So, I've read a really old copy of les miserables (not in French) that belonged to my great great great grandad. It was quite long winded but I really liked some of the characters. And being me, I haven't even watched the film, but I know all the actors. So this is a fic where Jean Valjean has a dream, and can't forget about it, so he makes it come true. This is a crossover fic because of the songs and storyline being that of the greatest showman. It references Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter. Nothing belongs to me, sorry. Some of the song lyrics further down are from Billie Eilish's everything I wanted. Anyway, on with the show
It wasnt unusual for Jean Valjean to have a dream. Since he had been arrested and sent to the galleys he dreamed of better lives. Once he dreamed that Madame Thernadier was in a world filled with wizards, fighting a battle of blood purity. Once he had a dream where Fantine and Thernardier were working together to defeat Madame Thernardier, who had a passion for beheading people.
The dream tonight however, had been more believable. Jean Valjean himself had been running a circus. It was in the US, not France, but they met the English queen, and everyone was happy. The circus had been a circus for the outcasts of society. And in it, Jean Valjean had not come from money.
The circus of his dreams had been a place where a prostitute and a criminal could live safely, work with a decent job. Jean Valjean wanted to make the dream reality.
He woke up, and went to the hospital where Fantine still lay. Jean Valjean thought with a flicker of regret that he should have stood up for the poor wretch accused of being him. But no. Then his dreams of acceptance would be dead. Fantine to, would perhaps die.
Jean Valjean walked into the hospital. He saw Fantine lying there. She looked better, now that cossete had been brought to her. "monsier Madeleine" she gasped with delight. "thank you." Jean Valjean nodded. "it's nothing. Would you move in with me? You and cossete both? I have a plan for us to make some money." Fantine nodded. "of course."
Later, Fantine was sat in a chair while Jean Valjean was pacing up and down, in his house. He got down on one knee. "Fantine. I love you. Will you marry me?" Fantine nodded quickly. "I thought... Marriage was impossible. But you'll do that? Make me an honorable woman. Or near enough for a whore."
The following night Jean Valjean lay in bed, wide awake. He couldn't help thinking about his dream. It would become reality. He would let those outcasts of society join in, have a place, a meaning.
He couldn't let this dream die. With Fantine by his side, he would become a circus owner. A ringleader. First he needed a new alias. Monsier madeleine was old. His name should be... Something bold. Daring. Exciting. He thought back to his dream of Madame Thernardier and the wizards. Her great grand father had been called Phineas. Phineas. Phineas was a good name. Unique and memorable.
Fantine needed a new name too. No one would think his wife had been some old whore, Fantine would become... Jean Valjean thought back to the dream with Phineas. A teacher had been killed. Charity. Charity was a good alias for Fantine.
The following morning Jean Valjean sat at the table with Fantine. "we'll get married, and then we'll set up a circus together Fantine. My dream will be reality." she shook her head. "dreams don't work like that.
I dreamed a dream in times gone by
When hope was high and life worth living
I dreamed, that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung, no wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame"
Fantine said, soflty. "but I can't give up on my dreams." Jean Valjean said. "you have to" she replied.
"every night I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
A million dreams for the world we're gonna make" Jean Valjean said. Fantine nodded slightly. "Fine. I'll do what you want. Anything is better than this life. I had a dream once,
I had a dream
I got everything I wanted
Not what you'd think
And if I'm being honest
It might've been a nightmare
To anyone who might care
Thought I could fly
So I stepped off the Golden, mm
Nobody cried
Nobody even noticed
I saw them standing right there
Kinda thought they might care. I don't know why I thought they'd care though. " fantine said softly." no one cares about some prostitute. " Jean Valjean shook his head. "as long as I'm here, no one can hurt you. No one, Fantine. I love you. You can stop being a whore, stop selling everything. I won't let them hurt you"
Fantine nodded. "However big, however small
Let me be part of it all
Share your dreams with me
You may be right, you may be wrong
But say that you'll bring me along"
Jean Valjean nodded. "your a part of it now, Fantine. Oh, and we'll need aliases. I thought maybe, yours could be charity. And mine is Phineas." Fantine nodded. "to a new beginning, based on dreams." they toasted, sipping there drinks.