A/N: In this story, Eponine is friends with Les Amis de l'ABC and is closer to Cosette; characters may be slightly OOC; characters may be linked together more closely than in the musical or book, and this story doesn't actually link to a lot of the events in Les Misérables.

You've been warned; if you came here looking for canon Eponine and Marius, chances are you may have to find another story.

Chapter One

"I'd like to think so." Marius reached out and touched his friend's shoulder, noticing how tired she looked. "It's late. I think we should say goodnight."

Eponine looked up into Marius's hazel eyes and smiled. "We haven't talked like this for quite a while, M'sieur Marius. I haven't seen you smile like this for a long time."

"I'm glad you stopped by tonight, 'Ponine. You didn't have to stay and listen."

When he called her by her nickname, her heart seemed to beat faster. She didn't know if that was possible, or why she still reacted even now, but she was smiling inside as well as outside. "What are friends for?"

The question seemed to hang in the air. As long as you let me be your friend, I'm happy, Eponine mused. You don't even have to love me the way I love you.

Eventually he nodded and continued to watch her. "'Ponine… if you pass by the garden sometime soon, and you see Cosette there… will you please give her this letter for me and tell her I can't meet her till Thursday?"

The trance was broken at the sound of Cosette's name. Eponine unconsciously bit her bottom lip as she shook her head, forcing herself to come out of her dreamy stupor. "You know I will." She took the envelope he held out, and managed a smile. "Anyway, you should get some sleep. You have a long day coming up tomorrow."

Marius smiled. "That I do, 'Ponine… that I do." He noticed her shiver, and looked at her in concern. "You're cold."

"I'll be all right."

Not taking no for an answer, he stood up, shrugged off his jacket and held it out to her. "You need this more than I do."

"I don't, really, M'sieur, you'll be cold walking back tonight."

He saw her hesitance and reluctance to take the jacket, and then he remembered her parents. No doubt Thénardier and his wife would cross-question her for wearing a good jacket; they would take it to sell in exchange for food.

"Then perhaps you will allow me to lend you the jacket and walk back with you. Then I shall be mean and take back the jacket, so that I can walk back to my home less cold. Walking while talking to you will take some of the cold away."

Marius watched her think about this for a while; eventually she nodded and stood up, and he slipped the jacket around her shoulders.

Eponine slid her arms through the sleeves, and pulled it tighter around her. The jacket was still warm from his body heat, and smelt like him. Marius. She rubbed her arms in the cold, not caring how much the jacket hung off her small frame.

Marius chuckled softly. "On second thought, seeing how that jacket could be a mattress, pillow and blanket on you, perhaps I shouldn't take it back."

She scrunched up her face at him playfully and smiled. "Perhaps you should. I think I'm going to die of heat in a few minutes."

An amused glint shone in his eyes. "In that case, maybe I should make you warmer so that I can take the jacket back."

Before she knew it Marius had moved around her and wrapped his arms around her tightly from behind. She laughed, surprised, and looked back over her shoulder at him. "Now I'm certainly not cold any more."

"Then my work here is done." He nodded solemnly, but didn't let go of her. "You should get back, 'Ponine, no doubt your parents are worried about you."

Eponine shook her head, not wanting to think about her parents while she was with him. "They won't miss me until around eleven or so."

Marius held his watch up to his face, and withdrew his arms from around her quickly. "It's ten to eleven."

She turned around in shock. "Already?"

He smiled at her wide eyes and showed her his wrist. "Can you believe we've been sitting here talking for four hours?"

Eponine shook her head in disbelief. "Has it really been that long?"

"According to this, it has. Come on, I'll walk you home."

The walk to where Eponine lived was a short one. They walked close together in a companionable silence; Eponine thinking of Marius, knowing he was thinking of Cosette.

As they walked, Eponine turned her head to observe his profile, lost in thought. I wish I could tell you how I feel about you, she thought, tightening the jacket around her unconsciously. I wish I meant as much to you as Cosette does.

Before she knew it, they were at her apartment, and she reluctantly peeled off his jacket. "Thank you for lending me your jacket, M'sieur."

"My pleasure. It was nice not to see you cold tonight."

"Will I see you soon?"

It slipped out before she thought to restrain herself; it did not seem to have an effect on him, though. He was silent for a minute before speaking. "I can't make any promises, but I hope so."

Eponine nodded, and regarded his face carefully as she handed his jacket to him, knowing it might be any number of days before seeing him again. "Goodnight, M'sieur Marius."

His eyes fell to the letter in her hand before his gaze travelled upwards over her rags to her plain but determined, loyal face. "Dear Eponine… thank you for all you have done for me."

She shook her head quickly. "Don't thank me. Your friendship is all the thanks I need." Suddenly Eponine's throat tightened, and she turned away so Marius couldn't see the expression on her face. She took a deep breath and pushed her hair off her shoulders to where it fell down her back, the result of not being able to afford scissors. "If anything, I should be thanking you."

He shook his head. "Please tell your sister hello for me."

Eponine turned around, and he was still smiling at her. She smiled back. "I will. I know she won't admit it, but she'll be happy to hear that; the two of us miss having you around."

"And I miss you." The emotion in his eyes was evident; Eponine could not remember if he had ever been anything short of genuine towards her. "You should go in… it's getting late. I hope I see you soon. Sweet dreams."

"Sleep well, Marius." Suddenly Eponine was aware of how close he was, and was reminded of all the couples she saw at night in the streets of Paris. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, careful not to betray the extent of her feelings to him. Except that I've never been the one you've wanted to be with.

Marius saw her sigh, but thought it was purely from exhaustion. He wondered what she was thinking at that moment, but didn't ask. Instead, he leaned forward and touched her shoulder lightly. "I won't keep you any longer. Goodnight, 'Ponine."

She bit her lip and stared down at her bare feet beneath the ragged hem of her skirt, unable to meet his eyes for some reason. "Goodbye."

Eponine forced herself to open the old, creaking main door and walk into the lobby. Once inside, she managed to smile and wave to Marius, barely discernible through the layer of dirt on the window.

Marius waved back, and turned around to walk in the direction they had come from. Once his figure was out of sight, she let out a sigh and leaned back heavily against the cracked, peeling wall, hearing Azelma's murmurs as she drifted off to sleep on the other side of the wall. If only you knew.