IMPORTANT(PLEASE READ): Oh look another fic... I know I'm lame. This is just inspiration from watching Les Misérables 55 times :) I should really focus on one thing at a time but... ADHD Also, let's settle the timeline:

In this fic, Cosette is 8 years old when Valjean came to get her(1824). She was put into the inn when she was 4, so she was with the Thenardiers for 4 years. It said the next part of the musical was 10 years later so she and Éponine will be 18 by then while (1834). Enjolras and the Les Amis will be 2 years older than all of them which makes them 20 but the Revolution will not start until Enjolras is 22(1836) because... WELL I WANT IT TO.

This fic will start off with Éponine and Cosette's childhood :) BTW, this is obviously as AU as one can get.

Disclaimer: I would be a genius to own Les Mis. But I don't own it so I'm not a genius... so close.

Chapter 1

"We Were Children Together"

Montfermeil December 15, 1820

Montfermeil was a dream place to live in, especially during Christmas time. The streets and roofs of houses were always covered with a thick blanket of crisp white snow. The children were always outside playing with their friends and siblings. The start of the Christmas season in Montfermeil also signals the end of work days for the year. As every man files the final paper, drops the final sack and ties the final knot, they head out for the foremost reason for the fame of Montfermeil.

The Thenardier's Inn was famous for welcoming their customers with open arms and have them leave as satisfied as possible. All men leave with a big grin on their faces. Every woman leaves with a satisfied smirk. The Thenardiers is a small family of four, Monsieur and Madame Thenardier and their children Azelma and Éponine. They have stayed as a family of four for 3 years and they live a great life.

Little did they know that their life was going to make a 180 degree turn the next morning.

Éponine Thenardier was the eldest daughter of the Thenardiers. She is very protective of her younger sister 'Zelma and will do anything for her friends. Although her parents are disgusted by the poor, she finds herself sneaking out once in a while to provide them with loaves of bread and some cheese. She never understood the concept of rich and poor. She just knew that they were hungry and everybody deserves to eat.

She never tells her parents of what she does. They won't like that she dresses up like a boy to play with the gamins that line her street. She doesn't like seeing them angry, so she keeps everything a secret. "'Ponine, wake up." she cracked open one eye lid and she was met with the shining blue eyes of her sister. "'Ponine! Mama and Daddy are talking with a lady downstairs." The older sibling raised an eyebrow but shrugged and shooed her sister away so she could change.

After Éponine finished tying her favorite blue bow around her waist, she followed her sister downstairs to see the mysterious lady. "I will pay whatever debts I have for you to keep Cosette for me." Éponine stopped on the middle stair and crouched down to see the conversation more discreetly. She gasped as she saw a very pretty lady dressed in a simple purple dress talking to her parents. By the lady's side was a girl who was the splitting image of her with a light blue dress.

Éponine wanted to go meet the girl for she looked relatively well endowed. The girl was looking at her mother and her home curiously, wondering why they were here. "How long will we keep her?" her mama asked the lady with a sickly sweet smile towards the lady's daughter. The pretty lady gulped and looked down nervously. "As long as it takes mademoiselle. I will contact you when I have to take her back... If you would agree to such an arrangement." she said professionally.

Her Daddy tapped his chin thoughtfully and held out a hand, indicating his agreement. "Alright, we'll take her in. She will be treated like she is one of our own, dear Fantine." she said and the lady - Fantine, she remembered - looked relieved and handed her daddy a small sack of money which would pay for 2 months. "Please do take care of her. She means the world to me."

Fantine kneeled down in front of her daughter who still looked mightily confused. "Mama, what is happening?" Éponine watched the interaction curiously and sadly for she knew that... Colette? wouldn't see her mama for a while. Fantine whispered lovingly into her daughter's ear and she could see the tears rolling down her porcelain cheeks. "Mama, how long will you be away?" the little girl asked sadly. "I will visit next week to see your well-being. After that... I don't know how often I will visit you. Just be a good girl for mommy okay, Ma petite fille?*" she replied wiping her cheeks with her hand.

"Oui maman. Je t'aime.*" Colette replied sadly. Fantine kissed her daughter's head lovingly and hugged her tightly. "Je t'aime, mon ange.*" Éponine couldn't help but tear up a bit at the exchange. She felt so sorry for the girl. "Adieu Fantine! We will take very good care of little Colette!" "Cosette..." "I mean Cosette!" called out her daddy as Fantine left tearfully. Éponine made herself known as she noisily went down the rest of the stairs. She wanted to meet Cosette and comfort her, she was still crying.

"Éponine, my dear, good morning! Come meet our new housemate, Cosette." Éponine already knew her name but she smiled politely to her parents and went over to Cosette. The blonde girl looked at her and she smiled shyly. "Hello, my name's Éponine but my sister calls me 'Ponine. You could call me that too." Cosette nodded and held out her hand. Éponine shook it with confidence and dragged Cosette to her play room.

"W-where are you taking me?" asked Cosette but not resisting. "To our play room. I think 'Zelma is in there but that would be weird, she is never in there. She usually go plays with Montparnasse. I do too but they are closer than I expected." She shrugged and opened the wooden door to the back room which used to be the storage until Éponine was born. She led her new acquaintance to her trunk of dolls and handed her one with the same dress she was wearing.

"Here, you could play with Margarete. I never let anyone else play with her but she looks exactly like you." Cosette looked down at the doll and stroked its soft blond hair. She finally showed a genuine smile of happiness and Éponine felt triumphant. "Come on," she said as she grabbed another doll from the trunk. "Let's go upstairs to my room. We could play tea party." Cosette smiled again and followed her first friend upstairs.

Here is the first chapter, and before you say anything, Éponine is supposed to be OOC here because this is AU. I want them to be friends.

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