Author's Notes: I left at a cliffhanger, sorry. And since I'm nice, I don't want you to suffer the weekend wondering what they're going to do. So I updated right now :) Also... I hope you like this chapter. Enjonine will finally start to develop ;) And I will not tell you how Marius knows where Cosette lives without Épy's help... you let your imagination do that.

Disclaimer: Never!


Chapter 7

"A bourgeois to a penny thing"

Paris September 23, 1834

Her knees felt weak, her mind was flooded with memories she nearly lost. She suddenly felt the coldness of snow beneath her feet. In her mind's eye, a little blond girl was there, waving goodbye. She couldn't take the emotional impact. She dropped down on her knees and began sobbing, she didn't even know why. She was not supposed to show weakness... yet she can't stop her tears.

"Éponine!" Enjolras dropped down as well and gathered the gamine into his arms. His shirt was getting soaked and he could feel the fabric stick to his chest. "Shh, Éponine. Please don't cry." He hated seeing her cry. When they were younger, if she ever started crying, he would go to whatever lengths so she could be happy again. He usually doesn't show fear but he is absolutely terrified if she starts to cry.

Marius was awkwardly standing there, contemplating what to do. He would try to comfort her as well but he knew that was Enjolras' job. He probably wouldn't let him touch her anyway. He thought about leaving them to it but he feels responsible for even bringing up Cosette. He was the one who said her name and he feels really guilty for making her cry.

It was a few minutes later and Éponine resorted to just sniffing occasionally. She stopped crying though. "I-I don't know what got into me." she said embarrassed and she hiccuped. Enjolras only shook his head and kissed the top of hers. She always relaxed when he does that. "You don't need to apologize, Épy. You don't need to apologize." he felt her arms snake around his waist and he held her tighter.

She looked up at him and he felt his breath catch in his throat. She looked so depressed and lost, just like the first time they met. He could see in her eyes... something that he can't quite place. She blushed as he didn't look away and ducked her head to place it on his chest. He felt his heartbeat quickening but he didn't now why. He felt himself start to get sweaty but the night was anything but warm.

He suddenly got an idea. "Marius," he called to his friend who was still glued to the spot. He moved to crouch down near his friend and Marius raised an eyebrow in question. "What is it, mon ami?" he asked. "Can you take us to Cosette? I think... no... I know it will make her feel better. I don't like seeing her cry." he whispered into Marius' ear and he only raised his eyebrows higher.

Take them to Cosette? He was the only visitor she ever had. No one knew where her and her father lived except for him, he didn't want Cosette to stop trusting him... Although, Éponine said that she did know her. Maybe she would like to see her old friend? She obviously made a big impact on Éponine's life.

He took one look at Enjolras who was once again comforting his best friend. He never saw Enjolras hold another woman so intimately since he was fourteen. Well, Éponine was only twelve that time and they knew each other for a while. But this was different... he seemed tense as he held her. His body language screamed mixed emotions. Could it be that Enjolras is...?

He shook his head. No, that wouldn't happen. Enjolras thought that love was a waste of time. He may be protective over Éponine but he probably only loves her as a little sister. Still, he can't deny how confused Enjolras looks right now. He watched their interaction and he swore he saw Enjolras stop breathing for half a second as they made eye contact... He could be imagining things though.

If people thought girls were confusing then they haven't met Enjolras.

"Alright, I'll bring you to Cosette." Once he uttered his beloved's name, Éponine sprung her head from Enjolras' chest and stared wide eyed at Marius. "Y-you what?" she asked him wanting to confirm what she just heard. Marius smiled at her and was about to put a hand on her shoulder but stopped himself, thinking about what Enjolras' reaction would be. If his suspicions are actually correct, then he didn't want to risk the wrath of the patriotic student.

It took only 20 minute for them to reach Rue Plummet and Enjolras could already see a young woman. She had blonde hair like him and her back was turned to them. His only concern was her father... her overprotective father to be exact. Marius told him how he only has to see her late at night when Monsieur Fauchelevent is fast asleep.

"Cosette?" whisper-shouted Marius towards the blonde figure and she turned around to smile at him. Instead though, her eyes caught sight of the two behind her beloved. At that exact time, Éponine looked at her old friend and her eyes filled with tears of joy. "'Ponine?" called out Cosette disbelieving yet amazed. Éponine only nodded her head and both girls smiled widely.

The two girls ran towards the gate separating them and started their hushed greetings. The boys only stayed behind and watched the interaction at a respectable distance. Enjolras smiled as he saw Éponine's face radiating in happiness. He knew that her and Cosette's reunion was long overdue and he was happy to see her like this.

"I haven't seen Cosette smile this much ever since we first met. They must really care about each other." whispered Marius as the girls continued updating each other on their lives. Enjolras nodded and relayed that Éponine's lifestyle at home was getting worse. "For the longest time, I am the only one who could make her smile this genuinely." he told him and Marius placed a hand on his shoulder.

Meanwhile, the girls were excitedly telling each other what has happened ever since that Christmas Eve. "Oh 'Ponine, why do you stay with him? You say that he beats you now? I know how horrible those beatings could be, I never forgot that..." muttered Cosette as Éponine finished telling her what is her current predicament.

"Can you blame me for wanting my daddy back?" asked Éponine in a small voice and she looked down. She was hoping that if she waited long enough, the father she knew and loved would come back. She's still waiting even if she is starting to doubt that he'll go back to what he was before. Cosette looked at her sympathetically as she knew how it felt, not in the same way but somewhat similar.

When her mother stopped visiting, she wondered if there was anyone out there who could give her the same love she did. It was like her papa was an angel sent from God in heaven. She really couldn't blame Éponine for wanting the same love her papa gives her now. With that thought, she started to open the gates to her house.

"Cosette? Que faites-vous?*" Marius asked as he saw his beloved start unlocking the gates with a pin from her hair. "I'm inviting you in. I can talk to papa about this later..." she successfully picked the lock and the gate swung open with minimal sound. "How did you learn to do this?" asked Marius as Cosette let them inside the garden. Her eyes flickered towards Éponine and the girl in question blushed as the boys turned to stare at her.

"I had to find a way to open the guest room for her!" she said in defense putting her hands up. Enjolras only chuckled at her actions and put her hands down. She felt something weird when Enjolras held her hands but it was gone as soon as it came. She tried to mask her confusion by sticking her tongue out at him and he only did so in return.

When he turned from her to introduce himself to Cosette, Éponine tried to breathe evenly. Her pulse quickened and her hands started to get sweaty. This never happened before when he held her hand. She would think about that later, now she had to talk to Cosette for her hasty decision to let strangers into her house... well strangers to her father.

"Cosette, mon ami, is this even a good idea?" she asked her friend as she opened the door to her house. Cosette waved her hand dismissively. "I will talk to papa first, wait here." she slipped inside her house and didn't come out for 10 minutes. Neither person said anything while she was gone, each of them hoping that they won't be kicked out.

After a while, Cosette returned with Monsieur Fauchelevent in tow. He rubbed his eyes tiredly yet greeted them with a smile. Wow, Cosette is good. Thought Éponine as they were ushered inside before anyone saw them. "Merci, M'sieur." said Enjolras taking off his hat once they stepped inside the house. "Papa, I hope you remember Éponine?" Cosette gestured towards her oldest friend and he smiled warmly at her.

"Of course I do. But who are these two... gentlemen?" said Monsieur Fauchelevent gesturing towards the two boys. Cosette stepped in immediately, "They are Enjolras and Marius. They were also my friends when I was in Montfermeil." she lied and Éponine had to stop her jaw from dropping at how she did so easily. Cosette, the sweet innocent Cosette, lying to her father.

She missed way too much of Cosette's life...


*What are you doing

There you go... Love it, hate it, I'm still going to write it :) Au revoir!