May 15, 2014
"Today we have a indie film director Marius Pontmercy, a man who not long after his first project became something of a overnight success." The news played in the apartment in Queens where a large number of adults were gathered and talking in the kitchen. A fifteen year old boy with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes walked passed the television and paused. He recognized the filmmaker and it wasn't just because he was famous had directed a couple of his favorite indie films.
"Uncle Marius!" The boy called, "they've got you on television!"
A man in his early forties approached him, he shifted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, "Well I guess I am," he chuckled as he sat down on the couch.
"Which one is 'Proof Positive?'" The boy asked as he sat beside his uncle, "Have I seen that one yet?"
The interview was one Marius had gone in for about a week prior, and they wanted to know everything about his start, they even asked him about the friends that were featured in the film, it had been a long and extensive interview. Marius had never realized he had fans that wanted to know that much about his film, this was more than what he could have ever asked for all those years ago. Before he could respond they showed a clip from 'Proof Positive'. Specifically it was focused in on his main group of friends, but even more so on Éponine and Enjolras, Marius sighed.
"Mom and Dad were in that one?" the boy asked.
"Yes," Marius smiled, "yes, Jehan they were."
"I miss them," Jehan sighed.
"I know," Marius replied, the boy had lost both his parents at a young age, Éponine had died when he was nine and Enjolras when Jehan was twelve. He had since been living with his Aunt Azelma and Uncle Tony Courfeyrac, and his cousins Max and Sophie.
Marius could recall as clear as day how nervous Éponine was when she found out she was pregnant,fter all it had been as mistake. She did want children but was afraid of the idea that her child would be born with HIV, but she didn't want to get an abortion either. Enjolras let her make the decision on her own although he once confided in Marius that he had hoped to have a son.
It was fifteen years ago today that Jehan Andre Enjolras had been born, Éponine passed out not long after due to the strain on her body. Enjolras had been the first to hold his newborn son, Marius was happy to say he did have footage of that moment. In all his years, in cases he fought and won, for the people he stood up for... Never had seen Enjolras looked so proud as he did when he was holding Jehan.
"Could I ever see that movie?" Jehan turned to Marius.
"Of course," Marius smiled, "any time you would like."
"JEEEEHHAAAAN," A girl about thirteen came into the room, she looked exactly like her mother Cosette.
"What is it Noelle?" Jehan sighed.
Noelle Fantine Fauchelevent was Cosette and Musichetta's oldest daughter, she loved her cousin Jehan like a brother and had to keep her friends at off of him as he walked her home from middle school. Because just like his father Jehan was one of the most handsome boys in the neighborhood, and consequently was clueless when it came to handling girls.
"Auntie 'Zelma said they're bringing out your cake!" Noelle chirped happily, "and is fretting how she can't believe how big you've grown and that you are fifteen, and of soooooo handso-"
"Okay Noelle I get point," Jehan sighed, he almost forgotten that the whole point of everyone gathering was to celebrate his birthday.
"I guess no time like the present," Marius ruffled Jehan's curly blonde locks, "not everyday a young man turns fifteen, maybe after words we can watch the film."
"Really?" Jehan asked.
"Of course, I gave everyone a copy of it on DVD last year," Marius smiled, "unless your Auntie 'Zelma has lost it-"
"What were you saying about me?" A woman with short red hair entered, "Jehan, I sent Noelle to get you, why are you dawdling?"
Jehan got up from the couch and walked over to his Aunt, she stopped him to kiss him on the cheek before letting him pass, "Happy Birthday Jehan."
Jehan was then ushered to standing at the dining room table at the very head where a large chocolate cake sat on it with his name in fancy script. Everyone who had gathered was now around the table as they sang happy birthday as his uncle strummed on the guitar, while it made Jehan happy there was still a sense of emptiness. He wished that his parents could be there, and his Uncle Thomas too but they were all gone now. Sure he should be thankful of the rather extensive family that he still had but it didn't lessen the pain of losing people you loved.
When they finished singing his Aunt Azelma came to cut the cake giving him the first slice, everyone then went back to chatting with everyone else as Jehan picked at his cake.
"You know I think I've got something better than 'Proof Positive'," Marius walked over to Jehan.
"Really?" the young boy cocked his head.
"Have you ever seen any of the home movies your parents made?" Marius asked.
"No, I don't think so..." Jehan shook his head.
"Well I know that 'Zelma has them," Marius smiled, "your father gave them to her for safe keeping, but if you still want to see 'Proof Positive'..."
"That sounds great," Jehan nodded.
"Hey 'Zelma, where are those movies that Enjolras gave you?" Marius asked the red head.
"Somewhere next to the T.V I think," Azelma handed a piece of cake to Sophie, "why?"
"I was thinking about watching some of them with Jehan, would you mind?" Marius asked.
"No," Azelma replied, "go right ahead."
Marius searched around the television till he found the collection of videos, this was the closest thing he could do to help Jehan hold onto the memory of his parents. Selecting one he quickly reconnected the VCR player that sat covered in dust and popped in the tape, switching the channel the first thing they could see was Enjolras on the floor with a baby sporting a mop of strawberry blonde hair.
"You know I never thought of you being the daddy type," Éponine's voice came from off screen.
"And I never thought you as the mommy type," Enjolras replied as he tickled the bottoms of his son's feet.
"Hey, you weren't in labor for almost 10 hours, I don't want to hear it!" Éponine replied.
"You've got me there," Enjolras replied, "and that is one of the many reasons I know not to mess with you."
"Damn straight," Éponine laughed.
"Hey, don't swear around my son," Enjolras turned to face the camera.
The film then cut to a completely different scene, in it was of Éponine carrying Jehan on her hip as they walked through the park, she seemed completely oblivious to the fact that there was a camera on her. Jehan appeared to be almost two years old in this clip.
"You know Jehan loved flowers," Éponine smiled as talked, "I bet you will too... Jehan found beauty in everything, you would have liked him, and he would have adored you."
The scene continued a little longer as Éponine continued to talk and walk until she finally noticed he camera, "Alex, did you just film all that?" the twenty something year old dancer's face flushed red, "that was private between me and Jehan."
"Sorry," Enjolras laughed, "You two just looked so cute together-"
"Daddy!" Jehan cried out happily, "Daddy hold me!"
"I'm coming little man," Enjolras replied, "how are we going to do this..."
"Simple," Éponine smiled, "I think I can put him down long enough to switch to me holding the camera, right baby?" she turned to her son.
The young Jehan seemed completely puzzled by the question and just called out "Daddy!" one more time, Éponine and Enjolras laughed and the clip ended there.
Marius looked over at Jehan who seemed to be tearing up as he watched these memories he could not recall pass by on the screen in front of him.
Noelle, her sister Katie, and Sophie wandered into the room, "Whatcha' guys watchin-"
Jehan hushed Noelle as she came to sit beside her favorite cousin.
"Is that Auntie Éponine?" Noelle cocked her head.
"That's Jehan's mommy isn't it?" asked Katie who was only seven years old.
"Uh huh," Noelle nodded, "and that's uncle Alex," she pointed at the blonde man that Jehan bore a striking resemblance to.
They watched through more tapes and through each one Jehan slowly grew up, there was video of him on his elementary school baseball team and you could see his mother cheering proudly in the crowd. But, soon enough Éponine vanished from the tapes as Jehan grew older, then it was just him and his father.
It was close to midnight, everyone had now gathered in the living room as Marius picked up one more tape that had no markings as to a date or location, part of him even wondered if the tape would actually have anything on it. Putting it in the VCR player he hoped that it was not blank, the screen was fuzzy for few seconds and then the picture became clear. It was Éponine sitting right in front of the camera, she adjusted her position and pushed her long brown hair from her face and smiled.
"Happy Birthday Jehan," Éponine smiled, "I can't believe how quickly you've grown," she let out a laugh. "To think one more year and my baby will be a whole ten years old..." Éponine exhaled, "I want to tell you how proud you make me and daddy," her eyes seemed to be tearing up. "I want you to know..." she kept pausing as her voice started to break slightly, "that while there may come a point when daddy and I aren't always going to be here for you we love you so very much baby."
Jehan appeared to be crying slightly as he watched his mother give a birthday greeting from six years ago.
"You may not understand why we have to go," Éponine paused, "and it won't seem fair," she continued "but I want you to never forget us, we always love you, and we always will..." she inhaled slowly. "I have to stop filming because it sounds like daddy has finished taking you out for a day on the boardwalk, happy birthday buddy!" she then blew a kiss as the film ended.
Jehan rubbed his eyes, while he was happy to see the film that last one made him miss his mother and father all the more.
"I know it's late," Marius put a hand on Jehan's shoulder, "but maybe it's about time we told you about how your parents met."
Jehan smiled, "Alright."
While everyone else departed and Azelma sent Max and Sophie to bed Marius began to tell the story that began on Christmas Eve eighteen years ago. His Uncle Tony soon joined them providing his own insight to the tale being told as they reminisced about their friends. Jehan's face lit up in delight as heard the stories begin shared with him about his mother, father, aunts and uncles. He tried to lock each and every detail away hoping that he would never forget how it was possible that a year could change everything.
A/N: And that about wraps things up here! I plan to post a sequel soon (still in want of title, preferably something relating to RENT) please leave a review if you have any idea as to what it should be called!