A/N: There are only 10 chapters left in this story. THERE WILL NOT BE A SEQUEL - sorry.
CHAPTER TEN
Nine months later
Fantine awoke in the middle of the night to a constant pain in her back. She sat up in bed, trying to fight the pain, but she couldn't. Fantine felt the sting of tears in her eyes as she gently awoke her sleeping husband. Raoul turned over and stared into the face of his beloved.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I don't know – I have a pain in my back and I feel something wet between my legs." Fantine told him. Raoul raced from the bed and turned on the oil lamp that sat on the bedside table. Fantine's water had broken, which meant that the baby was on its way.
"Let me get you into the tub." Raoul told his wife, gathering her in his arms. Fantine tried not to cry as the pains worsened. She had given birth to Belle, but that was two years ago. This was a different kind of pain.
She sat against the wall as Raoul poured warm water from the fire into the tub. He then helped Fantine stand and also removed her nightgown. Once that was done, he helped her into the tub. They had recently moved into their new cottage and didn't know where the physician lived. Raoul did all he could to keep Fantine calm, but everything failed.
"Fantine, I can see the head." Raoul told his lovely wife, looking into her eyes. Raoul rolled up his sleeves so he could deliver his child. The next part was hard for Fantine, but Raoul encouraged her throughout her entire labor.
"Oh God, this hurts!" Fantine told her husband. He gently squeezed her hand, but let go when he saw the rest of his child – a little girl. He picked up the baby and wrapped her in a towel. Picking up the scissors he had brought with him, he cut the cord. The child kept quiet and Raoul frowned, fearing they had a stillborn. As he dried her off, she started crying – a shrill cry that reminded him of a siren.
"Fantine, sweetheart – we have a daughter." Raoul told his wife, handing the baby to her. Fantine cried with joy as she looked at her new daughter.
Raoul helped his wife out of the tub, wrapping a towel around her waist. It was still warm, so Fantine preferred to be naked than dressed.
"What shall we call her?" Raoul asked, watching his new daughter nurse. Fantine cradled her in her arms, tears in her eyes.
"I let Raphael name Belle. I have the perfect name for her – Aria Noelle Eponine Monparrse." Fantine told her husband, looking up at him.
"May I ask why?" Raoul inquired.
"I name her Aria because Aria is a beautiful piece of music. She is our beautiful girl. Noelle Eponine comes from two friends – my best friend Noelle who died in the autumn four years ago. Eponine for my father's childhood friend he lost a long time ago." Fantine explained, looking at her daughter. Raoul smiled and looked down at Aria – she was still nursing nosily.
Fantine wrapped Aria in a blanket and placed her in her new cradle. She rocked the baby for a while, knowing that her baby wouldn't sleep during the night. Once Aria was asleep, Fantine slipped on her shift and climbed back into bed. She rested her head on Raoul's shoulder and fell asleep.
A week later, Fantine and Raoul called both families over so they could meet the newest member of the family.
"Momma, can I hold the baby?" two-year-old Belle asked. Fantine looked to her husband for an answer.
"Let me help you clean your hands and then you may." Raoul told Belle. Belle put her doll down and followed her father out of the room. Fantine hummed to her sleeping infant and held her in her arms.
"Momma, I'm ready now!" Belle told her mother.
"Belle – shh. Aria's sleeping." Fantine whispered as Raoul helped Belle make a cradle with her arms. Fantine instructed Belle as to how to hold Aria. Once she made sure that Belle understood, Fantine placed Aria in Belle's arms. Raoul helped Belle support Aria's head as Fantine watched her daughters bond.
Suddenly, Belle lost grip on the cradle and Aria fell out of her arms. Fantine tended to Aria while Raoul asked Belle questions that she did not know the answers to.
"Shh, my angel. Shh." Fantine soothed the screaming babe. Fantine went to the master bedroom and sat upon the rocking chair, hoping that a good rock would calm Aria down. Fantine sung Aria a French lullaby, praying that would help. Aria was starting to calm down, which Fantine was happy about. She decided to feed Aria at that moment, so she wouldn't be hungry when the company came to visit.
As Aria nursed, Fantine checked her daughter over for any bruises or other injuries she may have gotten when Belle accidently dropped her. Breathing a sigh of relief, Fantine kissed the top of Aria's head and carried her to the other room. She handed Aria to Raoul while she got Aria's cradle. Fantine took a moment to fix her dress before the families came.
"That's mine!" Belle whined as Aria was put in the cradle.
"Belle, you are two-years-old. Can Aria have your cradle?" Fantine inquired, seeing shapes on the floor. It was the shadows of her and Raoul's families. Raoul put Aria in her cradle and stayed with the girls as Fantine went to answer the door. She embraced the families as they handed her wine, fruit and cheese. Fantine went to put the food in the icebox and put the wine in the cellar.
"Everyone, this is our newest addition. Her name is Aria Noelle Eponine Monparrse. She was born a week ago. Fantine's birth went well – she had a water birth and I assisted, for we don't know where the physician lives." Raoul told the families as he took Aria out of her cradle and handed her to Marius. Cosette looked over her husband's shoulder and cooed to the sleeping baby.
"She's beautiful." Marius told the young couple. Fantine sat next to Raoul and rested her head on his shoulder. Raoul circled Fantine's back with his hand, letting her know everything was all right.
"Where is Belle?" André asked, looking around for the little girl.
"I'm right here Papa!" Belle told her grandfather. He smiled at his granddaughter and watched her run around the room. The adults set up a barrier so that Belle wouldn't hurt herself running around.
Marius passed Aria to Lynette. After ten minutes, Aria began fussing. Fantine came over and carefully took the baby from her mother-in-law.
"She's hungry. I will feed her then return-" Fantine didn't finish her thought. Belle had come charging towards her, laughing and looking over her shoulder. Fantine put her baby against her chest as Belle tumbled into her. Fantine lost her balance and fell over, toppling over toys that were on the floor. Fantine felt the sting of tears in her eyes as she heard something crack.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Aria screamed. Her poor head had been hit on one of Belle's toys. All the adults came running over to help. Lynette and Cosette helped clean up Belle's toys; Marius tended to Aria; André kept Belle busy while Raoul helped Fantine to her feet.
"Ow!" Fantine yelped, trying to put weight on her right ankle. Raoul soothed her as he lifted her skirts so he could see the damage. He then removed Fantine's slipper and massaged Fantine's ankle. Tears were in Fantine's eyes as Raoul tried to set her ankle. There was another loud crack and Fantine's screams.
"I'll go fetch the physician." Marius offered, handing Aria to Cosette.
"Fantine, lean on me and I'll help you to the couch." Raoul told Fantine. He helped her to her feet and had her hop on her good foot to the couch.
"Bed." Fantine whined. Raoul picked Fantine up and carried her to the master bedroom. He stayed with her until the physician came, which was twenty minutes later. Marius led him to the master bedroom where Fantine was lying against the pillows, trying not to cry.
Raoul told the physician what happened as he got out a glass bottle. Fantine's heart leapt to her throat – leeches. She had a fear of leeches, but had to be strong if she wanted to be better.
"Fantine, I will place two leeches on your ankle. They will drink the bad blood before I set your ankle. After I do that, I will wrap your ankle and fit you with a crutch. I want you to keep the ankle wrapped for three months. I will come see you at the end of three months to see how you're doing." The physician told Fantine as he opened the jar. Marius and Raoul stayed with Fantine for support.
"Momma, I'm sorry." Belle apologized as the physician placed the first leech on Fantine's ankle. Fantine had tears in her eyes as her father and husband held her hands as the second leech was placed on her ankle.
"Fantine, squeeze their hands when I set your ankle." The physician told Fantine. She nodded and on the count of three, there was a loud crack.
"Oh Lord take me now!" Fantine screamed in pain. Raoul rubbed a hand up and down her arm, letting her she was all right. Marius kissed the top of his daughter's head. The physician removed the leeches and placed them in a different jar.
The two men helped Fantine up on her feet and stood on either side of her. The physician took some gauze, scissors and medical tape out of his bag and proceeded to wrap Fantine's ankle. Raoul looked down at it – the ankle was swollen and was turning an ugly shade of purple.
Within minutes, Fantine's ankle was wrapped. Raoul took one of his pillows he slept on and placed it under Fantine's ankle. He kissed her forehead and exited the room. Marius stayed with Fantine a little longer, wanting to make sure that she was all right.
"Momma?" Belle called. Marius looked over at his granddaughter.
"Belle, your mother is sleeping. Do you need something?" Marius inquired.
"Momma, I'm sorry." Belle apologized. Marius smiled and saw Cosette enter the room carrying Aria. She was crying softly and Marius knew she was hungry.
"Fantine, are you able to nurse Aria?" Cosette inquired. Fantine nodded sleepily and smiled when Aria was placed in her arms. Marius stayed with her while Cosette took Belle into the other room.
"Father, could you help me?" Fantine asked. Marius was about to unbutton Fantine's dress when Raoul entered the room, carrying a basin and wash cloth.
"After you feed Aria, I want to cool you off a little. You are very warm." Raoul told Fantine. Marius saw he was no longer needed and exited the room.
Raoul held Aria while Fantine unbuttoned her dress and removed her shift so Aria could nurse. As Aria nursed, Raoul got the cloth wet and dampened Fantine's forehead, face, neck and the top of her breasts. He kissed her lips and held her in his arms.
Once Aria was finished eating, Raoul shut the door and helped Fantine remove her dress. He dampened the cloth again and dampened her nipples, her stomach, between her legs and worked his way down her body. He then turned her over on her stomach so he could wash her back of her. Fantine moaned in pain as Raoul washed her feet, accidently touching her ankle. He kissed her neck and took her in his arms. He kissed her temples and the tip of her nose, not wanting to make love, because of the pain Fantine was in.
The two of them removed the comforter and quilt. The top sheet was the only thing left on the bed. Raoul removed his clothes and drew Fantine closer to him, being careful of her ankle.
Marius and Cosette moved in with Raoul and Fantine. Marius and Cosette would help with Aria and Belle while Raoul helped Fantine. Fantine had grown ill and was forced to stay in bed all day. Raoul never left her bedside. Cosette, fearing for Aria, made bottles and filled them with goat's milk. Raoul and Fantine had recently received a goat named Momma, for she was a mother goat. She had two young kids that Belle had named Patches and Spots, for both were spotted and patched.
That night, while Fantine was asleep, a voice entered her dream.
Dearest Fantine, please do not leave your family. They need you, Aria most of all, for she is only an infant and cannot fend for herself. Raoul needs you, because he loves you and cannot live without you. Belle needs you, for she is your eldest and relies on you to teach her right from wrong. Mother and father need you, for you are their eldest and they are proud of you. This illness will leave you soon and your ankle will be healed in three days time, but you will always walk with a limp. You are my sister and I love you very much.
With that, Enjay's voice disappeared. Fantine awoke with tears streaming down her cheeks. Raoul took his wife in his arms and held her through the night.
In the weeks that followed, Fantine gradually got better. She still stayed in bed and fed her baby goat's milk. She was appreciative to her whole family for what they gave her – love.
Summer was over and now autumn was approaching. Marius and Raoul spent half the day chopping firewood, for the nights were getting colder. Fantine and Cosette stayed inside and cared for the girls.
"I will try nursing Aria again, seeing my illness is gone." Fantine told Raoul that night. He nodded sleepily and handed Aria to her mother. Fantine unbuttoned her nightgown and brought her baby to her breast. Cosette had told Fantine that goat's milk tastes the same as breast milk. Aria did not taste the difference as she nursed. Fantine smiled and kissed the top of Aria's head as she nursed. Raoul had fallen asleep, tired from his long day's work. Fantine quickly finished nursing and put Aria to bed, kissing her forehead again. She then buttoned her nightgown back up and kissed Raoul's cheek before falling asleep.
From where Raphael sat on his horse, he could see everything. He saw how happy she was with her new love. He felt like his heart was breaking, knowing he could not be with her. He had hurt her and that was against the law. Raphael was glad he was not prisoned for what he did to her.
He turned his horse and galloped through the woods back to where he lived. He didn't see the low-hanging branch in front of him. He caught his neck on the branch and after struggling for breath, died within minutes.