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Grantaire woke up with someone's hand pressed to his forehead. "So you've come around hm . . ." the voice asked and rang loudly in his ears.

"Don' talk so loud," Grantaire slurred.

"I know I'm sorry," the voice came to a tolerable volume. "You're quite warm," the voice said. "I knew this would happen I feel bad for not waking you. 'Vroche sit with him for a moment and tell me if the coughing gets worse." Combeferre grinned Grantaire should have been praising the lord that Joly wasn't the one caring for him.

"'s gonna be alright," Gavroche said optimistically but in a whisper, "Combeferre's gonna take good care of us."

Grantaire smiled as he felt the soft fingers going through his damp hair. He would do anything for this child. It appeared that the boy loved him nearly as much. It seemed to him that despite only having met each other a few days prior they were already very close. It was like they had things in common they didn't even know.

For instance, neither of them liked to be alone. It was only Grantaire's rough around the edges exterior that suggested it; in reality he hated being by himself. Gavroche was very similar his exterior showed his want to be by himself but his interior personality begged for affection and company.

Grantaire felt another sudden bout of coughs bubbling from his throat and ripping it ragged. Gavroche took his hand. "Combeferre. . ." he called.

The medical student sat next to the child. "Take deep breaths, it's going to make you cough more but it will help." He said as he gently brushed away some hair from Grantaire's face. The fit passed and the drunk settled.

They were there for a few days, mainly the weekend. Grantaire went home to his flat to bear out the remainder of his illness though it didn't last much longer.

. . .

Grantaire could hear someone crying in the other room. He ran to see Gavroche tossing and turning.

"'T-Taire!" He shouted.

"Shh . . . shh. . . I'm here, it's alright." He whispered quietly.

"Taire! Taire wake up!" He shouted through tears.

"I'm here kiddo. Wake up, it's just a nightmare." He said shaking the child awake. Gavroche latched onto him tightly upon waking.

"Nighmare kiddo?" He asked as the panic died down.

"Yeah," Vroche whispered.

"What about?" 'Taire asked.

"You, you got shot ta'morrow."

"Ah," Grantaire said in recognition, "Well, 'Vroche," he pulled the child into his lap, "We all have things happen to us. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good, but they always happen for a reason. I may be cynical but I do believe we meet," he smiled, "We do, and we have things happen to us for a reason. If I were shot tomorrow, I'd want it to be in protection, protection of you, of Enjolras, of anyone. I'm the oldest 's my job."

Gavroche's eyes filled with tears as hugged the older boy. "I love you."

"I love you too," He smiled, "And I always will, in that love that goes beyond death I will."

Okay, huge apology in order. I was in the play as I mentioned to some of you and then I had this HUGE math project thing thrown at me as well as like a bazillion other projects and a Speech for speech class that was our final that I needed to make 10 minutes long and it was just craziness. Then I had babysitting jobs and a bunch of other garbage going around here. Expect more updates over summer but it's getting to be close to exam week. I have one full week of school left. Then exams so like two weeks of school are left and I'm crazy busy.

Thanks for the patience and understanding,

Scooter.