Part Two: Chapter Fourteen

Two Years Later

Two years into Courfeyrac's term as president, Libertè finished her schooling at the university and acquired a degree in politics. Gabriel and George both graduated one year earlier, and George started working at a law firm. Libertè was almost twenty, Gavroche was fifteen, and Jolie was nine. Gavroche was only one year away from the university, and he'd already decided to study medicine. Madeleine and Gabriel's baby, a little girl named Gabrielle was almost a year and a half old. Libertè had been considering what she wanted to do with her degree for a while, and she'd finally decided.

One afternoon, Libertè made her way through the manor to find her father.

"Papa, can I talk to you?" she asked as she knocked on the open door of the study.

"Of course, Libby."

He motioned for her to come in and sit. Once she had settled into a chair across from his desk, she continued.

"I've decided what I want to do," she said.

"What might that be?"

He didn't look up from his work, but she knew he was listening.

"I want to run in the next election."

He looked up at her questioningly, "For?"

"President," she replied confidently.

That made him drop his pen and stare at her with wide eyes, his eyebrows raised.

"President," he repeated.

She nodded. Enjolras sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, thinking for a long while.

He looked back at his daughter and simply said, "OK."

Libertè narrowed her eyes, a bit confused.

"That's it? I was expecting an argument or for you to at least try to talk me out of it."

Enjolras shook his head, "Libby, I've learned over the years not to doubt you because every time I do, you prove me wrong."

She smiled and got up to leave, "Thank you, Papa."

He smiled back at her as she walked away, but soon the smile was replaced by a stunned look. He remembered what Courfeyrac said shortly after Libertè was born.

"She looks just like you Enjolras!" Courfeyrac exclaimed.

Enjolras nodded, "Her name is Libertè."

"Libertè Rousseau. She is destined to do great things, I know it," Courfeyrac smiled.

Enjolras smirked at the memory. Perhaps Courfeyrac was right all those years ago. Perhaps his daughter would end up in history books all around the world. He had a feeling that she would.

0000

Libertè was overjoyed that her father hadn't put up a fight about her idea of running for president. She walked down the street to her best friend's home. Being Enjolras Rousseau's daughter, she had already thought everything through and formed a plan. She was just waiting for her father's support to put her plan into action. Now that she had his support, it was time to talk to Gabriel, a fellow politics graduate. She knocked on the front door of Gabriel's home, and Madeleine answered with little Gabrielle on her hip.

"Hello Madeleine, Hi Gabrielle," Libertè greeted, reaching out to tickle the little girl.

Gabriel babbled in response.

"Hi, Libertè. What made you stop by?" Madeleine asked.

"I wanted to speak with Gabriel. Is he here?"

"He is. Come in."

Once she was inside, Madeleine disappeared into another room and Gabriel took her place. Gabrielle had swapped parents because Gabriel was now holding her. They sat down across from each other.

"Gabriel, I spoke with my father about something today. It concerns my career," Libertè began.

"OK," Gabriel said, waiting for her to continue.

"Well, I want to run for president in the next election, and I have my father's support."

"That's wonderful, Libertè!" Gabriel exclaimed, "If anyone can do it, it's you."

"Thank you, but I came here to ask something. I wanted to ask you to be my vice-president," Libertè said.

Gabriel smiled, "I'd be honored."

"Thank you," Libertè smiled back as she got up and hugged him.

0000

The next day, Libertè packed some lunch into a basket and headed to the law firm where George was employed. He and Libertè had been courting for over two years. The only reason they hadn't gotten married was because school and work kept getting in the way. They were both content in the relationship though, because they still had each other. They knew they'd get married eventually.

Libertè walked into the law firm and stood in the doorway of George's office, watching as he flipped through a case.

Libertè cleared her throat, "Lunch is here."

George looked up and smiled.

"Libby," he said as he rounded his desk to kiss her.

Over the past two years, he'd taken to calling her by her nickname like her parents did.

"I thought we could eat together today," she smiled.

"Of course."

George cleared off his desk, and Libertè laid out the food. She sat across from his desk as he sat behind it so that they were facing each other. After they started eating, Libertè decided to tell him her news. She hadn't gotten to see him the day before so she hadn't had a change to tell him.

"Guess what?" she asked with a huge grin.

"What?"

"I'm running for president in the next election, and Gabriel has agreed to be my vice-president."

George almost started choking on the bite of bread he'd just put in his mouth.

"Really?" he asked, a stunned look on his face.

Libertè nodded, "Why? Do you think I shouldn't do it?"

"No! I think it is a very big ambition, but you should go for it. I assume you've already spoken to your father about this?"

"Yes, I have his support. He didn't even try to talk me out of it like he did with my politics degree or with courting you. He agreed because he said I always prove his doubts wrong," she shrugged.

George raised his eyebrows, "Wait, did you just say that he tried to talk you out of courting me?"

"Sort of. I mean, he just wanted to make sure I was making the right choice. I could tell he was grasping at straws to get me to change my mind. But don't worry. It had nothing to do with you. I'm his firstborn, and he's always been very protective. Plus, I've always been his little girl. I'm sure it was hard letting me go," Libertè explained.

George rolled his eyes and reached out to hold her hand.

"Well, as long as it doesn't have anything to do with me."

Libertè laughed at him, and they continued their lunch happily.

0000

A week later, Enjolras had a brilliant idea. He immediately went to find Libertè, who was in her room reading.

"Libby, I have a proposition," he said as he sat down beside her on the bed.

Libertè dog-eared her page and set the book aside, "Alright."

"Well, the election isn't for another two years, and you'll need something to do until then. I've been thinking, and I came up with something. How about you work under Courfeyrac so you can really see what the position is like? You'd be his assistant or intern. If Gabriel wanted to, he could come work under me. What do you say?" he asked.

"I think that's a fantastic idea, Papa! I'll definitely talk to Gabriel about it," she smiled.

"Great. I think it could really help you."

"Me too."

0000

Within a week of Enjolras proposing the idea to Libertè, and Libertè proposing the idea to Gabriel, they both agreed it would be a wonderful opportunity. Libertè began working for Courfeyrac, and Gabriel started working under Enjolras. Libertè hoped that this would help prepare her and Gabriel for the upcoming election.

Author's Note: Just one more chapter left! My new story will be entitled Only Been Pretending. I haven't started writing it, but keep an eye out. Also, at the end of the next chapter, I'll have a very important question for all my lovely readers, so watch for that as well. Thanks for reading and please review. I must say, the reviews I got for the last chapter were very heartwarming.

~loislane16