AN: IF YOU DON'T USUALLY, PLEASE READ AUTHORS NOTE. In this chapter perspectives will change so much and so frequently more people than usual I'll have to put their name/names in front of the paragraphs as well as what life they are currently in and maybe what point in their life they are at. Hopefully this won't be confusing but if it is this will only occur in this chapter and probably the next one. Anyways, thanks for waiting longer than usual but I really didn't have barely any time to write in the five days I was gone and this chapter is the longest yet. Also, I think the French I put in my writing is pretty straight forward but if anyone needs translations I would be happy to put one at the end. Oh and is anyone wondering where the other candlestick went? Just planning ahead for future Les Mis fanfictions….. Sorry for the longer AN!

Jean Valjean, Marius and Cosette:

"I don't know what would make him remember. You say for you two it was a kiss, for me it was the candlestick. Yes, I know Javert but he's a complicated man."

"From what I can tell you have to come in some sort of contact with something that really mattered in some way, in our other life." Marius said thinking very hard.

"You know him like no one else!" cried Cosette, pacing back and forth. She was determined to get this good man out of jail though she'd still never met him. "Did you ever really speak, back then, I mean? Can you recall anything that might have mattered to him?"

Valjean scratched his head. "Maybe…." He whispered. "It was so long ago, second year as a slave."

Javert as a child in the original universe:

Timid, quiet, confused about the world and starving, always starving was Javert at eight years old. He couldn't remember a time when one day was not like every other. He couldn't remember a time when he wasn't starving. He couldn't remember a day he hadn't spent miserable.

The pure starvation cut into his very soul. He could feel the hunger inside him like a knife. Javert couldn't understand why some people had to be poor and others rich. Why did some live in prosperity and comfort while others didn't even know when or if their next meal would ever come.

Javert just wanted everyone to be equal. They looked the same, so why were they different?

He stared up at the sky, thinking these daily thoughts when along came a herd of middle class people and young Javert was pushed to the ground. Javert jumped back up once the people had passed. The scrapes he had gotten from the street hurt but did not lessen his hunger.

This insane hunger! It was driving him mad. Javert was suddenly aware of a nice cafe across the street that was outside. Eight tables were set out and four were filled. The one nearest himself there sat a man dressed in nice clothing and a girl one or two years older than Javert, who was obviously the man's daughter. Their succulent and plentiful food was spread out across the white table cloth that was cleaner than Javert had ever been in his life. For a minute he just stated at them and their table, but mostly the food. He could just go up and take some if he hurried... there was a blueberry muffin on the very edge of the table that he could so easily grab...

But, the father of the girl looked strong and even Javert saw how easily the man could overpower him. Javert saw the man ask his daughter something, get up and leave for a moment, leaving the daughter all alone.

And, in seven swift movements he was at the table. The beautiful brunette looked at him with a confused expression. Javert as quick as he could, reached out for the muffin before attempting to retreat. But, the girl caught his arm in her hand with a surprising amount of strength, her perfect curls flying when she did. The nine year old girl stared down Javert with eyes hard as stone.

"No." She simply told him, implying her power over what she probably thought was street trash.

Eponine in the new universe:

Since the thief tried to steal that odd candlestick Eponine had been having nightmares. But, despite her families beliefs they hadn't been about the thief himself, but the act of stealing. How it disgusted her, now more than ever.

But, tonight was different. Eponine wanted to believe it was a nightmare but it wasn't. This was not a nightmare.

As Eponine slipped into sleep a sweet, sweet sensation filled her entire body and made her feel whole. Eponine was lying down in a small corner in between two buildings. She looked down and saw a bloody wound in her chest but didn't feel the pain. She was very comfortable and was strangely dressed in men's trousers and jacket.

That's when she realized she was lying with someone else, looking over with her beautiful brown eyes she realized who it was, but wasn't afraid. He as well, was bleeding but was already smiling like he had never been happier.

"'Ponine." he whispered in her ear lovingly. The wonderful sound made her hear flutter with excitement.

"Enjolras." she just as lovingly said back, brushing his hair with her fingers and snuggling closer. His embrace tightened and he kissed her the forehead.

Eponine's smile was pure and true and grew wider as the love that filled her heart in her other life began seeping into her heart in this life. It felt wonderful, this happiness she had never known. She loved this man, she loved Enjolras.

"It's time now, Eponine. But, I'll be seeing you again... soon."

And, with a start Eponine woke like she did every morning, in her stiff bed in the attic of her parents inn but this time her heart was in exactly the right place, beating for Enjolras and she fell out of bed with a very loud thump and crash. She heard fast and heavy footsteps up the stairs and her father frantically burst in.

"Nothing's wrong, Papa. I just fell out of bed." Eponine breathed through heavy inhaling and exhaling, as she was very confused and tears were threatening to spill over.

Her father saw what a state she was in, walked over and hugged her. "It was only a dream, ma fille."

Eponine let out a large sigh before whispering "Then why was it the most real thing I've ever felt?"

Monsieur Thenardier shook his head. "Je ne sais pas. But, I promise I will make sure that man in sweat, washes away his crime and he is broken by the time he's done." Monsieur Thenardier's bloodlust was stronger than ever and Eponine knew he meant every word.

Eponine nodded, looking at the ground, not in his eyes and he left. Once the door shut behind her dad, Eponine got up. What was going on?!

Thinking of Enjolras, she no longer could feel any anger or disgust, but unbelievably... love. A love grander and greater than anything she ever felt for Marius. Enjolras... How did she even know his name was Enjolras?

And, why oh why did she want to dance and giggle in glee at the thought of him? This feeling, though it made no sense WAS the most real thing she'd ever felt.

Eponine's heart was in the right place, but her mind wasn't. Shivering, Eponine got dressed and silently snuck out, somehow knowing exactly where she would find all her answers.

Javert as child again:

"I'm starving mademoiselle! Why is it you get all the food you please and I don't?"

The fiery young girl looked into Javert's eyes and put him in his place. "Because, my family has worked hard to afford to eat, and you have not."

And with those simple words the world and this girl had a new meaning. Javert was only able to say "Oh." as he stared into her emerald green eyes. She had fair, pale skin that was very clean. She herself, was very clean. She was also half a foot taller than Javert and slim. She was nothing less than beautiful.

"Earn your fill, don't steal it." she announced to the street urchin. He nodded. "Now, shoo!" she yelled waving her hand at him when she saw her father coming back. Javert ran like the wind, but stopped at the corner to look back to them.

Antoinette!" her father called. "Is everything alright?"

"Oui, Papa! Everything is fine!"

And, from that day on Javert earned everything he wanted, never forgetting Antoinette.

Enjolras in the new universe:

"Dis, Enjolras! Why don't you smile? Why don't you at least frown?" teased another slave. Enjolras had been holding his usual stone statue face and was having none of the other men's jokes.

The only thing that kept him going was Eponine and all her light and beauty. Sometimes at night, when he thought about her he would just steal away from his usual expression and the tips of his mouth would slightly curve up. Somehow, he had to be able to prove he was innocent. Somehow.

These few days in jail had been treacherous but it didn't compare to the treachery of the fact that Eponine thought he would steal from her.

Jean Valjean original universe, second year as a slave:

By now he'd almost served twice his original time. It wasn't fair. None of it. The hate he felt for all the men he couldn't look it the eye was overwhelming, especially for Javert.

Every day, he walked with shorter step, he walked with weaker step. Every day, the hawk stared him down with those intimidating bird eyes, but today... Today he was somewhere far away. His eyes staring not at the slaves he acted like he owned, but beyond them and up to the sky.

Javert in original universe, first day as a prison guard:

"Look at you!" Antoinette squealed and hugged Javert. "You're uniform suits you, well."

Javert stood tall and proud but smiled at Antoinette. "It's all because of you, Antoinette."

"I remember that day often." She spoke softly as if telling a secret, her eyes still alight. "You were such a small, scraggly, dirty little thing. And, look what you've become!"

They embraced, before he reeled her in for a kiss. He couldn't remember ever being more happy than he was in this moment.

There was only one small thing nagging them both in the back of their minds, but for now they both decided to push it away as she cooed "I love you so much."

Eponine in the new universe again:

She couldn't have been there many times before in her life, but she knew the way, as she always did. But, much better this time than Eponine would have a day before. And, finally she was there. There were few people about to watch her, and even the ones that were, were too preoccupied. 'Ponine hastily stalked over to it. The corner. Their corner.

Reaching it, she collapsed at the brick wall. It felt so right to be here, her heart full of love was beating harmoniously and she could feel her previous presence in the ground. But, how could that be? She had never been inside this corner, only passed it now and then. Yet, she knew as well as her name was Eponine Thenardier that she had been here, laid in this very spot. Eponine also knew that it had been a very, very long time since that day. Years and years and years. How could that be?

Her mind was reeling. She remembered the dream. Enjolras had been with her as well. She had been in love with him in the dream. That she knew. She was in love with him now. That she realized.

Somehow, some way, she was in love with the man who had tried to steal from her. No, she was in love with the man who had saved her life. He couldn't have been trying to steal from her. He hadn't. Why was she now so sure?

Eponine, with a shaking hand pressed her it to the ground where Enjolras had lied with her a life time ago.

And, it happened.

Flash. Being not just the daughter of an innkeeper and his wife, but cons. Flash. Even worse, becoming one herself by age eleven. Flash. Hating having to steal, hating her life, hating every second. Flash. A love that swept her off her feet. His name was Marius. Flash. A love whom she was nothing but an errand girl too. His name was Marius. Flash. A love that utterly broke her heart and fell for her childhood friend. His name was Marius. Flash. A revolution stirring. Flash. A new love, so glorious it wiped all her pain away. His name was Enjolras. Flash. Greeting death with a smile on her face and a song in her heart because the love in her life was so near, but somehow not getting it.

Finally, every puzzle piece fit together. Everything made sense. Eponine remembered everything. Not only was her heart in the right place but so was her head. She hopped up, immediately, tears of happiness and sadness streaming down her face at once.

"Oh, Enjolras!" she exclaimed to the heavens and began to run. He was in jail because of her. She needed to get him out. And, besides Enjolras, who was best at making plans?

Jean Valjean as a slave, second year again:

There he was, all dressed in blue. Pain. Pain is what was whittled into his heart and shone through his eyes on this bleak morning. A gust of wind blew and the end of Javert's shirt was blown up, allowing a piece of paper to slip from his pocket. That piece of paper flew like a bird on its wings right down to Jean's feet. Quickly stooping, he picked it up and hid it up his sleeve. One glace was all Jean got before; all he could tell was that there was writing on it, most likely a woman's. Javert never even noticed the paper left his pocket in the first place.

Javert, in his second year as a prison guard:

"You know I want to marry you!" Antoinette assured Javert as they were sitting on a bench in her house's garden. "But, my father has other plans for me. He has practically since the day I was born."

Javert grabbed her hand. "Isn't there anything you can do to change his mind? He loves you, doesn't he? So he'd want your happiness."

"That's true; he wants me to be happy, but-

"Then talk to him!" He urged.

Antoinette sighed. "Oh, how could I not? I love you." She told him flashing her dazzling smile.

"I love you, too."

As they both leaned in for a kiss, there was not a doubt between them that they would spend the rest of their lives with anyone else. This was how strongly they loved each other, so much that they would until the day they died. Regardless of whose arms they would die in.

Jean Valjean, Marius, Cosette, new universe again:

"That night, by the light of the moon coming from my tiny cell window I read that piece of paper. It was a letter written by a woman, as I had presumed." Jean Valjean whispered as if telling a secret as he told Marius and Cosette his tale. They sat on the edge of the couch, holding on to his every word. "It must've been the saddest thing I've ever read. If it hadn't have been addressed to Inspector Javert I might have cried. The letter… The letter read…. I can still remember after all these years…"

Javert, several days after the garden conversation:

A fellow prison guard walked up to Javert wearing a weird expression. "Some very pretty, very rich looking woman came up to me and requested that I give this letter to you." He said. "I asked if she wanted to deliver it in person but she said 'No, it would be better if I didn't'."

Javert curiously took the letter, knowing it probably contained word of how things ended when Antoinette told her father about her own marriage plans. But, Javert smiled because he knew that Antoinette and himself would be wed, he was sure of it. The other man left him to read in peace.

Javert carefully opened it, not wanting to tear the letter. As he opened it he noticed the tear stains along the black ink and his eyes were drawn to the writing of Antoinette Rousseau and didn't leave for a long time.

The letter read:

My love,

I regret not being able to tell you this in person, but I think it would be best for the both of us if I didn't. I have consulted my father about the possibility of our marriage and he has unfortunately refused. Of course, I tried to reason but I'm afraid nothing can change his mind. This breaks my heart in every way possible to know that we simply can't be together. But, I will have you know that no matter what I will always love you. My sweet, sweet street urchin, how there is not a day that goes by that I am not so proud of who you've become and there will never be a day that goes by that it won't hurt to miss you. Maybe, in another life we will be able to love in peace. Please don't forget about me as I will never forget about you.

Goodbye, my brave man.

Forever yours,

Antoinette.

And, true to every thought and promise, Javert and Antoinette never saw each other again but never stopped loving each other, even up until the day they died. Javert, cradled in the arms of confusion and misery and darkness, blanketed by a starless sky and Antoinette cradled in the arms of a man she had never come to love and blanketed by her soft, comfortable sheets.

AN: Sorry if Javert seemed OOC but I imagined him as so much of a different person back then. And, as hard as it is to admit this to myself it was actually really fun writing Javert a backstory, because I don't like Javert, although I practically cried when writing the letter part. As always, please review!