Everyone turned their heads to the doorway in shock. Jean Valjean's grip tightened on Cosette's little paw.
It was Javert.
He, too, seemed somewhat younger. He held his hat in his hands respectively, and although he was still dressed in his full inspector suit and greatcoat, there was no sign of his infamous nightstick or handcuffs. His steel eyes were directed towards Jean Valjean.
Slowly, detangling himself from Cosette and Marius' nervously gripping hands, Jean Valjean stood and walked towards the inspector, taking carefully measured steps. He stopped when they were about two feet apart.
The two men stood motionless for a moment, gazing at each other in silence. Then, almost too quietly to hear, Javert said, "Thank you, monsieur. I thank you greatly...for everything."
Jean Valjean simply smiled and nodded. Then, wordlessly, he held out his hand.
Javert gripped it, looking down carefully, not seeming to trust himself to speak. Then, simultaneously, Jean Valjean put an arm around Javert's shoulders, and Javert put an arm around Jean Valjean in a grateful, forgiving embrace.
When they let go, everyone had tears in their eyes. Self-consciously, Javert mumbled, "Well..."
Jean Valjean laid a hand on the inspector's arm. "Would you like to come sit with us?" he asked gently.
"Oh, yes!" piped up Cosette from the settee. "There is plenty of room, monsieur; please do join us!"
Javert raised his eyes to meet those of Jean Valjean. "Yes," he replied. "I would like that very much."
So the four companions all settled back down on the settee. Jean Valjean was between Cosette and Javert, and Marius was beside Cosette. The latter, of course, did not actually know Javert, so it was necessary to introduce them.
"Cosette, this is Inspector Javert; Javert, this is my child, Cosette," Jean Valjean supplied.
"Fantine's daughter," Javert said in an undertone, looking to Jean Valjean for confirmation. He nodded. Then, to Cosette, the inspector said shamelessly, "And, mademoiselle, I am the man who more or less made life miserable for your...father. So you may hate me if you wish. You do have good reason to."
Cosette looked slightly appalled.
"You didn't make my life miserable," Jean Valjean argued demurely, the kind soul that he was. "You just...hindered it greatly."
"Yes." Affectionate and forgiving, Cosette's nature prevented her from hating anybody. "You are here, you are now nice to my father; he is nice to you. I shall be, too." She took Javert's large hand in her own and gave him a friendly smile. He hesitated for a moment, then gave a small smile in return.
Suddenly, there came the sound of raised voices in the hallway outside, tripping over one another in a jumble. As they neared, they were accompanied by bangs and thumps which announced the arrival of several people.
Marius sat up straight on the settee, his face pale. The voices seemed to sound like...no, it couldn't be...but they really did sound nearly exactly like –
A group of young men burst through the doorway.