Eponine laid her head on the floor from where she hid, under the bed, closing her eyes. She listened in silence as the men in the other room became louder and louder, getting more and more rowdy. She hated it when Montparnasse let the rest of Patron-Minette come to their apartment. They were always loud, and angry, and broke things.

Eponine moved further under the bed as she heard someone open the door and enter the room she was in. "Eponine?"

Shoot. It was Montparnasse. She glanced up just in time for him to kneel down beside the bed and get ahold of her wrist, pulling her out.

Eponine let out a quiet whimper at the grip he had on her. It would definitely leave a bruise, but Montparnasse didn't seem to care. He stopped at the door that led from their room into the living room, and turned and gave Eponine a warning look. "Behave yourself."

Before Eponine could ask what they were doing, he pulled her into the living room behind him, and shoved her in front of himself so hard that she fell to the floor with a thud, causing the three others to look that way.

Montparnasse glanced around, as if trying to see if he had impressed anybody by his little show.

Eponine sat up, trying not to look at any one of the four men. She rubbed her wrist slowly, trying to soothe the pain her husband had caused.

"What do you do when she acts up?"

Eponine glanced up to see who had asked the question, and suddenly felt a sharp pain come across her cheek, causing her to gasp and press her hands to her face. She felt tears start to sting her eyes, but refused to let them fall. Why did he hit me? I didn't do anything wrong.

Carefully glancing back up again, she watched as Montparnasse took his cane that he used for disguises from the corner of the room and started making his way back over to her. Her eyes widened as he walked towards her, and she scooted back towards the wall, terrified. Only now did she realize that he was giving them a demonstration of what he did when she 'acted up'.

Saying her pathetic 'I love you' in an attempt to lessen the pain to come, she closed her eyes and waited to feel the stick make contact with her body.

"Hey!"

Eponine opened her eyes to see Montparnasse glancing over his shoulder at Gueulemer, who was apparently the one that had yelled, saving her from being hit for the moment.

"What? What is it?"

The big man pointed to Eponine, shaking his head. "Why are you going to hit her? She didn't do anything, she's not bothering us. Leave her alone."

Montparnasse rolled his eyes, waving his hand. "Hush up, nobody wants to hear it. Babet asked what I do when she acts up, and I'm showing you. I realize you probably can't understand what I'm saying, so just keep your mouth shut."

Eponine watched as the biggest man's shoulders slumped, and he leaned back against the wall, defeated. I kind of know the feeling.

Eponine watched Montparnasse through teary eyes as he made his way over, and as their eyes met, just for a moment, she thought she saw a hint of regret in his. But then he lifted his cane in the air.

Cliffhanger sorry but the next chapter will be poor 'Ponine in the hospital as a result, I won't pick up where I left off. Thank you for reading, and God bless!