Chapter XVI

When Gabrielle arrived home from the church that evening, she was appalled at the state of the apartment. Books were tossed about everywhere, discarded clothes were on the floor, and piles and piles of papers from the law office were randomly scattered about wherever Enjolras had left them. The desk was piled so high it was practically unusable. The bedroom was in no better shape, either.

"What absolutely disgusting people we are," she said, laughing to herself. "Who lets their home get this messy?"

They hadn't exactly been spending time in the apartment, she supposed, except for in the bed. And cleaning wasn't on her mind when Enjolras' naked body was pressed against hers.

Gabrielle began putting the books away first, since there was actually space for them on the shelves, and the dirty clothes she piled in a corner. She would pay Musichetta to wash them tomorrow. The papers were another story, however; they were from Monsieur Durand's law office and she didn't want to move them, lest Enjolras not be able to find something he needed. But she also didn't want to leave them laying around in random places, either.

She was saved from her dilemma by Enjolras walking through the door. He stopped when he saw the mess and her standing in the middle of it.

"Antoine, we really have a problem," she said in greeting, her hands on her hips.

He shut the door behind him and rubbed the back of his neck, looking especially handsome in his navy coat, Gabrielle thought.

He winced, but his lip curled up as he looked at her. "Yes, I see that. This place is a bit of a mess, isn't it?"

She nodded and gestured to the papers. "There's just nowhere to put them. I don't know what you need and what you don't. And I haven't even touched the bedroom. You've only been working for a few weeks and it already looks like you brought the entire law office home with you."

"Well, I have a solution."

"What?" she asked curiously.

Enjolras hesitated a moment, then said slowly, "I bought a house today...should I have asked you first?"

Gabrielle's eyes widened, and she would have laughed at his words if she wasn't so astonished. "You bought a house?"

"Yes. Something else, too, not nearly as extravagant, but...are you mad?"

"Of course not, it's your money..."

"Ours," he interrupted. "It's ours, and I should have asked. I apologize."

Gabrielle smiled and rolled her eyes. "Alright, ours. And I accept your apology." She walked over to him, her eyes lighting up. "Now where is this house?"

"It was Cosette's, actually. I had lunch with Marius and Joly today. When I mentioned we had no space left here, Marius mentioned that Cosette's father had left him their house on the Rue Plumet. Cosette doesn't want to live there. It's small, as houses go, but it's bigger than what we have. And I didn't really think, I just bought it before Marius changed his mind."

"Does Cosette know? She agreed?"

"Of course, Marius wouldn't have done it without her blessing."

Gabrielle clapped her hands delightedly. "Oh! I've never lived in a house before!" she exclaimed, and Enjolras was startled.

"What?"

"I've never had a house of my own! Alexandre and I always lived in tiny little apartments, and then I shared a room at school with five other horrible girls, and then I lived in the de Sauveterre's house, but it wasn't really mine, and now I'm here with you and it's never really felt like mine, either..."

Enjolras was taken aback; where he lived was of little consequence to him, but he had always had a place he considered home and something that was his. He hadn't realized what it would mean to Gabrielle, who had never had anything.

"I didn't realize you would care so much."

"Oh, I do care. I know you didn't do it to make me happy, but thank you!" She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. "You are quite wonderful, you know, even when it's a complete accident."

"It feels nice to make you happy," he admitted. "And I do have something else for you..."

"What? I don't think you can possibly do better than a house," she teased. "Shouldn't you save this surprise for some time when I'm terribly mad at you?"

"Do you plan to get terribly mad at me?"

Gabrielle laughed and shook her head. "I have no plans as of yet, no." Gabrielle stepped back as she noticed the thin box he held in his hand and looked at it curiously.

Enjolras cleared his throat, suddenly looking nervous. "I saw this today in a window and I thought...I mean, it matched the description you gave once, of the fan that you saw. Your brother's? I thought I should get it for you, just in case."

Her face paled and became apprehensive as Gabrielle stared at him uncomprehendingly for a minute. "What?"

He handed her the box and she opened it with shaking fingers, slipping the fan out and into her hands.

She unfurled it and her mouth fell open. Orpheus and his water nymphs, just like she had seen in the window of her brother's desolate and closed shop days after his death on the barricade. The colors shone brightly and her brother's brush strokes looked beautiful up close. Her fingers played over the silk as she studied it and spotted Feuilly's miniscule signature. Gabrielle's eyes welled up with tears, her vision blurring the tiny writing.

"How...how did you...Antoine, I..." Gabrielle's breath caught in her chest and she covered her mouth, trying not to cry. "I can't believe you found it! How did you find it, out of all the fans in Paris?"

"It really is the one you saw?" he asked unsurely.

"Yes. Yes. Oh, Antoine, this is the nicest thing anyone has ever given me." She couldn't hold back her tears anymore and they burst forth in loud, shoulder shaking sobs. Gabrielle buried her face in her hands, embarrassed at her outburst of emotion, but soon felt Enjolras' tentative touch on her shoulder. She looked up at him and smiled sheepishly through her tears, trying to get ahold of herself. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm crying...I'm so happy, I promise. Thank you."

Enjolras' usually stern expression softened as he looked at her. "You have nothing to thank me for."

"Of course I do. I have everything to thank you for." Gabrielle studied the fan for several more minutes until her tears subsided. "I will treasure this for the rest of my life," she whispered. "Nothing in the world means more to me."

Enjolras leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead, letting them linger there longer than usual. When he pulled away, Gabrielle noticed his eyes were bright with his own unspoken emotions, and she was overwhelmed with everything she felt for him.

She gently folded the fan and laid it on the desk, then wrapped her arms around Enjolras' neck again, laying her head on his chest. It felt so right to be near him, like she belonged next to him. His arms slowly went around her waist and held her firmly.

"I told you about that fan so long ago and you remembered. To even notice it, I can't...it just means so much to me to have something of my brother's. God!" She laughed and stood on her toes to kiss his rough, unshaven cheek. "You beautiful, wonderful, thoughtful, ridiculous man."

Enjolras pulled back a little bit to look at her. "I hoped it would make you happy."

He leaned down and kissed her gently, a contrasting touch to the ones they shared in the dark that were full of passion and desire. This kiss felt different: sweet and slow and gentle, restrained and contented. They kissed for several minutes, and Gabrielle could have cried again at how much love she felt, love she never even knew she was capable of. It was one of the most glorious feelings she had ever experienced, and she desperately hoped he felt the same.

It almost seemed like he did, after such amazing things he had done for her, but he was such a strange man, so hard to really read and understand, and so ever changing with his emotions. Gabrielle thought, though, that he was capable of loving her at least a little. She didn't need to be the absolute center of his world, as Cosette was to Marius.

Eventually, Enjolras pulled away, keeping his hand on the side of her neck, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. He looked calm, his eyes still and focused on her instead of his usual way of talking to her about one thing and thinking about something else at the same time. "So...when would you like to move into your new house?"

Gabrielle grinned. "Our new house, remember? And as soon as we can, lest we can't even find each other under the mess we have here."

He smiled, a rare smile that actually showed his teeth, and made Gabrielle's heart flutter in her chest. "I wouldn't want that to happen. I'll make arrangements for the next few days. I think we'll have to hire a maid, too."

"A maid? Just for the two of us?"

He looked pointedly around the room. "Look what happened with 'just the two of us.' We might destroy the place before we even get to enjoy it."

"And I do intend to enjoy it," she whispered, and slipped her hands underneath his coat, sliding it off his shoulders. "Just as I intend to enjoy you right now."

"I have absolutely no objections to that plan."

It seemed Gabrielle's happiness had seeped into Enjolras; he was acting sillier than she had ever seen him, she thought, as he scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom. She giggled the whole way.

In a few days, Enjolras and Gabrielle had moved into the little house on the Rue Plumet, and Gabrielle thought she had never seen a more charming place in her life. Ivy climbed the one story walls, and it would be shaded in the summer heat by the little trees that surrounded the house. There were three bedrooms, a library, and a parlour – more room than Gabrielle had ever had in her life. There was also a garden that Gabrielle had a feeling she wouldn't be very good at tending. The kitchen was in the back, and thanks to Genevieve Durand's help, they hired a woman named Sophie to come and clean daily. She wouldn't live with them, though, since Gabrielle had pointed out to Enjolras that having a stranger in their midst might not let them be nearly as fun or creative with all of this new room that they had.

Enjolras had taken the hint, since Gabrielle had just coaxed him out of his pants in the library, in broad daylight. They made love in front of the fire on the floor, and Gabrielle had him dressed again and ready to go back to work by the time his lunch break was over.

Genevieve Durand arrived just as Enjolras was leaving, and the two women were currently unpacking the boxes and boxes of books that had come from the apartment.

"I can't believe this is really ours," Gabrielle said as she looked around the warm room. A bright rug was on the floor, and two desks, one for him and one for her, each sat in opposite corners. A comfortable sofa and armchair were practically begging her to grab a book, settle down, and read for hours. "It was wonderful of Cosette and Marius to let us buy it."

"It is perfect for a young couple like yourselves, just starting out," Genevieve agreed. "Not too big, but certainly enough space. And it's quite charming. Very peaceful."

"Oh, it is, isn't it? I just love it." Gabrielle grinned as she put more books away. "And Sophie is so sweet, thank you for helping us find her. She'll be such a wonderful help to me."

"I'm glad I could help."

The two worked in companionable silence for a few minutes, and then Genevieve said curiously, "Now when do you two plan on filling those extra bedrooms with children? Don't think I don't know what you were doing before I arrived. I did have to stand in the yard for several minutes..." She glared at Gabrielle playfully.

Gabrielle dropped the book she was holding and blushed as she bent to retrieve it, feeling mortified. "I...goodness, Genevieve, I'm sorry. I've never been so embarrassed in my life."

Genevieve laughed uproariously and patted her arm. "Don't think a thing of it, Gabrielle, it's really quite nice to see. It takes me back to the first few months of my own marriage, when everything was so new and wonderful. Enjoy this time with him."

"I am," Gabrielle grinned. "Very much."

"Now, about those children..."

Gabrielle shook her head firmly. "We both agreed we don't want children. We're being...well, we're being very careful, you see. Perhaps if it were to happen in a few years we might feel differently, but I can't even imagine having a child right now. And Antoine would hate it," she said firmly. "He absolutely doesn't want a child."

Genevieve stopped and looked at Gabrielle. "You both really feel so strongly against it? That surprises me. Usually young couples can't wait to start a family."

"We're not like most couples," Gabrielle mumbled. "It's probably just not be in the stars. It's really wonderful with just the two of us. I have no complaints." She shrugged and smiled, wishing Genevieve would drop the subject. Even though she spoke the truth, and had no problem with the fact that Enjolras didn't want children, Genevieve's questions almost made her feel inferior, like they weren't normal if they didn't want to have a family.

"Well, to each his own. I was a few years older than you when I had George," Genevieve said. "You have a lot of time left to change your minds, should you wish."

Gabrielle was surprised. "Genevieve, I didn't know you have a son!"

Genevieve smiled sadly and nodded. "I do, but he lives in England. He is grown with a family of his own now, and we rarely see him."

"Oh." Gabrielle wondered again how old Genevieve was. She didn't seem old enough to be a grandmother.

"Gabrielle, have you noticed that it is mostly children who come to the church to eat and sleep each evening?" Genevieve suddenly asked.

"What? Oh, yes, I have. I suppose it isn't really that surprising. Most of them are probably orphans."

"Yes, that's what I think. Which made me wonder...I know they don't have a very good reputation, but, what if we were to try and start an orphanage? Where the children could live and be educated?"

Gabrielle paused, balancing several books in her arms. "An orphanage? I don't know if the children would even want it. Many of them like their freedom, they are so used to it. As much as they hate the hunger, the streets are all they know. And they do as they please all day long, with no restrictions or rules."

"Yes, but I have a feeling many young mothers would leave their children with us, ones who are young enough to have not really been on the streets yet. We cannot save everyone, but perhaps we could save a few? If they come to us young enough, they need never know what it is like to live on the streets at all."

Gabrielle thought about the idea silently for a while. "It would cost an incredible amount of money, Genevieve," she pointed out.

"Yes, it would. But I'm working on that. If the money wasn't an issue, do you think you would want to teach there?"

"Teach?" Gabrielle sat down at her desk, resting her chin in her hand. "I don't know. I didn't mind teaching when I was a governess. But it seems like it would be quite an undertaking. Is it really even possible?"

"You never know what's possible if you don't try," Genevieve said firmly.

Gabrielle smiled, touched by Genevieve's enthusiasm. She often reminded her of Enjolras. "That is true. Well, I suppose it is something at least worth thinking about and trying to plan. Have you asked anyone else what they think?"

"Oh, my husband knows. He likes the idea himself, and thinks it could work. He's a bit of an optimist, that one. He would encourage me to fly to the moon if I expressed an interest." Genevieve smiled fondly as she talked of her husband, then sobered and pulled up a chair near Gabrielle. "He is giving Enjolras a very big case this week, you know."

"Is he? Antoine hasn't mentioned it..."

"He hasn't given it to him yet. He probably will this afternoon. He very much trusts your husband's judgment, and says he has a sharp mind."

"That's wonderful, I'm sure Antoine will be pleased to be given such a responsibility. And I'm sure he won't let Monsieur Durand down."

"Do you two have any plans for Christmas? It will be upon us in only a few weeks." Genevieve abruptly changed the subject.

"Oh...well, I haven't mentioned it to Antoine, but now that we're living here, I was thinking of maybe asking his mother to come visit."

"Oh, that will be nice. And fun for you." Genevieve's eyes twinkled in mirth and there was a false note to her words. "Are you sure you're ready to meet your mother-in-law? Mothers can be awfully protective of their sons..."

Gabrielle laughed. "Do you speak from experience?"

"Oh, yes, all too well. My mother-in-law was an absolute witch, God rest her soul." Genevieve rolled her eyes and stood, finishing off the books. "She made my life a living hell for the first few years of my marriage. And I'm sure I wasn't much better to poor George's wife at first."

"Well, if Antoine's mother is that bad, at least her visit would only be for a few weeks."

"Let's hope she doesn't like you enough to want to stay permanently."

When Enjolras got home that evening, he found the library organized and unpacked.

"Look! There's space for every single book on an actual shelf. Isn't that incredible? We can even get more!" Gabrielle exclaimed as she pointed to an empty shelf in the corner.

Enjolras grinned at how child-like her exuberance was. "I think there's enough books for now. Lets not outgrow this space when we've just settled into it."

Gabrielle helped him out of his coat and then stood looking at him expectantly. "Well?" she finally asked. "Did anything interesting happen at work this afternoon?"

Enjolras sat in the comfortable armchair by the window and pulled Gabrielle into his lap. "Not as interesting as what happened here over lunch."

Gabrielle swatted his arm playfully. "Out with it. Did Monsieur Durand give you a case?"

"He did."

"And?"

"It's rather intimidating. And important. The story was in the papers a few months ago."

"Can you tell me about it?"

Enjolras studied her, then nodded. "I can share a little bit, I suppose. I know you won't tell anyone. I'm defending a man for murder. While he did kill someone, I don't blame him for doing it. And it's a sick injustice, what's happened to him."

"What did happen?" Gabrielle asked, twisting one of Enjolras' curls around her finger.

"He came home from work one evening to find a French army officer brutally assaulting his wife. Sexually assaulting her. So he hit the man over the head, repeatedly, with a club. He says he didn't mean to kill him, just stop him, but he died, anyway. He and his wife were caught trying to dispose of the body. His wife died in prison not long ago, and he is still there, awaiting trial."

Gabrielle cringed. "That's awful. Surely it's easy to see that he was just protecting his wife? How horrible to have to go through all of that around this time of year. Or to have to go through it at all."

Enjolras looked puzzled and Gabrielle reminded him gently, "Christmas? You know, that rather festive holiday that's happening in about two weeks..."

"Is it really almost Christmas?" Enjolras shook his head. "It seems like spring just arrived yesterday." His eyes clouded as he remembered the events of the previous spring, and Gabrielle watched his face silently.

Finally, she said quietly, "We've been married four months, you know."

"Mmm." He rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes.

"And I still haven't met your mother."

He didn't respond.

"Can we invite her here for Christmas?"

Enjolras opened his eyes and looked at her. "You want to meet my mother?" He looked like he didn't like the idea at all.

"Well, yes. It's Christmas. You're her only child and your father isn't there with her anymore, either. Don't you think she would enjoy seeing you?"

He frowned. "I don't know."

Gabrielle shrugged and looked away. "If you're uncomfortable with her meeting me, I understand. I know it's probably awkward for you, with our particular circumstances. And I know she thinks that you're madly in love with me, and it would be strange to try and keep up a pretense like that, or for someone to understand what is actually going on between us."

"You're rambling again," he replied. "And it isn't anything like that at all," Enjolras said firmly. "Please don't think I'm embarrassed by you, Gabrielle. Nothing could be further from the truth. And it wouldn't...well, it wouldn't be difficult to 'pretend' I care for you, because I do." He looked uncomfortable with the admission, but Gabrielle was pleased he had said it nevertheless, although he most certainly hadn't used the word 'love.'

"What is it then? It seems odd to me that you wouldn't want to see your mother, especially since you've told me before you were quite close to her."

"I don't know. It would be strange no matter who I married. I just don't know how she'll react or treat you. Or how she'll treat me, since it's been so long. And she doesn't know...well, she doesn't know about the barricade or the Les Amis or any of that. I never told her, because I didn't want her to worry or constantly warn me off of it."

"Oh. Well, I can certainly understand your reluctance then, but there's still no need to tell her if you don't want to. It is over, mostly," she reminded him gently. "And maybe it's time for a fresh start with her? Just like we have one ourselves."

"Is that what we have?" he reflected. "Sometimes I still feel rather haunted."

"I know you do. And maybe it doesn't mean the same to you as it does to me, coming from such different places, but...you're never going to be alone now. Whether you only need me as a friend or..." she blushed and whispered, "Or as a lover. Whatever you need, I will never go away."

Enjolras gazed at her, his eyes dark. "It does mean something, Gabrielle. And you know I will never go away, either." She could tell it was hard for him to say, and she appreciated both the sentiment and the effort it took.

"I know. So...does this mean we can invite your mother?"

Enjolras sighed and leaned his head against the back of the chair. "Are you absolutely sure you want to entertain my mother for the holiday? I may be working a lot, especially with this case now that Durand has entrusted me with it. And you're quite busy yourself."

"I am sure. Please?" She kissed him gently, nipping at his bottom lip with her teeth.

"You win," he mumbled against her lips. "How do you manage to keep getting your way?"

She smiled and kissed him again. "Because you're quite intelligent, and realize that it will make your life infinitely easier," she teased. Gabrielle began to get up, but Enjolras grabbed her wrist and tugged her back down to his lap.

"What, you get what you want and then you just leave?" he said playfully, moving his lips to her neck. "That doesn't seem fair."

Gabrielle began to unbutton his waistcoat, letting out a soft sigh as she felt a the pressure of his lips just below her ear. "You're going to leave a mark there," she chastised as he sucked and nipped at her skin.

"I want to." His voice was low and rough and Gabrielle shuddered a bit. He had been rather passive lately, letting Gabrielle take the lead, but she had a feeling tonight would be different.

And she didn't mind at all.

I should probably wait a bit longer to update, but oh well.

This chapter was kind of full of ridiculous fluff, but it did set up several things that will come back into play in coming chapters, so it wasn't totally pointless. Hope everyone enjoyed! I kind of like writing conversations between E/G, especially as they're becoming more comfortable with each other.

Thank you for the reviews and for the suggestions on things you'd like to see. And for the person who said I should try and get this published, you are TOO sweet (and slightly delusional! lol) You are all AWESOME, and I wish my "guest" reviewers had accounts so I could thank you in PMs and keep our conversations going. Keep the reviews and suggestions coming!

And Happy St. Patty's Day!