Chapter Text
Slowly, Éponine recovered. She did not bounce back into life, but she was no longer under threat of death. Javert spent a great deal of time by her side, concerned that there may be others from Jordenette’s gang looking for trouble.
Éponine clung to her father when it occurred to her that the man she had wanted for her guide was dead. She mourned Enjolras deeply; the strong connection he had sent out to all had touched her strongly.
Cosette was betrothed to Marius, and her whole self glowed more with joy every day. Javert was pleased that his daughter was not a guide; the turbulent emotions in Paris were upsetting his own guide, and Valjean had so much more experience in blocking those feelings. Cosette smiled and giggled, she supported Marius and Éponine and Gavroche and her parents with a strength that surely came from Valjean and from God.
Javert was truly thankful for her.
In the run up to the wedding, Éponine seemed more vulnerable than ever, as though she could not understand the natural distance of sisters that came with age. She spent a great deal of time following her father about. Javert began to desire, as he often did when they stayed long in one place, for the change to enforce the law. When he settled in a new home and got to know the comings and goings of the people, got to know the better off areas from the poorer ones, he felt a need to have an influence, to improve the place.
It frustrated his partner no end because they had to travel often to keep his discomfort from becoming too great. Javert had always been unable to attach himself to a place, but he had attached himself strongly to people instead. Bandolier Bavol had insisted it was his gypsy blood many times when they had been in the camp, but Javert did not care for the reasons.
He thought deeply now though, as he stood in their garden with Éponine at his side, he wondered if he could join the police here. They would be staying in Paris; Cosette was marrying into the Pontmercy family and Valjean would never be able to move far from her.
“Father? What is it?” Éponine’s soft voice asked.
“I will need papers.”
“You want to work.”
“Yes.”
“Can I join you?”
“Join me? No, Éponine. I do not believe so.”
“Please, Father. Why not?”
Javert sighed and looked at his young daughter, watched her straighten her back and harden her expression.
“I cannot see you hurt.”
“Then trust me. I may be occasionally injured, but I have a need to help, Father. Please.”
Javert stared long and hard into the girl’s eyes. He looked down into the brown depths, holding her focus and viewing her determination. He let out an exhausted sigh.
“Yes. Fine. I trust you, and I understand your need as it is one I feel also.”
She nodded quietly, holding her tongue rather than risk talking her father out of the idea by mistake.
“Papers. I know what I am doing, and perhaps I can explain my absence from the service.”
“If you are creating papers, Father, then why not say you were elsewhere? Claim you were in another town, doing duty with them, or undercover for one of those old officers who have died since then.”
Javert chuckled. The idea could work.
“I am, of course, the daughter you have and either never knew of or never spoke of. You have taught me what you know.”
“Éponine, I can try, but women are not part of the police force. I do not think I can make them change their mind.”
“Then I shall be a man.” She froze and blushed slightly. “If you do not mind, at least.”
“A son?” He sighed, could she hold the deception? “If you can manage, then I can make the claim.”
She pulled herself close, flinging her arms around his neck as she felt herself find a role.
“However,” he added, “I have not taught this son everything I know and he shall have to work his way up the same as everyone else.”
She grinned at him. He felt the corners of his mouth twitch up into a responding smile.
---
Valjean smiled as he sat in the sunlight. For the first time in many years, he felt fully relaxed, even more so than when they had lived with Javert’s Romani family. Grandmère Javert was going to visit, and Cosette was excited to see her.
The idea of having such a wonderful family was immense. He was thrilled that he had a parent, little though they saw her now; he had two beautiful daughters, one who was introducing a son in law to the family, and hopefully some grandchildren of his own. His other daughter now dressed as a man, spoke little and worked at the prefecture in Paris. She was happy though. At home, she smiled and laughed often. It was a relief that she was no longer torn up at the deaths of her friends.
The woman would require a guide at some point, but Valjean hoped she was truly her Father’s daughter, a true Javert and could cope without a point of focus. Éponine worked long hours though. She often headed out soon after the dawn and returned after evening meal. Javert told him not to worry, that he had worked longer hours when he had started at the prison. Valjean could not stop his concern though.
He was always relieved to see her smile, and he was aware she spent her spare time conversing with her chameleonic spirit guide, Philippe. He still enjoyed his dreams in that forest, staring up at the stars beside his own, still unnamed bear. Javert spent those dreams in his arms, telling him stories of the stars that he had told many times already, with Alma settled nearby.
Valjean himself happily pottered about gardening, praying, teaching what he could to the street urchins who were always so eager to learn....
At night, he happily shared pleasure with his sentinel, their aging bodies not yet slowing down. Javert was as delicious as ever and his appetite was sometimes a little difficult for Valjean to keep up with.
He sighed as he leaned back in the chair, enjoying the gentle breeze. Cosette had Marius coming over in a few hours, she was flitting about inside to tidy the house up to her exacting standards for her fiancé. Javert and Éponine had promised to return earlier this evening.
His family was healing and they were together. He thanked God every day for it and could ask for no more.