After Marius had left to run his errands, Enjolras decided to try and find Éponine. He hadn't had any luck finding her around the Cafe. He had no idea where she usually haunted, besides the Cafe. He would try her family's Inn, but after that he would just have to go back to the Cafe and wait and see if she showed up again.

Enjolras entered the Inn, finding it surprisingly rowdy for being just afternoon. "Have you seen Éponine," He questioned the large woman working behind the counter.

"Why ye lookin' for that brat fer?" Thénardier questioned giving him a hearty laugh after giving him a good look over. "She's 'round 'ere somewhere."

"Thank you very much Madame." Enjolras looked around the Inn, spotting her sitting, uncomfortably, between her father and a man he had seen around town. "Ah, there she is."

"Wait!"

"What?"

"I've eh," she scratched her head, "I've 'membered where she is. She's 'aving a real 'mportant meetin', with 'er father and a possible suitor. Can't 'ave you interrupting tha'!" She lumbered around the counter. "So 'eh, I can keep yet occupied 'till she's done." Thénardier poked him in the stomach, "Not an ounce eh fat."

Enjolras found himself, for once, at a loss for words. He turned back to look at Éponine. She was staring at him intently, but as soon as they met eyes she looked away quickly. "I need to talk to her." He said, glancing to the unattractive man to her left, the "suitor" her mother had mentioned."It'll be quick-"

"No! 'Parnasse is offering a good 'nough sum for the brat." She hissed, grabbing his arm.

"Let go of me woman." Enjolras snapped, shaking his arm free from her grasp. He couldn't help but find it humours that this woman was unknowingly holding back her daughter's husband. He gave her a threatening glare before making his way across the Inn towards Éponine and the two men.

"Éponine, Monsieur Thénardier, Monsieur, I'm quite sorry I do not know your name." Enjolras couldn't understand why he felt any jealousy towards the man.

"Montparnasse," He rose to his feet, giving a quick bow. "And you?"

Enjolras shot a glance at Éponine, "I am Enjolras Ba-"

"He is my husband." Éponine said softly, her eyes downcast at the table.

"What ye say brat?" Her father glared at her, "Speak up, my ears are betrayin' me."

"My husband." She replied with a slight power.

"Monsieur Thénardier that is why I have come here today. You're daughter and I were wed yesterday." Enjolras gave her a gentle smile.

"You mean your hussy of a daughter is already married?" Montparnasse snarled, "Give me back my money you old man."

"Wait a moment 'Parnasse," Thénardier raised a hand to quiet his friend. "Has the marriage been... finalised?"

"No."

"Yes."

"Éponine, I.." Enjolras flustered at their conflicting answers.

"I understand that you would like to keep these details of our marriage to us, but it is much better to let my father know." Éponine nodded her head, rising to her feet and walking towards Enjolras. "Father, I am no longer yours to give away."

"I expect money," He spat, "I expect money for my daughter's innocence, I could've got plenty o' money fer her out on the streets."

"Your payment is a safe home for your daughter, and knowing that she will be taken care of." Enjolras retorted, giving Éponine a sideways glance as she rested her hand on his forearm. "I can give her a better life than you could have ever given her." His eyes shot between both men.

"I expect a child."

Éponine fought back any fearful emotions. That was not part of the real marriage agreement.

"If that is all you require as proof of our marriage it can be arranged." Enjolras protectively wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Won't be hard will it?"

"No." Éponine laughed nervously, finding that the stains on the floor boards very interesting suddenly.

"If there is no child by the end of the year, I'll be requiring money and my daught'r back."

Enjolras held his hand out, "It is a deal then."

Montparnasse jerked to his feet, "Thénardier return to me the money I have been paying you!"

"This is where we go quickly." Éponine commented, stepping back slowly.

~o~

"This is not going at all as we planned." Éponine groaned, sitting down on chair in the parlour room of Enjolras' house.

"Éponine," Enjolras shook his head, sitting down across from her.

"I do not know how this is going to work, with my father and the deal you agreed to."

"What would you have wanted me to do? No Monsieur I do not want your daughter if that means I will have to lay with her?" Enjolras rolled his eyes, "Éponine there is something else I wanted to talk about."

"What is it?"

"I want, no, I need you to know if you want to remain married to me."

"Of course I do, Enjolras."

"No you do not. I do not think that you really want this. I think you only agreed because you were afraid to say no. In the face of Marius you were ashamed of our marriage."

Éponine bit her lip, "That's not why I didn't want to tell him. I wasn't ready! I wanted to tell everyone after my dress is finished. I.."

"He told me he cares for you more than any of his other friends."

Éponine gasped, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want you to know, that you may have had a choice bad choice in marrying me."

"Do you see what my father wants me to marry?" Éponine snapped, "Why are you doing this Enjolras? This was not a mistake. We'll make it work out with my father. And Marius, he will never love me like he does this girl from the park."

"And do you think that I will ever love you?"

Éponine stared at him, feeling a dull ache in her chest, "Are you just trying to push me away? I'm sorry that I hurt you when I made you sound like the last person on the earth I would want."

"No, I'm trying to put this into perspective for you."

"I want to be married to you, Enjolras. I will walk back to the Cafe right now and tell them all. I told my parents didn't I?"

"Only because the timing worked for you."

"Why am I suddenly the wrong-doer person in this conversation?" Éponine stood up, walking across the parlour to look out the window. She would not cry in front of him.

"Éponine, we are both wrong in this." Enjolras followed after her, standing behind her. "We just need to talk this out like civilised people. We didn't plan this out, we just jumped into this headfirst."

"Stop Enjolras," Éponine choked on a sob. "Just stop."

"Please don't cry." He tentatively reached his hand out to stroke her arm.

Éponine turned in a whirl, taking him off guard as she pressed her lips against his. He didn't respond at first, but he found himself kissing her back after he realised what was going on. Éponine jerked back from the kiss, "When you kiss me back like that it makes me wonder how you can also be telling me that you want this to be over before it's even started.

"That's not what I've been trying to say Éponine. I've been trying to make sure you understand this marriage."

"Then say that that is what you're doing. Because all I heard was, you saying you thought this was a terrible mistake and that we should return to the judge and have this marriage ended."

"That's not at all what I want." Enjolras leaned his forehead to press against hers, before wrapping her in a warm embrace. He wasn't sure what it was that he felt for this urchin girl – it wasn't love, but it was something close to it.