AN:as always thanks for your continued support and your reviews really do keep me going anyway here's the next instalment enjoy!

Chapter 29: Ruined

Eponine sat at her desk fretting, Enjolras had basically ended his friendship with Cosette by declaring his love for her, how many years had he been in love with her, how many years of her being the most important person in his life and all it took was one sentence to end it all. Eponine felt guilty she had made him choose, for someone who'd spent most of his life on his own, she couldn't help thinking she'd made him a little lonelier, and the fear that he would resent her for it almost gave her a panic attack.

The next time she saw him was at the funeral which was taking place, in a small church on the edge of the city. The small space was filled up with board members, a few close friends even Mags had turned up, the front row consisted of everyone important with Cosette right in the centre. So as Enjolras stood and shuffled to the stand to give his eulogy there was only one face he was searching for, and he found it all the way at the back, he strained his eyes trying to meet those pretty brown eyes you're all the way back there because of me...I'm a real bastard, he thought as he cleared his throat.

"my granddad and I weren't close...truthfully our relationship was a little strained...but I loved him...I thought I hated him, but that wasn't the truth...I was angry because he wasn't there for me... because he didn't try to reach out to me...but I also never reached out to him...in my blind hatred I forgot all the time he was good to me, the times he cheered me up, the fact that I never once went hungry or cold...and when he died I realised he was just a sad old man, who had regrets but he wasn't a bad person...in his last moments I was there..I would've missed it...if he wasn't for someone close to me", Enjolras glanced to the back of the church, his tense blue eyes locking with Eponine's.

"that person stopped me from making a terrible mistake...that person taught me not to live with my eyes shut...that person saved me..without them a lost grandson wouldn't have had a chance to say good by to his stubborn granddad... I hope he rests in peace", with that Enjolras left the stand.

At the reception Eponine hovered in the corner twiddling her thumbs that person saved me those words going round and round in her head.

"Eponine..", she jumped at the sound of a familiar velvety voice, she looked up into worried, nervous blue eye, he gripped her hand and pulled her outside. Eponine patted his hand before she gazed up at him.

"are you okay", she asked her voice laced with worry, he reached out with his free hand and gently resting it against her cheek.

"why do you put up with me, when I'm such an inconsistent bastard", Eponine knew what he was talking about, his little disappearing act after confessing his love for her to Cosette, the fact that he hadn't called, the fact he didn't come to see her, but she understood even though it had hurt, she would always understand.

"because I love you a lot more than you could ever imagine", Eponine's voice trembled whilst she spoke and yet she was looking up at him with steady, certain eyes, Enjolras pressed his forehead to hers.

"I don't deserve you", he whispered his warm breath ghosting over her lips.

"I know", she said with a soft smile, Enjolras pulled away and stared at her, his expression darkened as he gazed over her shoulder Eponine turned following his line of sight, her breath caught as her gaze landed on steely grey eyes.

"I'm going to..", Enjolras began, Eponine stopped him by squeezing his hand.

"it's okay, I'll be inside", she gave him a small smile before retreating back inside, Enjolras took a deep breath before walking over to Cosette.

"you two are so cute, it's almost too much", Cosette said her monotonous voice dripping with sarcasm.

"thanks for coming, it means a lot", Enjolras said deciding to ignore her comment, Cosette scoffed.

"you don't look thankful, you look afraid", she said with a smirk, her piercing grey eyes casting a shadow over the nervous ocean that were his eyes.

"I'm not afraid", Enjolras replied tiredly.

"You should be afraid", Cosette replied simply.

"what?", he asked confused.

"you should be afraid, because you love that woman bad things will happen to her", Cosette said evenly, Enjolras tensed.

"are you threatening me", he asked.

"threatening?...no it's just a friendly warning, we're friends after all... right Enjolras" Cosette said with a smile as she walked past him, Enjolras grabbed her arm before she could get to too far.

"don't do it, whatever you're planning, don't do it...I might not be able to forgive you if you do", Enjolras said coolly, Cosette yanked her arm out of his.

"forgiveness? I'm way past that now, I don't need it", there was an uneasy edge to Cosette's voice, and an unnerving gaze in those grey eyes, as she walked away Enjolras felt a sense of impending dread.

Enjolras headed back to the reception area, finding Eponine waiting for him her worried brown eyes there to greet him as soon as he entered.

"are you okay, I saw Cosette driving away a moment ago" Enjolras sighed and placed his hand on her shoulders.

"don't get hurt", he said seriously Eponine's face scrunched up in confusion but seeing the desperate plea in his eyes she simply nodded.

"okay", he sighed momentarily relieved.

Two days after the funeral it was business as usual, Eponine sat at her desk staring blankly at the screen, no clue about the storm meandering it's way through the long corridors, intent on destroying her. The door to the front office suddenly swung open, Jenny and Eponine sat up startled as two very formally dressed men entered, one was holding a very large brown envelope, Jenny pushed out of her seat and walked up to them.

"can I help you?", Jenny asked steadily, the man holding the envelope, cleared his throat.

"Are you Eponine Thénardier", his cold gruff voice momentarily fazed Jenny who raised an eyebrow glancing over at Eponine who was slowly rising out of her chair.

"she's not..I am", Eponine's voice came out a little laboured, the man turned to face Eponine walking over he handed her the envelope.

"You've been served", he said coolly before turning and exiting the other man following closely behind, Eponine stared at the envelope blankly, slowly she tore it open pulling out a white sheet, her eyes flickered across the first few lines, and her heart stopped her hand falling down limply by her side, Jenny approached cautiously.

"Eponine what's going on", Eponine turned meeting Jenny's nervous gaze, fear shock and confusion etched across her pretty features.

"I'm being charged with embezzlement", Eponine uttered disbelievingly gripping the hem of her skirt, to stop her hand trembling

"what does that mean", Jenny's voice was very quite.

"it says..I..pocketed money from the café project.", Jenny grabbed the documents out of Eponine's and scanned them quickly before looking back up at Eponine.

"it's a mistake..you'll be fine..it's a misunderstanding..a misunderstanding", Jenny muttered more to herself than to Eponine.

"a misunderstanding you're probably right..it's a mistake definitely a mistake", Eponine's distraught voice echoed Jenny's, just then the door swung open and Enjolras walked in, he stared at Jenny and then finally at Eponine.

"Eponine what's going on", his voice snapped Eponine out of her trance she looked up at him with wide frightened eyes, Jenny walked up and silently handed him the documents, he glanced over them, his frown growing with each line. Placing the documents on the table he walked over to Eponine taking her hands, she gazed into his warm blue eyes.

"right now your mind's probably trying to drag you to a dark and hopeless place, don't go, I'm telling you not to go to that place Eponine... because everything's going to be okay, you're going to be okay " inhaling deeply Eponine felt a little bit of the dread weighing on her chest begin to ebb away as his words settled on her heart, unable to find the words Eponine settled for a slow nod never breaking the comfort she found in gazing into those eyes. As he stared back at those nervous earthy irises Cosette's words suddenly came to mind you should be afraid, because you love that woman bad things will happen to her and the dread settled on his chest.

With Trembling fingers Eponine closed the final buttons on her suit jacket, as she gently tied her hair into a tight ponytail, smoothing down her black skirt, she took a deep breath as she gazed at her pale complication in the mirror.

Her heart raced as she ascended the stairs to the prosecutors office, she was lead to a small interrogation room by a very stern looking middle aged woman. Eponine gulped kneading her fingers nervously as she waited, and wait she did for what seemed like hours in that cold small, dim room and then the door swung open. Followed by the entrance of a tall bulky middle aged man, his strong jaw jutted out, grey strands speckled across his brown hair, intimidating brown eyes looking but not seeing her, he slumped in the chair opposite her and began ruffling through files almost as if he couldn't see her. And then he did see her and Eponine's heart stopped beating from fear.

"lets begin shall we", his voice filled the cold room, hoarse and void of emotion.

The sky was dark, when she finally emerged from the prosecutors office, they were letting her go for now. In that cold room, they wouldn't stop you're a liar...we have evidence...the money's in your account...if you confess you don't have to go to trial...a lawyer won't be much help with all this evidence...like father like daughter...a thief just like your dad..just like your dad.

Eponine's balance faltered as her knees trembled, carefully she propped herself up against the wall, it didn't help her body almost immediately began slipping till she was on the ground. She couldn't move, every breath came out ragged and breathless, her hands quivered her pale lips a tight line, and she remained there sitting alone trembling, only the cold breeze for company.

"Eponine..", a warm voice called out in the darkness, she was too far gone to respond, silently shaking, a shadow cast over her as the figure knelt down grabbing her shaky hands "Eponine", the voice was sterner this time, as her sight focused Eponine gazed into a pair of concerned blue eyes, she opened her mouth but no words came out. The grip on her hands tightened as she gazed back with her fear tinged brown Bambi eyes. Suddenly she was yanked up as the figure stood and she was engulfed in a warm embrace, her body trembling against the solid warmth.

"I'm... really tired...I don't think I have the strength to fight...anymore", as her weak shaky voice reached his ears, Enjolras' grip tightened.

"then don't fight, how about I do all the fighting from now on", there was such certainty in his voice, that Eponine was momentarily comforted.

"I want believe...I want to believe you", Eponine murmured against his chest, her limp arms hanging by her sides.

"then believe me", Enjolras replied just as confidently. Eponine raised her trembling arms and wrapped them around his neck.

"can I really believe you...really", he felt her warm tears as her lips trembled against the nape of his neck.

"Yes... you can believe in me, please believe in me", he said calmly, wishing she'd stop trembling.

The staring no longer fazed Eponine as she traversed the long corridors of La Monta, she'd been labelled so many things since she'd arrived there, homewrecker, gold-digger, seductress, and now criminal. Although her heart felt heavy, she tried to keep her head clear she wasn't alone in this fight, she had Enjolras and for now that was more than enough.

Enjolras hired a private detective the best money could buy, he was a jittery mess as he waited for the detective to conduct his investigation, he hated seeing that hopeless expression in Eponine's eyes. It only took a week for the detective to get to the bottom of the situation, the culprit hadn't bothered to cover their tracks, as Enjolras sat and listened to the report, rifling through all the documents his hands began to tremble his heart constricted painfully as the magnitude of his dilemma dawned on him.

That day Enjolras headed to his favourite bar and drowned himself in alcohol wanting so badly to forget about the ensuing storm that was most likely going to destroy everything, leaving him battered and completely broken. It was around one in the morning when he stumbled into his house, he dragged himself up the stairs and began banging against Cosette's door the hard wood echoing around the mansion, he heard shuffling as the door was unlocked and sleepy grey eyes glared back at him.

"what the hell Enjolras, do you know what time it is", came a very clipped but irritated voice, the sound of a grim, disbelieving chuckle accompanied by cold blue eyes was the reply Cosette received.

"you're still able to sleep...after what you've done, you can still sleep", Enjolras spluttered pushing past her, stumbling into the room, Cosette gazed at his back and sighed.

"what are you talking about" turning around his gaze fell on her arms folded protectively in front of her. Slowly he pulled out a file from the inside of his jacket throwing it at her feet, gazing down curiously Cosette bent down and picked it up.

"is that what you meant by bad things will happen to Eponine", he asked, Cosette opened the file her eyes skimmed across some of the documents, she closed the file her unaffected grey eyes looked up to meet Enjolras pained expression.

"you found everything out pretty quickly" she said evenly, Enjolras mouth opened and closed as he stumbled forward.

"have you lost the plot...this isn't a game she could go to prison..and if they do their job properly you'll be the one going to prison for blackmail, and fabricating evidence and god knows how many things...how could you be such an idiot..I really..." the words were falling erratically from between Enjolras chapped lips.

"I needed you to make a choice, this way you have to, either you choose Eponine and turn me in, or you choose me and say nothing, either way it's all on you" Cosette shrugged casually, when her eyes fixed onto Enjolras again, her heart momentarily stopped as tears began falling from his hopeless blue eyes. Enjolras grabbed her shoulders gently pulling her close, so close she could see every crease in his face, feel every twitch, feel his trembling body, his trembling she thought. He searches her eyes but says nothing for awhile.

"do you remember what I was like when my mother passed away, I used to sit in my room not eating, not drinking, not sleeping, and you would visit everyday and try and get me to eat, even though you were just a child you'd go into the kitchen and try and cook porridge for me, your hands became littered with cuts and burns, and then one evening as you were trying to feed me, I gazed into your teary grey eyes, my eyes glancing over your injured hands and I..was so grateful for you Cosette, in that moment I realised there was someone in this world who cared whether I lived or died, so for many years I let you do what you want and tried to be there for you, no matter what you did I could forgive you, but not this time...you were the first woman I ever loved and I've spent so many beautiful days and wonderful nights with you, I remember them all...but now our memories are nothing, it's all ruined,...you're too cruel because now I have no choice but cut you out of my life... you're nothing to me now", Enjolras breathed unevenly tears clinging to the tips of his fair lashes as he sighed deeply and let his hand slip from her shoulders. Wordlessly he pushed past her staggering out of room into the cold dark corridor, he stumbled towards his room in a haze, his vision blurry, his hands shaking, his soul shattered and broken he collapsed onto the bed, hoping that day would never come again.

As she heard the click of Enjolras door, Cosette let out a breath she didn't realise she was holding. She clutched her chest as she let out chocked breaths, and then she felt them warm tears rolling down her cheeks and she gasped, reaching out she held on to a chair to steady herself only to find herself slipping to the ground. Still clutching her chest she let out chocked cries "oh...ruined...it's ruined..ruined..." Cosette rocked back and forth muttering to herself as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Enjolras woke up to an empty house, the door to Cosette's room open, her room empty he searched for a note but there was nothing of her left in his house. As he walked into the office Enjolras glanced at Eponine standing by her desk rifling through files, he gently reached for a hand, Eponine turned and smiled up at him with trusting eyes, he pulled her into a hug Eponine frowned as she tentatively wrapped her arms around him, there was a sad painful air surrounding his embrace and it made her nervous.

"are you okay, you're acting strange even for you", Eponine said quietly Enjolras pulled away and gazed at her a far off look in his eyes.

"I'm fine, just fine", he lied with a smile that wasn't quite all there, Eponine's frown deepened, before she could open her mouth and ask any more he grabbed her hand and began dragging her out of the office.

"there's a nice café, lets go have breakfast there", he said as he continued to drag her, Eponine sat down slowly looking around the small café before her gaze fell back on Enjolras.

"did something happen", Enjolras was gazing out of the window, turning slowly he offered her a small sad smile.

"I have something to ask you,", Enjolras leaned in taking a sip from his coffee.

"what is it", Eponine asked worriedly.

"if someone you trusted, knowingly betrayed you, knowingly hurt you, knowingly became the villain in your life, what would you do", Eponine's face contorted in confusion.

"why are you asking", Eponine asked.

"I'm just curious, hypothetically speaking what would you do", Eponine leaned back, pondering after a short pause she looked at him.

"when I was young I watched A streetcar named Desire, it was a really depressing film, but there was one line that stuck with me...'Deliberate cruelty is not forgiveable. It is the one unforgivable thing in my opinion and it is the one thing of which I have never, never been guilty'...hypothetically speaking I don't think I could forgive that person, I'm all out of forgiveness", Eponine spoke softly but seriously, her voice a little wistful, a little sad, Enjolras' smile remained on his face.

"that's the right response, you definitely shouldn't forgive that person, don't have a weak mind and never let him off, you must do it like that Eponine" his intense blue eyes bore into Eponine as he spoke, and then he leaned back and resumed gazing out of the window.