Disclaimer: I don't own Les Miserables or any of the characters from the show.

Javert had been the head guard of the prison for several years. He had come to know many prisioners and thought the same way of all of them. They were distasteful scum's of society and they deserved to suffer in agony for all of their days. It was only after he met a particular prisoner that his attitude changed. Her name was Aurorette and unlike the other prisoners she was polite, respectful and almost always cheerful.

Aurorette was sentenced to 5 1/2 years of prison for stealing a powder from the apothecary several days ago. He had first met her after a long day. His six week old daughter, Mariya was six so he had stayed up all night caring for his beloved baby. He was a single father. His wife had died in childbirth and he was very different with Mariya then he was with most people especially the prisoners. She had been brought in to see him for stealing an apple during work hours.

"Aurorette isn't it," Javert asked even knowing it was.

"Yes Monsieur," she said respectfully.

"Take a seat," he told her sternly.

He got out her case file along with the whip. She recoiled as she saw the whip but did not say a word.

For some reason he felt his heart swell with compassion for her when he saw her recoil.

"You were sentenced for stealing from the apothecary according to your file," Javert said.

"Yes Monsieur," she said quietly, "My 3 year old daughter Angelina had a severe throat infection. I have two children. My son, Marius is only a few weeks old."

She's a mother, Javert thought to himself then tried to shake it off

"Yes well... I am truly sorry for your situation," he said, "But be that as it may why did you steal from the apothecary. Could you and your husband not afford-"

"I am a widow," Aurorette corrected, "My husband died the day Marius was born. He never even got to hold his son"

He saw moisture fall from her eyes and he handed her a tissue to dry her eyes; an act Javert never did normally.

"The apothecary was closed," the poor woman continued, "and Angelina needed the powder within moments or she would have died for sure."

Again Javert felt his heart swell with compassion.

She may just be trying to manipulate you, the skepticism in Javert had thought but somehow he knew she was speaking true.

"Well... um... lets get to the heart of this issue shall we," he said, "Why did you steal the apple?"

"It was hot. I was hungry. I made a poor choice and I know I must be punished for my actions," the young mother explained.

"Yes well considering that it is your first offense," he told her, "I will let you off with a warning. See to it that you do not steal again or I promise that you will not be shown the same leniency in the future," he added sternly.

"Yes Monsieur," she said gratefully.

"One more thing," Javert added, "I am just about to have lunch. Would you join me?"

"I would really like that," Aurorette replied.

"Fine," Javert said, "But after lunch you are going back to your cell"

"I would expect so," Aurorette said softly

Javert pulled out the lunch he had gotten and split it down the middle.

"So," he said, "Tell me about your kids"

"Oh well Marius like I said is six weeks old," she began, "And he is probably the spitting image of his father. Angelina is like an angel. That's why we named her Angelina."

"Why did you name your son Marius," Javert asked

"It was his father's name," Aurorette explained, "My Marius died on a cart accident on the way to the hospital. I was already at the hospital and his brother was driving the cart. The cart had tipped over and my husband died immediately. I wanted to honor Marius... my husband I mean and the best way to do that was through his son"

Javert nodded.

He dipped his quill in ink and wrote something on a sheet of paper.

"What are you writing," Aurorette asked softly

"Just some notes," Javert said running a hand through his hair.

"Oh," she said; not really knowing what else to say to that one.

Javert looked at his pocket watch. It was almost 2.

"Alright,' Javert said, "It's time for you to get back to your cell"

"Yes sir," Aurorette said, "I guess I will see you tomorrow?"

"You will," he assured her, "and I hope not in the same manner that we saw one another today."

"That will never happen again Monsieur," she promised him, "I vow it"

Javert escorted her into her cell.

"May I ask you something Monsieur," Aurorette asked.

"You may," Javert said.

He thought he knew what she was going to ask but she actually surprised him. There was no plea for early release or anything of the sort.

"Do you have any children," she asked him simply

"I do," he said, "I have a six week old little girl named Mariya"

His eyes lit up when he spoke about her.

"Who watches her while you're at work," Aurorette asked

"Neighbors of mine," Javert said

"From the other side of the fence I would imagine," Auroette said laughing.

Javert laughed

"Yes," he said, "From the other side of the fence"

"Of course I knew that," she said, "You wouldn't trust a prisoner to watch your daughter"

If anyone had said that just 24 hours ago he would have said "Damn straight". Instead he replied, "Depends on the prisoner"