A/N: Hey everyone, I'm back! This chapter is for ErikandChristine, because she is such a wonderful reviewer and she gave me pretty much the basis for this chapter. Thanks much! R&R!
Chapter 5
When Eponine opened her eyes, she found herself once more in the large swan-shaped bed.
"Marius?" she whispered groggily. "Marius?"
"Shhh bébé, non. C'est Erik. I brought you back from the barricades."
He pressed something cold to her head, but she jerked away and sat up.
"What? Why? I was helping them! They need more people to fight, they are so outnumbered!" she turned on him angrily. "Why did you take me away?"
Erik's eyes narrowed coldly. "Mademoiselle, I did not 'take you away'. A young man was running through the streets calling for a doctor—"
"So you lied to him?"
"I happen to be multitalented," he replied coolly. "The boy claimed you were his best friend."
"Marius!" her face hardened. "Thanks to you, I don't even know if he's safe! He could have died and I wasn't there with him! How inconsiderate can you—"
"I assure you, he is fine," Erik cut in smoothly.
"How
do you know that?"
"I caught a glimpse of him earlier this
morning."
He glowered at her.
"Why did you even leave in the first place? Did you not see how dangerous it was out there?"
"I've been in more danger than that before," she muttered, close to tears, but he continued.
"I brought you here to keep you safe, Eponine. Why the hell would you run away?"
"You're not my father," she countered. "And what's it to you anyway? it's not like you care about my safety, no one's ever cared. Not even my parents."
Erik suddenly saw the hell she had been living in. Abused, neglected, and degraded, Eponine got by on her own strength and beliefs… But she had been ripped apart when Marius proclaimed his love for another girl.
"I care."
She looked up at him. "What?"
"You heard me," he said, not returning her gaze.
"Then you're a liar as well as a thief."
Erik forced himself to look at her.
"A thief I may be, but I would never lie to you," he replied.
Eponine was overwhelmed. She had never met anyone she could really count on (except Gavroche), and here was a man she'd only known for a few hours, and he actually cared for her.
A flood of emotion overpowered her and she began to sob violently, her body convulsing and buckling against Erik's strong arms as he held her to his chest.
It felt like she wept for hours, pouring out everything in her soul. And still Erik held her. When she finally drew breath against his shoulder, he whispered in her ear, "Shall I sing for you?"
Eponine nodded, falling back against the pillows. Erik wet a new rag for her head, then went to his organ.
INSERT MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
All Eponine could think as she fell asleep was that Erik had the most powerful and beautiful voice she had ever heard.
Erik sat watching her sleep for hours afterward, grateful that she couldn't see him weeping.
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A/N: awww, tenderness once again. Lol, tell me your thoughts so I can post more! I have more! I need reviews!
Phantomfreak07
