Winter was really approaching, like Eponine had suspected. That thought led her to think about her job, which she had not found yet. That led her to think about her father, who had not shown kindness to her. That brought her to the thought of love, which she had also not found. At least, not with Marius. The boy was too smitten with Cosette to even give a second thought to Eponine.

She thought it was silly, really, Marius being with Cosette, but she guessed it could happen. However, one part of her heart seemed to repair once she heard Cosette's apology. She really couldn't believe the sassy, stuck up, stupid, singing (hey, all her adjectives began with S!) girl could ever apologize thoroughly.

Today was a no school day, the snow fell heavily in big, white sheets, and covered the whole ground. Eponine looked out her window at her not very well kept yard. It was all white, pure white, not a speck of dirt could get rid of the shininess. Azelma was sitting in bed, reading a beat down novel Eponine was sure was a hand me down. The cover was ripped, the pages bent, the title reading Little Women. Eponine stared in disbelief. Azelma was reading Little Women?

Azelma peered at Eponine over the rim of her book.

"What are you staring at?" Eponine looked at her. She shrugged.

"Is there a problem with me looking at you?" Azelma shook her head, her dirty blonde hair flying. She set down her book.

"Where's 'Vroche?" she asked. Eponine looked around, trying to spot the wild mane of blonde hair. No such luck. Eponine whipped out her phone.

Eponine: Where r u, peep?

Gavroche: Uhh… ummm… Y is it ur business?

Eponine: Ur my brother, 'Vroche. U seriously think I won't notice when u disappear off like that? Spill, baby brother.

Gavroche: No.

Eponine: I'll take away ur stash of cookies. I know where u hide them. U hide them in ur undies drawer.

Gavroche: I do not!

Eponine: SPILL.

Gavroche: Fine, I'm Starbucks w/ Nessa.

Eponine: My baby brother is going out w/ a girl when I don't even have a boyfriend?

Gavroche: 4ever alone.

Eponine: Shut up!

Gavroche: Bye.

Eponine could barely believe it. Gavroche went to Starbucks when they could barely afford dinner that night? She was o going to kill the eleven year old boy, he had a girlfriend when she didn't have a date. Azelma pulled out some bells from behind her notebooks.

"Do you want to decorate for the holidays? I know they're a month away, but it wouldn't hurt." Together, they hung up the little plastic bells from years ago. That was when Eponine had been spoiled rotten, and teased Cosette. She felt so bad about those times, she couldn't stand looking at the little plastic toys. Her phone rang again.

Marius: Hi, what r u doing 2day?

Eponine: Nothing, why?

Marius: I was going 2 take Cosette 2 Barricade Hill, just wondering if u want 2 come. Remember when we were children?

Eponine: Yes! I used 2 pretend to save u from the soldiers attacking us. Enjolras would be with us, calling out orders. Courfeyrac, Grantaire, Combeferre, and Joly would join us later.

Marius: That's how we formed the Revolutionaries football team. So, r u coming?

Eponine: Maybe… I'll check w/ 'Vroche and 'Zelma.

Marius: I hope u can come, Cosette would love it.

Eponine: Okay.

"Hey, Azelma, is it okay if you watch Gavroche just for the day? Marius invited me to go to Barricade Hill."

"Can't we go as well?" the fifteen year old girl protested heavily. Eponine sighed in frustration, her sister's whining always made her truculent. She really was a petulant person, people always got on her nerves. If there was one person who could calm her down, it was Marius. Her phone rang again. Eponine let out a puff of air and took it out of her back pocket.

Enjolras: Hi, 'Ponine.

Eponine: I c u have figured out how 2 operate txt messaging.

Enjolras: Don't tease me about it! I'm brand new 2 these things.

Eponine: Anyway, what do u want?

Enjolras: I was wondering if you want 2 meet me 2day, Marius invited me, Courfeyrac, Combeferre, and Grantaire 2 Barricade Hill.

Eponine: No Joly?

Enjolras: Marius is worried that Joly will get freaked out when he touches the cold. Remember last time, he wouldn't stop complaining that he could totally catch pneumonia?

Eponine: Marius actually invited me, 2. I'm coming regardless. C u there.

Enjolras: Bye.

Eponine was furious and happy at Marius. He didn't say that the other boys were coming! Eponine was still mad at Grantaire for playing that joke on her. Courfeyrac she was always annoyed at, Combeferre was fine, and Enjolras was okay.

Azelma spoke up.

"So, can we go?"

"Fine."

Azelma cheered like a madman. Eponine grabbed four pairs of woolen socks, giving two pairs to Azelma and keeping two for herself. Next, they slipped on leggings with jeans on top. Then they put on big coats, at least the warmest they could find. Thenardier spent all his money on alcohol, not warm things for his children.

They waited five minutes for Gavroche, the little rascal. Finally, he cane home through the open window. Immediately Azelma and Eponine grabbed him, stuffing the blonde in thick clothes, the thickest they could find. They tried to communicate, but they were too busy restraining the eleven year old to talk even a little. They had a conversation that sounded kind of like this.

"Geroff me!"

"Gavroche, we're going to Barricade Hill. Are you excited?"

"Only if there's real furniture on the hill. The barricade was made up from thrown down chairs, tables, beds, and mirrors." Eponine smacked him lightly on the head. The blonde always made the weirdest comments, even if the answer was true. They finished squishing him into pants, socks, coats, and shirts. Their final product was a red faced Gavroche in oversized sweatshirts and too small pants. Eponine dragged him out the door.

"How was your meeting with Nessa?" Eponine asked selfishly. Gavroche didn't catch the tone in her voice and answered immediately.

"It wasn't any make out session like you teenagers do, oh no. We're just innocent little sixth graders, dancing through life. Nessa and I simply talked about... Uhh..."

"What were you talking about?" Eponine and Azelma snapped at the same time. Gavroche gave them a look of annoyance.

"We were talking about different make up brand names, okay? Got it? DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" Gavroche yelled, jumping up and down in front of their faces, trying to prove a point even he didn't understand. He has barely been listening to three fourths of the conversation, adding "Yup", "Got it" and "I'm listening." here and there to seem like he was paying attention to her rant about Cover Girl's eye shadow, how it made her eyes look small.

Eponine: We're coming.

Marius: Okay, good 2 know.

Enjolras: Yes, good 2 know as well. Did u bring any1?

Eponine: 'Vroche and 'Zelma. Is that okay?

Enjolras: Yes, perfectly fine.

Marius: Gavroche better not push me down the Hill again like last time.

Eponine: After that happened, I threatened to steal all his Kit Kats also hidden in his underwear drawer. His reaction was priceless. Anyway, I'll c u in a few.

The trio arrived at Barricade Hill, a place where Eponine, Marius, Enjolras, Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Feuilly, Bahorel, and Joly had all first met. They had all been only nine at that time, all eight going to the sane school and same class, except for Bahorel and Feuilly, who were one year older than all one them. The day they had met had also been the day Eponine had fallen in love with Marius Pontmercy.

Eponine could still remember that day very clearly.