Before the Barricades

3. Patria

"Ferre?"

"Yes?"

"Whats Enjolras' problem?"

Adeline had been waiting to ask her brother that for the whole night. She had observed that her brother drank that night, not enough to get blackout drunk, but enough that he would spill everything to her.

"What do you mean Lina? He's Enjolras." Combeferre was definetly confused.

"Enjolras was staring me down during the whole meeting, and not in a good way. Like an I hate you kind of way." Adeline stated. It was easy to see that she wasn't exactly on his good side.

"Well, Enjolras has always been super passionate about the idea of a revolution. He never likes distractions, and he finds women to be the biggest distraction." Combeferre knew his friend like the back of his hand. Enjolras had several secrets, but there was one secret that only Combeferre knew. One that they both swore to keep secret until the time came to reveal it. And even in his drunk state, Combeferre knew better.

"How does he find women distractions?" Adeline was genuinely confused, but also slightly curious if he had a woman on his mind.

"He doesn't bother with love. All these women throw themselves at him, but he doesn't care, he only has one love.

"He loves? Who knew?" Adeline was taken aback, he seemed like someone who couldn't love. A man made of marble perhaps.

"Yes he loves," Combeferre chuckled at his sisters reaction. "He calls her Patria. But none of us can find out who she actually is." 

Adeline gaped at her brother. He just admitted that Enjolras finds women a distraction, cares deeply about a revolution, and can truly love. But wait he loves... WHAT.

"FERRE!"

"What Lina?" Combeferre wasn't exactly taken aback. Adeline was known to act like this. 

"You said that Enjolras loves someone? Right?" 

"Yes, Patria. Why?" Now Combeferre was really confused. The alcohol really wasn't helping.

"Ferre, Patria means fatherland! He loves France!"

The realization slowly sunk into Combeferre's face, as he realized just how stupid the rest of the Amis had been.

"My god! Thats crazy!" Adeline burst out into laughter with Combeferre in the middle of the street.

After slowly collecting themselves, they continued on to their home.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" The sound of their mothers voice filled the room as soon as they walked in. "I said to be home by eleven." From the looks of it, Geneve Combeferre was not someone to cross, or disobey. And those looks were incredibly right.

"Mother we got a bit carried away, all my friends were studying, and I had to help them." Combeferre reasured their mother. Huh, I thought he couldn't lie anymore. Adeline took note of that, mentally of course.

"Fine, I suppose that is alright, but next time I expect you two home by my requirements."

"Yes mother." Came the sound of both children, victorious, yet defeated.

"Adeline, dear." Geneve beckoned her daughter over before heading upstairs.

"Yes Mother?" Adeline responded, knowing what her mother was to say.

"I have found a suitor for you. His mother and I are mutual friends, and found the same problem, our children do not wish to marry."

At this Adeline perked up. It was unusual for a women to reject marriage proposals as much as she did. Twenty four to be exact. But it was even more unusual for a man to reject marriage proposals.

"Mother..." Adeline began, about to tell her mother for the first time that she was actually interested.

"I don't want to hear it, I kept my end of the deal, now you need to keep yours." Geneve was already low on patience, and could not stand another rant from her daughter about the misogyny behind marriage.

"I want to meet this man." Adeline blurted. If one thing was for sure, agreeing with her mother was not the easiest thing for her.

"oh, OH, oh Adeline!" Her mother was beyond shocked. "This is wonderful! Yes his mother and himself will be here tomorrow morning! Go get some rest, and pretty up!" For once, Geneve Combeferre loved her daughter more than her son.

"Yes mother of course." Adeline chuckled. She hadn't seen her mother this excited since Combeferre's university accepted him.

As Belle helped her out of her corset, Adeline took a big breath. Quite literally, corsets were torture. But also because she was about to meet someone like herself. Headstrong, and known for rejecting proposals. 

Could it be the perfect match? 

Possibly. 

Who knows?

It seems that only time could tell.

That night sleep didn't come easily to her, but a lullaby, once distantly sung, came creeping back.

Every night I lie in bed, the brightest colors fill my head. A million dreams are keeping me awake. I think of what the world could be, a vision of the one I see. A million dreams is all its gonna take...

But on the other side of Paris, unknown to Adeline, the man she was to meet the following day, lie in bed with the same tune in his mind.

A million dreams for the world we're gonna make.