A/N: Thanks for reading!

DISCLAIMER: Still not mine.

CHAPTER 4:

The bed was soft. Eponine felt like she was sinking away in a cloud and she closed her eyes, enjoying the strange comfort. Across from the room, she could hear Javert's soft breathing and she lifted her head to glance at him. In sleep, he looked different. The lines on his face faded away and his smirk turned into a vulnerable pout. His eyes opened without warning and Eponine fell back into the bed, her heart racing.

"Do you think, Mademoiselle, that I would not realise someone staring at me while I sleep?"

"I… I'm sorry Inspector. I just… thought that y'might be uncomfortable on the ground… Perhaps I should…"

Javert sighed.

"Unfortunately you appear to be a woman. Propriety would not allow me to let you sleep on the ground."

"I'm used to it, Inspector."

"Be that as it may. I believe in the proper etiquette. Even toward undeserving wenches."

"You could… we could… share?"

The minute the words uttered her mouth she was sorry. Did she just offer to share a bed with the most hated man in… probably the world?

Javert appeared to deem her suggestion ridiculous too, gathered from his sudden choke.

"Mademoiselle! How dare you suggest something so… improper? I realise that I might have given you the wrong idea last night, but the Lord is already punishing me for it."

"I wasn't suggesting anything improper! It is a big bed and…"

Eponine trailed off, amazed at her bravery. Just because the man let her into his house, did not mean she could talk to him as though he was human.

Where he lay on the hard ground, Javert mulled over the preposterous suggestion. He did not want to share his bed with the street rat. He did not want her near his bed. Since she mentioned it, though, the ground had become more uncomfortable and as an inspector he should get his rest when he had the chance.

Eponine gasped when the mattress sank down beside her and she gaped at Javert who lay down next to her indifferently.

"I…what…what are you doing?"

Javert turned his head toward her.

"You said the bed was big."

"You said it was improper!"

The moonlight gave his face an ominous appearance and Eponine shuddered. Javert's voice was gruff as he looked at her.

"I… are you cold?"

"No…"

He nodded impulsively wiping a strand of hair from her face. He always felt vulnerable at night. It was the only time that he realised the loneliness. Against his will, Eponine's presence seemed to comfort him in a way. Not her as a person. Perhaps just the sound of her breathing.

Her breath hitched at his touch and Javert retracted his hand at once.

"Sleep well, Eponine."

His voice was cold again and Eponine nodded before turning onto her back.

Inspector Javert.

Of all the words she would have used to describe him – proud, intimidating, daunting, strong, cruel, malicious, unyielding – vulnerable was probably the last.

Yet, as he lay beside her, she realised that when Javert was alone in his bed, he was no different than any other person.

When Javert awoke at the crack of dawn, he froze instantly. He was used to sleeping still, his body rigid on the mattress. Now, however, he was curled up against… He was appalled by the creature he held in his arms, yet he could not let go. Her small hand clutched onto his and her hair tickled his chin.

Eponine awoke the second he moved, bringing her hands to her face when she felt the strong heartbeat against her back.

Javert was frozen. He had begun twirling a strand of her hair around his finger without noticing it. Eponine turned without warning and he swallowed as her femininely curves pressed up against him.

Eponine pressed her hands against his chest, meaning to push him away, but she found herself unable to do so. He was not wearing his trademark smirk yet. Without it, his lips looked almost… inviting. She failed to notice that his eyes were fixed to her mouth as well. Javert felt his heart beating wildly in his chest. Her injuries had not faded completely, but the blue marks seemed lighter, the swelling all but gone. She almost looked pretty. Not beautiful, but… appealing. Not a bad sight to behold first thing in the morning. He had never woken up to a woman, never held her in his arms like he had Eponine. Of course, his mind was playing tricks on him because it was a new experience.

He realised that he was still holding her and wanted to let go when he noticed her glazed over eyes set on his lips.

Without warning he leaned closer, his lips inches away from her. He hesitated. It would be so easy to lean in even closer, to touch her lips with his own…

He jumped up before he could do so, his hair uncharacteristically falling over his forehead.

"No."

His voice was gruff and Eponine sat up, dazed by what had almost happened.

"M'sieur…"

He took note that she let the "Inspector" drop, wondering whether she only used M'sieur when she was nervous, soothing herself against his formal title..

"You should go."

She suddenly seemed desirable as she climbed out of the bed. The shirt had shifted up to her thighs and he quickly averted his eyes, breathing deeply.

"Mademoiselle Thenardier. Leave my house."

She jumped at the ominous tone in his voice, rushing away frantically. He heard the front door slam shut within minutes and walked to his front door, surprise to find the black shirt neatly folded on the ground. He picked it up and pressed it to his chest. All traces of her were gone.

It was as though she was never there.

Eponine stopped only when her breath started burning in her chest. She doubled over, her entire body trembling.

"What have I done?"

She had almost kissed Javert. What was she thinking? How could she for one second consider it?

She pursed her lips at the thought of his demeanour when he chased her out of his house.

He wanted to kiss her just as much as she wanted it. How dare he make it her fault?

Her stomach growled and Eponine groaned. She would not attempt to steal as much as an old apple today. With her luck, Javert would be on the scene before she could even take the first bite. Sometimes she could swear that…

Eponine froze all over.
Of course. He was following her.

"Son of a…"

"Careful how you finish that sentence."

"Of course."

Javert's voice sounded complacent and Eponine stared at him defiantly.

"Why are you following me?"

In truth he did not know. Especially today – he had tried everything to convince himself to not do so. He couldn't stay away.

"It is my job."

"To stalk innocent women?"

Javert scoffed.

"Thenardier, you are hardly innocent."

Eponine moved closer to him than she would have dared before, her finger pointing at his chest.

"It was not my fault."

Javert grabbed her hand, twisting her wrist so that she yelped in pain.

"I never want to hear you mention that again, do you understand? I did my Godly duty and when I woke up… I was confused. There's nothing more to be said."

"Don't think the thought disgusts me any less than it does you, M'sieur."

To his surprise, the thought of kissing her did not disgust him. On the contrary – it aroused him. This was the exact reason why he would not allow himself to think about it at all.

He turned around, glancing at her once more over his shoulder.

"Do not even think about trying something, Thenardier. I will be watching you."

He stomped off without another word and Eponine groaned despite the small amount of relief she felt. Javert's threat meant that her father couldn't use her in any of his schemes. Of course she would have to tell him that Javert was keeping an eye on her. He wouldn't be pleased, but even Rousseau Thenardier would not dare to cross Javert. He might not have realised it, but in a sense he was doing her a favour and despite her dislike in him, she was grateful.

To say that Monsieur Thenardier was furious at his daughter's predicament would be an understatement. He stared at her in disbelief after her declaration, his eyes ablaze with anger.

"What did you say?"

"Inspector Javert is following me, papa."

"Why?"

"I do not know. He… he doesn't know that I am aware of it."

The lie came over her lips seemingly and without her knowing exactly why she said so.

The anger in Thenardier's eyes was quickly replaced by a shrewd look.

"You say he doesn't know you know?"

"No, papa."

"Good. Let him think you are reformed, no longer a criminal. Then, when he expects it least… you strike."

"What do you mean?"

He thrust the knife into her hands, his eyes glinting excitedly.

"I'm saying… Javert has given us the perfect opportunity to get rid of him. Which is exactly what you'll do."