To Drive the Cold Winter Away

by Rapunzella

Originally titled "A Winter's Tale." When Gavroche gets sick, Eponine and Azelma take him in. Then all three of them are thrown back out on the street, and the girls must find a way to take care of their brother. But they receive help from an unexpected source…read to find out who!

2. Till You Are Sleeping

Eponine and Gavroche trudged their way through the snowy streets until they reached the old Gorbeau slum, where the Thénardiers had made their lair. The concierge had gone to bed long ago, but she had left the door unlatched, and it creaked slowly open. Eponine half-dragged, half-carried Gavroche up the narrow, rickety staircase. When she tried the door of their family's apartment, she found it unlocked––no doubt Azelma had seen to it that her sister would be able to get in whenever she returned from her errand. "Come on," she said to Gavroche, and crept softly into the room dragging him after her.

The fire had gone out; snowflakes swirled into the room along with the wind through a broken windowpane. Wrapped in a tattered blanket on a thin mattress in the corner, Azelma dreamed of a place that was neither dark nor cold. The Thénardiess was snoring in her bed; Eponine sighed with relief that her father was nowhere in sight. " 'Zelma," she whispered into the dark, " 'Zelma, wake up. I need you." Azelma sat up, rubbing her eyes and blinking in the darkness. " 'Ponine? Is that you?"

"Shh!" Eponine warned, "Don't wake up Maman. Where's Papa?"

"He's gone out. What time is…" Azelma started to ask, but a cough drew her attention to the small, ragged figure leaning on Eponine's arm. "Gavroche!" Azelma exclaimed, jumping up from the mattress and running over to him, "Gavroche, remember me? It's been so long!"

" 'Course I remember you, 'Zel," the boy whispered hoarsely. He began to cough again, and she drew him into her arms with a sympathetic moan. " 'Ponine, is he sick?" she asked. "What do you think?" Eponine whispered, "That's why I brought him here."

"Maman won't be happy," Azelma muttered. "Never mind about her," Eponine replied. I'll deal with her in the morning." She led Gavroche to the mattress in the corner she and Azelma usually shared. Azelma pulled the rag of a blanket over him. "But where'll we sleep?" she asked in a low voice. "On the floor," Eponine answered, "Put your coat on. I know it's not great, but we'll manage for a couple of nights, won't we?"

Gavroche curled up on his side, pulling the tattered blanket tight around his shoulders. Eponine stroked his tousled hair. "Rest easy, you're safe now," she whispered in a tone that was almost tender, "I'll take care of you. I promise."