Eponine shrugged off her coat as the warm heat of the ABC cafe surrounded her comfortingly, a welcoming contrast from the cold night. She noticed Marius sitting with Grantaire and a few other men at one of the tables. As usual, Grantaire was drunk, his voice booming as he sang a nonsense song. Marius was laughing with the other men. She paused at the door watching him. Marius...her thoughts still buzzed from the battle she constantly fought within herself. Did she truly feel nothing for him? Was he simply an excuse? A Mask to hide her heart's true desires?

Her eyes left her friend, flitting around the members of the club, finally she spotted him, in the midst of all his friends. He was laughing with them, a mug of ale in one hand as he shared a joke with his friends. He who was fighting for a new world for those like Eponine, he who made her heart sing when she saw him, he who's shadow walked with her under the moonlight, he who made her feel happiness she had never known existed, with just one look from him, he who had barely even spoken a word to her.

The truth was, she had plenty opportunities to strike up a conversation with him. But she was scared and intimidated. He was a man of higher class, one who was sought by many and he who was constantly engrossed in his studies and planning for war. She had watched him, giving speeches, laughing with his friends, scolding Grantaire for his excessive drinking. His eyes always burned in a fiery passion that she found enticing. His handsome face was always set in determination. Courage and power flowed from him. He was everything anyone could ever want. And she; a common street urchin. He would never want her.

His bright, shinning eyes found hers and her stomach flipped, heart raced and her knees wobbled. His grin faded into a small smile then he quickly looked away as one of his friends tugged on his shirt sleeve to get his attention. She pressed a shaking hand to her stomach. How could it be that one small look from him could drive her over the edge? How could someone make her feel such strange but wonderful things? Maybe it was him. Maybe...the only reason she liked walking alone so much was because it was her way to have him as her own...

"Eponine!" her thoughts were interrupted and she looked over to Marius who was beckoning her happily. She breathed in and joined him beside Grantaire.

"Are you alright 'Ponine? You disappeared after we left, I was worried." His innocent eyes sought hers warmly. She smiled at him but here eyes were turned inwards, as she sat there she questioned what she had once seen in him. What had caused her to endure so much pain and grief? Because i was blinded. He was the mask to my illusion..

She smiled at her friend, a small smile to reassure him. "Don't you fret, Monsieur Marius. I can take care of myself." She told him.

"Have you saw my beloved, Cosette?" he asked, she noticed how his eyes stole a look at the door every now and then, "she promised to meet me here but I fear her father refuses to listen to her, I fear he has forced her to leave with him."

She placed a friendly arm on his shoulder, "I'm sure everything's fine".

She didn't know what else to say to him. She was saved, however by Grantaire suddenly proclaiming he wanted to dance. And so he got up, a half-full bottle of wine still in hand and began kicking his legs around in a bizarre manner that had the entire cafe roaring with laughter.

She couldn't help but laugh with them. It was a rare moment like this when she felt happy and wanted. The men here treated her well and welcomed her with open arms and warm hearts with good intentions. Not at all like the sleazy, disgusting men her father associated with.

Her eyes slid to where Enjolras was to find his eyes watching her. The ghost of a smile was playing on his lips and something unreadable was in his eyes. She dropped her gaze instantly, suddenly very interested in the creases of her dirty, ragged skirt. She fumbled with the fabric, feeling a blush rise on her cheeks. She wanted to look up, to see if he still watched her but refused to allow it.

The door to the cafe opened and a gust of the cold night air swept in. A few heads including Marius and Eponine looked to see Cosette standing in the doorway, as beautiful as ever in a pale blue dress of the same style she always wore, her golden hair neatly pinned back from her face, tumbling down her back.

Marius more or less knocked over both the table and the flailing Grantaire in his haste to reach his beloved. Cosette's face lit up in a smile as he reached her, they embraced and Cosette gave him a small kiss. Eponine watched them sadly, wishing it was her he wanted so much.

No. It's not that I want him. I want someone to love me like that. I want someone to want me as much as he wants Cosette. I want...

Her eyes moved to Enjolras once more. He now sat alone in his corner with a book in his hands and a mug of ale on the table before him. His brow was slightly creased in concentration. She smiled as she watched him.

"'Ponine!" she jumped at the voice and looked around to see Cosette sitting beside her with Marius beside.

"Sorry, I was...day dreaming" she explained. Cosette's eyes slid over to Enjolras then back to her. She smiled in a knowing way which made Eponine frown.

"That's alright" she said...did...did she just wink at me?

She was given no time to ponder Cosette's actions however as Marius rose to get Cosette a drink. The latter watched him go with a smile then turned back to Eponine.

"I wanted to thank you for what you did for us, Eponine. If it hadn't been for you – Marius would never have found me and I wouldn't find such happiness in him. Also for saving us from those men -"

"- It was nothing, Cosette, really." Eponine assured her.

Cosette looked at her unsure, "Eponine, I know it was your father – it takes a great deal to stand up to the ones you lov-"

"- I don't love him." Eponine interrupted, looking away, glaring at the floor.

Cosette remained silent for a while, unsure of what to say. Eponine was fighting the tears that had sprung behind her eyes. So much pain had been inflicted in her life because of her father; he only used her to gain money, even if it meant hurting her. He didn't love her, he was no father to her and she hated him for it.

Cosette's cold hand touched her shoulder gently, Eponine turned to find gentle, blue eyes on her. She smiled at Cosette, unable to help liking her.

"Eponine...what will happen when you go home? Your Father – he'll be angry..." Cosette's brow creased delicately with worry. Eponine smiled at her, how could she be so caring for her? She hadn't exactly been the best of friends to her when she had lived with them.

"I...can't go home, Cosette. I won't."

"Then where will you go?"

"I'll just sleep here i guess, i've done it before – the keeper doesn't mind as long as i help out around the cafe." Eponine tried to reassure Cosette, but the latter widened her eyes in horror at what the street urchin had to say.

"You can't be serious Eponine! Live here? Rediculous – No. No you will come home with me and you shall make it your home." Cosette told her, her tone stubborn and deciding.

Eponine panicked, the last thing she wanted to do was be taken in on charity.

"No, Cosette, really i don't want to intrude-"

"nonsence! I insist." Cosette responded, her tone daring an argument from Eponine. The latter sighed, defeated.

"Thank you, Cosette" she said sincerely, feeling her liking of this girl grow, "You are too kind."

Cosette smiled and patted her arm gently, then turned, smiling to Marius as he returned with their drinks.

Eponine drank her's slowly, wondering what she had just got herself into.