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Enjolras watched as Éponine conversed with the majority of people that she passed and was in awe. He didn't realize how much she did during the day or the lives that she brightened. Enjolras could see in just the short hour he had been with her that morning how important Éponine had become to the people. She was the gueusaille's light and hope, and true caring and compassion to them as well as remorse for when she couldn't do anymore.

So far Enjolras had just observed her in her element and even still he had become humbled. He knew that Éponine had been speaking the truth about the rebellion and needing to know the people but Enjolras had never been a people person. Yes, he was a good speaker and leader but on a personal level he was utterly clueless and he had no clue how Éponine expected him to gain the same loyalty with the people she had gained over three years.

"Enjolras! Are you just going to stand there all day like a ninny or are you going to get to know people?" Éponine said, snapping him out of his trance.

Enjolras looked down to conceal his embarrassment, "I don't really know where to start…" he said trialing off into silence.

Éponine looked at him in shock, "What do you mean you don't know where to start? You talk to the people every day!"

Enjolras frowned, "No, I give speeches to them. There is a huge difference in giving a speech and talking to someone on a personal level."

"But it's no different than when you met the Amis."

"Actually, 'Ferre is the one that got the group started for me and after a while they all just accepted my abrupt behavior and called me the marble man. I'm really no good with meeting people, I'm sure you remember our unfortunate first encounter." Enjolras said running his hands through his hair.

Éponine huffed in frustration. "Well today you are going to learn. Now come on." She pulled him over to the family she had just been conversing with.

"Emily, John, this is the man I was telling you about; the leader of the revolution everyone is talking about. His name is Enjolras and he wanted to come with me today so that he could learn what he has been doing wrong all this time. And this is their baby daughter, Marianne." She pushed Enjolras toward the family so that he was standing right in front of them.

Enjolras was unsure of how to start so he fell back on years of family training and bowed to them, "Monsieur, Madam… pleased to make your acquaintance."

The couple laughed heartily at his bumbling manner and Enjolras could feel himself turning red again as he shot a look of help to Éponine. Éponine simply smirked at him, as if saying he was on his own. "Monsieur, we are by no means a monsieur and madam. Please just call us by our Christian names."

"Then you must call me, Enjolras." He said holding out his hand to shake the man's hand.

"Éponine tells us you are the man who has been spouting talk of revolution and a free France." John said rather bluntly.

"Éponine is correct. My friends and I are striving to bring a republic to France and the only way the king will take notice and concede is if we rise up against the tyranny like before. No one should have to live on the streets while the wealthy walk over their corpses and do nothing to help." Enjolras stated his passion for the cause overcoming his nervousness.

"And what makes you think we want to risk our lives and leave our families anymore destitute than they already are when our revolution did us no good last time?" John said wrapping his arm around his wife and baby girl.

Enjorlas was at a loss for words. He thought that the will and desire of the people to be free and equal would override any other concerns. "Don't you want a Republic? To know that your children will grow up in different circumstances… to not be saddled with the life they are born into?"

"That sounds nice and all, but at what cost? My life… my child's life?" John shot back.

"We must all be willing to sacrifice our lives for a better tomorrow." Enjolras tried to reason.

"But at what cost? You have to remember that with the way we live, our lives are all we have. If I were to fight for your cause and die then it is almost a certain guarantee that my wife will have to degrade herself to survive and our baby girl will most likely die because I am not there to take care of them. So yes, a revolution sounds like a good idea but it is not realistic from the gueusaille's standpoint. You are looking for a fight and it will be one that you will lose."

Enjolras considered John's words. He had heard similar mutterings from Éponine but it was quite different to hear it from others. He turned to look at Éponine to see if he could figure out what she thought of the situation and noticed that she was studying him just as intently. He could see that Éponine had baited him and this was his test to see if he really cared about the people or if he was just a schoolboy looking for a fight. Enjolras knew that it was never about the lure of a fight, but thinking back on it he never told Éponine his reasons for wanting this change in France. He could now see her side and understand why she and others may think that and he desperately wanted to correct that opinion. He was humbled by Éponine's caring of the people and by John's words.

"You are right, I have not thought about it from your standpoint. But I would like to correct myself, I am not meaning from a gueusaille's standpoint but from a father and husbands. You see, my father is a harsh man who never takes his family into consideration so that perspective does not come easily to me. I thank you for opening my eyes up to it. And I am not looking for a fight; I just want France to be free. I remember as a child my father beating and yelling at me for asking questions about the classes of France and I will never forget what he told me. It was my birthday and I was enjoying spending time with the cook, helping her get ready for dinner. My father came in and grew livid when he saw me arms deep in flour and when I tried to stand up for the cook he told me that nobles do not make excuses for servants. That we were better than them in every way and I should not degrade myself by slumming with them. I was so angry with him, angry at him for degrading those around me… those who only showed me compassion and caring when he didn't. It was then, when I saw the terror on the cooks face when my father fired her, that I truly saw that problem that existed in our country. No one deserves to be made to feel like that simply because of where they are born, and why is it that a cold, harsh, and unforgiving man like my father has more than a good, kind-hearted person? As I grew older and came to school I saw how deep the problems in our country lies, that it wasn't just individuals like my father who tore our country apart. That is what drives me to do what I am doing… the desire to see people achieve their dreams and not just be beaten because of their class."

Enjolras finished his speech passionately and his first thought was to look at Éponine. For reasons he couldn't explain he needed to know that she understood where he was coming from. That he wasn't some bored schoolboy needing excitement. He could see Éponine's eyes glazed over in what appeared to be unshed tears and took her arm to bring her close to him. Momentarily forgetting they were in someone else's company he took his hand and brushed in across her face and leaned into her, resting his forehead on hers.

"Please understand, I don't do this to stir up trouble. I am doing this because I see a real problem that needs fixing. I need you to know that I know the risks of my choice and I will gladly lay down my life if that means even one person can have a better life. It upsets me to walk home at night and see people sleeping in doorways or child so skinny you can see their ribs through their clothing. It isn't right and it makes me irrefutably angry that king doesn't care about his own people."

Éponine looked up and could see the desperation for understanding clear in his eyes. She cupped her hand over his, "I understand." Enjolras looked into her eyes, confirming that she spoke the truth before he turned back to the couple.

"John, would you mind getting some of your friends to agree to meet with me later this week? I don't want to deter Éponine from her plans anymore than I already have since I am merely her pupil today but I want to get your thoughts and the thoughts of your friends on how I can approach the revolution better. Today has opened my eyes and shown me that there is much more I need to learn if I want to effectively lead the people and I would be honored if you would help me understand better. I am at the Café Musain every afternoon." Enjorlas said, his sincerity lacing his every word.

John looked shocked; truly surprised that Enjolras would want his and his friend's opinions. "I would be honored and I am sure that I could convince some others to come with me. There are many of us that have heard you speak and agree with your premise that France needs to change and I know that they would appreciate talking to you personally about what they have issues with."

"You have my deepest gratitude." Enjolras replied, taking notice of John's wife for the first time. Her gaze shifted between Enjolras and Éponine constantly and she had a look of intense concentration on her face. It didn't take long for Enjolras to find out what she was curious about and she directed her question to Éponine.

"So how long have you two been together? I am glad to see that you have found someone who shares the same ideals as you, mon ami."

Éponine blushed, "Oh, we are not together, Emily. He is my intended, but it is an arranged marriage that my father felt was best."

Emily's eyebrow rose, obviously not believing her. She was about to say something else when Enjolras interrupted, "Éponine is a very dear friend of mine, and she has taught me a lot when I have had my head stuck in the ground but it is not romantic in the least. My love is for Patria and my mistress is liberty."

Éponine nodded in agreement while Emily and John laughed at them while shaking their heads in disbelief. But in their opinion, if the two were in such denial then nothing they said would change anything.

"Well, we should get going. There are other spots of Paris I want to make sure to take Enjolras. I will see you both tomorrow and I will be bringing a blanket for Marianne. It's starting to get cold at night and she needs to stay warm."

"Éponine, you know you don't have to do that. We will be fine."

"Nonsense, Emily. I have been knitting blankets all summer to hand out during the winter months."

"You are truly a blessing, Éponine. Thank you." John said, chocking up with emotion while Enjolras was once again in shock of the women beside him. He felt his stomach flutter uncomfortably again as he realized this new layer of Éponine he didn't know of before and he couldn't believe that his father unconsciously somehow found the perfect partner for him. There would never be anything romantic between the pair, but she would truly be his partner as he set for to change France and that filled him with a sense of comfort.

They walked for a bit before Enjolras felt comfortable approaching the subject. "Where are we headed to now?" He started out.

"The docks." Was all Éponine would give him, he knew the prostitutes hung around there but he couldn't figure out why she was taking him there.

"Okay." A few more minutes of comfortable silence passed, "I didn't realize you knitted blankets for the babies."

"I just started this year." Éponine said shortly, trying to give him as little information as possible.

Enjolras wasn't going to accept that, "What made you start?"

Éponine gaze turned long as if she were lost in the past, "Do you know how a baby looks that has died from exposure?"

Enjolras knew where this was going and he began to wish he never brought it up. He grabbed her hand and held on, "Joly has described it medically a couple of times… mostly when he was concerned he had hypothermia."

"Did you know that they look the same… they just look like they fell asleep. Once you get closer to them and really look you can see the blue tint to their skin and the harsh rigidness of their little bodies. The mothers on the other hand… the sound that comes out of their mouths when they realize… it's horrifying. It's a cry you would expect to come from a wounded animal… one that has lost everything they hold dear. And then comes the heart wrenching sobs… sobs that are inconsolable and filled with such despair."

Éponine turned to look at him, "I saw it happen last winter. I was running late due to one of your meetings running long when I heard the scream. I rushed to help and when I saw that there was nothing I could do… it broke me. And everyone else around this women went on with their lives ignoring her pain. I tried to console her and nothing I did helped. She just kept clutching her baby, rocking back and forth, as she cried out the babies name… Henry. I couldn't just leave her there so I sat beside her. Hours past before she calmed down enough to become responsive and I asked if she would like help burying her son. She looked at me in surprise and without a word took me to a pauper's graveyard. Together we buried her son and I swore that I would try and do something… anything so that no mother should have to experience this. When we were done the grieving mother turned to me and all she said was her name, Clara, and left. I knew from being on the streets that just giving someone your name meant a great deal and that was her way thanking me and that was the night I started knitting blankets."

Enjolras was once again at a loss for what to say, something he thought with ire was happening all to often in Éponine presence. So he bent down and kissed her cheek, ignoring the jolt that went through him when he lips touched her warm, soft cheek. "You are truly beautiful, Éponine, and I can't express my gratitude for you letting me experience your world today."

Éponine nodded and continued holding his hand, "You will actually get to me Clara today… she is down at the docks now, that's why we are going there." She said sadly, "She doesn't talk much, but I make sure that she has food and that she doesn't need medical attention."

"I look forward to meeting her then."

They approached the docks when Éponine mentioned that they should continue holding hands so he doesn't get propositioned by the ladies. Enjolras nodded in agreement and neither of them admitted to the comfort they received from the others warmth.

They approached a women on the ground dressed in the brightly colored, sheer fabric that was common among the prostitutes. Enjolras noticed that she looked a little healthier than her companions but her eyes were dead. She was simply a shell living day to day, not really caring what happened in between.

"Clara, how are? I brought you some food." Éponine said carefully approaching the young prostitute. Clara turned to look at Éponine, "Éponine." That was all she said as Éponine pulled out a loaf of bread and some dried meat from the bag.

"Clara, I want you to eat this."

Clara nodded in agreement and slowly started eating the meat. Éponine sat down beside her and turned a calculating eye on her friend, searching for any possible ailments.

"How have you been, Clara? Any sickness or problems with customers?"

"Living. No."

"Okay, I have a new dress for you… for when you are not working. My friend has it in his bag and he is going to bring it over here. There is nothing to fear from him." Éponine motioned for Enjolras to come and bring her his bag. He approached as if he were approaching a wounded animal, cautiously and submissively. When he got closed she acted unconsciously and stood up as if he were a customer and began preparing her skirts. He stopped in his tracks and waited for Éponine to handle the situation.

"No dear, he isn't a customer. It's okay, he is here to help you and you can sit back down." She said as she took a hold of the girls arm and pulled her down beside her. She kept a firm grip on her and beckoned for him to come forward again. He quickly handed the bag over and went back to his previous spot so Clara wouldn't be uncomfortable. Éponine took out the dress and put it in Clara's arms. "I want you to promise me you will take this along with the bread and remember to eat until I come back. Okay?" Clara nodded in agreement. "Okay, we are going to go now. Make sure to be careful with who you take and stay safe."

Éponine stood up and with one last sad look she grabbed Enjolras' hand again to leave. Enjolras could tell by her grip that this time it wasn't for him, but because she needed strength. Enjolras squeezed her hand gently letting her know that he understood and they left the docks.

"I wanted to bring you here so that you can see what happens when a person is truly broken. It has been a year and she will only ever give me one word answers… and will only say two words at the same time. She's practically comatose as you could see when she thought you were a customer and she hardly ever eats. Half the time she forgets to even take payment. I found her out there about two weeks after her son died, her dress in shreds and her eyes dead. Since then I have been coming out here twice a week to make sure she eats, has clothes, and isn't sick. And I will continue to do so for the foreseeable future until she comes back to the world again."

Enjolras was quiet as he contemplated her words and about the day they just had. He was grateful for today and that he had his eyes opened to the problems he didn't consider before. "Éponine… today has been… enlightening to say the least and I can see where you were coming from in past arguments."

Éponine smirked, "You know my intention wasn't to get you to admit you were wrong in everyone of our arguments… but it's a nice side effect. I'll take it."

Enjolras gave a short laugh, "I know it wasn't your intention but alas, I have been proven wrong and I always admit when I am proven wrong."

Éponine gave him a skeptical look, "You never admit when you are wrong."

"I said proven. There is a difference and you just happen to be the only person that has ever proven me wrong before."

"Oh, so the mighty Apollo has fallen! And all due to a woman no less." Éponine said dramatically.

"More like fallen to a nymph. " Enjolras shot back wryly.

"So you are pronouncing us lovers then?" Éponine shot back, knowing that it would make him uncomfortable.

Enjolras blushed but his voice remained steady, "Well Apollo was known for his dalliances and love of nymphs. We are betrothed so it seemed an appropriate reference and you have woven me into your song and dance, animating my life. Not to mention you are also beautiful."

Now it was Éponine's turn to blush as she quickly tried to change the subject. "It's getting later in the afternoon, what do you say we head over to the café now and see the Amis?"

"I think that is an excellent idea. Shall we?" He asked holding out his arm to Éponine.

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