A big thank you to all the continued support from reviewers, especially to those not familiar with the original plot of Les Mis (though you may be in for some shocks in the next section)
Now, I've never actually been involved in shipping this pairing so this chapter was unusual to write.
Disclaimer: Yeah...No

Chapter 9: A Heart Full of Love

Chapter 9

Sat intertwining a ribbon into her hair, Flora, now near fully grown stared out of her window onto the lawn that was darkening as night fell. Several butterflies had gathered by her window, she smiled at them.

"Is it nice to be out there?" she whispered to them "To explore on your own?" Flora was much older now and bordering the lines between 'cute little girl' and 'beautiful lady' and still wasn't sure how she felt about her life. On one hand, she lived like a princess and was nearly spoilt by her father's kindness, there was no way for a girl to be happier but on the other, they were constantly moving, hiding, and she was never told why. There wasn't time to make friends.

She thought to the girls she'd seen in town, or the child jumping between carriages. She longed to talk them but the appearance of those criminals meant that her father returned home as quickly as possible.

Then there was that boy, the one that had run into her and smiled… If only her life wasn't so secretive, then maybe. She heard the door open, she sighed out the window as he entered. She'd been in there upset since they'd returned, but she appreciated that he gave her time to think.

"Flora?" He entered slowly, hoping she'd turn round. "I'm sorry we had to leave, I know you like being out in the town." Flora huffed "Believe me, if I was able to I'd spend days down there, a life full of enjoyment. But we can't."

"Well why not?" Hershel couldn't decide whether to be shocked at the bluntness or pleased that she was talking to him. "There's so little I know of the things I want to know. Like, why are we always hiding? Who's Descole?" Hershel flinched at the name "What were you and my mother like when I was younger? What was I like when I was younger?" she stood and raised her voice "You won't tell me anything! All I know is fancy bonnets and running from criminals. I don't want this anymore!"

"Flora…"Hershel was taken and aback and Flora seemed horrified by her own outburst.

"Father… Please, I'm sorry. You're wonderful I just- I need people in my life. You act like I'm some lost little girl, but you don't realise that I've grown up now. You don't need to spend so much time protecting me." Hershel knew this was true, but he still couldn't risk his past catching up to him and harming them.

"I promise Flora, you'll have answers to your questions. All of them, when the time is right."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Emmy this is amazing! How did you ever find her?" Emmy lifted her skirts as they went round the corner, unused to being in the higher class parts of the neighbourhood. The only time she'd been down here was when she was learning to pickpocket, and was promptly kicked out.

"I found out her father's name from my dad, and then asked around a bit. It's not that hard really." Clive saw the house ahead of them, the girl sat by the window. He went to pick Emmy up and spin her round but due to his lack of strength ended up awkwardly hugging her waist. He brushed it off and hit her shoulder as she laughed at him.

"Thank you so much for making this happen! You're the best." Emmy grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back before he could run off.

"I just want you to realise something Clive. She may not be your soul mate; you only made eye contact with her. And for all you know she could have been staring at Luke. Or maybe something else'll happen; maybe her father will hate you." Clive unhooked himself from her grasp.

"If her dad hates me we can have one of those star crossed romances, like in that Romeo play."

"Did you ever watch the end of that play?"

"No but it's a romance so..." He moved away from Emmy and ran towards the gate in front of the house.

"They die Clive. They die." Emmy whispered to herself. She went to stand with Clive but noticed a figure emerging from the house, so she hung back behind the wall.

Flora exited the house, after seeing the boy waving at her by the gate. At first she assumed she was tired, hallucinating people who weren't there. But out in the garden she knew this had to be real. As soon as she reached the gate the boy started speaking to her.

"I know that it's late and this is very sudden, but after running into you I couldn't stop thinking about you." Flora smiled.

"You're the boy from the market place, aren't you?" Clive nodded "I was thinking about you as well, thank you so much for helping me."

"I wasn't sure if you felt that - Wait a second, what am I saying? I don't even know your name!" He bowed "My name is Clive Dove." Flora curtseyed back

"And I'm Flora." She left out a last name; she didn't think giving out her father's name would be safe, she didn't know her mothers and the name she usually went by, 'Flora Schrader' felt wrong to tell him. So just Flora. He seemed pleased all the same.

"Flora… I don't know what to say, I felt a kind of... Connection when I saw you, I want to get to know you. Urgh that sounds stupid doesn't it?"

"Not at all."

From back by the wall, Emmy watched the pair. She knew if that if he met up with her they he'd live plans for the revolution and there'd be no chance for her to join, but she couldn't bring herself to deny him. She decided to leave the couple gushing top each other and head back to her parents' house. As she turned she found herself staring at a familiar face.

"Swift? Why are you down here you know we're not allowed."

"I could say the same to you missy, didn't your dad want you to stay back."

"What are you doing?" Swift pulled her back into the shadows

"You see this house here? This is the house of that man that got away from us. Paolo says we're gonna rob it. We'll teach the old man." He slinked off down the street to where Emmy presumed he was meeting the other members. She knew they couldn't get there; Clive and Flora were still at the gate. They'd think she was involved, they might get hurt. She ran off after him, not caring enough to hide herself. She saw the hunched figure of Paulo down the way, followed by Rook, Bishop and the newly arrived Swift. They caught sight of her and stormed over.

"Get your own pitch!" she heard her father yell "Who does this tramp think she is?" Emmy became furious and moved towards them, blocking the path to the house.

"That's your own brat Paolo." He looked at her and clicked his tongue.

"Emmeline get on home, we don't need you here." Emmy balled up her fists.

"You can't rob this place, I know these people. It's just the man and his daughter, they aren't rich."

"Shut up, you don't know what you're on about, Bishop lift Rook over the wall." The shorter member gave an apprehensive look before lifting his tall partner.

"I'm gonna warn them you're here. I'm gonna…" she looked round her "I'm gonna scream, I'm gonna make them hear me."

"You wouldn't dare." Before he'd even finished speaking, Emmy let out an ear piercing screech that was likely heard in Monte D'Or. Paolo looked as if he was about to scream himself, but as noises emerged from the house he had to merely resort to threatening what would happen to Emmy and signalling the others to go. Bishop was still stood with Rook on his back, so promptly threw him off and ran for it.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Flora and Clive exchanged worried glances as they heard the scream and saw a group of men running from the street, Clive quickly recognised the voice.

"You have to go; my father won't like me speaking with people from the town." They quickly promised that they would meet again and headed in separate directions.

"Flora! Flora are you alright? I heard a scream, I was worried something might have happened…" Flora glanced through the gate, making sure Clive had definitely gone. Hershel was running to her with worry painted on his face

"That was me, I saw some men beyond the wall. But it's okay; they ran when they heard my cry." Hershel leant down and placed his hands against her face.

"You're sure you're okay."

"Yes father, they didn't do anything. I don't know what they were doing though." Hershel moved the hands to his face. He couldn't have found him so quickly, could he?

"I think that I do. You remember those questions you asked? About always hiding and the inspector?"

"No. No! Dad we can't go again!" She'd only just met Clive, and she knew exactly what Hershel was saying. He was doing exactly what happened whenever she had settled.

"I'm sorry Flora, we can't risk it. I'll find us a room at the Hotel Duke until it is safe. Then we may leave here for good, or we may return. I'm not sure what will happen next…" Hershel hurried back into the house. Flora resumed standing at the gate and hoping Clive had returned. When she saw no sign of him, she took the ribbon from her hair and tied it in a bow on the gate, as a reminder for if he ever came looking. She returned to the house upset, not noticing the older girl that stood back behind the wall listening.

Hm, how popular does a fic need to be to get fanart?
Reviews would be amazing! And next chapter is particularly exciting because it's based on my favourite song of the show