A/N: I know, I know, in Imagine I did promise to have this up yesterday, but...um...I kinda fell asleep writing this XD I woke up this morning to find my iPad battery had died, and Documents was my most recently used app, so yeah, sorry for delay! I'll try not to fall asleep again this time :P Just so you know I do have several mini-storylines planned, I'm using the earlier chapters to get things going :)

Also, thank you all for your reviews! Definitely open to constructive criticism at any point (thank you MariusxEponine3 for yours, I think I've somewhat managed to improve how I'm writing her, but if you have any suggestions on how to improve then please tell me!) so constructively criticise away! :D

It had been about three weeks since the reunion, and Éponine still wasn't allowed out of hospital.

She'd still been having her 'attacks', as Marius called them, but day by day she seemed to be getting better. Well, better in the sense that he could see she was still Éponine - her usual attitude was returning, and she was growing more impatient by the day.

"Can we leave yet?"

"Not yet. Why not have a nap?"

"I'm sick of resting!"

"Okay, maybe a walk on the hospital grounds?"

"Oh yes, that'll be fun, let's go look at some dead grass and paving stones for the thousandth time this week."

Marius sighed. "You won't get any better being so stressed."

"I'm not stressed!"

"Yes you are! I'm trying to help you here, but you need to help yourself!"

"I didn't ask for you to help! I didn't ask for anybody to help! I don't want to be trapped in this place, I'd much rather be out in the streets any day of the week!"

"And if your father were to catch you?"

"I can handle him!"

"No, Éponine, you can't. You're not strong enough yet."

Éponine sighed, flopping back onto her pillow. The weeks of being stuck in the same place and being prodded around for injuries twice a day was taking its toll. In short, she was in an eternal grump, and there wasn't a lot Marius could do to help her.

"I'm trying to help you. Getting in a mood with me won't help."

Éponine let out another sigh. "I know. I just hate being stuck here. Sorry" she muttered, still looking at the floor.

"Tell you what, I'll see if I can find Azelma, and we can ask at the front desk when you'll be able to go out."

"Fine."

"I'll see you a bit later then" Marius replied, leaning down and kissing her forehead softly, before getting up and starting his search for Azelma.

The market was always a good place to start, so that's where he went, having a bit of a browse as he did. He picked up a few things, namely a new notebook for himself, a small rag doll for Azelma, and a copy of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' for Éponine - well, technically he'd be the one reading it to her, but he had a feeling she'd appreciate the gesture anyway.

Before too long he saw a mass of knotted hair that could only belong to Azelma. "Azel-Adèle!" he called, almost forgetting to use her fake name. A pair of eyes looked at him. "What?"

"I know your sister well. You know what's wrong with her, right?"

Azelma nodded. "So?"

"I thought you might like to see her."

The girl looked at him and nodded, slowly. "I got you something, too" Marius said, earning him a bewildered glance.

"You did?"

Marius nodded, handing her the small rag doll. She stared at it in her hand for a bit before unexpectedly wrapping her arms around his waist. "Merci, Monsieur" she said gratefully, before releasing him and falling into a light step beside him.

"Not a problem."

They fell into a comfortable step. It was impossible not to immediately want to protect her - she looked so frail, yet so tough, and so similar to Éponine.

"So, Adèle. How long has Éponine been like she is?"

Azelma stopped for a minute. "About a month now. You saw her three weeks ago. I happened about a week before you found her, I saw her huddled in a corner muttering something to herself, every time I went near her she screamed. I didn't know what to do, so I ran to the hospital. It's quite good for this area, they seem to be okay, she didn't want to go though."

Marius nodded. "I can't imagine she'd want to have gone there willingly. But you did the right thing."

"I know."

Another comfortable silence settled between the two of them as they approached the hospital again. They headed for the desk, where Laura/Lauren/Laurel (her name tag was still very smudged) greeted them. "Geneviève again, I presume?" she asked, looking a bit worried.

"Yep."

"You might have to wait a few minutes, she's had another funny turn. She's alright now, but they suggested a few minutes to herself."

Both Marius and Azelma stared at her for a few moments, before Marius grabbed her arm and pulled her in the direction of the corridor, ignoring Laura/Lauren/Laurel calling after them. They soon found Ward Seven, and sure enough there was white curtains hanging around her bed. Azelma stopped, and looked up at Marius, who simply raised an eyebrow and walked on.

" 'Zelma? That you?"

Azelma hopped up onto the bed next to a very irritated looking Éponine. "I wish they didn't treat me like irreplaceable glass, I've survived the slums, I can get through this too!" she said grumpily, clearly irritated. "I just want to get up and move, is that so much to ask?"

Marius sighed. "They just want to be sure. Anyway, I brought you something."

"Mmm?"

"You told me you quite liked the book by Jane Austen, so I thought you'd like me to read you another classic."

Éponine smiled, and took the book. Perhaps having Marius sat next to her every evening would make the stay a bit more pleasant?

"Frank-en-stein, by Mary Shel-ley" Éponine said, squinting at the front of the book. "I've heard of this, it's the one with the monster, isn't it?"

Marius nodded. Azelma peered at the cover. "Sounds boring" she commented simply. "Mind if I come back later? Got things to do."

Éponine nodded giving her sister another hug before waving her goodbye. "See you later" she called.

"What I wouldn't give to just walk out like that" she sighed, before turning back to Marius. "Is there no way at all you can sneak me out?"

Marius chuckled. " 'Fraid not, even if I did then your father and his gang are still around town."

Éponine rolled her eyes. "I forgot about them" she said with a sigh. "Does the woman know when I'll be out?"

Marius shook his head. "I forgot to ask, one minute" he said, about to get up, when he felt pressure on the back of his waistcoat pulling him back to his chair. "Not that fast. I still want to hear this" Éponine smiled, handing him the book. "If I'm destined for solitary confinement then the least you can do is keep me entertained" she grinned, sitting up and shuffling backwards.

Now it was Marius' turn to roll his eyes, getting up from his chair and sitting next to her on the bed. "You won't be here much longer."

"Good. Have I mentioned how awkward it is sharing a room? People keep staring at me like I'm going to explode. It's annoying me."

"Ignore them."

"Oh don't worry, I do."

"That's my girl."

Éponine smiled. "Your girl, eh?"

Marius reddened. "Oh, shut up."

"I would say the same but I'm still awaiting chapter one."

Marius chuckled and opened the book, turning to chapter one and beginning to read.

"Chapter one..."