Hey, two promises kept in a row! I'm on a roll...

feel like I should put a trigger warning at the start of this - especially the first section. Also I've upped the rating... probably should've a while ago but hey ho.

Disclaimer: Noooooooope

Lying on a soggy mattress in a windowless basement, deep in the worst part of San Michel, Azelma felt her child die. Her body was shouting at her to make it stop, make it go away, do SOMETHING, but nothing could penetrate the wall her mind had built up against doing... anything.

She felt the pain, like a full body injury that kept happening over and over again. She was vaguely aware of the sensation of a truck hitting her in the stomach over and over again. But her mind was numb, unable to process even the idea of feeling anything. Azelma had given up.

Gavroche sent Jacques around the front of the inn to scout out the tools they needed to break him out, and set about remodelling the cellar to fit in. I need that there… and that THERE… if this is gonna work, an' it is…

He was hard at work when he heard a voice from behind him, making him jump. 'Gavroche?'
'Jeeeesus, Jacques, ya nearly killed me! What is it?!'
'I can't find the stuff you asked me for.'
Gavroche rolled his eyes but kept focus on the task at hand. 'Keep looking, yeah?'
'Naaaah.'
'What?!'
'Gavroche, look up.' He looked up at the door, only to almost fall over in shock. Stood in the open doorway was a grinning Jacques. 'I found the key, didn't I?'
Gavroche jumped up, laughing so hard he thought his face would split in two. Then he ran for the door. Well, that was easier than my plan…

He ran alongside Jacques, who was laughing just as hard as him, out of the cellar, up the stairs, the corridor, into the bar, towards the door. He put out his arm to open the door, when it burst open on its own.

No! Not now!

Azelma didn't know how long she'd been lying there. An hour? A day? A year? Who cared? Long enough to stop crying, anyway.

She heard mutterings a long way away; grumbling men with voices she hardly knew. Rough hands picked her up under her arms and pulled her upright. They dragged her along, and she shuffled her feet to keep up.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
She was outside.

The hands let go. A door slammed behind her.
She was alone.

Éponine jumped out the car before it had even stopped, heading as fast as she could for the rickety front door of the inn. It felt strange, running as fast as she could towards the place she'd fought so hard to leave.

She barged into the door, ready for a fight, but all she found was –

'Gavroche? Jacques?'
'Éponine!' They ran at her and hugged her tightly, thin little arms wrapped around her tiny waist. She clutched at them in relief, relief that at least one of her siblings was safe, with her, and Jacques too, who was like a brother to her. Clenching her eyes closed to stop the tears she stroked their heads. 'Oh God, Gav, Jacques, what the hell are you doing here?!'
'He got me, Ép, he got me at school, they've kicked me out – I was so scared, I ran and ran but he caught me and he dragged me here and I never wanted to come here again and ÉP –' the floodgates opened as her little brother finally let go of the fear he'd been bottling up. This is all my fault, I was supposed to pick him up from school, I'm so selfish!
'Shhh, sshhh, it's ok now, you're safe, I promise.' She stroked his hair and then knelt down to wipe his tears with her sleeve, other hand holding Jacques'. 'I thought you were at Courf's, or I'd have come looking for you, I'm so sorry, I'll never leave you again.'
'It's not ya fault, it was earlier, it wasn't at home time, it was that stupid Miss 'Eron, she called 'im, I didn't know what to do -'
'Shhh, it's ok.' She stood up and kissed his head, eyes closed as she thanked God he was safe. 'How did you get away, where is he?'
'He locked me in the cellar, Jacques came an' found the key, I was gonna –'
'Jacques, you're so clever, thank goodness for you!' Her kisses were transferred to the taller, dark-haired boy, who glowed with pride.
Enjolras laid a gentle hand on her back, startling her. 'I don't want to stop the reunion, but Éponine… Azelma?'
Oh God! 'Gav, have you seen 'Zelma?'
'Yeah! Ép she's preggo, an' he knows, he was gonna do somethin' bad, I know it, an' he's gone, I dunno where'
I thought he'd be here, I don't know either! She began to panic 'He didn't say anything about where he was going?!'
'He jus' mumbled about takin' care of it, ya know what he's like…'
He's not… no. Not even he… would…

Oh God.

'I know where she is, and we don't have much time. Lads, in the car. NOW.' And then she ran as fast as she could towards one of the only houses in the slums she'd never visited.

With good reason.

Thénardier couldn't help being a bit pleased with himself. He'd taken swift and effective care of this baby bollocks, got a ready-made little worker locked and waiting for him in his cellar, his wife was safely in prison where she couldn't cause any trouble for him, AND he had enough money left in his pocket to go for a pint. So he excused himself to Robert (or "Abortion Bob" as he was known in these parts) and his wife, telling them he'd be back to collect his daughter in an hour, then went down the Prancing Pony for a pint.

Pretty good day, really.

Well done me.

Enjolras ran after her, Joly hot on his heels. Bahorel had hung back to look after the boys. He had no idea where he was going, but the fear in Éponine's eyes had been enough to tell him it was nowhere good. They ran around the block, then turned left, then right, down an alley, past a pub called the Prancing Pony, around another corner and then –

He saw her only a second after Éponine did. A tiny, shrunken rag doll of a person, crumpled against a wall, clutching her stomach. Her hair was lighter than Éponine's, and it was straight and lank instead of the bouncing waves and curls he usually associated with the Thénardiers. There was something of Éponine in her face, but she was somehow softer and more angular than her older sister, as well as horrendously thin. Her wide brown eyes were clearly the same as her siblings', despite being sunken into her face and yet… they were dull and glassy. Dead eyes. The sight frightened him, and brought a wave of pity swelling up through his whole body. He heard Éponine sob her sister's name then collapse on the floor next to her, hands shaking Azelma's shoulder and stroking her cheek in an attempt to rouse her. Is she…?

'Azelma! 'Zelma, come on, don't just stare, you're fine now, it's Éponine. Listen to me, Zel, it's me! It's 'Ponine! I'm here, just look at me, please, come on. Are you hurt? Oh God, you are - Joly?! I need Joly?!' Éponine was jabbering frantically, panic and hysteria welling up and building as she kept going. 'Joly, please!'
Joly jogged over, and bent down next to the sisters, laying a gentle hand on Éponine's shoulder. 'I need to take a good look at her, Pony, just sit back a little for me?' Éponine scooted back a few inches, her face screwed up as she fought with all her might not to cry.

Enjolras was rooted to the spot, utterly out of his depth. Why did I make the others stay, anyone would be better than me, I am the worst help in the world…

Joly squeezed gently on Azelma's sides, and she cried out. Éponine jumped up, leaning forward as close as she could to her sister. ''Zelma?! 'Zelma, it's me, it's Éponine, I'm here, are you ok?'
'Ép….Éponine?'
'I'm here!'
'Is it… is it you? Really you?'
'It's me, I'm here, I'll never leave you again, I promise! Just stay with me, Zel, ok?'
'I…. I don't think I can keep going. I don't have a baby any more, Éponine' she sobbed, her whole body convulsing with grief, wracking her fragile frame. Éponine made to hug her sister tightly, but Joly held a hand out to stop her.
'Éponine, she's got pretty severe internal bleeding' he whispered gently.
'What?!' Éponine looked up at the young doctor, eyes wide and bottom lip shaking.
'The abortion… it's wrecked her insides. She won't last much longer.'
'No… NO! You have to do something Joly, fix her, you fixed me up fine, you can fix her, I know it, please, please just fix her, she's my sister' she started to sob, tears spilling out over her cheeks 'I'll do anything Joly, please!' Enjolras bit his lip as his stomach tied itself in knots.
'Éponine, there's nothing I can do. You know I would if I could.'
'How… how long?'
'A few minutes at most. Should I get Gavroche?'
'NO! No, I don't want him to see… oh GOD, it's not enough TIME! There's so much I want to say!' She turned back to face her sister, eyes streaming with tears. Joly stood back to give them privacy, moving alongside Enjolras.
'My…. My turn to talk' rasped Azelma.
'But –'
'Éponine, I'm dying… shut up.'
'No, you're not going to die, we're going to fix you, you'll see! We'll –'
'Ép, it's… it's ok… I don't want to….'
'You don't mean that! You don't have to go home, you just –'
'No, I do… I mean it… I was never as strong as you, you're –'
'You are, you are!'
'No, I'm not… I didn't leave when you –'
'I shouldn't have left you!'
'No, you had to, you did the… the right thing. Look at you now… friends… house… boyfriend' she gestured at Enjolras, who had no idea what to do. 'Well done, Ép… he's… he's hot.'
'We're not –'
'The… the thing is, I know Mont – I know Parnasse wanted you, not me'
'Don't say that, you guys almost had a kid!'
'Come on, Ép, you clicked and he –'she coughed loudly, and her voice was growing weaker by the second '-came running. But it's… it's ok. I'm –'
Her voice faded to barely a whisper as she rasped out 'You don't need me. I'm just glad everybody else is happy.' Her eyes closed. That's it. She's gone.
'Don't say that, I need you! Azelma? Azelma! Azelma, wake up! Azelma! Joly, help! AZELMA! No! NO! You can't be dead! You hear me?! NO! NO!' Éponine was shaking Azelma by the shoulders, tears streaming down her face as she held her tightly to her chest. 'You can't leave me!' The hysterical sobs came thick and fast as her heart broke there and then. Passers-by stared, but Éponine didn't see. He'd be surprised if she even knew where she was.

She let out a half-scream, a sob so big it shook her whole body to the core, and he couldn't stay still any longer. Glancing at Joly, who had silent tears rolling slowly down his face, the men moved forward to comfort their friend. Enjolras laid a gentle hand on Éponine's shoulder. 'Éponine –'
'NO! I WON'T LEAVE HER, SHE'S GOING TO WAKE UP!'
'Éponine, she's gone.'
'NO!'
He kept his voice as level and as gentle as he could. 'Éponine, Joly's going to take her to the hospital, ok?'
'So they can fix her, right, she's going to wake up!'
'No, 'Ponine. She's not going to wake up. She's gone now. You need to let go of her now.'
Éponine sobbed once more, then slowly drew herself up, releasing her sister. Enjolras held out a hand and helped her stand up, and she crumpled in on herself, almost falling to the floor. He caught her, and she held onto him for dear life, face buried in his chest and she shook and shook, finally silent. His eyes met Joly's, but they knew there was nothing to be said. No words could make this better. All he could do was try to support her until she could stand herself.

He rubbed small circles on her back, arms wrapped tightly around her tiny frame. He quietly shhhed her as she fell apart, tears soaking through his shirt, incapable of doing anything but cry.

Joly nodded at him, pointing at his phone. He's called an ambulance to pick her up. Enjolras returned his nod with a small smile of thanks, still stroking Éponine's hair. Joly pointed in the direction of the road, his eyes full of sorrow. Enjolras nodded again, and his friend picked up Azelma's body and carried it away.

'Éponine' he whispered. 'Éponine, Joly's taking Azelma away now.' She pulled back slowly, never letting go of him, but turning so she could watch her sister go. They watched as the ambulance pulled up, and a paramedic helped Joly put her into the back. They watched as the doors were closed and Joly shook the medic's hand. They watched as the ambulance pulled away, out of sight. Through all of this, Éponine never said a word, she just held onto him.

After a minute, she said 'I think we should go now.' Her voice was thick and low with tears, and he looked carefully at her before he nodded. Reaching down to take her hand, they walked slowly towards the car, hands clasped tightly together. He had the strangest thing he was holding her together, too.

Well, I am an emotional wreck. I watched the Cory Monteith memorial episode of glee to prepare for writing this and oh LORD, I cried. My neighbours are going to think I've died or something. Oops.

I've never written anything this emotional before! Was it ok? Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated :)