Suddenly

So suddenly there they were, a child in need of a father and a man in need of a child together at last and about to start a new life together.

Jean Valjean carried little Cosette into the carriage that would take them to Paris and onto the next chapter of their lives. Cosette marvelled at this, "I've never been in a carriage before Monsieur". She said sweetly to Valjean. He wanted her to call him Papa but since their relationship was still so new it was alright if she forgot now and then.

It occurred to Valjean that that was probably true for the poor girl. It was such a common thing to him but Cosette had never known a life outside of that horrible inn. But he was here now, and it was his chance to show this little girl so many new things and give her so many new experiences. Within reason though, after all he was still on the run from Javert.

Cosette was happily playing with her doll during the carriage ride for a while but Valjean could tell she was tired; she looked like she was on the verge of falling asleep when the carriage jostled gently and shook her back awake.

"Are you sleepy?" he asked her quietly and she nodded gently.

Valjean patted his lap softly, "Here child, lie down and put your head here, you can sleep".

Cosette obeyed him; it was quite charming how quickly she trusted him. She laid her head on his lap and closed her eyes with one of her arms wrapped around her new doll.

Valjean gently put one of his arms protectively around her and knew he was already in love with this little girl. He knew it the moment he met her in that cold wood and the moment she smiled when he gave her the new doll. He knew he would never forget that smile on her face for the rest of his life.

Valjean gently placed a hand over one of her tiny hands as she settled down to sleep and he smiled. "She's perfect" He thought. "She could use a bath and a new dress, I'll take care of that soon enough, but apart from that she's beautiful. I can't believe how much I love her already. How is that even possible to be in love so soon?"

He had only met that little girl tonight but somehow he knew the moment he met her that something within him was suddenly moved to love. Maybe these two people were made for each other, that's why Cosette trusted him so quickly and why Valjean felt so much love for her so soon. He couldn't wait for their new lives to begin,"I've waited so long for someone like you Cosette". He thought. He couldn't wait to love this little girl, to play with her, to teach her things, to kiss her goodnight and wake her up in the morning. It sounded like heaven to the old man.

He thought to himself that Cosette was the first person he knew in a long time that he could just love. The people he knew in Montreuil-sur-mer weren't his family and they weren't his friends. They needed him, that was true, but they needed him because of his money, because of his business and his ideas. Not like this child, she just needed someone to love her. "Cosette just needs me to be her father; she just needs to be loved. Maybe I just need love too. He thought.

Cosette was asleep now and Valjean ran a hand gently through her hair. "She's the first person who's ever really belonged to me". He thought to himself

And she did belong to him now, "Fantine was gone, God rest her soul" He thought sadly, The Thenardiers had never loved her and whoever her father is doesn't even deserve to be called that. I'm her father now and this little girl belongs to me".

So suddenly there they were, a child who had never known love and a man who had never been loved, at the start of something new and about to begin their lives together.

The End