The next week passed by in a blur. Éponine, on Combeferre's strict instructions, was on bed rest and despised every minute of it. Still, she couldn't bring herself to speak to Marius and every time he visited, she pretended to be asleep. After the first few days, Marius took the hint and while he would still visit the apartment to ask Combeferre how she was doing, he stopped going into the room. He didn't understand why she was suddenly pushing him away and he was hurt by it. He didn't know what exactly he had done wrong. He would have liked to ask Éponine this so that he could begin to atone, but there was nothing for it; she wouldn't talk to him just now and he wasn't going to force her. So everyday he would drop by the apartment, looking much like a lost puppy, and ask Combeferre for an update, and everyday Éponine would listen from the spare room and fight back the incessant urge to cry.

On the eighth day of her recovery, Courfeyrac stopped by the apartment and asked to see her. This took Éponine by surprise, but she sat up as Courfeyrac entered the room. He fixed her with an uncharacteristically stern look and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Éponine shifted somewhat awkwardly under his gaze.

"Éponine," he said in way of greeting.

"Courfeyrac."

"How are you feeling?"

"Just peachy," she said sarcastically.

"Why are you avoiding Marius?"

"Wow. Right to the point. Okay. I'm not avoiding him," she said, determined that this was technically the truth. "I'm not really in a condition to avoid anyone, seeing as I can't leave the bed."

"Yet you've found a way all the same. Éponine, c'mon. He's miserable, you know. He thinks he's done something wrong, that you hate him now."

"Look, I don't really know you all that well. I don't want to talk about this with you," Éponine said pointedly. Sure, Courfeyrac was a nice enough person, but she felt no closeness with him. She wasn't about to confide in him what had happened that night, after the Musain. Besides, he was sure to tell Marius and Éponine had already decided that he should never know.

"So there is something. Well, whatever it is, Marius is very sorry and he really wants to make things right."

"There's nothing he can do," Éponine said flatly. "Look, some shit went down with my bastard father and I really don't want to talk about it." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

"Is that all?"

"Yeah. That's all. My ego was wounded and... and I'm really embarrassed. I don't want to be pressed for details and I don't want Marius to know what happened. It's got nothing to do with him," she lied.

"I'll tell him that," said Courfeyrac. "But would you at least talk to him? I really think he might start crying soon. It's very sad."

Éponine bit her lip. "I don't know..."

"C'mon, Éponine. He's your friend. Don't push him away."

"I... Fine," she said finally. "But not today. Tomorrow."

"I'll let him know. By the way, he told your sister that you're here. She's going to try to visit, but Marius thinks your dad is being harsh with her, so it might be hard for her to leave."

"Harsh? Is she okay? Was she—?"

"I don't know. You'd have to ask Marius; I'm just the messenger."

"Right... I... I should go to her." She tried to get up, but Courfeyrac jumped to his feet to stop her.

"No, you really shouldn't. Have you seen yourself? You shouldn't be going anywhere just now."

"But..."

"Relax. If it wasn't safe for her there, surely Marius would have noticed. He would have said something."

But Éponine wasn't so sure. Marius wasn't known for his astute observations. Seeing the doubt evident in her face, Courfeyrac continued:

"Marius is going to keep an eye on her, check in every so often. Don't worry. Your sister will be all right."

"Right..."

"Look, you should get some rest now. Take it easy. You fell down a flight of stairs; that takes some recovering."

Éponine merely nodded in response to this. Courfeyrac gave her a reassuring smile before leaving the room. She closed her eyes and tried not to worry about Azelma, but it couldn't be done and she fell asleep imagining the terrible things her father might be doing to her little sister.

...

Éponine woke up to the sound of the window opening. She sat up quickly, wincing as she did so. It was dark now, clearly nighttime. Her eyes moved to the window, where she could see someone rather small climbing in.

"Who's there?" She called out in a loud whisper. The figure hit its head off the window frame and swore under its breath. Now fully in the room, the figure straightened and Éponine nearly let out a laugh of relief. "Gavroche?"

The small boy looked up. "'Ponine? What the 'ell are you doin' 'ere?"

"Me? I could ask you the same question."

"Eh, I crash 'ere sometimes. Since Courfeyrac left, no one comes in 'ere. S'cold outside tonight, so 'ere I am." He approached the bed. "Wow. You look like shit."

"Thanks," Éponine said dryly. "Do Enjolras and Combeferre know you sleep in here?"

"Nah. There'd be no fun in that. I 'spect Combeferre might 'ave some idea, but Enjolras ain't got a clue. What the 'ell 'appened to you?" He moved to sit next to her on the bed. "Was it that asshole?"

"No," Éponine lied. "I fell down the stairs."

"Jeez. You gotta be more careful. Look at 'ow big an' puffy your nose is. An' your cheek is all black an' blue. You sure 'e didn' 'ave nothin' to do with it?"

"It was just the stairs, 'Roche."

Gavroche gave her a scrutinizing look. "Ya know you don' 'ave to lie to me. It looks like 'e backhanded you. I know what fightin' bruises look like."

"Okay, fine. He struck me, so I left and got a bit dizzy going down the stairs, and I fell."

Gavroche was nodding understandingly. "Well, coulda been worse, I s'ppose. An' now you're out, so that's a bonus. You're not goin' back, right?" When she shook her head, he smiled and nodded again. "Yeah, that's the ticket. Gotta stay away from them assholes. 'Zel's okay, but our parents are real pieces of shit. S'why I left when I did. At least the bitch treated you an' 'Zel all right, but she never cared for me. S'all right though. Most nights I live in my elephant, 'cept for when it's cold like tonight. Did ya see the snow las' week?"

"Yeah, I saw the snow."

"That was a nasty shock. Doesn't usually snow that early. Spent the night 'ere that night and left out the window first thing in the mornin', an' then came knocking at the door. They 'ad no idea I'd spent the night o'course, but they gave me summat to eat."

"You know, they'd probably let you stay here if you just asked."

"I know they would, but as I said: where's the fun in that? Nah, it's nice to break in when there's no actual threat o' being caught. Anyway, I'll get goin' then an' leave you to rest."

"No, stay," said Éponine. "The bed's big enough for both of us."

"Yeah, but if they come in to check on ya, the jig is up an' I won't be able to break in no more. They'll invite me in, god forbid. Nah, I'll go."

"But won't you be cold? 'Roche, stay. Combeferre isn't coming in every few hours anymore. He did for the first few days. I guess to make sure I was just asleep and not unconscious. Now he doesn't come in until well after sunrise. Stay, and you can still leave before he comes in to check on me."

"Ah, go on, then. You've convinced me. Budge over, then."

Éponine very carefully moved over in the bed and Gavroche lay down next to her.

"Sleep well then, 'Ponine."

"You too, 'Roche."

...

By the time Éponine woke the next morning, Gavroche had already gone. About ten minutes after she'd woken up, there came a knock at the door and Combeferre walked in, carrying a tray with two bowls of soup on it and two cups of tea.

"Good morning, Éponine. Ah, I see Gavroche has already gone."

"So you do know?" Éponine asked, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Of course. Usually I pretend I don't, but I thought Gavroche might still be here. I thought he might have stayed with you." He set the tray down on the bedside table. "He does like his little game. Enjolras has no idea that we have a part-time roommate, though I don't think he'd mind anyway."

"He thinks it's more fun if he breaks in," Éponine said, reaching for the cup of tea. "Gavroche finds fun in odd ways, but he does manage to keep himself amused most of the time, so maybe he's actually got the right idea."

"Well, of course. Using doors is boring, don't you know. Windows are much more fashionable."

Éponine laughed. It felt good to laugh. She took a sip of her tea, which was nice and strong— just as she liked it. "I can't thank you enough for taking me in like this, helping me recover."

"Don't mention it," Combeferre said with a smile. "How are you feeling today?"

"My ribs are still really sore, but I guess that's to be expected. My head's feeling a lot better though. I don't even get dizzy anymore when I sit up. My nose is still pretty swollen though."

"It will take a couple weeks for your nose to fully heal. Unfortunately, it will probably be over a month before your ribs are fully healed. You're welcome to stay here in the meantime."

"I really appreciate that," said Éponine, "but I'll be out of your hair soon enough. I don't want to impose."

"Oh, it's not an imposition at all," Combeferre assured her. "But it's up to you. Stay as long as you'd like; we do have the extra room. Now, I'll be out of the apartment for most of the day; I have a rather sizable exam to write. Enjolras will be here though, if you need anything. And I think Prouvaire might stop by to bring you flowers. He's been growing them himself. His apartment is essentially an indoor garden. Marius will probably come too. I don't know if you're ready to see him yet, but he does come everyday."

The one thing that Éponine appreciated above all else was that Combeferre didn't pry. He never betrayed to Marius that Éponine was only pretending to sleep, even if Marius had worked that out for himself. He also never tried to pressure her to talk to Marius, or to talk at all if she didn't want to.

"I told Courfeyrac I'd talk to him today," Éponine said, blanching a bit at the thought.

"Well, I hope it goes well. I'll leave you to eat now," he said. He grabbed the extra bowl of soup and cup of tea. "I'll bring these to Enjolras. He'll forget to eat if I don't remind him." Then he paused. "I imagine it must be a bit boring, just lying in here all day. We have quite a few books, if you'd like to read."

"I'd like that. Thank you."

"Anytime," Combeferre replied, starting for the door.

"Combeferre?" He stopped and turned to face her. "You're a good man," she told him. He smiled once more and left the room.