to the kids and bent down so they could see the baby.

"His name is Remi," she smiled.

"He's adorable," Libertè said.

They all fawned over the baby for a bit, and then Eponine stood.

"I should probably give Courfeyrac and Giselle their baby back," Eponine laughed.

She went back in the room for a moment, and then came back out. The Rousseaus walked back over to their wing to get some rest.

0000

The next couple of weeks were a bit more stressful than normal. Courfeyrac and Enjolras were working long hours as they prepared to campaign. Eponine was spending a lot of time with Giselle, helping her care for her two young children and her new baby. Libertè began her second year at the university, and the work was getting more challenging. With her father working more and her mother helping Giselle, Libertè had to look after her siblings a lot more. Gavroche was being more stubborn than usual so most nights ended in an argument between him and Libertè that Enjolras had to settle. Things only got more stressful when Libertè got sick. She couldn't get out of bed so she could no longer help her parents out. With no one to watch Gavroche and Jolie, Enjolras had to put a hold on the campaign planning. According to Eponine, Courfeyrac and Giselle really needed her help because their wing of the manor was a mad house.

One day, Enjolras managed to get some work in before the younger children came home from school, only taking breaks to check on Libertè who was still ill. Eponine had been with Giselle all day, and he didn't know when she would come home. He made himself and the younger kids some dinner, and then took some soup to Libertè. After dinner, Enjolras got Gavroche and Jolie ready for bed. Gavroche yawned and Enjolras walked with him to his room. He tucked the little boy in and told him goodnight before going back into the hall to find Jolie peeking out at him from behind the bathroom door.

"Alright, Jolie. Time for bed," he said.

She came out from behind the door.

"But I'm not sleepy, Papa," she giggled.

"But I am," he responded.

She took off down the hall, giggling as she ran away from him. Enjolras reached her quickly, barely having to pick up his pace.

"Got you!" he said as he swung her off her feet and into his arms, tickling her.

She laughed until her face turned pink. Enjolras swung her over his shoulder, which made her laugh more, and walked to her bedroom. He plopped Jolie down on the bed and pulled the covers up over her.

"I'm not sleepy!" she complained.

"I know you aren't, Jolie," he said, knowing that she'd be asleep not five minutes after he left the room, "But it's time for bed anyway. Just close your eyes and curl up. You'll be asleep in no time."

"OK, I'll try."

"Goodnight, sweetheart," he said, kissing her head.

"Goodnight, Papa!"

Enjolras watched as she got comfortable under the blankets, and then left the room, shutting the door behind him. He walked to Libertè's room to check on her and found her asleep with the empty bowl of soup in her lap. He moved the bowl to the side table before placing a hand on her forehead. It was still a little warm with fever so he wet a rag with the bowl of water by her bed and draped it across her head, making her stir slightly. He turned out the lamp and left her alone to sleep.

Back in his room, Enjolras undressed and got in bed. As tired as he was, he wanted to wait up for Eponine, so he propped up and decided to read. A little while later, Eponine came home, trudging into their bedroom. He sat his book down on the side table as she sank onto the end on the bed.

"I'm sorry I'm so late. You didn't have to wait up for me," she sighed.

"I wanted to."

She turned and smiled tiredly at him.

"Are things still crazy?" he asked.

She nodded, "Very. Giselle was an emotional mess today and completely worn out. Henri and Brigette are still very young so they are a bit rambunctious. Remi is a very fussy baby so keeping him happy is a full time job. You have no idea how blessed we were with our children, Enjolras. All of them were rather happy babies. Remi is not very happy. Courfeyrac is trying his hardest to help, but they definitely have their hands full. I am utterly exhausted."

"I'm sure."

He got up and moved so that he was sitting beside her. She sank onto his shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around her, playing with her hair.

"Did you have any trouble getting the kids in bed?" she asked.

"Not really. I had to chase Jolie down, but she didn't give me any trouble. They're all asleep."

"How's Libby?"

"She still has a slight fever, but I put a cool rag on her head. She's getting better," he responded.

Eponine sighed out of exhaustion and Enjolras helped her undress so she could get into bed. She flopped down against the pillow and he turned out the light. Enjolras wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him, and she buried her face in his chest. Eponine fell asleep almost instantly.

Author's Note: Hello readers! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I haven't been getting much of a response, so it'd be nice if I could get some feedback from my readers! So please review and let me know your thoughts. I have some interesting things planned for this story coming up. Thanks for reading and please review!

~loislane16