November 1831

The day was cold but the sun was high warming Paris. The Parisians took to the streets hoping to enjoy the last bit of warmth they would have before the city would be blanketed in snow. The girls dressed in a hurry excited to have some time out in the city, Eponine dressed in a blue and brown plaid gown, with her thick mantle she tied her wide bonnet and took Cosette's arm. Her sister wore a grey floral dress with the same mantle Eponine wore. The girls joined their father in the carriage for the short ride to the gardens. Eponine scanned the crowds, hoping to find the men who she found in the taverns that night. The carriage slet them off and taking each of their fathers arms they walked the mostly dead gardens. The massive green space was circled by gravel walkways, tall trees lined much of the roads, They passed The Luxemburg Palace, and the various evergreens. Papa soon became tired and took a seat near the pool that faced the palace, he told the girls to stay near. Walking arm in arm they circled the pool chatting and laughing. Cosette began to feel her spirits rise with the amount of people they were passing. A flash of red caught Eponine's eye, she turned and felt her breath catch in her chest. Enjolras was walking along a path with a few young students they were talking quickly one was clearly annoying Enjolras. The one man was shoved by another and his books flew out of his hands, spewing papers to the path, Cosette rushed forwad and began to help him.

"Merci Mademoiselle." The man said Cosette looked up from the papers to him and blushed; his eyes were warm and kind. Not Blue she thought. Biting her lip she nodded and stepped back; by know Eponine was by her side. Enjolras locked eyes with her and she felt her hands shake. The blonde man smiled

"Bonjour Eponine, I have not seen you at the tavern." He told her Cosette gave her sister a funny look,

"It has been hardly two days Monsieur" She answered quietly with a shy smile, Enjolras grinned and looked over to Cosette. Eponine took her sisters arm "This is my sister." She answered she noticed the man who was annoying Enjolras was staring at Cosette and vice versa. She looked back to where Papa was sitting and found the bench empty but he was making his way to them. Enjolras noticed this and with a curt nod he took Eponine's free hand and kissed it.

"Au revoir and Merci Mademoiselle." He said and grabbed the staring boy the group departed " Pontmercy you think you could blink?" She heard the one man laugh, Papa was at their side now,

"Papa I was just helping the boy pick up his papers." Cosette told him laying her gloved hand on his arm. But his eyes weren't on Cosette but on Eponine. Her stomach twisted

He had seen him. Her father said nothing, but his silence signaled the end to their trip. They followed him back to the carriage and set off to their home. The girls took a last look at the city knowing that they may not see it for some time. Back in the home they went to their room. Cosette grabbed her sisters arm,

"Eponine! Why have you not told me of the homme? Eponine shook her head.

"Cosette it is not like that, I only just met him." The girl explained but her efforts to persuade the girl were lost. "We just share views."

"Oh Ponine! You are a horrid liar." The girl giggled and Eponine shoved her slightly. But even though she had barely known Enjolras she felt like her body was made of water every time she thought of him. But it made sense really, she had barely met any men in her life, and an attractive one like him was surely not to be missed. But it was something else about him that truly made him different. It was the passion and the rebellion he had that matched her own. Even though hers wasn't much more then not listening to teachers and scaling trees when told not to, she longed for more. The rebellion he caused was exciting, it was something other than the needlework and reading that filled her days. It was at that moment that she knew she had to out to the tavern again, even if he wasn't there. She had to go there for the revolution they spoke of. She desired the rebellion so.

Later that night when her father was fast asleep she gave Cosette a kiss on the cheek and made sure the piles of clothing in her bed looked like her sleeping form. She climbed out the window and sprinted down the street. A thrill ran through her body, she was free, the tavern came into view and after quietly entering the establishment she was quickly noticed by Courfreyrac who pulled a seat out for her. "It is nice to see you again Mademoiselle." He said and poured her a glass of wine. She grinned and took it. She noticed more men at the table this time, Jolly was a medical student fretting over not getting out of here fast enough to study for examinations. But she saw that Enjolras wasn't present at the table.

"Do not worry my friend; our fearless leader will arrive shortly." Courfreyrac told her, and as if on cue the man entered the room. "I see you have come to another meeting mademoiselle." Eponine nodded, "Well you shall meet our new member Eponine this is Maruis, but I think you meet today." Eponine smiled at the boy who was clearly enthralled with her sister, The meeting began, with each word spoken Eponine felt herself being drawn into the revolution the young men wanted to start. But she wasn't prepared when Enjolras called on her, "Eponine has insight better than all of us on the life of the poor." She snapped her head to Enjolras feeling rage rise. But the quizzical looks on the ami's faces stopped her from leaving.

"When I was a child my parents owned an inn, we were wealthy for so long. But then people stopped coming, and my father began gambling and drinking. When Maman left with by brother he began to treat my sister and I like slaves, he later sold her to someone. "She swallowed and bit her cheek " The worst thing wasn't the work or the cold or sickness, it was seeing the wealthy go by my door like I didn't matter, another faceless waif." She stopped and brushed her dark hair back." My Papa took me in, raised me like his own." She told them and took a sip of wine. Jolly nodded as did the rest of the men, but she knew known of them really understood the struggles of the poor, they were all the educated sons of the wealthy. Privileged and stamped with the right to do whatever they wanted as soon as the doctor spanked them as newborns. As the evening wore on and the wine lessened and the men became drunk, the words became more passionate Eponine knew that this was her calling. She departed the tavern feeling taller and prouder, that she had a purpose and excitement in her life.

"Eponine!" She heard a call she turned and saw Enjolras running toward her. "You may have this," He handed her a piece of fabric, the badge the men wore to show their allegiance. Eponine smiled at the man, taking the badge with pride. Enjolras began to walk with her again offering the comapionship to his new friend of the ABC.

"Bon nuiet!" A young boy called to the man, Enjolras stopped and fished a roll out of his pocket, the boy was obevisoly an urchin, but he wore the badge as the others. " Stay safe Gaveroche." Enjolras told him and tossed the roll. The boy ran off but Eponine watched him go.

The boy was crying, Eponine tried to soothe him but to no avail, Her mother snatched him up. " You see nothing hurts people like seeing a poor widow with her babe." Her mother snarled at her father who was clearly drunk. "I can make a better life than you ever gave me." She took the bundle and walked out, Her father yelled curses at her mother

"Yeah just you wait you will be whoring yourself out in a few weeks, then come crawling back. He spat on the ground Eponine left her perch on the dirty staircase. "Papa where is Maman taking Gaveroche?" Eponine asked.

"Just go back to work Eponine." Her father growled and shoved her.

As the boy faded from view Eponine shook her head. This little thing, no he couldn't be her frere.

"Are you alright Eponine?" Enjolras asked , she smiled and nodded, shaking the thought of little Gaveroche from her head.

"I'm fine its just, the boy reminded me of someone." She clenched her hands and continued to walk back to Rue Pulmet with Enjolras as a companion.

"I'm guessing the girl I saw in the park was not your sold sister." Enjolras finally said.

"No she's not she's..." She stopped unsure of what to say " There are things one may not want to say about the past.." She finally told him, knowing she couldn't say that the girl she held so dear was her former servant, words like that would just anger the revolutionary.

Enjolras looked at the young girl, she was a mystery, from poverty the sister she had was not hers, the father not of blood. He knew she was here without his permission, the climbing over walls and into windows showed that very well. And the man he saw ready to drag the girls away from anyone they talked to wouldn't be a man that would allow his daughter to join an underground meeting. And as he watched Eponine scale the wall and sprint into her house. As he headed back to his own rented room he pondered the girl. He had prided himself for years on never falling to the dangers of carnal desire, his only love was Patria, France was his mistress. But as he would look at Eponine he felt that she was the embodiment of Patria, educated, fearless, not shrinking back from the restrictions set in front of her but breaking the barrier. It didn't help that she was beautiful too. And it was the mystery she had like the very fog like mystery that covered Paris she was something he wanted to know more about.

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Eponine woke the next morning tired she had spent much of the night at the tavern. Cosette quickly baraded her with questions of her exploits the night before. But was disappointed when she was told Eponine had spent the night talking politics with a bunch of school boys.

"Ponine you could do so much and you spend time in a dirty little tavern?" She asked and Eponine just sighed.

"Its' not like that, I think this is my calling Cosette!" She exclaimed and drew the badge she had received the night before. She rattled on telling Cosette of the ideals of the Ami's. Cosette looked worried instead of enthralled.

"There will always be poor forgotten, its always been that way." She told her, Eponine felt discouragement build, knowing that this was quite true. " Why is it worth getting in trouble?"

"But that's why it hasn't worked, people need to believe in it wholeheartedly!"

"Eponine! There has been no peaceful t revolution!" Cosette exclaimed grabbing her sister's hand, "Have you given thought to what Papa would do if you got hurt? Killed?" Her blue eyes began to well up with tears. " What will I do Ponine?" Cosette began to cry, wiping a tear from her sisters cheek Eponine drew her in for a hug,

"I promise you, they will keep me safe, I will never leave you Ma Soeur" She kissed Cosette on the forehead. But guilt nagged at her, if Enjolras was right there would be a revolution could she abandon the cause she held in her heart for someone she loved so dearly?

AN: An Early Update for Crazy Cherries who will stalk me at school if I don't do so! Random French words come from 2 years of French class, I guess it was useful after all! I hope no one is offended by how Cosette is portrayed, I wanted to make her an innocent, caring, peaceful person who just wants her sister be safe. Eponine is more daring and seeks danger to find a purpose. In her life where as Cosette craves more love and friends. Again thanks so much for everything! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!