Paris, 1847.
Angelique Pontmercy walked at a brisk pace towards Café La Closerie des Lilas. She was going to meet her brother for tea. It was a fairly warm day. Not too sweltering hot like July days could get. So the streets were packed with all sorts of men, women, and children. A small gamin, about twelve years of age, ran past her. His gang of fellow gamins at his heels. The sight reminded Angelique of a little gamin she had once known. Don't think about that! She scolded herself as she arrived at the café. It was a nice place, fairly new, but it was no Café Musain. A small smile tugged at the corner of Angelique's mouth at the thought of her old haunt. Like a ghost from the past, the words of a drinking song that was often sung in the Musain came back to her.
"Drink with me to days gone by, Sing with me the songs we knew. Here's to pretty girls who went to our heads. Here's to witty girls who went to our beds. Here's to them and here's to you!" But it had been decided long ago that the remaining survivors of the l'ABC (All three of them) would not return to the Café Musain. There were far too many ghosts there, far too much blood spilt.
"You're late." Marius said pulling Angelique from her reverie,
"Sorry, I got distracted." Angelique said sitting across from her brother at their usual table, Marius Pontmercy was now thirty-six, a very distinguished lawyer, devoted husband of sixteen years, and beloved father of two. Eleven-year-old Marie and seven-year old Jean. Life had treated Marius well.
"Angel, Angel!" Marius cried
"Oh! Sorry what was that?" Angelique blushed
"I asked you what has been going on with you? I hardly see you these days." Marius said frowning
"Nothing really," Angelique admitted
"I'm still working in the flower shop… still living in my garret." Marius' frown depend
"Anyone special come into your life?"
"No not particularly." Angelique said sipping her tea. The look of disapproval on Marius' face was clear.
"I find it remarkable you aren't married yet." He said Oh God not this conversation again!
"I have time," Angelique said
"Angel you live in that garret all by yourself, I worry about you." Her brother said
"I'm not alone! Enjolras lives in the same building, I'm quite safe!" Angelique argued.
"I just don't understand what you're waiting for!" Angelique was silent for a moment, Marius' eyes widened.
"It's been fifteen years Angel, they're not coming back." Marius said,
"Gavroche would be twenty-seven, 'Ponine thirty-four! There should be weddings to attend, babies being born!"
"There should be but there isn't" Marius said
"They wouldn't want us living in the past."
"So what? You've forgotten how much 'Ponine loved you? How she died in your arms?" Angelique snapped
"Of coarse not!" Marius cried
"I haven't forgotten anyone we lost. I just live in the present and enjoy my family, because we're living on borrowed time!" Marius said
"As should you, I know you miss Gavroche but it's time to move on. Get a life, get married, have children of your own!"
"Well I'm sorry Marius but not everybody can be like you and Cosette!" Angelique snapped before jumping up and storming away.
"Angelique! Angelique wait!" Marius called after her as she stormed into the street.
At that same moment a student was walking down the street carrying books, when he came upon his friend the gamine.
"'Ere, wotcher do with all them books?" The blonde gamine said grabbing a book from the student and greedily flipping through the pages like she was trying to read the book as fast as she possibly could.
"I could 'ave been a student too! Don't judge a girl on 'ow she looks. I know a lot of things, I do!" The gamine closed the book and held it out for the student to take, when he reached for it she yanked it out of his reach, giggling to herself as the student chased her around the street as she played keep away with the book.
"Poor Emma, the things you know, you wouldn't find in books like these." The student said grabbing the book from behind her back.
"I like the way you grow your hair" Emma winked
"I like the way you always tease" the student laughed Emma used this distraction to grab the book again.
"Come on Emma give it back." He said good-naturedly, lunging for the book. But Emma danced just out of his reach.
"Emma! Give it back!" The student said but the gamin ran away book in hand.
"Hey, Emma!" He cried, he tried to follow her, and ran into a young woman, knocking her to the ground.
This woman was Angelique Pontmercy.
The student dropped to his knee beside her.
"I didn't see you there, forgive me."
...Honestly, I have no idea what I've just done... BUT IT WAS AWESOME! Review! Review! REVIEW!