A/n: In honor of barricade day

A/n: In honor of barricade day!

Amis et Homme, Amies et Femmes

"Favorite on hard times, Dahlia stammering because of a brain fever—I can only hope that Zephine hasn't fallen on such misfortune," Fantine thought as she temporarily left the company of her friends in order to see to her other companions. Feuilly, Bahorel, and Lesgle had taken to talking boisterously at a table. They had been joined by another young man who was unshaven with a rather dark complexion.

"Probably the Capital R they mentioned," Fantine noted. She saw Cosette and Eponine standing on two chairs, their faces pressed up to a window.

"What's taking Maman and Papa so long?" Eponine asked wanly. "Will your grandfather find them?"

Cosette nodded trustingly. "He can do anything."

"I wish my parents could do anything," Eponine said a little sadly.

Cosette turned to smile at Fantine. "Maman, M. Valjean said he'd try to find Ponine's parents."

"Well, if they're supposed to meet her here, then they can't be far," Fantine said reassuringly. She realized that the two little girls were holding small cakes in their hands. "Where did you get those?"

"They bought them," Eponine said, pointing to the young men.

"Gilles…" Fantine reprimanded Feuilly.

Feuilly held up his hands. "Madame, it was Grantaire's doing," he said, pointing to the unshaven man.

Grantaire stood up. "Have I offended you, Madame?" he asked gallantly.

"No, not at all," Fantine admitted. "I just feared that Gilles might have spent some. We're a little hard up."

Suddenly, Eponine let out a squeal. "Maman! Azelma!" she cried as two people entered the café, followed by Jean Valjean.

"Ah there you are!" Paulette exclaimed, letting her oldest daughter embrace her. "Your sister was looking all over for you."

Azelma looked at Eponine enviously. "Can I have a dress and cake too?"

"You can have some cake, Mademoiselle. Though finery will be long in coming," Lesgle said gallantly, handing a cake to Azelma, who wolfed it down hungrily.

Paulette eyed Fantine critically. "And how have you been doing?"

"Scraping by," Fantine said. She winced at the tattered state of the older woman's clothes. "Where are your husband and your son?"

Paulette let out a resigned sigh. "Someplace. Nicolas insists on looking for some colonel or general he "saved" at Waterloo."

"Maman, I thought Vroche was--" Azelma began before Paulette gave her a warning look.

Unease leapt up in Fantine's chest. "Something has happened, Paulette?" she asked.

"In these places, it's hard to take care of children," Paulette said brusquely. "If Nicolas wants the brat, he can have him. He should be safe anyhow."

As if sensing trouble, Louison came forward. "Can I get something for you Madame?" she asked.

Paulette sat down as Louison attended to her. Favorite watched all of this for a moment before busying herself with fixing a string in her bonnet. Valjean nodded to Fantine and they both stepped aside.

"M. Valjean, Paulette did not abandon her child, did she?" Fantine asked him fearfully.

"She told me she left him at the Rue des Filles du Calvaire," Valjean said somberely. "I checked and the child was not there."

Fantine paled. "Oh God." She felt a sudden impulse to run and seek out Gavroche, but despair kept her feet rooted to the floor.

She could see that Valjean's countenance was also heavy with sadness, perhaps tinged with guilt. "Maybe someone took him in," she whispered.

"Maybe," Valjean said, eyeing the three Thenardier females. Eponine was busy explaining something to her mother, who had a puzzle if not interested look on her face. Azelma was polishing off yet another cake.

After a few moments, Paulette walked up to Fantine. "My daughter tells me that she wants us to take the room next to yours," she said.

"True, but the decision is in your hands, Paulette," Fantine pointed out.

Paulette nodded heavily. "I only want what's best for my girls," she said. "So is this place far?"

"Not very," Fantine replied. She nodded to Favorite, who was starting to wear a scowl. "I'll be back soon for work and for the others, I promise," she said before following Paulette out of the café.