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 contains Joly/Musichetta and Éponine/Musichetta friendship.

Author's Note: Am I a woman of my word or what? Took me 24 hours, but here is the second part of the chapter I was going to upload last night. Thank you so much for the all awesome comments regarding Combeferre and Joly's letters! I had so much fun writing them and trying to nail their characteristics. Hope you enjoy this one!

Chapter 21

Meanwhile, Éponine and Musichetta had gone to the kitchen, which was once again abandoned at that hour, for their chat. Alongside Enjolras' letters, Musichetta had taken with her to the convent a basket filled with a few dresses, some fabrics, and her sewing kit. It was not because she had to bring work with her. Instead, she had rather hoped that she could help Éponine mend some of her clothes to better show off… her best features. Since the younger girl had been rather too bashful to follow Musichetta's seduction tips, the least the grisette could do was ensure that Éponine looked her best around Enjolras.

Especially since the marble man did not seem to be entirely immune to a woman's feminine features after all, if what Éponine was telling Musichetta now was any indication.

"So he just pulled you in and kissed you?" Musichetta asked with a wide smile. She was working on lowering the top cut of one of the dresses. Éponine actually had a rather nice décolletage that she would do well to accentuate, Musichetta thought, though perhaps not to such an extreme that the nuns would pose an objection.

"Yes! I knew he had it in him," Éponine looked up from her work with her eyes shining brightly. Musichetta had earlier shown her how to take in the mid-section of this particular dress and that was what she was attempting to do presently. The older girl had commented that Éponine had a lovely small waist which she should also highlight with a right-fitting dress.

"How was it?"

"Oh, it was very nice, Musichetta… Passionate… But why am I surprised? I do not think Enjolras can do anything without passion behind it."

Musichetta chuckled a little. "That is indeed what Joly always says."

"Does Monsieur Joly know then?"

"Yes, but not from me. I can never betray your confidence, Éponine."

"I do not mind if you share with him."

"Ah, but these things should stay between us girls. No, my Joly was very clever. When he could not get it out of me, he went to Combeferre instead and tricked him into telling him."

"So Enjolras has been confiding with Monsieur Combeferre then."

"Yes, that was my first thought too. I wonder what he has been saying, don't you? So naturally, I asked Joly about it, but as you can guess, he now relishes holding this information from me."

"I suppose that is fair, Musichetta."

"True… But do not fret, I know how to get things out of him. Believe me, Éponine, his resolve is not as strong as mine."

It was Éponine's turn to laugh, "I am sure you are right!"

Musichetta returned the subject to Enjolras, "So what has happened since then?"

"Well, nothing unfortunately," said Éponine, deflating slightly. "I have been rather hoping that he would make the next move, since I've now made my feelings clear and I have initiated the first two times we kissed. Do you know, Musichetta, for all his talks of disliking passivity, Enjolras is not showing himself to be an active person in this matter."

"What I have found, Éponine, is that oftentimes the men who appear to be quite active in most aspects of their life can be very passive when it comes to matters of the heart. I will not be surprised if Enjolras is such a man."

"Shall I be bold and just kiss him again then?"

"I do not see why not, though you can always slowly tempt him until he cannot… help himself. It is rather exciting when a man takes charge, don't you find?"

"I suppose… I must admit that I have not got enough experience to fully comment on the matter."

"Well, trust me on that one. I think us improving your dresses is a good start already, though I would compel you once more to try out some of the… tricks I wrote down for you."

"Yes, I know, Musichetta. I will… keep them in mind."

Éponine was blushing slightly, so Musichetta decided to take pity on her and moved the subject, "So besides the physical side of things, how do you feel about him? Last time I was here you said that you were not in love with him… Has this changed?"

"I am certainly feeling more… romantic towards him. I like how he treats me, how he always seems to consider my opinions and never looks down on me when we speak. I have never met anyone who appreciates my mind as much as him. I like how he shares many things with me that he does not seem to share with anyone else or shows a side of him that he does not show the world. I think he has changed me for the better, Musichetta. I feel that I now have… possibilities for the future… I can no longer comprehend how I could have ever wanted to die at the barricade, for example. And of course I cannot deny that being looked upon with desire by a man as attractive as he is also doing wonders for my self-esteem, though, mind you, I do still feel sometimes that I do not quite… deserve him. He is a handsome nobleman after all, while I am... just me."

"Do not entertain such thoughts, Éponine. If there is one thing I have learned from hearing Joly and his friends talk, it's that times are changing to such an extent that those traditional distinctions between the classes are becoming a thing of the past, especially for Enjolras, out of anybody. Moreover, has it occurred to you that perhaps you have changed him as well? Maybe even more than he has you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mentioned once to you that Enjolras does not talk to women. From what Joly tells me, that is how he's always been. And yet you managed to make him feel comfortable in your presence, to speak to you as an equal, to get him to confide in you… That is no small feat, especially since you did it without realizing it or without intending to win him over… And he is only like this with you. He has changed himself for you. Or rather, he is slowly revealing his true self to you…. I will not be surprised if he has fallen in love with you before you him."

Éponine considered her friend's words for a while. Could it be true…? She had suspected it… but could not yet consider the significant implications that came with it.

Musichetta was looking at the girl with a smile of understanding, "Perhaps I should caution you against breaking his marble heart, Éponine."

"I… do not quite know what to say to that, Musichetta… I am not sure if I have fallen in love with Enjolras… My only point of comparison is Marius and this certainly feels different to how it was with him. The feeling is not as strong. It is less… consuming."

"Éponine, since you brought up Marius…" Musichetta began gingerly. "You should know that he and Cosette have officially announced their engagement."

Éponine nodded, not at all feeling surprised. After all, Marius had told her himself that he planned to marry Cosette. "Well, I am not precisely overjoyed to hear the news, Musichetta… But you will be happy to know that it does not send me into a pit of despair either. I am simply… resigned to it."

It was Musichetta's turn to nod, "I am glad you are as fine as you could be, Éponine. I have heard it said that you never truly get over your first love, but it does not mean that you cannot move on to love another person in a more significant way… I would not be able to comment with complete accuracy as to how you feel for Enjolras, but perhaps it is different because you have matured since Marius? You know that I myself am a great believer in passionate love… But even in my relationship with Joly, I quite like that we have made the shift from an amorous love affair to a more stable relationship, wherein I am completely in love with him and only him."

Éponine gave Musichetta a big smile, "Oh, I am so happy for you! I apologize for being so self-concerned, Musichetta. I had neglected to ask about the state of your relationship!"

"Do not worry yourself over it," Musichetta returned her smile. "I have actually been rather excited to hear about the development between you and Enjolras. if there are two people more deserving of love from each other, it is the two of you… But yes, things are going extremely well with Joly. You are possibly wondering how I shall fare, considering how Joly and I started with Bahorel in the mix…"

And Musichetta paused here, looking a bit sad. Éponine wondered if Monsieur Bahorel was her first love after all. Perhaps both men were equally her first loves? Could a person really be in love with more than one person at once? And if it had happened before, could it happen again?

As if reading the girl's mind, Musichetta continued, "I never notice other men anymore though, moreover envision myself falling in love with any of them. I just simply like being around Joly. I do not even mind it if we stay in most nights. I like spending time in his house and eating dinner with him or talking to him about nothing in particular. I think our love has matured greatly since the barricade, ever since we both realized how close Joly came to not making it out alive…"

The two women contemplated the thought in silence. Éponine leaned over and gave Musichetta a friendly squeeze on her hand. Before she could say anything further on the subject though, she heard the sound of people entering the kitchen.

As it turned out, it was Madame Morel followed by Gabrielle. The Madame had a box full of bread on her arms. Éponine knew that the Madame's daughter was married to the local baker and they often supplied the convent with their leftover stock.

The four women greeted each other politely. The Madame had been told by Éponine that she was expecting a visitor today, so she was not surprised to meet Mademoiselle Musichetta, whom she thought was an extremely pretty girl with a cheery disposition. And quite a capable seamstress too if the work on her lap was any indication. Éponine introduced Gabrielle to Musichetta as one of the girls who was secretly meeting with herself and 'Émile'.

"Oh yes, Éponine has told me about this. How mischievous of you girls! Tell me, how do you find, Monsieur Émile?" asked Musichetta in a friendly tone.

"He is very intelligent and patient. I think he shall make an amazing teacher if he ever decides to go into the profession, as Madame Éponine suggests. He is helping us learn from books which the nuns are not teaching us. In fact…" She turned to Madame Morel, "Is it there, Madame?"

To Éponine's surprise, Madame Morel dug around in the bread box and produced a book from underneath all the loaves, "Yes, here it is, Gabrielle."

"Merci, Madame!" She turned to Éponine and said, "This is how I smuggle books into the convent, Madame Éponine. Look, it is the Condorcet work you recommended!"

"That is quite clever, Gabrielle," Éponine said to the girl, but she then turned to Madame Morel with an amused expression, "I am surprised, Madame. You are supplying these girls with forbidden books!"

"Ah, well, they are just books, aren't they? I do not see how they can cause harm. And it is no great feat of mine to simply pass on a piece of paper and some money for my son to take to the nearest bookshop." She then seemed to remember something, "As a matter of fact, Éponine, do you mind if I speak to you privately for a moment?"

"Certainly."

The two of them stepped to other side of the kitchen, leaving Gabrielle to converse with Musichetta.

"What is it, Madame?" asked Éponine.

"The girls have been telling me all about how your husband is helping them and I wonder… I do not know what your plans are after his leg is healed, but I do not think that the two of you would wish to live in the convent for much longer? He needs to be able to move around, surely. But if you are staying in the area — on account of his grandfather — I wonder if your Émile would be willing to teach my son and grandson to read and write? My son is twenty years old, but we never taught him and he has been wanting to learn. My grandson is six, so he should be able to start learning, but his mother — my daughter — cannot do so herself. And even if she could, she is too busy assisting her husband at the bakery and taking care of her other two younger children; I often help out, as you know, in between the meals here. Of course, I understand if your husband would wish to find a proper employment at a school instead, and unfortunately we would not be able to compensate him much for his services, but I thought I would ask anyway."

Éponine was quite surprised but felt rather pleased by the Madame's enquiry. Enjolras had not decided to become a teacher and he already had several requests from people to become his students. Well, he did once say that many of his reforms kept coming down to education… And he did want to make a difference in the lives of the common people…

"I shall raise it with him, Madame, and see what he says."

"Thank you, Éponine."

The two of them rejoined Gabrielle and Musichetta in the middle of a conversation regarding the dresses that the latter and Éponine were mending.

"I have great admiration for a seamstress, Mademoiselle," said Gabrielle to the grisette. "I too wish that I am being taught a real skill in this school. I cannot help but feel that I am only being prepared to be a wife or a nun."

"It is not so hard. I taught Éponine several things and look what she can do now. If you are interested, Mademoiselle, perhaps once you finish your schooling here, you can learn from some of the seamstresses I know."

"Oh I very much would like that, Mademoiselle, but I suspect my parents would just parade me to potential suitors once I am of age. They are very eager for me to marry well and consequently raise their own station. But that is my burden…"

Hearing this, Éponine began to understand why, despite her romantic nature, Gabrielle was quite fearful of marriage. Before she could comment on it though, the girl continued speaking to Musichetta, "Would you mind explaining to me how you are fixing these clothes, Mademoiselle? I am quite fascinated, though of course we are not allowed pretty dresses here at the convent."

So Musichetta detailed her methods to the schoolgirl. After she had finished, Gabrielle turned to Éponine and said, "You will look very lovely indeed, Madame, wearing all these dresses! if it is at all possible, I think Monsieur Émile will fall even deeper in love with you."

"That is the plan, my girl," said Musichetta, smiling mischievously at Éponine.

As a matter of fact, Enjolras did notice a difference in the clothes that Éponine was wearing. Or perhaps it was just his imagination? Because he did not remember them being so form-fitting. They were certainly highlighting those features of hers that he had found so distracting lately.

Like her waist. It took all he had to resist grabbing her there and pulling her to him. It seems like a perfect place to place his hand… And her… chest area. He was finding it difficult to not be distracted by… the whole thing when he was speaking to her. He was constantly scolding himself for acting like such a common man!

Above all though, he could not stop himself from looking at her lips. He felt that he should just do it... just go and kiss her again.

Spurred by Combeferre's advice, he had been meaning to speak to Éponine first and establish… what she wanted, but he just could not bring himself to raise the subject.

Even now, when it would be an ideal time to do so, as he could not quite see her, though he could feel her presence behind him.

Éponine was in the middle of cutting his hair. She just looked at him a few minutes ago and decided that he needed a haircut and that she would do it for him. He actually was not too bothered by his growing hair, but before he could so much as raise an objection, he found himself seated with a sheet draped over him and Éponine snipping away behind him.

Well, he did say that he would not refuse if she ever wanted to run her fingers through his hair again… The feeling was indeed very nice.

"You have done this before then, Éponine?"

"Yes, but never on a man. I have trimmed my own hair. But do not fret, Enjolras, I have seen my mother cut my father's hair dozens of times."

"Oh."

"You have nothing to worry about though, Enjolras. It would be very difficult for you to look anything less than handsome." Éponine smiled at her own bold statement. Musichetta had advised that if Éponine wanted Enjolras to make a move, she would have to be more daring in her prompting.

He cleared her throat and stammered his answer, "Th-thank you, Éponine." In spite of himself, he started to feel a bit hot.

"Are you going a bit red behind the neck here, Enjolras?" teased Éponine. For good measure, she ran her hand softly over the area, which was now exposed, as she had just cut the hair covering it. He shivered at her touch, so she said, "Don't mind me. I am just clearing away some stray hair."

He was relieved that she could not see his face, as he would certainly be looking quite red. He took several deep breaths to calm himself.

Unfortunately, this was not helped by the fact that Éponine had to lean forward to reach his hair and he could feel her… softness being pressed against him.

She was definitely doing this on purpose, he thought.

"I think the back part is done," said Éponine.

She went around to stand before him and gave an appraising look. "Yes, I think that is fine. I wish we have a mirror, so you can see for yourself, but you can take my word that you are looking very good, Enjolras." She gave him a smile and moved closer, "Now we just need to shorten the front."

If Enjolras thought that Éponine was distracting when she was simply standing behind him, it was even worse when she was right there in front him, invading his space with the sight of her and her scent…

She was leaning in to cut the hair above his right ear, so there really was nowhere else for Enjolras to look besides the top curve of her chest and the line of her neck… He wanted to touch the skin there…

Thankfully, it did not take her long to do the other ear, but then she suddenly placed her face very closely in front of his, her hands grabbing hold of a few strands of hair on either side of his head.

"Let's see if they are the same length," she said, but her eyes were fixed on his own and not really on the hair.

He was mesmerized by her stare. She was so close… If he just grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in… He could kiss her again… The thought was starting to consume him… He was incapable of focusing on anything else.

He was reminded of that time so long ago in Joly's lounge, when he had to ask her help to scratch his face… He had been unable to concentrate on anything else then and he was feeling much the same way now… Thinking these thoughts about Éponine was almost like an overwhelming itch he could not scratch and, ironically, she was once again the only person who could help him relieve it…

He was aware that he was looking at her lips again and his fingers were fidgeting to take her hand…

But then she gave him this grin…

And he suddenly, finally understood what she was doing.

If he had been more astute about these things, he would have realized much sooner that she had been trying to seduce him all this time…

The thought gave him much gratification and made him feel emboldened.

Well, two can play at this game…

So instead of closing the gap between them, he gave her a placid smile and said, "All looking good then?"

Éponine could not hide her surprise at the calm look on his face. She was certain that he would kiss her right then. "Yes, I think so. You are done."

"Excellent, thank you, Éponine. My neck feels cooler already." He was rubbing the spot that Éponine had caressed earlier.

"I am glad," she said, but Enjolras did not fail to notice that she was sounding rather disappointed.

She busied herself with tidying up the area, lastly removing the sheet that was used to cover up Enjolras. He was patting himself to see if any stray hair was sticking to his clothes, but he was not seemingly paying attention to what she was doing.

Éponine was feeling quite frustrated. How was he doing this? Did he have a switch that he could turn on and off at a moment's notice?

"Well, if there is nothing else…" she began.

He suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand, "Éponine, wait."

"Yes?" Her heart was beating rapidly. Was this it? Was he finally going to do it then?

He looked up at her with a bright smile, "Could you please help me to stand up?"

Again, Éponine suppressed her disappointment. "Of course." She got the crutch and let him lean on her as he got it in place.

Once he was able to stand on his own, he gave her a grin — much like the one she gave him before — and said thanks.

She moved back and asked him distractedly, "What do you need to do anyway?"

"This."

And with one swift move, he tugged her towards him, craning his head down to capture her lips with his own.

Éponine felt too stunned to respond immediately.

Enjolras…

Was….

Kissing…

Her.

He had caught her by surprise, but he actually did it.

She smiled against his lips and started to kiss him back, arms going around his neck and fingers tangling in the hair which she just shortened.

Enjolras found that his hand did indeed fit perfectly on her waist. The kiss was passionate immediately. It must have been all the pent-up tension he had been feeling since last time. Why had he not done this sooner? His mind was filled with one word only… Her name.

He moved his lips assuredly against hers, feeling quite amazed that he seemed to know how to do this by instinct. He glided his hand across the small of her back and pulled her even closer. He wished his other hand did not have to hold on to the crutch, but he had wanted to do this properly, to kiss her while standing, when he could bend down his head from his full height…

Her hand was on the side of his face, tracing his jawline. He wanted to repay the favor, but was distracted when he felt her lips parting and her tongue sneaking into his mouth.

He was so startled that he broke the kiss.

Éponine was looking up at him with a trace of mischief in her eyes, "Sorry, did I surprise you?"

She did, but she also made him feel… very good. He noticed how swollen and red her lips looked, which thrilled him, because that was his doing…

Before she could say anything further, he pulled her in by the back of her neck and kissed her some more. This time, he did not hesitate before opening his mouth and letting her tongue touch his.

This, he thought… This would be his undoing…

Éponine was correct when she said that he owed it to himself to explore this aspect of the human experience…

And now that he had, he did not think that he could ever give it up so easily… Or more precisely, to give her up so easily…

But that was a thought for later. At the moment, he could only think about the feel of this girl in his arms… This girl who was making him shudder just by what she was doing with her lips and her touch and the small noises that she was producing…

Just like how it was that night in the garden, he felt his knees buckling… And he did not think that it was because he was physically tired from standing. This was also Éponine…

Thankfully, the chair was right behind him, so he stumbled back to sit on it, Éponine still in his embrace.

She let out a little laugh, but kept her hands on his shoulders. She moved to stand between his legs and bent down her head to kiss him again, scraping his bottom lip slightly with her teeth. He did not object.

"What took you so long, Enjolras?" she asked between small kisses.

"I do not know, Éponine. I could not figure out what you wanted me to do." His arms were still wrapped around her and his hands were exploring her back. He still kept his touch decent though… to Éponine's frustration. But she supposed he might need to take small steps with this…

"I thought I was being quite obvious."

"Next time, just tell me."

"Next time, just do it."

"All right."

"That was quite wicked, tricking me like that."

"It serves you right, trying to make me squirm."

"Oh good, you figured it out then. I was beginning to feel that I'd have to start things off again."

"Why didn't you? I… like it when you do."

"Well, I like it when you do, Enjolras."

"But in this you are more experienced than I am." He said it so plainly, without reservation, and he was looking up at her with an unguarded expression. It made him look younger than she was, which in this matter, she supposed he rather was…

"Shall I be your teacher then? From what I can tell, you are a very good student already."

"I am glad."

"Then you shall be my instructor in the books and I shall be yours in this… If the lessons happened to overlap sometimes, then well…" But she could not finish her line of thought, as Enjolras was kissing her again and was giving her bottom lip small nips with his teeth.

He really is a good student, thought Éponine, as she let herself get lost in what would definitely be her new favorite activity with Enjolras.

Author's Notes: Hee hee, yes, more KISSING! A bit surprising or no? I don't know about you, but sometimes I'd lose interest in a story after my ship has kissed. Well, let's hope that I can sustain your (and my) interest without making É/E boring or using contrived reasons to keep them apart.

Most of you knew exactly how this chapter would start, yay! Yes, of course, I had to write the girl chat between Éponine and Musichetta :-). I quite enjoyed writing about their friendship. Again, apologies to the Musichetta/Bousset shippers, as I mentioned Musichetta/Bahorel again, but, well, it's all Joly/Musichetta now anyway.

Anyway, what do you think? I love hearing your feedback, as they inspire and motivate me to continue, so as always, please review/PM/follow/fave :-). Merci à tous!