Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, new chapter! I'm terribly late, I'm sorry… I fully intend to finish this story properly though, don't worry! Keep reading and keep reviewing, I really appreciate your feedback! Enjoy :)

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Fate had always had such a delicate and sensitive soul that he had chosen to live a little isolated from the rest of his brothers and sisters. He was very susceptible to change of moods, fleeting thoughts, unexpected actions.

The majority of mortals believed fate was something immovable, unchanging, written for everyone way ahead of time. It wasn't that simple. Every man and woman had a path they had to travel, from the day they were born to the day of their death. But the path itself isn't exactly a straight line; there are detours, rises, slopes, bends. Thoughts, little accidents, even the smallest action could cause the path to change its shape. Fate only determined the general direction of every path: whether people's paths intertwined, or ran parallel to each other for years, or had hard collisions, or just casual brief encounters, it was all out of his control. He had no power over the twists and turns in the lives of mortals and deities.

When Fantine and her children appeared in the middle of a sun-kissed meadow, not far from the place Fate had chosen as his home, she signalled them to be quiet. They all closed their eyes, slowed their breathing down and tried to empty their hearts and minds of any unnecessary thought or concern. Concentrating exclusively on the matter at hand would avoid anything else drawing Fate's focus off.

Grantaire filled every corner of his mind with his devotion to Enjolras, his beautiful smile, his laughing eyes, his fierceness and cunning. He filled his heart to the brim with his affection for Eponine, her dimples, her melodious voice, the soft curves of her body pressing against him when she hugged him tightly. The god smiled.

When he reopened his eyes he saw Marius and Cosette holding hands, foreheads touching, a soft smile on their lips. Recollecting happy memories with Enjolras and Eponine, no doubt.
Joly was kneeling in the grass, eyes closed, hands on his heart. He was murmuring softly under his breath, smiling. Reminiscing. I do hope Enj and Ep can be helped. We all love them so much.

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"We've been following those two for a while now, right? Where do you think.." The goddess fell silent when her blonde companion lifted his arm and motioned her to listen. She concentrated and right then she heard a calm splashing noise, like waves that rippled on shore.

The two walked on for another minute, trying to see something beyond the pink fog. There wasn't a trace of the cat or of the dove, but they couldn't have gone too far. Suddenly the god let out an undignified squeal, followed by a mild curse and a lot of bouncing up and down. She burst out laughing.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Freezing water happened! I just walked straight into it. We're standing in front of a lake, it's this stupid fog's fault, I can't see where I'm going!" he replied, exasperated.

She giggled. "Maybe, if you ask nicely, the fog will lift."

He smiled, lifted his head and declared in a loud voice "Oh, sweet pink fog, will you disappear while we explore our surroundings?"

At first nothing happened. Then, very slowly, the fog thinned until it completely disappeared, revealing a cave and a pool of clear water. He looked at the goddess in complete disbelief; she laughed and said "See? Good manners will take you anywhere!"

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When Jehan's mind was finally emptied save for the present circumstances, he took a minute or two to enjoy the sunrays on his fair skin. He didn't walk on earth very often, being a water god; even now, with every step a small pool of water formed wherever his feet rested. When everyone was ready to go, he started walking slowly among the wild flowers, admiring the golden buttercups, the delicate bluebells, the astonishing blue of the forget-me-nots. He caressed the colourful corollas with his cool, dewy fingertips.

"What are you going to ask him, exactly, Mother?" Marius said.

"I want to know why our spell isn't working properly. If he has seen so clearly the dangers and destruction caused by such a union, I want to know why a spell that was meant to keep two deities apart forever is completely backfiring." Fantine answered, her cheeks red.

"Mother, if I may? Don't speak so… fiercely." Cosette smiled. "Enjolras and Eponine are suffering, but you know Fate's conditions better than anyone."

"I won't be aggressive darling. I don't want to upset him, but there must be some explanation for what's happening. And with an explanation we'll be able to help my two children, my poor, poor Enjolras and Eponine."

Oh gods, everyone STOP!

Joly? What is it?

What's happening, brother?

Just listen. Stay quiet and listen very carefully.

They all stood still, tense, listening. They gasped a few seconds later, when they heard a faint, muffled noise of metal clashing against metal.

What's going on? Are they being attacked?

Cosette, Mother, stay here. Grantaire, Joly, Jehan, with me!

Marius guided his brothers quietly towards the entrance of the cave, where the noise originated from. Shielding it from mortal eyes was a series of boulders arranged in a semi-circle. The gods ran silently behind them, and peeked out. Jehan had to cover his mouth with his hand to prevent himself from gasping.

Their brothers, Bahorel and Feuilly, the two warrior gods whose task was to guard Fate's cave against all kinds of threats, always the best of friends, were fighting each other violently, swords covered in red, faces and torsos and arms shining with blood. And fate's abode lay there forgotten, exposed, unprotected.

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"I think I've seen this place before" she said, dipping her toes in the transparent water.

"Have you? Talk about it then. It will help you remember."

"I… I feel like I'm in my element here. It's not… it's not just the water, it's this whole place, you know, the rocks, the silence, this dim light. I could close my eyes and see myself swimming in the lake, or walking along the shore, or sitting on it with my feet in the water."

He smiled, looking at her tenderly. "Oddly enough, I can see you doing all these things too. But…" he bit his lower lip, worried.

"What is it?" she asked.

"W-when I think about you here, in this place… I feel kind of left out. And sad. And I can't explain why. I just can't shake the feeling that you shouldn't have been here all alone, without… without me." he concluded, breathless.

She walked towards him, eyes bright and cheeks flushed. She took his hands and kissed his fingers. "I don't know what happened in the past, but I can say this: I won't ever willingly leave you behind. Whatever happens, I'm your friend: I'll never push you away, I promise."

Her words stirred something inside him. He cupped her cheeks with both hands, caressing the smooth silky skin. She leaned towards him, and he couldn't resist: he brushed his lips against hers. They were so soft and inviting that when she sighed against him, he deepened the kiss. She completely melted in his arms. Her head was spinning, a feeling of elation overwhelming her entire body. He had never felt so complete in his life. He could have kept on kissing her for hours, days, weeks. When he felt the need to breathe, he leaned away and started attacking her neck with feathery kisses. Every time his lips touched her, a jolt of pleasure coursed through her, making her heart beat faster, her cheeks redden, her thoughts spin out of control.

"Enj… Enjolras…" she moaned.

He instantly stopped, broke away and looked at her, shocked.

"What… what did you just call me?"

"Enjolras…" she breathed. "I-I think that's your name… Enjolras. I'm not making this up, I think I remembered!"