Author's note: It's now that I realize my mistake about Lamarque's death. Whatever.

Enjolras's POV

Waking up the next morning was a chore. I ached all over from yesterday, and my heart just wasn't in it. But being the persistent and prideful leader that I am, I peeled myself out of bed and got dressed.

Once I was ready to go, I took one last look around the apartment. Poor Eponine. I felt horrible for what I had done and phantasmagoria of her danced around my vision. I shook my head and locked up.

"Enjolras! You're back! Glad you aren't dead," Courfeyrac snickered. When I walked into the café, I got many a sneer. Apparently, Combeferre had told everyone every detail of my panic. Lovely. I just glared at Courfeyrac and went to our "podium".

"From what I can hear, you have found out about my recent...attack. Well, you can stop talking about it. It was just a slip-up, and it isn't something to be made fun of." After my little introduction, I looked over the notes Combeferre left for me and continued where he left off.

Halfway through assigning jobs for the revolt, Eponine scurried up the steps of the restaurant and sat down in Marius's empty seat.

"Where the hell is Pontmercy?" I asked the others when I noticed his absence. I kept my eyes from wandering to the gamine.

"Probably with Cosette," Lesgles muttered.

Grantaire piped up now, "Oh Marius, that beautiful idiot. When will he understand that this revolution is less important than a woman?!" His sarcasm made me twitch.

"Grantaire, that isn't relevant."

"Oh, but it is!" He stood up, bottle in hand, and strolled about the room. "Look at me, I'm Pontmercy! Lousy with virginity! Won't go to fight 'till I've experienced night-"

"GRANTAIRE, SHUT IT!" I stalked off the podium and grabbed his collar. "You are a cancer to this revolution. GOD KNOWS why I keep you around! You are an IDIOT and a PAIN. You will die at the barricade, unless you're too drunk to remember WHERE YOU ARE. You need to get yourself together, or so help me God; I will shove you into OPEN FIRE!" I shoved him away and he stumbled into a table.

I heard his breath hitch, almost like he was about to cry. He set his bottle on the table behind him and straightened his collar. "I'm sorry." He left the café with tears in his eyes.

I looked around at the shocked faces of the Amis. Combeferre looked angry, as did Eponine. Eponine stood up and walked to me.

"You are cruel."

That simple statement was enough to make tears grow in my eyes. She slapped me across the face and sat back down. I was shell-shocked, though I deserved it all.

I left the café in a haze. My demonic side came out again, and I hated myself for it. Why was I so out of character? And why was Eponine affecting me like this?

I went past the Seine, where the drunk was sitting on the stone wall, staring at the water. He turned to look when he heard my feet on the cobblestone.

"What're you doin' here?" He muttered. His melancholy tone made me feel worse.

"I just...can't tell you how sorry I am for saying such horrible things to you. It was too harsh. I am evil."

Grantaire's eyebrows shot up. "What's this? The Marble Man? APOLOGIZING? Is it the apocalypse yet?

I shook my head. "Stop, please. I don't know how much more of this stress I can take."

"Perhaps I can help. I know a thing or two about unwinding. You can partake in the services of one lovely lady, or you could try rum. Rum is a very soothing drink."

"R, I would never do either of those. Prostitution is screwed up."

"I never said anything about prostitution, mate. I'm talking about a girl you know."

"Um...Charlotte? She's a pretty close friend."

"Try again."

"Lynette?"

"Getting warmer!"

"Er... Are you talking about Eponine?" I felt my cheeks get red.

A grin spread across R's face. "Forget what you said to me at the café; why did you blush when you came up with 'Ponine?"

"What...what are you talking about?" I was confused at Grantaire's odd question.

"Why did you blush?"

I bit my lip and my cheeks got redder. "B-Because...it's complicated." I sat next to him on the wall and sighed.

"Define complicated."

I told Grantaire everything, from my comforting her about Marius to my yelling at her and the slap I'd received today.

Grantaire chuckled once I was finished. "I can practically see the sexual tension between you two from that story."

I couldn't help it; my jaw dropped. "You're kidding. Please be kidding. I can't be in love. That is an impossibility."

"Why? Why do you fight this so much?"

"Because!" I shouted. I slapped my hand hard against the stone wall we were on.

"I think you are in love. You just don't want to admit it because you think you'll get made fun of. You also don't want to be distracted. And Eponine is CERTAINLY a distraction." He winked, and I rolled my eyes.

"You shouldn't speak of women like that. Their breasts aren't exactly something to stare at."

R laughed aloud. "That is the first slightly inappropriate comment I've ever heard you say!"

"Well, good. I don't like inappropriate comments."

"But you're admitting it? She does have a nice...setup?"

I laughed. "I'm going to kick you into the river. I'm not saying anything."

"Stick in the mud," he joked. "Now enough of this- you have to get her back. And you two need to be together."

"But...I don't know if she would ever love me back. I'm not entirely sure I'm in love as well!"

Grantaire shook his head. "I know you're in love. I know it. It's a little obvious. And you said the night she visited your apartment, she said she loved you. That's proof enough. So, you are now going to return to the café, take her outside, and kiss her like you've been itching to."

"Are you sure about this?"

He grabbed my shoulder and shook it. "Go."

I nodded, hugged him in thanks, and raced back to the café. I felt like a madman as I raced upstairs and grabbed 'Ponine's hand. My heart was racing, yet everything around me moved slowly. Once I got her outside, I pulled her into the alleyway beside the building.

"Enjolras! What are you doing?!" She screeched as I stopped and whirled around.

"Listen to me. I am a horrible person and I hurt you and everyone around me. It's unacceptable. I'm going to right a wrong right now, because if I don't, I will never get the chance to." I moved closer to her and pressed my lips to hers. I wanted so badly to have her closer, and I will admit it now, I was hungry for so much more.

Eponine's POV

When he kissed me, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Everything fell away, and it was just him and I. Our lips moved in perfect synchronization, and I wasn't exactly disappointed that he was willing to...explore. I didn't care that people might see. Lucien Enjolras was kissing ME. My heart was beating faster than I thought was possible.

I was disappointed when we broke the kiss and regained our oxygen. I was pressed up against one of the walls, and Enjolras was just standing with his hands on my waist.

"What was that for?" I whispered.

"Love." The way he said that simple word made me shiver in delight.

"You love me...you love me..." I couldn't stop saying it. He pulled me to him and pressed my body as close to his as he could get me.

"I do. Thank god I could actually realize it." He kissed me again, but with more passion (though I didn't know how that was possible).

"Well wouldja look at that! Our leader and our girl, kissing in an alley!" Courfeyrac called out.

"Merde," Enjolras muttered with a smirk against my lips. I giggled and put my arms around his neck and we turned to Courfeyrac.

"Do you mind?" I said with an eye roll. "We were kinda in the middle of something."

"Oh hell no!" He retorted. "We're going to have a parade!" With a maniacal grin, he linked arms with Enjolras and pulled us back to the café. I was forced to let go of Enjolras, but he wouldn't keep his hands off me. If his arm wasn't wrapped around my waist, it was on my shoulder, or his hand was grasping my hand. I had a wide grin on my face that matched Enjolras's. My dream came true. I was going to have a love. I was giddy with the knowledge that someone was going to hold me.