Blessed night

Chapter 2 : Stars

"Shall I take you home,madmoiselle?" Enjolras asked .They have left the restaurant . Right now,the cold night's wind is bringing chills to their still-warm body,they shivered,yet still felt refreshing .

"No ,actually ,I would like to take you somewhere . . . . . . .If you wouldn't mind ." Eponine whispered,then allowed herself a shy smile .

Enjolras let the girl lead him the way .This time,Eponine didn't ask him to tag along as if he doesn't know her,no,this time,she held his hand firmly . He smiled as he felt the heat of her hand-both of their hands were warm .

"Then,may I ask where we are heading to?"

"My world ."

Enjolras no longer knows where he is . He was not familiar with these streets and paths,yet he felt calm-Eponine was a real fairy,a spirit who knows her way in the dark .That fancy gown on her did not seem to bother her at all-she didn't even slow down a bit .And before he could realize,he found himself standing on a giant roof .All the rusty fences and dust showed,this place was long,long out of use . .

"Here we are ."she breathed deeply,then continued ."I used to come here often,you know,to watch the stars . And if it weren't too cold,I will even sleep here-beneath the sky,beneath stars ." She raised her hand,pointed to a shack-liked thing .That was what she used to sleep in .

"That sounds beautiful ."Enjolras nodded .Without anything blocking the view,the sky looked boundless .And the stars—He spent most of his nights behind his desk,he never paid much attention to the cold,unfeeling stars .

But he understood why Eponine loved being here .The stars glowed like silver,callous,unpredictable,and yet invincible .The sky was filled with order and light,and they were so boundless ,as his philosophy .

Eponine sighed .

"Everything has changed,Enjolras .I don't even recognize myself anymore .With proper dresses and warmth and…You .And somehow I feel more afraid than ever,because I'm afraid that this is a dream,and I'm afraid to wake up .I don't think that I could live without you ."

"Our life is a dream .The time it wakes is the time we die ."he gently put his arms around her .She trembled,but did not move ."But I will never,ever leave you . You have my word . . . . . .'Ponine ."

Eponine blinked .Her eyes were a bit wet .But then she whispered something that caught Enjolras unawares .

"Dance with me ."

"I . . . . . .Beg you pardon?"That came from nowhere .

"Dance with me .So that I know that I'm not dreaming .Dance with me,so that I know that I have the man I love deeply right in my arms,and I am actually happier than ever,at this moment .At least I could tell myself that,now,I have something precious in my life- Please,I beg you,dance with me . . . . . . .So that I can convince myself that ." Her voice arose,then soften again-"Because I love you more than anything,Enjolras ."

"And I you,'Ponine,more than my belief and my longings ." He said,removing his coat and then gently placed it on her body ." Now I should probably confess that I cannot dance at all . . . . ."

"Hush,and let me ."

She placed his hand into the right place . The wind is still shimmering,but they were not afraid at all . She hummed a tune which Enjolras didn't recognize -it was blithe and and soothing,a light-hearted air .She must have danced a lot ,on her own,on this barren roof,pretending that the man he loved was with her . But this time he is here,right in her arms . She could feel the wind lifting her dress and his blond curls ,she could hear the faraway bell tunes,she could feel the unbelievable,unbearable happiness,flooding her body .Let us slow down-No,let it FREEZE . She thought,I AM IN HEAVEN .

Then Enjolras's voice broke the silence .

"Dance with me

Darlin，take my hand

And surround me with thy tender arms

Darlin，let me follow thy lead

As caring as a 5-year-old child can be

Let me hum my favorite tune

And let it float along with air into the sky

Care not，about others looks

No matter where and no matter when

My dear，I beg ，for you to drop it all

And dance，dance with me，just for now…"

"What was that?" Eponine stopped,shockingly ." If that's improv then you are Really SCARING me ."

"No it wasn't . . . . . . ." He grinned ."Actually,it was composed by a friend of mine,Jehan .I thought it was beautiful ."

"It was ." She murmured ."I wish I could meet this brilliant poet myself ."

"Oh you will,someday . I'm already planning taking you to our café,then I will introduce you to all of my friends-brothers . You know . . . . . ." He mimicked her tone:"My world ."

Eponine giggled ." I'm looking forward to it ."

Then Enjolras started talking-About his beloved friends,his brothers . There's Courfeyrac, full of life and energy- His passion can light up the darkest day；Combeferre,the philosopher and the guide;and there's Joly,brilliant physician,who slightly suffer from hypochondria;Jehan,the sensitive,romantic poet,also,master at gardening;And there's Bossuet,Feuilly,Grantaire . . . . . .

"You meet a wild range,Monsieur ." Eponine teased .

"Maybe . . . . . .And they will surely like you,'Ponine,I know you would get along with them .You have something . . . . . . .Some quality that hey admire . "

"I can't wait ." She hesitated for a moment,then added,"Thanks for being here with me,Enjolras . . . . . . .I cannot tell you how much this means to me .You,accepting me into your life and everything ."

"The pleasure is mine,madmoiselle ."

He hold her closer . Almost instinctively ,they both fell silent again .Their lips locked,tangled as they hold each other closer and closer .They felt nothing-not even the freezing wind,their almost frozen bodies,or the fact that Eponine's hat was already nowhere to be found .No,they felt nothing but joy,as if they were only to free spirits,yearning for each other-as if without each other,they will not even exist .

They have been abused,locked up,held prison in their own minds .And yet somehow,they seemed to have set each other free .

As they finally broke apart,both wild-eyed and possessed,they returned to watching stars again .But this time,instead of watching the dim,faraway stars in the sky,they looked into each other's eyes and found the brightest glimmer ever .