Here is Chapter 4!

When Edith woke up, she was marveled by the warmth and comfort she was feeling. She opened her eyes and there laying beside her was Eponine who she only met the day before. At first she was alarmed at her closeness to the girl but soon calmed down a bit and continued to lay down. Edith found the proximity almost relaxing. She couldn't close her eyes, they were too mesmerized to the girl who lay beside her.

The sun's ray were streaming through the french window's cracks. Gently touching the room enough for everything to be visible.

Eponine stirred, "Morning," she said lazily and forced her eyes shut.

That was something she hasn't heard in a long time... a morning greeting. Her heart almost skipped a beat at the greeting... and the feeling in the pit of her gut started again. She couldn't understand what it was... it was growing and made Edith slightly blush.

"Eponine!" a cackled woman's voice shouted from behind the door, "Wakey, wakey, the inn needs cleaning," the door creaked open and Edith sat up immediately, "Eponine... who..."

Edith got a quick look at the woman who so needed Eponine. Her hair was dirty blonde and had several objects tucked in the dirty locks of her hair. Her dress showed her curves and figure. The make up she was wearing was heavy almost a bit scary with the hair style. Her eyes were brown but narrowed towards Edith.

"Eponine, who is this rat?" her arms were crossed and her red lips pursed.

"Maman, she is not a rat. She is my friend, Edith. She helped me last night with getting the bread from the bakery." she said to defend Edith, "She can help around the inn, maman,"

Edith's mother was not so easily moved, "Not another mouth to feed, Eponine! We've discussed our money trouble!" Eponine's mother said with a threatening tone.

"Maman," Eponine was desperate to please her mother and have her new friend stay, "you don't need to feed her. She can split my meals and we can continue making trips to the bakery!" she exclaimed, "Please, maman,"

Eponine's mother was still not pleased, "She's a rat,"

"I can help around the inn... clean... you name it." Edith finally said to her own defense.

"What exactly can you do?" The woman lifted her chin.

"Depends on what you want me to do..."

The woman chewed the inside of her cheek, pondering, "You're a rat, I'm sure you can steal from a few customers. Do you know how to pick pocket?"

"Robbing someone blind? Yes," Edith said, "If that's what you want me to do..."

"Good, Eponine, your rat here can help you clean the inn. I don't expect to give her meals or pay for her care. We're tight enough as it is. Is that understood?...Good, get started," She sped through her words.

Eponine just nodded, "Yes, maman, thank you,"

"Thank you, madame," Edith showed her upmost respect.

Madame left the room swiftly, "Sorry, she's a bit cranky in the morning," Eponine whispered in a frown, "Don't worry, she isn't usually isn't like this. It's just money means a lot to mama and papa and we haven't been getting a lot of it lately and.. they're pretty mad about that."

Edith didn't know the right comforting words so she leaned and gave her a hug. She didn't think she approached it right because she has only observed people give an embrace. She didn't know if she was successful or not but when Eponine hugged her back, she couldn't hold her smile back from showing, "Thank you, Eponine," she said to break the silence.

The other girl didn't answer. She just patted her back and released from the hug, "Let's get started,"


*Three months later*

Edith and the Thenardiers were now at a relationship where the inn was considered her home as long as she and "'Ponine'" continued to split meals and clean the inn thoroughly. Edith was of great use to the Thenardiers with her excellent pick-pocketing skills. The money issue was becoming less and less and put two and two together and it's clear that it was thanks to Edith.

As for Eponine and Edith, they were inseparable. Everywhere that Eponine went, Edith was right with her. They did everything together. Even when Madame T offered a cot-like structure instead of sharing a bed with Eponine, Edith still curled up with Eponine in her bed. She was comfortable with the feeling of warmth beside her every night and she didn't want to trade that for Madame's idea of a cot (a pile of dirty tattered blankets on top of each other and a stained pillow with a hole in it).

She scored at least 40 francs a night through stealing from the customers who came in and came out.

On a particular night, a beautiful woman came in through the inn before it opened. Her pink gown was not as 'wealthy' as many as Edith saw from wealthy women. But the woman was still stunning. Her beautiful brown locks that fell past her shoulders shined in the candle light. A small golden locked girl held the woman's hand. Her gown was green but much cleaner than Edith's tattered gown.

"Hello there," The woman called. My God, even her voice was beautiful.

Edith blushed bright red and waved shyly.

"Would you happen to know where Madame or Monsieur Thenardier might be? I am here to drop off my Cosette," the woman gestured her hand towards the little golden locked girl.

"You must be Fantine!" Edith heard Madame Thenardier's voice called from the top of the stairs. Her hair was nicer than usual... less frightening, "Oh, my! This must be Cosette! What a beauty!"

Edith was very puzzled by Madame's kindness... Madame T was never that nice... it sounded like the sweet voice that she uses towards customers before robbing them blind.

Cosette shyly backed away behind the woman Fantine.

"Is she yours?" Fantine gestured to Edith while stroking Cosette's golden locks.

"Oh, I wish!" Madame T pinched Edith's cheek in a friendly matter, "This is my daughter's friend, Edith. Didn't have any parents so my daughter Eponine saw her on the street and what do you know! A new member of the inn!" She holds Edith's shoulders.

"She was on the street's alone?" Fantine asked looking at Edith with awe.

"Oh, yes, Edith here is unbreakable, aren't you, sweetheart?" Madame T patted her head before turning back to Fantine, "Now, let us discuss Cosette's payment here at the inn..."


Later that day, Cosette was sweeping the floor humming to herself when Edith trotted down the stairs. The weather had been getting a whole lot colder lately and Edith noticed Cosette's shivering. No one else was on the kitchen except for Cosette and Edith.

"Hello," Edith called and by accident she startled little Cosette, "Oh, forgive me..." she began to walk down the stairs, "are you cold?" she asked.

Cosette gripped the broom a bit harder and whimpered, "I want my mama," she sniffled.

"She'll be back before you know it," Edith soothed but was saddened to see such a lovely face like Cosette's on the verge of tears, "Here, if you're cold," Edith pulled out her favorite black hat and handed it to Cosette. She could see that Cosette loved the embroidery and grinned at Edith, "Thank you,"

Edith felt relieved that she made Cosette smile again, "You can keep it, Cosette," she helped place the hat properly on her head, "Beautiful!" she smiled to shy Cosette, "I'm Edith by the way,"

Cosette smiled, "Thank you, Edith. I better finish sweeping so I won't get in any trouble. I'll see you tomorrow!"

Edith headed up the stairs to bed, "Good night, Cosette,"


R/R, please

-Ophelia