A/N: Apologies for the delay. I hope everyone is keeping healthy. Before we get into it, I want to explain something briefly:
This was originally going to be two separate fics (I was planning a sequel), but I've decided to make it one longer fic separated into three parts. Currently, you're reading Volume I; there will be three volumes. Without spoiling anything, I want to say that this volume will end in a certain way, but I implore you to keep reading because you may be surprised by the final outcome of the story. The three volumes will be different in terms of focus, but I promise all will be resolved in the end.
Lastly, I can't make myself adhere to a strict update schedule, but I do promise that I intend to finish this, even though there might be lengthy pauses between updates. University takes up a lot of my time, unfortunately, but I will update when I can. Thank you to everyone who continues to read this, and to those of you who leave reviews. It's always very pleasant to see what you lovely people have to say about the story.
Also I apologise for any errors. It's past 1AM, but I wanted to post this before bed.
Éponine did not see Marius at all for the rest of May. She spent most of her time with Azelma and Jehan, though primarily with the former as the latter had classes and meetings to attend. Éponine staunchly refused to accompany Prouvaire to any of the meetings of Les Amis de l'ABC, and though he had tried to convince her initially, he quickly gave up on this endeavour. Marius had been at every meeting lately, though it seemed he paid less and less attention to what was being said. Nevertheless, oblivious though he was, Marius could sense the heated political climate. It was abundantly clear to all of Les Amis de l'ABC that the revolution was near. All that was needed now was a spark, and revolution would be the explosion that ensued.
Though she did not attend the meetings, Éponine had figured it out for herself that revolution was in the offing. The city was abuzz with whispers of the coming rebellion, but she still had her doubts as to whether or not the people would rise when it did. It was one thing to talk of revolution; it was a wholly other thing to participate in one. It could not be doubted that the people wanted change; it was less certain whether they were willing to possibly die to achieve that end.
Try though she may to forget her feelings of love, she could not bring herself to hate Marius. She wanted to hate him; she felt it would be so much easier if she could hate him. It felt much more empowering to be angry than heartbroken, but she wondered if she could really blame him. Was it his fault she had waited so long to tell him how she felt? Was it really his fault that he had been too drunk to remember their night of passion the following day? As much as she wanted to despise him for loving Cosette, she just couldn't do it. He loved her, and Éponine would have to accept that. That didn't mean, however, that she could bear seeing him again. Being in his presence would hurt more than absence. Still, she yearned for him and though she refused to seek him out, she longed for even a glimpse of him.
By the beginning of June, Éponine had gotten rather large and very round. She was now eight months along and nearly always exhausted. She didn't go out much anymore; mostly, she stayed in Prouvaire's apartment with Azelma. Azelma had taken up the task of caretaker with pride. She was happy to make sure Éponine wasn't straining herself, and happy to bring her anything she needed. She didn't mind massaging her sister's swollen feet or offering reassuring words.
On the evening of June the 4th, Éponine was sitting by the window. Prouvaire was at one of his evening classes, and Azelma had gone to buy groceries for dinner with some money that Jehan had left. As she gazed out the window, her mind wandering to a plethora of different yet equally random subjects, she found her eyes drawn to a passing figure and she felt her heart drop into her stomach; it was Marius. She hadn't seen him at all since that night.
She wasn't sure what possessed her to do it, but before she could stop to think about what she was doing, she found herself heading out the door, down the stairs, and out of the building. Now she was following him. She knew where he must be going, but that didn't stop her from trailing behind. She hadn't seen him in so long and now, despite herself and despite the pain she felt, she was determined not to let him out of her sight. Damn it, she had missed him.
She followed him all the way to number 55 Rue Plumet, formerly the Rue Blomet. From a distance and behind a young tree, she watched as he approached the gated garden. She watched as a rapturously beautiful young woman came to greet him and admitted him entrance to the garden. She watched as they sat and talked. She didn't know for how long she stood there watching; she didn't even notice the sun beginning to set. She couldn't pull her gaze away even as the two kissed and she felt that her heart must surely shatter. What finally drew her attention away from the pair was the sound of approaching footsteps and hushed voices.
Turning around to look, she saw her father and the Patron Minette approaching. She hoped that they would pass right by, but she knew in her gut that they were headed for number 55. It was by far the nicest house in the area, and the only way her father would be able to convince the Patron Minette to help him with anything would be if there were a hefty payout for the gang members.
Now that they were much closer, she could hear snippets of their hushed conversation.
"... very rich," her father was saying. "And cheated me out of decent money for that brat, Cosette. It's time that debt was settled."
"I don't give a fuck about your debts," said Gueulemer, "so long as we get the money you promised."
"Yeh'll get what I said you'd get," he replied. "Keep yer voice down."
"Is there a dog in the garden?" asked Babet.
"Dunno," answered Thénardier, "but I brought a knife. If it barks, we'll silence it."
Éponine started to panic. Marius was in there... She couldn't allow any harm to come to him; she had to do something. In moving a bit closer, she accidentally stepped on a stick, which promptly snapped. Next thing she knew, she had been roughly grabbed and shoved before the gang of men.
"Who's the brat?" asked Thénardier.
"You don't recognise your own child?" asked Montparnasse.
Thénardier took a better look at his eldest child. "It is you," he growled. "Yeh've got some nerve."
"Get out of here," Éponine told him, her expression hard. "There's nothing for you here. Go bother someone else."
Her father backhanded her. "You don't tell me what to do," he spat.
Éponine spat blood onto the ground. "Look, I know this house. There is nothing of value here. The old man and his daughter live quiet lives."
"We'll be the judges of that," replied Thénardier, shoving her aside.
"There is a dog," said Éponine quickly. "Me. If you try to enter that garden, I will scream. I will knock on doors and shout until people come running. I'll make sure you're all arrested! You know I will," she said firmly, a fire burning in her eyes. "Leave!"
"You bitch," growled Thénardier and he made to grab her, but she opened her mouth and screamed as loudly as she could. "This isn't over," he spat before taking off. The Patron Minette, too, scattered.
Marius arrived at the gate just in time to see them disappear from sight. His eyes quickly found Éponine.
"'Ponine!" he cried out in shock. "Your cry sent them away. Thank you," he said sincerely. He turned to beckon Cosette over. "Cosette, this is my friend, Éponine. She's the one who told me where to find you at the church. She brought us together." Then he seemed to recall their last conversation and his cheeks reddened as he realised these probably weren't words she wanted to hear.
"Thank you, Mademoiselle," said Cosette, her large blue eyes pouring into Éponine's. "Truly. You have made us so happy."
Éponine bit her tongue to avoid saying everything she wanted to say. Her heart had already shattered and now it felt like they were dancing on the remains. "I should go," she said quietly, turning to leave. Marius quickly opened the gate and grabbed her arm.
"'Ponine, I'll walk you home. I can hear Cosette's father coming; we need to get out of here."
Éponine jerked her arm away. "No, thanks," she replied coldly. She turned and walked away, but she didn't go far. She paused as soon as she had rounded a corner and leaned against the side of a building. She felt like she might be sick. Slowly, she lowered herself to the ground. Part of her wished she hadn't followed him; she wished she hadn't seen them together, but it had been a sort of morbid curiosity. At the same time, however, she knew it was a good thing that she had followed. If she hadn't been there to prevent her father and the Patron Minette from entering, who knew what they might have done? She didn't care so much about Cosette, but she couldn't bear it if something happened to Marius, and Monsieur Leblanc was a very kind man; she didn't wish him any harm either.
She closed her eyes for a long moment and took several calming deep breaths. She knew for certain now that she had to cut Marius from her life. Seeing him with Cosette had been too painful, and she knew that if she kept Marius in her life, it would mean keeping Cosette as well. She found it incredibly easy to hate Cosette, to blame her for everything that had gone wrong in her life. After all, hadn't it been shortly after Cosette's departure that her family had lost the inn? Cosette had gone to live a life of riches, whereas Éponine and her family were reduced to rags.
Sighing heavily, Éponine carefully got to her feet. There was no point sitting around here. She had no doubt that Azelma would start to worry if she didn't return home soon. She moved to peer around the corner of the building. Marius had gone already. She was about to walk out when she noticed Cosette approach the gate and tie a letter to it with a ribbon. Éponine waited until Cosette had gone back inside, then walked over to the gate to look at the letter. It was addressed to Marius. She looked around and then snatched the letter. She unfurled it and began to read:
My dearest, Marius,
I am writing to tell you we are moving house, my dove. If you need to find me, we will be at No. 7 Rue de l'Homme Armé. Papa is frightened. He says he's noticed shadows watching our house these past few nights and tonight the scream made him decide it's no longer safe here. My love, he wants to leave for Calais soon. He wants us to board a ship to England. My darling, you must come see me at the new address. We must find a way to be together.
With all my love,
Your Cosette
Éponine stared at the piece of paper for several long moments after reading it, then unceremoniously shoved it into her pocket, and turned to leave. She felt like laughing. As long as Marius never saw this letter, his chances at a future with Cosette were greatly diminished. Perhaps then he might take notice of her; perhaps then his feelings would change. Éponine felt like she'd been gifted a second chance, and all she had to do was destroy the letter.
As she turned down an alleyway, she froze. Her father was standing in front of her, and he was livid.
"You bitch," he growled. Éponine took several steps back, but he lunged forward and grabbed her by her hair.
He slammed her head into the brick building nearest them, and all went black.