After a close to unbearable week of school, here is Chapter 4! Thank you guys so much for all your reviews and PMs, you really have no idea how much they mean to me. As a thank you, I'm opening the floor for suggestions/requests on things you would like to see happen in this story. I've got the girls' childhood planned up through at least chapter 12 before I jump to the future, but I'm not above expanding that length if someone gives me an idea I can work with. Just an FYI, since more than half a dozen people have asked me about this, you don't need to waste a wish on having Eponine survive the Barricade; I have zero intention of killing her off, so you can all chillax. I hope you enjoy this next chapter-can't wait to hear what you think!
February 17, 1824
Cosette and Eponine had been put to bed hours ago, but Valjean lay sleepless in the front room, unable to relax with the sound of the howling wind beating against the walls. The mild days that had blessed Paris throughout January became a thing of the past once the calendar turned to February, and a bitter cold had plagued the convent for the past two weeks. Each day Valjean found himself moving his chair closer and closer to the fire, and each night he tucked an extra blanket around his daughters to protect them from the chill. He was just considering moving his bed to the back bedroom to give himself some relief from the freezing temperatures when the wind blew so hard that it knocked the door latch free, causing the heavy wooden door to slam against the wall.
Valjean groaned in frustration and got out of bed. He looked out into the convent garden as he went to shut the door, and discovered, to his surprise, that it was snowing. There had not been a snowfall in Paris since they had arrived at the convent, despite the frigid atmosphere, but this one was looking to be quite the event. Already the trees and tombstones were blanketed with a fine white powder, and swirls of the stuff continued to fall thickly from the sky. It appeared that he and Fauchelevant would not be able to complete any work tomorrow, and Valjean smiled at the thought as he shut the door. While he enjoyed the peaceful garden work, he would much rather spend the day with his daughters. As he fastened the strong leather latch, the sound of the whistling wind was cut through by a much softer, sweeter sound.
"Papa?"
Valjean turned from the doorway and was greeted by the sight of a tiny girl, clad in her flannel nightgown and rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Ma petite Cosette," he said softly, holding his arms out to her. "What are you doing out of bed? Did the sound of the door wake you?"
"Is that what the loud noise was?" Cosette asked, trotting over and allowing her father to pick her up. "It frightened me."
"Yes, Cosette," Valjean said, hoisting her up onto his hip. "The wind blew the latch free, but I've fixed it. There is nothing to be frightened of," he assured her. "Did your sister awaken as well?"
"No, Papa," Cosette said, snuggling her head into the crook of his neck. "Eponine can sleep through anything."
Valjean chuckled softly at his child's frank, yet true observation. While Eponine was ordinarily a very agreeable child, she had proven rather difficult to waken in the mornings. Indeed, Valjean had only found cause to chastise the girls one time in the past few weeks, and it had all started with Eponine refusing to get out of bed. He had gone to awaken the girls for school, and while Cosette had risen without complaint, Eponine had curled herself into a ball and squeezed her eyes shut, not unlike a stubborn puppy. After sternly telling her twice that if she did not get up, he would be forced to punish her, Cosette had helpfully brought over a handful of water from the washbasin and thrown it on her unsuspecting sister's face. Unfortunately, the water had already been sufficiently mixed with soap from Cosette's morning washing. Needless to say, the soap found its way into Eponine's eyes, which led to a great many tears on the part of the little brunette. Cosette felt badly for making her sister cry; she had only been trying to get Eponine up so Papa wouldn't punish her. Fortunately, Valjean could see that both children regretted their actions, and after wiping away tears and delivering a gentle scolding about obeying one's father and not assaulting one's sister, he sent both of them off to school with a kiss.
"Papa?" Cosette asked, calling Valjean back to the present. "Why is the wind blowing so hard?"
"Ah, that is a surprise for you, ma petite," Valjean said, carrying her over to the small window at the opposite end of the room. "Look out there. It's snowing."
Cosette's lips turned downward. "I don't like the snow, Papa," she said, wrapping her arms more tightly around his neck.
"You do not like the snow?" Valjean repeated, slightly surprised by the admission. "Why ever not?" He thought all children enjoyed the magical effect of snow falling from the sky and creating a perfect white expanse.
Cosette did not answer; she simply buried her face in her father's neck. Valjean immediately grew concerned; Cosette's previous statement now appeared to be more than a childish whimsy. He carried the child over to his chair by the fire and sat her on his knee.
"Why do you not like the snow, Cosette?" he asked again, reaching to tuck her blonde hair behind her ear. There was a haunted, distant look in his child's blue eyes that made him uneasy. "You can tell me, petit."
Cosette squirmed a little on his lap and looked down at her hands. "When we lived with the bad people in Montfermeil," she began. Both children had long stopped referring to the Thenardiers by name, something for which Valjean was grateful. He was hopeful that in time they would forget those foul creatures had ever existed. "Eponine and I were boiling the laundry, and we had to add more water, but the pot was too heavy. We dropped it, and water spilled out all over the floor. The bad woman was so angry that she threw us out the back door and told us we would have to remain outside until the floor became dry. It was snowing, and we begged her to let us in when it grew dark, but she made us stay outside all night. It was so cold, Papa," she finished with a whimper.
Valjean honestly did not know at this point why he allowed anything those wretched people had done to surprise him, but his heart still shook with rage at Cosette's woeful tale. He placed his hand on the side of her cheek and drew her head into his chest, rocking her gently as he stroked her hair.
"The snow can be cruel, ma enfant," he said softly. "As can people. But just as most people have some goodness in them, there is goodness to be found in snow as well. It does not have to be something that you fear."
Cosette looked up at him with wide eyes. "What kind of goodness, Papa?" she asked curiously.
A smile flickered across Valjean's face as a plan formed in his mind. "That is a question I would prefer to answer come morning, ma petite," he said conspiratorially. "Right now, I think it is time for all les petites filles to be asleep in their warm beds. But tomorrow, if you are willing, I will show you just how good snow can be."
Cosette looked at him doubtfully, and he rubbed her back reassuringly. "You do not have to come out in the snow with me if you do not want to, petit," he promised. "But if you do, you will not have to worry about becoming cold. I will make sure you are warmly dressed, and the instant you become uncomfortable, we can come back inside."
Cosette still had her doubts, but she trusted her Papa, and knew he would never do anything to harm her. "All right, Papa," she agreed, leaning her head back down against his chest. "I will come in the snow with you. And I will make Eponine come too."
"You let your sister make her own decisions, Cosette," he admonished, tapping her nose with his finger. He did not wish to have a repeat of the water throwing incident should Eponine decide the snow was not something she wished to experience. "And right now, I think it is a good decision if you go back to bed."
Sitting by the warmth of the fire had made Cosette feel drowsy once more, and she did not protest when Valjean stood and carried her back to her room. He set her down gently in the bed, careful not to disturb Eponine, and gave her a kiss as he tucked her in.
"Bonne nuit, ma ange," he whispered, bringing the blankets up to her chin. "Je t'aime."
"Je t'aime, Papa," Cosette whispered back, unable to stop herself from yawning as she snuggled under the covers. After smoothing back Eponine's hair from her face and adjusting the blankets so she was completely covered, Valjean crept out of the room, his mind working hard as he planned out the next day.
The weather cooperated perfectly with Valjean's master plan. By the time he awoke the next morning, the snow had stopped falling from the sky, and the only evidence of the blizzard remaining was the pristine white sheet covering the ground. Valjean smiled as he glanced out the window; there was nearly a metre of snow outside, untouched by any man, woman or child. No doubt the nuns were making the pupils stay indoors today, but Valjean had other ideas. He hurried back to the bedroom to wake his daughters.
Both children were hard to get up this morning; Cosette because she had awoken during the night, and Eponine because she was Eponine. But since they did not have to go to school, Valjean could afford to be patient with them. After nearly half an hour of rubbing their backs and speaking gently to them, the children finally crawled out of bed and went to the front room to have their breakfast. Over warm slices of bread spread with jam, Valjean explained to Eponine that they were going to go outside in the snow today. Eponine looked as hesitant as her sister had the night before, but after Valjean promised she could come in at any time she wanted and Cosette had begged her to join them, she agreed to give it a try.
After the dishes had been wiped down, Valjean set to work making sure the girls were dressed as warmly as possible. When it had become clear that February was going to be a cold month, he had gone out to purchase even more warm things for his daughters. He helped them put on their thickest woolen dresses and two pairs of stockings apiece, followed by soft mittens and scarves that he wrapped snuggly around their necks. He put on his own coat and gloves as the girls helped each other with their cloaks and sturdy leather boots. Once everyone was sufficiently protected from the elements, Valjean took each child by the hand and led them out into the mystical white wonderland.
"Look mes filles," he said softly, as the little trio took a few steps into the courtyard. "See how beautiful it is?"
Eponine and Cosette were still a little wary, but they had to admit, this was much more beautiful than the snow in Montfermeil. In such a small village, it never took long before the snow had been trampled into a dirty grey mess, a stark contrast to the sight that lay before them now. The sun was just beginning to peak through the clouds, giving the snow an almost diamond-like quality.
"So, mes filles," Valjean said jovially, interrupting their moment of rapture. "What shall we do first? Would you like to make snow angels?"
Eponine wrinkled her brow in confusion. "What is a snow angel, Papa?"
"What's this?" Valjean asked, feigning surprise. "Two petits anges do not know how to make snow angels?" Cosette and Eponine both shook their heads. "Well, I shall have to instruct you how. First, you must lie flat on your backs in the snow. Go on, now."
The children were a little reluctant as they lay down, but they soon realized that the chill from the snow could not penetrate the many layers of clothing they were wearing, and they began to relax.
"Now," Valjean continued. "Move your arms up and down like you are flying, and move your legs from side to side." The girls obeyed his odd instructions, giggling a little bit as their limbs slid easily through the snow.
"Well done," Valjean said, after they girls had swung their arms and legs multiple times. "Now look at what you have created," he added, reaching down to pick both children up carefully from the ground.
As he set them on their feet, Eponine and Cosette stared at their work in wonderment. "It really is an angel," Cosette breathed.
"Oh Papa, may we do it again?" Eponine begged, jumping up and down. Valjean smiled warmly at her, pleased that her fear of the snow seemed to be slipping away. "You may make as many angels as you like, petit," he said obligingly. "But first, don't you think these two little angels should have a Papa to watch over them?"
"Oh yes," Eponine exclaimed, her eyes widening in excitement over this new idea. "How do we make a Papa, Papa?" Cosette bounced beside her in apparent agreement, and Valjean's smile grew even wider.
So the little family spent the next hour rolling copious amounts of snow into three balls of varying sizes. Valjean, with his strong arms, was responsible for stacking them atop one another to form the body of the snowman, while Cosette and Eponine ran all around the courtyard, gathering stones and sticks to create a face and limbs for their creation. Once the little man was complete, Valjean unwrapped his own scarf from his neck and transferred it to the snowman, along with his hat. The two girls stepped back to admire their work, and were both so entranced that they did not notice Valjean creeping off to the side.
"Isn't he beautiful, Eponine?" Cosette sighed contentedly. But before her sister could respond, both girls were startled by something soft and wet hitting the backs of their heads. The two girls whirled around to find Valjean grinning mischievously at them as he formed another snowball.
Both of the girls gaped at him in such shock that for a moment Valjean feared he had done something wrong. But just as he was about to go apologize, Eponine gave a cross between a shriek and a giggle and barreled toward him. The little fairy of a child leapt on top of him, and Valjean allowed himself to fall back into the snow, laughing as he went. Cosette, not wanting to miss out on the fun, joined her sister on top of their father. The little girls did not know how to form a snowball, so their attempts to launch a counterattack were not very successful, and before long, the tables were turned as Valjean tickled them both, causing each to fall into the snow in a fit of giggles.
Giving both of them a hearty kiss, Valjean helped them up from the ground and showed them how to form a perfect snowball. The family stayed out of doors until well past dinner time, throwing snowballs, making snow angels, and laughing until they could scarcely breathe. All three were so content that they might have stayed out until nightfall, but Valjean was still a father, and once he noticed that the children's noses were as red as cherries, he ordered them both inside for a warm bath. After a good soaking in the tub and a hearty meal of stew and bread, Valjean drew both girls onto his knees in his chair by the fire.
"So, mes petites," he asked kindly. "Are you still frightened of the snow?"
"No Papa!" Eponine exclaimed, bouncing up and down on his knee. "I want to play in the snow every day!"
Valjean chuckled at her enthusiasm. "That might be difficult come the summer months, Eponine," he reminded her, running his hand over her silky hair. "But as long as there is snow on the ground, we can play in it every day if you wish."
"You were right, Papa," Cosette said, snuggling against his chest. "The snow is good. Like you."
In spite of himself, Valjean felt an unbidden tear prick at his eyes. He said nothing, but held both of his daughters closely to his chest, rocking them gently as the fire crackled before them.
Yeesh, that was fluffier than cotton candy. But I loved writing it :D Coming up next: I'm actually not sure. I have a somewhat angsty chapter planned, and another fluffy chapter; just haven't decided which order they're going to be in. But like I said, if you have any requests, please don't hesitate to leave them in a review or a PM. I can't promise I'll make your wish come true, but I do promise to take all ideas into consideration. Thanks for reading!
