Chapter 3 is up and I hope you are all enjoying the story so far. I'm having a lot of fun redoing this story... but I know the Les Mis hype has really gone down since the movie came out but hopefully there are still a lot of strong Meponine shippers still reading fanfics lol.

Eponine woke up from the light hitting her eye. She felt through her surroundings and was confused as to why everything felt so warm and nice. She felt her clothes, realizing they weren't her own.

Then she remembered the events of last night. The bridge. The rain. The tea and bread. And him.

She jolted up to see Marius lying on the floor on top of a thin cushion.

"He let me take his bed," She thought

It made her smile.

She crawled out of the bed and walked towards Marius, sitting next to him on the floor.

She stared at his face, noticing more freckles than she did the first time he looked at him.

She began to close the distance between her face and his, slowly approaching him.

Marius's eyes slowly opened causing Eponine to fall backward, not wanting him to know she was that close to his face.

"Good morning Ponine"

Eponine rubbed the back of her head recovering from the backward fall.

"Good morning Monsieur" .. Marius eyed her "I mean Good morning Marius"

Marius got up and folded the cushion together and stuffed it back inside the closet outside his room. He stopped by the kitchen grabbing some bread and cheese for him and Eponine.

Once he came back to his room, Eponine and him sat in the same position as they did last night. They began to talk casually like they did last night. Marius thought to himself how nice her company was and how comforting it was to have someone to talk to while he was home.

Eponine noticed him daydreaming "Marius? What are you thinking about"

Marius came out of his thoughts "Oh nothing Ponine…. I was just thinking about how much I enjoy your company"

Marius truly did love having her around and he had been saving up to move closer to the University and he could possibly find one with another room. He went over it in his head

Eponine tilted her head in confusion wondering what was going on in his head. She was extremely glad that he liked her company, but her negative thinking took the best of her.

"Monsieur, I really enjoy your company as well but if you were thinking of how to politely ask me to leave I can spare you the effort and go myself, It's fine"

Eponine began to stand up until Marius put an arm gently on her shoulder and motioned for her to sit down.

Marius had decided. He was going to let Eponine stay with him

"Ponine. I never grew up with siblings. I have really enjoyed your company and I was already planning on moving… so I was wondering if you wanted to live with me. You would be well fed and safe with me and I want to help you see the beauty in this world and that there was a reason I stopped you from jumping that night"

Marius took both of Eponine's hands in his.

Marius looked up to her hazel eyes and noticed she was crying. He lifted his hands to wipe the stray tear that fell down her right cheek.

Eponine was overwhelmed. She couldn't believe his kindness. She felt herself leap out of her seat and hug Marius tight. Marius was surprised by the girl's sudden action but he smiled and returned the hug.

Eponine continued to cry "Marius… thank you. Thank you so much." The tears wouldn't stop. "Thank you for saving me from throwing my life away. Thank you for showing me that there is still a reason for me being here. I'm so glad I met you"

Eponine let go of Marius so she could look him in the face. He became even more handsome to her and she loved to look at the multitude of freckles scattered on his face and his green-blue eyes that she had begun to love.

"Yes, Marius. I will stay with you"

Marius smiled "Then it's settled. I'll find a new place for us. But first things first, we need to get you a new dress"

Eponine returned to her seat, happier than she has ever been.

Surprisingly she simply accepted his offer and nodded.

Eponine put her old and tattered dress on. Marius changed as well and they both made their way out of the apartment. They walked together to the store, this time they walked side by side.

Although Marius did not receive money from his grandfather, he had worked under him for many years and continued to work at his University. His tuition was free and he had saved up large sums working under his grandfather's company. He hated that his means of living still stemmed from some of his grandfather's status, but he let it go due to him receiving it from his own labor.

They neared the end of the road approaching the dress store. Marius opened the door for Eponine but noticed she simply stood there staring at the sign.

He walked up to her poking her cheek.

"Hey Ponine what's going on in that lil head of yours?"

Eponine turned to face him and smiled while her eyes slightly watered.

"This is the dress store my mother got my first dress from. I haven't been inside since I was five."

Eponine locked her arms with Marius and rushed him inside.

Marius loved how childlike and innocent Eponine still was despite all the pain she had been through. He knew he would learn more about the horrors she had to go through later.

Marius picked out two dresses for Eponine to wear. He decided on a dark blue dress with lace and an intricate bodice. It reminded him of the night sky and stars. He thought it would look beautiful on her.

The second was a less intricate dress that was a rose blush color. Its pattern was similar to the design of the tattered dress she wore and he thought it would be great for Eponine who seemed to always run around.

Eponine exited the dressing room wearing the dark blue dress. Marius couldn't take his eyes off her. The dress fit her perfectly, highlighting her curves and removing any trace of her thing and bruised figure. She looked almost healthy. Her black eye had slightly faded and she was smiling, genuinely.

"So Monsieur Marius, What do you think?" Eponine said as she twirled in her dress. She hadn't felt this nice since she was a child.

Marius was too in awe of Eponine's transformation he didn't even argue about her saying Monsieur " You look beautiful Ponine"

She smiled and it lit up the whole room.

Eponine then wore the pink blush dress that was more suited for daily wear. Marius paid for the dresses and felt Eponine hug his arm.

"Marius! You've been so kind to me I would like to return the favor as best as I can"

"Ponine you don't need to, I wanted to do all of this."

Eponine tugged him harder, "Well I want to do this too. Plus you look like all you do is stay inside and study. You need to go out more so let's go!"

Eponine dragged Marius out of the store "Ok ok ok I'm coming" Marius smiled as Eponine led him by the arm.

Eponine dragged him to her favorite park. It was a small, hidden park that only a few knew. (And by a few, only her and her sister Azelma). It was within another park but behind one of the large rocks was a small entrance to a pond. Her sister and her had found it when they were little.

Eponine sat on a small bench next to Marius. He was surprised Eponine knew of such a place.

"Ponine, how did you ever find this place?"

"When I was little, my sister, Azelma, and I were playing hide and seek. She happened to find this place while we were playing"

Marius turned to see Eponine's face. She was smiling but a hint of sadness was buried beneath her frown.

He reached to hold her hand in efforts to comfort her.

Eponine didn't look at him but simply stared at the pond in front of her. Despite this, she felt the warmth of his hand radiate upwards and her heartbeat increased.

Eponine still faced the pond "Marius, have you ever loved someone?"

Marius was surprised at the sudden question and wasn't sure what she meant by love. They had just been talking about her sister so he thought she meant in that sense, but for the two days he has known Eponine, he knew he could never be sure about what was going on in her head.

"I think I have"

Eponine wondered if he meant her. She knew they had just met but she already felt like she had fallen in love with Marius. He saved her after all.

They made their way back to the apartment. Marius told her that she should continue using her bed and that he didn't mind the cushion.

"Thank you for today Ponine. The hidden park was beautiful. Thank you for sharing that with me, goodnight"

"And thank you for the dresses, Marius. Good night to you as well"

Marius fell asleep quickly, but Eponine stayed awake. She wondered how he would react if she asked if the person he loved was her.

She decided that being his friend was enough. She was happy to have someone in her life and a friend once again. If that was all it would ever be, she was fine with that…. Even though she knew her heart already fully belonged to him.