My Best Friend's Wedding
Disclaimer: Don't ask me! :cries:
AN: I almost wanted to wait with this chapter a bit longer – and it might be a bit longer until I update the next chapter. Just as a warning, because I do have a thesis to write and I am not done with enough chapters to feel confident posting too many chapters. I'm only working on eighteen, and that might take a while to be finished. It is a bit difficult to write.
Chapter fourteen: Twists, Turns, and Ticking Clocks
"It's my sister," his face tells of shock and pain and dread.
"Just take it," she tells him, wrapping herself around him in a comforting embrace.
Nothing else has been said about the practically perfect Natalie, but the look on his face says more than enough to her. He has not talked to her in ages, and for her to call him on a random night means that something has to be utterly and completely wrong.
"Natalie?" his voice is soft and broken right from the start.
She can only hear Enjolras' side of the conversation, and it feels odd to refer to him by his last name when he is talking to someone with that same last name. Still, she is having troubles with trying to call him Gabriel, because somehow he is her 'Jolras and there is nothing else that she can possibly call him that will suit him that well. That name is just theirs to use, and it is the only nickname that he knows he even approves of. He has never told her to stop calling him that, and she will call him that whenever she can. His full last name is a bit of a mouthful, and his first name is just not done.
Still, she kind of wants to see what will happen when she calls him Gabe – just Gabe.
"What?" his face goes completely white, and she knows it is bad. "Dad? How bad is it?"
Shit! That means that there has been an accident or a medical emergency and that was just about the worst thing that she could possibly think of with a normal family like his – if it had been her family on the phone, she just would have wondered what her parents had gotten arrested for that particular time – and she would not have cared about the answer all that much. This is different, and this is just so much worse.
"I am coming right now," he manages to promise before completely shutting down.
There is no response from him to her touch, and that is when she knows that something is really wrong – he has never been immune to her touch. Whether he flinched away or turned closer, he has always responded to her – his stillness is more terrifying than any other response could ever be, and the distance feels too great.
"'Jolras?" she is trying to get through to him. "Tell me what's wrong!"
"My dad had a heart attack," he breathes out. "I have to go."
With those words he shuts down again, staring at the wall yet seeing nothing. She has to take over the phone, because he does not seem to be fit for conversation with anyone at this point, let alone his sister he hardly ever talks to.
"Natalie?" she speaks into the phone, hoping that the other woman is still there.
"Who is this?" is the sharp response from a very clear and bell-like voice.
Knowing her 'Jolras pretty well, she is sure that he has never mentioned her to anyone who did not already know her – he is an intensely private creature, and he is rarely in touch with his family anyway. So this is pretty much the weirdest and most awkward meet the family she has ever heard of, but she is still sticking with him.
"My name is Éponine," she awkwardly introduces herself. "I'm a friend of your brother's. He is just staring into nothing, so I am not going to let him drive when he is like this."
It is weird how he just completely shut down when the news came, because she always expected that he would deal with things in a much more obvious way that showed on the outside as well. She figured that he would scream and shout, and maybe even punch the wall in frustration, but she never even imagined that he would completely shut down like this, leaving her desperate and trying to bring the man from before back. Was it really only minutes ago that they were actually kissing?
"Of course," her 'Jolras' sister immediately agrees with her diagnosis.
"Which hospital do I need to drive him to?" she makes her decision quickly.
There is no way that she is going to leave him to drive there on his own, even if he had been less distant than he is currently. Situations such as this one are better handled with a friend by one's side – and she is the best thing that he has got at this point.
"It is a pretty long drive," Natalie gives her a warning instead of an answer.
"That doesn't matter right now," she shrugs it off. "Just tell me where to take him."
She can arrange everything with work later, but this is a valid family emergency and she is not leaving him alone to deal with that, especially when he is in such a state. This time she is going to be the one protecting him, and she is going to do a great job at that – she is going to be the great friend that he deserves to have around him right now.
"Hope Mercy hospital," Natalie finally tells her. "Do you know it?"
"I can Google with the best of them," she returns with her usual quick wit.
Maybe if 'Jolras ever finds his senses again, he will be able to tell her just where she needs to go. She is going to assume that he will eventually start talking again, because otherwise their car trip is going to get really awkward really fast.
"Where are you now?" Natalie is just about as businesslike as her older brother.
"We are at 'Jolras' apartment," she tells the other woman like it does not mean anything.
Even though it does mean just about everything, and they were just about to maybe make some real progress in their relationship – she can tell the other woman absolutely nothing about that, because it is not as if she would understand. Natalie probably still thinks of Enjolras as the Marble Man who was so focused on celibacy that he looked at the ground instead of looking at a woman. Well, she managed to knock that bullshit out of him within the first day she met him, about ten years ago, and the celibate thing seems less than accurate at this point. He actually kissed her!
"It will be about a three or four hour drive," that gives her something to look forward to.
"I can handle it," she tells Natalie. "We will pack our stuff and we will be on the road within thirty minutes. 'Cause I am assuming that we are staying the night somewhere."
There is a short moment when she catalogues what clean laundry she has left and where she can find it, so that she can map out the most efficient packing time. She does not want him to lose time with his father because she is being stupid about what kind of clothes she wants to pack for the trip. She has a list inside her head, and she will stick with that and make things easier for the both of them. Because she is coming with him!
"I'll make up the guest room," Natalie understands what she means.
"I will just get in bed with your brother," she has to tell his younger sister something about their complicated relationship, "if you do not mind. I have done it before."
Also, she is not going to leave him alone in a confusing situation like this one. He has enough issues with his family that he needs someone who is completely on his side in everything, and she is going to be that person. The only bonus that she can give what his other friends cannot is that she can sleep in his bed and hold him through the night when the world sounds too scary to contemplate. She can kiss him better if only he would let her – she would do just about everything if only he would let her.
"This is something I am not sure I want to know, but okay," Natalie is surprised.
"See you in several hours," she ends the conversation and disconnects the call.
She is left with an almost despondent Enjolras still sitting next to her on the couch, and while the literal distance between the two of them is small, there is a large gap that is miles wide metaphorically. There is a difference like night and day between how they were before the call and how they are now. She understands, but that does not mean that she likes it. She wishes that they could turn back the clock for a little while.
"Can you pack your stuff?" she asks him, hoping for any kind of response.
"Don't treat me like a child," he bites at her, and she breathes a sigh of relief.
Seeing him angry is not very high on her list, but it is still several places higher than seeing him unresponsive and almost traumatized. She is happy that he finally reacts to something, so she is ready to be stupidly impulsive about that.
"You're back," she throws her arms around him without thinking.
"And I am going to pack," he makes her let go so quickly.
There is nothing left to say to him as he rushes to get away from her, and she has to pretend that this does not sting. He was kissing her before, even though it was hesitant and tentative, and now it seems as if he cannot stand to be in the same room with her for longer than a few seconds. She is not just going to let that go, not even right now.
"Are you going to be a dick for the whole trip," she walks towards his bedroom.
"You are not coming with me," he snipes, and she is almost ready to yell until –
She finds him sitting on the floor of his bedroom with red-rimmed eyes and trying to choke back the tears that keep threatening to escape. She has never seen him in such a state, and that is exactly why she is definitely coming with him on this journey.
"I am not letting you do this alone," she sets herself down right next to him and laces his hand with hers. "I'm driving, but we do need to go to my place first so that I can grab some clothes. I already talked to your sister, and I already told her that we are definitely sleeping in the same bed, so that should not be a problem either."
That brings out his first laugh since he heard the terrible news.
"That might get interesting," he laughs, obviously imagining the inevitable clash.
She stares at him rather than giving him a verbal response, because she still has not solved the delightful mystery that is Gabriel Enjolras.
e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e- e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e
They are less than five minutes away from the hospital when she starts to consider just what kind of impression she needs to make on these people, seeing as they are related to the guy she is in love with. It feels so shallow to think about the future of their stupid relationship when his father's life might be in danger, but she has never been too smart of a person Also, she is still an immature idiot at heart, and her mind is just going haywire trying to deal with everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours.
"Almost there," she reminds him as the hospital gets ever closer.
"Thanks for coming with me," he tells her softly, still sounding so stressed.
She can see the hospital now, and she slows down to pull into the parking lot, knowing that he will probably want to get inside and see his family as soon as possible. Still, he is not moving a single muscle, not even after she has haphazardly parked his car in the first available parking spot. He is back in his mind palace again, and for some reason he looks as if he is incredibly terrified of leaving the safety of his own car.
"Eventually you will have to move," she tells him gently, knowing that there are more issues in play than she knows of herself. "And I will be right there with you when you are ready to go in. I'll even hold your hand if you want me to do that."
This is her trying to be generous and trying to be a good friend, even though the part about the handholding would probably be a bit more self-serving than the rest of it. She just wants to feel close to him again, and holding his hand would help with that, and she also thinks that he will definitely be able to get some support out of it.
"I have not seen them in years," Enjolras sounds so young when he says that.
"But you want to see them now," she tells him in return.
No matter how hesitant he may seem now, he surely wants to see his parents and his sister again – and he can finally meet Natalie's newborn baby girl. The girl is only a few weeks old, but he has not visited his family members in order to meet her. It is terrible that he will first see his niece under such terrible circumstances, but she knows that he will be a wonderful uncle to the little girl. She will be spoiled in no time.
"I am worried about my father," he switches from childlike to extremely formal.
"I understand," and she does understand. "But for you to find out any more news about his current state, you are going to have to get inside, at least eventually."
At this point, she is worried that she is never going to be able to get through to him, and while she does not want to leave him in the car, she is eventually going to go inside with or without him there. If he is too scared to get answers, she will get them for him.
"Okay," he finally opens the passenger side door so that he can get out. "We're going."
They both step out of the car, both on their respective sides. She locks the car quickly and checks if it actually worked. She has to make sure that their belongings, the ones that are kept in the trunk of his car are safe as they head towards the entrance, ready to face whatever is coming for the two of them – but mostly for him. Just before they enter the hospital, Enjolras slips his hand into hers. She squeezes once. She understands.
"I'm right here," she tells him just as they enter the hospital.
He heads straight for the desk as soon as he sees it. It is being manned by several nurses who are looking more than a bit stressed – which she totally understands because life in a hospital is terrible and stressful and occasionally terrifying. She does not want to think any more on her own experiences with hospitals, but there are so many reminders surrounding her that she cannot help but think about Annabelle Pontmercy, and about the many broken bones and scars that she herself suffered over the years.
"I am looking for Gabriel Enjolras senior," 'Jolras gets straight to business. "I'm his son."
Okay, that might be at least some part of the explanation for his frustration about his first name – he is named after his father, and she already knows that there are definitely some issues between the two men. She will probably get into these issues a bit more later, but for now she is happy with finding out a bit more about her 'Jolras.
"He is still in surgery," the nurse tells the two of them after looking into the database on her computer. "You can join the rest of your family in the waiting room on your left."
With the lack of news, Enjolras just stands there for a bit, looking defeated and oh so very scared. He does not appear to be all that ready to face his mother, his sister, and the rest of his little family. She knows that it cannot be as bad as he is making it out to be, so she is going to drag him in there whether he wants to or not.
"Come on, 'Jolras," she tells him. "The waiting room is that way."
She just starts walking, and he follows her rather easily, maybe because their hands are still clasped together and he does not appear to want to let her go. She does not have any problems with that, so she will just let it happen, and let him introduce her to his family while they are holding hands. That is definitely going to make an impression on her, but she is mostly concerned with his comfort at this point. He wants her there with him.
"You must be 'Jolras' family," she speaks as they enter the room.
"Gabriel!" the woman who is probably his mother immediately pounces on him and smothers him in a hug. "Thank you so much for being here. I'm so glad you've come."
The woman is crying loudly, all the while mumbling about just how happy she is that her dear son is here. He has been forced to let go of Eponine because of the hugging, and now he has to bear the tears. He seems awkward and out of place the whole time.
"Mom, let him go!" Natalie orders her mother. "He needs to breathe."
There is some hesitation on their mother's side, but she releases him eventually, and he is finally free when Natalie takes her turn for a much quicker hug.
"Hey big brother," she tells him, a soft smile on her face.
"Hey little sister," her 'Jolras acts as if this is part of some protocol.
Still, she is kind of touched at how much they obviously love each other underneath all of the stupid drama. It shows in all of the little things, like how her 'Jolras flicks one of his sister's messy curls away from his face with a groan that is supposed to tell of exasperation, but instead tells of brotherly love. It shows in the way Natalie drags her brother along to her husband and child with the excitement of a young girl.
"You remember Henry," Natalie says this rather teasingly.
The aforementioned Henry is trying to look after their baby girl, so he only looks up at Enjolras for a quick second – but that is more than enough for her to tell that the big bad brother and the so-called perfect husband are not necessarily fond of each other.
"I do remember him," Enjolras' tone of voice confirms her suspicions.
"Come meet our little miracle," Natalie's voice is all happiness, for a little while.
After mentioning her little girl, Natalie practically drags Enjolras to meet her child, and because he has just reached for her hand again, she is dragged along as well. The warmth of his hand is just a little clammy with his worries, so she lets herself get dragged around if that will make him feel better. He is nervous about being around his family again, and she is going to be the support system that she needs at this point.
"Marie, meet your uncle Gabriel," Natalie lifts her little girl into her arms.
"She is so precious," she blurts out in response. "'Jolras, she even looks a bit like you."
The little baby girl is absolutely adorable, with a few tufts of hair that will eventually turn into something quite similar to her mother and uncle's crazy curls. When Marie's eyes open and she sees just how beautifully blue they are, she is struck by the desire to one day have a similar little girl of her own, with his blonde curls and his blue eyes, and her mischievous smirk and her dimples. The sheer want both surprises and completely terrifies her – because feelings are enough, but now she is actually picturing a happily ever after with him that includes children that she will undoubtedly screw up.
"Do you want to hold her?" Natalie asks her terrified big brother.
"What if I drop her?" he is stammering and almost shaking.
Marie looks so similar to what their child would look like that for a moment she can actually imagine that this little girl is theirs. She is trying not to blush at the implications for their relationship – it would mean his celibacy was completely gone – but she also cannot stop thinking about how amazing it would be to have a child with him.
"You are not going to drop her," she says all the typical things that a mother would say.
"Hold your arms like this," Natalie shows him, "and support her head."
Natalie gently places the tiny baby in his strong arms, and he looks positively terrified that something will go wrong. It is so easy to think of him holding their little baby like this – because their baby will also have those curls and those big eyes and those rosy cheeks. She wants several of these little Enjolras girls, and some boys who are exact copies of their father. Her biological clock is screaming at her, and she cannot ignore it for much longer, not after seeing the man she loves holding a baby that looks like him.
"You're doing well," she helps him adjust his arms a little. "Mind the head."
The little head is cradled in one of his large hands, and once again the clock starts ticking and screaming for attention, even though she thought that she was done raising kids after being a mother to Gavroche – and even to Azelma at times. She raised her siblings and after that she was done. Only now she sees him with that little girl that could be hers, and everything that she was sure about is turned on its head.
"You know a lot about this!" he is smiling at his tiny, squirming niece.
"I have two younger siblings," she tells him. "Gavroche was born when I was eight. I had to pick him up all the time so he would stop crying and annoy my parents."
That is more than everyone in his family needed to know. She let more slip than she wanted to, so she quickly stops talking and hopes that they will forget about this in all of the drama that is surrounding them. They have much more important things to consider than her stupid childhood traumas that she should have forgotten about long ago – but every time she sees Gavroche, she remembers how she used to cradle him in her arms to keep him safe, and how she always took the brunt of the damage for him.
"You are Éponine?" Natalie distracts her from her dark thoughts.
"That is me," she smiles as if there is nothing wrong – only everything is wrong.
The only thing that makes it better is looking at Enjolras holding that baby girl. She can pretend that this girl is theirs and that they are happy and in love instead of hoping to hear news that tells them his father is not going to die this very day.
"Thank you for getting my brother here safely," Natalie puts a hand on her arm.
"It was no problem," she smiles at her in return, almost unable to look away from 'Jolras.
If she has anything to say about the future, he would be the father of her children, and they would actually raise some well-adjusted kids – they would have serious problems with authority and showing their feelings, but they would always feel safe and they would always feel loved, no matter what. No child of hers is ever going to be scared of her, and no child of hers is going to have her scars. She will make sure of that – and she will protect that little girl with everything she is. Even though Marie is not hers.
"Do you want to hold Marie for a while?" Natalie has seen her longing looks.
"If that is okay with you," she would like to pretend for a little while longer.
She helps to move Marie from Enjolras' arms into her own. The tiny little girl takes one short look at her and starts smiling widely, her toothless mouth showing with her adorable grin. She has managed to make this little girl happy just by being near her and holding her, and that proud feeling is so incredibly powerful.
"Hey baby girl," she whispers, letting Marie take a hold of one of her fingers.
Her finger does not even fit in Marie's tiny little hand, and she chuckles softly at the adorable sight. She wants this moment for herself at some point, with her own son or daughter clutching her finger and not wanting to let go.
"Is she your girlfriend?" she hears Enjolras' mother asking the awkward question.
"They are sleeping in the same bed," Natalie adds her two cents. "She told me that."
It is easy enough to turn around a bit to see Enjolras blushing like mad as the other women in his life demand an explanation for her presence at the hospital. She is not here to bail him out on this particular subject, since she would really like to hear his honest answer to this question. There will be no help from her; no matter how many pleading looks he is currently sending him. She pretends to be too busy with little Marie.
"This is not the time, mom," he sounds like an adorable little boy.
That makes her want to giggle so badly, but she can see the doctor coming closer, obviously looking for them because he has some news to tell all of them. So she slowly makes her way in Henry's direction, letting him take his daughter back because she is going to be needed to support 'Jolras when the damage hits. Judging by the carefully blank look on the male doctor's face, the news might not be all that good.
"Are you the next of kin for Gabriel Enjolras?" the doctor addresses the group.
The relatively happy atmosphere that they achieved before is immediately gone and they are back to worrying and freaking out about the possibilities.
"Is my husband okay?" the mother is softly crying again, barely holding herself together.
When the doctor takes a deep breath before moving to reply, she fears the worst.
AN: Okay, so minor cliffhanger. Don't hurt me! As always, leave your favorite parts/lines/etcetera in the comments/reviews!