OMG I FINALLY GOT THIS UP! I worked all last night on this and this morning, as well as the next chapter :) I'll be putting that up after this one. The last few chapters have been mostly Éponine, but now we're back to Jean Valjean. Time to see what he's been up to lately. :)

Chapter 10: Unanswered Questions

He woke up, went to work, and then went to bed. Usually, that was how his days went by as he tried to find a way home. Valjean was having just as hard a time as anyone else was trying to get home. The only difference for him was that he was alone; there was no one from his past there to help him.

It was a quiet morning, only a couple of residents in the lobby reading the newspaper and drinking the free coffee set out. Valjean sat in his chair and tapped his fingers on the counter. The bellhops mostly did nothing during the day unless someone was moving in or out. Only a few people have moved in since Valjean came, and he recognized none of them.

"Hey, Jonathan," He looked up at his friend Marty. At least this time he wasn't drunk. "You're shift is over."

"But I just got here," He argued. Valjean didn't have much to do in this world. All he did was work, eat, and sleep. He didn't have any friends other than the bellhops in the apartment and he was frightened of the outside world.

Valjean feared that this city would trap him. He would eventually have no way to return to the apartment building and become lost in the labyrinth of the city. He feared never having the opportunity to find Cosette again.

"I know, but you've taken like four of my shifts since you started working here, mostly when I was drunk I might add." Valjean chuckled slightly. Marty got drunk almost every Friday night. "Anyway, you need to get out and get some fresh air. I'll take your shift and you…" Marty put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "…just have some fun."

Valjean never had a chance to feel joy and experience a good time. The only memorable moments he had were the moments he spent with Cosette. She experienced the fun for the both of them. He didn't know how to have fun.

I haven't gone to Central Park in some time, Valjean thought, Maybe I'll see Cosette there. He smiled at Marty and agreed. Maybe today would be the day.

As Valjean walked toward the park, he thought of what he was missing. Cosette was still growing up, and he was missing it. He already missed the first seven years of her life and didn't want to miss another second. Of course, he hadn't known Cosette existed, but from the moment he saw her with that bucket in the forest, he knew they were a family. He knew he needed her in his life just as much as she needed him.

He crossed the street and wished Cosette was with him during this hard time. He was alone; he had no one to encourage him or tell him things were going to be all right. The city bounded him and restrained him from leaving. He was a prisoner yet again.

There was only one person Cosette could possibly remember and that was Marius. If she didn't have a boyfriend here, Cosette would have found Marius and remembered everything. That is, if he was here, too. He had only seen Javert and Cosette, but they didn't remember anything. Maybe he was the only one; maybe he was supposed to be the only one.

Central Park was in walking distance of the apartment, and he had no trouble getting there. He didn't see anyone familiar, and no one recognized him. He would do anything to find someone who remembered. Even if they only remembered his name, he would be grateful. All Valjean wanted was hope; all he wanted was a shred of hope to push him.

He walked through the large gates into Central Park. He found a nice bench by a fountain and sat down. He closed his eyes to relive memories of him and Cosette sitting by the fountain or observing the natural surroundings of the park in the Luxembourg Garden. He saw Cosette as a little girl running around with the children she met, always making friends wherever she went. Everyone loved Cosette when they saw her, and he couldn't remember one person whom her warm smile couldn't affect. She was an angel sent down from heaven.

"Come on, Daniel!" Valjean opened his eyes and stared longingly at the petite blonde-haired woman who just appeared in the park. She looked upon Daniel's eyes as she used to for Marius. She pulled his wrist toward her and forced him into the park. They laughed together as they sat underneath one of the trees. Valjean prepared for this; he took out a newspaper and held it up for the illusion that he was reading it, but rather watched Cosette (or well, Coleen in this world) and Daniel as they played boyfriend-girlfriend.

It sickened him to see his daughter like this. He didn't even approve of Marius until he saw how strong-willed and passionate he was. Daniel was no Marius. He couldn't believe she would stoop this low. There was no possible way she would choose someone like Daniel.

Daniel moved his hand around her back and his other hand tilted her chin toward his. Cosette giggled slightly and moved her lips to his. For a while, Valjean saw how happy she was. He couldn't believe it, but she wanted to be with him. The way they kissed was similar to how she possibly felt about Marius.

He couldn't bear to see them together any longer. He folded his newspaper and walked back to entrance of Central Park. He could hear their laughter as he walked away, and he cringed at the sound. He couldn't protect her anymore; she didn't need him to.

Valjean crossed the street and decided to find something to eat. All he had that morning was a cup of coffee and half a bagel, and now he was starving.

There was a bakery at the corner of the next street. The line was long and some customers were waiting outside. Valjean stopped at the end of the line and pulled his wallet out. As he took out a ten-dollar bill, the wallet vanished from his sight.

"Hey, he just stole your wallet!" Said the person in front of him. Valjean looked behind him and saw the thief running across the street with his wallet. "I'll call the police."

Valjean ran across the street as the man dialed the number on his cell phone. Valjean felt a new rush of adrenaline pump through his veins. He was determined more than ever to find this person.

He was only a few feet behind the thief as they both rushed past the bystanders on the sidewalk. The thief ran down an alley, not knowing it was a dead end. Valjean cornered him.

"Look man, I didn't mean no harm," he said. He pushed himself against the wall, hoping somehow he could melt through the cracks and disappear. Valjean walked toward him and snatched the wallet from his hands. The man dropped to his knees, expecting someone to come and arrest him.

"Here," the man looked up at Valjean as he handed him all the money in the wallet. Valjean had a warm visage that brightened the thief's mood. "I don't need this money, but I'm guessing you do. Take it." The man was reluctant to take his money, unsure if he was honest or faking. Even in this new world, Valjean still showed compassion for those in need of it.

"This ain't no trick, is it?"

"Not at all." The man took the money and ran back the way he came. Valjean could only smile. The thief was timid and frightened of what could have happened, but Valjean wasn't the kind of person who would deny someone help.

As he returned to the sidewalk, the thief had already disappeared. Instead, a familiar man in a police uniform and a bystander were running toward me. It was the man from the bakery…and Javert.

"That's him! That's the guy who got robbed!" The bystander shouted. I was still too stunned to see Javert. Of course, it became routine for us to cross paths in the morning as he went to the police station and I worked at the front counter, but we rarely conversed. I was too frightened to mention anything for fear of his memories returning. His lost mind was the only positive thing about the transaction to New York.

"We…we know each other." Javert said. He mentioned remembering me ever since we first met, and each time I feared he remembered who I was. He only knew Jonathan Valentine, not Jean Valjean.

"Yes, but the man was not a problem. He dropped my wallet and there was nothing missing." Javert looked at me with his eyebrows propped up. He held his hand out to see my wallet and I proudly gave it to him. Javert opened it and saw all my identification.

"There's no money in here." There was nothing that ever fazed him. Even in Paris, he knew every loophole or hidden fact. That was the only way he found me all the time.

"The only money in here was for the bakery," He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ten-dollar bill, showing them proof of his version of the truth. They seemed to believe him, because the bystander left and Javert shrugged it off.

"If there's anything you need, I'm only a few rooms down the hall." He nodded to him and watched him walk away. Valjean was a horrible liar, and hoped he didn't see through him. Javert was the only one who understood how his mind worked, and hopefully he didn't know his lie to the police. He only wanted to help the poor man. It was times like these where Valjean wished he knew the reason for all of these current events. He knew there was a purpose, but for what he hadn't understood yet.

Kind of a boring chapter, but it fills us in on some things. He still has a good heart, and Javert is still curious about him. Also, Valjean still thinks he's the only one with any memory. Not going to say anything other than that ;) Again, I'm really sorry for the slow updates. Finally with school over and all party planning for Christmas over, I can get back to writing :) Oh yeah, Merry (belated) Christmas! If you don't celebrate Christmas, then Happy New Year! Be sure to read the next chapter cuz I'm putting it up right after this! Thanks!

Anabelle ;)