The day started with two boys arguing over the health of one's father. Enjolras was one of them. His face taut and serious, with a frown forming in his mouth.

"Is there anything you can do?" he asked his friend, Joly.

"As I said, I am not a registered physician and I have a long way to go. I can only do so much until you need an actual doctor." he replied with an exasperated sigh.

"We can not afford a physician." Enjolras replied.

"You can ask for help, Enjolras. We would gladly pitch in if your pride wouldn't get in the way." Joly retorted, a sly smile on his lips.

"I can't ask you to do that." he replied.

Before Joly could berate his friend for underestimating his loyalty, a knock sounded on the door.

"Are you expecting someone else dear?" asked Enjolras' mother who was in the other room, taking care of her husband.

Enjolras house was small, more like a cottage. There was the front door opening to the living room. In the living room there was a settee and a small table that was placed in front of a fire place. In the opposite wall there were three doors. The first two were bedrooms, one for Enjolras' parents and one for himself. The last door lead to an alcove that served as a kitchen and dining room. Inside the alcove was a stove that was only heated by fire, a pantry filled with herbs and vegetables from the garden and a lone goat that gives the family its milk. Another door in that alcove led outside which were just the vast green fields that led to the outskirts of the boundaries.

"No, mother." Enjolras said as he went to open the door.

"Who could it be?" his mother replied.

As Enjolras opened the door, he was shocked to see a smiling Eponine standing in his doorway.

"Princess Eponine." Enjolras managed to say.

"Could we stop with the titles? We already agreed to call each other by our names." she said. Enjolras was afraid that he had insulted her but it was the smile that never left her face that told him he didn't.

"Enjolras, who is it?" her mother appeared in the doorway and her eyes almost popped out of her head as she saw who stood there.

"Your Royal Highness." said his mother with a small curtsy. His mother was frail with age, but it was evident that she had laughter lines etched in her face. It made her ten times younger. Her sandy hair was swept into a pony tail and her blue eyes were young and alive. People said that Enjolras took after his father but it was his mother that he thought he resembled the most. Eponine seemed to think that too.

"Good morrow."Eponine greeted. "I brought along Emil. I heard that your husband has been ill for quite sometime. I hope that he could treat him." Eponine gestured her hand to a man not more than forty five years old, carrying a large black pouch and had spectacles resting on the crook of his nose. He had a small trimmed beard which resembled the color of dark chocolate.

Enjolras glanced over his mother and he saw the tears of relief that was evident on her eyes.

"Please come in." His mother said. "My husband is in his room Monsieur Emil." She accompanied the physician towards her husband's room

Eponine sat on the settee and looked over Joly.

"You must be Enjolras' friend." she said.

"Yes. Yes I am. Your Highness." he said with a cheeky grin.

"I do want to thank you for taking care of our favorite gardener. I don't think our gardens would live without him." Eponine said.

Eponine and Joly started a conversation on anything, filling up the house with a friendly ambiance.

"How long have you been studying medicine Joly?" asked Eponine.

"Long enough." Joly mused and Eponine giggled.

"Are you close to practicing?" she asked.

"Not yet. I still have to go through the exams. Although I have been taking care of a lot more people than I could." and he glared at Enjolras, making Eponine giggle more.

"You were the one who told me that you were dying to have a patient that you were ready to poison us for your benefit." Enjolras chided.

"I didn't mean that literally. Plus, your father had to get sick during our exams." Joly argued.

"Well, I'm sorry that I thought you were my friend and would think that you would come to my aid." at this Joly rolled his eyes.

"If Enjolras asked me earlier then we wouldn't have this problem in the first place." smirked Eponine.

"I couldn't ask that big of a favor." he said. It was time for Eponine to roll her eyes.

"I'll do anything to those who I care about." Eponine remarked. It was a small declaration but the sincerity in her voice left chills in Enjolras' spine.

"But if it makes you feel better Enjolras, I'm not doing this for you but for your father." she said with a salacious smirk.

Before any one of them could respond Emil stepped in the room accompanied by Enjolras' mother.

"Who has been taking care of your husband madam?" he asked.

"Oh, my son's friend, Joly." at this the boy stood up and mustered all confidence as he presented himself before the royal physician. Joly has heard the rumors pertaining the man. It was said that he had produced a cure for the bubonic plague but he believed none of it. Still most of his patients with grave illnesses have lived and survived because of his care and that was a great feat all on its own.

Emile looked toward the boy and gave him a proud grin and a pat in the back.

"You boy, have been tremendous. If it weren't for you, your friend's father would've popped his clogs." he said boisterously and with a barking laugh. Nobody laughed with him, his words pertaining a dreadful gravity although covered with a joyful tone. Emil was the best alright but his bedside manner needed improvement.

"How would you like to be my apprentice?" he asked, and Joly stood aghast.

Eponine's smiled as she watch Joly stutter a response.

"I... Of course, but my studies"

"Gah, don't worry about that. I treated your headmaster's daughter so he owes me a favor." he said. He then clasped his hand on his mouth. "Oops, don't tell anyone about it." He eyed everyone in the room. "The higher-ups have been ordering us lackeys that we should keep our patient's cases hush hush. Especially me since I work for her and his highness." he said cheekily.

No one said a word, absorbed in his joyous and careless bubble.

"Come now, Joly. I have a case on a spinster's daughter and I would really appreciate your input on it." he said, his town descending into a serious manner.

"Are you sure?" Joly asked, still hesitant.

"Of course, you are now my apprentice, or do you need Eponine here to dub you as a knight before you're completely sure?" he said. Enjolras' mothers' eyes went wide as she heard Emil disregard Eponine's title. Eponine though, thought nothing of it.

"Well then, where you go I'll follow." said Joly at last.

"Great! You'll start at my earliest convenience, which is now. I'll talk to your headmaster tomorrow, but do remind me, I often forget." he said as he walked towards the door.

After the two went out Enjolras' mother, Baptistine, sat in her chair and gave a sigh filled with relief.

"For someone who has a solid reputation I thought he'd have more manners." berated the matriarch.

Eponine giggled. "It's hard to believe he is who he says he is." said Enjolras.

"Well he is called the royal physician for a reason." Eponine echoed Enjolras response the other day. Enjolras couldn't help but smirk as his own words were used against him.

"The physician says that your father has garnered a terrible flu. He'll recover after a few days, a fortnight at most. I don't think we could afford his medicine."

"I could work at the pier, earn an extra sous." Enjolras suggested.

Silence ensued and the two of them contemplated. Baptistine glanced at Eponine from time to time. Eponine met her gaze. Baptistine's eyes were pleading her for help while the rest of her looked as if she was opposed to the idea. Eponine sighed exasperatedly, knowing these two were too proud to ask for any help.

"It's alright. I already argued with Emil to help you for free, also with the medicine. You need not fret." Eponine reassured.

"Oh Your Highness, how will we ever repay you?" sobbed Baptistine.

Eponine stood and went to her side. She placed a comforting hand on her shoulders. She knew too well that she had overstepped too many boundaries, with her being a princess and them being her subjects. A boundary she thought was too elitist to exist in the first place. She was taught by her father to rule with an iron fist but Valjean taught her to rule with a lending hand and a warm heart. She decided the latter. Better to be loved than feared.

"You'll start by calling me Eponine." To this Baptistine, sobbed louder.

A/N: Sup? It's been a long time coming and I know. I SOOOOO know that you have been waiting too long. So here's something for ya

*FOR THOSE WRITING MY OTHER FICS... I AM SO SORRY FOR BEING AN ASS BUT COME CHRISTMAS I MIGHT GIVE YALL A GIFT.