DISCLAIMER:

I do not own Les Miserables!

Chapter Four:

My Dearest 'Ponine,

I hope you are good and well, considering the condition I left you in, but not to worry you're in good hands. Just don't let him or yourself get drunk... only kidding of course. I sent this brief letter to inform you that I'm planning on leaving the barricade. Only for a little while, but no doubt, I'll be back before you know it. I intend to stay and see Cosette for a small time. We'll all return to the barricade together, if you and Grantaire should choose to. Words can't describe how much I miss you right now. Hope to see you soon.

-Yours Truly, Marius.

Eponine's heart beat faster with each word she read on the parchment, it was pounding prepared to jump out of her chest at any given moment. She scanned it, re-reading the same phrase over and over. "Planning on leaving the barricade." She said faintly aloud, still absorbing what it insured. "What?!" Grantaire exclaimed when he decoded what Eponine mumbled. He snatched the letter out of her hands to have a look for himself, after a few moments he shook his head, "no, no, no." He continued to repeat.

"I can't believe this!" They both said in two different tones.

"This is fantastic." Eponine laughed and fell back onto the mattress.

"No, this is a disaster. A complete disaster." Grantaire leaped up and buried his face in his hands.

"Are you kidding me?" Eponine sat up in puzzlement.

"I don't think you understand, Eponine. He's putting everyone in danger! Our friends back at the barricade and us. Do you know how careful I am? Most people in this building don't know our faces or names, I try my hardest to not get noticed, to remain as ordinary as possible. We disappeared…and I don't think Marius will be that cautious, he's blind right now. He's in love."

Eponine froze when she heard his last words. She could only wish he had meant with her, but no, Marius was in love with Cosette. End of story. It was love at first glance. Eponine's cheerfulness deteriorated, she thought she understood now. Marius wasn't coming back for her, at least not her alone. The majority of Marius was probably coming back for Cosette, who wouldn't take a real lady over the scum of the street anyway? He had given her such misleading hope. But she supposed it was a good time for a reality check, before Marius fully captured her heart. Or had he already?

Grantaire looked at Eponine's depressed expression and felt sorry he had said anything. Grantaire knew she was in love with Marius, any person with sense could see that. Except Marius, ironically. He was denser than molasses and couldn't see how well he and Eponine went. Having spent countless days with Eponine, Grantaire didn't know of any girls more exceptional than her. Every man at the barricade probably thought the same too. She may be lower class and unrefined but it didn't mean a thing compared to her charm and charisma. Being present around Eponine was like receiving a dose of positive energy. She had an amazing natural ability to lift any sad soul. Grantaire knew there would come a day when she would fall out of love with Marius and in with another man. Only then would he realize what he had and let slip away all that time.

"…I think it's time for us to get some rest." Eponine spoke at a hushed tone.

Grantaire nodded, still half lost in his thoughts and Eponine blew out the candle.

Eponine waited until she knew Grantaire was deep in sleep then softly shuffled out of her blankets. She had second thoughts of doing this kind of business, but the pay that was promised was too good to refuse. She knew she would have to make up some bizarre lie to explain how she obtained the amount of money that was to come, but then again she was no stranger to lying. She tiptoed over Grantaire, who made no sudden movements and creeped out the door. Letting go of her held breath she was glad he didn't stir, it spared her the embarrassment of telling him just where she was going at that time of night. It would surely ruin his sound image of her.

"Knew you'd come, my girl."

Eponine shoved his hand off her shoulder, "Let's just get to business, father." She strut past her fathers goons and into her place. Thenardier paid no attention to his daughters crude behavior towards him; it was the way he raised her. "Since Eponine's the rookie on this one, she'll take the watch. Men, ya'know what's ta be done." Thenardier grinned.

Eponine followed at the end, used to be treated as the sprout of his group she kept watch often. When they arrived at the house Eponine leaned against the stone gate with her arms crossed. If only Grantaire knew what she was involved with now, with the chiefs of the underworld. She thought she left that life behind when she joined the revolution, years before she began rejecting her father's mission offers as often as she could. She would only join in when she was desperate for money. Eponine shook her head, I guess I'm back in the game. She turned her face and squinted her eyes, there was some kind of engraved plaque on the gate. The moonlight gave enough light for her to make out one thing, Pontmercy. Eponine's eyes widened, this was Marius's family's mansion…and she was helping her father steal from it. She began to wonder just what it was she got herself into then heard heavy running footsteps approaching.

Grantaire woke up with a gasp, sweat dripped down his face and down to the curve of his neck. He was always cursed with the most vivid nightmares. "Eponine. Are you awake?" He called, he contradicted himself, of course she wasn't. Who would be up at this hour? He told himself and rubbed his eyes. Grantaire swatted his hand onto the ground when a sharp object caught it. He winced then searched for a match, he lit the candle nearest and dug out a chip of wood from his skin. Peering across the room he saw a flat surface where Eponine should lie. Grantaire briskly walked over to her bed and furrowed his brow when he saw she wasn't there. "What trouble has she gotten into this time?" He grabbed his coat and tugged on a pair of trousers. Grantaire began to think this was her style, to leave him while he was sleeping and get in some sort of life-threatening trouble.

It was after twenty minutes of continuous searching when Grantaire became terror-stricken. He frivolously ran about the streets, looking this way and that for the small figure that resembled Eponine. He rushed into inns, waking the owners and questioning them if they'd seen her. The answers usually along the lines of: "No, monsieur" and maybe occasionally, "The hell are you doing makin' a ruckus this tima'a night?" and Grantaire would then apologize and leave immediately, hoping they wouldn't put a bullet in his loud mouth. He rushed through the tight alleys and unlit streets of Paris, it was then when he ran into his savior. No, literally, ran into him.

"Unf!" A voice said.

"I'm sorry monsieur…" Grantaire said brushing himself off. He focused his eyes trying to make out a face in the darkness.

"Hey! I know that voice!" It called back from below, it was the little Gavroche.

"Gavroche! What are you doing away from the-" Grantaire covered his own mouth. In that moment he could've gotten them both killed.

"They…let's just say I was let go." Gavroche said, "But anyways, whataya doin' here Grantaire?"

"Eponine seems to have disappeared on me yet again."

"Oh, she on the job, heard father talkin' 'bout it this earlier on."

"Where is she?" Grantaire desperately asked, this was the first sliver of information he had heard on Eponine's whereabouts. He honestly didn't care what it was she was doing right then, he just needed to know if she was okay.

"Right down yonder, the big estate owned by the Pontmercy's."

"Top of the class you are!" Grantaire ruffled Gavroche's hair and made his way to the Pontmercy estate.

Grantaire ran the entirety of the way there, despite him being in horrible shape. He was ready to give out at any second, but he couldn't he had to know, he had to make sure that if Eponine was hurt he would be there to take her back home.

"Eponine." He stopped in front of her, his hands resting on his knees.

"Grantaire, what are you doing here? How are you here?" Eponine said, apparently angry that Grantaire had found her.

"I-I, I had to make sure you were okay."

Eponine exhaled, it was unfortunate for him to show up at one of her jobs. Now he was involved with more than one scandal, just as she is. Now if they were seen he would be associated with Thenardier by the public. Then remaining invisible would deem impossible, the only solution for them would be to stay indoors. For years, which definitely was not a practical solution. She wasn't angry with Grantaire anymore or embarrassed for herself, she was just in a long mental state of 'really? now?..really.'

Eponine crossed her arm and looked at Grantaire with irritated eyes.

"I'm fine, but you need to leave. Now." She said with sternness in her voice then paused and stood completely still.

"Ep-" Grantaire started then Eponine put a finger to his lips.

She was listening actively. When she was certain of what she heard she instantaneously thrusted Grantaire aside. Eponine clapped at the man keeping watch at the door, "Get Thenardier, it's time to go." The man was obviously one hard of hearing since he did not acknowledge her words. She jerked her head, the noise was coming closer. Grantaire tried to listen as well, but all he could hear was the hooves of a horse beating the stone ground. Eponine spared seconds of time to think then it hit her that she was run dry of good ideas.

"You'll run with me right?"

"What, huh? Yes?" Grantaire said in confusion.

Eponine took a regretful breath, "RUN! IT'S JAVERT!"

Her voice rang in the dead night's air, she grabbed Grantaire's hand and charged away with him. She didn't even wait to make sure the others reacted to her shriek.

"Javert? Who's Javert?"

"Ah him? An old police rat, and now, we just might be seeing more of him…"

Thanks for reading, enjoy! Lots more to come soon. Oh and, please review!