A/N: Sorry for the long wait, but here's the next chapter just before the year is over! At the closing of another year, I'd like to thank you all for reading and for supporting this story. We've all grown as people, we've learned much this past year, and have had a safe sanctuary we could always return to if things went awry in the real world- our fandoms. This year we should try to love our fandoms continuously while also trying to take risks, and live our lives as Enjolras would, as Valjean would, as Elphaba would, as Katniss, Hermione, Harry, Clary, Max, and all our favorite book characters would live their lives. We know we always will have this portal to another dimension, this life source to cling to when things get rough which is why I personally will take my own advice and venture out into the real world, seeking a story to tell that way one day, I can be a protagonist, or I can create a protagonist that fanfictions might be written about. Live your lives as a protagonist, for the true protagonist is you.
The trees are bare
When we began walking back, I recalled the boys' reaction when they realized that I would be fighting with them, and the way they insisted to keep me out of battle. I almost felt angry, but my hands were once again intertwined with Enjolras' and I felt euphoric.
"Did you know that the men, not the guys, the men that aren't en Les Amis, are not going to let me fight?" I asked.
"They're not?" Enjolras asked.
There was something in his voice that I didn't like. Curiously, I glanced up at him and saw that he actually looked relieved.
"Why do you look so relieved?" I demanded, "I want to fight."
"If you fight, you could be put in danger-" Enjolras started.
"Please," I scoffed, "I'm in danger every day. If I don't fight, then I'll just sit around, twiddling my thumbs, praying you don't get hurt. I want to fight." I insisted.
He was silent for a few seconds and again, I looked up at him. His cold blue eyes looked at me with a curious expression that made me blush. His lip twitched up into a half smile and his facial expression mimicked Pontmercy's.
"Anything you want is yours," he whispered.
Rolling my eyes, I looked away, but I still squeezed his hand afterward. We were at the door of the café, and Enjolras let me in. I came inside, and Monsieur Hucheloup looked up. I grinned at him, and Enjolras came in, his chest to my back, his hand on my shoulder, and I felt his other hand go up and wave to Hucheloup. M. Hucheloup simply laughed and waved us in.
"It's actually my lunch break," Enjolras said, "Care to join me?"
Shrugging, I followed him to the lone empty table in the entire restaurant. Hucheloup came and took our orders, Beef with Espagnole sauce for both of us with a side of potatoes. I couldn't wait. We waited for our food in awkward silence, but when we were served it was awkward no longer; we both dug in to the delicious food.
"Mmmm," I moaned, "Madame Hucheloup is such a good cook."
"I agree," Enjolras said, an awkward minute later once he'd finished the food he had in his mouth.
Once we finished, Enjolras cleared his throat and leaned forward. I followed suit and he whispered to me, "I'll arrange for one of the boys to meet you under the suicide bridge in half an hour to teach you how to shoot a gun properly."
"Merci," I whispered back, kissing him gently.
When I pulled away, Enjolras stood up and I did too. We both tucked in our chairs and Enjolras reached out and took my hand. At the stairs, he led me up on one step, so I was a step higher than him and slightly taller than him and he kissed me again, his hands on my waist.
"I have to go lead a revolution now," he murmured softly, "But come by my flat tonight-"
"Are you proposing-" I asked incredulously, pulling away and looking at his face which turned bright red.
"Of course not," he blushed, "I only meant that I'd like to enjoy the night in your company in case if it is my-"
"Don't you dare say last, Enjolras," I glared, "Or else I won't come."
His eyes were dead serious, and slightly troubled, but his lips twitched up and forced on his face the grin that I found attractive.
"Then it won't be my last," he said.
With a final lasting kiss, he fled up the stairs, glancing back at me before he disappeared up completely. I turned away blissfully and wandered out of the café. I had half an hour to kill, but perhaps the boys would be here early.
When I got to the bridge, I flung myself over the edge gracefully and landed, partially rolling and partially tripping on my dress. I stood up, partially dizzy and realizing that that most likely wasn't the best option. Turning, I retreated below the bridge and sat in the shade beneath it.
I stared at the river wrapping my arms around myself. A smile spread across my face as I recalled our jump off the bridge to escape- There was a thud behind me, and I turned quickly. Whoever fell had his black haired head down so I couldn't see his face. But when he looked up, I froze. Montparnasse.
Screaming, I got up and tried to back away, but he was already on me, one hand grabbing my wrist and the other using my other hand to cover my mouth. Terrified, I looked in the chocolate brown eyes I was once in love with and tried to wrestle free, but he was stronger than me and I knew it was hopeless.
"You're fighting at the barricades tomorrow?" he demanded, his eyes searching mines.
Gulping, I nodded and prepared myself for a blow.
"You could die," He muttered angrily.
Yes I can, but it's better than being stuck with you! I thought while trying futilely to break free from his grasp.
"You'll fight anyways?" he growled, "Won't even stop to protect Gavroche and Azelma?"
With all the rebellion, power, and anger in me, I nodded furiously at him, this time holding his eye contact to show how serious I was about it. He could kill me if he wanted to, but I would not go down without proving where my true loyalties lay.
"Then I'll be there too," he laughed wickedly before releasing me and running off.
For a moment, I stood there flabbergasted. When I realized he was gone, for some stupid reason, I started screaming. Perhaps it was out of the shock I'd felt when he grabbed me, or perhaps it was out of the horror I felt that he'd be there. What would he do there? Who would he kill? Montparnasse being there would not be good at all.
After I'd done a good measure of yelling, I calmed myself down and sat down again, my arms wrapped around myself. I glowered at the river before me, contemplating the possible outcomes of tomorrow. Frankly, there were few that I could think of; Montparnasse would snoop around, tell the cognes and ruin the revolution before it began, or he'd show up and kill everyone before it began, or he'd kill us all when we need the most people… aside from the mischief Montparnasse could cause, I worried about what would happen if we lost.
I'd lose Enjolras and Grantaire and Joly and Courfeyrac and Combeferre and Jean and all the guys… would I lose Marius? Marius! His letter! Slowly, I reached in my pocket and found the disgusting letter. I jammed it in, cursing slightly.
"What are you cursing about?" Joly's voice called.
Quickly, I swiveled around and saw Joly ducking under the bridge, his hands deep in his pockets followed by Jean who carried two guns.
"Nothing," I said, pulling my hand out of my pocket.
"We thought we'd heard you scream earlier," Jean started.
"Well, it wasn't me," I shrugged
"Enjolras filled us in; did you learn how to load a gun over with the girls?" Jean asked.
"Unfortunately," I grumbled.
"No, not unfortunately. That's an incredibly useful task, 'Ponine because if we have to send those who know how to load guns away, you'll be able to load your own gun," Jean corrected, "Here"
He handed me a gun and handed the other to Joly.
"Who's the teacher?" I asked, confused.
"Jean," Joly blushed, "I've refused to learn seeing as how I'm going to be too busy doctoring, but-"
"They brought his wife into it and now he's in," Jean finished, stretching his arms.
"What do you mean?" I asked, glaring between both of them.
"Enjolras asked him how he'd protect 'Zelma if they infiltrated the hospital," Jean explained, bored by the conversation now.
Nodding along, I raised the gun and pretended to aim it across the bridge, "Is it loaded?" I asked.
"Of course not!" Jean scowled, "I have to show you without actually letting you shoot or else we'd have attracted attention by now. We've taught at least five hundred gents to shoot today alone, five hundred shots are bound to have attracted attention."
We were silent for a minute, before Jean thought of something, "The plan for tomorrow is to wait during the prosession of Lamarque, we will then lead them over the suicide bridge and- wait for it- BLOW IT UP! That'll take out several of their men. Because of our close proximity to the suicide bridge, we're the ones responsible for it's explosion, others will take the other bridges, but that's not our problem. From then on, it will be hand to hand combat, and we'll even get on the high roofs to defend our posts, blood will be shed, as will the tears, but in the end, we might succeed but that might is what keeps the flicker of hope in all our hearts alive."
I gaped at him, moved by his words and wondering why he wasn't as important as he could be.
"There's only need for one speaker, and they've already got Enjolras and Marius," Jean said, answering the question I didn't ask.
"Well then," Joly sighed, "Let's get started!"
-P-A-G-E-B-R-E-A-K-
The sun had set hours before Jean finally decided to let us go. And he only let us goes because Enjolras came for me. He said he wanted to walk me back to his flat, implying that he wouldn't be staying there, but I didn't bark at him right away. I got him on our way home. We were almost to his flat, we'd just passed the café.
"Are you going to stay with me?" I asked.
"I wish I could, but we have only One Day More," Enjolras said.
Pouting, I looked up at him. His eyes focused ahead, but I could tell he knew I was staring. We only had one day more, what if it meant we only had one day more together? Now that the day was tomorrow, I loathed myself for wasting so much time without him.
"Will you be there in the morning?" I asked in a shaky voice, tears threatening to appear.
"I will," he said gently.
We were in front of his flat, and I fell on the curb stifling sobs. His arms wrapped around me and kept me warm and feeling safe for now, but I knew that the safety was only temporary for tomorrow I'd be throwing myself in front of guns to protect those that I cared about and I'd do it without hesitation and without fear or regret.
If we only had one day more, I'd live tomorrow like a queen. I'd make sure that I'd be remembered. I wouldn't go down without a fight. Confidently, I pulled away and crushed my lips against Enjolras' harshly. Acting on impulse, I flung myself on him and wrapped my legs around his torso, pulling him as close to me as I could.
And the man of marble didn't pull away. If this was our last night together, he'd show me he loved me. He kissed me and his lips were gentle and sweet and I wanted to stay here forever. We grew closer and closer, but we were outside so nothing would happen. Finally, when I was sure that he'd take me to bed if given the opportunity, I pulled away and looked him in the eye.
"I won't do anything more until we're married and I won't be married until we've survived the barricades," I grinned.
He gave me a good mannered laugh in response before trying to kiss me again, but I put a finger on his lips and hugged him goodbye, climbing off of him.
"You'll see me again, and this won't be your last day," I whispered, my head on his shoulder.
"It won't be yours either," Enjolras said.
His words couldn't keep the pang of fear that I received when looking at the trees away. Without the twinkling of the stars, I felt afraid but accepted the bad omen, hoping that if I died tomorrow it would be in the place of another. Worried, I realized that instead of being full of starlight, tonight, the trees are bare.
A/N: If the scene at the end between Enjolras and Eponine seemed too... inappropriate for K+ rating, please let me know. I like keeping thinks K+, so sorry guys if you were looking for a bit more. I can allude to it, but I won't write about it. Happy New Years, Merry (late) Christmas, and enjoy 2014 fearless of the end; we've already survived countless apocolypses.
