Enjolras sat on the edge of the bed, holding Éponine's hand while she slept. It had taken her hours until she had finally fallen asleep and he was afraid to move and rouse her again. He knew they had a long path ahead of them. When he had brought her into his home he had expected it to take several months to have her authentically warm up to him. He had wanted to save her from the world she had been forced into, not expecting that he was going to have to deal with her becoming pregnant with another man's child.

But he couldn't toss her back on the streets. He felt obligated to care for her and to keep her safe. He would claim the baby to be his if it protected her. He cared for her more than she was willing to see and more than he was willing to admit. He just wanted to give her a better life.

Enjolras stroked his fingers against her rough, calloused hand. '"Enjolras?" She mumbled softly, a smile spreading on her lip dreamily. "Lay beside me."

"Éponine-"

"Please?" Éponine shifted on the bed, patting the empty place beside her. "I just need someone to hold."

Enjolras stood, contemplating for a moment. Without a word he kicked off his boots and moved around the bed to slip under the covers beside her. Éponine turned towards him, curling against him without second thought. Enjolras watched her before wrapping his arm around her carefully.

"I'm sorry that this happened," Éponine murmured, her fingers playing with the material of his shirt. "I didn't want it to happen. Honestly."

"But it did happen," Enjolras started, brushing his fingers through her hair. "We just have to make do with what we have now."

"If you're just claiming my bastard baby as your own because you think that it will gain my-" Éponine looked up at Enjolras, biting her lip nervously. "To gain my attentions."

"I'm not," Enjolras smoothed his hand over her back. "It wouldn't be a bad perk if it happened, though." He chuckled, holding her tighter in his arms. "I just want to keep you safe."

"Thank you Enjolras. Thank you." Éponine smiled up at him, feeling her cheeks heating at the closeness to between them. Out of instinct she started to lean up towards him, but catching herself she buried her face against his chest quickly.

Enjolras pressed his lips against the top of her head, giving her back a gently squeeze. He couldn't help but feel jealousy towards whoever the man was that had got to her first. He was well aware that countless men had gotten to her before he had even known her. But this man had gotten part of her that he had hoped could be his one day. Even though the child inside of her wasn't his by blood or anything close to it, he would raise it as his own if she would let him.

"Everything's going to be alright Éponine." Enjolras rested his cheek against her hair, inhaling deeply. He couldn't help but yearn for this to be different circumstances. That he could have her curled against him after at last having her willingly in his bed. Or perhaps, even better, having his own child growing within her.

Éponine shuddered, trying to suppress the overwhelming fear she had at the idea of becoming a mother. Years of her life had been spent wondering when it would happen. But somehow she had always been lucky enough to not become pregnant. But now, when life had changed and she was presented with a home and a safe life, she was cursed to have Montparnasse's bastard.

"I wish this could be different." Éponine breathed, rolling away from him and laying on her back, staring up at the ceiling.

Enjolras nodded, resting on his elbows and studying her face. "I understand."

"How can you understand?"

"It's just a phrase to say." Enjolras retorted, with a roll of his eyes. "I can understand wanting it to be different."

"I never meant for him to find me that evening when I went for a walk. I wished he would have just stayed in my past."

"Who was it?"

"An old friend."

"What is his name?"

"Montparnasse," Éponine replied shyly.

Enjolras nodded, his jaw set hard. "Where could I find him?"

"Enjolras, no!" Éponine snapped, turning to face him suddenly. "You can't bring him into this. He can't know. Please. If he found out he'd never leave us alone."

"Is there an us to leave alone?" Enjolras asked after a moment of silence. He met her eyes, seeing the fear shining there. "Is there?"

"Yes." Éponine whispered, biting her lip nervously. "There is an us. I don't know what it is really, but it is there."

Enjolras hesitantly reached out and cupped her cheek, stroking his thumb across her bottom lip, making her teeth release the tender skin. "We can't always control what happens. We just have to make the most out of what we have. But, Éponine, I promised to keep you safe and to show you just how good life can be. I'm not going to go back on my word."

Éponine nodded slowly, a smile spreading on her lips slowly. "How can it be that I deserve you? I do everything wrong in my life and get nothing that I want – but then somehow here you are."

"This isn't what you want?"

"It wasn't what I wanted..." Éponine blushed, "Until now."

Enjolras leaned towards her, capturing her lips between his tenderly. He leaned half over her, his hand resting on her waist as he supported himself on one elbow. Éponine pulled away, studying his face curiously, questioning him.

"Enjolras?"

"I didn't mean to be rushing you."

"There's just too much going on in my head right now. I hardly know what I want. I don't want to make this decision while all I can think about is how much support I can get out of you once the baby's born. Please, respect that decision." Éponine gulped, wondering if he'd realize that one of her chief reasons for staying with him was the support and money he doled out to her. Hopefully he wouldn't catch on that she couldn't get away from the way she was raised.