"Cosette, I want you to meet Les Amis de l'ABC," Marius said to her one day.
"A-are you sure?" Cosette was nervous. She had heard Marius talking about them, but she didn't think she'll fit in.
"Yes! Don't worry, they're a very a likeable group," Marius said, encouraging.
Cosette sighed, "It means a lot to you, so I'll go."
Marius grinned. "Thank you so much!"
XXX
"Marius is bringing his lover," Bossuet informed Les Amis at the start of the meeting. "He's getting her now."
Éponine sighed and sipped her wine. She was sitting next to Grantaire, and they were talking about the police.
Pretty soon, Marius arrived with Cosette.
"Everyone…I would like you to meet Cosette!" Marius cried out, smiling like an idiot.
Courfeyrac froze and turned around. "…Cosette?"
Cosette caught her breath, "Courfeyrac?"
The two siblings ran at each other and hugged.
"I missed you so much!" Cosette said, burying her face into his shoulder.
"I missed you as well!" Courfeyrac kissed her head.
"I'd never though I'll see you again!" Cosette said.
"I can't believe it either!" Courfeyrac said, burying his face into her hair. She looked well off and he was glad. He looked over around at his friends. His gaze stopped at Grantaire's table, where another girl was. She was in the shadows, but Courfeyrac recognized her. "Come here!" he said, holding out an arm for her. Éponine's face lit up and she joined in the hug. Courfeyrac kissed both of their heads.
Courfeyrac looked at his friend's faces. Bossuet and Joly were confused, while Feuilly and Jehan were smiling. Bahorel and Grantaire looked bored, while Enjolras and Combeferre were impatient for this to be over. Then there was Marius's. He looked heartbroken. That was when Courfeyrac realized that they must have thought Cosette was his past lover. He tore away from the hug, but still put his arm around Cosette. "Can I introduce my long lost sister, Cosette?"
"What?" Marius mouthed, looking from Courfeyrac to Cosette. Cosette nodded eagerly and smiled sweetly at him. He could see the resemblance in their faces and hair color.
"Enjolras, may I take my sister for a walk to catch up with her. We missed eleven years, you see," Courfeyrac said.
Enjolras sighed, "Well, it's unlikely that you'll concentrate now, so be quick about it."
Courfeyrac took Cosette by the arm and led her outside.
XXX
Éponine sat down next to Grantaire, and Bahorel went to join them.
"Well, that explains how they know each other. But where do you come in the story?" Grantaire asked.
"I grew up with them and was close friends with them. It's just been years since we last saw each other," Éponine said.
"Anything happen between you and Courfeyrac?" Bahorel asked mischievously.
"No," Éponine said quickly and blushed.
"Do I detect resentment? Did you want a romance with Courfeyrac?" Grantaire smirked. Éponine shoved him, and he scooted away from her.
XXX
Courfeyrac and Cosette were talking about their lives.
"I stayed at the inn for two more years," Cosette was saying. "Then Monsieur Fauchelevent came and found me and he basically adopted me. I met Marius and we're in love now."
"Does this Monsieur Fauchelevent treat you well?" Courfeyrac asked sternly.
Cosette nodded, "oh yes! He's the perfect father. I'm sure you two will approve of each other. What have you been up to?"
"Gavroche and I grew up on the streets until these two boys took us in. That was Enjolras and Combeferre. They were best friends. All four (including Combeferre's mother) of us raised Gavroche and then taught him the ways of the street for when we couldn't be there for him. Well, I taught him that stuff. Enjolras and Combeferre were proper boys. Gavroche became a free spirit, and we created Les Amis de l'Abaisse," Courfeyrac explained.
"Isn't it Les Amis de l'ABC?" Cosette asked, tilting her head.
Courfeyrac laughed, "Les Amis de l'Abaisse is our proper name, but we do go by Les Amis de l'ABC."
"Oh," Cosette smiled.
"So, how long have you known Marius?" Courfeyrac asked her.
XXX
The two siblings returned a little later. They both headed to where Éponine was sitting. Cosette smiled and hugged her. Grantaire and Bahorel left to give them some privacy.
"I've never thanked you for being as kind to me as a child," Cosette said. "But you were here all along, weren't you? Why didn't you talk to us before?"
Éponine sighed, "I didn't think you guys wanted to talk to me. See how the cards are reversed? Both of you really have had fortunate lives these past few years, while I barely survived. Anyway, I remind you guys of your past. You don't want to be reminded of the Thénardiers and their inn."
"You're still our friend," Courfeyrac said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"And you disobeyed your parents just to help a lonely soul," Cosette smiled and then left to go sit next to Marius.
"Oh, I give you my blessing!" Courfeyrac called over to them. Marius blushed and Cosette laughed. Marius was still shaken to learn that his best friend was the brother of his lover.
Courfeyrac sat next to Éponine and put an arm around her. "If I remember correctly, you had a not-so-secret crush on me."
Éponine blushed. "I was a child."
"And you are bad at hiding your feelings. I'm not as blind as Marius," Courfeyrac said, putting his hand on top of hers. "So, any men I need to be wary of?"
Éponine rolled her eyes. "Only Montparnasse, if that's what you mean. But you'll two get along if you're nice and he's in a good mood."
"I doubt that," Courfeyrac said, twisting his hand to hold hers and intertwining his fingers with hers.
"Any girls I need to be wary of?" Éponine said, blushing.
Courfeyrac laughed, "None that I can remember," he said.
"Why now?" Éponine asked him, looking at their hands.
"Because we're old enough," Courfeyrac said. "I felt as if it was improper to think about a young girl like that. But, honestly, you were cute. And now, you are beautiful. I'm glad I found you again, 'Ponine."
"I am glad I found you too," Éponine smiled.
XXX
After the meeting, Courfeyrac offered to walk Éponine home. Éponine hesitated for a moment. She didn't want Courfeyrac to see her ruined apartment. But, she could only let him walk her to the actual house. So, she eventually agreed. They held hands as they walked. Cosette and Marius were behind them and saw this.
Cosette grinned and ran over to them. "I've always thought of you as my sister Éponine, but now you're actually my sister!" Éponine blushed and dropped her hand from Courfeyrac's. "Don't worry, Courfeyrac's still a great guy! You're family now!" The two girls hugged and Cosette turned to Courfeyrac.
"Be nice to her," she said, seriously.
"I'm your brother don't lecture me! Who's the older sibling here?" Courfeyrac ruffled her hair.
Cosette rolled her eyes. She noticed Marius standing ten feet away, looking awkward. "Come on! You're family too!" She reached out as Marius ran closer.
The four of them decided to pay a visit to Cosette's father's house first. Cosette wasn't nervous about her father meeting Marius; after all, Courfeyrac and Éponine would be there as well. She wondered what he would say to their newest additions to the family.
