Sorry its been forever and a day! I've been so busy with rehearsals for the spring musical all day every day, even on our break. AND all my teachers have suddenly realized that finals are coming up so our workload is INSANE!
Your continued reveiw/follows/favorites really make my day, thank you so much.
AnnaMarie24601 - Thats really cool that you found this story, out of all the great E/E stories out there, just from a google search. May I ask what it was you searched for? I'm just curious.
Disclaimer: I have a guitar
Reviews, if you would be so kind. Enjoy!
Meanwhile..
"Azelma?" Eponine called, hearing someone enter the flat.
"No," Enjolras answered, "It's just me. Azelma's at the cafe, I talked to her before I left."
"Oh, Eponine said, appearing in the hallway ahead of him, "Well she had better arrive soon."
"Bad day?" Enjolras asked, settling into the sofa with one of his law books.
"The worst," Eponine said, taking the book from his hands and putting it on the coffee table. Enjolras sighed but didn't bother reaching for it, there was no point, Eponine would just take it again.
"Would you like to talk about it?" Enjolras asked.
"Yes, thank you for asking," Eponine smirked, "First, I had a dreadful day at work, where it seems every workman and their father feels the need to stare at me as if I'm a piece of meat. Then I come home to find that Pierre had broken that flower pot in the hallway next to the lavatory, sorry about that, I will pay for it."
"Don't bother," Enjolras said, "The boy has taste, that pot was hideous." Eponine continued talking as if he hadn't spoken.
"Then I learn that Azelma nearly got fired due to her inability to hold her tongue, and now she's gone out, leaving me to finish her work," Eponine momentarily held up the now-completed stitching for him to see, before tossing it aside and dropping her face into her hands, "It's a lot of responsibility, and meanwhile, we are invading your home." Enjolras sat still for a moment, before hesitantly reaching out to stiffly pat her shoulder, She didn't pull away, so he took it as a good sign.
"You aren't invading," Enjolras said, "I invited you, all of you."
"Either way, I feel as if I can't take care of them," Eponine said, "Like I'm not doing my job."
"Eponine," Enjolras said, "Only several weeks ago, you and Azelma were living in squalor with your parents. Gavroche was living on the streets, hardly able to get enough to eat, and you had no idea where Nicolas and Pierre even were. Now, all of you have regular meals, a place to sleep, and suitable clothing all because of your efforts. You're a wonderful mother, even though you shouldn't have to be." He awkwardly reached his arm around her shoulders in what he assumed was a comforting gesture, and placed his opposite hand on her knee, patting it comfortingly.
"Thank you," Eponine smiled softly at him. Enjolras met her smile, looking deep into her dark orbs. Each held this pose for a moment, sitting in comfortable silence. Ever so slowly, by an action seemingly unexecuted by himself, Enjolras found himself leaning towards her slightly. Eponine looked as surprised as he felt, but she too angled her head, eyes closing as his lips neared hers...
"Eponine!" They leaped apart as if the sofa was on fire at the sound of the strangled cry coming from outside the door. Eponine collected herself, glancing sheepishly at the scarlet Enjolras before answering the door.
"Azelma?!" Eponine cried, seeing the state her sister was in "What in God's name happened to you?!" Eponine knelt down to help her younger sister in, seating her on the sofa.
"Eponine!" Azelma cried again, burying her head in Eponine's neck. Eponine wrapped her arms round her neck and patted her back soothingly, shooting Enjolras a glance that plainly told him to excuse himself quietly.
"What happened to you?" Eponine asked, eyeing the bruises peppering Azelma's body. Eponine gently pried Azelma's clenched hands from her side. A stain of crimson was quickly forming on the fabric, seeping from a nasty cut in Azelma's side and onto her hands.
"Who did this?" Eponine asked.
"It- it was Montparnasse," Azelma choked out. Eponine froze momentarily; swallowing slowly she was able to speak with a level voice.
"Did he-" She started.
"No," Azelma cut her off. Eponine sighed in relief, leaning forward to try to get a closer look.
"You will have to take your dress off, I'll have Joly come over to take a look" Eponine said, tucking Azelmas mussed hair from her eyes, "Is anything broken?"
"I don't think so," Azelma said breathlessly, clutching her side in pain. However, being Azelma, even with a stab wound in her side and her struggle to maintain a stiff upper lip, she, despite the substantial amount of pain she was undoubtedly enduring, never missed an opportunity to take use of her keen (and often importune) abilities of deduction.
"Eponine, why was Enjolras' face all red?"
"Because I was teasing him," Eponine said quickly, "You know how he gets when someone insults his silly revolution." Azelma didn't look entirely convinced, but she was simply too tired to question her sister further.
"What has happened?" Joly asked, bursting through the door in front of Enjolras.
"Go with Joly to the lavatory, he will attend to your side." Eponine said as she finished cleaning Azelma's hands.
"Eponine," Azelma said quietly, "I don't want to work at the factory anymore." Eponine swallowed a laugh, leave it to Azelma to bring up something so petty at such an improper time.
"Well you have to work somewhere," Eponine said.
"I know," Azelma reached into her pocket and took out a slip of paper. Eponine took it from her and read it; it was a job posting for a bartender/waitress, male or female.
"I'm going to work at the Cafe Musain."
XXXXXXXX
"Is she alright?" Enjolras asked. Eponine's finger flew to her lips, silencing him quickly. She gestured for him to follow her into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
"She'll recover," Eponine said, "Joly bandaged her side, it wasn't as bad as I feared. She's fine, just shaken up."
"Are you alright?" Enjolras asked her.
"Of course I'm not," Eponine wrung her hands together, pacing the floor in front of him, "Thanks to the heavens she wasn't seriously hurt, he could have killed her, or worse-" Eponine cut off, biting her lip and running her hands through her dark hair.
"And it's all my fault," She said, "Next time, she could be worse, or he may go after Gavroche, or Pierre, or Nic-"
"Eponine," Enjolras said, "You're wearing out the floor."
"We'll have to leave," Eponine continued, ignoring him completely, "We can travel to the country, but we would have to walk, I haven't any money."
"You won't be going anywhere," Enjolras interrupted, grabbing her arm gently, turning her body to face him, "You will stay here, we can alert the police."
"Like they would ever help a gamine like me," Eponine said bitterly. She brought her gaze up to his, her expression softening as his eyes met hers.
"I feel guilty Enjolras," She admitted, "He was attacking Azelma, while you and I were-" She suddenly seemed to become aware of how closely they were standing. She backed away quickly, biting her lip and dropping her gaze to the floor. It was true though, they both new it. She felt horrible that she almost kissed him. Aside from Azelma, there was still Eponine's unresolved feelings for Marius. Not to mention, Enjolras was far too busy with his revolution to give a woman a second glance. It had been a moment of foolishness that caused his previous actions. He would not allow it to happen again, but simultaneously, he desperately wanted her to stay. She was a dear friend, and nothing more, he reasoned with himself. He wanted her to stay.
"Don't do anything rash," He told her, "Azelma can't be moved anyway, so you are stuck here at least until she has healed."
"Alright," Eponine said, relenting a awarding him a small grin, "We will stay until she is well, you win." Eponine turned to exit the room, knowing full well Enjolras' smug grin was gracing his irritatingly sensible lips.
Enjolras: 1
Eponine: 0
XXXXXXXX
"Eponine," Pierre wined, pulling his sister's skirt, "I'm hungry."
"Me too," Nicolas said, holding Gavroches hand and walking several paces behind Eponine.
"Let's go to the café!" Gavroche said, "I 'aven't seen those boys in ages!" Eponine rolled her eyes,
"It's barely noon, Yvonne made you boys a massive breakfast this morning, and you can't possibly be ready to eat so soon."
"Please 'Ponine?" Pierre asked, opening his brown eyes wide, "I'm so hungry I fear I may drop dead right here in the street."
"Oh alright," Eponine sighed; she never could say no to that face, "We can go to the café." All three boys cheered and quickened their pace to keep up with Eponine's longer strides.
"Eponine!" The siblings were greeted by Grantaire the moment they entered the café, "To what do I owe the pleasure!"
"Don't you attend the university?" Eponine asked cockily, raising an eyebrow at the drunk, "Honestly, do you schoolboys ever actually attend your classes?"
"Of course love," Grantaire said, "But we must have somewhere to go when he haven't any classes to attend, haven't we?" Eponine rolled her eyes and laughed.
"In all seriousness," Grantaire said, his expression turning somber, "I heard about dear Azelma, is she alright?"
"She's a melodramatic young woman who tends to act like a child, used to running around the streets of Paris with no boundaries, who is confined to a bed. She's an absolute nightmare." Eponine said, "But she will be back to her regular bitter self come several weeks' time."
"Glad to hear it," Grantaire said, "I may come and visit her later, spare her some boredom."
"She'll be grateful for it, though she may tell you to die in some ditch someplace," Eponine said, "It's her way of showing affection." Grantaire laughed, tipping his hat to her and hurrying from the café, he needed to have a talk with the aforementioned light haired girl with a knife for a tongue.
During this exchange, Gavroche, Pierre, and Nicolas had made their way to a table where Courfeyrac and Marius were sitting. Eponine joined them as Courfeyrac was chuckling at something Nicolas had just said.
"Your brothers are quite amusing," Marius said to Eponine, granting her a lopsided grin, Eponine felt the familiar giddiness at his gesture, "I can see why Enjolras is fond of them."
"Enjy?" Gavroche said, "He honestly enjoys us?"
"Oh yes," Courfeyrac said, "He talks about you boys quite often." For some reason unknown to herself, Eponine found herself want to ask if he had ever talked about her. But of course she said nothing; Monsieur Marius was sitting right next to her after all. Luckily she didn't have to as Pierre, being ever so observant, balanced his chin on his hands and asked Courfeyrac candidly,
"What about 'Ponine and 'Zelma?" He asked, mouthful of the biscuit he had taken from Marius' half-eaten plate, "He talks about them too, doesn't he?"
"I suppose," Marius said, standing from his seat and reaching into his coat pocket, taking out a letter he passed it to Eponine over the table.
"Ponine, would you do me a favor and deliver this to Cosette?" Marius asked, "She enjoys the letters, she finds them romantic. I would give it to her myself, but I'm already going to be late for my lecture as it is."
"Sure Monsieur Marius," Eponine said, pocketing the envelope, "I'll do it on our way home."
"Thanks 'Ponine," Marius said, waving farewell and swiftly exiting to the Parisian streets.
"You don't have to do that, you know," Courfeyrac said. Eponine looked at her brothers; they were far too distracted with the fact that Gavroche took Nicolas' baguette to take any interest in their conversation.
"I know," Eponine said, proudly tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"Then why do it?" He asked her. Eponine sighed,
"I don't know. I suppose I may be a little in love with him." She answered, shrugging her shoulders.
XXXXXXXX
Meanwhile...
"Dear Azelma," Grantaire bowed at her bedside deeply, "My heart yearns for your unwavering and complete love, my whole being is kept alive by the thought I may live to see you another day!"
"Are you drunk?" Azelma asked, glaring at him without amusement.
"Drunk off you!" Grantaire said stroking her cheek. She slapped his hand away, "You're intoxicating my sweet!"
"Just because I have a gaping side wound does not mean I am now unable to kick your ass into the next decade," Azelma said, "How did you even get in here?!"
"Your sweet words and loving greetings are what keep me here in life my dear," Grantaire said, "And I may or may not have broken Enjolras' door."
"Dammit," Azelma said, pushing back the blankets of her bed to stand up, "Your idiot drunkard!" Grantaire gently but firmly pushed her back on the pillows.
"Now, my sweet," Grantaire said, "You know full well that Yvonne said for you to stay in bed. Besides, Eponine would have my ass if I caused you to exert yourself."
"I'm so damn bored," Azelma said, running her fingers through her hair, "I have been laying in this bed all day, I have to do something or I'll go mad."
"That's why I'm here!" Grantaire said, pulling up a chair, "I am here to amuse you!" If looks could kill, Grantaire would be in the ground by now. However seeing finding a more creative way to end his life would require her to first heal, she settled into her pillows to allow him to entertain her as she waited.
XXXXXXXX
"Gavroche," Eponine said, "Look after your brothers while I run some errands. Stay together, and don't get into trouble."
"What? Us, getting into trouble? Whatever gave you such a dreadful idea!?" With a cocky grin, Gavroche led his brothers away in the direction of the statue Gavroche used to live, no doubt to find some young urchins to play with. Once they were out of sight, Eponine pulled out the letter, fully intent on reading it herself before handing it over. She sighed dreamily as she read his eloquent words, pretending as usual that they were aimed at her instead of Cosette. She waited for the familiar swooping sensation in her stomach that she always had when she read Monsieur Marius' writing. He had such a way with words.
"Eponine!" Cosette greeted her brightly, "What a lovely surprise!" Eponine smiled genuinely back at her. It was hard not to like the lark.
"I have a letter for you," Eponine said, handing her the paper, "From Monsieur Marius."
"Thank you!" Cosette said, "I can read it later, would you like to come in? I was just about to have some tea."
"I wish I could, but I must collect my brothers and return home to check on Azelma."
"Oh yes, Marius told me," Cosette said, looking genuinely worried for the girl who had been nothing but nasty to her, "Will she be alright?"
"She should make a full recovery," Eponine answered, "I'm sorry I can't stay, I promise I will one day soon."
"You had better," Cosette called as Eponine walked down the path, "And it's my turn to host this time." Nodding her head with a smile, Eponine waved at the lark, slightly guilty for not telling her of her plans to leave. But the less people that know, the better.
It wasn't until she had collected her brothers and was almost home that Eponine realized that that feeling, that delightful swooping sensation in her lower stomach that she got each time Marius looked at her, hadn't come. Not even reading one of his lovely letters had made her feel that way.
What on earth was she feeling?
OMG what is the matter with me?! It's been FAR too long, I feel awful. I have just had so much work its borderline slave labor. Getting an education is so annoying.
Stay in school kids.
Next chapter opens with a bit of Enjolras and the Les Amis at the ABC café! Who doesn't love a little barricade boys bonding time?
Hope you liked that little bit of Azelma/Grantaire I snuck inn there. They are fun to write, and easy too. Their banter practically writes itself.
Reviews!