/These are getting shorter per chapter not because I'm trying to extend this, but because I'm basing it off the movie and after intermission it gets so incredibly choppy (and in my opinion boring). I've stated Freshman year, too, so I can already feel my sanity being sucked out through my nose. You get it. So sorry if these start to suck, I guess? I'm really trying, guys, but I'll write three pages and have to stop. Like, there are points when you kind of have to stop. I just can't make it go smooth. I hope none of you become disappointed, but I really really am trying to not... suck... so much... and not sucking is hard...
"It's not like my children to be secretive," Captain Valjean chuckled, raising an eyebrow at the line of guilty children that stood before him.
"We're not being secretive, Papa," murmured Cosette. She smiled slightly at her fib. Enjolras pulled on her wrist, causing her to look down at the floor immediately.
The Captain laughing slightly. Of course he knew they were hiding something… not exactly what it was but he had a good idea. How could they have not gone up to the abbey to see Fantine? He himself was having a difficult time resisting the urge to visit her as well. That wouldn't have been proper, though, would it have been? A man doesn't simply visit an abbey… If he's going to see the old governess of his children he certainly does not go alone. People would begin to make assumptions, and assumptions are things that you do not need being made when you have been engaged…
"And it's not like my children to be late for dinner," he added.
"We… We…" Combeferre pinched the bridge of his nose as he struggled to create a tale. "We lost track of the time."
Valjean nodded in approval. That sounded believable. "I see…" said he. "Who's going to be the first one to tell me the truth?"
He passed his gaze over seven guilty faces. Each child was biting their lip and rolling their eyes. Courfeyrac was even wiggling his ears. Jehan was squirming, even. Only Eponine and Gavroche seemed perfectly innocent (but they never looked innocent, so this wasn't helpful to them).
"Cosette? Combeferre? Enjolras?"
"Where do you think we were, Papa?" asked Jehan.
"If you don't believe us," started Eponine, "then you must have some idea of where you think we were."
"Jehan," said the Captain.
"Yes, Papa?"
"You tell me," he demanded.
Jehan looked down at the ground. Lying was not something that came naturally to him, and he grew very scared suddenly. Courfeyrac groaned, as he knew the little boy would blow their cover. "Cosette told you, Papa," he said. "We were berry picking."
"I forgot!" their father exclaimed with mock belief. "You were berry picking!"
"Yes, we love berry picking!" squealed Jehan.
"All afternoon?"
"We picked thousands!" Gavroche giggled.
"Thousands?"
Combeferre nodded in reply. "They were all over the place."
"What kind of berries?"
"Blueberries, sir."
"Blueberries?" Valjean scratched at his scruff. He pulled a puzzled face as he pretended to think over their answer. "It's too early for blueberries."
"They were strawberries!" Cosette yelped, her face turning red.
"Strawberries?"
"It's been so cold lately, they turned blue," Enjolras provided as an explanation.
The Captain seemed to accept this answer and the children let out sighs of relief. "Very well. Show me the berries."
Seven jaws dropped simultaneously as Valjean asked to see the berries. Obviously, there was no berries. No one had any. Jehan didn't even have a single berry tree flower to present. Their pockets were sitting there; empty and mocking them. Enjolras went as far as to whip his head around their yard in search of a random pile of blue strawberries. No such luck.
"We don't have them," admitted Eponine.
"You don't have them? What happened to them?"
Jehan began to clap his hands, a sign that an idea had come to him."We ate them!"
"You ate them?"
"Yes!"
"They were so good!"
"Delicious!"
"Very well." Captain Valjean stood erect and began walking towards the house. "Since you've obviously stuffed yourselves on thousands of berries… you can't be hungry anymore, so I'll have to tell Joly… to skip your dinner."
He left. The Valjean brood all groaned loudly when they were sure he was out of earshot. Their stomachs rumbled, and Eponine fell to the ground to whine about how her stomach was going to swallow her whole she was so hungry. Combeferre stood in silent agony.
"It's your fault," Eponine said to Cosette. "We should have just told him the truth."
"And made him boiling mad at us?" the blonde snapped in retaliation.
"It's better than starving to death!" replied Eponine.
"We didn't do anything wrong," Courfeyrac sighed. "We just wanted to see her."
On the ground, from Eponine, came a great wail. "My stomach's making noises."
"The least they could have done was let us say hello," Jehan murmured, rubbing at his eyes.
"I wonder what grass tastes like," Eponine pondered. She grabbed a blade and stared at it, contemplating how many she would have to eat to take place of her supper.
Gavroche was lifted up into Courfeyrac's arms. He shook his head against his brothers curls and cried without tears. "I feel awful."
"When Mademoiselle Fantine wanted to feel better she used to sing that song… Let's try it."
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens…
Brown paper packages tied up with strings…
These are a few of my favorite things…
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles…
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings…
These are a few of my favorite things…
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes…"
"Silver white winters that melt into springs!" from the gates came Mademoiselle Fantine, bags in hand. She sang loud and proud, an enormous smile plastered on her face. Within her mind she was doing the right thing. There are times when the love of your heart will need to be overshadowed by love of family.
"Mademoiselle Fantine is back!"
"These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
Mademoiselle Fantine tried her hardest to wrap her arms around all seven wonderful children. It was no surprise that Courfeyrac, Jehan, and Gavroche had brought themselves as close as possible to her body. Loving children like those three took a hug like it was their last supper. Cosette, Eponine, and Combeferre linked themselves to Fantine's arms in a fashionable cuddle. What was shocking, however, was when Enjolras pressed a kiss to Fantine's cheek before hugging her.
"Children!" Fantine gasped. "I'm so glad to see you!"
"We missed you!" Jehan laughed in delight.
"I missed you."
Fantine looked at Eponine. "How are you, darling?"
"Hungry," Eponine wailed.
Gavroche wave his tiny injured finger in front of the governess. Fantine pressed a kiss to it. "What happened to your finger?" she asked.
"It got caught," he answered.
"Caught in what?"
"Cosette's teeth."
They all chuckled. The hug had loosened, but they were still standing within their personal spaces. If you aren't going to be hugging you may as well be breathing down one another's neck. Fantine smiled and cupped Enjolras's cheek in her palm. The teen smiled and blushed. "Enjolras, you all right?" she asked him.
"Just fair," he answered.
"Any telegrams been delivered lately?" she asked, a knowing look in her eyes.
"None at all," Enjolras replied. He looked down sadly and sighed, "But I'm learning to accept i. I'll be glad when school begins."
"Enjolras, you can't use school to escape your problems. You have to face them… I have so much to tell you."
"We have things to tell you too," Cosette said. "The most important thing is that Papa is going to be married."
Fantine couldn't help her face dropping. She gulped loudly, trying to hide the disappointment she really should not be feeling. "Married?"
"Yes, to Baroness de Thenard," said Eponine.
"Oh, I see."
"Children? What's going on?"
Captain Valjean had come through the door to tell his children they could in fact have supper and that food was waiting for them at the table, but he was stopped short. His jaw dropped to Australia when he saw Mademoiselle Fantine standing again in his yard. Why? He knew. He knew very well why the sight of her was making him feel moved. He didn't feel moved when he saw the Baroness. When she walked in the room it was a completely normal situation. Why should someone grow excited because someone walked through the door or are standing in their yard? No idea, but the Captain's heart swelled when he saw Fantine. His cheeks were red and he felt once again like a young fellow…
"Papa!"
"Papa look!"
"Mademoiselle Fantine is back!"
"Mademoiselle Fantine is back from the abbey!"
Cheeks pink, Fantine looked at the Captain. "Good evening, Captain," she mumbled.
"Good evening," he replied. "Ev… Everyone inside for dinner."
Eponine tore past everyone as she ran towards the house. "DINNER!"
When the rest of the children had given their last hugs to Fantine, they left after Eponine to eat dinner. Captain chuckled at his children and even slipped a lily into Jehan's limp braid. Long after the last child had went through the door the Captain and the governess continued to stare at the door. It kept them from facing each other.
"You left without saying goodbye," said Valjean after many moments of silence. "Even to the children."
"It was wrong of me," replied the governess. "Forgive me."
"Why did you?" he asked.
"Please don't ask," she demanded in a scared voice. "The reason no longer exists."
Just then the Baroness de Thenard appeared. She was like a viper – hidden in the shadows until she's ready to strike out of nowhere. She wrapped an arm around Valjean's own and pressed a selfish kiss to his lips in front of Fantine. The Captain turned an angry shade of red.
"Mademoiselle Fantine, you've returned," she said, her voice dropping in disappointment. "Isn't it wonderful, Jean."
"I wish you every happiness, Baroness," Fantine forced out. "You too, Captain. The children say you're to marry."
"Thank you, my dear," the baroness replied cheekily.
"You are back to stay?" Valjean asked, seeming more consumed with the answer to his question than the attractive young woman currently dangling off his arm.
"Only until arrangements can be made for another governess," Fantine answered sadly.