Looking into Eponines eyes Marius saw the fear that did not dare spread to the rest of her face.

"I'm sorry. I…I'm just, she's gone." Sadness crept into Marius as he heard the words but he still couldn't place the fear.

"Why? Take me to where she lives…", his voice trailed off for a moment as his hope was fading, "where she lived so that I can be certain."

Eponine just nodded and started walking not turning to see if Marius was following and right then when she told herself she didn't care, she really meant it. The cold streets of Paris felt colder somehow. Marius was finally starting to notice her and maybe even care but now all hope was dashed. He would forever be caught on some girl in his dreams who he had never even met. Someone who would never get old and whose beauty would never wither.

After many tense minutes Marius broke the silence with one word ,"Why?", and Eponine answered thinking he was asking of Cosettes sudden absence and not of the look in her eyes as she told him the news.

"My father followed me to her home, to where I'm taking you now. He was going to use them as he does with anyone of their money. I couldn't let that happen so I screamed and ran before the police could come… He was so angry." It was then that she finally turned to face the man she loved and told him what she dreaded most. "I came back but all signs of life had diminished. The motive wasn't clear but I am certain it was my fault, my scream which set them running. I don't know why but I do know who."

That was when they reached Cosettes home but Marius didn't care; he didn't even look as he stood by the house of the girl who he had, only hours before, thought he was in love with. God, such a fool I was to believe such idle fancy. That was not love, it couldn't be, and now I am letting a true love slip away because of it. This girl… no this woman standing before me is the closest I have ever come to the unyielding eternal grasp of love and I have scared her away.

"Forgive me Eponine for doubting you even in the slightest way. I do not need to enter this hollowed place to know beyond a doubt that you were correct. This was a fool's errand I sent you on and we shall forget it ever happened."

But they wouldn't forget. He because he didn't want to un-see the devotion of his beloved companion and his unexpected new feelings for her. And Eponine she couldn't if she tried, and she had tried, because the fear in her eyes was there for a reason and she couldn't say why.