After the doctor had left Cosette gazed at the baby in her husband's arms. She wanted so desperately to hold Abriella.

"She's quite beautiful," Marius said stroking the baby's chin.

"Yes she is," Cosette said, "Oh darling can I please hold her?"

"Of course," Marius replied handing the newborn to her mother.

"We need a middle name for Abriella too," Cosette said

"Yes. I was thinking of Fantine after your mom," Marius said, "Granted you never knew her but she loved you and I think we should honor her.

"Abriella Fantine," she tested it on her tongue, "I like it"

"I like it too," he said, "It fits her. She looks like an Abriella"
Cosette was exhausted. It was a short but painful labor and she was not much used to pain. She handed him the baby as she closed her eyes and fell asleep. She woke up a few hours later. Marius had already made dinner for her and heated up some milk for the baby.


((Seven years later))

Abriella grew into a young beautiful girl. She was smart. She was funny. She was caring. She was giving. Cosette was pregnant again. She was only lightly pregnant and she knew that she was going to have a boy. She didn't officially know but she felt different this time then she did when she was carrying Abriella. Abriella came home one day with a dog. She had come home from school and stopped to pick one up. She was so cute with the dog that her parents couldn't bring themselves to scold her or insist the dog be returned.

They debated about names and choose the name GOLDEN DAISY FLOWER. Golden was Marius's idea. Daisy was Abriella's idea. Cosete liked the name Flower. The next day Abriella woke up sick. The doctor was called in. He checked her out.

"It's not a major illness," the doctor said, "Still I would advise you to get her some herbs. I'll call the apothecary and advise them of what you're going to pick up."

"Thank you doctor," Cosette said gratefully.

"It's no problem"
Back in those days there was no fear leaving your child alone for awhile.

"Darling," Cosette said, "I'll be home in a little while. You just rest. I'll be back with the medicine to make you feel better."

"Alright momma," Abriella said. She closed her eyes and soon she was asleep.

Cosette's Point of View

I looked at my pocket watch. It was getting late. I know that Marius always told me not to take the shortcut home but I can't see how it would be a big deal. If he found out he'd be quite angry. I would likely to get in trouble which is something that never happened before. But Abriella has been alone for almost an hour. She's sick. What of Golden Daisy Flower? What if she had an accident. That could make Abriella sicker. Besides there's no way Marius would find out. Even if he did how bad could the punishment be. He probably would be so grateful that I was okay that he'll just scold me a bit and it will be done with. That settles it. I'm going to take the shortcut.

(Nobody's point of view)

Cosette nearly made it through the shortcut. But there was a young scoundrel with a gun. He took a shot meaning to shoot at the building. It missed and hit Cosette. It went into her chest. She collapsed and felt a flash of pain.
This must be what it feels like to be corrected, she thought as she passed out.
Thank GOD Nicolette, a good friend of Cosette's was in the alleyway at the time when the shooting happened. She knew what to do. She took her own scarf and held it firmly on Cosette's chest to stop the bleeding. Once it had stopped close enough she took Cosette carried like a babe, much the way Val Jean did when Marius was wounded and brought her to the hospital. As soon as Cosette was in the treatment room Nicolette ran to find Marius. She found him in the ABC Cafe.

"Nicolette what happened," he asked.
He could tell by the look on her face something was wrong.

"Cosette was shot in the alleyway. She was shot in the chest-"
A flash of panic went through his entire being.

"Please tell me that she's not dead," he begged.

"No but she's in the hospital right now. She's in very bad shape. They need to operate. You need to get over there and sign some papers giving them permission to remove the bullet."
He nodded and quickly went over to the hospital without even bothering to pay for his lunch. He asked Nicolette to go home and stay with Abriella but not to tell her something was wrong with her mother. Nicolette was glad to do so. She even brought the herbs with her for Abriella.
Marius in the meantime was pacing the floor of the hospital waiting room. He was feeling so many emotions at the same time. He was worried for Cosette. He loved her. He couldn't lose her like he had lost Eponine. He was also, as guilty as he felt about this very angry with her. He had only made ONE rule. That was do not take the shortcut down the alleyway and what did she do? She took the shortcut down the alleyway. Could he let that go unpunished.

"Isn't a bullet in her chest punishment enough?"
Marius looked up. He saw the spirit of Eponine.

"She disobeyed my one rule," he said

Marius I'm not saying that she didn't do wrong. She did. But think about it. She's here in the hospital. She has a bullet wound in her chest. She might not get out of here alive and if she does she's gonna be in a great deal of pain for a good long time. I think she's been punished enough"

"Will she die," Marius asked, "or will she live"

"Yes," Eponine replied, "She will live or die"

"You know what I mean," Marius said

"I don't know the answer to that question love,"

Marius groaned. How could he live without Cosette. He nearly died when he lost Eponine. Cosette... he loved her more then he loved Eponine. He knew things had to change. As much as he didn't understand the way his friends acted sometimes maybe they had something. After all his wife was in the hospital with a bullet wound in her chest.

"Marius," Epionine said "There is one thing you have to know"

"What is it?"

"She lost the baby," Eponine said her heart sounding like it would break, "He's with me now. I promise I'll take good care of him"

Marius nodded numbly. He had forgotten about the baby. Right now his only thought was Cosette.