A/N: Upping the ante here again! Thanks for the reviews!
Chapter 32: Looking a Wolf in the Eye
Fantine has never been one for 'retail therapy', at least the sort so often seen in montages on romantic comedies. 'I'd best do this while my feet are still sound and my back is still in good order,' she muses silently as she walks into yet another baby clothes boutique. As far as she's concerned, what extra money she makes from her little businesses such as bonsai is best spent on surprising family, friends, and even the elderly residents at the homes and hospitals that she and Jean Valjean work with. Today, her project is to stock up on things for Eponine and her son, especially since it does not appear that there are plans for a baby shower any time soon.
The blonde woman smiles as she picks out onesies, shirts, shorts, caps, and diapers, taking care to also get some clothes in bigger sizes. A salesclerk rearranging a rack nearby looks her over sceptically, clearly taking stock of Fantine's still curvaceous figure and the lines around her eyes. "Menopause baby?"
"No, just being a grandmother," Fantine replies. It only feels right to say this since after all Eponine is more than just a former student to her. 'Also because her own mother can't and won't do this for her,' she realizes as she inspects a stretchy baby sling designed to be worn as a wrap.
The clerk raises her eyebrows. "There's a special on baby bottles today."
"No thanks, I think this will do," Fantine says calmly as she adds the sling to her cart and takes her purchases to the cashier. She turns a blind eye to the price, preferring instead to hand over her credit card. Just as she does so she sees the other salesladies and clerks racing to the door and the shop windows. "What's happening?"
"Some hotshot walked into the mall," the saleslady drawls. She blinks as she does a double-take. "There's Fouche, everyone's darling businessman. Quite dashing or at least everyone seems to think so ever since he appeared on the cover of the Society Reporter. Do you read it, Ma'am?"
Fantine shakes her head even as she catches a glimpse of a dark haired man clad in a sleekly cut and obviously very expensive suit. Judging by his dapper appearance and clean shaven looks, he's about the same age as Marius and Cosette, perhaps maybe a few years older. Despite the crowd in the mall's main alleyway, he still is flanked by two bodyguards dressed in otherwise non-descript blue polo shirts and slacks. This show of opulence is certainly not lost on the other shoppers and passers-by, who start rubbernecking and pushing each other for a closer look or photo op with this newly famous young man.
The saleslady at the cashier shakes her head disapprovingly at this exuberant adulation. "As if that will get him to notice any one of these silly girls here! He's not going to come into this shop like a knight in shining armor, as if this was one of those pocket romances." She eyes Fantine more knowingly. "Maybe you can tell them a thing or two about how it's really like."
'Not about knights, but about good men and excellent fathers,' Fantine thinks with a smile. When it comes to Jean Valjean, her only regret is that she had not met him sooner, that he had not been at her side when Cosette was born. Nevertheless the fact remains that they have lived the years together, and that there is still so much to go.
Fantine walks out of the mall five minutes later, loaded down with large paper bags. As she's carefully steering her van out of the parking lot, she almost doesn't see the black sedan also backing out of a parking space just ahead. She slams on the brake just in the nick of the time, and the sudden stop flings her hard against her seat. She looks up just in time to see a burly man emerging from the other car. "Sorry! It's not going to happen again!" she calls breathlessly as she rolls down the window.
The burly man glares at her as he puts his hands akimbo. "You almost scratched our car, woman!"
Fantine swallows hard even as she risks a glance out her window, only to see that the bumpers of the cars aren't even touching. "I'm sorry for cutting you off, but it's not going to happen again," she begins.
"I'll tell you what's not happening again-"the man snarls as he raises one of his hands.
"Deeds, back off. It was just an accident," another man calls as he steps out of the backseat. He taps on Fantine's window and gives her an affable if not apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about my employee's behavior; he was just taken off guard. Christian Fouche, at your service."
Fantine's eyes widen as she recognizes the young man who was the subject of so much fawning in the mall. At a closer look she can understand why; with his chiselled jaw and toned musculature he can pass for a leading man in a film. "Thank you, Sir. That's very kind of you," she manages to say.
"I hope that this incident has not frightened you badly, Mrs..." Fouche trails off.
"Fauchelevent. Fantine Fauchelevent," the woman replies more easily. 'How could a decent man like him employ such a terrible person?' she wonders even as she straightens up and repositions her foot on the gas pedal. "Thank you for understanding, Mr. Fouche."
"If you have any other concerns, Mrs. Fauchelevent, here is my card," Fouche says, bringing out a small white card with the words: Christian Fouche, Chief Executive Officer, FastNet Communications. He smiles warmly again at Fantine. "Stay safe."
"You too," Fantine replies even as she carefully steers her car towards the exit. While waiting at a red light she takes the opportunity to examine the card handed to her. It is simple and sleek, with a slight tilt in the font being the only affectation. 'Maybe he can be of help with some of our future projects,' she decides as she heads for Eponine and Enjolras' new home in order to drop off her surprise gift.
She is hardly surprised to find Combeferre's and Bahorel's cars, as well as Feuilly's and Gavroche's motorcycles parked outside the house. In fact the only astonishing thing is finding a new face, a young girl, lounging about with Gavroche and Combeferre in the yard. "Hello boys. Who's your new friend?" Fantine greets.
The girl looks her over. "My name is Tess. Are you Mr. Enjolras' mother?"
"No, not at all. I'm only a family friend," Fantine laughs. "I'm Fantine."
"She's Cosette's mother by the way," Combeferre explains to Tess. "Tess is a houseguest," he adds for Fantine's benefit.
Gavroche smirks as he and Combeferre get up to help Fantine set down the shopping bags in the living room. "All this loot is for the spawn?"
"I hope you won't call your nephew that," Fantine chides him. "Where's your sister?"
Gavroche jerks his thumb towards the kitchen. "She's with the others looking at something online. The reception is better out back."
Fantine bites the inside of her cheek just to keep from protesting outright. True to form she finds Eponine, Enjolras, Feuilly, and Bahorel all crowded around a laptop, apparently looking up a photo gallery of faces. She stops in her tracks when she sees one particular visage pop up on the screen. "That's Mr. Fouche!"
Eponine is the first to look up. "Hi Fantine. Are you dropping in for dinner?"
Fantine shakes her head. "What are you doing?"
"Research," Feuilly replies. He glances back at the screen and then at Fantine. "How do you know him?"
"I ran into him today at the mall. He was kind enough to give me his card," Fantine replies as she finds a seat near the counter.
"Do you mind if we please have a look at it?" Enjolras asks.
Fantine hands over the card that she's kept in her pocket. "He was quite charming. His bodyguard though was another story."
"Simon Garbe, no doubt," Bahorel mutters before taking a swig of soda.
"Mr. Fouche called him Deeds." Fantine sighs when she sees the grim looks that pass among the young people. "Mr. Fouche is very nice. I can't imagine he'd be the sort to run into trouble."
Enjolras raises an eyebrow. "The public record says otherwise. He's faced complaints from labor unions, environment groups, as well as from a number of individuals who've brought him up on charges of use of grave threats."
"But he was such a gentleman!" Fantine exclaims in disbelief. She takes a deep breath and looks at Eponine, hoping to catch her attention before this dangerous business engrosses her again. "I brought some things that I hope you'll find handy for you and the baby. Why don't you have a look?"
Eponine's eyes widen with surprise. "You don't mean-"
"Indulge me. It's been some time since I've thrown a baby shower," Fantine says encouragingly. Much to her relief, Eponine doesn't protest but instead follows her into the living room. "It's a good thing that the designs nowadays aren't as frilly as before. Do you like them?" she asks as she spreads out the entire layette on the sofa.
Eponine nods gratefully. "Thank you, Fantine. I've been getting things little by little for the baby but this really goes a long way."
"I know it's hard to get away from work, but you should make an effort to do that more, for yourself and the baby," Fantine reminds her former student. She glances back to the kitchen, where she is sure the talk has turned dangerous once more. "All this stress is not healthy. It's not going to get easier for you as your due date gets nearer, trust me."
"I'm taking care of myself, really," Eponine replies as she takes a seat. "Maybe sometimes I get a little too overloaded, but it's not as bad as it seems."
"Eponine, I've known you since you were seventeen. I've seen how tired you can get. I know you get headaches when you don't sleep well." Fantine sighs deeply at the memories of this girl hunched over her textbooks, crying while holding her head in her hands." I know that you swore you'd be with Enjolras for better and for worse, but does this mean that you have to follow him into this investigation?"
Eponine smiles wryly. "Actually we started it together. You might also remember that when I start something, I finish it."
"When all of this began, you didn't even know you were pregnant," Fantine points out. "If not for yourself, then think of your child!"
"Don't you think that he's part of why I'm doing this too?"
That is when Fantine finally sees it clearly, as if she is looking into a mirror that can reach back into the years. She is no stranger to this fire, for it blazed in her bones during those dark days when she clutched Cosette to her bosom while they sought shelter on the streets. 'I thought then that to live was impossible,' she realizes, and yet decades later here she is, alive and well. She sighs before meeting Eponine's bold gaze."I've never been able to hold you back from anything."
"You've always been concerned for me, and I've never forgotten that," Eponine replies. A fond smile crosses her face when she hears Enjolras' voice grow louder amid the discussion in the next room. "To be honest there isn't much left to do with this case since Auguste is tying everything together. We might be able to get this all done before Christmas."
"I hope that will come true for you two. There is no such thing as a quiet Christmas once a kid comes along," Fantine remarks.
"I don't think a quiet Christmas is possible at all with this family," Eponine quips. She nods to Enjolras as she catches sight of him discreetly entering the room. "Auguste, take a look."
Enjolras pauses on seeing all the gifts Fantine has brought. "Are we supposed to pick something?"
"Haven't you ever been to a baby shower?" Fantine replies. "You, sir, have to take better care of your wife. She's pregnant and she needs her rest!"
"Fantine thinks I'm working too hard," Eponine explains resignedly.
"Eponine, you are already aware of my worries, but I believe that you are the best judge of your capacities in this matter," Enjolras remarks, bringing his hand to rest lightly on his partner's shoulder.
'How does he worry about her then?' Fantine wonders silently. Before she can comment on this, Enjolras quickly mutters an apology and fishes out his phone. "Is he always like this?" she asks Eponine.
Eponine laughs. "Oh little does everyone else know!" She bites her lip and gets to her feet when she sees a worried scowl cross Enjolras' face. "Who was that?" she asks as soon as he ends the call.
"Fouche," Enjolras deadpans. "I'm not surprised he was able to place this call; in fact I was expecting it. He intends to set a meeting."
"Eponine nods slowly. When?"
"Tomorrow." The attorney smiles bemusedly as he sets a reminder on his phone. "It's a chance to test the waters and see where the tide really lies."
Fantine gapes at him, wondering if his work has finally driven him mad. "Shouldn't you be afraid? You are going after his man after all."
"Cautious is the word on our side," Enjolras replies. His blue eyes are dark with a resolve that even Fantine knows cannot be gainsaid. "As for him being afraid, well that will depend on how much he truly has to hide."