Chapter 5

Enjolras arrived back at his apartment, still holding Erica against his chest. She had peacefully slept the whole walk and was refusing to relinquish her grip on his jacket. He was surprisingly fond of the littlest Grantaire; she had really rubbed off on him with her little smile and adorable accent. He felt her stir against him and she let out a little yawn that finally set his mind. "Erica sweetie?" Enjolras asked trying to compose himself.

"Yes Enjolwas?" she replied with a smile.

"I was wondering if you would like to stay with me? Your house doesn't seem the nicest place for a little girl," he explained and she smiled.

"Would I get dollies and drwesses?" she asked with a childish innocence.

"Yes you would," Enjolras chuckled while laying her gently on his bed. Erica reached up grabbing onto his waistcoat again.

"I wud wike dat Enjolwas," she grinned, hugging him and Enjolras couldn't help and grin spreading across his face. "Will I still get to see Nicky?" she asked, releasing him and Enjolras nodded hesitantly.

"If you want to, darling," he agreed as she snuggled under his blankets. Erica drifted to sleep again and Enjolras pinched the bridge of his nose. What was he doing taking in a five year old girl? He could never raise a child. But yet he couldn't leave a sweet child with those thugs.

XXX

Grantaire smiled when he got the message from Enjolras. Trust his ex-lover to be the one to adopt his baby sister. At least Enjolras would be able to care for her more than the Grantaire family would. She would get whatever her little heart desired and for once she would have a real big brother. One that would take her to schools and play dates and play with her in the park; Enjolras was good brother material. And Combeferre would make sure she was looked after properly; fed, clothed etc. It was for the best. He threw the note in the fire and reloaded his pistol with a sigh. It was time for work.

XXX

The next afternoon, Enjolras was walking with a giddily skipping Erica to the Café Musain. He would need to introduce her to the guys and he needed Cosette and Musichetta's help to know what to do and what to buy. He had already bought her a new dress and a new winter coat which she had treasured like they were the best gifts on the planet; those and the little mouse soft toy that now resided in her coat pocket. He could still picture her face when he had pulled the little toy out of his pocket. He smile spread and her face lit up with a brilliant brightness as she took it on her tiny hands. The toy rested neatly and her palm and she treasured it close to her heart; she kept it in her top pocket so it was just resting over her heart. They both walked into the Café Musain and at seeing the students acting loud and boisterous, Erica hid behind Enjolras' legs. "It'll be fine little one," he whispered in reassurance while squeezing her hand. She nodded timidly eying the rest of the Amis.

Enjolras cleared his throat and the frantic revolutionaries fell quiet. "I have a little announcement to make," he stated nervously. "Do to desperate circumstances, little Erica is coming to live with me," he smiled as Erica poked her head round from behind his legs only to pounced upon by a flying Cosette.

"Hello, sweetie," she giggled as Erica came out from round the back still not letting go of Enjolras' hand. "Where did Ricard find you then?" she asked with an angelic smile that cause Erica to smile along.

"My bwother couldn't wook after me so Enjolwas took me in," Erica smiled at Cosette. She liked Cosette; Cosette was nice and friendly to the little urchin girl.

"And who's your brother Erica?" Cosette asked, not noticing Enjolras instantly tense.

"Nicolwas Grantaire," she grinned and the place fell eerily silent as everyone stared at Enjolras. Erica just looked around oblivious to the shock around her. Combeferre was glaring at Enjolras and telling him to come explain himself through their brotherly nonverbal communication.

"Erica sweetie, would you mind staying with Cosette for a moment?" Enjolras asked and she nodded, already in love with the blonde.

"I know what you are up to Ricard and I do not approve!" Combeferre growled as they walked into the corridor.

"I don't know what you mean," Enjolras stuttered utterly confused.

"You can't have Nicolas in your life so you settle for his little sister, who I have noticed is the one out of them all that looks the most like our Grantaire. You idiot!" Combeferre exclaimed as Enjolras stared at him bemused. Was that what he had done? Had he felt that connection toward Erica because of Grantaire? That would be a logical thought; they did look very similar. He cast a glace through the slightly open door at his little charge. He saw her sat on the table laughing with Cossette and Jehan; she was showing them her little mouse.

"Actually Lucien! I know exactly why I took her in!" Enjolras shouted back to Combeferre. "Because when Nicolas was that age we couldn't do anything to stop him having to live and grow up in that place. Now I hope I can make up for not saving him by saving her!" he exclaimed passionately, looking bemused when Combeferre's smile grew.

"You needed to know that your intentions were good my brother," he smiled, clapping Enjolras on the back before walking back towards the main room.

"Don't you mean that you needed to know?" Enjolras shouted back still confused by Combeferre's cryptic conversation.

"No!" Combeferre shouted back as he disappeared through the door. Enjolras stared at where his brother used to be. He could never understand how Combeferre managed to manipulate his thoughts so casually. He had just been tricked into realising his own good intentions; that man must be a wizard, or a very good lawyer. He was wasted as a doctor.

XXX

Grantaire leant on the doorframe of the back door of the Café Musain. He was like a ghost in a place of jollity and happiness. He was a ghost in this life now. There was nothing left for him in Les Amis de l'ABC. He was not welcome in Enjolras' life anymore and no matter how much it pained him; his wish is my command,Grantaire thought with a sigh. Grantaire kept on telling himself that he was just there to check on Erica; to check his little sister was happy with filling the Grantaire hole in this raggedy family. But yet his eyes kept on drifting towards the marble Apollo sat on one of the tables next Erica. Just, oh God he missed Enjolras. He missed him with every fibre of his shattered heart. Was it bad that he was jealous of his little sister getting a road out of the life of hell to live with Enjolras? Grantaire guessed he could leave the Grantaires again. But yet that would mean leaving Paris. That would mean leaving Enjolras for good; no more moments like this, of him watching the proceedings from the corner of your eye. He was the spirit that you thought you saw, but of course it must have been your imagination. As soon as Enjolras turned towards the door, thinking he saw something, Grantaire was gone once more. Enjolras shook his head assuming it was his hyperactive imagination tricking him.

Grantaire sat solemnly round the corner from the café. "I assume you were checking on 'Rica, runt?" Xavier snarled from where he had just appeared next to the youngest Grantaire brother. "'Cause if you were looking at that boy of yours again then me and Louis would not go easy on you this time," he snarled at Grantaire. He was really not in the mood for those two today. He had already been replaced in the Musain. The gap had been open for a few months and already they had someone new; his littlest sister, as if the concept didn't pain him enough. He tried to be happy for Erica but he desperately wanted to be in her position once more. He had faced a firing squad with a one in a million plan for Enjolras; and this was what he received. But yet he couldn't bring himself to be angry with Enjolras either. His mind and soul were in an endless turmoil.

"Louis and I," Grantaire stated without thinking.

"What did you just say weasel?" Xavier snarled.

"I said it is Louis and I not Louis and me," Grantaire replied casually earning a hard slap from Louis.

"I swear if you dare correct me again you have no tongue to roll your stupid remarks off," he exclaimed kicking Grantaire in the head once again. The world spun once again as black splotches distorted his vision. He stayed down on the floor and that seemed to satisfy Xavier. And that was his life now. Lose his tongue for correcting someone's grammar.