It turned out, there was no need for Marius's legal counsel. The following week, Gavroche stopped by to tell Éponine that Montparnasse had enlisted his help in freeing the Patron Minette, as well as Thénardier and Azelma. They had made quick work of it and now all of the aforementioned were once again free to roam the streets of Paris.

"What about maman?" Éponine asked.

"Ah, well... Yeah, she didn't make it," Gavroche replied. "Died in prison. Serves 'er right."

Éponine's eyes widened. "'Zelma is alone with father..."

"She looked all right though. Trust me, she can 'andle 'erself, 'Ponine. Tell you what: I'll check in on 'er. It'll be okay. Trust good ol' Gavroche."

A slight smile tugged at her pale lips. "All right, but you'd better tell me if something's wrong."

"Will do." He gave a small salute. "Anyway, I'd better get back to me kids."

"I'm sorry, your what?"

Gavroche chuckled. "I beat you to it, 'Ponine," he said with a glance at her stomach. "Found meself two kids to take care of. I found two small boys who looked 'alf starved, diggin' 'round in a trash can, so I took 'em in. They stay in the elephant with me. Strange though. Kinda feels like I already knew 'em. Guess it was meant to be."

"Papa Gavroche," Éponine said with a wry smile. "Soon you'll be Uncle Gavroche as well."

"Y'know, ya never told me who the pops is."

Éponine's eyes flickered to Marius, who was leaning against the door frame.

"It's... complicated," she said. "I'll probably just do the thing alone."

Gavroche shrugged. "Not necessarily a bad idea. Sometimes no father is better than a bad one. Jus' look at our old man. Anyway, yeh'll 'ave my support. I ought to go now though. David an' Paul are waiting for dinner, an' I hate to disappoint."

"I'll see you around, 'Roche."

"See ya!" And the little sprite left. Marius took his place in the chair next to the bed and reached for one of Éponine's hands.

"'Ponine..."

She frowned. "Why so serious, Marius?"

"I also want to ask you... Who is the father? Did... Did someone hurt you?"

Éponine closed her eyes for a moment. "No, Marius. No, it's nothing like that."

"You... Your father, he didn't make you...?"

"I didn't let him send me to the docks." She sighed heavily. "That's actually... The night you found me at the foot of the stairs, he tried to send me there. He beat me and kicked me out, and then when I was halfway down the stairs I got dizzy and fainted. I... I'm sorry I lied."

Marius gasped and jumped to his feet. "He beat you? I... I'll kill him!"

"Oh, relax. Please. It's not like it was the first time, but it will be the last. Sit back down, Marius. It isn't worth getting into it with my father."

Marius sat back down and took her hand again. He tried to regain composure by taking a few deep breaths. "Then... If that wasn't it, then who...?"

"It... Look, it was just a one time thing," she admitted. "A mistake, really. The father doesn't know. He doesn't ever need to know. I can do this on my own. He doesn't even remember."

Marius's expression softened. "Oh, 'Ponine..." He squeezed her hand. "But don't you think you should tell him? Won't he want to meet his child once it's born? Or... Or would he be a bad father, as Gavroche mentioned, who isn't worth knowing?"

"No, he'd probably be a very good father, but... I can't tell him. I just can't."

"I know I'm probably prying right now, but I think you should at least consider it. You're a wonderful woman, 'Ponine, and I know you'll make a great mother. Any man would be lucky to be with you and father your child. Whomever this man is, I feel you should give him that chance."

Tears pricked at Éponine's eyes. "I'm not... I... I don't know how... h-how to..." And then quite suddenly she was bawling. Marius actually jumped slightly, but quickly recovered and pulled her into his arms. "I d-d-don't know h-how to be a m-mom, Marius."

He gently stroked her hair. "Hey, shh, it's okay," he murmured. "No one knows how at first, Éponine. You'll learn, and I'll be right by your side to help you. Don't you worry one bit, 'Ponine. You don't have to do this alone. I'll help, and Gavroche will help. I'm sure Prouvaire would too, and Combeferre. I'm not sure Enjolras knows what a baby is, but it could be funny to watch him trying to talk to one."

A small giggle escaped her lips. "He'd probably talk to it like an adult."

"How do you do, small citizen?" Marius tried his best to imitate Enjolras's very proper way of speaking. Éponine laughed again and buried her face in Marius's shoulder. He gave her a small squeeze and her tears slowed to a stop.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," she told him.

"Well, you'll never have to find out. I'll always be here for you, 'Ponine. Always."

"You'd better be."

He smiled. "Where would I go? All of the most wonderful things are already a part of my life. I have an interesting job that will help me pay for my schooling, I have amazing comrades at the Musain, and the best friend I could ever ask for. What more could I possibly need?"

Éponine smiled, but it didn't quite touch her eyes. She knew what was missing from his life and what he was bound to find in someone else: love. One day, he would marry and then she would lose him.

"You still look sad," he told her. "Tell you what, the weather is getting nicer and the flowers have started to bloom. Tomorrow, after my classes are through, how about I come get you and then we can go for a walk in the Luxembourg Gardens, like old times? Just you and I."

"I... I'd like that."

...

Later, after Marius had gone, Prouvaire helped Éponine to settle on the sofa as she wanted a change of scenery. He sat down next to her and bit his lip.

"What is it?" Éponine asked him. She could tell he had something to say.

"I'll just come right out and say it: I think you should tell Marius."

She looked away. "I can't."

"You're worried about rejection, I know. But Éponine, you just don't understand. You didn't see how he was when you were ill. He wouldn't leave your side, night or day. He refused to sleep because he was worried something might happen. He probably wouldn't have eaten either if I hadn't made him. He stayed with you and took care of you. For those four days, you were all he could think about. I've never seen him like that. And during the worst of it when even Combeferre had begun to lose hope, Marius sat next to you, holding your hands, and he prayed. He prayed all night and probably would have continued if you hadn't woken up. He might not realise that he loves you, but I think at least part of him does, and I think you're doing him a disservice by not telling him."

Éponine was silent for several moments. "You... You really think he might love me?"

"I think it's more than possible. I think you need to tell him everything and see what happens. Surely that would be better than never knowing, and we both know he would be a good father. He might be a bit clueless, but his heart is always in the right place."

"I... We're going to the Luxembourg Gardens tomorrow. I... I think you're right, Jehan. I'm going to tell him, tell him everything. Do... Do you think this is the path to happiness?"

"'Ponine, I truly do."

The smile that spread across her face could have lit up all of Paris.