So this chapter gets kind of sad. :( But the next will be much more fluffy! Anyways, Gavroche and Camille are still nine, Navet is eight and Nicollette is four. Azelma is twelve and Èponine is seven. Let's pretend Gavroche and his sisters dont move to Paris until he is eleven, okay? Okay, good. Let us begin!

Gavroche

I ran back to the hut. Throwing open the door, I realized the hut was empty. But I knew Camille wouldnt have gone home. Trying to think of other places she could be, I heard a soft humming. It sounded fimilair, but I just couldnt put my finger on it. The voice was definitly Camille's, though. I walked out of the hut and to the general direction the voice was coming from. I saw Camille, sitting by the creek, her back to me. Her long, blonde braid had been taken out, so her golden curls floated softly in the breeze. She looked almost ghostly. I approched her slowly, trying to recall the soft tune she was humming. She hummed it a few more times before it hit me. I closed my eyes and saw a dirty, thin girl with stringy brown hair gently rocking me to sleep.

There is a castle on a cloud.

I like to go there in my sleep.

Aren't any floors for me to sweep.

Not in my castle on a cloud.

There is a lady, all in white.

Holds me and sings a lullabye.

She's nice to see and she's soft to touch.

She says, "Gavroche, I love you very much."

There is a place where no one's lost.

There is a place where no one cries.

Crying at all is not allowed.

Not in my castle on a cloud.

The girl would sing. I wondered who the girl was and why she had sung to me every night. Putting those thoughts aside, I silently sat next to Camille. Her eyes closed, her baby blue dress billowing in the breeze, she hummed the song over and over. After at least the fifth time, her small hand reached out and grabbed mine, giving it a firm squeeze.

"How do you know that song?" I asked her.

Eyes still closed, she wispered, "My mother would hum it to me when she brushed my hair every morning."

"You know there are words that go with the tune." I told her.

"No. Are there really?" She asked, her eyes shooting open.

"Yes. Do you want me to teach you?" I offered.

She hesitated. "No. I want to hum it, like Maman. Maybe one day."

I shrugged. We sat like that, both humming the song, until the sun began to set.

"Isn't it time for you to go home?" I asked.

She gave a humorless chuckle, "What home?"

I was confused, "The one with your family."

Her faced darkened, "Oh, please," she spat, "They dont care about me anymore!"

"That's not true, they-"

"They blame me!" She cut me off midsentance, "They think its my fault mother is dead!"

"How do you know?" I challenged.

"I hear them talking at night! 'If only she hadnt gone in for the stupid cat!' They say. 'All she cares about is herself!' They say. Do you not think its hard on me?" Camille was sobbing now.

"I'm sorry, I-" she cut me off again.

"You cant be sorry! You dont know what its like! Your mother is dead and your sister and father blame you!" She screamed.

We were both quiet for a while, as silent tears dripped down her face. All of a sudden, she grabbed my shirt and pulled me close to her in a hug. She sobbed into my shoulder and I patted her back, attempting to calm her down. I didnt know what to do. And then I had an idea. I raked my fingers through her hair and hummed her lullabye. By the third time, her crying was silent once more as she focased on my humming. A few minuted later, she pulled away, wipeing her blue eyes with the back of her hand.

"Why cant I come live with you?" She wispered, her voice hoarse.

"Who says you cant?" I asked.

"Really?" She asked.

"Of corse."

"But... Father and Baisè... They live in town..."

"Shhhh... " I hushed her. "It'll be a seceret."

"A seceret." She repeated, "A seceret."