The streets of Paris were far from warm as the night fell upon the darkening city, the wind growing with strength every passing minute although it didn't seem to quite bother Aimee.
Perhaps this was because she had grown accustomed to the harsh winters that Paris had been given over the years, or maybe she had grown numb with the cold and couldn't bring herself to feel the harsh breeze against her cheeks any longer.
Many people would take a look at the young woman and feel pity, others would curl their noses up in disgust at such a being allowed on their streets within the day, although she had seemed to have tuned out their opinions.
Growing up alone, she had become extremely streetwise, as some would call it, and knew her way around the entire city, she didn't need anybodies help or protection because she, quite simply, believed she could fend for herself.
She knew where to go and where not to go, she knew of occasional shelter and warmth and she knew where she could get food - although she seldom ever went.
She would take nothing unless it was earned by herself.
Although do not be fooled, she wasn't completely alone - she had friends, very few, but they existed.
Her closest, some would say 'best' friend was Eponine, a fellow gamin like herself.
They had met a few years prior but had been close ever since, and through 'Ponine she had met Marius. The boy that Eponine had fawned over since her youth, and was even nicknamed 'Marius' Shadow'.
Marius was, of course, a bourgeois boy as his grandfather was extremely wealthy, although like Aimee herself, he would not take a thing he hadn't well earned. She considered Marius a good friend.
Through Marius she had met some of Les Amis de l'ABC, although she was not always friendly with them.
The only members she really knew well were Grantaire, the always merry alcoholic and her closest childhood friend, besides Eponine, Enjolras.
But they were as far as her relationships went with people, she was shy and didn't say much unless you knew her.

Aimee smiled as she could faintly hear the cries of agreement and excitement from the Café at the end of the street and knowing that it was her friends she made the internal decision to go and see what all the fuss was about.
She knew that Enjolras was planning a revolution and was dead set on it becoming reality, and she agreed with his cause; the underclassmen of Paris were not being treated with the respect and dignity that they deserved.
She reached the door and pushed it open slightly, shivering from the rush of heat that hit her freezing body.
A number of heads turned away from Enjolras' speech to see who was entering, but all smiled when she did - although she wasn't friends with them all, they all protected her as if she were there sister, along with Eponine and her younger brother Gavroche.
Enjolras stopped speaking to look at her also.
''Friends - we shall continue this in tomorrows meeting! Remember to meet here at the same time, do not be late!'
And with that, he hopped off of the table he was standing on and bustled over to the shivering girl.
''Aimee what are you doing here?'' she smiled and looked up at her childhood friend.
''Well I could hear you lot from the end of the street and I decided to come and see what you were all so happy about, care to share?''
Enjolras shook his head and laughed.
''The Revolution is just coming together very well, that is all Aimee''
''You know I don't support you fighting Enjolras - even if I do support your cause!''
He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her dead in the eye.
''Were fighting so people like you, and you yourself can have a better life. Please don't begrudge it''
Aimee sighed and shook his hands off.
''Fine, but when you get injured don't come running to me! I told you so!''
Enjolras couldn't help but smile at this, he knew her words were not meant to be serious.
''Are you staying with Eponine tonight?'' he changed the subject, she shook her head.
''No, her bloody father is making her work herself silly tonight. I'll find somewhere else, perhaps stay with Marius if I can find him''
''Marius is at his Grandfathers if I remember correctly, you could stay with me for the night if you'd like? You know I don't like you on the streets at night''
''I can survive perfectly fine on my own Alexandre Enjolras! I don't need smothering!''
''I'm not saying you can't mademoiselle, but for my own sanity just for tonight?''
She sighed and shook her head.
''Just for tonight''

Once she reached Enjolras' small apartment on Rue De La Monnaie and was astounded at what was inside.
She'd never been inside his apartment before, she'd only ever took shelter with Marius and Eponine and she was used to her surroundings there.
She smiled at the amount of books that were spread out on the desk, bookshelves and even on the floor - with his school work somewhere among them.
There was a sofa pushed beside the back wall near the window and a fire opposite with a rug in the middle of the floor, the French flag pinned up opposite with pride.
Aimee couldn't help but grin at his love for his country.
''Do you need to freshen up?'' he asked her, shrugging off his signature red jacket and placed it on the chair by his desk, Aimee nodded a little.
''Would that be okay? Marius always allows me-''
''Of course it is'' he laughed, cutting her off.
''The bathroom is through that door - let me know when you're finished'' he smiled.
She nodded and made no haste to get in there quickly, oh how she was looking forward to this.
Of course she tried to be clean and stay clean as much as possible, but it was hard.
Her and Eponine occasionally asked Marius if they could use his bathtub, and although he said yes every time, they did not wish to be a constant bother and could put up with being a little grotty for a while, after all they had been all their lives.

Once the water had filled, she pulled her matted blonde hair from the knot she had tied it up in, trying to disguise the grease a little, and rid herself of her makeshift dress.
She'd be lying if she said that it didn't feel good to be completely clean for once, to not have to walk around constantly freezing cold. It was nice to be warm.
Once she had finished, she picked up the towel that was lying beside the bath and wrapped it round her and grimaced as she looked at the brown water.
''Enjolras'' she called, earning a little 'yeah' from the next room.
''Do you have anything I can put on? I'm sorry to be a bother''
A moment later a hand came through the door holding a shirt and some underwear.
''I'm sorry, I know its nothing for a lady but I'm afraid I have nothing else''
''Its no bother, thank you monsieur''

For the first time in a long time, Aimee slept warm in a proper bed for the night - with nobody wanting something of her that she didn't want to give.
And she liked it.