Jardin de fleurs || A Les Misérables Fanfic

Quarante-trois

Time jump: 1875
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"Mommy, I'll promise to write you every day.", Liliane said. "I know you will but focus on your studies.", I said. "Your mother's right.", Courfeyrac said. "I will come and visit you guys, I promise.", she said. "Mom, Dad, I am engaged.", Matthieu said.

"You're what? What did he say?", Courfeyrac asked. "Congratulations Matthieu, we're proud of you.", I said. Liliane stormed at him and hugged him tightly. "Is it Juliet?", she asked. "Oui, it is. She said 'yes'. And I was scared she'd say no.", he exclaimed.

"I thought your mother was going to say no too." "You knew I was going to say 'yes'.", I exclaimed. I remembered how he had proposed to me on my 21st birthday, that was 43 years ago. Lately I had remembered a lot of things from my youth.

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Were were standing at the railway station because Liliane was leaving to study in England. "I am going to miss you both.", she said, hugging us. "We will miss you too.", he said. "You'll only come home with good grades.", Matthieu laughed. Then he hugged her. She took a last minute to hug us and then she left.

She didn't even turn around. But I knew that she was going to be a very good student and her heart would grow bigger during her stay. She will come back one day and everything will be fine. I didn't even notice that I had tears running down my face. I noticed when Courfeyrac wiped them away with his thumb.

We walked back home. The house was going to be quiet again. Liliane's presence was clearly missing in the family. But she was going to become a doctor, just like Joly always wanted and Combeferre had done. Combeferre had taught her most knowledge of medicine. And he did a very good job at it.

I remember when she told me the first time about studying in England. Of course, I supported her, no matter what she chose. She had told me, that she wanted to live Joly's dream. Jehan and Combeferre have been telling that girl many stories about our favorite hypochondriac doctor. At first I cried tears of happiness.

And now she was gone. She was on her way becoming a doctor. Matthieu had become an artist, just like Grantaire had. The dead boys have left a mark on our family. Liliane, for example, had learned how to make a fan all by herself. And only Feuilly could do that. Matthieu had learned to defend himself when he needed to and we all knew that only Bahorel could fight a big man without thinking of the consequences. No one had shown him how it was done, he just knew.

Matthieu was protecting the people he loved, just like Bossuet did, even if he was very unlucky. Both of them have adapted some traits from Enjolras too: they were both passionate and over-achievers. "I wanna meet your fiancée Matthieu.", Courfeyrac said.

"You will. Mama, you want to see her too?", he asked. "Of course I do. When's the wedding?", I asked, laughing. "You'll love her. She's just like you. Passionate about what she loves. She'd do anything for her family, if she had one.", Matthieu said.

"I know her. You brought her home shortly after Lili was born.", I said, remembering that. "Right. Alright, I'll go and get her.", he said, kissing my cheek. Then he was gone. "I am very proud of you.", Courfeyrac said. "Why?" "Look at you, at us. We have raised two wonderful children plus Gavroche. You were a princess and now you're my queen.", he whispered.

"What did I do to deserve your love?", I asked, turning around and wrapping my arms around his neck. "You were the hot waitress in Café Musain and you were drunk.", he said laughing, "I'm kidding. You are you. Even with your imperfections, you're perfect to me. Look at us. We have grown old together.", he said, kissing me.

Life was beautiful. But who knows how much time I have left. I am 64 years old and I have reached everything I always wanted.

(A/n: I was thinking that when the book ends, that I'll upload a time line of all the important events in Emilia's life. What do you think about the idea?? Leave some feedback below if you want ♡)