Chapter 4

Once awake Enjolras was hit by a sense of worry, for Eponine was no where to be found. "Eponine?" HE called out but no one responded. He got up out of bed and went out of the bedroom only to find asleep Joly, Combeferre, Courfeyrac, and Marius. Gavroche was up eating some bread. So not to disturb his friends he walked over to the young boy. "Gavroche have you seen you sister?"

"Yep she just left. Said she had an important errand in the market that she had to take care of and will be back soon." Seeing the worry on Enjolras's fac Gavroche knew that he was worried. "You ok Enjolras?"

"I don't know Gav; I mean what if your father and his gang weren't captured by Javert. Your sister could be in great danger with no protection or back up. She could get hurt and…"

"Eponine…" Now Gavroche was getting worried. "What are we going to do?"

"Gather all the revolutionaries up and send out a search party for her. You wake the others I'll go search for her. Tell them what has happened and to gather the men. Don't you worry young Gavroche we'll find her." And with that Enjolras left leaving Gavroche to his task.

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It has been over 12 hours and the revolutionaries have been searching all day and into the night for Eponine but with no luck. They were all back at the café where both Enjolras and Marius, as well as Gaveroche were all going out of their minds with worry.

"We need to keep looking." Gavroche said with great concern for his sister.

"We've looked everywhere Gavroche with no luck. We need to refuel and recharge." Joly said from a doctor's point of view not a friends.

"But we have to find her." Gavroche said not taking no for an answer.

"Find who?" Eponine said from the door to the café.

"Eponine are you alright?" Marius asked for he was the first one to her.

"I'm fine. Sorry I'm late getting back. Madame Lamare had given birth to a baby girl and I was mostly with her for the entire day. That's where all the blood came from. But I did come with some news about the revolution."

"Really?" Enjolras asked, pleased that Eponine was safe and in one piece.

"Yes I talked to everyone on the street before the birth and all the men are with you."

"Yes." All the men said with joy.

"Um but there is a down side." Eponine said with uncertainty.

"What do you mean 'Ponine?" Marius asked.

"Yeah you just said that the men are with us. How can there be a down side?" Feuilly asked not sure how there could be a down side.

"Well yes the men are with you. But the women pretty much told the men that they can't fight."

"Why?" Combeferre asked trying to figure it out.

"Don't you guys get it? If you all go into battle, which you will. There will be a lot of you who will die. Maybe even all of you. The women and children will be even more worse off then they are now for there will be no men to bring home the money and food. Who will protect them? You all will most likely be dead and for what? No good will come of it. Your revolution will come and go and be only a memory. Nothing will be gain but there will be a lot lost." Eponine said with sadness. She then went over to Enjolras and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm going to go get changed. Sorry to bring you all this bad news. I did try but the women won over the men and should you all fight… you will fight and die alone." And with that Eponine left leaving all the men to their own thoughts.

After she was changed she was greeted by Marius. "Marius are you ok?" She asked not sure why he was there.

"I'm fine. You know for the past 4 days you've have me worried and concerned for you."

"Concern for me? Why when you have your Cosette?" Eponine snapped covering her mouth once the words came out of her mouth. "I'm sorry Marius. I… I don't know what came over me."

"So it is true?"

"What?"

"That you were in love with me?"

"I thought I was but I miss took love for just liking you as a friend."

"Oh. But you love Enjolras?" Marius asked being blunt.

"I…I don't know. I know that I like being around him. And that he makes me feel safe and secure. And I know that no harm will come to me when I'm around him. And… and… that well with him I feel like I would just want to live to see him happy and smile. But I guess that doesn't matter now anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"You saw his face. It was heartbroken and I was the cause. Why would he want anything to do with me now?" Eponine all but cried out.

"Eponine you were just confirming what we all were thinking. I don't think that Enjolras would hold that against you. He's not that type of person. And by the look that he had on his face last night, well I think that he's quite fond with you."

"Y…you saw us sleeping?" Eponine asked with horror in her eyes.

"I came by ready to ask Enjolras for his help to find you low and behold you were here safe and sound. You both looked so peaceful and content." Marius explained.

"Well I do have a plan about the so called revolution."

"You do? Will you tell me about it?"

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Back down stairs all the men and Gavroche were drinking their wine and thinking about all that Eponine had said.

"I can't believe that we are on our own. That the people will not come to our aid." Enjolras said with defeat in his voice.

"Enjolras, Eponine made some valid points. And you heard her. The men were willing to fight with us. However, I agree with the women." Courfeyrac said with understanding in his voice.

"Y…you do?" Enjolras asked with confusion.

"Well think about it Enjolras. Lets say that you had a wife and she was with child. Would you leave her to fight a battle that will cause your death and her to live a life without you or would you stay and provide for her and your family." Courfeyrac asked knowing that Enjolras was now thinking over what he had just said.

"I see your point." Enjolras said in defeat.

"Listen up everyone." Marius said, Eponine by his side. "Eponine just told me a great idea about what we can do to help the people of the streets without fighting." He then turned to Eponine and said, "Tell them 'Ponine what you told me."

"Ok. Um Enjolras, Courfeyrac, Combeferre, Grantaire, and Joly. You remember yesterday when we were on the streets I said, 'you all talk the talk but when your on the streets you need to walk the walk.'"

"Yes." They all said in unison, thinking back as to what happened yesterday.

"Well my idea is the same thing as I did yesterday. For example, um… Jehan when you first met me what did you think?"

"That you needed food and something to drink." Jehan said honestly.

"Good, good. Now Jean Prouvaire when you first met my brother Gavroche, what did you think?"

"I thought the same as when Jehan first met you. That he needed food and something to drink."

"And that we were poor, right?"

"Y…yes." Jean Prouvaire said not knowing where Eponine was going with this.

"Well that's my point."

"What is?" Combeferre asked with confusion.

"Don't you get it? You all need to do what you all talk about in your meetings. If you all really want to help the poor then give them fresh food. Give them some money. Do something other than just talking about it." Eponine then turned to Enjolras. "Enjolras I know you had your heart set on fighting a revolution, but don't you see you can still fight the good fight with actions not bloody war. You saw how happy Madame Pruvier was when I gave her the money that you gave me yesterday, didn't you?"

"Yeah she looked relieved and happy."

"Yes because someone cared enough about her to do something to help. That is what you boys can do to fight the revolution. Show the people of the streets that you care enough about them, not by dying. But by your kindness." Eponine said with a smile on her face, for there on Enjolras's face was a look of proudness. No longer was there a look of heartbreak. "So what do you think Enjolras?" By now everyone knew that all that Eponine had said was true.

With a great smile on his face he pulled Eponine into his embrace and said out loud for all to hear, "I think that you are beautiful as you are wise. And I think that I have just fallin' in love with you my dear Eponine." After that was said he gave her a sweet tender kiss.