"I come bearing gifts!"

Combeferre balefully stares down his enthusiastic friend, but Courfeyrac's sunny smile doesn't dim at all. He briefly considers slamming the door in his face, but past experience has taught him that course of action is just going to make his friend even more persistent and annoying. It's better to simply let him waltz in, bother him for 10 minutes, and waltz back out. He moves away from his apartment door, and rubs his eyes tiredly. "Unless that's coffee, I don't care, Courf. I have a paper due today."

"Only because for a smart man, you're stupid enough to take summer courses. Not to mention that you're actually bothering with getting a Master's degree. But I know better than to darken your door before noon without coffee. Aaand I have something extra: a box of Ep's cupcakes!" he said, theatrically presenting his bribes to his grumpy friend.

"So, Gav is hiding at your place? Is he in trouble with his sisters again?" he asks after gulping down half of his coffee. He really should cut down on his caffeine intake, but whatever.

Courfeyrac carefully places the box on the breakfast bar and lounges on a stool. "Oh no, this isn't my standing order of rum butter cupcake for crashing at my pad. This, my lucky friend, is something the cupcake goddess herself delivered earlier this morning. She said she made too much for an order? Like waaaay more. She was on her way to the Fauchelevents' and to Chetta's after dropping these off."

Combeferre looks thoughtful at that. Éponine is too worried about going over-budget to make such a mistake. "That doesn't sound like her."

"Yeah, I think she was stress-baking."

"That hasn't happened in a while."

"Not since she was preparing for her bank loan for the shop," Courfeyrac agrees. He continues with a mischievous grin, "Oh, and take a peek at what she made."

The Philosophy student gasps in surprise, "Is that...?"

"Yes."

"But they don't even have this on their menu."

"Yeeeees," Courfeyrac's grin widens as Combeferre stares at the contents of the box.

"Éponine hasn't baked this in years!"

"Seven years, give or take. Which is curious, don't you think?"

Combeferre doesn't reply. He reverently lifts up one of the cupcakes, inspects the expertly applied frosting, and stares at the possibilities unfolding. He hasn't been fully convinced of the need for the mad scheme the rest of the guys have been concocting, but perhaps Courfeyrac is right after all. Decision made, he reaches for his phone.

"Hey, who are you calling?" Courfeyrac asks as he chews on another piece.

He doesn't get to reply as the other line picks up the call. "Silver Wolf Bakeshop, Éponine speaking."

"Hi, Éponine? It's Combeferre. Still have a box of red velvet cupcakes you need to get rid off?"


[AN: Yes, the title is from that Ace of Base song. Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think!]