Something was troubling Eponine, and Javert knew it. At dinner, she hardly ate and never said a word. When they went to the parlor to read before bed, her eyes never once looked up from the book. It was only when Eponine was preparing for bed, that Javert went to her to question her.
"Is it your parents?" Javert asked.
Eponine, who had been brushing her hair, turned to Javert. "What?"
"Your parents, are they troubling you? If you feel they will cause you harm, I'll have them arrested."
"No, Henri, it isn't them...It's me."
"Don't mind what your mother said. You've reformed, I've seen you change. You're no street rat, you're now a member of society."
Eponine shook her head and went over to her dresser. Reaching into her drawer, she pulled out a pocket watch on a gold chain and handed it to Javert. He saw his initials engraved on it, and remembered that it was a birthday present from a friend of his.
"Where did you get this?"
"I stole it. Two years ago. Papa asked me to take it, so I did. It was by force, I promise you. I know now that it was wrong, and I wanted to return it to you ever since the day that you saved me. I just thought you would cast me out, make me return to the streets. I don't know what I'd do if that happened. I could make my way on my own, but the idea of you treating me as you did before..."
Javert stuffed his watch into his pocket and walked up to Eponine, using his hand to cup her cheek.
"You saved me, Eponine. How could I ever forget that? How could I ever hate you after you've done to me?"
Eponine looked up at Javert. "What I've done to you?"
"I care for you, Eponine. I care for you like I could never care for anyone else. "
Then, without able to stop himself, Javert brought his lips to Eponine's. He kissed her, and kept kissing her. At first, he was wondering if she was going to push him away and hit him. She didn't. Instead, she pulled him closer, until their bodies were pressed together and soon her arms were around his neck.
Javert wasn't sure how long they had been kissing, but soon he found himself coming back to reality. He pulled himself away and took a few steps back from Eponine.
"My apologies, Mademoiselle. I had a moment of madness."
Javert turned and left the room. He now realized that it was not madness that made him kiss Eponine, it was because he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her because...Because...He was falling in love. No, he wasn't falling in love. He was in love with Eponine. Someone so different, so young, and he loved her. Surely, she didn't love him. Someone much older and someone who had attempted to arrest her more than once. She probably wished to be away from him, and he couldn't blame her. When morning came, he would find her proper lodgings and they would go their own ways.
It was around midnight and Javert was sleeping soundly, until he heard his bedroom door being pushed open. He sat up and saw Eponine enter his room, and for a moment they could only stare at each other.
"You love me, don't you?" Eponine asked.
Javert finally nodded. "I do love you. I only hope that you'll forgive me. This was never meant to happen."
"I want it to happen, Henri."
"You do?"
"Didn't you think it possible that I love you to? That perhaps from the moment you spoke to me in the hospital, I saw something in you that I never saw in Marius. You had this look, as though you wanted to protect me. Marius never wanted to protect me, not protect anyone but Cosette. I couldn't ever love someone who didn't want to offer me security. To protect me."
"I do want to protect you, and I do love you."
"I'm very glad. Because I love you to, Henri."
Eponine crawled onto the bed, next to Javert, and could only giggle as he struggled to undo the buttons of her nightgown. Eventually, she began to help him and then turned onto her side to blow out the candle.
The next morning, the two woke to the sun shining on them and the sounds of a distant bird chirping. Javert knew that he had to leave soon, but was perfectly content to remain in bed with Eponine.
"It was wonderful." Eponine said.
Javert smiled and drew back a strand of Eponine's dark hair. "No. You were wonderful. I only hope that your recovery will not worsen."
"Don't worry. I have no pain, and my stitches have remained in place."
"People will begin to talk now. Especially when they see you more often on my daily walks."
Eponine ran her hand down Javert's bare chest. "Does it bother you?"
"No. Besides, if anyone is bothered by us, then we shall simply ignore them."
"Henri, you could lose your friends. Your friends that work for the Surete. They will see me only as a thief out for your money."
"I know that isn't true. Perhaps a year ago I would think you would steal from me, or possibly even kill me, but I know now that the only thing can take from me is my heart."
Eponine smiled and gave Javert a long kiss. Perhaps, Javert thought, work could wait for another hour or two.