Part Two: Chapter Two

Enjolras and Eponine woke up early and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. They were sipping coffee when the kids made their appearances, already dressed for school. Eponine laughed when she saw Jolie's long dark hair messily tied back with a lopsided blue bow.

"Come here, Jolie. Let's fix your bow," Eponine smiled.

"She insisted on doing it herself," Libertè said, taking a bite of her breakfast.

Enjolras watched as Eponine ran her fingers through the little girl's hair, smoothing out all the tangles. She pulled her hair back and tied it up delicately, making the little blue bow look perfect. They all sat around eating their breakfast before it was time to leave for school. An arrangement had been made where Eponine and Giselle would take turns walking the children to school. Today was Giselle's day. After a while, Giselle showed up in the Rousseau's kitchen with Henri in tow. Brigette had one more year before she started school.

"Are we ready?" she asked.

The kids nodded and cleaned up their messes before joining Giselle.

"Libertè, could you wait for a moment?" Enjolras asked.

She stayed seated at the table.

"We'll be outside," Giselle smiled.

She nodded, then turned back to her parents.

"Your mother and I have talked about the university. Are you aware that you will most likely be the only woman in your classes?" Enjolras asked.

"Yes."

"And you know that people will probably think you're stupid or crazy. They might even look down on you because you are a woman. Can you handle that?" Eponine asked.

"Yes. I think I can handle it."

Enjolras and Libertè's matching fierce blue eyes stared at each other for a long while before he finally sighed.

"I guess I'll see about enrolling you in classes soon," he said.

Libertè's face lit up and a huge smile spread across her lips.

"Oh, thank you, Papa!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Your mother was the one who convinced me," he laughed.

"Thank you, Mama," she said, hugging Eponine as well.

"You're welcome. Now, go catch up with the others. You don't need to be late," she reminded.

"OK. Goodbye! Love you!" she called, practically running out the door.

"Love you too. Have a good day, Libby," Enjolras said.

She flashed them one last bright smile before leaving for school.

0000

That day around lunchtime, Enjolras and Courfeyrac were upstairs discussing things and Giselle had taken Brigette out with her to run errands. Eponine decided she would make them some lunch. The men were in Courfeyrac's office, and Eponine went to tell them that lunch was almost ready. They decided they would come down and get their food, and then go back to the office to eat so they could continue working. Eponine went back downstairs to make sure it was done, and soon the men joined her.

Enjolras grabbed Eponine's hand and said, "Join us, 'Ponine."

She smiled and nodded. They all grabbed their lunch and went back upstairs to Courfeyrac's office to eat together. Although they said that they would work while they ate, that idea wasn't successful, and they all ended up talking instead.

"So does Libertè have any plans for the university?" Courfeyrac asked.

Enjolras and Eponine glanced at each other, and then Enjolras nodded, "Yes. I talked to her about it last night."

"What did she say?"

"She wants to go into politics," he answered.

"That's not that surprising," Courfeyrac shrugged.

"How is it that I'm the only one that it shocks?" Enjolras asked, exasperated.

"I really can't believe you didn't see it coming. I mean, she is basically a female version of you. When I'm around you two when you're together, it's like I'm seeing two Enjolras's!" Courfeyrac said.

Enjolras laughed, "I know. I just expected her to pick something like nursing or teaching."

"Well, she is following in her Papa's footsteps," Eponine smiled, placing a hand on Enjolras's arm.

They talked for a little while longer, but soon the men had to return to their work. Eponine stayed with them for a bit, but eventually she went downstairs and found that Giselle and Brigette were back from their errands.

0000

Later that afternoon, the children returned home from school. Eponine noticed that Libertè seemed more serious and reserved than usual. Eponine walked over to her daughter who was sitting at a table reading a school book and sat down beside her.

"What's bothering you, Libby?"

"Nothing," she responded, not looking up from the book.

"That doesn't work on me. Just ask you father. I can see straight through his façade, which means I can see right through yours too. So, what's bothering you?" Eponine asked again.

Libertè sighed, "I told my friends and my teacher about my study plans, and they thought it was the most idiotic idea they'd ever heard."

Eponine put a hand on her daughter's back, "We told you that most people would think it was crazy. If this is something you truly want to do, you can't let that get to you."

"I don't care if they think I'm crazy. That doesn't matter to me. It bothers me that people are so set in their ways that they can't look past stereotypes. The way I see it, I can be whatever I want to be as long as I set my mind to it. Just because I am a woman doesn't mean I am any less capable of being a politician," she said defiantly.

Eponine nodded, "Yes. You can be whatever you want. It's unfortunate that we live in a world where people think that way, but maybe you can change that one day, Libby," Eponine smiled, kissing Libertè's forehead.

0000

Eponine climbed into bed that night beside Enjolras, who was sitting up reading by the light of the oil lamp. She scooted close to him, resting her head on his shoulder, and he adjusted so that the arm she was leaning on was moved to wrap around her.

"Libertè told her classmates about wanting to study politics."

"Oh?" Enjolras inquired, looking down at her.

Eponine nodded.

"What did they say?"

"She said that they thought it was an idiotic idea."

"Did it upset her?" he asked.

"No. She said she didn't care. It only bothered her that people weren't more open. She said that she thought that she didn't like that people couldn't see past stereotypes and that she can be whatever she wants if she's determined enough. Sound familiar?"

Enjolras chuckled.

"She's right, though," he added.

"I know she is."

Enjolras kissed her on the top of her head, turned out the light, and they slid down under the cover. Together, they fell asleep, with Enjolras holding Eponine close.

Author's Note: Hey guys. Sorry this one is shorter, but I was having a hard time writing it, and I'm still not that happy with it. So, I need your help! I'm stuck, and I need some ideas! I have appreciated all the ideas I've already gotten, and I have to say that I had already planned for some of them to happen later on, but you'll have to wait and see which ones. So, please send in your ideas because I desperately need them! The last time I asked for ideas from my readers, they were great, so I'm relying on you guys again! Thanks for reading and sticking with me.

~loislane16