Disclaimer: Les Mis is still not mine, so don't sue me. I just have a few ideas that I like to write down. Also, if you can point out a Disney reference other than Rapunzel to me, I'll give you a shoutout in my next witty disclaimer!

2 – Book

"Mama Cosette?" asked a tiny girl with missing front teeth by the name of Lucille. "Mama Cosette, can you read this book to me, please?"

Cosette gathered up her skirts and sat beside Lucille. The little girl had her thumb in her mouth, a book in her outstretched hand. It was a collection of fairy tales. Two boys tumbled past, fighting over a stick, with Marius chasing behind them shouting for the game to be taken outside. Lucille tugged on Cosette's sleeve and nudged her with the book. Of course Cosette wanted to read to the little girl! She took the book and set it open on her knees. Lucille's apple cheeks swelled in a rather gapped smile and she wiped her wet hand on her dress.

"Lucille, how old are you, little dear?" Cosette asked, motioning the little girl to sit down beside her.

The small hand answered with a gesture, "Five."

"Five already?" asked Cosette in almost-feigned surprise. The little girl was five already? Looking round, she did notice that the children had all changed so much in just the past year. "Well then, little miss, I think it is time that you learnt to read these books all by yourself!"

Up in Heaven, Fantine looked down over the edge of the cloud at her beloved child, now all grown up and with children of her own. Well, not entirely… Either way, by blood or not, these children had a loving, safe place to go. She and Marius had fantastic new family and were doing so much good in the world. Fantine looked over and Jean Valjean, seated on a bench with a large Afghan hound angel beside him. She extended a hand to him and he approached the cloud's edge as well, looking over at the children (yes, they were still children to him) who had been given into his care. The silky-haired dog wagged its curly tail and gave the two an angelic doggy grin. Valjean smiled in much the same way Fantine did.

Lucille sat with Cosette, snuggled up against her side and looking over her elbow at the words on the page. She carefully followed Cosette's finger, repeating the words as they went along, telling each other the story of Rapunzel. Every so often, Cosette paused, quizzing the child on which letter was which and what combinations of letters made what sounds. Lucille was a fast learner, the story keeping her engaged and making her truly want to learn how to read. Two more of the small girls in Marius and Cosette's care approached, their ears perked as well at the sound of their most beloved story. One girl chewed the ear of a stuffed rabbit while the other dragged a doll by one hand.

"Lucille, do you think maybe you can read this section for our friends?" Cosette urged the small girl, carefully helping her set the book on her own knees. "Let's start right here, where the prince starts talking."

The little girl followed Cosette's gesture again.

"And the… p… prince… call- called up the toe… no, tower," Lucille tried the first sentence, frowning as she struggled with it. She looked up to Cosette, who smiled encouragingly but would not read the book for her. "The prince called up the tower!"

Cosette smiled brightly, nudging the other two little girls who obligingly smiled as well, the one with the rabbit cheering. Lucille tried the next couple of sentences. Yes, the first few words were a bit halting, but as she got more confident, her voice got stronger. Over Lucille's head, Cosette caught Marius's eye and he joined them on the step, gladly listening to the story of Rapunzel. If anyone noticed a few mispronunciations here or there, they didn't show it. Their very own little Lucille was the first girl they – he and Cosette – had taken in to learn to read all by herself! The girl with the rabbit demanded Lucille hold the book up because she couldn't see the picture! Beaming, Lucille did so – never in her five years of life could she remember being so very proud of herself. One of the two boys, having won ownership of the stick, sidled over and flopped down on the step next to Marius.

"Papa Marius?" he asked, sticking his tongue out at the little girl who shushed him. "She's reading it wrong!"

Marius frowned at the boy, not wanting anything to rain on Lucille's big moment.

"How do you mean, Ranier?" he asked, his eyes letting the boy know his answer better be careful.

Ranier leaned on the stick he had fought for and won.

"I thought it was a thief who went and rescued Rapunzel!" he declared, gesturing at the book and Lucille.

Fantine and Jean Valjean smiled at their children and their children's children, then at each other. How would Marius react to that one? The boy Ranier looked up at him expectantly, still pointing at the book. The two little girls with their little friends had started quietly ignoring the story, watching the mini-drama with Ranier and Marius. Cosette pinched her husband behind Lucille's back, having overheard the conversation. He got the message and turned back to Ranier with a ready answer.

"You see, Ranier," he started, gaining confidence from the 'you better get this right' look in his wife's eyes. "That's because Mama Cosette tells it a little bit differently."

This seemed to satisfy the boy, who then turned his rapt attention back to the five-year-old with the intent of telling her the 'real' story at another time. The still-a-little-shaky reading went on, Lucille still looking to Cosette for help with some of her words. Marius reached back to take his wife's hand, loving this moment with their odd little family. Yes, it had been a sad day when the doctor said that Cosette might not be able to have a child of her own. However, if anyone asked Marius his opinion, he would say that's all right.