Disclaimer: I don't own Les Miserables. Bella is my character and so is Eppi but I don't own any of the original characters
Marius was the 2nd of three and the only boy in his family. His older sister was long dead. His younger sister Belle was his best friend.
"Thank's for sticking up for me today," Belle told her brother one day, "I really appreciate it. I owe you one."
"Not at all," Marius said, "You're my sister. It's on the house. How about we get a cup of coffee or something from the ABC Cafe."
"I'd like that," Belle said
They went over to the ABC Cafe. Cosette was going to meet up with him later for dinner. She was pregnant with their second child. Their first, a little girl named Eponine was going to be sleeping over at a friend's house tonight. She was six. She was excited about having a little brother or sister.
It was only after they were seated that Bella spoke again.
"Marius can I ask you something?"
"I think you just did," he said with a smile.
"Fine... may I ask you a second question?"
"Bella just ask"
"Well the last time I was over when I was babysitting for Eppi," Bella began, "I noticed the cane that you have above the fireplace. You don't seem to be the type of person who makes use of it"
Marius laughed.
"I never make use of it," he said, "Or any other negative factor either"
"My question is why do you keep it?"
"That's a very good question," Marius said, "I keep it because to me that cane is a treasure."
((Flashback))
"Well the bullet shattered your thigh," the doctor told Marius, "You have made remarkable progress and it will heal in time but you're going to have to walk with this cane for awhile. It seems that you had some guardian angel looking after you because whoever carried you from the barricade that night really did save your life. You wouldn't be alive today."
Marius knew he was right. He and his beloved Cosette would never have been together and as he looked at the cane he realized that it was so true. He had to find some way to commemorate his survival. Three months later the doctor said he didn't need the cane anymore. That night he took the cane and hung it up on a hook above the fireplace.
"Should I be worried," Cosette teased laughing
"You," he said, "Not at all. Quite the opposite in fact. This cane is a reminder to me of how precious you are. I could have lost you forever had I not been saved when the barricades fell. It will forever stay here a reminder of our love. It will have no use aside from what purpose it has already served."
((Flashback ends))
"And that is why I keep the cane," Marius said, "It is a treasure and a keepsake to me"
