LES DÉSCENDANTS

~Chapter 1: Où Tu Seras (Where You'll Be)~

Avenir POV

It was nighttime when we arrived back in the past, and we immediately found ourselves outside Courfeyrac and Marius's apartment.

"Boy is this going to be difficult," said Courf.  "I won't even be able to sleep in the apartment, because if my past self saw me in there..."

"You'll get used to sleeping on the streets," I said.  "After a certain amount of time, you forget what an actual bed feels like..."

"I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have joked.  You and Jehan..."

"It's ok.  I think we should split up and rendezvous at the Musain in one hour, so we try to figure out when exactly we've arrived."

"I can visit Gavroche's elephant," he offered.

"No.  Let me do that," I said.  "I rarely went there in the past, but boy did you...  What if your past self just left from a visit, then show up two minutes later?  Gavroche would immediately be suspicious.  I won't be surprised if he finds out regardless."

"Perhaps I can go to the Corinthe, then," suggested Courf.  "Pick Grantaire's brain a little bit.  Lord knows he won't be any wiser."

"Brilliant," I said, clapping his shoulder, but then he surprised me by pulling in for a hug.  

"Stay safe out there," he said softly.  "This is our one shot."

I tapped the artifact in my pocket.  "We'll be ok.  Meet you in an hour."

Pulling away and starting along down the various streets toward the Bastille, I couldn't help but smile - I was back home.  I also attempted to mentally prepare myself for if I bumped into Enjolras, or what's worse, my brother.  "Change the world now, cry later," I muttered, just as I heard a pair of familiar voices, one of which was my own laugh.

"Oh sweet Lamarque," I whispered, moving into a dark alleyway and pressing myself against the nearest building, blending in with the darkness as well as I could.  I pulled my cap over my face, shielding as much of myself from view, as I heard the voices coming closer.  It was myself and Enjolras.  

I strained to hear our conversation, my heart fluttering in my chest and tears welling up in my eyes against my will.

"I promise you, he's quite tidy, and it's not going to be awkward.  He's going to be nervous that we've been gone so long."

"Prouvaire will hardly believe it when you tell him there was a shower of gold..."

"...oh, I'll think of something! That boy will believe anything."

I watched as our silhouettes paused just outside the alleyway, and tears streamed down my cheeks as I remembered what this conversation was all about.

"Do you believe it happened, Avenir?"

"Of course," I heard my past self whisper.  "Anything is possible with you, Enjolras."

The shadows left, and I was alone again.  Enjolras and my past self were headed back to Jehan's apartment, just after we had witnessed a shower of gold, after Enjolras had made his wish...

Oh no.  Courfeyrac's words from Marseille came flooding back to my ears: "I tried to tell him you were here, in Marseille...but he wouldn't listen...the artifact told him you were in Paris, he said it never lied, but then was able to give an example of when it did..."

Could this be the time when Enjolras had wished for something and it had not come true?  I had to find out what he had wished for...it could save our lives.

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Abandoning the Bastille plan, I cautiously headed in the direction of Jehan's apartment.  I wanted another glimpse, as stupid as it sounded...

Lost in my own thoughts, I almost got noticed by Courfeyrac, heading in the same direction but on the opposite side of the street.  I was about to whisper to him to ask why he wasn't at the Corinthe, but then I realized...this was the Courfeyrac in the past.

So why was he following Enjolras and me?

Still sticking to the shadows, I watched Courfeyrac as he watched myself and Enjolras enter Jehan's apartment...I rubbed my eyes from all the confusion, and I halted as I heard him begin to sing...

In the night, the world's a different place -
The world's a different place with her...
Bridge and brook, the willow at the shore -
These things I've seen before, never were...

Everything I knew...disappears with you...
And I don't know where you're going,
But I'm going where you'll be...
Tomorrow's waiting there for me...

Stars above...Courfeyrac was...in love with me?  

I shook my head.  This made absolutely no sense at all...Courfeyrac?  My best friend...in love with me?  And I had never even known?

This Courfeyrac from the past turned and walked slowly in the other direction, away from the apartment.

Was Courfeyrac really that lonely, and I had never known?

I quickly and quietly followed in pursuit of Courfeyrac, but just then I heard a door open.  I lightly slapped my face.  Foolish!  Had my past self not stepped outside soon after Jehan let Enjolras stay for the nightly washing before bed?

I had to stay put, and I would be fine.  My past self would go behind the house.  What had me worried now was Courfeyrac.

I blushed in the darkness as I heard my own voice start to sing about Enjolras:

All the light, the world's not dark at all -
The world's not dark at all, with him...
Under star, or even under cloud -
There's so much to be found...
Where do I begin?

Everything I knew...feels so new with you...
And I don't know where you're going,
But I'm going where you'll be...
There's so much waiting there for me!

I heard Courfeyrac singing from the street as my past self sang to themselves...

There's only where he is to see...             There's only where she is to see...
There's only where he's been to be...      There's only where they've been to be...

And it's only here and now that there's a place to go!
Tomorrow's here for me...
Where you'll be...
Everything I knew...
Is lost again, and time appears with you
And if good things come to those who've waited
I've been waiting too...

My past self sang sweetly, not even noticing Courfeyrac: 

Life has finally come alive for me...

Both of them sang one lonesome set of notes: 

Where you'll be...

A/N - Won't want to miss giving this one a listen...if you don't know the song, there's a special surprise :)

My past self returned to the front door and re-entered the apartment, and Courfeyrac walked back to the stoop outside, crying silent tears.

I was pale with realization, and unable to budge from my current position on the ground.  How could I have missed this? 

I had no idea how much time had passed, but I had to get back to the current Courfeyrac.  Had an hour passed?  Would I even be able to look at him the same way again?

Sticking to the shadows, I numbly made my way to the Musain, my emotions in shambles.

Once I got there, Gavroche was standing next to Courfeyrac, a huge grin plastered across both of their faces. 

"Looking for someone?" crowed Gavroche.