A/N Hey, guys! I didn't want to let writing just float away from me so easily so I decided to come up with this. It's NOT a modern AU and I love Les Amis way too much to let ALL of them die. So anyways, please review, fave and follow! I would love to know what you all think and suggestions are always welcome. Not all of this info is accurate and some things will be from the book, too. If there are any mistakes, please let me know so I could fix it. Thank you once again and enjoy! :D
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Les Mis even if I did want to.
There lived a beautiful young woman that went by the name of Fantine. She had long brown hair and sparkling brown eyes. She was, perhaps, the most beautiful woman in her hometown, Montfermeil. Her husband, Felix Tholomyes, had left her after he found out that she was pregnant with their baby. Fantine raised the baby, Cosette, until she was three months old. Fantine had found a job at Monsieur Madeleine's factory but the foreman kicked her out because she had a daughter but not a husband. Fantine didn't have much money and couldn't take care of her daughter. She traveled back to Montfermeil and left Cosette with her sister, Favorite, who was just as lonely as Fantine and without a husband but she didn't have any children and she had enough money to live. Later, Fantine forced herself into prostitution. She sold her hair and teeth. After she became a prostitute, she was never heard of again.
1823
Cosette was living a rather happy life with her aunt. She had food to eat, toys to play with, a bed to sleep on and a loving and caring person to take care of her. Favorite never told Cosette about Fantine because she didn't want Cosette to want to see Fantine. Favorite knew that Fantine became a prostitute when Fantine came to her house to leave Cosette with her. Fantine usually never visited Favorite and Favorite knew that if Fantine ever came, it meant something was wrong. Cosette was now seven years old. She didn't have friends but she knew a girl her age whose name was Eponine. Eponine and Cosette were neighbors and they played with each other almost every day until Eponine's mother, Madame Thenardier, decided to keep her children out of other people's reach. Cosette also knew Eponine's sister, Azelma, and the three got along very well. There was one particular night that Cosette did not want to remember. It was the night of December 25th, Christmas night. "Oh, please, aunt Favorite! Please let me play in the snow! I want to make some friends and play with the other girls. I don't want to stay in here. It's boring and nobody is going to have a feast here anyway. Please let me go." Cosette pleaded. Favorite wasted no time thinking whether to let her niece go or not. She immediately opened the door for Cosette, took her hand and together, they walked out into the neighborhood. The neighborhood wasn't quiet that night, especially with the children playing around and people walking and talking. "Do whatever you like, dear. It's your time now to play." Favorite told Cosette. Cosette smiled, gave Favorite a hug and ran off. On her way to Santa Claus, who was sitting on a sleigh near the Thenardiers' inn, she crashed into a figure. She fell to the ground and rubbed her eyes. The figure wasn't gone. Instead, it held out a hand for Cosette to grab on. She took the hand and stood up. The figure was a boy about her age and he was rather good-looking. With his brown spiky hair, freckles and green eyes, Cosette felt completely lost. The boy cleared his throat and Cosette shook her head to clear it. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Mademoiselle. Are you alright? Are you hurt? Can I bandage up the wounds up for you perhaps? Or maybe take you to the doctor?" The boy said, looking at Cosette's legs for injuries. Cosette quickly shook it off. "Don't worry. I'm alright. I'm sure I don't have any injuries from just falling. I couldn't have possibly scraped my knees. It's impossible! But thank you anyway. What is your name?" Cosette asked the boy.
"Marius. Marius Pontmercy. Nice to meet you…uh…"
"Cosette." She smiled and held out a hand for him to shake. He shook it and Cosette thought she saw him blush but she thought nothing of it. They stood silent for a moment before Marius broke the silence with, "I'm really sorry but I have to go. Fancy meeting you." He ran off and Cosette smiled. She thought she felt a twist in her stomach when she met him. Bah! That's just because I'm hungry, she thought. She went off to find Favorite but on her way, she caught a glimpse of Eponine and Azelma playing and laughing together. She simply forgot about Favorite and headed toward the sisters. When she got closer, Eponine saw her and waved, smiling widely. Cosette waved back and ran to her. They embraced each other as if they haven't seen one another for centuries. That was true but not entirely. "Oh, Cosette! I can't believe we're seeing each other again! This is like a dream come true! How many years has it been? Two? Maybe but I still miss you so much!" Eponine exclaimed, hugging Cosette tighter. Madame Thenardier laughed and pulled Eponine away from Cosette. "I think that's enough hugging, don't you think? Get on with the playing." She said rather commandingly than nicely, in a tone no mother would ever use with her children. Suddenly, Azelma shouted, "Marius! There he is!" Eponine and Cosette both whipped their heads towards where Azelma was pointing and Marius was there indeed. Marius made his way toward the girls. "Hi, 'Ponine! Hi, 'Zelma!" He shouted from afar. The sisters waved to him and suddenly but surely, Cosette felt left out and invisible. When Marius got closer, Eponine gestured toward Cosette. "Have you met her?" Marius studied Cosette closely and nodded then turned his attention back to Eponine. Cosette felt deep jealousy inside her but she couldn't tell if it was jealousy or just something she made up. She spun around on her heel and tried to find Favorite once more. Cosette's thoughts were distracting her and she stopped on her tracks once in a while to let out a frustrated groan then she would continue to walk again. She was starting to dislike Eponine just because Marius payed more attention to Eponine than to her. It was a weird feeling for Cosette but she couldn't help but feel that she was starting to like Marius. She was running through a crowd of people, looking for Favorite. Suddenly, Cosette crashed into a man no younger than forty. "Mademoiselle, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"
"Yes, Monsieur."
"Are you, by any chance, Cosette?" Cosette's eyes widened in shock. "Ye-Yes, Monsieur." The man smiled and extended a hand. "I'm the mayor of Montrueil-sur-Mer. I heard about you from your mother..." His voice died away. "Is something wrong, Monsieur?" Cosette asked. The man shook his head and knelt down to Cosette's height. He put a hand on Cosette's shoulder as he said, "Your mother is with God and her suffering is over. You needn't worry because she's up there, watching over you." He pointed to the sky. Cosette was on the verge of crying but she held her tears back, not wanting to look weak in front of a complete stranger. The man stood up and held out a hand. Cosette grabbed it and they walked back to Cosette's house. They talked about all of the things that they could and in just one blink of an eye, they seemed like they've known each other for years. When they finally reached Cosette's house, Favorite was standing in front of the door. "My God! Cosette! Where have you gone? I was so worried about where you've gone!" Favorite screamed, hugging Cosette and kissing her cheeks. Favorite let go of Cosette and studied the man that came with her. She felt a spark of something she couldn't describe. Little did she know that the man felt the same way. Favorite gathered her thoughts and cleared her throat. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Monsieur, but we really need to get to sleep." Favorite said. The man smiled and tipped his hat. "My pleasure, Madame."
"Oh, no, Monsieur. I'm not a madame. I was married but my husband just abandoned me. I'm very glad I didn't end up with a child." The man looked at Cosette in confusion. As he was about to ask who Cosette was if Favorite didn't have a child, Favorite caught on quickly enough. "Oh, my sister...well...she disappeared and she left Cosette with me to take care." Favorite said uncertainly. The man nodded understandingly. "Is your sister Fantine?" The man asked. Favorite nodded but in here eyes, there was only horror. "Anyway, my name is Monsieur Madeleine and I'm the mayor of Montrueil-sur-Mer. A pleasure to meet you." He said, extending a hand towards Favorite. She shook it and smiled. "My name is Favorite. Nice to meet you, too." The three stood silent for a moment before Monsieur Madeleine excused himself and ran off. Favorite never felt any happier in her life. For then on, she started dreaming about the two of them having a wedding and living a happy life together with Cosette. Cosette, for her part, was happy seeing her aunt happy. She was also getting curious about what that man could do to her and Favorite. He looked like he was wealthy but he wasn't a bourgeois, that was for sure. She liked him and she was willing to let him come into her family but she wasn't too sure she wanted a stranger marrying her aunt.