Grantaire has once again situated himself on the couch and drifted to sleep before anybody could stop him. Joly had excused himself earlier telling his friends that he was expected at the hospital. Marius and Courfeyrac left soon after and Eponine would have gladly left with them had it not been for Elodie who begged her to accompany her back to the market where her father would be waiting.

She wouldn't have minded walking with Elodie at all, but as the fates seem to be against her today, she was forced to wait for her as she milled about cleaning and clearing the kitchen and the table. After most of the men took their leave, Eponine was left in the living room with a sleeping Grantaire, and Enjolras. Combeferre was in the kitchen with Elodie because he had eagerly offered his hand, and Elodie was just too thrill about the idea to decline and gave Eponine no room to help out.

She decided she'd be damned if she allowed herself to sulk and sit awkwardly in the corner while waiting, so she crossed the room and studied the books dominating one of the walls. She pulled out a book by Voltaire and started browsing the pages; finding a particular line that interested her, she began to loose herself to the book only mildly aware of the other occupants of the room.

She stood that way for a few minutes, undisturbed, until Enjolras loudly cleared his throat causing her to look up and turn to look at him. Not quite put-off anymore though not quite forgiving yet, Eponine regarded the man who has stood up from his desk and was now just a few good steps from her. She cocked her head to the side, unconsciously hugging the book to her chest, her silence willing Enjolras to speak.

"Mademoiselle, I know the man left long before Mademoiselle Elodie made her return. And I know you intended to stay by my side before you suddenly left in a panic. I remember the look in your eyes when you heard them come, and I remember your unspoken plea for me to let you go." He voiced his thoughts carefully, choosing his words wisely and keeping his tone neutral.

"Is there a question in there, monsieur?" She inquired, guarded. Eponine did not wish to explain why she left at the sound of the inspector's voice. She did not want to even delve on the reason why or how the man left, or how she was left unharmed. Nor did she want to explain why she conveniently had a blade on her that night, or why she was carrying one with her as they spoke. Those questions, she knew, would lead to more and eventually uncover her past life, which she so carefully worked hard to put behind. She would not stand for some man to question her so, and besides, wasn't she the one who saved him? Why was he attacking her now?

"You know perfectly well what I am trying to say." He replied, his voice cold.

"Would I be asking if I knew?"

"If you want to have it this way… You lied, and I want to know why." He said as he took a few unconscious steps towards her.

"What's it to you? You're here, alive! Why should it matter?" She asked, frustration and anger eminent in her voice. Her eyes shown a bit of hurt, betraying the walls she brought up against him.

He stopped, hearing the question made him reevaluate things. Why indeed was he so bent on digging for answers? Shouldn't he be thanking her and not bombarding her with questions that obviously she isn't comfortable answering? What happened to being a gentleman? The look in her eyes broke his urge to push for answers as he pressed his lips to a thin line.

Just then, while both were lost in each other's guarded gaze, a burst of pleasant laughter pulled them out of their bubble as Elodie and Combeferre exited the kitchen. They noticed that Eponine and Enjolras standing in such close proximity to each other, which they themselves only noticed now. Eponine flushed as her eyes dropped to the book she held, and to avoid any further awkward questions and silences, she began to speak using a tone that surprised Enjolras, and confused their friends.

"Thank you so much monsieur for welcoming me to your home and allowing me to borrow your book. I hope your recovery would go uninterrupted." She said gently, offering a small smile. Before Enjolras could answer however, she added. "Elodie and I must take our leave now. Her father must be worried about her, and I have a brother to tend to. Goodbye, monsieur."

She then turned to Combeferre to excuse them both. Elodie sensing that Eponine desperately wanted to leave had hurriedly said her goodbyes to the gentlemen and was lead to the door, where Eponine stood anxiously waiting, by Combeferre.


When they were a good deal away from the tenement, Eponine released a breath she was holding. This got Elodie's attention and she asked, "Would you like to talk about it?" Eponine for a second wasn't quite sure how to respond. It's quite unusual for her to be asked that question, in fact the only person who used to ask her that was Azelma. She stopped walking and turned to look at Elodie.

Elodie stopped as well, and continued. "Forgive me. I've heard about your past, and I've never given it much attention before. When I saw you that night, I knew that I earned Enjolras a chance to be saved; I knew what you are capable of and that you are brave. Although, I didn't realize that bringing that inspector that night would scare you, I thought it would help." She said the last sentence with guilt and mortification lacing her words.

Eponine felt her emotions and her body relax, her eyes softening. "I don't blame you, Elodie. But please, let's just keep this between us. I don't want them to know anything of my past." The other woman nodded her promise.

"What was going on between you and Enjolras?" Elodie risked asking as they began to move again.

"What was going on between you and Combeferre?" Eponine retorted, a huge sly smile on her face as she wiggled her brows suggestively. She started laughing as Elodie's face turned bright red.

"Stop changing the subject!" She said, hastily trying to mask her embarrassment while failing miserably to sound unruffled. Giving in, she began laughing with Eponine. When both ladies finally caught their breath, Elodie resumed her interrogation. "So, as I was saying, what was going on? I caught both of you twice! The intensity between you both was so unmistakable, though I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing."

Eponine stopped for a second time, sighing in frustration. "I don't know. He was making a big deal about how and why I fled before you got there. I do not understand why he was so eager to find out. He's unbelievable! His friends said he would meet me with gratitude at the very least, not that I need it, but no! He attacks me with his questions! And he's just so… infuriating!" She didn't realize how her tone had hardened with every word, or how exasperated she looked until she felt her last words going through clenched teeth. She sighed again, "I'm sorry, I usually hold my emotions better. I just don't understand why he's so bothered."

"Is that why you took his book? He looked surprised when you thanked him for lending it to you." Elodie smiled in an attempt to lighten her friend's mood.

"Yes." She replied sheepishly. "Figured he'd be the kind of man who doesn't allow people to touch his precious books. Let him drown in his own pool of frustration too." She grinned back.

"Oh you cunning girl! But, push the animosity aside, you really can't deny that he's quite a handsome man."

"Well, perhaps I can give him that." Eponine giggled. She realized that she hasn't felt like this in a long while. The feeling of youth somehow managed to evade her as a gamine, and was quite reclusive even with her life now. She felt a bit silly, but to her surprise, she didn't quite mind it.


Enjolras was tossing and turning in his sleep. A few beads of sweat sat atop his forehead. He was having that nightmare again.

…He was panting and running, waiting for her scream. His brow creased as he neared the place, the cry was yet to be heard. His heart was pounding in his chest as he stopped, his eyes widened in surprise and confusion. On the alley was a girl in rags, just as before, but her attacker was nowhere to be found. She was a pool of mess on the ground; her head was bowed so he could not tell if she was crying.

He took one unsure step after the other and closed the distance between them, careful not to startle her. When he was a few steps away from her, he lowered himself to squat. "Mademoiselle?" He whispered, his voice gentle, "Can I help?" He was about to reach out and put a hand on her shoulder in attempt to comfort. He halted midway when the girl looked up. Her eyes sad, yet there was an unmistakable warmth and strength to them, and her pale lips formed an empty smile.

"What's it to you, monsieur?"

He woke up with a start, as he did when this nightmare would haunt him. He sat up and buried his face in his hands. He thought about what the girl had said… and he thought about her face. His thoughts drifted back to that afternoon, reasoning that the only reason the nightmare had shifted was because of what happened then. The guilt he felt when he saw her eyes then was messing up things in his head. He thought about Eponine.

He tried to picture Eponine being the girl from the alley that unforgettable night, but no matter how his suspicions egged him to do so, he could not discredit the look of strength and confidence that Eponine had which a broken girl would surely lack. And besides, the gentleman with her during the rally could be a totally different person from the one who saved the girl years ago. But why couldn't he shake the idea off? Why did the situation weigh heavier now with Eponine in the picture? He felt like he was given pieces to a puzzle he started long ago, only to realize that the pieces he had now shown a completely different picture from the one he had started.

The only way he knew to settle the brewing storm of questions is his head was to confront Eponine. It might have been her or he might be wrong, and if so, what would become of them? He contemplated on the idea but had to remind himself how she reacted when he pried earlier. With guilt and regret heavy on his heart, he decided that he would seek her to offer an apology. This business of meddling was unbecoming and uncalled for, he admitted.

"Oh what has the world become? I, Enjolras, go looking for a girl?" He scoffed, "What a field day my friends will surely have." In resignation, he dove back under his sheets and, for once after a nightmare like this, drifted back to sleep.


It was early in the day, and the market place was bustling with people. Elodie was back helping her father, and has stopped by to say hello to Eponine and Madame Laurice before heading a few stalls across to the butcher. The ladies at the fruit stall were busy entertaining a jolly old chef who came to them often for his café's fruits. They were laughing and speaking amiably as he recalled some kitchen disaster turned comedy from the night before. This was how Enjolras found her.

He had wanted to look for her the day after their last meeting. But Joly and Combeferre wouldn't allow him to leave despite his attempts at intimidation. The students of medicine had made it clear that he was not allowed to leave until the doctor comes for his next examination and declare it safe for him to head out. He bargained with Joly that he would stay if he gave directions to find Eponine. This earned him raised brows from his friends, and no doubt a couple rounds of jesting and gossip from his friends when he gets back to the cafe. But he allowed them to think what they want. He has nothing to hide anyway; he only yearned to speak to her to apologize, and to give her the bracelet that has been sitting on his nightstand for far too long. Besides, apologizing might win him his book back, or so he reasoned with his confused mind.

He took a moment to compose himself from afar. Eponine with her hair tied up with a blue ribbon, looked carefree and blissful as she laughed. Enjolras noted that he much preferred her this way, a small unconscious grin appeared for a second on his face. "Come on, no use delaying this." He muttered to himself. "You're ready to face the Royal Guard for the revolution, surely a girl approached with an apology in exchange for the book wouldn't be as much a challenge." With his resolve, he strode purposefully to where Eponine was.

"Bonjour Mademoiselle!"


Hey there! So... what do you think? I'm really excited to write a bit more about Azelma and Montparnasse, oh and the Boys too, so expect to see them soon in this story.

a big THANK YOU to those who've followed and reviewed, and a bigger one to those who'll be leaving reviews after reading this. *wink wink* Would really love to hear from you lot.

Up next, discover how their meeting will go!