Disclaimer: They're still not mine…
Author's Notes: Sorry it's been awhile, busy with rehearsals and such. Thanks to everyone who said well done for getting the part, it means a lot. Eponinenkind – Yay Mika! Now write something now we can all review it : ). Rosie – I was actually going to kill him, but thought it would be better if I'd given him a REASON for leaving. TheLark - *g* I love my baron too! I'm such a Marius fan, it's slightly scary : ). Marzoog – L.M.Montgomery…..is that Anne of Green Gables? Or am I thinking of someone else…Happy Hobo – Thank you! I agree, there wasn't really a reason for him leaving in the book. I didn't get it either. Sandethe Sanders – You really are a talented writer, and I look forward to seeing more fics from you.
Take my child
Fourteen months had passed since my love's "merry prank". Cosette was now two, and completely blissful to all the trouble we were in. I hadn't been able to find another job, and the new landlord raised the rent to almost double what it had been. I sold everything we owned, except Cosette's bed and dresses, and we moved into a tiny attic room near the docks. It was barely big enough for one person, let alone two. I used some of our money to hire a letter writer. He wrote to Tholomyes (at my dictation), reminding him that Cosette still existed but I received a nasty reply – telling me his wife had nearly opened the letter and I was "not to bother" him again. Sadly I did another trek of Paris, but there were still no jobs. I decided to return to Montreuil-sur-mer, hoping someone there would recognise me and offer me work. The walk was long, I didn't know what I would do with my daughter.
So Cosette and I left Paris. A girl of twenty-two with her baby on her back. Cosette walked a little of the way, but soon gave up. I carried her in my arms, and she slowly went to sleep. I stared at her as I walked. I can't support her anymore, I know I can't. And she'll never make the walk to Montreuil-sur-mer. I have no idea what I'm going to do until we reach a village not far from Paris called Montfermeil.
I came across a tavern, decorated with a painting called "The Sergeant of Waterloo". Outside two pretty little girls were playing on what looked like a swing. One looked Cosette's age, the other just a baby. Their mother, a robust woman with red hair, was sat in the doorway watching them closely and singing.
I raised my voice. "You have two very pretty children, Madame".
She glanced at me and her eyes widened. I knew I looked bad, and her distaste was obvious as she scanned my rough and calloused hands. However she thanked me, and invited me to sit beside her.
"My name is Thernardier" she said. "My husband and I keep this inn."
I blinked. Thernardier? Where had I heard that before? I waved the thought away, it was a common enough name. I told Madame Thernardier that I was a working mother. "My…husband….has died, and I'm looking for work in Montreuil-sur-mer. I can't take her with me, she couldn't walk the way here. She'll never make it."
Cosette awoke at that point, and I gently sent her to play with the other girls.
Madame Thernardier watched her. "What is her name?"
"Cosette"
"How old is she?"
"Nearly three?"
Madame Thernardier watched our children. "Look at them. They might be sisters."
Such a casual remark, but it changed Cosette's life forever. I glanced over at her, she was happily playing with the two girls – they'd found a beetle or something in the ground and were poking it with a stick. She would be happy here, with children of her own age. I grabbed Madame Thernardier's hand, "will you look after my daughter for me?"
She started slightly.
"I can't take her with me where I'm going. I have to find work and it's not easy if you have a child. I could pay six franks a month."
A man's voice came from inside the inn. "No less than seven, and six months in advance."
Madame informed me "six times seven makes forty two."
"Very well" I replied.
"And another fifteen for extras" the man called.
"Total, fifty seven franks" Madame Thernardier stated.
"I've got eighty with me" I said. The last of my money. "I'll find work and when I've saved enough money I'll come for her."
The man's voice asked "does she have enough clothes?"
I smiled, they did care about her already! "Certainly, she has a beautiful wardrobe. They're all in my bag."
And so the bargain of my daughter was complete. I stayed the night in the tavern, paid the money and clutched Cosette.
She blinked at me, not understanding where I was going.
"I love you" I said. "And I'll be back soon I promise."
She stood in the doorway watching me leave, waving continuously like Marcelin had done.
I made my way into the street and broke down in tears. "But I'll see her soon" I kept repeating. "I'll come back for her."
I wept all the way to Montreuil-sur-mer.
