A/N: Please, review. Is anyone else reading this?

A Lady's Purpose

It was already late afternoon when Musichetta returned to the tenement. Before Cosette could say anything, Tatiana had gotten ahead of her with the news about Claudette.

Musichetta paled and held on to a post. "She'll be alright?" she asked tremulously.

Tatiana shrugged. "She has a fever, but the doctor left medicines. Not enough to last though past tomorrow. Worse, they're rather expensive...I cannot pay, and nor can Claudette."

Musichetta nodded wanly. "Is there...can there be some other way?" she asked.

Tatiana's face darkened. "I know you don't want to...Chetta, you know that what we all make barely pays for the rent, meals, and other sundry...now, with Claudette ill, we have to make do till she gets better."

"But I cannot quit my job sewing!" Musichetta said.

"You...we could work another occupation." the older girl said.

"No, Tatiana. I won't."

"Well, I will. But it's going to kill me if I force myself to get all that money on my own. There's only so much one woman can take..."

Musichetta shuddered. "I'll get ready. Wait for me."

Cosette stole up to her friend. "Chetta, what's going on?" she asked, tugging on the young woman's skirt.

Musichetta bent down and held Cosette's shoulders. "Cosette, I have to work tonight. It's to help Claudette. Now, I want you to stay with Montparnasse, until I tell you to do otherwise. You understand?"

Cosette nodded. "But why?"

"Don't ask, Cosette," Tatiana said. "Come now, Chetta. I'll lend you a dress, and there's some rouge and paint..."

Musichetta followed Tatiana upstairs, leaving Cosette alone. The little girl went over to the small room that the concierge had given to Montparnasse, just near the stairway.

She knocked on the door. "Pierre? Montparnasse?"

The boy opened the door suspiciously. "Ah, what again?"

"Chetta's going out, and she wanted me to stay with you. Don't know why," Cosette said.

Montparnasse sighed. "Why? It's about that Mamselle Claudette?"

"Why, what's happened?" Cosette asked.

Montparnasse reddened. "Well, something about pennyroyal, I heard. That's what ladies take when they don't want little ones. But Claudette must have taken too much. It hurts you bad, down there."

Cosette crossed her hands over her stomach. "But why wouldn't she want little ones?"

Montparnasse shook his head. "Ask Chetta...no wait, better you wait some time," he said, flustered.

Cosette made a little irritated noise before stalking back into the front room, just in time to see Musichetta and Tatiana make their reappearance. Both women were wearing low-cut dresses, and had put rouge on their cheeks. Musichetta's hair was tied back with a satin ribbon instead of up in its usual hat.

The child peered at them curiously, but her eyes still had a hint of apprehension. "You look different," she said quietly.

"Run along now, Cosette. And don't wait for me," Musichetta said absent-mindedly, ruffling Cosette's hair before going out the door.