A/N: Hi! So just a warning, this chapter will break your heart, but it had to be done. I'm not one to stray from canon, unless absolutely necessary, so I had to write this. Don't you fret though, in the end it will stray from canon greatly, and Marius and Eponine WILL end up together. That's all I'm saying. Oh and idk when the revolution in the musical is, but in the book its in July, so that's when it is gonna be in this story. Oh and I know this is a little different than in the movie/ musical/ book, but this is just how I liked it so yeah.
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Eponine had been walking down the street all morning. She couldn't take her mind off of last night. She had been so close to telling him. What would he have said? Would he have felt the same way? Would he have laughed in her face? She would never know, and that's what hurt the most.

She was brought out of her musings by a hand grabbing her upper am and pulling her to the side. When she saw that the hand belonged to her father, she stifled a groan, and instead rolled her eyes. Her father was wearing a large top hat that had grey hair attached to either side. The Patron- Minette stood beside him, while her mother sat inside the empty building.

"Whose hut is this?" Eponine asked bitterly.

"The owner was an old friend of mine. What a tragic shame that he passed away." Monsieur Thenardier lied through his teeth. He took a deep breath before continuing, "You and 'Parnasse go take watch for the bobbies. I don't want them messing this up. See those two over there? That's true bourgeois. And their money is gonna feed us for a week." He added.

Eponine looked at the two bourgeois her father had been talking about. There was an old man wearing a coat that probably cost more than Eponine stole in a month, and beside him walked a girl who seemed around Eponine's age. The girl was everything that a bourgeois child should've been, but instead of walking with her nose to the sky, ignoring the beggars that came to her, she looked warmly upon those who approached her, especially the children. Eponine couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew she had recognized the couple before. There was something in the girl's eyes that she recognized.

As she observed the couple, she noticed Marius staring at the bourgeois girl. It was a stare that could've lit up the entire city of Paris. A stare like that, Eponine only dreamed about receiving from Marius. Her face fell as she looked back at the bourgeois girl. The girl was looking at Marius the same way that Marius was looking at her. They were in love. Anyone could tell by just the expressions on their face. How was that even possible? They had never even spoken to each other. Eponine had known him for a little over a year. Why couldn't he love her?

In her sadness, she didn't even try to stop 'Parnasse as he led her across the street with his hand on her hip. He gave her a harsh slap on the cheek when he saw the distant look in her eyes. Eponine winced, but said nothing. She kept a sharp eye on the small hut, mainly focused on the girl. She needed to figure out why she recognized her face. At first she'd simply thought she was being silly, but as she looked at the girl, it became more apparent, that her face was familiar.

A commotion seemed to be occurring in the small cottage. Her father and his gang brought the man out into the street, looking like they were about to do something terrible. Eponine looked down the street praying that someone would come to stop the gang. As much as she stole from people, she hated when her father hurt people. Besides, even if he managed to get some money, he never bought anything other than booze with it.

As if her prayers had been answered, just as it looked like things were going to escalate into something much worse, Eponine spotted Javert.

Eponine let out a piercing scream, "Its JAVERT!" she exclaimed.

The Patron- Minette released the bourgeois man, and scrambled away. Oddly she watched as the bourgeois family disappeared as well. A crowd had gathered around her father and his gang. Montparnasse had joined them. Eponine didn't bother listening to Javert and her father. She couldn't care less whether her family went to jail or not. She did tune into one very interesting point in the conversation though.

Her father was saying how the bourgeois man had stolen his child. At first Eponine had dismissed it as another one of her father's tricks to get out of trouble, but then it dawned on her.

"Cosette, now I remember. Cosette, how can it be? We were children together. Look what's become of me." Eponine muttered to herself.

The sight of Marius walking towards her, made her smile, but only a tad. The star struck look hadn't left his face, and Eponine imagined that it was for her. She imagined that he had never seen Cosette at all, and the look on his face was all for herself. Unfortunately, while she could imagine all she wanted, it wouldn't change her reality one bit.

"Eponine, who was that girl?" lovesick Marius pondered.

"That bourgeois two-a-penny thing?" Eponine replied reluctantly.

"Eponine, find her for me." Marius responded with a sense of urgency.

"What will you give me?"

"Anything." Marius said as he took her hand pleadingly.

"Got you all excited now, but God knows what you see in her. Aren't you all delighted now?" Eponine paused as she saw Marius reached into his pocket and take out two francs. "No I don't want your money sir."

Dejectedly, Eponine began to walk away. She hadn't even taken three steps, when she felt Marius lightly grab her upper arm. She grimaced slightly when he touched her still fresh bruise.

"Eponine, please do this for me. Finding that girl was like finding the sun after living in an endless night. Be cautious please. Don't let your father know. I don't want you to get hurt." Marius begged.

Eponine considered refusing, but it was Marius, and she knew she could never refuse him of anything. Eponine agreed reluctantly, and loved to see his face light up. If he was happy, then she was as well. Besides she would never deny anyone the sun, like her. Marius was her sun, but Cosette was his, and he was hers.

The sun was dangerous for Eponine. She didn't deserve to have it. Street rats like her deserved darkness and nothing more. Maybe it was for the best, because when gamine's like her stood too close to the sun, they were burned.