The Glass Heart 

Chapter One 

It was the spring of 1702 when Catherine and her husband Henry where expecting 
there sixth child. She was hoping this one would be a girl, considering the five 
were boys. "Henry...it's coming" shouted Catherine out the window. Henry and their 
eldest sons William (seventeen) and Gabriel (sixteen) were working in the field.

"Boys it's time" said Henry as he and William ran to the house Gabriel made a bird 
call to the other four boys. 

Catherine was set upon the table with a blanket underneath her, Henry and William
were with her as she when into labor. The twins Fredrick and Samuel (who were the 
age of ten) went to heat water in the cooking pot, and poor four year old 
Nathaniel was a little confused as to what was going on. 

A few hours had past, it became dark, and soon they would see the baby. "I see a 
head!" Said Fredrick. "I hope its a boy" Said Samuel. "Boys hush" said William. "It's 
a girl." said Henry as he held the screaming baby, tears of joy started to form
in his eyes. "I'll clean her off" said Gabriel. 

Catherine gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, they named her Emily Marie
Thatcher. She had the most beautiful blue eyes (just like her mother). 
"She is simply too beautiful" said Catherine, "All right boys," started William "We 
have to promise to protect Emily from any male wondering eye." 

Everyone laughed, and Catherine started to get up to rest in the bedroom, John 
noticed what she was trying to do so he handed Emily to Gabriel-who wrapped 
her in a blanket-and Henry carried her to the bedroom and sat her on the bed. 
Gabriel followed and handed his mother his baby sister. "Thank you dear." 
Catherine said as she took her baby girl in her arms. 

Nathaniel came in and curled up next to his mother and said "May I hold her 
mama?" " Yes my darling, watch her head." she said with a warming smile. "I love 
you sister, I won't let any bad person hurt you" Nathaniel said as he kissed her 
forehead. Then he handed her back to his mother. "Goodnight my sweet Nathaniel" 
said Catherine as she kissed her son, he hopped off the bed and ran off to get 
dresses in his nightgown and go to bed. 

It became nine o'clock and surprisingly everyone was asleep, even baby Emily. 

Les Misérables de l'Opéra

Part One

As Eponine was walking on her own to give Marius' letter to Cosette, she caught herself thinking about him.

"Why does Marius love her? They just met!" She couldn't help but rant. "Just like
Cosette she always gets what she wants. Nothing seems to make sense anymore."
Then she stopped and said to herself.

"Wow. That opera house, it's so beautiful. Opera Popular, guess it wouldn't
hurt to walk in."

When she walking in she was amazed at how the marble shined. "Wow, even more beautiful on the inside" then she let out a giggle the wondered up the stairs.
To her surprise box five was empty. "Might as well sit" she said to herself.
She had never been to an opera before but she did agree with most people that La
Carlotta wasn't as amazing as she thought she was.  

About thirty minutes had passed when the Phantom (Erik) had decided to take his place in box five, but someone was already sitting there.

"Stupid boy" he muttered to himself then she pulled the boy out of the box by
the collar of his overcoat and turned him around to see his face come to find
out that the boy was a girl.

"Oh, I apologize miss" Erik said "Who are you?" Erik asked "Well?" he asked
getting impatient. "E-Eponine, Eponine Thénardier. Who are you, and why did you
pull me out of the box?" she asked as she smacked Erik's hand off of her
shoulder.

"Erik, I am what they call here, the opera ghost" he said this with a smirk like
he was proud of the title. "And I pulled you out because I normally sit and I
thought you were a young boy, dressed up as you are" he said looking at the thin
rags she wears.

"When you're poor what else can you wear?" All of a sudden her stomach growls. "You don't eat much either." She says with an embarrassed smile. "Here come with
me." Erik says as he held out his hand. Eponine paused for a moment they took his
hand

He led her through secret doorways and underground tunnels. "Where are we going?" She asked excited for a new adventure. "You will see soon enough" he
said with his sly smirk.

Soon enough they were in a boat, headed to the phantom's lair.

Chapter 11  

Belle leads the way by walking in first. "So you must be Bernadette?" she says in the sweetest tone as she shakes her hand. "Yes." Bernadette smiles. "May I say you look lovely tonight Bernadette." Belle says making Bernadette blush. "Thank you my queen" Belle laughs lightly "Please, call me Belle."

So as they eat it is somewhat quiet until Belle starts a conversation. "So, Bernadette, how did you and my son meet?" "Well we met in the bookshop in the village." "The Bookshop, oh, I loved going there" "So do I. Has so many books about adventures and animals, oh how I love learning about animals!" "Really? what is your favorite animal?" Adam and Felix look at each other and Adam gives him a wink. Bernadette replies "Oh Belle there are so many, I can't decide" both ladies giggle. Felix and Adam smile both hopeful that Bernadette is the one.

Belle continues the conversation "So Bernadette tell me about your father" Felix stops eating he is now afraid of what will happen. So many questions go through his mind especially one How will I face her after this? But Bernadette answers "Well, I didn't know him he died before I was born. All I know is that his name was Gaston." Belle and Adam look at each other and Bernadette notices. "Belle, did you know him?"

Belle gives a sigh. "Yes, I did know him." Bernadette's eyes widen and she has a smile forming on her face. "Will you tell me about him? Please? My mother never talks about him." "Bernadette I don't really think-" "Please Belle?" Be asks trying to be polite. Belle looks at Adam and she gives her a smile and his eyes are saying Tell her.

"He was a handsome man, but he was also very self absorbed. And he thought I was just a "prize" to be won. And all the girls in town were just in love with him and I could never see why. But any way he came to my house and asked me to marry him and when I turned him down he because violent and rude. And when he found out that I was here he wanted to come and kill Adam so I would be forced to marry him. And this was not the first attempt to get me to marry him. He also tried to through my father in the Maison Des Lunes." "Oh!" Bernadette said shocked. "And he found Adam and stabbed him and then after that he fell to his death. I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you."

"No, Belle it's perfectly fine. Now I see why my mother never talked about him, or you. If you will excuse me." Bernadette gets up and heads towards the front room. Felix goes after her. He finds her on the ground sobbing. "Bernadette, I'm sorry you had to learn about you father this way." he kneels down and hugs her. "Felix it isn't your fault, it's my mother's for leading me down a garden path. I just can't believe my mother lied to me" Belle walks in and kneels down at Bernadette's other side and says, "Bernadette, you are always welcome here if you ever need comfort, or someone to talk to I will be here." "Oh, thank you Belle." they hug then all three get up and Adam comes in to give her a hug goodbye, and then Felix walks her out the door and into the coach after they kiss goodnight.

On her way home Bernadette was trying to pull herself together and process what Belle had just told her. All her mother had told her. And was asking herself why her mother would lie about her father to her. Was it to cover up a secret? She had to know.