A/N: I loved your comparisons, AmZ, but I pointed out in the first chapter that this fic is based on the MUSICAL and that Marius and Eponine do have a friendship. I am quite aware of the REAL Eponine though, I have read the novel too. I actually dislike her, but this was not how she was portrayed in our RP (and since I'm writing the story of our RP, that is reasonably logical).

Sweet755, don't judge too soon. A story doesn't consist solemnly of one chapter, you know.

Their meeting had been a swift one, but somehow Cosette knew it wouldn't rest at that. Ever since the moment she had turned around to see what impudent had bumped into her, she felt this amazing feeling growing deep within her. It was an unknown feeling, but instinctively she knew that she had to follow it. Would she dare it to look over her shoulder to see if he was still standing there? Would she allow herself such undignified manners? The feeling soon became too much. She looked over her shoulder to catch a last sight of him. The minutes that she had spent talking with him had been the most extraordinary of her life. Those three sentences she had exchanged with him had shared much more than any word she had ever let across her lips in seventeen years. The sight of him standing in the distance filled her with immense joy. She kept watching him until he was out of sight. Oh how she would have liked to run beyond the trees to see him once more!

"Cosette, hurry up. The sun will set soon."

"Yes papa," she answered gently whilst her heart wished otherwise.

As they walked towards the exit of the Park, she tried to restore peace in her mind. It was racing too fast to her liking, one thought after the other. She tried to remember carefully what he looked like. Every inch of his face, every little freckle, every sparkle in his eyes. She tried to remember precisely what he had felt like when he bumped into her. Although it had been a rather rough collision, it had been most gentle to her.

Her father called a carriage. It was a small one, only suited for two persons, pulled by one splendid white horse. Her father helped her get in the cabin.

"Merci."

She thought about him again as she tried to remember his name. Then it suddenly occurred to her that they hadn't even introduced one another. Ashamed she placed her gloved hand against her mouth.

"Is something wrong?"

She quickly put her hand down.

"No, no it's nothing." She giggled nervously. He eyed her suspiciously. She decided to look out the window and watch the Parisians walking down the pavement. She felt once more at ease as she noticed how he too began to relax. She watched the streets as they went by, without really noticing what was going on. Her mind was focused on one thing alone: the gentleman that she had known for twenty-four minutes and forty-five seconds now. It already seemed like a decade to her. She could only hope he felt the same.

Suddenly, Cosette felt the great urge to be at home. She was relieved when she noticed that they had reached the Rue Plumet. As her father stepped out of the carriage and helped her to do the same, she felt a mixture of excitement and fear. Exited because she had just met a person of whom she already had come to know that he was something special to her, fear, as she was afraid to loose him before knowing his name.

"Cosette, will you come inside?"

She smiled. Her father was so good to her. She had never seen him angry, not once.

"Thank you papa, but I think I will walk around in the garden for a little while."

She could see the worries etched in his face.

"Do not worry, I am well dressed."

Finally he gave his approval and opened the gate for her.

"Thank you," she said cheerfully and she kissed his cheek. She loved how his beard tickled her cheeks and lips. She waited patiently for him to close the gate behind her.

"I will open the backdoors for you."

Cosette smiled at him and he remained there to watch her for a few seconds.

"Dearest Cosette, you grow more beautiful with each passing day."

She blushed and giggled shyly. She let out a deep sigh as soon as he had gone inside the warm house. It was quite chilly outside, so she wrapped her stole around her more firmly. Lost in thought, she carefully touched a red rose. Cosette was certain that she had never felt this way before. Was this it? Was this the emotion that she had read about in novels? She picked the rose and sat down on the bench. She felt her heart racing. She relived their rendezvous over and over again. She inhaled the scent of the rose and thought of him. She breathed out and she thought of him. She blinked and she thought of him…

As the minutes went by a fright surrounded her heart. What if she would never see him again? What if their first meeting had also been their last?

She frowned and the rose that she held in her right hand began to shake. She looked up at the sky, which was already turning black. Day had become night. She closed her eyes and said a prayer. Surely God would help her. She had been living in the convent for a great deal of her life, she was positive that He would not abandon her now. Not when she needed Him.

She remained in the garden for half an hour, then an hour, then two hours… Even though she realised that her father could come outside any minute to call her inside she wanted to stay. She felt that if she would prefer the warm house above the cool garden, that she would miss something important. Women do have the abilities to sense bad weather. This is what makes them special. They have something men don't: a woman's intuition.

And as if she had known it all along, she got startled by someone who suddenly climbed over the fence. She just managed not to scream and jumped back several feet. It was amazing how she didn't really feel any fear, apart from the scare the other had given her. She looked how he steadied himself and stepped into the light. Her heart skipped a beat. It was the boy! She hastily looked over her shoulder to the house, but they were relatively hidden behind the bushes and the roses. She still felt a little unsure and she looked at him with big eyes filled with surprise. Apparently he noticed it for he stepped forward slowly, one hand stretched out towards her. She could do nothing but stare at his hand. He held still and she looked in his eyes. Those brown eyes she had seen that same afternoon of the same day. They looked just as pretty in the moonlight, or maybe even prettier.

"I apologise," he said, taking a quick polite bow and withdrawing his hand. He felt silly for bursting into her home like this. Cosette moved slightly forward as she wanted to say something, but the words slipped her mind.

"I just needed to see you again."

He looked down shamefully. Cosette remained where she was to let his words form a sentence in her mind. Then she smiled and carefully walked to where he was. She reached out and gently placed her gloved hand against his left cheek. He looked up at her. He could have sworn that he saw the stars reflected in her eyes. He reached out his left hand with such care that even the wind could have blown it away. Cosette let her left hand touch his and their fingers curled around each other. Cosette smiled and revealed her nice white teeth. She looked at Marius and he looked at her. All was strange and yet it made perfect sense. For when two lovers find each other, everything finds their way.

"I never knew your name," Cosette whispered and she let her eyes trail off shamefully.

Marius lifted her chin.

"Then learn it now."

She smiled and nodded.

"My name is Marius Pontmercy."

"I'm Cosette. Cosette Fauchelevent."

The lovers glanced at each other and they knew it was alright. Outside of the garden though, was a creature left alone and far from happy.

Eponine had watched them in disgust. How stupid of her to bring him here. What was she thinking? She felt like she couldn't take any more and she walked away. She made a stroll towards the river. She felt numb as she walked the familiar path along the riverside. She looked into the dull, dark water. The sparkle she had once seen in it was fading. Marius was in love and that Cosette loved him back and all because she took him to her. But if she hadn't done that… He would have been unhappy and disappointed in her. Better to have him close but distant than not at all. At least she had managed to make him happy.

Eponine had only just gone when Monsieur Fauchelevent's voice could be heard.

"Cosette!"

The fresh couple was roughly awoken from their caresses and Cosette answered him hastily. She knew that they weren't visible and they both rose from the bench.

"I'm coming papa!"

Marius had already started to climb the fence. Cosette ran towards him in a slight panic.

"When will I see you again?"

He looked down at her and couldn't help himself; he just had to get back down again to say goodbye to her. He would dream about her curly hair and her beautiful face that night.

"Tomorrow. Jardin du Luxembourg."

Cosette was already anticipating. Suddenly, without actually being prepared for it, Marius came very close to her face. As if she had done it a hundred times, she kissed him. Marius too, was surprised by their sudden act. Yet soon the surprise made place for sheer love. Love, and nothing more. Their kiss ended sweetly, and Marius quickly climbed over the fence and went on his way. It had been Cosette's first kiss, and she was fairly certain that it had been his first as well. She hadn't noticed the cold as long as he had been by her side, but now that he was gone, the cold wind blew through her hair and it made her shiver.

"Cosette!"

"Yes papa! I'm coming!"

She stared in the distance, hoping to somehow see him one last time before she would meet him tomorrow. Little did she know that Marius was doing the same on the other side of the street.