A Franc or Two - Les Misérables [IN EDITING]

A Six Month Period - Chapter 57

A/N: Okay, this is also pretty graphic, NGL... just a fair warning!

You were laying there for what felt like hours.

Multiple times, you tried to gather the strength to push yourself out of there— but you gave up each and every time...

If not for your baby, then who for?

You could only lay there and weep, suffocating on your tears while you remained unable to hear yourself over the cracks of thunder and heavy rain.

It seemed as time had slowed to a crawl.

By the time anyone found you, however, the rain had slowed to a sprinkle— and you were slumped a literal heap of blood on the floor, wishing more than anything that you had just died right then.

It felt like hours until you heard footsteps and a small gasp.

"M'selle [Y/N], is that you?"

Your head pricked up, and you saw the tiny silhouette of Gavroche— and once you let your head drop again, his little footsteps were heavy as he rushed over.

His small hands lifted your face to look at him, to check if you were alive, and he began to cry as he stared at you.

"M'selle, I... I doesn't know what to do," he said, his eyebrows furrowing as he glanced behind him. "I doesn't want to leave you alone, but—"

"Get Joly," you whimpered, trying your hardest to keep it together for his sake. "He'll know..."

Gavroche, after casting another glance behind him, was quick to nod.

"Okay," he said quickly, looking horribly concerned as he pressed a kiss to your cheek.

Though you didn't know it, hadn't done that for anyone else. Ever.

Following your instructions, he hurried off, practically a little blur in the moonlight. His footsteps grew softer and softer before they stopped— and for a moment, it went silent...

And then you heard what sounded like a conversation.

Once it ended, someone else was hurrying down the alleyway— and you were soon to be greeted with the sight of Grantaire, who held you up to keep your attention. It was hard for him to see your pained face.

"[Y/N], listen to me—"

"There's no way it's alive, Monsieur," you spilled quickly, taking in a shaky breath as your hand clutched your stomach. You let out a choked sob, shaking your head as you felt your belly— which pained you quite horribly, but you didn't care. "The baby... It's... There's no way..."

Grantaire stared at you for a few moments, unsure of what to do (he wanted to stop the bleeding, but from what he had heard from Joly, treating a pregnant woman was a lot different than a normal one).

"Oh, Mademoiselle— Joly's going to be here soon," he said, pulling you close to him as one of his hands ran though your hair. He didn't know your pain, but he wanted to comfort you despite that. "He'll... He can see what can be done..."

You tensed from another wave of pain, burying your face further into Grantaire's arm, and you gasped for breath.

"It... God, it hurts!"

You broke into sobs again as Grantaire rocked you gently. You began to rattle with tears as you shook your head.

"Everything... I just... Oh, shit, Grantaire— there's no way it's alive!"

Time passed achingly slow. Again, it felt like hours until Gavroche came running down the alleyway again, holding Joly's hand.

He was pitied by the sight immediately.