a/n: still own nothing, it belongs to Hugo

chapter 2: Èponine, aged 9

She was used to the jeers and teases of the other children.

That Thènardier is trouble

Èponine Thènardier? Oh, I was told to stay away from her.

The teachers were the same, blaming her for any small thing that happened.

Marius Pontmercy and Gabriel Enjolras were her only friends really. The three of them had stuck together since preschool. They didn't care that she lived way on the other side of town. They didn't care that her parents and younger sister were in and out of court. They didn't care that social services were in and out of her life. They liked her for her. Gabriel was willing to let her stay at his home anytime and Marius was frequently bringing her food when he knew it was sparse in her home. They couldn't stop the teasing, she was just glad they were there.

One afternoon in March, her parents were arrested once again. Something to do with credit card fraud. She knew that they'd get off with no charges, they had enough dodgy contacts willing to help them.

When she arrived at school her classmates heads turned and the whispers and snickers started.

"Hey, Thènardier, I heard your parents got nicked again? Maybe they'll actually be sent down this time" one girl mocked.

"How many times is that now? Eight? Where you going to stay this time Èponine, I'm sure Gabriel's family won't take you in again, especially if they get convicted. I bet they'll send the social round and you'll get put into care" another said.

"They've already taken her younger brother Gavroche. He used to be in the same class as my little sister."

"So come on Èponine, give us the details. Do you help with their crimes, criminals tend to get their children to help them out."

All the girls were screaming at her, cackling like witches at her predicament. The truth was, they were probably right. She didn't have anywhere to go. The Enjolras family had been kind enough to take her in the past few times, but she couldn't keep expecting them to look after her. The social would be coming, she was sure of it. They'd taken Gavroche in the spring of the previous year. He was now living forty miles away, with a foster family. She only got to see him every few months. He was only five.

She could feel the tears pricking in her eyes and she sniffed, trying her best to keep them in.

"Leave her alone" came a shout from behind her.

She turned around and saw Gabriel Enjolras approaching, his eyes glistening with anger.

"Are you okay" he whispered, placing his hand on her arm encouragingly. She nodded slightly, smiling at him. He turned and began to address his giggling classmates.

"For your information, yes Èponine will be coming to stay with my family until this is over. If social services come knocking we'll just tell them so. Her family has nothing to do with anyone but her. Does she ask about your families personal lives? No, she doesn't. So who cares who her parents are or what they've done. You should all be comforting the girl you've spent most days for the past six years with, not jeering and laughing about it"

Gabriel's face was flushed pink by the time he'd finished his speech. The girls who had previously been laughing were now silent, their mouths gaping open in shock. Gabriel turned his head and looked down at Èponine smiling lightly.

"Come on, let's go find Marius," he said, grabbing her elbow and gently leading her away from the girls.

a/n: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! The next part will be coming within the next few weeks.

you can find me on tumblr and archive of our own enjoninee

xxx