Part Two: Chapter Thirteen

After dinner was over, everyone dispersed to do their own things. All the children went outside to play, so George and Libertè went out as well to watch them. The men disappeared into the study, and the three women sat at the small table in the kitchen drinking coffee. The women were catching up with each other when Remi started fussing on Giselle's lap. She tried everything to get him to calm down but nothing worked, so she excused herself, deciding to see if Courfeyrac could help. Once Giselle was gone, Eponine decided to ask Cosette the question that had been bothering her ever since she was pregnant with Libertè.

"Cosette, I've been wondering something for quite some time. On the day that you and Marius left, you acted very strange and distant. Why?"

"Oh, I'm sorry I was like that, Eponine. You see, I wasn't very fond of Marius's idea of leaving either, but he insisted. I know he was just trying to protect George and I, but I still wasn't very happy. France is where all my friends are and where my father is buried. I didn't exactly want to leave. It was really quite painful to leave. I was probably just trying to hold myself together," Cosette explained.

Eponine nodded, "I understand. When the second rebellion happened, Enjolras sent Libby and I away to his mother's. It was terrifying. So how was England?"

"It was nice, but France will always be home," she sighed.

"I want to hear all about it," Eponine smiled.

0000

The men sat in the study telling Marius about the second rebellion and their lives in office when there was a knock at the door. Giselle came in with a fussy Remi on her hip.

"I've tried everything, Courfeyrac. He won't stop," she said with an exasperated look in her eyes.

Courfeyrac got up and made his way over to her.

"Let me try," he said, taking the baby from his wife.

After a few moments, the baby became content and stopped crying.

"I don't even know what sets him off sometimes," Giselle sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"I'll keep him with me for a while. You need a break," he smiled, kissing her forehead.

"Thank you," she responded before leaving the room.

Courfeyrac settled back into his seat with Remi on his lap.

"So, you're running for president this term, Courfeyrac?" Marius asked.

Courfeyrac nodded, "And Enjolras will be my vice-president. The election is in a few days."

"I'll be sure to vote, then," Marius smiled.

0000

Outside, Libertè and George sat in the grass, watching their siblings play. Jean, Vivienne, and Gavroche sat not very far off talking together. Belle and Henri were chasing Brigette and Lucille around the yard. Jolie, being her normal adventurous self, was climbing trees with Philip.

"So what did they say to you?" Libertè asked, referring to the conversation he had with her parents.

"It wasn't that bad. They just asked me questions about myself. Your father did threaten my life if I ever were to hurt you, which I understand. But we had a good time talking. We got along well," George said as he placed his hand over Libertè's.

She laughed, a bit relieved.

"He's going to let me 'officially' court you," George smiled.

Libertè's face lit up, "Really?"

He nodded, and she tackled him in a hug, wrapping her arms around his neck. He placed a quick kiss on her cheek. Suddenly, they heard a loud thud followed by crying. Libertè jerked away from George to see Jolie lying at the base of a tree, wailing and clutching her wrist.

"Stay with her. I'll go get my parents!" Libertè exclaimed as she darted towards the house.

The study was the closest so she ran there first. She burst through the door, startling the men. When Enjolras saw the panicked look on his daughter's face, he jumped up.

"Jolie's hurt," she said.

Then she turned and ran out with Enjolras on her heels. On their way out, they got Eponine before darting into the yard. Marius, Cosette, Courfeyrac, and Giselle followed.

"What happened?" Eponine asked as they made their way to the little girl.

"She was climbing trees like she always does and she fell," Libertè explained.

When they reached Jolie, George was sitting against the tree, holding her in his arms and trying to console her as she gripped her wrist and cried. All the other children were watching with wide eyes. Enjolras knelt down beside her and brushed the hair from her face.

"Let me see it, Jolie," he said gently.

She sobbed harder and let him delicately take her wrist in his hands so he could look at it. He could clearly see the spot where her wrist was broken.

He turned to Eponine, "It's broken. We've got to get the doctor to set the bone."

Enjolras took the little girl from George and cradled her against his chest as he walked back to the house. Everyone waited for Enjolras, Eponine, and Jolie in the sitting area.

A little while later, they returned with Eponine carrying Jolie. Her eyes were red and her arm was splinted. She rested her head against her mother's shoulder as she quietly hiccupped, recovering from her sobbing.

"Well, we'd better be going. It's getting late. Thank you for the dinner invitation. We had a great time," Marius said as he stood.

"It was wonderful seeing all of you again," Cosette smiled.

"Thank you for coming. We enjoyed it. We hope you'll come visit again soon," Eponine said quietly.

Marius glanced at Enjolras, taking note of his unreadable expression, before looking back at Eponine, "We will."

He and Cosette got all of their kids ready to leave. Little Lucille had fallen asleep in Jean's lap so Marius scooped her up into his arms to carry her home. George gave Libertè a kiss on the cheek before joining his family. Enjolras, Eponine, Courfeyrac, and Giselle bid their friends goodbye before they left. Once they were gone, Eponine settled down on the couch beside Courfeyrac, still holding Jolie. Libertè and Gavroche told their parents goodnight before heading to bed. Henri and Brigette sat sleepily on the floor, Remi was asleep against Giselle's chest, and Enjolras moved to settle into an armchair.

"You alright Jolie?" Courfeyrac asked, placing a hand on the little girl's back.

"Yeah, but it hurts," she sniffed.

"I know it does. I broke my arm once when I was a little older than you. I remember how bad it hurt. It'll feel better soon," he said.

Jolie started dozing, so Enjolras took her from Eponine and went to put her in bed. She fell asleep against his chest before he could even reach her room.

"We should probably be going as well. Those two look like they're about to drop," Courfeyrac said, pointing to his tired children.

"They may not even make it to the bed," Eponine joked.

"I think tonight went well," he said.

Eponine smiled, "Me too."

"Goodnight Eponine," Giselle said.

"Goodnight."

Then they gathered up their children and left. When Enjolras returned from putting Jolie in bed and checking on the others, he and Eponine decided to go to bed too.

As they climbed under the covers, Eponine spoke, "Today was a long day."

"Definitely," Enjolras sighed.

"I had a good time tonight. Did you?"

"Yes, I did actually."

"Do you think you and Marius will be back to normal?" she asked as she moved close to him.

He wrapped his arms around her and nodded, "In time, I think so."

"Good. I've missed him and Cosette."

"Unbelievably, I have too."

0000

A few days later, the election occurred. The Rousseaus, Courfeyrac, and his family sat around anxiously awaiting the results. Finally, the news came late that evening that Courfeyrac was the new president and Enjolras was the vice-president.

Over the next few weeks, a lot went on and things changed. Courfeyrac took over as president, and Enjolras switched over to the role of vice-president. Gavroche turned thirteen, and Libertè started her third year at the university. George and Gabriel began their final year at the university, and they were ready to be done. Gabriel and Madeleine also announced that they were going to have a baby. Everything was changing, and Enjolras knew even bigger changes were coming.

Author's Note: So, I just wanted to let everyone know that I have lost inspiration for this story. Don't worry. I will finish it, but I'm going to wrap it up in the next two chapters. I have plans for another E/E fic, and hopefully I'll have a title by the time I finish the last two chapters of this one so you can keep a lookout for it. Thanks for reading. Please review. I love the support I get from my readers! Thank you again.

~loislane16