LES DÉSCENDANTS

~Chapter 13: Des Plans (Plans)

Avenir POV:

I backed away, eyes wide, all exhaustion lost as goosebumps appeared on my arms and I clapped both hands over my mouth to prevent myself from sobbing outright.  Everything in that sentence felt so...right.

Elena.

Elena Cassandra.

I would not think of the last name, but that was the last thing on my mind.  I had a name, and I was no longer Unnamed.  I had something to claim.  I immediately felt like I had a place here, in the Universe, and it was Aurélien Enjolras who had given me my name not once, but twice.

My response was a very passionate kiss, and he murmured the name into my hair, in whispers of Elena, my ray of light, and I whispered to him also - Aurélien, my golden one.  

Then he may or may not have briefly carried me around on his back around the garden which resulted in us both tripping, falling, almost cracking our skulls open on the pavement...and then him laughing his bark of a laugh and me wrapping my own arms around him as tight as I could and never wanting to let go.

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Dickens was right: it was best of times; it was the worst of times.

For all too soon, we made our way back to Grantaire's small flat and crammed ourselves in with...

"COURF!"  I flung myself into his arms.  "You're safe, praise Lamarque!  We've done it!"

Enjolras embraced him as well.  "You have lived up to your namesake, Baudouin, brave friend."

"What is it with you and giving people names?" I said, smirking.

"I did not...I just seem to appreciate using them more, since many of us have been using our old bourgeoisie names lately," he said defensively.

"It's true; we hate our bougie names, yet we did use them for something important," commented Courfeyrac.  "Have you told them, Enjolras?"

"Them?" asked Enjolras curiously, and I gave a small wave, causing Enjolras to say, "Excuse us one moment," to Courf.

"She, they, them, hers..." I explained, but he gently shushed me.

"I know."

He took my arm gently and pulled me into the hallway, then provided another passionate kiss much to my surprise.  "Do not ever think for one second, Avenir, that I love you any less.  In fact, I love you more.  I am beyond proud of you."

"Elena is a beautiful name," I shrugged, still reeling that Enjolras and I kissed now.  Kissing him was a normal thing now.  

Sweet Lamarque, get a grip on yourself, Avenir!

"However, you did much better with Avenir," I quickly continued.  "I'll stick with that name; it means so much to me."

"It suits you," spoke Enjolras.

"Why are we out here?"

"I did not want Courfeyrac getting jealous," he replied, and I blushed.

"I feel so bad; this is so difficult...Tell me something...what did Courfeyrac mean when he said you used your first names for something important?"

"Come back inside, and we'll tell you."

"You're the one who brought me out here," I pointed out, grinning, flirting.  

He stopped, looked back as if to say Really?

"I'm honored you're supportive," I added. 

"I love you."