Disclaimer : *sigh* Not mine……
Author's Notes : Ooooooo, reviews! Marzoog – That has got to be one of the nicest reviews I've ever had, thank you so much! Eponine87 - *hugs* THANK YOU!! I've never had anyone review for my story so much before. Next fic I write I'm dedicating it to you two!
Love would never die
The Enjolras family left their town house the very next day – I watched them leave from an alley way across the street, guessing I would never see them again. Later when I recalled it to Tholomyes I told him I felt calm. "Like some part of my past had slipped away." He agreed, and together we toasted the future.
The rest of the year flew by in a mix of dinners with Tholomyes and measuring rich ladies for dresses. I was now seventeen. Or as Favourite put it "a very young seventeen." Which I was – eternally innocent and naïve. Amazed by the smallest things.
I had the largest circle of friends I'd ever known. Tholomyes introduced Favourite, Dahlia and the still irritatingly happy Zephine to his three friends – Blachevelle, Fameuil and Listolier.
Fameuil and Zephine paired up straight away and I can safely say that they were the most tiring couple I've ever known. Everything they ever said was followed by an exclamation mark, and they both had an annoying habit for squealing.
Blachevelle won Favourite over when he informed us all that his father was very rich and had a big house in the Alps which he'd probably inherit. After that Favourite couldn't keep herself away from him.
Listolier was a quietly spoken boy who attached himself to Dahlia. Together they were a very quiet couple, but very content.
I didn't like Blachevelle or Fameuil, but Listolier was wonderful. Quietly spoken with blonde hair and blue eyes, people often mistook us for brother and sister.
The eight of us would travel in a "double – foursome". Three couples, and Tholomyes and I.
"What's going on there Fantine?" Favourite asked.
"We're friends" I told her, blushing. "Just friends."
"Oh come off it. I've seen the way he looks at you."
I turned a deeper shade of pink.
"Leave her alone Favourite" Dahlia stuck up for me.
"You're always so mean to her!" exclaimed Zephine.
"Well I just think it's rather strange." Favourite said, before continuing with her work.
I sighed and went for a walk, desperate to get away.
As always I met Tholomyes coming the opposite way.
"Fantine La Blonde!" he crowed. "Where are you going to?"
"Home, I suppose."
"Ah, why so melancholy?"
I wrinkled my nose. "Melan – what?"
"Melancholy – sad or gloomy"
"I'm not sad! Or gloomy!"
He stared at me. "Really?"
"Well it's Favourite –"
"I thought as much. Quite bossy isn't she?"
"Just a bit. She thinks we're strange."
"We?"
In a rush I told him what Favourite had said. "But you don't do you?"
He looked solemn.
"Love me, I mean you're like a brother. You've been so kind and –"
He silenced me by planting a firm kiss on my lips.
I jumped back almost instantly. "What are you doing?"
"Answering your question."
I opened my mouth, then shut it.
"Fantine, I love you."
I turned a bright shade of red. "No one's ever said that to me before."
He looked astounded. "But a girl as lovely as yourself must have had beaus."
"None"
"Then" he encircled his arms around my waist. "Could I be the first?"
"Tholomyes…"
"Yes?"
"This isn't because you feel sorry for me?"
"Heavens no!" he exclaimed. "It's because you are the most wonderful, beautiful person I've ever met. And I knew it the moment I walked into you outside that shop."
I smiled. "I think I did too. Just didn't realise it."
He grinned at me, then kissed me again. This time I responded.
"Finally!" Favourite said, as the eight of us dined that evening. "I always knew –"
"Don't Favourite" Dahlia smiled. "Leave them be."
"We have a lot to thank Favourite for" Tholomyes said. "It was her meddling that made me the happiest man alive." He smiled at me.
I smiled at him, and he kissed my forehead. I did love him, very much. He was kind and so nice to me. I dreamed that our love would never die, and that we would have many happy years together before finally starting a family.
How wrong I was…
