Ce qui est fait n'est plus à faire.

"I hope you’re only referring to Ber, having the stupid face." 

"You both have stupid faces, Toulouse. I don't think that I should have favourites... Unless you have a favourite?"

"I’ll make sure to keep an eye out."

"Mabel! I was beginning to think that I had lost you."

"As you should be."

"Would you like me to leave? Because I was finishing off some homework."

"Sorry, I don’t have time for your incompetence honey."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

He would’ve stuck his tongue out at her, but they were still hugging and he knew she wouldn’t have been able to see it.  Instead, he just laughed, because he knew her comment was probably true.  ”Well, duh, Marie.  That’s why I’m going to show you where it is.” He replied, shaking his head at her.  ”C’mon, I’ll lead you there.  Uh, we’re gonna have to stop hugging, though.”

She grumbled. Breaking from hugs was the worst. For one thing, she always found herself to be colder after the loss of contact, and for another, there was always this niggling feeling in the back of her mind that they wouldn't do it again. To say that she was attached was pretty much an understatement. "Okay, okay,  but I want to carry all the smaller things because you're obviously so much stronger than I am." 

"Ugh, Marie, don’t say that. Sissy stuff." Ber’s nose wrinkled at her comment.  "Of course I can have a girlfriend, that’s completely different." It really wasn’t very different at all, but Berlioz liked to tell himself it was.  It was his only way of justifying being a total hypocrite, after all.  He moved his chin to rest atop her head, trying his best not to laugh at how much shorter she was than he, and he glanced in the direction of the dormitories.  "Uh, Marie, do you suppose you could be une bonne sœur and help me carry my bags?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Monsieur Hypocrite." She rolled her eyes, slapping him lightly on the back. She could never bring herself to actually hit him. As kids, they had run about the house chasing each other down before proceeding to pull at each other's hair and basically drive each other nuts. Not much had changed, but the fighting and the biting and the clawing and certainly calmed down, much to Toulouse's delight. "I don't know where your dorm is Ber..."

Ber began to realize that other people were staring at he and his sister, no doubt wondering why they were hugging in the middle of the campus, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.  The Prouvaries were an affectionate family, especially when it came to Berlioz and Marie, and hugging was just a part of daily life for him.  So, rather than letting go, Ber pulled his sister closer.  ”Yeah, right, Marie.  You’re the biggest damsel in distress I’ve ever seen.” He teased.  ”That’s kind of the point.  Why would I want you to get a boyfriend?  You’re my sister.  No boy deserves you.”

If she had to choose which one of her brothers hugged the best, she wouldn't be able to choose. She never wanted to have a reason to choose. The two people she cared about the most in the world were always by her side and one of them wasn't even there with her. It felt weird just being two. "Because the boys here are cute. Brothers are included in that but in a completely different way." She paused, pressing her face into his chest. Why was she so short? "If I can't have a boyfriend, does that mean that you can't have a girlfriend?" Marie questioned, her voice muffled by his sweater against her lips.

"I should’ve known better than to even suggest it." He chuckled, still not letting go of Marie.  They hadn’t even been apart for very long, but his overprotective side had taken over in that short amount of time, and he couldn’t help but be relieved that she was okay.  "I’m just looking out for you, soeur.  You’re too clumsy for your own good, it worries me to leave you alone for more than a few minutes."

"Yes, you should have." Hopefully, she wasn't choking him in her grip. She'd been told, perhaps too often, that her hugs were too tight or that they couldn't breathe. Marie couldn't help it if she was clingy. She couldn't help it if she liked hugs and human contact, she was just that kind of person. So she didn't release her hold on him. "I'm a big girl, Berlioz. Just because I'm a lady, it doesn't make me a damsel in distress." Big fat lie. It was a wonder how she could make it to the local grocery store back at home without landing herself in the ER. "Besides, how am I supposed to get a boyfriend if you're hanging around me all the time?"

As surprised as he was from being suddenly jumped on, he quickly realized who it was tackling him, and his face twisted into a large grin.  ”Marie!  No, Tou didn’t come with me, and of course I didn’t lose him!  Have faith in me, ma soeur!”  He laughed, finally wrapping his arms around her to return the hug.  ”Anyway, how are you?  Are you okay?  I mean, you didn’t break any bones, right?  No bruises?  Cuts?  Burns?”

"Me? Have faith in you? Never frère." She squeezed tighter, reluctant to actually let go of her brother. Sure, the last time she had seen him was at the airport back in Paris and okay, so maybe she had gotten lost, but she was here now, wasn't she? Dropping her legs but keeping her arms around him, she leaned back onto her heels to give him a pout. "Don't fuss now, I am fine. Besides, ladies don't burn."

"BERLIOZ!" She jumped him, glad to see at least one familiar face in the crowd of strangers. Arms linked around his shoulders and legs wrapped around his waist, she hugged him tighter. "Where's Tou, did you take him with you too? Did you lose him? Tell me you didn't lose him."