Title: Once Again
Summary: I'm taking M. Gillenormond's idea of having Cosette see Marius again as a surprise for him, while he was still sleeping
World: Monsieur Gillenormond's and My Fantasy
Cosette was enjoying having a late morning, and at eleven was still dressed in her peignoir, watering the plants that decorated the windowsill. Then, a knock sounded on the door. She listened when her father got up to answer it.
"Good morning, Monsieur," came a voice she didn't know. "I am here from Monsieur Gillenormond."
Cosette's heart skipped a beat, and she put the watering can down. She knew that, at this point in Marius' recovery, all news was going to be good. He had been out of danger for three weeks, and regaining strength. As far as she knew, nothing bad could happen. So, news from Monsieur Gillenormond could only be...
"He would like you and Mademoiselle Fauchelevent to stop by at your convenience today."
She didn't hear her father's reply, for she ran into her bedroom and was rifling through her wardrobe. Ordinarily, she would have spent time picking out her ensemble to make sure she looked nice- but today was an exception. It was all she could do to find the proper garments to wear.
When she emerged ten minutes later, properly dressed, her papa was moving entirely too slowly. After she finally dragged him out of his chair and into the fiacre, they were on their way, her heart pounding the entire time. She'd thought of things to say to Marius when she saw him again, but they all slipped her mind now. What would he say when he saw her? Maybe she should have dressed better. It had been a long time- four months without seeing him. Would he still love her?
When they reached the Gillenormond house- which she barely had time to notice was large and beautiful- they were escorted by a small man who introduced himself as Basque into a room off the entrance hall. A very old man was waiting for them there.
He greeted them, and she tried to be as polite as she could to the man who was Marius' grandfather, but really she could not concentrate. He was complementing her, and talking to her father, but she heard none of it. The fact was, Marius was the closest he'd been to her in months, and she wanted to see him.
"Mademoiselle," Monsieur Gillenormond began. "You see, my grandson is asleep. He is better, yes, but weak and he tires easily."
Her heart fell a bit- Marius was sleeping. She wouldn't be able to see him.
"Oh. Well then," she said, trying not to show how disappointed she was.
"Ah but that is the fun part. We are going to surprise him!"
Cosette broke into a huge grin- surprise Marius! Only... what if he didn't want to see her?
As they moved into the parlor, she heard Monsieur Gillenormond talking to her father- her name came up a lot, and also Marius', but again she was not concentrating. When they reached the parlor, a sickbed was set up. And inside of it...
Marius.
She was feeling so many things at that moment- excitement for seeing him, love, sadness at seeing him look so vulnerable, asleep and pale, and embarrassed to show her love in front of her father and Monsieur Gillenormond. She took a step forward towards him, but then looked backwards at the older men, unsure.
"Go!" Monsieur Gillenormond said, encouraging her. "And wake him."
She didn't even bother to glance at her father before she went forward, perching on the end of the bed.
She tried to block her knowledge of the presence of all these other people, but caught some words that were very, very important:
"These children love each other. I see no other practical solution than marriage."
"I agree."
She knew the significance and benefits of those words, but she ignored them for the time being and turned to look at Marius. He was sleeping peacefully, his dark eyelashes against his cheeks. His hair had been shorn to clean the wounds on his skull, but was growing back now and was already a few centimeters long. She smiled softly, ignoring the tears that pricked her eyes as she watched him breathe gently in and out. She did not want to wake him when he looked so innocent and relaxed.
She put a hand on his, stroking her thumb against his palm. Then she gently put a hand on his forehead, then through his short hair that was as dark and thick as ever. Her murmured something, and she smiled. She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand, and his eyelids fluttered. Instantly she felt a stab of nerves and fear. She tried to overcome it, and put a smile on her face, taking his hand again as he opened his eyes.
He stared at her for a long moment, and she didn't even breathe. He looked at her like he wasn't surprised to see her at all.
"Cosette," he said very softly, and she smiled, nodding.
"Marius," she whispered, but no sound came out. He smiled, though, knowing what she'd mouthed.
Then his eyes widened as reality dawned more clearly.
"What-? How did you-?"
Before she could finish, he sat up and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. She let him for a moment, and then was about to tell him he should lay back down so he wouldn't hurt himself when he pulled away.
When he'd sat up, he could clearly see Cosette's intimidating and white-haired father in the room, looking seriously at him. He gulped, but the man said nothing. He laid back down, though, and focused his attention on Cosette.
"You're here," he said simply.
"I am." Then she remembered the things she had to say, and the words flowed from her lips, unstoppable. "Why would go you and fight that way? It was absolutely cruel of you, to go and try to hurt yourself! I've spent four months worrying after you, do you know that? I cannot even believe it's you here, not after so long we've spent apart. But really, why did you do that? Why? I suppose I will forgive you, if you promise never to hurt me that way again. And we've moved, just so you know. To the other side of Paris, in a different quarter. Not to England, see? You had to reason to go and do that! There is no garden. Wait until I tell you what I think I just heard your grandfather say! Oh- do you still love me? You are hurt, are you still in pain? It was wrong of you to sit up that way, you might have hurt yourself more, and then where would you be? Oh, I've missed you so much! It's been dreadful- boring and sad, and it's all your fault!"
"Angel!" He interrupted, seeming to marvel at her, unable to really think or form proper words. She was here. She wasn't in England, she was sitting beside him, and he had a reason to live again. His heart seemed to thump in his chest with twice as much conviction since he now knew she was here.
The older Monsieur's were talking still, and seemed to be pretty much ignoring the happy pair. They had no time for them anyway, not with this much happiness on their hands.
"Has your father been the one stopping by every day? With the bandages?" He'd only come to know of a man's visit since, each morning, the bell would ring, and each morning, Grandfather would ignore his inquiry as to who it was.
Cosette nodded. "Look. I have a callus on my finger, thanks to you. All I did was make bandages for four months! Do you know how much worry you caused all of us?"
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely.
"I forgive you," she said. She desperately wanted to tell him what she'd overheard, but she didn't want to say it out loud. Instead, she leaned down and whispered into his ear. "I think, at this precise moment, our fathers are arranging for us to marry."
He looked at her, stunned, and then glanced over at the other men, conversing seriously to each other.
"I overheard," she informed him. "Before you woke up."
He didn't dwell on the fact, because right now, he couldn't get any happier. Knowing Cosette was with him again was enough. Waking up, he hadn't even known she was really there- throughout his illness, he often dreamt about her being there. So when he awoke, it had taken him a minute to realize that this was the real Cosette, not the dream Cosette. The one he hadn't seen in months. And it had been the most wonderful surprise he'd ever had. So, for the moment, it did not matter whether or not their fathers were discussing marriage.
But ten minutes later, when the facts were drawn out and announced, he did let himself think about it. And he found out he could get happier. Knowing he had Cosette forever, that their lives were now one life to be shared, it was enough to push him from happiness to paradise.
He'd never expected this from his grandfather, who was usually cold and proper. Not something this kind and thoughtful. When Cosette and her father went home, Marius was exhausted- he'd been on quite the emotional journey, and had been awake and talking for longer than he was used to. Before he succumbed, though, he made sure to thank his grandfather.
"Not at all, boy," he said gruffly, but indulgently. "It's my duty to make you happy. Do the same to your own grandson- that's how you can thank me."
Marius smiled, but his eyes closed before he could say anything else.
