Eight months came and went and Eponine's pregnancy progressed beautifully. As for Javert, he was delighted as he watched Eponine's stomach swell with their child. Although, Eponine was annoyed with her husband's constant watch over her and how he always did the simplest tasks for her, even when she did not ask him to.

One day, as Eponine was resting in bed, she was beginning to feel some pains in her back and began to sit up. Like always, Javert was passing by and decided to help her.

"Henri, it's all right. I was only going to find another pillow for my back."

"You shouldn't be performing such a strenuous task."

"It's not that difficult. There is a pillow at the foot of the bed and-"

Before Eponine could say another word, Javert had grabbed another pillow and Eponine allowed him to place it behind her back.

Eponine sighed. "Henri, this must stop. You treat me as though I'm an invalid, a porcelain doll that will break if it moves."

"I am only looking over you and the baby."

Eponine touched Javert's face. "I know your intentions are good, my love, but there are many things that I can still do on my own and without any help. Why, yesterday I tried to-"

Just as Eponine was about to finish her sentence, she winced and a look of pain was on her face. After a minute, Eponine gave a deep exhale and her expression relaxed.

"Are you all right?" Javert asked.

"Yes, I'm fine. I've been having these pains since this morning."

"This morning?! Eponine, why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't really think it was anything, until a few hours ago. That is when I started to time them."

"And...?"

Eponine looked up at Javert. "The pains are every three minutes."

Javert knew that this meant that the baby was coming, and quickly got to his feet. He gave Eponine a quick kiss on the lips.

"I'll go fetch the midwife. I'll be back as soon as possible."

"Henri, please don't leave me alone."

"I know that you're scared, but we cannot do this by ourselves. We need help. I'll close the window curtains and lock the front door. Will you feel better then?"

Eponine nodded and was given another kiss. Javert closed the curtains and then rushed out of the room. For the next ten minutes, Eponine screamed and moaned as her contractions came and went. She had always been told that there was no greater pain than childbirth, but had never believed it until this moment. The pains quickly became more sharper and closer, especially when she felt water break. Just as it seemed that Javert would not return, he came bursting into the room with the elderly midwife following him.

"Henri, it hurts."

As Eponine began to thrash from the pain, Javert slowly turned her head towards him.

"Eponine, listen to me. Look only at me. We are the only two people here right now. Pretty soon, the pain will be over and we'll have our child. Until then, it is only us. Only us."

Eponine nodded quickly and took Javert's hand as another contraction began. She did not scream this time, only kept her gaze on her husband's face and squeezed his hand.

"We arrived just in time, Monsieur. The baby is coming."

As the midwife helped Eponine lift her legs, she ordered Javert to sit behind her so that she would have an easier time pushing. So, Javert climbed behind Eponine and took both of her hands.

"It's just us. It's just us." Javert whispered, placing his mouth to Eponine's damp hair.

"Madame Javert, you must push." The midwife ordered.

Eponine began to push down, and held onto her husband's hands as they turned bright white from her squeezing them. The only time she stopped pushing was to catch her breath, but almost instantly she resumed. Then, after one final yell from Eponine, there was a small cry. The cry of a baby.

"Madame, Monsieur. You have a son."

Eponine laughed and relaxed against Javert. "A son. Our son."

"My love, I am so proud." Javert kissed Eponine. "You did wonderful."

The midwife cleaned off the baby boy, wrapped him in a warm blanket, and then handed him to Eponine.

"What we'll we name him?" Javert asked.

"Can we name him Gavroche? After my brother?"

Javert nodded. "Of course we can."

"I do not think I would have made it through this if you hadn't been here."

Javert got up, gave Eponine another kiss, and then kissed the top of Gavroche's head. He left the room and showed the midwife out, thanking her profusely. When he returned, he found both Eponine and Gavroche sound asleep. It was taking in this sight that Javert did something that he never thought he could possibly do: He cried.