A/N: Hello, faithful readers!

Oh my goodness, 100 reviews! I'm so honored that you've all kept up with this story thus far, and that you keep reviewing!

I'm home from Belgium now, and I can honestly say that it was the greatest trip of my life. If you EVER have the chance to go there, definitely do! It's a beautiful country, and there's so much history there. But enough rambling from me; here's your next chapter!

Warning: This chapter contains an implied sex scene at the end. If that bothers you, you might want to give the last bit a miss!

"So what did you want to talk to Grantaire about?" Enjolras asked for about the fifth time as they walked into the apartment. She had refused to budge on the matter for the entire car ride home, and Enjolras was starting to get slightly irritated at her persistence.

"I've already told you, he didn't want me to say," Éponine responded with infuriating calm as she took off her scarf. "My father may be a criminal, but I'm a woman of my word."

He sighed. "You can be infuriating sometimes, you know that?"

"I love you, too," she replied coolly, kissing his cheek as the phone started to ring. "I'll get it!" She called cheerfully, half-skipping over to the receiver. Enjolras could only smile at the woman he loved as she jumped so happily across the room. Éponine picked up mid-ring and put the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

There was quiet for a moment on the other end of the line, before an angry, menacing male voice said, "So, my son's got his whore staying with him now?"

The cheerful smile from moments ago fell clean from her face, and she froze, receiver still against her ear. "Éponine?" She heard Enjolras' voice distantly. "Is something wrong?" Without a word, she handed the receiver to him.

He took it from her slowly, still unsure what to make of her sudden, strange change of demeanor. "Hello?"

"Enough of this nonsense, son," his father's voice snapped. "Come home."

Enjolras grit his teeth in irritation. "What are you talking about, Father?"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about. Keeping her at your apartment, for God's sake? We've had this discussion already! How long will this go on?!"

"Don't talk about her like she's some kind of animal," the younger man snapped. "She's a grown woman, and she also happens to be the woman I love."

His father snorted. "Oh, my ever-naïve son. You think you're in love with this woman now, but it's only because she hasn't yet left you for the other side."

"Enough, Father," Enjolras hissed. His tone was quiet, which intimidated Éponine even more, despite the fact that he wasn't talking to her. "What do you want?"

"I know about the case you're planning against me, son."

Enjolras' heart nearly stopped. His breath caught in his throat for a moment, and he had to sit down to regain his composure. "Do you blame me for it?" He asked, keeping his voice as even as possible. "All I want is justice for my half-sister and her mother."

"And to throw me in jail."

"Father, what you did to them was wrong, no matter how much you deny it," he said angrily.

"You think this is justice? You don't know what justice is, son."

"Do you?" Enjolras snapped, his temper rising. "The law you quoted to me ad nauseam my whole life says that you're in the wrong. You will lose this case; I'll make sure of it."

"Enough of your petulance. You'll drop the case, or I'll make sure to ruin that woman you claim to love."

His blood boiled at the thought of his father doing anything to harm Éponine. "No, Father," Enjolras answered with deadly calm. "You won't. Because I won't let you." He slammed the receiver down with finality, glaring at it for good measure. Éponine was standing a short distance away, looking worried. "Well? What did he want?" She asked in a small voice.

Enjolras pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes closed, and let out a deep sigh. "Father knows about the Fantine case," he said heavily. "I don't know how he found out about it, but apparently he did."

She gaped at him in shock. "What?"

"He told me to drop it, or…" Enjolras trailed off. Was it really a good idea to tell her what he'd said?

Éponine frowned. "Or?"

"Or…he's going to make my life hell," Enjolras answered slowly. He couldn't make her think he was blaming her; there was no way he could blame her, for any of this.

She sighed softly in pity, walking over to sit next to him. "Enjolras, you can't let your father bully you into dropping this case. It's important to you, and to Fantine and Cosette. Even with personal attachments aside, he should be brought to justice."

He nodded, rubbing his eyes. "You're right. You're always right," he chuckled, kissing the top of her head. "What would I do without you around, Éponine?"

She thought about it for a moment. "Get really bad advice from Grantaire?"

He couldn't help but laugh. "True," he grinned.

Grantaire was starting to like the sound of his first name.

Over the last few days, after he'd checked on her, Azelma had started to open up to him more. She'd been staying with him for almost a week now, and already, things between them were much smoother than they had been. He really liked having her around…but mostly he liked her.

Before her, the constant silence in his apartment often left him incredibly lonely, which would drive him to drink even more than usual. Azelma didn't just keep him company during the day; she also kept his drinking in check. Instead of wasting a night drinking an entire bottle of wine by himself, the two of them would share it, or they would actually do something. Grantaire surprised her with weekend tickets to Twelfth Night in the park, and he was surprised at how much he enjoyed being out for an evening, especially with her. Watching her face light up at each witty Shakespearean quip was worth every penny. She even helped him keep the characters straight when he had trouble.

Through her, he had an outlet into the childhood of a Thénardier – Azelma would often tell him about their life around the inn when she was growing up, before it went under and her father first took to theft, then to bootlegging in a vain attempt to stay afloat. Her complete volume of Shakespeare was her most prized possession – Éponine got it for her when she was 10, just before their father emptied their bank accounts and forbade them from making their own purchases. "He said he would provide for us, and we didn't need anything else," she said a little bitterly, cradling the book to her chest. They were sitting on the couch together, just after a light lunch. "Of course, he never did; he was too busy with his gang…so it always fell on Éponine to take care of us. I actually kept this from Papa for awhile, to make him think I'd gotten rid of it when he told me to. Ép and I would take turns hiding it under our beds."

Grantaire sighed softly in pity. "I'm so sorry," he said for perhaps the hundredth time that week.

As she always did, Azelma just shrugged. "That was just life growing up. We got used to it."

He shook his head in disbelief. "How do you get used to that?"

She chuckled sadly. "It's…a little hard to explain, really. You just…do. And we always had 'Ponine to look after us; she practically raised Gav and the twins."

"But that's not how it should have been," he said stubbornly. "None of that should have happened to you. It's not fair."

She rubbed his shoulder blade gently. "Oh, relax, Alan. It's in the past, anyway. You know what they say, what's done is done."

There it was again – that stupid grin he couldn't help whenever she said his name. He quickly wiped it off, hoping she hadn't noticed. "But still…why did that have to happen to you?" He asked softly. Almost before he realized it, his left hand had reached up to brush her hair back from her face. "It's not fair…" he repeated in almost a whisper.

She reached up to catch his hand as it gently passed the top of her right ear, and Grantaire noticed for the first time how warm her hand was. His senses were suddenly all alive – he could see how wide those bright brown eyes were, he could feel the warmth of her skin on his, he could hear her breath catching in her throat. They had a moment of perfect clarity, perfect understanding, as they stared into each other's eyes. There was no need for words.

Grantaire wasn't sure who leaned in first, but what he did know was that the moment his lips touched hers, it was perfection. It was slow, gentle, sweet…he never knew a kiss could feel so natural as he gently cupped her cheek, letting his fingertips gently trace the outline of her jaw. Azelma's hand slowly drifted from the rough stubble of his cheek to the back of his neck, and she used it to pull him closer, deepening the kiss as her tongue begged entry into his mouth. Grantaire gladly obliged her, and even put a hand on her hip to steady her. Taking it as encouragement, Azelma leaned in even closer, moving a leg over his so she was half-straddling him. Surprised, he slowly pulled back from the kiss and let his eyes open as he tried to catch his breath. Azelma quickly retreated from her position on his lap, her eyes suddenly wider with…was that fear? "I – I'm so sorry…" she stammered quickly, before taking off to the back of the apartment.

Grantaire gaped after her in shock, before leaping up and racing after her to the back bedroom. "Why the hell are you apologizing?" He asked incredulously when he found her. "I didn't want to pull back from that!"

She raised her eyebrows as she turned to face him. "Then…why did you?" she murmured.

"Because I thought…" He trailed off with a sigh, trying to figure out what he wanted to say. "Azelma, I know your past experiences with men haven't exactly been pretty. I want to change that for you. I don't want to push you into anything you're not ready for."

She chuckled sadly, pressing her forehead into her palms. "You've already changed that for me, Alan," she smiled. "All my life, I had no idea what a real man was supposed to be like…and then I met you, and you took me in, and you…actually treated me like a human being…"

Grantaire stood in the doorframe of the bedroom and opened his arms. "Come here." She wrapped her arms tightly around his ribcage as his curled around her shoulders. She was surprisingly strong, despite her tiny size. "You are a queen among women, Azelma Thénardier," he murmured into her hair. "And you deserve to be treated as such." She sighed quietly, pressing into his chest. Grantaire even thought he felt a single tear fall from her cheek to his chest. "Don't cry, 'Zelma," he murmured gently, stroking her hair. "I'm right here."

"Even if they're tears of joy?" She whispered. "I've never been this secure with a man, ever. I trust you, Alan. With my life."

Grantaire's breath left him in a rush, and he could only hug her even tighter. "I'm so glad. I'm so glad."

Enjolras hadn't been able to get his mind off his father's phone call all day, and it was starting to worry Éponine. No matter how hard she tried, if she left the room for more than a few seconds, he'd be pacing like a caged animal when she came back. It was a hugely ethical case for him, and she knew it was making this harder. His father had always been a big influence on him, and Enjolras had practically idolized him for most of his life. His entire life was turning topsy-turvy so fast that it was making her dizzy.

"Enjolras, you've got to stop pacing," she said tiredly. "You're making me nervous."

He sighed heavily, plopping down next to her on the couch without breaking stride. "Sorry…" he mumbled penitently, letting his head drop to his hands.

She rubbed up and down his back sympathetically; she could tell he was exhausted. "You've never been this worried about your own safety before," she said. "It's a little troubling to see you so worked up, really."

"It's not me I'm worried about," he answered quietly.

She nodded in understanding. "You're afraid of what might happen to me if you're gone, aren't you?"

He looked back down at the floor. He couldn't bear lying to her by omission like this, but what choice did he have? If she knew the extent of his father's hatred for her, she might be in even more danger. Two warm, feminine hands on the back of his neck pulled him out of his thoughts.

"We just have shit luck with fathers, don't we?" Éponine muttered.

He snorted, sitting up to look at her. "Looks like we do."

She smiled and cuddled a little closer to him. "I'm just lucky I have you," she whispered.

Enjolras couldn't help a smile as he leaned in to press his lips against hers. "I love you, 'Ponine," he whispered back. Éponine grinned, grabbed the lapels of his jacket and gently pulled him back to her for another kiss. He was a little surprised, but eagerly kissed her back. Her small hands were suddenly all over his body – up and down, over and over.

"Well, someone's in a mood," Enjolras chuckled between kisses.

"Are you complaining?" She asked, grinning that devilish grin of hers that made his heart quicken a little.

"Did I sound like I was? I'm sorry; let me correct that," he grinned, pushing her back against the couch and kissing her harder. Éponine's tongue traced across his lips, demanding entry, and Enjolras gladly complied.

They hadn't kissed this hard for this long before, and in the back of his mind, he was starting to wonder if he was about to hit an emotional pressure point. He knew that the Thénardier women had unpleasant histories with men, and he didn't want to be another black spot for Éponine. With that in mind, he gradually slowed down the kiss, letting his hands roam her back as he caught her lower lip between his teeth. He sucked and pulled on it gently, making her gasp softly.

As if she had read his mind, Éponine started to pull back from him. "Enjolras…"

He released her slightly. "What is it?"

Éponine pondered how to answer. "Well…you know I don't have a good history with men…but…"

He raised an eyebrow. "But?"

She looked dead at him, and he suddenly noticed the longing, the barely suppressed hunger in her eyes. "I want you," she murmured.

Enjolras was more than a little surprised. He hadn't been expecting this confession for a long while. "Are…you sure?" he asked hesitantly. "We don't have to; what would people say?"

She chuckled. "No man has ever asked me if I'm sure before. And that's what makes me sure. I want you. Who has to know?"

He stood up, offering her a hand. "Then you can have me."

They barely stopped kissing long enough to open the door, half-stumbling to his bed. Éponine gasped for breath as Enjolras yanked off his tie, and she started to quickly unbutton his shirt. In moments, it was on the floor. She ran her hands unashamedly over his muscular, perfect chest. They could almost feel their hearts pounding in perfect synchronization as they kissed over and over. Enjolras pulled her close to his bare chest, tugging and teasing her blouse up until she pulled it over her head impatiently, letting it fall next to his. As his lips found her neck, Éponine gasped and her knees almost buckled. She gripped his upper arms, pressing her nails into her skin. She felt him grin against her shoulder as he lightly trailed his own fingernails down her body, pausing at the top of her skirt. He kissed her neck delicately as he started to push it down. Éponine guided his hands down her legs, until it hit the floor with a quiet whoosh of air.

Enjolras stepped back to look at her for a moment, drinking in the sight. She was wearing only a bra and panties, her long hair tumbling down around her shoulders. His heart was thudding in his chest like a drum; he wondered if she could hear it.

"You're beautiful," he whispered, tucking her hair behind her ear and kissing her again. It was a slow, passionate kiss, full of heat and longing. Éponine reached down for his belt, fumbling momentarily with the buckle before it came off, followed by his pants. Enjolras let his fingertips roam her torso, her back, until he came up to the clasps of her bra. Slowly, gently, she helped him unhook it and let the straps slide down her arms.

He kissed her again, letting his fingertips trail down her collarbone to her bare breasts. She sighed softly against his lips as he cupped one in his hand. He took it as encouragement, and gently squeezed it until she moaned quietly.

Enjolras scooped Éponine up and gently placed her on the bed, before kneeling in front of her. He leaned up to kiss her again, gently massaging her breasts. She wondered if he could feel her heartbeat pounding like a drum through her skin.

As he moved closer, her hands traced down his back to the top of his underwear, which she started tugging down. He obliged her, pulling it off and letting it fall to the floor with the rest of his clothes.

Her breath caught in her throat as she drank in the sight of him. There was no flaw to be found anywhere on his body, except a small white scar just above his left hip. She traced her fingers across it gently, whispering "How did you get this?"

A sad smile crossed his face. "It was just a few months before Mother died. I was climbing a tree in Central Park…I fell from a high branch and hit a sharp rock. I remember she bandaged it up right there and held me until I stopped crying."

Éponine's face soon mimicked his. "I'm glad you have a happy memory of her," she murmured.

He closed his eyes and placed his forehead against hers, breathing her in. She leaned up slightly to kiss him again as he tucked her hair back, letting his hand run down her body until he reached her waist. "Are you sure?" He whispered again. "We don't have to…"

She nodded. "I'm sure. Who has to know?"

Two hours later, when Enjolras finally relaxed next to Éponine, he knew that he couldn't, shouldn't have second-guessed her readiness for this. He looked at her as she lay hazy-eyed at his side, her long hair damp with sweat, fanned out on his pillow. He let one finger caress the outline of her face, before trailing back to her lips. They kissed again, softer and slower than they had before. "Éponine…"

"Hmm?"

"What made you so sure?" He murmured to her.

She smiled. "Because I trust you, Enjolras. With everything."

He smiled back and wrapped her up in his arms. "I thank God every day that you're mine," he said softly into her hair. "I love you, Éponine Thénardier."

"I love you too, Richard Enjolras."

A/N: Yay, Enjonine and Grantzelma love :D Review!