A/N: My week so far has been non-stop Scrubs, Safe Haven twice, and lots of pizza. I feel so much better now. Thank you so much to Aerieada for being my 300th review! I honestly cannot believe it. I love you all so much; thank you for your support.

Pairings: E/É; R/OC

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

One Step Ahead

The next morning, Enjolras woke up in a twisted heap on the couch in his library. He stretched his arms, rolled out the crick in his neck, and rubbed his aching toes. Walking to the window, he found it to be misted over with a light frost.

Winter was here; well, it was coming. The tips of the grass had turned white with tiny crystals and the edges of the lake were nearly frozen. Enjolras rubbed his hand over the windowpane and frowned at his reflection.

His nose was slightly askew and bruised. He tenderly touched it and drew in a sharp breath. Had Simon broken his nose? It could be possible. It certainly felt broken. Enjolras curled his hand into a fist and groaned, banging his head against the windowpane. After a few good minutes of sulking, he turned on his heels (nearly slipping because of his socks) and walked out of the library, intent on finding Simon.

"Éponine, do you need anything else?" Grantaire fluffed the pillow behind Éponine's head once more before stepping back.

She shook her head and sighed heavily. "No. Thank you, though."

Grantaire nodded. "You're welcome." He moved toward the door, then turned around before handing the shift off to Combeferre. "And, Éponine, he'll come around. Don't worry. Until then, we'll be here for you."

Éponine smiled slightly; or at least, it felt like she had smiled. She heard the door close for a second, and then open again, Combeferre's soft footsteps echoing in the room. She heard him settle down on the seat that had been pulled away from the vanity; he sighed heavily and bumped something, gasping as he reached to grab it. Finally, she heard him settle.

He cleared his throat; thankful she could not see his obvious embarrassment. "Éponine."

She turned her head slightly; Combeferre looked down when her eyes failed to find any portion of his head. "'Ferre." She licked her lips. "Do you know where.. Enjolras is?"

She heard him fiddle with something; the drawer maybe. "No. I'm sorry. I think Joly said he was speaking with Simon, but Joly left an hour or so ago; God knows where he could be now.."

Éponine nodded and rested her hand on her stomach. She was around five months now; just big enough to know she was pregnant, but not big enough to fret over. As of yet, she had only felt little rumbles in her stomach; hardly distinguishable from other things. Not knowing how big she would eventually get, or what the baby would look like, killed her.

The room was silent for a few more moments before she sat up straight and her eyes flew open, though her world still remained dark. A tiny cry left her lips and she suddenly felt Combeferre's presence by her side.

"Éponine! Éponine, what is it? Do you need anything?"

She shook her head and smiled, putting her hand lower on her stomach. "I felt something."

Combeferre creased his brow. "What?"

"The baby; I felt the baby do something," she whispered. "Give me your hand."

Combeferre hesitated and looked over his shoulder at the closed door. If anyone were to walk in, it would certainly look odd, but Éponine's hand was searching for his desperately and she could not find it. She looked so.. so.. weak. Combeferre closed his eyes briefly and then placed his hand in hers.

She squeezed his fingers before resting his hand on her stomach. He felt nothing, so he kept studying her obviously excited face with a rather perplexed one of his own. She squealed quietly again and her eyes fell just past his shoulder. He swallowed, feeling awkward and extremely depressed.

How could she be so happy knowing that she would never see anything again?

He didn't understand it.

"Did you feel that?" she whispered after a moment.

He shook his head, then mentally slapped himself. "No. I didn't."

Éponine was quiet, then she said, "Oh." She sounded disappointed.

Combeferre drew his hand away, and rested his hand on her cheek. "How are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

He scoffed and looked away, his hand falling to his lap. "You know exactly what I mean, Éponine."

Éponine looked away and closed her eyes. "I have the baby," she whispered. "Somehow, that keeps me grounded. It wouldn't do me any good if I curled up into a ball and sobbed my life away just because I can't see, 'Ferre."

"You're braver than I thought."

Éponine lifted her hand, but then lowered it. She wanted to pat Combeferre's knee, but after trying to find his hand, she didn't want to risk further embarrassment so she kept it at her side. "Thank you," she said sincerely. Sitting slightly straighter, she asked if he could help her down to the kitchen, for she was getting rather hungry.

"Of course."

Enjolras rested his forehead in his hands. Simon leaned back in his chair, feeling rather proud of himself. Enjolras had come to his senses, after his friend checked out his nose and found it to be slightly broken. Several glasses of whiskey down, Enjolras had realized his mistake in abandoning Éponine. And Simon was glad.

Both men looked up at the sound of footsteps in the hall. Enjolras stood up and went to the open door, smirking slightly as Combeferre and Éponine argued as he led her to the kitchen.

"Combeferre, I know where I am going!"

"Obviously you don't because the door you just ran in to goes to a closet!" Éponine tried to pull away from him, but he held firm. "Would you just let me help you, dammit?!"

Éponine lifted her chin and looked away. "Not if you're going to be rude about it."

Combeferre groaned and shifted so he could look at Enjolras. "You take her, Rogier. I mean, she if your wife, after all, and she's a pain in the ass!"

Éponine raised her foot to stamp on his, but then lowered it to the ground slowly. "I am not a pain in the ass, and I don't need Rogier's help; I can do it myself." She wrenched her elbow away from Combeferre's hand and nearly stumbled, but supported herself with the wall.

Combeferre took a step away. And soon, three men were watching intently as she walked down the hall, her hands guiding her. In truth, it was the first time she had really been by herself in her blindness, besides at night. It felt oddly freeing to be walking alone again, without any help from Joly or Jehan. She grew confidant as the minutes went on, but completely forgot about the small table in the center of the wall holding a large bust.

Her knee slammed into the table leg and she faltered, her hands leaving the wall, searching for something to hold onto. Her hands only resulted in pushing the table away even farther and the bust wobbled, threatening to tip forward onto Éponine. Enjolras acted quickly as he saw the marble sway and he darted forward, grabbing Éponine's waist at the last moment, pulling her away so the bust shattered on the floor.

Éponine's breathing was heavy as her hands latched onto his shoulders. Enjolras had his hands tight on her waist, holding her steadily. "Are you all right?" he finally asked, in hushed tones.

Éponine swallowed and nodded, burrowing her head onto his shoulder. It was the first time he had touched her since he left all those nights ago. She relished the feel of his arms around her; she'd missed him. Enjolras stiffened after a moment and gently pushed her away. Éponine scowled.

"What were you headed for?"

"The kitchen." Éponine sighed. "Would you help me?"

Enjolras slipped his arm around her waist and held her close. He resisted the urge to spin her around and apologize profusely. There would be time enough for that later. Entering the kitchen, he sat her down at the table and then stood off to the side awkwardly. Éponine craned her head to try and find him, but gave up, returning her hazy glare to the wall.

"What is it that you want?"

"An omelet, please," she whispered. "I haven't eaten in awhile."

Enjolras nodded and set about finding eggs and cheese, making sure to put in extra cheese, just as she liked it. When he set the plate in front of her (the omelet all ready cut up for her sake), he nearly cried when she sat waiting.

"I don't feel a fork any where around here.."

"Right. Yes, a fork. I'm sorry." He reached into the door and retrieved one. "Here."

Éponine's fingers wrapped around his own as she plucked the metal from his hand with her other. When she didn't let go, he settled down beside her, and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles while she ate quietly.

"Éponine, I-"

"Enjolras, you-"

Éponine laughed when they both spoke together, and Enjolras looked away, angry that she could be so calm when he could not. He cleared his throat and let go of her hand. "You go first."

She nodded, found the edge of her plate, and pushed it away. "All right. I wanted to ask you why you have been so distant lately?" She turned her head toward where she could feel him; her eyes landed on a spot just below his left eye. "What is it that I've done?"

Enjolras ran his hand over his chin and shook his head. "You've done nothing, Éponine. It's.. me. I'm the one who abandoned you when you needed me most. I sincerely apologize." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I must admit that I feel slightly responsible for-"

"Enjolras, you know that's not true!"

He waved his hand and then blinked. "Éponine, I'm sorry. That is all I can say. I will strive to do better in the future. Can you forgive me?"

Éponine furrowed her brow in thought. He had left her alone and scared the first couple of days; but as time went on, maybe him abandoning her for that short while was best. Éponine still loved him with all of her heart, of that she was certain, but she had been faced with her blindness alone and therefore, she had learned to begin to deal with it. Enjolras wasn't there to mollycoddle her and hinder her from learning how to live. She had certainly learned how to handle herself. Oddly enough, she was thankful.

As much as it had hurt the first few days, as much as she had missed him and needed him, he had helped her.

Éponine nodded then and she heard Enjolras sigh and his hand covered hers once more. His forehead pressed against the side of her head. His hand moved to cup the side of her face, bringing her to face him.

"I love you," he whispered.

Éponine smiled slightly. "I love you, too."

"I promise you that I'll do better."

Éponine closed her eyes. "I know."

She lifted her hand and rested her fingertips on his cheek. They were slightly damp from tears she didn't know he was crying. She slid her fingers along the curve of his brow and down the slope of his nose. There was a firm bandage there and she pulled back.

Enjolras chuckled. "Simon did some convincing last night. Broke the thing.."

Éponine smiled and continued her scope. Her fingers found his eyelids and his strong jaw and finally his lips. She could feel the smile against the pads of her skin, and she, too, smiled wider. He pressed a small kiss to her fingers and then moved her hand away; instead occupying her hand on his chest, dipping in to steal a kiss.

A few hours later, Éponine shifted and rested her head on Enjolras' shoulder. They were cuddled up in bed, his arm thrown around her shoulders so she was pulled close, reading a book with the hand not currently occupied with rubbing circles on her shoulder.

Éponine cleared her throat and whispered against his skin, "I missed you."

Enjolras looked away from the words on the page and to his right slightly. "I was right here the whole time."

"Not really.."

Enjolras sighed and pressed a kiss to her hair. "I'm sorry."

"Do you want to feel the baby?" she whispered suddenly, sitting up, nearly toppling off the bed. Enjolras caught her and shifted so they sat in the middle.

"What?" he asked, slightly amused.

Éponine nodded, bit her lip, and smiled; her eyes rested on the wall beside his shoulder. He would never get used to that. "Do you want to feel the baby kick?"

"Yes.. I suppose." Enjolras laughed nervously.

"Give me your hand." Éponine reached out with both of hers and when she felt his worn hand in her own, she cleared her throat, sat a little straighter, and placed his hand low on her stomach.

Nothing.

Enjolras shifted, uncomfortable.

"Say something," she said. "The baby always moves when you say something."

"What do I say? Am I supposed to talk to the – Oh!" There is was. At the sound of his voice, the baby moved slightly and Enjolras felt a little tremble. He looked up and Éponine's face was shinning with emotion.

"Keep going," she urged.

"Does it hurt?" he asked. Another rumble. Éponine shook her head.

"He likes you. Or she.." Éponine chuckled.

"Doesn't your stomach feel really – Éponine, the baby kicked! Did you feel that?! Well, of course you felt it." Enjolras kept his voice low, but he knew it sounded awe-struck. The baby kicked again and he smiled, finally pulling his hand away.

"The baby always moves around when you talk."

Enjolras beamed with pride. Éponine could feel his smile hit the ceiling and bounce around the room. She wished more than anything she could see it. Gently, she ran her fingers over his cheeks, feeling the dimples.

His muscles relaxed into a content grin and he leaned into her touch. "I really am so sorry that I caused you an extra pain." His hand twined around a loose lock of hair and then fell to her knee.

"Well, I was always one step ahead of you, Rogier."

"What do you mean?"

"I forgave you before you even committed the act."