Thank you so much for the follows! It makes me really happy that you all are reading my story, haha. This is awesome! Enjoy! :)

I do not own anything.

Marius walked along the banks of the pond, recalling of the memories spent here that summer. He had just returned from Montfermeil, where his grandparents resided, and had come for the funeral and to see Eponine. As he continued his stroll by the pond, he couldn't help but smile at this special place of theirs. Here it was where they shared countless conversations of their thoughts and goals. Here they shared their first kiss. Here it was when he had said 'I love you' to Eponine for the first time. It was all now a faint memory to Marius now, but returning to this spot in particular, it all ignited again within him. She had been his first love and he lived with no regrets in respects to her, except one. How he handled the end of their relationship. He was only 15, but they both knew they were mature for their ages. They knew the value of marriage, love, and family, and they only hoped to have it all together. It wasn't unusual for them to talk about little Marius' running around or mini Eponine's sharing the same beauty of their mother. They both fancied the idea of their lives becoming one together.

But all those thoughts were lost in space until that day. Marius had been at the market to get some flowers for Eponine, for it was their anniversary that evening. Then, she happened. A girl of radiance and poise flaunted down the streets of Paris, as if she were an angel from the heavens up above. Marius and this angel locked eyes immediately, and he had never felt this way before. The way her eyes smothered into his, how her lips twitched up into a smile that blew him away. Marius hadn't believed in the idea of love at first sight, but if this was the feeling people talked about, he sure did believe in it now. She was pulled away from his gaze by an older looking man, perhaps her father, and Marius tried to gather himself up. Marius, what's wrong with you? You love Eponine. The girl that has been there for you through thick and thin. The girl who is your soul mate. Yes, Marius loved Eponine, but upon looking at this fine being, a spark was lighted, never before had he felt so in love, not even with Eponine. She had been the only girl he had known or even talked to, and it just seemed right to be together because they admired each other's personas. But, if he truly loved her, the sight of this girl should not have affected his feelings towards Eponine. At that moment, he knew this all had to end because he didn't want to hurt Eponine any more than what damage had already done. He would tell her that night when they met at their special pond, and he ached for that moment to come. Consumed by his careful planning, he hadn't noticed the Mademoiselle walked up to him, and brushed her hand against his. It left a tingling sensation in his soul, and then he was unstoppable. He followed her throughout the market until finally she was alone, admiring the flowers at florist's shop. Her father had gone inside the blacksmith's shop and so Marius dodged forward to her.

"Mademoiselle…" he addressed her with utmost respect.

"Cossette. And you Monsieur?" she spoke in a beautiful high pitched voice.

"Marius Pontmercy at your service," he bowed at before her while she curtsied, never taking her eyes off of him.

"How do you do Monsieur Marius, pardon for my staring at you, but you have the kindest eyes I have ever seen," she commented.

"Well, no one has said that to me before, thank you Mademosielle. I can say the same about you too. When I saw you, I could've sworn you were an angel," the love-stricken Marius said, Cossette blushing at the comment. "Tell me Mademoiselle, do you believe in love at first sight?"

"I believe that when two people look into ones eyes for the first time, and they feel all warm and giddy inside, that that is their true soul mate. No words, not a single touch isn't exchanged, but just of the look in the eyes. Communication with the eyes. It just comes naturally," stated Cossette.

"Natural feeling you say?"

"Oui, Monsieur."

"Marius, just Marius please Mademoiselle," closing in on the space between them, not much really, and he gazed into her eyes deeply, as did she. Her eyes were a deep teal, glossy and wide. They danced at the sight of Marius. He then gently put his finger to her chin, tilted it slightly back, and kissed her gently on her moist lips. She tasted of strawberries. He pulled back, remembering that they were in a public place, and her father could've returned any minute; she wore the biggest smile he had ever seen.

"Marius, I-"

"Cossette, we must be going! Come now child!" yelled her father with such persistence.

"I must be going now…" Cossette began to pull away but Marius gripped her shoulders.

"Wait, please, I must see you again. Say we will see each other soon," Marius pleaded before her. He wasn't going to let Cossette walk out of his life just like that.

"We will see each other, Monsieur Marius," pecking him lightly on his cheek before racing off to her father.

Later in the evening, Marius walked with a heavy heart to the pond. He had went over different words over his head to break the news to Eponine, but she took them right out of his mouth.

"I saw you at the market today Marius…" already could tell the strain in her voice.

"Eponine, please let me explain. When I saw her, something inside of me pulled me into her soul. I never did believe in love at first sight. Love, I thought was a gradual feeling. But, not with Cossette. There's something about her that I must explore about her. Eponine, I'm sorry. Looking at our situation, we have love between us no doubt, but not that kind of love I realize now. Our love is of a close friendship that I would never want to lose. But us now, together, I don't feel it anymore after meeting with Cossette. my world has changed, just like that." Marius reached for her hand but she pulled away briskly. Eponine couldn't or wouldn't look in his face, just off in the distance. With that, he took his leave, leaving her at their once special place.

Now, the present, looking back, Marius didn't regret being with Cossette. It had been 3 wonderful years with the girl and he couldn't have been happier. She completed his world, and so did he. Every night, they snuck out and met for dinner and then walked under the stars, hand in hand. Being with Cossette, it just felt right. It was only recently her and her father had moved here to Paris due to Jean Valjean's, her father, business. Marius couldn't bear the thought of parting from his beloved, so he decided to move back to Paris. It really was a spontaneous move, but love makes you do crazy things. He found a nice flat in a building not too far from Cossette's cottage on Rue Plumet. Mostly bourgeois boys resided there and in due time, his things would soon start to arrive. His grandmother supported his actions, but his grandfather had been a piece of work. He knew of the revolutionary talk that was going on in Paris, and he cautioned his grandson greatly to not get involved with such poppycock. While his time in Paris, Marius was solely interested in being with Cossette and Cossette alone, ready to take the next step with their lives together.

Part of him was ready to take the next step, but he knew Eponine lived here as well, and he knew he would run into her. Her opinion always mattered to him, but he had done enough damage to her. After all, it seemed like she didn't want anything to do with him. This was his life with Cossette now, grown up and ready to settle down. Eponine would understand. She had to. He was sure a man took a her liking to her and that she was completely over him. He took a last look at the pond, and closed his eyes. I leave all my memories here with Eponine and I shall not look back. From here on out, I will look forward with my new life with Cossette. He then proceeded to walk away and not look back.

Hopefully this cleared up Marius' part. I'm still working on his character, his thoughts, and his relationship with Eponine. Thoughts? I've based a lot out of my life experiences, and its harder to write it down I must say, but this is what I got. Thanks for reading! New chapter very very soon :)