Author Note: Well it's been a while but here is a new (admittedly short) chapter - writers block had me in a head lock for a LONG time!

Like with the last one I'm not totally crazy about it so I may edit it later on.

Thanks so much for all the people who follow and review this story I love to hear your opinions and take all writing advice on board - it is because of all of you I find the strength to work through the writers block and keep going :)

Still don't own Les Mis...dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuun :D

"Eponine I cannot thank you enough." Marius had his arm wrapped around her shoulders a big grin on his face, his eyes looking but not truly seeing his companion. He couldn't see the pain behind her smile, the tears she was resolutely blinking back. "She is absolutely amazing. I've never felt this way before. I've never met a girl who makes me feel like this!"

"No…I imagine you haven't…" she trailed off trying to keep the sunny smile glued to her face, her hand grasped at a threadbare scarf hanging from her throat.

"But I owe it all to you! I wish you would let me thank you Eponine."

"I really don't want your money. It's no good to me." Her smile softened becoming much more genuine and her face lit up, eyes locked upon his face.

"Something else, anything else..."

The words trembled upon her lips. A hug, a compliment...a kiss...on the cheek or forehead of course... ask him to love her instead of Cosette...

She covered her thoughts with a laugh "Honestly, I will not accept any payment." She gently touched his cheek, for the briefest of moments. Just to feel it. The soft warmth beneath her hand. "Your smile will do just fine."

"'Ponine, you're such a dear friend to me..." He smiled down at her before parting and heading towards Enjolras and the two were quickly lost in a political conversation that Eponine couldn't understand, nor was interested in. Whilst Eponine couldn't hope to understand the politics the ideal was one she admired, and hearing Marius speak so passionately about such a cause only made her love him more.

Every passing day the realisation suck further and further in. Like a knife twisting in her side. Round and round. He would never want her like she wanted him...

"Eponine." It was Courfeyrac. A gently smile was on his face. The one reserved for seeing someone after a long time parted.

"You again?!" She snapped not taking her eyes of Marius at the opposite table, she didn't want to have to deal with him. Not after seeing him and his date a few weeks previously."Why is it every time I want to be alone, you're there."

"Bad luck…Good luck." He shrugged his broad shoulders "I don't know…" He caught site of her and this time he really looked. She was so thin, and she looked so tiered. Dark circles were under her eyes as though she hadn't slept in weeks, her cheekbones were more pronounced, her face looking hollow.

Her hand had stopped holding the scarf and if had slipped revealing the dark purple marks across her throat. His eyes widned seeing the marks "what happened? You've been hurt again." She tried to cover her neck back up but he pulled the scarf from her fingers. "Eponine…" he'd seen it before. Illustrations from domestic abuse cases, the hand that grabbed her looked like it fitted completely round her throat.

""Not here!" She snapped tugging on his arm and leading him outside. "They will hear." Her eyes flickered about, assuring that they wouldn't be overheard.

"'Ponine-"

"Don't call me that." that was Marius's nickname. How dare he try to use it. Especially after how he'd treated her!

"Eponine" he corrected "Those marks on your neck…"

"I tied my scarf too tightly." It was just a bold-faced lie that had it not been so serious Courfeyrac would have laughed.

"Eponine! Don't lie to me please! I can see someone hurt you…if you just tell me who!"

"I'm fine Courfeyrac, please it is none of your business!"

"You're a friend of mine are you not? Well regardless you are my best friends, friend. I don't like seeing a woman hurt, take you pick, all are reasons to why your pain is my business!"

"No it isn't." she snapped, but her arms instinctively wove around themselves, trying to hide the fading bruises.

"Yes it is!"

"You are stubborn!"

"So I've been told Mam'zelle…"

She let out a frustrated moan, her fists clenching "I hate you sometimes!"

"You wouldn't be the first and-" she'd winced, a hand going to her ribs "Your side…"

"It just hurts when I breathe…It'll be fine…It always is."

"Stop being so bloody brave." He whispered, going to take her hand but she withdrew.

"If I let you look at it…Show you it isn't that bad. Will you stop asking what happened…"

He hated himself for the answer he gave "For now."

She gave him nothing but the slightest tilt of her head, probably seeing through his lie but choosing to ignore it. Courfeyrac removed the coat he was wearing; it was a soft blue coat with a soft velvet lining. She needed it far more then he did tonight. He draped it around her shoulders. Her shivering stopped almost immediately but she still looked like she was about to protest. He shot her a look. One that seemed to tell her you need this more then I. Eyes met and a silent agreement was made She fell into step with him and they remained silent until they reached his front door.

"I'll let you in then go get Joly. You wait-" he unlocked the front door and made to leave, intending to find Joly at the meeting but suddenly he felt a tugging at his shirt, he turned thinking it was caught on the handle, only to find Eponine holding his sleeve, her body mere centimetres away from his, looking up into his face with the same lost expression as the night they met.

"No…No…I want you…" she whispered, she blushed realizing how that sounded "I-I mean…I know you. I don't know him very well. Just look at it, please."

He nodded and led her inside with a gesture of his hand.

"Don't laugh." She whispered starting to loosen her dress, she stopped for the briefest moment to gesture to her right hand side "It's just here, but honestly it's nothing."

Why on earth would I laugh at you? but didn't say this out loud.

Courfeyrac was totally at a loss at where to look. Her total lack of hesitation or shame in lowering the dress worried him. How often had she lowered that dress for strangers before? She stood there, entire torso exposed but he couldn't take his eyes off her. It was nothing sexual that kept his eyes on her wretched form. It was the small scratches, scrapes, scars, bruises. He tried to prevent it, but pity shone from his eyes. He could count every one of her ribs under her skin.

"I-I'm not sure what I'm looking at…" he trailed off pathetically. All he knew for certain that it wasn't nothing. It was defiantly something.

"How bad does it look?"

"It looks sore." He murmured, reaching out to touch her very gently. He was angry, annoyed at himself for being unable to help her. Her right hand side looked tender, swollen, the brushing a deep purple against her white, freezing skin.

"It's a good thing you're pretty Sir!" She tried to put on a brave smile for him, tries not to let out little whimpers as he touched her ribs, feeling for cracks or breaks, not of course that he knew what either felt like.

He looked up at her his face a mixture of worry and concern, getting unsteadily to his feet. "Eponine I really am not informed enough to deal with this. I'll take you to Joly, he's studying this sort of thing. He can help you."

"I-I can't. I came here because I can't go anywhere else." She pulled at the dress so her breasts and shoulders were once more covered. "If I wanted a doctor I would have gone to one."

"Please this is crazy!" It was gentle though. "Nobody won't tell, just let us help you. Let me go and get Joly. He's a friend of Marius's...that has to mean something…

"He'll tell Marius."

"You're really first scared of him finding out." He said with a sad smile, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

She blushed looking away, unused to the intimate gesture. "It would make him worry…"

"If I promise not to let him find out. If I promise not to tell him…or anyone else. Will you please let me get Joly."

"Promise?" She reached her hands to him. They were cold and chapped a saddening contrast to his large, warm palms, he engulfed her hands in his, trying to make her feel safe and warm at long, long last.

"I promise."