Disclaimer: Les Misérables and all its associated characters do not belong to me.

Summary: One inch was all it took for Éponine's life to be spared and it altered the fates of four people. Éponine/Enjolras. Also features one-sided Marius/Éponine and Enjolras/Grantaire (E/R), as well as Joly/Musichetta/Bahorel, which are all canon anyway.

Author's Notes: Thanks for all the lovely reviews and new follows/faves! Glad you enjoyed the, uh, sexual tension I finally introduced to the fic ;-). I can tell you that it is my favorite thing to write in a story (and I am in fact more of a humor writer, which is why the all the angst in this fic has been challenging but also good for me to write). MidniteMasquerade, you wanted to know about the bathing situation? :-) Hopefully it's answered here. Enjoy, dear readers!

Chapter 12

Éponine was to find to her relief that Enjolras was a still sleeper after all. He lay on his back all night and did not seem to move at all. She awoke before him, thankfully still finding herself to be lying on her side near the edge of the bed. She quickly peeked behind her to see him still in slumber, his chest rising and falling softly, his left arm across his stomach, his right on his side. He looked very much like how she found him on that first day after the barricade, completely still and statue-like.

She got out of bed slowly, so as to not disturb the mattress too much. It seemed that it was still quite early. There was only fade light peeking in from underneath the curtains. She wondered if he would remain sleeping for a while. If so, she would use the opportunity to wash up and change.

She exited the room to fetch a water basin. There was already a nest of activities around the convent, as the nuns conducted their morning routine, praying in the chapel, taking their meagre breakfast, and rushing off to the boarding school. On her way back, she encountered Monsieur Fauchelevent as he was leaving his room.

She conveyed her gratitude for the gifts he gave her and mentioned that Enjolras, who was now still asleep, would like a private word later if the Monsieur could spare the time.

Valjean hesitated, suspecting that the other man had somehow worked out that he was the soldier in disguise at the barricade. However, there really was nothing Enjolras could do with that information and he supposed there was no harm in talking to him, so he agreed, asking the girl to come fetch him from underneath a certain tree in the garden when Enjolras was ready.

Éponine came back to her room to see that Enjolras had still not risen, so she quickly carried the basin to her spot behind the screen.

She hurriedly undressed and scrubbed herself. As she sat there, she contemplated how she would go about this... Enjolras would need assistance to bathe, but would he tolerate her seeing him... naked? Would she? She could not help but notice that he was an attractive man... She had always known it, she supposed — she was not blind — but for some reason it never really registered in her mind or mattered to her, because she had never considered the prospect of being in an intimate setting with him.

Nevertheless, if she indeed wanted to do this as a trade in the future, she could not afford to become flustered every time she had to care for someone physically attractive...

Perhaps she should just be direct and ask him what was... comfortable for him. She would need to concentrate on not blushing though, because even now, the thought of seeing him in the nude was enough to make her feel hot behind the neck.

She finished swiftly and re-dressed in fresh clothes. She took a peek from behind the screen. Enjolras was still in slumber. She took the basin outside to re-fill it with fresh water.

She returned as he was finally rising. He still looked as good as he normally did, completely fresh-faced and alert, as if thoroughly untouched by the sluggishness of sleep.

"Good morning, Enjolras."

"Good morning, Éponine. Have you been up long?"

"No, half hour or so. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, indeed." He was surprised to find that he slept easily with Éponine next to him. She barely moved all night, though her slight body did not take up much space on the bed anyway. And there was that peculiar feeling of having another person's warmth very close to him... It was something he'd never experienced before. Remarkably, he did not find it unpleasant... "How was your sleep?"

"It was fine," Éponine in fact did not fall asleep easily last night and perhaps woke up earlier than normal. "I've spoken to Monsieur Fauchelevent. He said he would come talk to you whenever you are ready."

"Thank you."

She walked over to open the curtains and the window, bringing some light and fresh air into the room. "Enjolras," she started hesitantly, wringing her hands together. "That was improper what I said last night. I am sorry."

"No, you have nothing to be sorry about, Éponine. I apologize. I should not have imposed on you."

"It is not an imposition. I am here to help you, Enjolras... But I shall leave it up to you. I will help you with whatever you feel comfortable..."

"Well, there are certain things I can manage by myself... My right arm no longer need to be in a sling, so I have some mobility there. My right leg is rather more restricted, but I can put weight perfectly well on my left, so if I lean upon this desk, I can stand... It will be time-consuming, but I believe I can disrobe and clothe myself. I possibly only need your assistance with certain other tasks..."

He then listed off a number of things he would need. She nodded, moving some items to within his reach and making a mental note on others she would have to get him from the outside.

"I think I can do that, Enjolras. I have fetched you some fresh water over there. But I shall acquire another basin and fill it with warm water." The time it would take for her to heat it up would also give him some privacy here.

When she returned, she made sure to knock before re-entering. She found him seated on the desk chair, completely bare from the waist up... and apparently also the waist down, though his... hip area was covered with a sheet.

Éponine made a conscious effort to avert her eyes from any nakedness as she brought the water over to him. She was proud to say that there was not a hint of blush on her face and she had in fact succeeded in arranging her expression to resemble one who was looking at a particularly dull piece of painting.

If she were to co-exist companionably with Enjolras in these small quarters, she could not let him clue in to the fact that she found him… somewhat physically appealing... She was not one for superficiality (she could claim with certainty that, though Marius was boyishly handsome, it was not the reason she fell in love with him), so she expected to get over… whatever this was rather quickly without needing to make the situation awkward for him.

"Shall I leave then?" she asked with controlled calmness.

He also watched her face. She seemed to have overcome whatever nervousness she felt last night. Perhaps she was above this awkwardness after all... In the entire time that he had known her, Éponine had in fact never behaved like how he found young women tended to behave around him (the latter was why he generally avoided the female company altogether). He saw no reason why this would have changed for Éponine. If he were to live with her for a while, he could not be too proud to ask for her help. She was there to assist him after all...

"Actually, if it does not bother you… Could you perhaps stay… and help me… with my back? I cannot quite manage it."

Though her expression did not break, Éponine internally cursed herself. He was testing her, wasn't he? Could she refuse? Would that suggest to him that she was uncomfortable to be around him? Should she just push on and do this for him? Perhaps if she conditioned herself to be around his…. physicality more, she would find herself less... susceptible to its effects on her?

"If you wish me to."

Éponine went around to stand behind him. She was very relieved that, at least in this position, he would not be able to see her face. She told him to lean forward a little and took the washcloth from the warm water basin, wiping it across his pale skin as businesslike as she could manage. She could not avoid getting a full view of his back though… those nice muscles at the back of his neck, expanding out to his shoulders, the left of which had a scar from where the bullet exited, the dip along his spine that went down towards that curve...

And she just realized she had been slowing the movement of her hand dangerously low on his back as she found herself mesmerized… She pulled her hand back promptly.

"All done."

"Thank you, Éponine."

She composed herself, putting on a relaxed smile, as she came around to face him again, "Anything else?"

"If you could perhaps move the other basin to near my left foot?"

Éponine obliged. After that, she was grateful to find that he was done with her, saying that he could manage the rest if she would perhaps give him half hour before fetching Monsieur Fauchelevent. He would need time to do Combeferre's prescribed exercises, he said.

Éponine nodded, quickly grabbing one of her books as she left the room. Perhaps she could do a bit of reading to calm herself... Perhaps Monsieur Fauchelevent would not mind the company.

She found him under the tree that he indicated, not doing anything much other than staring into the variety of plants and flowers around him.

"May I join you, Monsieur?" she asked politely.

"Please," he replied without much energy.

She told him what Enjolras had said. The Monsieur just nodded, but he did not seem to be up for conversation, so Éponine just left it there and turned towards her book.

In her haste, she had picked up Julie. The romantic material was certainly not the best thing for her to read right now. She gave up on it after a few minutes, electing to take in the greenery like her supposed grandfather-in-law.

It really was beautiful here. The convent might be a crumbling structure, but the garden really was beautiful. She could understand why the Monsieur had chosen to spend the final part of his life here.

When Monsieur Fauchelevent finally knocked on his door, Enjolras had finished with his grooming and was dressed in fresh clothes.

Éponine came in as well to drop off a book, but then left to prepare their breakfast.

The two men started by exchanging pleasantries, Enjolras thanking the Monsieur for allowing him to come into hiding with him. Monsieur Fauchelevent only nodded and did not say anything further. As Enjolras was never one to waste words, he delved into the topic he wanted to discuss immediately.

"I also thank you, Monsieur, for saving my life at the barricade."

"You recognize me then."

"Indeed. I am surprised Marius did not."

"I suspect his mind was preoccupied with the prospect of never seeing my daughter again. I heard his lament that night."

"Is that why you came to the barricade? To save him? It was indeed you who saved him, was it not?"

"Yes, I took him away to safety, but no, I initially did not have the truest of intentions when I arrived. I wanted to see the man who sought to take my daughter away... Perhaps I even wanted to ensure that he died there, so that he would never have the opportunity... But when I realized how Cosette's heart would break if Marius were to perish, I had to save him."

"That is a most noble thing you did, Monsieur. And yet… Marius does not know it."

"It does not matter. I am at the end of my days and can only bring danger to Cosette's life. Marius loves my daughter and will be able to provide the safety that I cannot."

"Yes, but… it does not seem fair, Monsieur. You do not deserve to spend the last part of your life alone."

"I am afraid fairness does not come into one's consideration when love is involved, Monsieur Enjolras. It is my last wish to secure Cosette's future happiness."

"I have asked to come speak with you today so that I may perhaps persuade you to re-consider your decision. It is not too late for you — or even me, if you wish — to advise Marius of the truth. You may yet spend your final days beside your daughter. If you are concerned about the risk of exposure, I am certain they will be able to come stay here in the convent or nearby."

"I appreciate your concern, Monsieur Enjolras... But I would rather leave this world with the absolute certainty that Cosette would not be harmed by my past."

Enjolras gave it some thought, but then nodded, "Then I respect your decision, Monsieur. I will not interfere in your business and this will be the last that I speak of it."

"Thank you."

The two gentlemen conversed for a while then, Valjean finally imparting to Enjolras his true identity, as the latter struck him as a man who kept his word. Enjolras was almost disgusted by what the law deemed as criminal activities and why this Monsieur was pursued. Jean Valjean's only crimes were stealing bread and then breaking parole. This country was in serious need of legal reforms. But he kept these thoughts to himself, as it would be indelicate for him to use this man's personal experience to convey his political agenda. They were finally interrupted by Éponine, who came in with breakfast.

She apologized for the simple meal, as the convent did not have much material she could use. She would go out to purchase additional foodstuffs after this. The men dismissed her concerns and the three of them took their breakfast together in companionable air.

Much later that day, when Éponine had gone to the market and dropped off their dirty clothes at a nearby laundress, she and Enjolras sat down together for their lesson.

Enjolras had opted for a simple bread and cheese luncheon, as he would rather spend their time in discussion than eating another meal, so he was nibbling at a piece of crust while he listened to Éponine reading out a passage.

Éponine was curious to find that she was not quite attracted to Enjolras in this setting and was able to interact with him much like she had before.

It was as if there were two of him... The leader, tutor, intellectual, whose company she enjoyed but whose connection to her was cordial and at an almost more mental level... And then there was the man, the vulnerable patient and pretend husband, whose physical appearance — against the backdrop of the intimate setting that was imposed upon the two of them — certainly appealed to her at a more instinctive level...

All this she jotted down in her notebook later on that night when the two of them were in bed again. She would have been uneasy with writing about Enjolras, when the man himself was sitting next to her, but he seemed thoroughly untroubled by her presence as he pored over several tomes on his lap.

After she was done, she washed off the ink from her hands and then climbed back into bed with a book. She would attempt to read Éponine et Sabinus again.

But much like last night — and perhaps also due to the lack of sleep from the night before — Éponine had only managed to go through a few pages before her eyes grew weary and she fell asleep with her book still open next to her.

Enjolras did not notice until he too was ready for sleep and called her name several times without a response. Not wishing to wake her, he reached over gingerly and took the book off her hands to put it away. He smiled amusedly at the title. Éponine sure had a taste for the romantics. But he supposed it was good for her to learn the story of her namesake, especially since the woman and her husband Sabinus were quite inspirational revolutionary figures.

The only thing left was the light on her side. It would take a mighty effort for him to get out of bed and limp to other side, but he could not very well leave the light on all night… He had no choice but to try and reach over her to turn it off.

He inched himself as close to Éponine as possible without disturbing her. Having nothing really upon which he could brace himself, he stretched his left arm over her sleeping figure towards the lamp. He could not quite reach it. He was possibly five centimeters off. If he could press himself upon Éponine's back more, perhaps...

He was thinking that he did not wish to knock the lamp off and cause a fire, when he lost his balance... and completely fell on Éponine's sleeping figure, startling her awake.

Éponine, who did not recall falling asleep, was shocked — to say the least — to find Enjolras suddenly splayed across her midsection.

"I am quite sorry, Éponine. You had fallen asleep and I was trying to douse the lamp on your side, but I could not quite reach it…" He was struggling to get up, as he had nowhere with which he could push himself off other than Éponine's body.

"That's quite all right, Enjolras," she said in a shaky voice, having regained her breath. She grabbed hold of his shoulders and pushed him gently off of her... chest area.

He got back to a sitting position and turned towards her with a concerned expression. "You are not hurt, I hope. I apologize again, Éponine."

"I'm fine, Enjolras. Just a bit startled," she was trying to calm her pounding heart. "I am sorry too. I should not have fallen asleep without turning off the light. You should wake me next time it happens."

"Yes, I was trying to avoid that, but made the situation worse instead… That must have been quite a shock I gave you!" And in spite of himself... he began to laugh.

Éponine could not recall ever seeing Enjolras laugh… He was a thoroughly serious young man, was he not? It made her feel rather special that she got to see this rare side of him. She started laughing as well. She felt lightheaded and the genial mood tempted her to tease him, "Yes, well, I never would have expected to wake up with you on top of me, Enjolras."

She might very well have put her mouth into it again. And she could have felt embarrassed like last night, but somehow she enjoyed seeing him a little bit flustered… Was that even a blush creeping on his cheeks?

"And with that, I think it is time for us to get some sleep," Éponine quickly said before he apologized again. "Good night."

"Good night."

She snuffed out the light quickly… and lay there in the dark knowing that sleep would not come soon. Once again, she was fully aware of him lying next to her and could not stop herself from thinking about how his body might feel against hers…

Yes, this was indeed a peculiar feeling being attracted to Enjolras…

She did not even have the luxury to toss and turn.

Author's Notes: Okay, some more sexual tension here, ha ha. Hopefully I've justified Éponine's attraction quite well. I think once confronted with Enjolras' attractiveness in a direct way, such as she has here, she would definitely not be able to miss it.

Enjolras, of course, is a little bit more difficult, as he is more resistant to physical attraction. Hopefully you don't find his thoughts on women as sexist. I am inspired by something Aaron Tveit said when researching for the role. He said that Enjolras thoroughly avoided ladies' glances. So it got me thinking: Why? Is it because he realized his effect on women and did not wish to encourage their attentions? Or it it because he was aware that he might be tempted away from his cause by a woman, so he avoided them altogether? While I think it's possibly more the former, the latter could also be a little bit true.

Here's how I interpret it: Enjolras is quite asexual, so he would actually be able to interact with a man the same way as he would a woman, but because he's physically appealing, women in general tend to not be able to converse with him without somewhat fawning over him or getting their hopes up about the possibility of a romantic future (this may also be governed by how ladies behaved at the time, where it was unlikely for a female to wish to be friends with a man in a platonic manner and to engage him on a purely intellectual level, which would have appealed to Enjolras the most). So to avoid a possible mess, he just ignored women altogether.

Along came Éponine…

Anyway, I should not reveal all my cards yet :-). Hope you enjoyed some more humor in this chapter and didn't find it too out of place.

As always, please review/PM/follow/favorite! Mille bisous! xoxo