"The Dream Is Gone But the Baby Is Real," (a Les Mis fanfic), Chapter 9.
Summary: The complete story of Fantine, starting shortly before her conception of Cosette, up to her death. Based on the musical a couple of concepts from Hugo's novel are also present , with a "prequel" section. Multi-chapter. Rated Mature.
Previous Chapters: Chapter 8, Chapter 7, Chapter 6, Chapter 5, Chapter 4, Chapter 3, Chapter 2, Chapter 1
Chapter 9
As the new foreman of the textiles factory, Georges found himself in a position which easily allowed him to harrass the women in his employ. Most of the female workers quietly tolerated him, because they feared that Monsieur Madeleine (now, Monsieur le Mayor) wouldn't believe their complaints; after all, it was the new mayor who hired Georges in the first place.
For her part, the petite snip Nathalie enjoyed the attention, going so far as to willingly engage in an affair with Georges. He was the strongest and most handsome man she had ever seen, and she was horribly jealous that he lusted after other girls in the factory. To add insult to injury, his favorite girl seemed to be that bitch Fantine.
X
Fantine die everything in her power to discourage Georges' attraction to her. She pinned her hair up, hidden under a plain gray bonnet. She dressed herself in worn-out, stained frocks. She even smeared coffee grounds onto her teeth to sully their whiteness.
Despite her attempts to be ugly, Georges never left her alone. He stood close behind her as she worked, literally breathing down her neck. Fantine simply ignored him.
However, one day, Georges reached around to grab Fantine's breast. At that, she jumped away, knocking fabric and needles to the floor.
"Clean up this mess, Fantine!" Georges bellowed, dragging Fantine beneath the stairwell which led to Monsieur le Mayor's office. "I can either make life very hard or very easy for you, Fantine. If you cause another scene like this, I promise you, you will lose your job. But, let me fuck you, little Fantine, and I promise you an increase in your wages."
"I am not a whore, Monsieur le Foreman!" Fantine exclaimed. "I am a woman of virtue, and I will not be bought for a few measly francs!"
"Fair enough, little one," Georges snarled. "But be warned: I have no intention of leaving you alone."
"I understand... And I promise not to cause a 'scene' again. But I will not give into your wishes, Monsieur. Otherwise, I am your employee, and I will submit only as such."
X
On her way back to her workstation, Fantine bumped into a tall, hard-faced man in police clothes.
"Watch yourself, woman!" he shouted.
"I'm very sorry, Monsieur," Fantine murrmured.
Georges ran to them, quickly ushering the police officer to Monsieur le Mayor's office.
Fantine heard Georges address the man as "Inspector Javert."
X
At lunch, Fantine slowly slipped a cup of water and nibbled on a tiny sandwich made of stale bread and hard cheese. She was used to eating like a mouse.
Fantine listened to Nathalie complaining loudly to Fantine's own roommates.
"I can't believe Georges made me clean up that stuck-up girl's mess!"
"Oh, I know!" Chantal agreed. "Fantine gets away with everything. Did you know that she is always late with her portion of our rent? She sends all her money to some mystery person in another town. She won't tell Veronique nor me anything about it."
Fantine quietly got up, handing her sandwich to the old wretch next to her. She couldn't stand the sounds of her coworkers gossip for one minute more.
As Fantine exited the meal area, Veronique piped up.
"You know, Nathalie, Chantal actually heard Fantine crying out names in her sleep. What was the name again, Chantal?"
"Oh, yes! Fantine kept saying... What did she say?... Cosette." Chantal remembered. "She kept saying Cosette."
A wide grin spread across Nathalie's face.
"Cosette, eh? That sounds like a child's name... "
Chantal's eyes grew wide.
"Surely, you don't think Fantine has a child? I thought maybe she was one of those sapphic women."
"You fool," Nathalie chastised Chantal. "Just stay out of this. Veronique! You realize what would happen if our bosses found out that Fantine has an illegitimate child, don't you?"
"I most certainly do," Veronique grumbled. "She would lose her job, and then she'd never pay her share of the rent."
"Yes, well... Find proof that Fantine has a child, and you won't need a third roommate. I will personally make sure that Georges recommends generous pay raises for you two."
"Why do you need proof? Just tell Georges of your suspicions."
"Georges knows I hate Fantine," Nathalie mumbled. "He won't believe my word alone. We need proof. Can I count on you two?"
Chantal nodded furiously.
"Just as long as you can guarantee those generous pay raises," Veronique asserted.
Their conversation gradually drifted to other topics.
"Did anyone notice how nervous Monsieur le Mayor looked when the new police inspector came in today?"
X
Previous Chapters: Chapter 8, Chapter 7, Chapter 6, Chapter 5, Chapter 4, Chapter 3, Chapter 2, Chapter 1
Chapter 9
As the new foreman of the textiles factory, Georges found himself in a position which easily allowed him to harrass the women in his employ. Most of the female workers quietly tolerated him, because they feared that Monsieur Madeleine (now, Monsieur le Mayor) wouldn't believe their complaints; after all, it was the new mayor who hired Georges in the first place.
For her part, the petite snip Nathalie enjoyed the attention, going so far as to willingly engage in an affair with Georges. He was the strongest and most handsome man she had ever seen, and she was horribly jealous that he lusted after other girls in the factory. To add insult to injury, his favorite girl seemed to be that bitch Fantine.
X
Fantine die everything in her power to discourage Georges' attraction to her. She pinned her hair up, hidden under a plain gray bonnet. She dressed herself in worn-out, stained frocks. She even smeared coffee grounds onto her teeth to sully their whiteness.
Despite her attempts to be ugly, Georges never left her alone. He stood close behind her as she worked, literally breathing down her neck. Fantine simply ignored him.
However, one day, Georges reached around to grab Fantine's breast. At that, she jumped away, knocking fabric and needles to the floor.
"Clean up this mess, Fantine!" Georges bellowed, dragging Fantine beneath the stairwell which led to Monsieur le Mayor's office. "I can either make life very hard or very easy for you, Fantine. If you cause another scene like this, I promise you, you will lose your job. But, let me fuck you, little Fantine, and I promise you an increase in your wages."
"I am not a whore, Monsieur le Foreman!" Fantine exclaimed. "I am a woman of virtue, and I will not be bought for a few measly francs!"
"Fair enough, little one," Georges snarled. "But be warned: I have no intention of leaving you alone."
"I understand... And I promise not to cause a 'scene' again. But I will not give into your wishes, Monsieur. Otherwise, I am your employee, and I will submit only as such."
X
On her way back to her workstation, Fantine bumped into a tall, hard-faced man in police clothes.
"Watch yourself, woman!" he shouted.
"I'm very sorry, Monsieur," Fantine murrmured.
Georges ran to them, quickly ushering the police officer to Monsieur le Mayor's office.
Fantine heard Georges address the man as "Inspector Javert."
X
At lunch, Fantine slowly slipped a cup of water and nibbled on a tiny sandwich made of stale bread and hard cheese. She was used to eating like a mouse.
Fantine listened to Nathalie complaining loudly to Fantine's own roommates.
"I can't believe Georges made me clean up that stuck-up girl's mess!"
"Oh, I know!" Chantal agreed. "Fantine gets away with everything. Did you know that she is always late with her portion of our rent? She sends all her money to some mystery person in another town. She won't tell Veronique nor me anything about it."
Fantine quietly got up, handing her sandwich to the old wretch next to her. She couldn't stand the sounds of her coworkers gossip for one minute more.
As Fantine exited the meal area, Veronique piped up.
"You know, Nathalie, Chantal actually heard Fantine crying out names in her sleep. What was the name again, Chantal?"
"Oh, yes! Fantine kept saying... What did she say?... Cosette." Chantal remembered. "She kept saying Cosette."
A wide grin spread across Nathalie's face.
"Cosette, eh? That sounds like a child's name... "
Chantal's eyes grew wide.
"Surely, you don't think Fantine has a child? I thought maybe she was one of those sapphic women."
"You fool," Nathalie chastised Chantal. "Just stay out of this. Veronique! You realize what would happen if our bosses found out that Fantine has an illegitimate child, don't you?"
"I most certainly do," Veronique grumbled. "She would lose her job, and then she'd never pay her share of the rent."
"Yes, well... Find proof that Fantine has a child, and you won't need a third roommate. I will personally make sure that Georges recommends generous pay raises for you two."
"Why do you need proof? Just tell Georges of your suspicions."
"Georges knows I hate Fantine," Nathalie mumbled. "He won't believe my word alone. We need proof. Can I count on you two?"
Chantal nodded furiously.
"Just as long as you can guarantee those generous pay raises," Veronique asserted.
Their conversation gradually drifted to other topics.
"Did anyone notice how nervous Monsieur le Mayor looked when the new police inspector came in today?"
X