Alternate Ending to Les Mis

The World We Longed to See

*** 1 Week Later***

"I really don't want to do this." Courfeyrac said as he smoothed down his hair.

"None of us do, but the people see us as heroes, and they want to honor us." Enjolras replied. "They don't understand that we don't want glory. Just a free France."

Then they walked out the door of their flat, meeting the other boys outside. They all wore red, and had tricolored ribbons tied around their waists. All of them looked dashing, but Enjolras looked truly beautiful, like an angel fallen from heaven itself. His golden hair gleamed in the afternoon light, and it looked almost as if it gave off an ethereal light of its own. He looked every inch the glorious leader.

"Well, lets be off then." Joly said, breaking the silence.

They climbed aboard an open-top wagon, also adorned with red, white and blue. They were to be in a parade to honor their selfless deeds. Truthfully, they all found it a bit strange. They were still just schoolboys, after all. Boys with an unlikely dream that had become reality. As the wagon started moving, they were greeted with the cheers of thousands. They waved awkwardly, and had tentative smiles on their faces. But Grantaire was really enjoying himself. He hadn't been in this good a mood since before the battle. He bowed with a flourish to the adoring crowd, grinning from ear to ear., and waving eagerly. A large group of pretty young women threw handfuls of red roses towards the  wagon, and R caught won, blowing generous amounts of kisses towards the source. More than one of the ladies swooned, though R was far from the most attractive of the bunch.

"Apparently being a hero makes you more appealing." Jean Prouvaire said. "Not one moon ago those fair maidens would have scoffed at your mere presence."

"Now is not the time for pretty words." R said. "I've been a pessimist all my life, but I'm determined to enjoy myself today."

The rest of the boys relaxed a bit. After all, what harm could a little parade do? Gavroche smirked at his friends who stared at him in awe. He had always been their leader, but now he had been elevated to the status of a god in their eyes. He was about to shout something to them, but then a shot was heard, and one of the men on the wagon fell. A woman in the crowd quickly apprehended the shooter, and hit him soundly on the head with a rolling pin, knocking him unconscious. The boys huddled around the fallen man, who was none other than Grantaire, who had been determined to have a good day. He smiled weakly up at his friends.

"Am I in heaven, for I see Gabriel before me." He said, his voice soft yet steady.

Enjolras gripped his hand and muttered "Don't leave me."

R sighed. "Do not worry, fair Apollo. I shall not die today."