A/N This is basically to describe how awesome Fantine is. Mad props to Wolfie for the beta-ness! So read, and review if you want. This is extreme Musicalverse, for I have never read the book, how ever much I try to. I always assumed that Fantine only started to become destitute when she was left by Cosette's father. So this is probably AU. :)
Fantine staggered through the dark, lonely side streets of Paris, clutching a newborn baby to her chest. She winced at every painful step, every shrieking cry her new daughter gave, and the bitter cold she felt where her dress had torn through to her skin.
The icy chill took over as she collapsed into a doorway, sobbing along with the infant.
Her eyes fluttered, wondering if it was all really worth it.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and his lips curved into a smile against her own. The sun dappled through the leaves onto the two entwined bodies, causing the pure blue lake to sparkle.
"I love you," he whispered, running a hand through tumbling waves of hair.
Fantine gazed back at him, her eyes drinking in every inch of him: the chestnut curls, the sparkling green of his eyes, the scent of musk and lavender, his soft, milky skin…
She smiled, her numb hands still basking in imaginary sunlight. But her daydream was whisked away by the howling of the winter winds.
A sudden surge of anger rippled through her as she considered the price she had to pay for a few hours of pure bliss.
"I like Cosette."
He wrinkled his nose. "It sounds a bit cowardly."
"Cowardly?"
He smiled and nodded, reaching out and pulling him to her.
"You won't leave me, will you?"
"That's cowardly as well."
Fantine ran a hand over her stomach, finally feeling safe.
A single tear ran down her cheek as the baby wailed, almost on cue.
The next morning he had gone, along with the tiny nest egg of jewellery she kept under her pillow. The woman sat on her bed and waited, still entertaining the notion that he might just return.
But as hours turned to days, and days to months, she could feel a growing dislike to her unborn child. Although the romance by the lake was still clear in her mind, she decided that spending all that time with him was a complete waste if this was the result.
Sniffling, Fantine peered down at the baby for the first time. Big blue eyes, framed by a few dark brown curls, stared back. The wind whipped around the two once more, but the infant didn't flinch; just bravely held on to her mother.
This baby wasn't a coward, even if she was fathered by one.
Fantine smiled gently at the baby, murmuring its new name as she placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Cosette."