Aunt Leanne

After gathering all their belongings, the Thenardier children had to follow their so-called "aunt". They were forced to go with her because she was the first contact and legal guardian ("if anything was to happen to your parents"). They walked just around the block and stopped at an old, tan minivan. Leanne unlocked the car, and Gavroche and Azelma jumped up into the seats. Eponine popped the trunk and stuffed the one suitcase holding all of their belongings in.

The children introduced themselves and their aunt greeted them. Gavroche was humming in his seat, and Eponine and Azelma were surveying their aunt. Her physical appearances were similar to their mother's, but she had a magnetizing atmosphere. She seemed to attract people's attention everywhere she went.

The van was travelling out of the city and into the next. Eponine's eyebrows scrunched together. The city was far more modern than her own. The narrow streets were packed with sports cars. Glass buildings and stores towered over everything. Eponine passed by a Harris Teeter, an Abercrombie and Fitch, and even a Luis Vuitton.

They stopped at a vintage looking building and drove into the garage. Leanne unbuckled her seatbelt and helped the kids in the back. Eponine got out herself, opened the trunk, and grabbed their suitcase. She wasn't really in the mood to talk with Leanne. She deserved an explanation. Where was her aunt all those years she got abused? Where was her aunt when they were born? Did she even want them here, or was she forced because she was the legal guardian?

Their aunt motioned them along to follow her. Azelma had Gavroche on her hip while Eponine rolled the suitcase. Leanne opened a metal door and let them through. Gavroche and Azelma stood in awe at the building. People went in and out through revolving doors. The large room was furnished with pure white carpets. Red, velvet love seats and sofas were spread out evenly, occasionally holding people. It looked like a hotel's lobby.

Leanne brought them to an elevator and pressed the up button. One elevator opened up right away, and they stepped in. Eponine was fuming with anger for some reason. She didn't know why she was mad at Leanne. Hell, she should've been thankful that someone they were related to came to take care of them, but she wished Leanne came sooner. Where was she all those years of misery, bruises, and malnutrition? Eponine could've been living in this luxury earlier!

Soon enough, the elevator stopped and Leanne led them through a dark hallway. Eponine inferred that the building was actually really old. It must've been recently converted into this modern living space. Leanne stopped at a door at the end of the hall with the numbers "437" engraved into it.

"I hope you guys like the place," Leanne said, smiling. The door swung opened to a large, open layout. The kitchen, dining room, and living room were all next to each other. The theme was the same throughout the house: vintage/artistic. A stairway to the downstairs portion of the apartment was smack-dab in the middle. Gavroche had already made himself home in a rotating stool at the kitchen counter. Azelma was looking out the balcony. It was just Eponine who stood, unimpressed.

Her aunt looked concerned. "Do you like the layout, Eponine?" she asked.

"It's impressive," Eponine judged. "It's just- Can I talk to you?"

"Sure hon. Gavroche and Azelma, I'll just take Eponine to her room and show you to yours later, ok?" she asked them as if asking for their permission.

"Can I come?" Gavroche questioned from his place on the stool.

"Soon. Come along Eponine," signaled Leanne.

Eponine left the suitcase on her spot and followed her downstairs. The steps were wooden and rough, like a tree's trunk. Leanne led her to the last room on the right of a hallway. She opened the door, and inside was a plain room with a normal bed. A small wooden desk was placed at the corner of the room.

Leanne closed the door as Eponine walked across the room and examined her. Leanne faced Eponine and smiled softly. Eponine bit her lip, thinking of something to say that would convey her feelings.

"Eponine, do you trust me?" Leanne started for her.

"Just slightly, but I just met you so… Anyways," Eponine took a breath, "Where were you all those years when we needed you most? When I was only a child and I couldn't take care of myself, much less, my siblings? Why did you take us away from our home?! I was finally beginning to handle things at school! How do I know I can trust you? You are my mother's fucking sister! You could be just like the wretched monster I'm ashamed to call my mother!" She was now close to tears, a rare occurrence. It seemed that she was venting out all her anger onto this nice, beautiful lady!

"Please don't curse in this household," Leanne begged kindly, "Calm down, Eponine. I'm sorry I couldn't come any sooner! I didn't even know my sister was still alive, much less, had children. I don't expect you to trust me this soon into the relationship, but please, try. I- I don't want to mistreat you. I'm nothing like your mother personality-wise. I barely know you and your siblings, but I have a hunch that we will blossom into something great." She was now holding Eponine arm's length from herself, wiping the child's tears with her thumb.

"Can I trust you to be my mom?" Eponine whispered. She looked deeply into the eyes of Leanne. There was a sudden spark of hope in them, and Leanne smiled, reaching her eyes.

"I'll do everything I can to make your life normal," She replied.

"Maybe the world is a wish-granting factory," Eponine thought aloud.

"I can be your wish-granting factory as long as you use your wishes correctly," assured Leanne, "Now, we have three rooms to furnish, food to cook, and we still barely know about each other. Your father is a bastard. How could they keep my own nieces and nephew away from my knowledge?"

Eponine grinned, "'Please don't curse in this household.'"

Her aunt swung her arm around the young lady. "I am already starting to love you!"

Two weeks in, everything was settled. They were to stay with Leanne, and honestly, they didn't really mind it. She was everything a mother was supposed to be: kind, caring, watchful, and strict. They were eating well enough that their stomachs weren't empty. All of them tried to never bring up any conversations about Thenardier, and it was fine by them.

Eponine was just a bit miserable. She didn't get to see her friends one more time, maybe not ever again! The ties of Thenardier might still be in that vicinity, so Leanne kept them as far away as she could. The problem was, because of that, Eponine had to move to a new school and make new friends. She was okay with that, but- ENJOLRAS! He was driving her crazy! She was supposed to go a whole summer without him, and now, HER WHOLE SCHOOL LIFE?!

Eponine plopped down on her bed. Her room was already messy. The bookshelves were stacked with books, art supplies, and music sheets. Papers were scattered along the floor, and if she tried hard enough, she could here Leanne attempting to sing in the shower (but failing miserably). Her closet was packed with clothes. She had all the material things she could ever ask for, but was it enough to fill in the hole that her friends' missing presences made in her heart?

Someone knocked on the door, and Eponine let them come in. Gavroche skipped up to her, jumping next to her on the bed.

"'Ponine? What's wrong? Don't you like Aunty Anne?" Gavroche asked.

"'Course I do 'Roche! It's just, I really miss school. Crazy right?" Eponine joked, pulling him unto her lap.

Gavroche chuckled, "Yes, it is! I miss all my friends too 'Ponine, but at least we still have each other."

"Did you know that you are my favorite little kid of all time?"

"I'm not a little kid!"

"Right, sorry. I forgot that you were so strong and grown up!"

"You got it dude!" They both laughed. Material things wouldn't be able to fill that hole, but the fact that she had a real family might fill it up enough for her to be pleased.

A/N: Salute! I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day Weekend. Sorry this chapter didn't have much action, but when you move to a new place, nothing much happens usually. I just want to say thanks to everyone who actually read my story and liked it so far. I promise that it'll pick up, but for things to evolve, it takes time. Please give me some advice! Also, please review, like, or follow. Concrete Angel, I really like that idea. I hope you don't mind me using it. -Franky