When they entered the room, one of the house workers was helping Fantine smooth her dress against her body. The pale lilac gown allowed her to appear more filled out, though it still hung loosely on her frame. Both women looked up as Marceline entered the room, Cosette and Fantine instantly locking gazes.
"C-Cosette?" She asked, eyes full of hope. Marcy set down the girl, who then ran to Fantine.
"Mummy!" Cosette clutched the older woman's legs and sobbed. She took the girl in her arms and sat on the bed, kissing her child's face as they cried. The maid had left, overcome with emotion, bumping into Jean (who had appeared only moments before) on her way out. The dark-haired pair smiled and watched as the mother and daughter were reunited. Fantine held Cosette's head to the crook of her neck, looking up at the pair of them.
"Thank you," she breathed, "thank you so much." Marceline nodded and smiled, backing out of the room, ValJean following behind. The dark auburn hair shuddered with the body it was attached to as Marceline slumped against the wall, sinking into a crouch.
"Marceline?"
She looked up. Jean was on one knee in front of her, watching her with concern. "I'm fine, Jean. Juss gimme a minute." She told him, choking back a sob. He nodded and stood, walking back down the hall and into the sitting room.
Marceline took her minute before standing. Wiping her eyes, she straightened out her dress and breathed deeply, calming down. Again her hand touched the knob and she pushed the door open.
Fantine was still sitting on the bed, stroking her sleeping daughter's hair lovingly. She looked up as her hostess opened the door and smiled as she took a seat beside her.
"I shall never be able to thank you enough, madamoiselle."
"Please drop th' formalities. Call me Marceline. Or Marcy. I like 'em both." She insisted, brushing some hair from Cosette's face.
"Okay. Marceline, I-"
"And don't get all overly-grateful on me. It gets annoyin' fast." Fantine frowned but nodded.
"Alright. But you must let me repay you somehow."
"No, really, it's fi-"
"Please." Marceline looked up and met her pleading eyes. "I insist." Marceline sighed, thinking for a moment. Again, she shifted some of Cosette's hair, gazing at the child adoringly.
"Two years ago, I was preparing to have a child of my own. I lost her at five months." She informed Fantine, caressing her daughter's face with soft fingertips. "That's why I had dresses already when Cosette came. I was prepared up to around her thirteenth year." A single tear rolled down her cheek. "If you truly want to repay me, let me be part of your family." Fantine's expression turned from one of pity to shock. "Let me be a second mother to Cosette, a sister to you."
Marceline looked down. She rarely asked for anything; living with Jean had made her even less selfish then she had been when she met him. But now she was asking for something she truly wanted. The tiny lead lined box she liked to shove her emotions into was leaking. Hurt poured out like toxic gas; why would Fantine want a metaphorical sisterhood with some stranger, let alone give said stranger even partial keeping of the child she'd just gotten back?
"Of course." The silver-eyed woman's head snapped up, meeting sapphires. The blonde smiled, pulling her into an awkward, one-armed hug. Marceline's expression turned shocked as well, reaching around and hugging the pair of them.
Hello, Mes fidèles lecteurs! So lovely to see you all again! Well, here it is, the long-awaited reunion of mother and daughter! And next Time, you shall all have your JeanXFantine feels! Adieu!