A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. Life has a nasty habit of getting in the way, and I apologise. Thank you all for your lovely reviews, and for all of you that have favourited the story. I never honestly thought that anyone would even read it! I love you guys!
Chapter Three: Black, the Night that Ends At Last
Enjolras awoke that morning with a newfound sense of purpose and conviction. Just a few more hours and he would see Eponine. He would no longer be alone. He moved more quickly than he normally would through his mundane morning tasks in setting up the tavern. Miss Turner noticed the sudden change in his mood.
"Morning, Sunshine," she said as she entered the tavern. Enjolras had already completed setting up, and was having coffee as he waited to open the tavern.
"Good morning," he replied, offering her the coffee pot.
Miss Turner observed him as she took the coffee pot from him. She noticed he seemed happier, more alive, even, than he had for the almost month that he had lived there. There was a slight spring in his step, and she could see that he had some kind of purpose behind his eyes.
"What's gotten you so happy?" she asked him, curious about his newfound happiness.
"Nothing in particular," Enjolras replied, "just a new day, new opportunities to make good things happen."
"Oh yeah? What kind of good things?"
Enjolras was careful not to let on what he had planned. How he would go to Eponine, and they would no longer be alone.
"Nothing specific. Just trying to find joy in the everyday, I think".
"Ok then, Mister Joy-In-Everyday, I need you to go down to the bakery. The family in room one have a thing for bread, especially throwing it out the window. You might be able to find some of the joy in everyday in Miss Ella".
'Little you know,' thought Enjolras as he headed off to the bakery.
Eponine was nearly finished baking the fifth batch of bread for that day. She knew that soon Enjolras would send Timmy the Street Urchin to buy the bread for the tavern. Her expression softened as she thought of the young boy, so like her brother. She had come to enjoy Timmy's company. He would often come back to visit her after he had taken the bread to Enjolras. Timmy didn't have parents, and neither did Eponine. They looked out for each other, with an unspoken agreement, a kind of kindred spirits. She watched the door, knowing that Timmy would be entering the bakery soon, and was shocked to see a young man with dark blonde hair coming towards the bakery.
"Enjolras!" she said, to herself, shocked.
She ran to the back of the bakery, needing to regain her composure. This could not be happening. She had resolved to not see him again and now he was seeking her out! After taking three deep breaths, Eponine stepped back out to the front shop area of the bakery, and found herself face to face with Enjolras.
"Good morning, Monsieur Enjolras. I have not seen you in a long time. Were you sick?" She tried to make herself sound convincing. She knew that he had not returned to the bakery in so long as he could not be confronted with the ghosts of his past.
"Eponine," he replied, "I wish I had known earlier."
"I'm sorry, Monsieur, but I don't know who Eponine is. I told you, my name is Elizabeth Jane Smith." Eponine tried to keep her composure. She had to keep her composure, and keep the mask that she had perfected over the past five years, to create this life that she was finally proud of.
"But, that is an English name. You are French, you know of the Revolution, and the Barricades at which I lead the charge!" Enjolras found himself becoming quickly frustrated with the girl's denial.
"I never once said that I knew of your Barricades, Monsieur." Memories came pouring into Eponine's mind, and she did not know how much longer she would be able to continue the conversation in this manner. "Please just take your bread," she said, as her eyes began brimming with tears.
"Eponine," Enjolras said, grabbing Eponine's hand, and staring into her eyes so deeply that Eponine believed he could see into her soul. "I know it's you."
Eponine broke down, as Enjolras continued.
"I know the loss you suffered in losing your brother that day, as I lost many of mine. If anyone understands your situation, it is I. Eponine, I wish I had realised when I saw you on my first day in London. We have both run from something so terrible, and now is our chance to start anew."
Eponine hesitated before pulling her hand away from his.
"You need to leave, Monsieur. Please. Here is your bread. Please. Leave." And with that, Eponine retreated to the back of the bakery.
Enjolras could not comprehend what had happened. Elation, yes, that was there, elation at the fact that he had finally found someone who would understand. Confusion, at how Eponine had reacted, that was there too. Irony, at the fact that he grew upset with the girl for running away to try to forget, when he had done the same thing. But then there was something else, an almost sadness. Whilst he had finally found understanding, and yet, he felt more alone than he had before. He had hoped that Eponine would react differently, more positively.
He made his way back to the tavern slowly, and in an obviously worse frame of mind than he had been that morning.
Eponine could not comprehend what had happened. He could not know that she was Eponine. It was not supposed to be that she was Eponine, and that he was Enjolras, and that they were supposed to have both died that night at the Barricades. And how dare he become upset with her for denying who she was! He may not have changed his name, but he had run from the Barricades to a new life, just as she had. He was just as guilty as she.
Realising that she was alone, Eponine let the emotion consume her, and, finally, she cried for those she had lost; Gavroche, Marius, and most of all, herself.
