Thank you all for the lovely reviews. (About 'Bee-Stings and Benches,' I have literally no inspiration for that, so unless someone wants to help me out of my rut, it's just gonna be sittin' there for awhile.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Pairings: J/C and E/E

To Those Who Ask and Tell

Valjean closed his eyes with a heavy sigh. After a tense moment, he stood up. "I am not going to argue with you, Cosette. I am not going to explain anything to you tonight. Please; try and understand." he moved to the door and placed a hand on the frame. He looked off toward his own room.

Cosette shook her head. She bunched a portion of her dress in her fist. "I want.. I need to know now. I can't keep living a lie!"

Valjean shook his head. "You are not living a lie."

"And how am I supposed to believe you? Trust you?"

Valjean groaned and pounded his hand on the frame. "Cosette, you will find these things out in time. You are still too fragile-"

Cosette felt her hand go free from her dress and fly out to the side. "I am not fragile, Papa!" she lowered her voice. "I am stronger than you think.."

Valjean stared at his daughter for a moment. He knew she was right. He knew she was struggling. He understood, yet he could not give her up. "Goodnight, Cosette."

Cosette ran to the doorframe; just across the hall, her father's door was closed. "Papa!" she yelled. "Father!"

The door remained shut.

The café was bustling with energy. More than that, it was teeming with people. Another rally, she supposed. Eponine skirted inside and toward the back room; she could feel Les Amis' excitement through the door. Before entering, Eponine smoothed her hair down, running a hand through the knots he'd made. Rolling her shoulders, she tried to make sure her gait wasn't as awkward as it felt. God, she was sore. She pushed the door open and slid into the back, taking a seat beside Marius. Although Marius knew of her past feelings for him, the friendship that was so great between the two never lessened by any measure; it was still as if they were twelve-year-olds, scampering through the streets, hiding from her father. Marius was beaming and Eponine rolled her eyes.

"You've found another, have you not?" she asked, amusement in her voice.

Marius' attention was focused on the men rushing in and out of the room all at once. "What was that?" he replied.

Eponine sighed; some things never changed. "Nothing. Look, I came to tell Enjolras something so-"

Marius' head turned. "I think I've found the one, 'Ponine."

"You said that last time," she answered, looking away.

"No, but really."

"Do you even know her name?" He had this funny habit of never learning their names, all the girls that were "the one."

Marius faltered. "Well, no. But Jehan might; he seemed to know who I was speaking of."

'Ponine rolled her eyes. "Marius, grow up, why don't you?!" she tousled his hair and wandered off to find Enjolras. She needed to speak with him in private, urgently.

She found him leaning against the sole window frame in the room, looking out at all the people bringing things in and out of the café. Combeferre stood beside him, arms crossed over his chest, speaking quietly. When Eponine arrived, he cut his sentence short and stared at Enjolras for a moment before excusing himself. Enjolras finally looked away from the window and uncrossed him arms; he shoved one hand into his pocket.

"I'm sorry. Was I interrupting something?" Eponine looked over her shoulder to where Combeferre was now speaking with Joly, though he never tore his eyes away from the girl. The last time Eponine interrupted something.. She shivered at the memory.

Enjolras shook his head. "Non, mademoiselle. Certainly not. Combeferre was just debriefing me on how today's event will proceed."

Eponine nodded and looked out the window. "Yes; I figured something was happening today. Everyone seems so excited!" she tried to smile, but it probably came out more as a grimace of pain.

Enjolras noticed her awkwardness, but dismissed it as not sleeping well. "We're having a rally outside of General Lamarque's home today. Should prove to be interesting."

"I hope so."

Eponine swallowed and looked back out the window. She saw a bright flash of blue and blond dart into the café. Probably one of Coufeyrac's mistresses coming to plead for him to leave the revolution so they can make beautiful babies and be the happiest couple on Earth. She smiled softly; they always did that before a rally.

"Are you alright, Eponine?" she heard.

Turning her head, Eponine locked eyes with Enjolras. She wrinkled her nose, looking over his shoulder at Grantaire, who winked. "Yes, of course, monsieur."

He raised an eyebrow. "You look stiff."

Stiff. Then she remembered.

Eponine suddenly placed a hand on his elbow, her eyes searching his. She felt him tense at her touch. Of course; Enjolras does not like physical contact in the slightest. She let go.

"Can I speak with you for a moment?" she nodded toward the tavern part of the café. Hopefully all the noise would help her to speak more freely.

Enjolras nodded. "I have fifteen minutes I can give you. Come."

Cosette nearly flew into the café. She was still brimming with anger and she needed a way to release it. Maybe yelling at all the rich of France would help? After all, she wasn't really one of them, was she? She nearly pushed her way into the back where she knew all the men would be getting ready for the next rally. Like before, she chose not to be cumbersome and wear the cage below her sky blue dress. It would have been awfully embarrassing to see her struggling to get into the back and take up all that room, too.

Cosette pushed the door open and searched for Jehan. By the wall, a man with light brown hair and face dusted with freckles stood up quickly. She stared at him a moment before resting her eyes on Jehan; she felt an odd sense of relief.

During the night, the restless night, she'd come to the realization of two things. One, she needed to find him and ask him some questions about their cause. Two, she needed to apologize for acting so rudely the week before. She knew now that he never would have done anything to hurt her; she was acting out of instinct.

She would never be used the same way again.

Several of the men in the room stared at her as she passed, but what with Eponine and Coufeyrac's mistresses always present, women near Les Amis was coming more of a usual thing. Jehan was over by the lone table in the room, laughing with the large man beside him. She walked over, more than determined, and placed a hand on his arm. He turned and stopped laughing. The man beside him took a swig of his beer, a quizzical look on his face.

"Grantaire," he said. "Hand me some of that will you!" he walked away quickly.

Jehan swallowed the bread in his mouth, eyes wide. "Mademoiselle Cosette, what are you doing here? I thought-"

Cosette shook her head. "I came because I wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have been so rude to you last week. I was- It doesn't matter. I just wanted to say I'm sorry if I offended you, monsieur."

Jehan shook his head and smiled. "No. Of course you didn't. Confused me? Yes. But offended me? Never."

Cosette felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She had been afraid that he would be angry; men always were. "I'm glad. Now, can I ask you a question about all this?" she waved her hand around to indicate the revolution.

"Certainly."

"What would it take for a woman to join?" she asked plainly.

Jehan nearly choked on the bread in his mouth.

Enjolras guided Eponine to one of the booths near the front of the café. As he sat down, he noticed how she took her time, eyes closed as she slid across from him.

Something definitely wasn't right.

"What is it?" he asked, waiting for her to reopen her tightly shut eyes.

Eponine laughed harshly before she sucked in a deep breath. "Hand me that rag, will you?" she pointed to the rag at the end of the table. She could feel the cut underneath her rib reopen as she sat down. Enjolras handed it to her and she placed it over quickly darkening spot on her dress. Pressure makes it stop, 'Ponine. You know that better than anyone.

Enjolras couldn't wait any longer. Their time was running out. "It was Montparnasse wasn't it? Do not lie to me, Eponine. I know his work when I see it." Alright, he was lying. He'd never seen the bloke in his life, only heard his name whispered in the streets. But Enjolras did know what he did to Eponine if she didn't get her take. Just like her father.

Eponine nodded, feeling tears well up behind her eyes. Don't cry. Not in front of Enjolras! Be strong. "Yes."

Enjolras moved to take her hand, but stopped, drumming his fingers on the table. "Tell me."

Eponine looked at him with wet eyes. "I was walking home last night, from a con, you see. I hadn't exactly gotten as much as I should have." she felt shame roll over her in waves. "I tried to bypass 'Parnasse and his little "group" on the corner, but ended up right smack-dab where he wanted me down the alley. I suppose he knew I wouldn't get enough, and he knew I would try to run, so he was just waiting for me to show up. When I did, he told me that I'd done a horrible job, like always, and that I needed to pay.."

Enjolras gestured for her to go on. Eponine focused on her lap once more. "He pushed much up against the wall and.. I tried to scream, get someone to hear, but in the that area, no one cares." a stray tear fell down her cheek and she looked over to the bar. "He said the cruelest things as he did it, monsieur. I've never been so ashamed in my life. Mind you, I've done things like that before, had to really; to stay alive. But this time.."

Enjolras placed two of his fingers on her shaking hand. He felt her hand still. "You don't have to tell me the rest," he whispered.

Eponine nodded. "Thank you."

"Are you hurt?"

Eponine shrugged. "He had a knife against my ribs the whole time. I guess I squirmed too much and got myself a nice little slice." she smiled sadly. "Do you think Monsieur Joly can take a look at it?"

Enjolras nodded, pressing his fingers down in encouragement. "Certainly. And, Eponine," she looked up. "You needn't go back to him anymore, you know?"

Eponine sucked in her lower lip. "I know."

"Then why do you?"

"He wants me. No one else does."

Jehan gripped Cosette's elbow in his hand. He lead her over to the corner. "What are you saying?"

"I am saying that recently I found out information that links me to the ones you wish to help." Jehan stared at her, confused. "I can explain maybe later, but for now, I want to know if I can join your fight. Properly? Meetings and all. I want to help; I know I can."

After a moment, Jehan squeezed her elbow. "You are something special, mademoiselle. I can ask Enjolras; he runs the show 'round here. How about you come to the rally today and get a taste, a real one, of what we do? Then you can make your choice." he smiled at her; her heart fluttered.

"I would like that."

Jehan laughed. "Me, too."

I feel such a strong need to show a different side of Cosette in this story. Many people seem to think she's just that added soprano who is there for looks and innocence. On the contrary. Cosette is one of the strongest characters in Les Mis. Not only was she mistreated as a child and taken away multiple times, but when Valjean was dying, she freakin' left her weeding and tore across the country to see him! Also, she's a little funny.

/Rant over./ Please tell me what you think!

Jess