Hello everyone, here's the next chapter for you all
It is split into three parts, showing a segment of Eponine's home life as well as the continuation of the bonding between Courfeyrac and Gavroche (and Eponine).
I hope you all like it
Eponine forced a smile as she walked into the house, Courfeyrac's money still folded into her hand. "I'm here papa, I'm sorry I was away all night"
"Eponine, where were you? You were meant to come to help me with last night's house raiding girl" Thenardiar said with a cruel smirk. "Well, girl, where were you?"
"I was out working papa, I went down to the estate and found some young men, you see papa." Eponine lied. She was used to that sort of work, he would believe her. "I made good money, look"
He pulled the notes from her hand counting out the eighty euros. "Well done Eponine, will I get the same tonight?"
"No papa, I will come to the raid tonight. These young men have other work tonight, in the clubs down in the red light district. You know the place" She replied looking down at her feet. "Thank you papa"
"You've learnt your place at last I see, girl, not grieving over Azelma or searching for the boy" He smiled. "You've moved on at last"
"Indeed papa, Azelma and Gavroche are in the past" Eponine sighed. She missed Azelma greatly and hated that she could not even grieve her sister properly. Despite giving Gavroche away to earn money, her parents did not give Azelma the burial she deserved. The young girl who had died too young had been buried in a small unmarked grave in a large cemetery not far from where they lived. She knew that her parents could not remember the spot where they had laid their middle child to rest, but she knew. Eponine also knew that they did not care whether Gavroche was alive or dead, they had given him away without a care. They would rather see him rot in the slum house orphanage then see him thrive with a family who loved him. She was glad that he was with Courfeyrac, safe where her father wouldn't find him.
"Well done Eponine" Thenardiar smiled wrapping a hand around her thin arm tightly. "Keep that in mind and you might do well in this world"
"I did well in school papa; I could get a good job and bring in constant money" Eponine argued. "Just let me look papa"
"You belong to me Eponine, you do what I say" He replied. "Understand?"
"Yes papa" She sighed pulling her arm away from him and turning to leave the room. "Where is the raid tonight?"
"Those big apartments on rue north" He smiled. "Rich young students, who spend their nights elsewhere"
Eponine gaped. Courfeyrac lived at number 18 rue north. "I know those places papa, nothing there. Those students are the type to take nothing from their rich families; they live average lives, no finery"
"Why should I believe you?" He snarled looking at her. "Well?"
"I spent a lot of time around those apartments when I was in school papa, I know the place well. The students give everything they have to others. We would be better going down rue Luxembourg, they are the selfish rich. Jewells and finery and everything" Eponine explained. She didn't want to steal from anyone, but she had to keep her father and his gang away from Courfeyrac and Gavroche.
"Rue Luxembourg, you say girl?" He smiled. "Will there be money?"
"I can promise that" Eponine smiled "See papa, I know my way around"
"Indeed, but if there is nothing decent to sell at these rich homes, the punishment will be on you, understand?" Thenardiar said, clenching his fists.
"Yes papa" Eponine nodded quickly leaving the room and letting out a sigh of relief as she ran to her room and pulled her phone out of her pocket. 'The money kept papa satisfied, thank you Courfeyrac. He was going to raid the rue north apartments tonight, but I kept him off of the scent' She text
When Courfeyrac received the message, he was relieved to know she was safe. "You are welcome, stop thanking me. I thank you for keeping him away from here. Do you think you will be able to visit soon?"
Eponine: "Yes, mama and papa go out tomorrow to thieve at the markets. I will come then. They will not be back until late"
Courfeyrac: "Good, you can spend the day here if you want"
Eponine: "I would like that"
…
The next morning, Eponine sat against her window watching her parents load the old battered car full of boxes of stolen goods. This happened once a week, Eponine was used to the routine. Once a week, the local square would become full of food and craft stalls. Her parents could easily set up a stall and sell these stolen goods for more than they were worth. It was easy money. Once they were gone, Eponine quickly dressed and left the run down house. She spent the last of her feeble allowance on a chocolate bar for Gavroche before heading to Courfeyrac's apartment.
She always felt that level of excitement at seeing Gavroche, excited to see his little face lit up and watch him play with all of the toys that he should have been given much earlier in his short life. Now, she found herself also feeling excited at the idea of seeing Courfeyrac. He had done so much for Gavroche and showed her nothing but kindness. He was kind and loyal, and the sparkle in his eyes made her heart soar, a feeling normally only linked with the sight of Marius Pontmercy.
"It's open!" come Courfeyrac's yell when she knocked on the door and called her name. She smiled to herself, walking into the spacious apartment. Courfeyrac was curled up on the couch with Gavroche on his lap, both wrapped in his blanket as they watched the morning cartoon.
"Good morning" Eponine said, smiling at the sight. "You two look comfortable"
Courfeyrac smiled moving along the couch to welcome her to sit beside them. "'Roche wanted me to watch the cartoons with him" He said in way of explanation.
"And you couldn't say no?" Eponine giggled, reaching across to tickle Gavroche's stomach, sending him into a fit of giggles. "He looks better today, the spots don't look so sore"
"No, he's nearly better. No more itching" Courfeyrac smiled. "Isn't that right kiddo?"
"Yes Courf, all better now" Gavroche smiled leaning his head back to look at Courfeyrac before turning to Eponine "Are you gonna stay all day today?"
"Yes I am baby" Eponine smiled kissing his head. "And I brought you a sweetie"
Gavroche's little face lit up when he saw the chocolate bar, giving her a thank you and a kiss on the cheek "Tank you 'Ponine, chocolate yummy"
"You're welcome" She smiled sinking back into the soft cushions of the couch. She watched the little boy nibble at the chocolate as he continued to watch the television before going to speak to Courfeyrac "Thank…"
"Don't say thank you again Eponine, there is really no need" Courfeyrac said stopping her from speaking. "It's alright, really"
Eponine smiled, looking at her hands in her lap. "I need to repay you somehow"
"Repay me by spending the day here, enjoying some time with your brother and joining us for dinner tonight, that is all I ask" Courfeyrac smiled repositioning Gavroche in his arms so that the little boy was resting back against his chest. He smiled, pushing hair back from his eyes. "You enjoying that chocolate little man?"
"Yep" Gavroche smiled, licking melted chocolate from his fingers. With a smile, he broke a piece of the bar off and held it up to the young man. "You have some?"
"Aww for me, thank you Gavroche" Courfeyrac smiled taking the small square of chocolate and eating it. "Mm that was very yummy. Is it yummy in your little tummy?"
"Yes it is!" Gavroche laughed
"Good" Courfeyrac said with a cheeky grin, tickling the boy's stomach and peppering kisses over his cheeks, making him squeal with laughter.
Eponine laughed watching the two boys playing and laughing, they seemed so comfortable with each other as if Gavroche had always been a part of Courfeyrac's life.
With the chocolate bar gone and smears of the sweet treat all around Gavroche's mouth, Courfeyrac chuckled standing up and swinging the boy up onto his shoulders. "Right, I'm going to go and clean this little monkey up. Make yourself at home Eponine" He smiled
"Thank you" She smiled setting her leather jacket on the table
"I told you to stop saying that" Courfeyrac called as he carried Gavroche to clean up, the sound of the child's laughter ringing through the apartment. All Eponine wanted to do right now was curl up with Gavroche in her arms and Courfeyrac beside her. She was more comfortable here than she had been at home for years. When the two boys returned, Gavroche quickly took his spot at the coffee table, a number of toy cars and trains to play with, and Courfeyrac sat beside her. She attempted to hide the blush that covered her cheeks by changing the subjects.
"It's nice to see him just being a kid, playing, rather than hiding away from mama and papa or being in that horrible orphanage" She said looking back at Courfeyrac.
"Yes" He agreed. "He loves those toys; he always picks out those ones. He's told me some things about the orphanage and I just want to make it perfect for him here"
"It is perfect for him here, you don't have to worry about that" Eponine replied. "What has he told you?"
Courfeyrac sighed. "That they never had any toys, about from some footballs that only the older kids got" He said. "And that they used to take dinner away from them if they did not finish fast enough because the owners there wanted them in bed as soon as possible"
"That's awful" Eponine gaped. "That's why he is so tiny; he never got proper food when he was first starting to grow. Mama often 'forgets' to make dinner and papa never cared for him. Most of the food he got was because I would sneak it off of the table for him"
"I'm sorry Eponine, for what your parents put him through and what they put you through" Courfeyrac said softly, reaching across to tuck one of her dark curls behind her ear. "But you don't have to worry about him anymore; here he will want for nothing. He will never go hungry and always have all of the toys he could ever dream off"
"Oh Courfeyrac" Eponine said softly. "I know that you would never treat him badly, I can see that he absolutely adores you and I can see that you adore him"
Courfeyrac nodded smiling to her. She blushed looking across at Gavroche.
The day passed by full of games and laughter. Eponine found herself smiling more than she had in many years. She laughed every time she watched Courfeyrac swing Gavroche up into his arms, spinning him around and chasing him through crazy games. It was natural to him, how to act around Gavroche, it appeared to Eponine that he found it so easy. Gavroche acted as if he had known Courfeyrac for as long as he could remember, rather than a few short weeks. She had sat watching a movie with Gavroche whilst Courfeyrac made the dinner, a better meal than she ever got at home. It was perfect. She was happy for Gavroche, that he could finally start having a life that he deserved. A life full of love and care and kindness. In a way, as she watched Gavroche with Courfeyrac, she wished that she could have this life too.
She curled up with a mug of hot chocolate, kissing Gavroche goodnight before Courfeyrac carried the sleepy eyed little boy off to bed. She needed to stop dreaming, to stop wishing, she couldn't have this. She was poor, he was wealthy. Things were different.
…
"There we go my little man" Courfeyrac smiled tucking Gavroche into bed, wrapping the blankets around him and tucking his monkey toy under his arm "Comfy?"
"Yes" Gavroche smiled "All snuggly"
"Good" Courfeyrac said; he couldn't help but smile at the little boy with his sweet curls and sleepy blue eyes. He leaned across to turn on the night light on the bedside cabinet, the small light sending a pale blue glow across the room. "Alright then" He said gently pressing a kiss to Gavroche's forehead. "Goodnight Gavroche"
Gavroche gave a sleepy smile "Goodnight Papa"
And I hope you all say aww now