Author's Note: Wow. It's been over a year since I decided to update this story. I'm immensely sorry. For anyone that was previously reading, thank you for your extreme patience and for understanding that life gets busy. Thank you so much for sticking this through with me. After months of writer's block, I FINALLY had an epiphany on where I'm taking this story. And I plan on FINISHING it. Thank you. Please, let me know what you think of this chapter, it really does help me get updates out faster. Thank you! Enjoy, or not. Your choice.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Les Miserables. I own only my obsession.

Chapter 7: Eponine

My heart hammered painfully in my chest with each step that I took across the wooden floor. It felt as though everyone in the room had their eyes on me and were judging each move that I decided to make. To me, my shoes scraping across the floor was the loudest sound in the entire world. Nerves jittered in my stomach with each short stride as I kept my eyes on the man sitting across the café. His piercing blue eyes were focused on the book in his hands. I noticed the way that his jaw clenched as he read and the way that his knuckles tightened ever so slightly against the cover of the book.

The short distance from where Cosette and I had been sitting across the room to where he was sitting seemed like miles. With each step that I took, my legs felt heavier and heavier, as though someone had tied weights to my ankles. After what seemed like forever to me, I reached his table. At first as I approached, he didn't look up from his book.

Carefully, I cleared my throat knowing that he hated it when people distracted him from his work. "Enjolras," I said, barely able to get the words to fall from my lips. "There's something I need to tell you."

"Oh, hello Eponine," he replied still not looking up from his yellowed pages. "Give me just a minute, okay?" He asked brushing me off.

"Oh, okay," I said slightly hurt that he didn't even want to speak to me. Granted, I hadn't really been the most open person toward him lately, but the fact that he wouldn't even look at me stung more than I cared to admit, even to myself. I watched his face carefully as his eyes skimmed over the words on the page. I could tell that he was trying to absorb the words, almost like a plant soaks up sunlight.

"Enjolras," I said, this time a little more forcefully. "I'm really sorry. It looks like you're in the middle of something, but I have something that I need to tell you. It's important and as soon as I'm done telling you, you can go back to your book. Just please, look at me." I knew the desperation was heavy in my voice, and I fought to keep my voice from quivering. Tears threatened to spill over, and it was an internal struggle to keep them from slipping slowly down my cheeks as he looked up from the leather bound book into my face.

My cheeks burned as he set the book down on the table, cover up in front of him. "Okay. What is it Eponine?" He asked, the coolness in his voice from before was gone, replaced by the concern he showed for me the day he showed up at my doorstep.

"There are two things that I think you should know," I managed. My voice quivered with each syllable that fell from my lips. The tears that were on the verge of spilling only moments before were welling up under my eyelashes. It felt like someone was sitting on my throat, keeping the words that I wanted so badly to say prisoner. "The first is that I'm sorry that I've been distant lately. And I'm sorry for the way I reacted when you came to my apartment to check on me. You were right, I haven't been myself lately. And I'm sorry that I took it out on you."

He nodded, looking slightly surprised that I had even bothered to apologize. "That's quite alright, Eponine. What was the second thing?" He asked curiously.

I glanced around the café. It felt like every pair of eyes were on me. I looked back to where Cosette and I had been sitting, and her eyes were focused on me despite chatting with one of the guys. I turned back toward Enjolras, who was staring at me like I was going insane. "Can we go outside and talk?" I asked hopefully. "It's kind of private."

He raised an eyebrow at me. "I think you were right," I started again, swallowing the lump in my throat. "We need to talk about what happened between us." He sighed, picked up his book, and scooted his chair back away from the table.

"Sure," He answered standing up. "I'll follow you."

I led him out of the café, attracting a confused stare from Cosette as we passed by her table. When we were out on the street, out of instinct I started walking toward home. I felt him right behind me. "There's something you need to know about that night." I said, trying really hard not to glance back at him.

"Eponine, you're being cryptic. You're never cryptic. What's going on?" He asked. I could hear the concern in his voice. Before I could say anything, I felt him tug gently on my arm, forcing me to turn around and look at him.

I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Nerves jittered painfully in my stomach. "Um- I'm -Um. I'm P-Pregnant." The words barely managed to fall out of my mouth. He looked as though he hadn't heard me correctly.

"What?" He asked. "Eponine, you're pregnant? When-When did you find out?" He asked as realization spread through his features. His eyes skimmed over every inch of my face.

"It doesn't matter." I said slowly, feeling myself calm down slightly. "The only thing that matters is the baby. I'm keeping it."

"Eponine, you think I would suggest not keeping the baby?" He asked, his expression still completely confused. I wished I could hear the thoughts that were running through his head. They probably echoed the same muddled thoughts that were passing through my head.

"I didn't mean-" I answered bringing my hands up to cover my eyes which had begun to water again. "Look, the important thing is I'm not expecting anything from you, Enjolras," I said softly. "I just thought that you should know. You don't have to do anything."

I could see that the concern in his eyes was replaced with a quick flash of anger. "Eponine, you can not be serious right now? I don't have to do anything different? You're having a baby, we're having a baby. That can't be changed, and you don't want me to be involved?" His voice was suddenly very cold, the concern suddenly replaced by the chill.

"I'm sorry, Enjolras." I said, feeling the tears drip down my cheeks. "I don't want your life to revolve around one night. You actually have things going for you! You've got the guys, and your political life, and so many plans for the future. You have so much on your plate. Me? What do I have? I have parents that kicked me out when I was fifteen. I have a job serving drinks and food at a stupid café, and absolutely no plans for the future." My voice cracked, and I had to choke down a sob. "So yeah, you don't have to do anything. I have to go."

I turned to walk toward home, but he stopped me with a hand on my arm. "Don't walk away from me, Eponine. Let me be involved." I sighed loudly, and wiggled free from his gentle grip. "Let me help you," He begged. Without even looking back at him, I could hear the quiet desperation in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Enjolras. I have to go. Goodbye." I began to run to get away from him. I wanted to be anywhere else. Home, though not very far away, seemed to be forever away. I kept running until I was safely behind my closed, and locked, door. A horrible feeling sunk into my stomach. Unsure of my decision to keep Enjolras as far away from me as possible, I sank slowly to the floor. Tears still dripped down my cheeks, and the nerves (even though I had told him the news) still jumped painfully in my stomach. I made the right decision, right?