#and the gillenormand-pontmercy family hours are delightful

[potatosonnet]

soooo curious potatosonnet my beloved, have you drawn marius' cousin Théodule yet?

now i have

[aflamethatneverdies]

A tiny, thematically appropriate Christmas AU involving Georges Pontmercy, Father Mabeuf, Fantine and Cosette for @midautumnnightdream. 

Georges Pontmercy was settling in his regular pew in a church on the outskirts of Paris, with a young child of around six or seven years named Marius, who was gazing at the ceiling of the Church in delight and deep fascination. It had become a tradition for Georges to travel to Paris for Christmas to spend time with Father Mabeuf and Mother Plutarch, since he had no other friends. Besides, he felt it a duty for Marius to at least be acquainted with his aunt, when she visited Church for Mass. He vaguely knew of the existence of other relations- Marius had a cousin Theodule whose family was in Paris, and he felt that the children should grow up playing with each other and he intended to visit their family the next day so that the boys could spend time together. For all those reasons, Georges Pontmercy had undertaken a journey from Vernon by a stagecoach with a sleepy Marius. 

Father Mabeuf entered the Saint Sulpice Church after a few minutes and took his seat beside him. He had arrived early for Mass on Christmas eve.

‘Well?’ he queried.

‘It is for Marius’ sake.’ Georges sighed even as he clutched the child to himself more, ‘He will grow up in luxury. What more can a father want?’

‘He will grow up without a father.’ Mabeuf paused, ‘I approve of all political opinions as you know, but not when they separate families.’

‘Monsieur Gillenormand is Marius’ grandfather. I can’t disconnect him from that part of his family, for the sake of his dear mother.’ There were tears in Georges’ eyes as he thought of his dead wife.

‘Even if?’ Mabeuf’s tone was gentle and he placed his hand on Georges’ hand.

‘Even if I never get to see him again,’ a tear fell from Georges’ eyes and travelled all the way down his cheek as he nodded, ‘I live on a paltry pension in Vernon, while Marius’ grandfather lives in Paris in a great house. My son’s life would be so much better there. He will grow up in all the comforts that I can never provide for him.’

Mabeuf’s eyes glistened with tears, ‘I have known you, friend, for some years now through my brother. You know as well as I do, that the poor child’s life will be without love.’

Mabeuf smiled at the dark haired child, who wanted his kindly old uncle to follow him around the church. Georges scooped up Marius in his arms and kissed the dear child’s head as he laughed, ‘You are growing too big for my arms.’

‘Don’t send him away,’ Father Mabeuf said turning to Georges, ‘Money is not everything. Your child’s happiness is more important. Perhaps, your father in law might not even disinherit the child. Even if he does, the child deserves to grow up with a father who loves him.’

‘Do you want to live with your father, Marius?’

In reply, the solemn looking child who was lost in his own world, buried his head in his father’s shoulder. Mabeuf squeezed Georges’ shoulder without saying anything. The two men had developed a close familiarity over the years they had known each other to the point where they did not need many words to communicate, they understood each other’s thoughts well. They were friends and family to each other.  

Georges spent several happy hours in his garden growing flowers and sending letters and saplings to Father Mabeuf, while Father Mabeuf himself, was occupied with his own experiments in gardening involving growing indigo. They exchanged several hours of pleasant conversation whenever Georges visited Paris or Father Mabeuf visited his brother in Vernon. They spent endless hours talking about books and gardening and finding pleasure in that.  

Presently, their attention was caught by a young woman carrying a baby in her arms who had entered the Church just before the Mass began. The baby was asleep with the confidence that very young children possess when they feel safe in their mother’s arms.

The mother was beautiful and had Georges Pontmercy been less preoccupied, he would have noticed it all the more. Her hair fell in cascades all the way down to her waist and shimmered gold in the light, while her beautiful blue eyes were slightly dimmed with tears. Nevertheless, Georges felt a sympathy for the mother and her child, for the mother was not followed by a husband. 

The reader will have guessed that the young mother was Fantine. She had determined to set out for Montreuil sur Mer in early spring as soon as winter had folded away its white wings.  She had despaired of finding enough work in Paris to support them and was living on whatever she had left and could sell so that she would have money for her journey. She had already given up all finery, sold most of her trinkets and was dressed very simply, despite all this, there was a determined look about her. In the light, she still retained all her beauty, though some lines of sadness were also visible.  

It was the children who found each other first. Children lead very naturally to conversation. Fantine felt there was some Providence in her footsteps being directed to this Church on Christmas eve. She had no relations, no family. The poor girl only had her child, the child only the mother. Fantine had explained in some words how she had determined to set out for her hometown in spring. Father Mabeuf in turn invited her for a supper on Christmas eve with Mother Plutarch and Father Mabeuf’s brother, the cure.

The supper was a small and dignified affair.  Father Mabeuf had brightened the house with flowers. Solomon the cat was curled up under the table but also liked curling up near everyone’s feet and getting in the way. Mother Plutarch served a simple but delicious meal, helped by Fantine. In the garden, Cosette had been spending her time digging up earth and putting worms in her mouth which horrified the dignified and passionate Marius.

For a while, the people in the house forgot their troubles and the uncertain future and spent an evening in delightful conversation and the laughter of children and the clinking of the dishes as they were passed round. 

[lemeute]

omg omg so

this is an everybody-lives AU. post-barricade, Marius and Cosette are busy planning their wedding; Enjolras et al are busy getting Bahorel out of jail and planning some new revolution-y business 

when his mother announces that surprise! she’s coming to Paris and does so need to see her only son. Enjolras sighs deeply and goes to dinner with his mother, who brings along an old lover of hers that she’s reunited with

who just so happens to be, surprise! Enjolras’ biological father and prime-time asshole Félix Tholomyès 

Enjolras sighs deeply some more. Enjolras’ mother is like ah, oh yes,  Félix my darling, if only you hadn’t left me for that grisette, I know I wasn’t so pretty when I was pregnant, but did what’s her name, Fantine, get you so many invitations to fine parties? and Enjolras is like Fantine, hmm, where have I heard that name 

but mostly he just makes bitter one-liners about wealth redistribution and zones out thinking about how to get Bahorel out of jail

on his way back from awkward family dinner it hits him that Pontmercy has passed the bar, which might be helpful re: Bahorel, so he resolves to stop by the next day

when he gets to Gillenormand’s place, Marius is busy doing something but Enjolras is like “yeah I’ll wait don’t worry” 

but while he’s hanging out he overhears Gillenormand and Cosette talking about Cosette’s mother, who seems to be dead and maybe not the Most Reputable, and Gillenormand being sort of vaguely a dick about it like “haha fallen women, how delightful, am I right my child!” and Cosette sounding upset

Enjolras is like “this is way too many asshole bougie dudes within 24 hours”

so he steps in and introduces himself, Cosette seizes the opportunity to entertain him in the parlor until Marius comes down, he does the whole “I don’t mean to pry but it seems that M. Gillenormand was not conducting himself with the greatest tact” deal that he learned from Courfeyrac

and that’s when he learns Cosette’s mother was a grisette named Fantine

before he can decide how to react to this information, surprise! Marius shows up, and Cosette excuses herself while they go talk about Lawyering and Bahorel and Jail Escapades

and Enjolras walks home later like “possibly I have... a sister? via that fucking asshole my mother insists on continuing to have dinner with? and she’s marrying Pontmercy?”

“oh my god”

The only AU in which Enjolras and Cosette are siblings that I’ll accept is a Parent Trap version

Except there’s no romantic subplot between their parents

Instead it leads to Félix Tholomyès, the biological father of both of them, getting punched