Chapter V - I'll Be Here

LEVI'S POV

"Why is this wench not answering?" I asked myself as Cosette didn't answer her phone for the fifth time. "Sir, here is more paperwork," William, my assistant, entered my office. "What? More?" I complained, staring at the already large pile on my desk. "Unfortunately, sir, and you also have a meeting scheduled this afternoon," answered William. I sat back on my seat and let out an exasperated groan. "Fine, just set the papers down and leave," I ordered. William does so before bowing and leaving my office. "I always forget how exhausting this is..." I sighed. I looked around my office; it had a simple interior. It was painted light black with hard wooden flooring and walls covered by bookshelves. My desk was at the back centre of the room and behind it was a large window that I often pulled the drapes over.

My office was within the Churchill manor, the same manor I grew up in. It was located in the outskirts of London, away from the busy streets and was within a large forest. Nowadays, I only used this mansion for work as I mentioned before. I wasn't too much of an arsehole that I would sell it; my father and mother would have probably pulled at my throat if I did. Though, I had sold some houses of my family's that haven't been used for years. Cosette chewed on me for that. Speaking of Cosette, my phone finally rang and the caller ID was, "The Gay One." I answered before speaking from my line, "Cosette, why aren't you answering your phone?"

"I am very sorry, Levi! I've just been busy with Julia, so I hadn't been able to check my phone!" my sister explained, sounding sort of out of breath. "Anyway, what do you need?"

"I was just ringing to let you know that I won't be coming home for dinner. Ross and I will be going out,"

"What? But I was going to ask you if you wanted to eat out for dinner to make up for breakfast,"

"I'm sorry, 'sette, but Ross asked first,"

"Can't you...cancel with him?"

"Let me ask you something, Cosette, has there ever been a time that I asked you to cancel with Julia?"

I was met with silence from her line.

"Fair enough. Where will you and him be eating?"

"We still don't know but we were thinking somewhere French or Italian. I'll just send you a text of the restaurant once we decide,"

"Very well. And how is work?"

"Exhausting, none the usual. How is your date? Will you be coming home for lunch?"

"My date is going splendid, more than I expected. As for lunch, no, Julia and I decided to eat together to end off our date but I will come home for dinner since you said you won't be able to go out with me,"

"Are you guilt-tripping me?"

"Hm, perhaps,"

LEVI'S POV

"Levi, over here!"

I saw Ross at a table near a window. We made reservations at this fancy and (too) expensive French restaurant that was about twenty minutes away from our houses. I smiled and walked over to my best friend's table. "Hello, Ross, how have you been—" I took a seat and paused my sentence once I saw Eponine sitting next to Ross. "Good evening, Levi," Eponine greeted me, her arms crossed and her eyes colder than ice. I stared at my sister with a surprised expression before looking over at Ross but he avoided my gaze as he tapped his index finger against the table awkwardly. "Ross," I called him. "What is the meaning of this? Why is Eponine here?" The atmosphere was dreadfully thick between my sister and I. Ross finally turned to me and chuckled nervously. "Okay, please do not be mad, Levi, but Eponine didn't come here to argue. She just wants to talk," my friend explained. "Are you both going to announce you're getting married now?" I asked sarcastically.

"What? No! Just please listen to her, Levi," Ross instructed me. I took a deep breath before speaking again, "What do you want? Couldn't you have come to me instead of coming with Ross to our dinner?" I asked calmly, looking at Eponine. "Well, I was going to but Ross said you and him would be going out to dinner, so I tagged along," Eponine smiled but her eyes had a different emotion. The sort of smile she always showed me was filled with suppressed anger and frustration. "Order some food first, then we'll talk," I shrugged my shoulders and Ross and I called over a waiter to order. After telling what food I wanted, I decided to just get apple juice rather than alcohol. Since Cosette made us quit smoking, earlier I thought I should work on my drinking problem as well by only consuming alcohol twice every week, practicing moderation. Cosette would be proud. After our meals arrived, Eponine finally explained what she was there for.

"Levi, I don't think someone like you taking in a child with a troubled past is such a good idea," explained Eponine. I paused for a moment, a little confused. "What?"

"You heard what I said, Levi, I may not like you but I know what sort of person you are! You hardly go to work, your history is awful, you have a smoking and drinking problem, and you can hardly take care of yourself without Cosette around! Someone like you should not be taking care of kids! Just what can a five-year-old girl get from you?"

"Okay, hold on just a fucking minute, Eponine! Just what the bloody hell makes you so sure that you know me that well? You know damn right it was Cosette who wanted to keep Mary, not me! So, just why did you come to me instead of her? And even if I am unfit, Cosette is always there to handle the kid. Besides, there's still a chance the judge will refuse to give us Mary," The atmosphere was becoming heated as I sensed another argument between us was incoming. Ross looked as though he just wanted to leave.

"It isn't Cosette whom I need to speak to, it's you. I understand that the possibility of the judge saying no is there but knowing Mary's situation you and our sister will most likely win her over. Levi, you just said it yourself, it was Cosette who wanted this, not you. I know you do not like kids, so you probably do not even want Marybelle on your plate! And even if Cosette will be with you to help care for the girl, what will happen once she goes back to university? You'll be left to care for the child all by yourself! And I cannot stress enough how unfit you are for the role of a caregiver,"

I felt my eyes twitch at how was pretty much insulting me. I was fully aware that Cosette would be going off to college again very soon and I was hoping I could use that to get better at taking care of Mary and hopefully getting to know her. "Hey, Eponine, how about you just calm down and—" Ross attempted to calm down his little ballistic girlfriend that I called my sister but was cut off. "Levi, I will give you one chance to revoke your and Cosette's offer to be Mary's guardians," Eponine continued, completely ignoring Ross. "Do you remember what I said back at the station? I believe that Mary is best off in foster care than with her mother. If she goes under the system, then there is a better chance a fit and trained foster parent will pick her up rather than going home with an alcoholic such us yourself! Honestly, I would have been comfortable with Mary going home with Cosette if you were out of the picture,"

Even if I was getting agitated, right then I couldn't help but resonate with how Eponine was feeling. I was lazy, had unhealthy habits, was hardly a man, and my life was a mess. She was right about everything she said. What could Mary get from me? However, that didn't matter to me. One thing about me was that I never broke my promises no matter what.

"You say I don't want Mary?" I looked at her. "Eponine, might I remind you that I was the one who brought her home. Look, I am very much aware that I'm unfit but quite frankly, I don't care. I gave that little girl hope when she bumped into me the day we met and I am not cruel enough to take it away from her just because you don't trust me! I gave Cosette my word back at your station, Eponine, and I will not take it back. Besides, I do not think Cosette would have given the offer if she hadn't known that even if I am unfit, I am still capable. If I wasn't, then would I have helped Mary?" Eponine seemed like she was boiling with anger. "Ross!" she turned to her boyfriend, startling him suddenly. "Say something to defend me here!"

"No, you should be backing me up, Ross!" I argued, also turning to him. "Err..." Ross had no clue what to say as he sunk down in his seat. "He is my boyfriend!" exclaimed Eponine. "And he is my best friend!" I countered. "And our friendship seems much more important than whatever the hell is going on between you two!"  Eponine stood up, her face wreaking of anger, and pointed her finger at me. "YOU FOUL, INSOLENT, WRETCHED SIMPLETON—"

---

LEVI'S POV

"Well, that took a turn," I said awkwardly to Ross as we stood by outside the restaurant after being asked to leave by the manager because Eponine and I began to have a screaming match. She didn't want to be with me, so she decided to just wait for Ross inside her car. "Just so we are clear, Eponine started it. You saw,"  Ross sighed, rubbing his eyes with his thumb and index finger. "No, this is my fault. I should have made Eponine stay behind then none of this would have happened," I placed my hands inside my pocket before asking, "What is her problem? I just want to help the little kid,"

"You know, Eponine talked to me about how ashamed she felt as a police officer because she failed Mary because she wasn't the one who found her that day, especially because the two of them were just one door away," explained Ross. "The little girl's well-being is in Eponine's best interest, Levi, even though it seems her approach to you earlier seems rather aggressive," He then looked at me and continued, "Listen, mate, Eponine knows that you have good intentions but she's just worried about Mary because of how you were in your past and your current habits today,"

"Or maybe Eponine is just putting her own personal feelings against me in this matter," I clicked my tongue before sighing deeply and shaking my head. "No, what am I saying? Eponine isn't like that. I know she hates me but she wouldn't bring her emotions into a situation like this. Either way, it's my fault she doesn't trust me,"

"Don't beat yourself up, Levi, all that matters is that you're positive you want Mary. If it helps, I think you'd be a splendid caregiver! And if anything happens, I'll be here," Ross smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder. I returned the smile as I patted his arm. "Thanks, mate, I appreciate it," After that, Ross offered that we just eat at another restaurant but I said we should just reschedule for the evening since Eponine drained me quite a bit. Ross and I hugged, bid our goodbyes, before getting into our cars and driving back home. When I arrived, I saw my sister eating her supper at our dining room and was surprised to see me because I hadn't called that I would be returning early.

"Levi! You're home early. How was your dinner with Ross?" Cosette asked, surprised. "Awful," I answered, throwing my coat onto a chair. "Eponine came and went properly mental on me," Cosette's eyes widened in shock. "Eponine? What happened?" I began to explain how our sister suddenly came and started to say how I should just leave Mary in foster care because I was too "unfit" to become a caregiver. After I finished, 'sette looked as if she was going to murder someone. "Cosette?" I called her after noticing her sudden pause. Suddenly, my sister grabbed her phone from the table before standing up. She dialed Eponine's number and held the device up to her ear. "'sette? Why are you calling her? Cosette!" I followed after Cosette as she walked into our living room, waiting for Eponine to answer the call. "Cosette, come on! Hang up!" I pleaded with my sister. "No, Levi! I am not going to allow Eponine to treat you that way!" Cosette announced. "You didn't deserve any of what she said to you nor did she have the right to assume that you would be an awful person to Mary!"

Finally, the ringing stopped and Eponine's voice came from the other line. "Hello?" Cosette put the call on speaker.

"Eponine! What the bloody hell is wrong with you? Why would you talk to Levi like that?" Not even a simple hello first.

"What? What are you going on about, Cosette?"

"You know what I mean! Why would you come at Levi earlier at the restaurant? It was my decision to take in Mary, so just why are you mad at our brother?"

"Blimey, so you have heard. Look, Cosette, I just want to do what I think is best for Mary. I am a fucking police officer for the love of God and it is my job to protect everyone, especially children! And most importantly, you shouldn't bring a five-year-old girl home when a man of Levi's liking is present!"

"Will you please stop spouting bloody shit about our little brother, Eponine? Mary does not need to be saved from Levi and if she did I would have known. You may be an officer but I know this boy better than you do and I know  that he is a proper human being despite all his mistakes!"

"You are bloody biased, Cosette! Just what did that cheeky bastard do to you? Have you forgotten everything he's done to our family? That he was the one who caused all our problems? Once you go back to university it will just be him and Mary and that is what worries me!"

"Eponine, don't you dare talk about our younger brother like that! I understand why you don't trust Levi but you should know that I would have never put a child in his reach if I believed him to be a bad person!"

At that point I gave up trying to get Cosette to hang up because the two began to yell at one another through their lines. It took a good fifteen minutes for Cosette to tell Eponine to "go fuck herself" and hang up. What was surprising was that Eponine actually quite admired Cosette and not once had I seen the two fight in the past, so I was getting rather worried for them. "Are you done?" I asked 'sette casually as she took a deep breath. "Yes, as long as I've properly defended you," she answered. "You didn't have to do that, 'sette, now you and Eponine are on bad terms with each other," I said. "That doesn't matter. As long as it's you, then I would come at anyone. Besides, I'm sure Eponine and I will surely make up somehow. We have to," Cosette claimed but I noticed a little bit of remorse in her eyes. I couldn't blame her. She and Eponine had always been very close ever since Colette moved away.

The two of us stayed there in silence, uncomfortably. Eventually, I decided that it would be pointless to continue on this conversation, thus I just shook my head and walked away from her.