Chapter 9

Its been 4 days since Eponine was attacked. Enjolras's mother decided, once she found out that Eponine would be staying in the same house as her, that she would be staying with her sister Madeline instead. Since the attack Enjolras and Gavroche have not left Eponine's side. Although Joly says that she is improving and should awaken at any moment, both Enjolras and Gavroche have their doubts.

"How is she?" Marius asked as both he and Cossette entered the room.

"Still no change." Enjolras said with sadness.

"She looks familiar." Cossette said before she covered her mouth. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to say that aloud."

"What do you mean she looks familiar?" Enjolras asked his curiosity getting the better of him.

"She reminds me of this little girl I once knew. Um her last name was Thenardier I think."

"How do you know mine and my sister's last name?" Gavroche asked as he woke up and looked at Cossette.

"I stayed with you all for a while when I was young. It was Hell. I was beaten and force to slave around and I never had any warm clothing. But what I remember most was that there was a little girl who at first would stand up for me… but then she got a beating herself and then just stood there and let it happen. I felt sorry for her when my father came and got me. But since she was their real daughter I thought that she would be ok." Cossette explained as she looked upon Eponine.

"You really think that Eponine was that little girl?" Marius asked not sure he believed what he had just heard.

"Well, when can be sure when she awakens. She can let us know herself." Cossette said trying to force the memories that she remembered away.

"Mmmmm." Eponine moaned as she began to stir and awaken.

"Eponine." Enjolras, Gavroche, and Marius said in unison.

"Joly she's awake." Marius called out the door.

Right away Joly along with Arthur, Grantaire, Combeferre, and Courfeyrac came running into the room.

"What's going on?" Eponine asked in a weak voice, as she looked around the room.

"Do you remember what happened?" Joly asked as he made his way to the bed and started taking Eponine's vitals.

"I remember Thénardier and his gang ambushing me. I remember Babet and Montparnasse holding me down while Thenardier got his knife and carved something on my stomach and then they left me for dead. And now I wake up and… and where are we?" Eponine asked as she took in her surroundings.

"Your at my parents house. It was the only place I could think of to keep you safe." Enjolras said as he gently lifted Eponine's hand into his own and kissed in gently. As Eponine looked in her eyes she saw nothing but love in them.

"But your mother hates me. Why…"

"Don't you worry about her. My wife is at her sister's house for the time being and I don't want you to worry about anything apart from you getting well." Arthur said with a fatherly smile on his face.

"You need to stop doing this Eponine. I may be tough but you need to stop making me worry. I'm only 8 you know." Gavroche said as he gently laid his head on Eponine's shoulder.

"Eponine Gavroche is right. This almost dying thing is getting old." Marius said in a joking manner.

"Well sorry to both of you. It's not like I wanted this to happen."

"They know Eponine they're just trying to poke fun at you." Grantaire said as he took a swig of his bottled wine.

"And what of you Enjolras? You have barely spoken since I woke up. Can't you speak?" Eponine said as she looked into Enjolras's blue eyes.

"I'm just glad that your well and awake. That's all I care about." Enjolras said as he kissed Eponine on the forehead.

As Eponine looked around the room she laid eyes on Cossette. "Cossette? Now I remember. Cossette how can this be?"

"We were children together, Eponine?"

"Yeah. Look what's become of me." Eponine said as tears started to form in her eyes.

"Um could you fellas leave us alone for a little bit?" Cossette asked in a worried yet calm voice.

"Of course." Marius said as he urged everyone out including a reluctant Enjolras.

Once everyone was out Eponine looked at Cossette and asked, "What is it that you wish of me?"

"Well I… to be honest I don't rightfully know. I would love for us to be friends. I mean Marius told me that it was you who showed him the way to my house. And I just want to know why you would go out of your way to help me? Or rather to help Marius to find me?" Cossette asked her curiosity growing.

"Well you could say that I knew who you were when I saw you on the streets. But when Marius asked for me to find you I… well I saw this look in his eyes… well I had never seen a look like that in all the years that I knew him. So I did as he asked. Its no big deal really." Eponine explained leaving out the fact that she was originally in love with Marius before she realized that she was meant to be with Enjolras.

"Well I thank you for that. And I hear that you are engaged to Enjolras."

"Yeah so?" Eponine asked wondering where Cossette was going with this.

"Well I just wanted to say congratulations to you and I that I hope that we can become friends."

"You want to be my friend? I mean after all that we have been through?" Eponine asked not believing what she was hearing.

"Yes I do. I don't know many people here and I thought that well we did in a way grow up together." Cossette said with hopefulness in her eyes and voice.

"Oh alright just stop giving me those puppy dog eyes." Eponine giving in to Cossette's pleading eyes.

"Well that's good I go get everyone in here. I have a feeling that Enjolras is eager to get in here."

"I have a feeling that your right."