Okay, thanks so much for the follows/reviews/favorites! It really keeps me going! Okay, so right now, I'm really into 'Parnasse/'Ponine so I just thought, eh, what the hay? I threw him into the mix as well, anyways, hope you like it! And, like I said, they're older in this chapter. Eponine is 18, Montparnasse is 19, and 'Ferre is 21.

Combeferre sat with Eponine, softly braiding her hair and quietly humming. They sat on Eponine's too-small bed in their darkly lit room. Combeferre begun humming a bit louder, trying to cover the sounds of Eponine's father yelling about something that someone had done wrong. Eponine turned to face her friend as she heard some glass shatter in the other room. "Can't we go, 'Ferre? I can't do it again, I can't let him—"
Combeferre put a finger up to her mouth to silence her. "I'm fine, 'Ponine. He's not going to come in here. And if he does, I won't let him hurt—"

"Me, I know" She cut him off. "I know you'll protect me. It's not me that I'm worried about. It's you."

Combeferre gave a slight smile as he tied off the end of her hair. "You should stop worrying so much. It's not even a big deal."

Eponine crossed her arms across her chest and looked down, refusing to gain eye contact with him, before he put two fingers under her chin and tilted it up so they were looking each other straight in the eye. "I love you, 'Ponine."

Eponine smiled slightly and looked away again. "I know you do, 'Ferre. You're the best brother ever."

Combeferre looked away as well at that word. Brother. If only she knew… he opened his mouth to say something just before the door flung open. "Combeferre!"

Combeferre quickly stood so that Eponine was on the bed behind him, putting himself between her and her father.

Thernadier gestured for Combeferre to follow him as Montparnasse walked into the room towards Eponine. He knew the routine as well as they all did, so he was surprised when Combeferre sat back down on the bed and wrapped both of his arms around Eponine.

"It'll be okay. I love you Eponine." Combeferre quietly whispered as he held her close. "I'll be right back, okay? You just talk with 'Parnasse while I'm gone okay?"

Eponine gripped him, unable to answer because she knew her voice would come out broken. She only shook her head and buried her face deeper into his shoulder. She kept her grip until she felt him being pulled away, she quickly tried to grab his arm but felt Montparnasse's arms around her own waist. She turned and swung her fist in the direction of the young man's head and was quite pleased when she felt her hand connect with his face. She quickly tried to pull away, unsure of which way she was going, blinded by her own brown hair in her face. But he kept his grip and pulled her back towards him, keeping her in his arms. "Calm down, 'Ponine, 's fine, he'll be fine."

Eponine reached up and wiped the hair out of her face, desperately scanning the room for Combeferre, only to find that both he and her father were gone. She let out a frustrated whine and turned towards Montparnasse again, ready to give him another fist to the mouth, but stopped when she saw that the first hit had already caused enough damage. His top lip was cut open and the blood around his mouth showed that it was bleeding significantly. She quickly dropped her hand and look down. "Sorry." She mumbled, even though she would've done the same thing again. Half- expecting him to hit her, she lifted a hand up to block him as he reached up to touch his mouth. Montparnasse touched his lip and drew his hand back to see the blood. "Dang it. Eponine—"

Eponine lowered her head, ready for a slap or kick, or whatever he chose. She closed her eyes as a few tears fell down her face. She didn't even care. What did it matter? Combeferre was getting beaten, so why not her too?

Montparnasse looked at her for a moment. She looked horrible. So helpless, so defeated. Like she wouldn't care if he did hit her. He couldn't do that though. Not when she was like this. He took a breath and forced himself to calm down before speaking. "I won't hit you. You didn't mean to make me bleed.. You better not have meant to." He said, half-jokingly as he wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. When she didn't laugh, he ducked down to see her face. "'Ponine?"

Eponine forced herself to look him in the eye, she didn't care if he saw, he had already seen it all before. Her brokenness. Her crying. How pathetic she was. "I want Combeferre." She half-pleaded, half-whined.

Montparnasse let out a quiet sigh, feeling bad for her. "I know you do. I know." He brushed some hair away from her face. "I wish we didn't have to do this. I wish he would leave Combeferre alone for your sake, 'Ponine."

Eponine sniffled and wiped her eyes before looking up at him. "Has he told you to hit me? Are you supposed to be beating on me right now, 'Parnasse?"

Montparnasse nodded regretfully. "I'll just tell him I did.. Do you have any bruises or anything to make him think I did?"

Eponine laughed dryly before pulling up the sleeve and revealing a half-dozen bruises on the lower part of her arm.

Montparnasse stared for a moment before looking back at her. "How.."
"Brujon."

He nodded slightly. "Oh.. When..?"
Eponine looked at him for a moment before shaking her head and pulling her sleeve back down. "Last week. When Papa took Combeferre, you weren't here, it was Brujon. Where were you?"

Montparnasse shook his head slightly. "He had me out on an errand.. I'm sorry he got ahold of you. I try to be here."

Eponine shrugged. "It's not your fault."

They stood in silence for a moment before Eponine spoke again. "'Parnasse,"

"You don't have to say it. I know you do. I love you too." He took her chin in his hand and pressed a kiss to her cheek before releasing her. "We could leave you know. You're eighteen, I'm nineteen. We could just run away from here."

Eponine laughed a little. "And what about 'Ferre? And where would we get money for food? Where would we sleep—"

"I know. It wouldn't work. I shouldn't have said anything."

Eponine sighed quietly before resting her forehead on his chest and closing her eyes.

No more than a minute later, the door swung open again, and Thenardier shoved a pathetic-looking Combeferre back into the room.

Eponine quickly looked up from the place she was standing, Montparnasse still holding her close to him, when she caught her father's eye and fear washed over her. He saw Montparnasse standing with her. He knew the young man wasn't doing what he was supposed to be doing. It was easy to tell that he was comforting her rather than abusing her like he was told to do.

Eponine quickly pulled away and stepped back as Thenardier started to make his way over there. "Have you been babying her?"

He looked at the cut on Montparnasse's lip and laughed. "It looks like she did more damage on you than you did to her. Hit her, right now, Montparnasse. Prove to me that you'll do as I say."

Montparnasse looked at Eponine and cleared his throat, trying to find words. "I don't think it's necessary—"

"Hit me, 'Parnasse."

He watched as Eponine lowered her head and her thin body tensed. "Hit me." She whispered again, weaker this time.

Montparnasse looked down at his own hand and suddenly wished it wasn't there. Just do it. It'll be over with. Just hit her.

He quickly raised his hand and brought the back of it down across her frail face that was hidden by her hair. He winced as she stumbled back and let out a quiet sob. There was another sob from across the room, Combeferre, who had apparently seen what had just happened.

Thenardier, satisfied, gave a nod and turned to go back out of the room.

Montparnasse followed him after mumbling a quiet apology to Eponine.

As soon as the door shut, Combeferre limped his way over to Eponine and quietly pulled her into a gentle hug, holding her close. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was gone" he whispered.

He felt another sob come from her little body as she hid her face in his shoulder. "I want to go, 'Ferre. I want to leave. You, me, and 'Parnasse."

Combeferre didn't let her see his face when she mentioned the other boy. It hurt him, he knew that she loved Montparnasse, but he tried to forget about it sometimes. "We'll try, 'Ponine. We'll try and figure something out tomorrow. Okay?"

Eponine nodded silently, not letting go of him. "I love you."

Combeferre smiled slightly. He knew it wasn't right, but just for a second, he pretended she meant it in a different way. He pretended that she was in love with him. "I love you too."

Poor 'Ferre and 'Ponine. Well, please review if you liked, and I'll do another chapter soon hopefully. God Bless!