Part One: Chapter Two

A few weeks passed and the meetings continued regularly. Marius still hadn't attended because Cosette was in her last weeks of pregnancy, and Valjean's health had declined. Enjolras had received some rather upsetting news at the university that afternoon, and he was dreading having to tell Eponine. He found out that Jean Valjean had passed away the night before. From what he'd heard, Cosette was pretty distraught, and Marius had his hands full.

When Enjolras stepped into the apartment, Eponine immediately noticed the sad look on his face.

"What's bothering you?" she asked.

Enjolras sighed and walked over to her, grasping her hand. He led her over to the couch, and they sat.

"I have some bad news, 'Ponine."

"What is it?"

She looked up at him with big, worried, brown eyes.

"Jean Valjean died last night."

Her eyes filled with tears, and she fought back a sob, shaking her head.

"I didn't realize his health was that bad," she said.

"Neither did I. The funeral is tomorrow."

"Cosette and Marius will need us there."

Enjolras nodded, "Are you OK?"

"I'm OK," she said, letting out a huge sigh, "He was so kind to me. He was a good man."

"Yes he was," Enjolras agreed.

He wrapped his arms around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder. Valjean's death made him realize how fast life can be over, and he wanted to enjoy every single moment he had with Eponine.

"I suppose I should write my mother and tell her what happened."

Eponine nodded, "She'll want to know."

So Enjolras got up and sat at his desk, composing a letter that updated his mother about everything that had happened recently.

0000

It was the day of the funeral. Eponine slipped on her best black dress, and Enjolras dressed in black as well. When they both were ready, Enjolras offered Eponine his arm, and she took it. They stepped out onto the street and made their way to the funeral solemnly.

0000

As they stood in the cemetery at Jean Valjean's funeral, Eponine could no longer hold herself together as she saw Cosette completely distraught. Eponine let tears silently slide down her cheeks, and she tried to keep her shoulders from shaking but failed. She felt Enjolras slip his arm around her and squeeze her tightly to him. Eponine leaned against him, letting him support most of her weight while she regained control of her emotions. She knew that as soon as the funeral was over, she'd have to console Cosette, and she couldn't be a mess.

Soon the funeral was over, and Eponine looked up at Enjolras sadly.

"I need to go talk to Cosette. She needs a friend," she said.

"Will you be OK to do that?"

Eponine nodded.

"OK, I'll see you in a bit," he said.

Enjolras watched as Eponine walked over to Cosette, who was crying heavily. She pulled her friend into her arms, hugging her. After the two women settled on a bench, Marius started walking towards Enjolras.

"Can we talk in private?" Marius asked.

Enjolras looked at him curiously, "OK."

The two men moved over away from the crowd so no one could hear them.

"I cannot stand up with you in your cause, Enjolras."

"What? Why?" Enjolras said, his eyed narrowing.

"I have a wife, and I am about to be a father. I have to think of my family first."

"I think you're forgetting, Marius, that I too am married. I have Eponine to think about. Marius, if we do not stand up for our cause, then we aren't thinking of our families first. If we don't stand up, then our families will be forgotten and left in the dust!" Enjolras said fiercely.

"The tension is building in Paris. Your meetings will most definitely turn into another revolution, and I can't put my family in danger!" he insisted.

"You cannot be sure that it will turn to revolution," Enjolras said, shaking his head.

"Enjolras, please! You can't possibly fool yourself into thinking that it won't turn in that direction. More men will die, and I can't be one of them. I can't risk that. Plans have already been made for Cosette and I to move to England after the baby is born."

Enjolras stared at Marius blankly.

"You're leaving the country? You're running away from a country that needs you? It seems rather cowardly to me," Enjolras spat.

"It is not cowardice. It is doing what is best for my family. I'm sorry you cannot see my point, and I hope we can remain friends."

"I'm not sure I can be friends with you anymore, Marius. You and I lived the barricade together. We both felt so strongly about the cause we fought for then, and the cause that I am still fighting for. We watched our friends die-" Enjolras's voice broke, and he realized he had been getting louder, so he softened his voice before continuing, "We watched them die for this cause, Marius. How could you not want to make their deaths mean something? How could you not want to fight for our cause, if just for those who lost their lives fighting before us? They believed with everything they had, so we must too, and we cannot give up!"

"I'm sorry, Enjolras. I hope you'll understand eventually. Goodbye," Marius said before going to get Cosette.

Enjolras stood there, still in disbelief. He barely even noticed Eponine walk up to him, and he jumped when she put her hand on his back.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Everything's fine. Let's go home," he grumbled.

They began to walking, but once they had gotten away from the cemetery, Eponine quickened her pace and stepped in front of him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Enjolras, you can't fool me. I know you too well, and I know when something has gotten under your skin. Now, tell me what it is."

He didn't say anything and avoided her eyes defiantly. Eponine put her hands on her hips, becoming frustrated with his refusal to answer her question.

"Enjolras!" she exclaimed.

"Fine. Marius told me that he will not support our cause. He and Cosette are leaving for England as soon as the baby is born," he said through gritted teeth.

"What? I can't believe it. And they're leaving?"

Enjolras nodded, "We aren't on good terms. I don't agree with his reasoning."

"Why have they decided on all this?"

They began to walk again, and Enjolras explained everything Marius had told him. It appeared as if Enjolras had lost another friend, and so had Eponine. Their original group of Les Amis was dwindling, and now it was just Enjolras, Eponine, and Courfeyrac, with the addition of Giselle.

0000

Enjolras and Eponine lay in bed that night in the pitch darkness of their room. Eponine was half asleep, her back to Enjolras, and his arm draped loosely over her waist. Eponine jumped when Enjolras's voice pierced the shrill silence.

"Do you think this is a lost cause?" he asked.

"I thought you were asleep," Eponine mumbled.

"No. Too much on my mind."

Eponine rolled over so that she was facing him. She could barely make out his features in the scarce moonlight that beamed through their small window.

"I don't think it's a lost cause. I think it's everything but that. I have this feeling that something great is going to come of everything you're doing."

"I just don't want to lead more men to their deaths."

Eponine reached up and placed a hand on his rough, unshaven cheek.

"Enjolras, you have to realize that some of those men are probably going to die, but you can't blame yourself for that. It is their choice whether or not they fight, so you have to know that it isn't your fault," she said, playing with his blonde curls.

Enjolras didn't say anything, but just looked at her with sad eyes. She curled up against him, and he held her, resting his chin on her head.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too, 'Ponine."

Then, they drifted off to sleep.

0000

Within a week of Jean Valjean's death, Marius and Cosette's baby was born. Arrangements were made for the Pontmercy's to leave for England a week after the baby's birth.

Courfeyrac and Giselle went with Eponine to tell them goodbye. Enjolras, however, stayed home, refusing to go. He still wouldn't speak to Marius and probably never would. Eponine knew he felt deeply betrayed by Marius, and that wasn't something Enjolras got over easily.

After she returned home, Eponine decided that she wouldn't talk about the goodbyes unless Enjolras asked. To her surprise, he did ask, in a way.

"Are you upset?" he asked while they ate dinner.

"A little, but I'll be OK. I've had much worse happen in my life than losing a couple of friends."

The subject changed, and they spoke no more about Marius and Cosette Pontmercy.

Author's Note: I hope everyone likes it so far! Please, please, PLEASE review! I need some more reviews. They encourage me to keep writing, and you know I love to hear what my readers have to say. Please let me know what you think of this chapter and the story as a whole so far. Any suggestions and ideas are welcome as well! Something big is coming in the next chapter. Thanks so much for taking the time to read!

~loislane16