Marius was getting a few errands done. The sky was overcast and it looked like it was going to rain any second. As he was walking, he heard familiar footsteps follow him. Smiling, he glanced over his shoulder.

"You can walk next to me, 'Ponine." Marius said, giving her one of his smiles.

Éponine blushed. She walked with Marius silently through the streets.

"What do you want to do today?" Marius asked her.

Éponine frowned, "don't you have something with Cosette?" she asked before she could help herself. She mentally kicked herself.

"No, Cosette and her father have gone somewhere for the day," said Marius nonchalantly. "Are you hungry? We could get some lunch."

Éponine nodded, happy. A whole day with Marius. A whole day without Cosette. She was looking for this day since forever.

Marius and Éponine ate their lunch. Éponine pocketed a couple of rolls for later. She never knew when she could eat again.

"That was a good lunch," remarked Marius. "It's fun spending the day with you."

Éponine just blushed again. "So, Monsieur Marius, got anymore plans?"

"Actually, I was going to drop by the Musain Café. I need to borrow something a book from Courfeyrac."

"Let's go," said Éponine, cheerfully.

As they made their way to the café, they ran into Gavroche.

"Hey Éponine, how are you?" said Gavroche cheerfully.

"I'm good, and you?" asked Éponine.

"Pretty swell." Éponine fished one of the rolls out of her pocket and gave it to him.

"Thanks," he said with a smile and then ran off again.

The two entered the café and made their way to the back room.

Enjolras, Courfeyrac, and Combeferre were sitting at one table, discussing plans and strategy. Joly and Bossuet were talking and laughing in one corner. Jean Prouvaire was writing a poem down in one corner as Feuilly was reading it. Grantaire was in another corner, completely drunk. Bahorel had his knuckled wrapped up, probably from fighting.

"Hmmm, it's very nice and cheerful," Feuilly remarked to Jean Prouvaire, who people call Jehan.

Jehan nodded and continued writing it.

"Hello, Marius," called Bossuet.

Marius smiled and walked over to Bossuet and Joly, with Éponine in tow. "You guys remember Éponine, right?"

Bossuet nodded and smiled. He kissed Éponine's hand.

"I would kiss your hand too, but there might be germs," said Joly.

Bossuet snorted. "I'm pretty sure she's clean, Joly."

"Still, I have to be careful," pointed out Joly.

Bossuet rolled his eyes. Marius chuckled and led Éponine away.

Marius properly introduced Éponine to Feuilly and Jehan, and then sat down with Enjolras, Courfeyrac, and Combeferre. Éponine sat down next to him. Enjolras's and Éponine's eyes locked for a second, before Enjolras turned back to his paper.

"Uh, Courfeyrac, do you have the book?" asked Marius.

Courfeyrac nodded, glancing up. "Oh hey, Éponine. Marius has told me about you."

Éponine blushed yet again. "What did he say?"

"Just about our friendship, nothing bad," said Marius, smiling.

Éponine smiled too, but she looked disappointed. Everyone in the room, besides Marius, knew that Éponine had a crush on Marius, even if they didn't know her name.

"Welcome to Les Amis de l'ABC," said Combeferre kindly.

Éponine smiled briefly. Courfeyrac, meanwhile, was looking through his bag for his book.

"It should be here. I think I left it at my place," said Courfeyrac.

"It's fine, you can drop it off at my place anytime," said Marius. He got up to leave when they heard thunder.

"Looks like a storm. You two should stay here until it passes," said Enjolras.

Marius nodded and sat back down.

Bossuet sighed, "Well, my errands for today are canceled."

Joly patted him on the back.

The boys started in on a discussion of politics. Éponine listened with rapt attention, at times putting in her opinion. Whenever she did, Enjolras would smile. Jehan looked up from writing his poem to see Enjolras smile at Éponine. Thinking to himself, he turned to Feuilly and started to talk quietly to him.