Disclaimer: I don't own Les Miserable


Marius and Cosette had the perfect marriage. Anyone who looked at the two of them together knew that he loved her. Anyone who looked at the two of them together knew that she loved him. He was never sharp with her. He never got mad. He was calm and at the same time in control. This was rare for a man in his time.
Many couples had a love for one another even in those days, but back then women were rarely treated with respect. Women usually had no say in matters including the naming of their own children and would often be punished for talking back or arguing with their boyfriend/husband through physical correction or dunking... a process of throwing someone into cold water for a medium to long period of time. Marius found that process intolerable. To him Cosette was his equal. To him Cosette was in many ways his better. She was the reason he got up in the morning. She was the reason he was happy throughout his day. He was often questioned on the way he treated her. He never let that trouble him.
Marius had only one rule. He stated it day after day. There was no debate about it. He was firm in his conviction and would not move in this. It was simple. Do not take the shortcut down the way. To do so you had to cross an alleyway. The girl that he was involved with before Cosette was shot in that alleyway and died many years ago. He was not willing to lose her the way he lost Eponine many years before he met Cosette. She never questioned it. She would simply promise that she wouldn't do that. It was obviously important to him and she respected that.
Marius and Cosette had yet to have children. She was pregnant however. They didn't know it but their first child would be a girl. She would also be their only child.

"Marius," Cosette told him one day, "I was thinking if the child is a girl we could name her Abrielle."
He grinned at her.

"I really like that name," he told her, "Where did you come up with it?"

"It was the name of a friend of mine," she said, "It was before we met"

"Abrielle it shall be then. If the child is a boy I should greatly like to name him after my friend, Enjolras."
She sighed her eyes downcast.

"I would prefer to give him a name in honor of your friend. Your friend died so young. I just think it might be bad fortune to give him a name so exact."

"You are right my love," he told her, "How about Emile or Elie?"

"I do like Emile," she said, "Emile it shall be"

"I am going to go out for a little air," she told him, "Would you care to join me?"
He glanced at her. She was in her ninth month and could go into labor at any time.

"Darling I'm not sure it's a good idea for you to go out. What happens if labor starts?"

"Come with me," Cosette said.
Any other man would have said to his wife, "no. You are staying here and that's final. Marius was not any other man.

"Alright," he said, "So long as we don't take the shortcut down the way"
Just as they were getting ready to go out Cosette's water broke.

"Looks like we won't be going out today," she said as she looked at the water down at her feet. He helped her to the armchair. It was his armchair and it reclined for comfort.

"Stay here," he said, "whilst I go fetch the physician"

"It just started."

"I know," he said, "But I want to fetch him before it gets bad"

"Alright," she said knowing that made sense.

"Sit tight darling," he said, "I'll be back shortly."
He was back in 45 minutes with the physician at hand.

"You know," the physician said, "You could have just taken the shortcut. It would have saved time"

"I don't allow that," Marius said simply, "and I will not do what I don't allow"
By then the pain had started.

"How are you feeling," the physician asked Cosette.

"HOW DO YOU THINK," she snapped, "I'M IN LABOR"
The physician watched in amazement as Marius made no move to chide his wife for her rude comment. He didn't even make a mark against her.

"Don't you have a problem with her talking like that?"

"Why should I," Marius asked, "She's in labor. Frankly if I was about to squeeze a baby out of my private parts I would probably talk like that myself."
The physician checked to see how dilated Cosette was.

"Well this will be a short labor," he said, "It's time to start pushing"

"But my water just broke less then an hour ago"

"And now your child is making it's way into the world," the doctor said, "So it's time to start pushing."
After 30 minutes of pushing Cosette and Marius both heard a weak little cry. The baby was born and she was born breathing.

"Congratulations," the doctor said, "You have yourself a little girl"
He cleaned the baby and Cosette off as he handed the baby to Marius. He then wished the new family a beautiful day.