Hello everyone :D
Sorry for the delay on this chapter, writer's block struck this week. I hope this chapter makes up for the longer wait; it's so cute and fluffy!
Eponine, from her space in the corner of the room, surveyed everything that was happening around her. Enjolras sat at his table, maps laid across the desk as he concentrated deeply. Grantaire sat with Jehan playing cards as Marius attempted to tell them about his beautiful lady love that he still did not know the name of. Combeferre sat with Gavroche, smiling encouragingly as he carefully and slowly read through the alphabet in attempt to begin to teach the young boy to read. The entire atmosphere of the café was calm, no passionate speeches or drunken slurs. She smiled to herself. She had to find reasons to smile. Although she knew now that Marius was gone, lost in a dream world of the golden haired beauty, and therefore had no hope of ever being hers, she had to smile. She felt accepted by the group and was more than happy to sit and watch the activity around her. From her corner, she watched Gavroche, a smile on his little face.
"A, as in Apollo" Combeferre smiled pointing to the letter on the page "What is next?"
Gavroche, deep in thought, stared at the page of letters in front of him, tracing the letter B with his finger. Combeferre made it like a game; he had to think of a word starting with each letter to help him remember the alphabet. "B" He started "B, as in Boys"
"That's it 'Roche, very good" Combeferre smiled, writing down each word. He didn't have experience teaching a child to read, especially a child who should have been taught when he was much younger, but he thought that the alphabet would be a good place to start. "What's next?"
"A, B…C" Gavroche recited, happily bouncing slightly in his seat. To be able to read would be a new and valuable skill.
"Alright, C as in what?" Combeferre said looking at the excited young boy.
"C as in…" Gavroche said with a giggle "As in Combeferre"
"Or Courfeyrac perhaps"
Gavroche looked up from his alphabet work at the sound of that voice. Standing at the end of the table, looking strong and back to his normal self was Courfeyrac. Gavroche dropped everything, a beam on his face. Everyone was watching now. It was the first time Courfeyrac had left his bed since he was injured. "Courf" Gavroche smiled brightly, leaping out of his seat and running across the room throwing his arms around Courfeyrac. "You're all better!"
Courfeyrac laughed, kneeling down to pull Gavroche into his arms and holding him tightly, kissing his head. "Indeed I am petit, all as good as new"
"Aww, oh sweet" Grantaire smiled, standing from his card game to survey the sweet scene. "Father and son reunited at last"
A babble of laughter spread around the room, and everyone was smiling; even Enjolras had looked up from his work to see Courfeyrac sweep his boy into his arms. At the moment Courfeyrac did not chance lifting the child in fear of aggravating the wound, now he was satisfied with holding him. In the time from Courfeyrac entering the room, the atmosphere changed entirely from calm to celebratory. Card games were abandoned as Jehan, Grantaire and Marius came and patted Courfeyrac on the back, welcoming him back into the group as if he had been away on a long journey. Combeferre and Joly did the same. Enjolras smiled, seeing Courfeyrac make his way back to his normal seat with Gavroche tightly by his side. He nodded to himself. "Enjoy this time, no meeting tonight"
Grantaire gaped at him "He must be in a good mood" He laughed turning to the café owner "It's a celebration, wine please Madame"
Whilst everyone was bustling around him, Courfeyrac took the opportunity to sit down and draw Gavroche up onto his lap. "Combeferre was teaching you to read?" He asked, smiling as he tucked Gavroche's hair behind his ears.
"Oui, we are starting with the alphabet" Gavroche said showing Courfeyrac the page with the letter neatly wrote out, like a child would show a parent their school work. "A for Apollo, B for boys, C for Courfeyrac and Combeferre"
"That's right, well done" Courfeyrac said proudly, wrapping his arms around the small boy "What comes after C then?"
"D" Gavroche smiled, settling back against Courfeyrac's chest and resting his head on his shoulder. "D as in Duty, Enjolras said to fight for the country is a good man's duty"
Courfeyrac nodded. "Indeed it is" He nodded; glad to have his boy in his arms again.
"Are you gonna fight Courf?" Gavroche asked, turning his head to look him in the eye "In this revolution?"
"We all have to fight for what we believe in and I do believe in this revolution Gavroche" Courfeyrac said seriously. "You don't have to worry about that now, alright, it will be a long time before the revolution comes. It's you and me now, alright?"
Gavroche nodded, turning in his lap to cuddle against his chest. "I'm glad you're all better Courf" he whispered
"Me too Roche" Courfeyrac smiled stroking his hair
Eponine smiled seeing the two of them cuddled together like that before going to them, putting a gentle arm around Courfeyrac's shoulders. "It's good to have you up and about again Courfeyrac" She smiled.
He nodded "Good to be back" He smiled, gesturing to her to sit beside him.
Gavroche, staying cuddled close to Courfeyrac's chest, happy to be able to rest there again, leaned forward and pressed the page into Eponine's hand. "The next one is easy" He smiled "E as in Eponine"
"That's right" Eponine nodded, smiling proudly as she stroked her little brother's cheek "You clever boy"
"Combeferre's teaching me to read, then I can read the pamphlets we give out at the rallies, and take messages to help" Gavroche smiled
"Help in the revolution?" Eponine replied with wide eyes. "Roche that's dangerous"
"Courfeyrac will look after me" Gavroche smiled as he replied, tucking his head up onto Courfeyrac's shoulder.
"You know I will 'Ponine" Courfeyrac smiled
….
"Can we go home tonight?" Gavroche asked later on that evening. Since Courfeyrac had been injured, Gavroche had spent every night sleeping on the cot beside Courfeyrac or curled uncomfortably into the chair beside the cot. He wanted to go home, but refused to leave the café without Courfeyrac.
"I'll ask Joly and Combeferre, those two are protective doctors" Courfeyrac chuckled ruffling the boy's hair as he walked to the two student doctors. The celebration had died down now, the soft sound of drunken singing from Grantaire and Jehan still echoed through the room, soft enough now to be a lullaby for the boy. He yawned, walking to Courfeyrac and Marius and sleepily taking his guardian's hand.
"Home?" He asked, the one word question in a begging tone.
"Home" Courfeyrac smiled squeezing his hand and leading the sleepy child down the stairs and out into the street. "Soon, Gavroche, the scar will fade down and I will carry you. For now, you can hold my hand as tight as you wish"
Gavroche nodded and smiled, that was enough for him for now. Courfeyrac was back, the lively playful young man who gave everything for Gavroche was back. When they returned home, it felt alright again. Little had to be said as they changed to sleep, an old shirt of Courfeyrac's serving as a night shirt for Gavroche.
"Can I stay with you tonight, please" Gavroche asked looking up at Courfeyrac through pleading sleepy eyes.
"Of course" Courfeyrac smiled. To be honest, he had grown used to having the warm small form of the little boy curled to his side at night, the closeness was comfort to them both. "Come now, mon petit frère"
Gavroche smiled laying down into the soft pillows and moving close to Courfeyrac's form. "Does it hurt Courf?" He asked, feeling the young man's gentle finger's running through his curls "The scar?"
"Not now, it is just a mark to show what happened, you don't have to worry anymore petit chiot" Courfeyrac whispered kissing his forehead. "It's all in the past now"
Translation – Petit chiot – Little pup
I thought it would be a good little nickname for Gavroche with links to little people of course.
I hope you all liked this chapter, please review and let me know
The person to give the 200th review gets a Gavroche/Amis oneshot with a theme of their choice!