Hi guys! Look I know what your all thinking... I'm terrible. I couldn't agree with you more. I have been busy but that's no excuse for takingso long to update. I'll try my best to keep it more regular . This chapter is especially dedicated to all those who have liked, reviewed and followed this story and my one shot. You guys are amazing. Just wanna say also that I'm open to any ideas you guys wanna throw at me, don't be afraid to say what you want!

Eponine ran down the Main Street of Evanstown, heart beating fast as she did so. She slowed down as she came to the alleyway that led to her home.

As she turned down the alleyway, she looked cautiously to make sure that there was no drunken fumble or the likes going on (it wouldn't be the first time). When she was certain that the coast was clear she made her way down the alleyway.

She sighed as she walked, kicking a stone while doing so. She was sad that she could never seem to make friends without having their parents judge her by how she looked. She thought for a minute while she was running around enjoying herself withthose
/reallynice boys that maybe, just maybe, it would work this time. But no, she never had such luck. It was the same old story, different day.

If only I had nice clothes and a family that- she stopped her train of thought right there.

She was now nearing the distinctive 'border line' between the good side of town and her side of town. If she were to turn left she would be heading towards the town center. It's basically just a longer route to the playground. Whereas going right willbringher
/to the 'rough' side of town. The side of town where she lived. The side of town the mainstream people turned their nose to. There was a fence put here to stop such people from coming into this side of town, the same fencing as the cage behindtheperson
/batting in baseball. Instead of hopping the fence she decided to go through the hole in the fence that was just big enough to fit her own small frame. She made her way to the street where she lived, passing the run down red brick housesthatwere
/on either side of the street. Her house wasthe last one on the right.

Her pace quickened as she neared the house, knowing full well in this neighborhood a bullet was capable of being fired at any time due to the undying gang rivalry that existed here. As soon as she pushed in the door (which had no knob/handle for god knowswhatreason
/today). She ran through the sitting room come kitchen area, if you could even call it that, with a round oak table with marks and scratches on it, a 22 inch TV (one of the older ones with a huge back to them) and a kitchenette with a half-workingovenand
a small fridge.

Eponine headed straight upstairs to her room to the one thing that got her through each day with a smile on her face. Her little brother Gavroche. She threw the door open and saw Gavroche in the corner, playing with the batman figurine she got him for
his thirdbirthday last year. He dropped it immediately when he saw his big sister and ran up to her. They embraced each other tightly.

"Hey there bud! 'ow was your day?" Eponine asked.

"Boring!" He replies as usual.

Eponine looks around the room for her sister, noticing her absence.

"Where's Azelma?" She asks, getting slightly worried.

"She gone ta the store to do the shopping, Ann-Marie said she 'ad to", Gavroche saidin a sullen tone. Eponine rolledher eyes at the mention of that women.

"I missed 'ou taday Ponie!" Exclaimed the four year old.

"So did I Gav, but I don't got school again 'till August so we'll be spending lots more time together".

"YAY!" Gavroche said excitedly, looking forward to the days to come.

Their happy moment was interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming. The siblings gasped. Papa's home. They embraced each other tightly, Eponine putting her arms around Gavroche protectively as they heard footsteps coming up the creakingstairs.

The door to their room suddenly flew open. Their father stumbled in and Eponine instinctively hid Gavroche behind her. Their father moved towards them, the smell of alcohol off him getting stronger with every step. He grabbed Eponine's arm andpulled
her up while trying to keep her balance.

"Where's the money girl?" he slurred, the stench of alcohol off his breath was almost enough to knock someone. Eponine scrambled in her pocket and pulled out three one-dollar bills and five quarters' and handed it to her father.

He looked at the money for a minute before turning his gaze towards Eponine, looking at her with pure disgust before pushing her hard enough for her to fall over.

"THIS is all you get!?" He roared at her.

"I was at school today so I could only look for a few hours!" Eponine shouted back.

Thenardier did not take too kindly to this. He hit Eponine across the face. He then felt the need to kick her, which he did, into her right side just above her hip. Eponine winced slightly.

"Good for nothing, better bring in more tomorrow..." Said Thenardier as he left the room.

Eponine moved towards the wall, eventually getting there and leant against it. Her cheek was stinging and her side was sore. Great, two more new injuries I have to make excuses up for... Thought Eponine. A little sob brought her back toreality.

She looked over at Gavroche. His lower lip was trembling as he looked at his sister, knowing their father had hurt her. Eponine saw this and opened her arms for him to go into, which he gladly accepted. He ranover to her and curled up on her

lap,sobbing into her rubbed soothing circles on his back and told him everything was going to be ok. She was also trying to reassure herself at the same time.

As her eyes landed on another bruise on her arm she sighed.

At this point what I need is a miracle. She thought, as she and her brother were curled up in the corner of their room, sore and afraid.