Hello! Quick update! Sorry for how late it is but I wanted to submit it sooner rather than later. The next chapter might be a little short so I apologise in advance. Please keep up with the reviews an tell me what you think ofthrow the plot is moving on, too fast, too slow? Thanks!

AND ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN THIS PAST BECKONS LIFE CALLS

The past binds some, and

The future will call others, although

The dread may consume, sometimes

The hope will shine through, even

The shadows will retreat, when

The truth is apparent, this

The darkest night, past

The gloom of day, beckons

The true light of love, life

The only chance, calls.

When Èponine and Henri had arrived at their destination it had begun to snow slightly once again, the little white feathered fragments falling all around. Henri had knocked lightly on the door and called for his sœur, while Èponine had stood slightly behind him almost as if she was cowering. She was awaiting the presence of his sœur and was rather anxious. When the little fille with long tresses of hazel and ash came and opened the door she smiled and twisted her hands into her skirts. Looking between her brother and Èponine, she gave a small curtesy like her mother had taught her to in the presence of guests.

"Bonjour, mademoiselle Èponine! I have been waiting for you to come for weeks!" She admitted with a coy smile as if she was exposing a dark secret of her brothers.

Henri had the audacity to not even blush, he just shook his head slightly allowing his dark locks to fall in front of his eyes. "I will admit that you are mostly the talk of our evenings Èponine." This knowledge caused the frail girl in question to become crimson.

"Come on inside, I am sure that Estelle would love to show you her doll." Henri invited and gestured towards the door. Èponine entered and was instantly thrilled, she loved the odd little cottage which seemed to be hidden away inside the very heart of the city. The floors were tiled with an old copper coloured marble that gave warmth to the place and adding to that warmth was the creamy walls, candles that seemed to cover every surface gleamed with joy. Èponine felt like this place was truly her home and she knew that during that night, as she lay in bed, it would be this home she would dream of living in.

The hallway was divided by four doors, each one contains its own small treasury. There was a little kitchen with a proper cooking stove and herbs strung up on woven lines. It had a small wooden table contains four chairs that were all neatly polished. As Èponine was shown around this room she could only imagine how much pride the wife of this home had taken when tidying it. She was soon escorted back through the same door and out into the hall again, only to turn to her right and find herself in the drawing room. This was the largest room in the home and was accompanied by a steady oak fireplace, where logs were stacked ready for use. There were two plush satin chairs which were obvious to have been once a great and beautiful sight but were now slightly more battered, with plucks and stains but still lovely none the less. Èponine let her hand run across the wood of a bookshelf which was littered with certain precious belongings. It was filled with trinkets and books of all descriptions and Èponine was breath taken by how pretty a small item could be. Then she stopped with a small sigh as she beheld the sight of a lady's portrait which hung over the fire place. It had been sketched with great care and the woman's smile seemed to radiate a certain happiness.

"Who is she?" Asked Èponine, stunned by the figure.

"It's mama! Isn't she very pretty? When I grow older I shall look just like she does, that's what Henri says." Èponine turned and saw Estelle was rocking back and forth on her heels gazing at the portrait in wonder, Henri appeared to have slipped out the door. Èponine inhaled before answering, feeling a deep sadness for the girl who had loat her mama. "Yes Estelle I think she looks lovely. Why! I wish she were me own mama!" This seemed to make Estelle smile which pleased Èponine thoroughly. "Come 'ponine! I shall show you my room and my very special doll." Èponine smiled lightly and allowed the young girl to lead her, by the hand, into her room.

Èponine was instantly envious. The beds, while not fit for a king, were delightful enough to entice even the most insomniac of people into their warm and soft cotton sheets. The blankets, both hand woven with care, were patterned to look like birds and small animals of every kind. "Oh! How delightful!" Spoke Èponine as she traced the outline of a small kitten which had been expertly sewn. There were two beds, one obviously Henri's and the other Estelle's. Around Estelle's bed the flooring was littered with child's things. There were little painted wooden soldiers which had probably once been Henri's, there was also small jacks and playing cards lying in disarrayed piles. The childlike pretensions made Éponine feel calmer somehow, as if this was her life, without the hardships of the real world. Estelle was rummaging through a trunk at the end of her bed which happened to contain the rest of her belongings, mostly consisting of clothes. She produced a small painted box and held it up for Éponine to see.

"What's that ye got there?" asked Éponine softly.

"It's my dominos game! Mama made it for me and Henri but he will never play it with me. Not anymore." Estelle seemed to become saddened.

"Why wouldn't he play the game? It looks very good!" Éponine asked partly out of manners but also because of her own curiosity.

"Henri gets sad, he doesn't like to talk about mama, that's why he let the room; because you asked about mama's painting."

Éponine's lip curled slightly in wonder and she slowly walked over to the young girl and slid her arm about Estelle's shoulder, an act of warmth she wouldn't normally have committed. "Shall we play the game now?" She asked, "I would love to play! But ye must tell me how. I ain't very smart."

Estelle's pale face instantly brightened and she exclaimed, "Oh, of course we shall play! Don't worry I'll tell you all the rules but you mustn't tell Henri, he would only get cross."

Éponine nodded back and the deal was struck. After about an hour Éponine was finding herself enthralled in the silly little game. She like the simplicity of it and it made her feel educated to be able to count the little dots. It reminded her of her short period of schooling when she was younger and she liked Estelle's present. On some level Éponine supposed she was paying her penance towards her sister for all the times she had failed to save her. This heavy thought, however dull and dark did not warrant to diminish the pleasure taken in her time with Estelle, instead it liberated her. So Éponine found herself explaining to the young girl across from her, the truth behind the fate of her sister Azelma.

"I once had a sister and three brothers, I did, I remember." Éponine whispered into the silence which had wrapped around the two in a shroud of concentration.

"You did? I have always wanted a sister and maybe some more brothers too! Oh, how lucky you are Éponine!" Estelle beamed in a childlike innocence, failing to see the true misery behind Éponine's eyes.

"Their all gone now tho'." Said Éponine with her eyes to the floor as she seeped her foot back and forth on the copper floor, "I wish I could have made it better tho' I wasn't that nice to them. I feel so sorry tho' but it doesn't really matter anymore. They are probably all hating me because I didn't look after them, I should 'ave tho' but I didn't."

Estelle's eyes grew yearly and Éponine was instantly sorry that she had upset the girl. Estelle was upset by Éponine's words, although not in the way you would think. "I think your good Éponine, not bad just lonely. Sometimes lonely people feel bad but they aren't. They are just lonely, that's all." Estelle used her small hand to comfort Éponine by placing It on her cheek and smiling slightly into the gaze of her eyes. "You don't have to be really alone anymore Éponine. Henri and I, we will look after you." this caused Éponine to shed tears of happiness at the prospect of a new kind of life, one that incorporated love and affection. "Like a family?" asked Éponine shyly and Estelle nodded, "Just like a family. I know that Henri can be quiet sometimes but he really does care about you. He just is in between." Estelle whispered with a knowledge that seemed hundreds of years old instead of her real slight age. "In between? What do ye mean?" Asked Éponine feeling small as she sat on the floor with her knees pulled to her chest and Estelle's hand on her cheeks. Estelle shook her head slightly and flicked a strand of her dark hair from her eyes. "He doesn't know where he is. With mama or with me and he has to choose. Life is only life if you live it and Henri has to live a little to have a life. He is just as scared as the rest of us. Sometimes he cries in the night, he thinks I cant hear him but I can and it scares the birds sometimes. They will fly away if he doesn't stop."

With a small shrug Estelle turned her head back towards the game, slipping in her last piece and exclaiming, "There it is! I have won! I am the winner, weren't I clever?"

"Oui, Estelle yer very clever. I wish I were as clever as ye." Éponine replied kindly but she was distracted by what the young girl had said about Henri. She believed that Henri truly did care for Éponine and right now, that was enough. Éponine was finding her heart, using her hands and so was Henri.

It was beginning to darken outside and the ever present moon was hanging in the sky casting its ominous glow that has been seen in just the same way for generations. The rivers frozen and icy surface was glistening in a haunting way and that night there happened to be a certain calm which had swept the streets. Almost as if we're the calm before the storm. The wind was extinguished so that only a frail breeze blew threw Paris which carried hope and prosperity. Henri, Éponine and Estelle were seated in the drawing room, Henri and Éponine sat upon the two great chairs and Estelle lay curled on the floor beside he fire, shrouded in her blanket and playing with her porcelain doll. The doll, as Éponine had been enthusiastically told was called Clara and had been a beauteous gift from her papa. This had then caused Éponine to inquire about their papa, she listened silently waiting and hoping that he was alive and well and would not cause sadness to enter the hearts of the two siblings.

Their papa was indeed well, presently he was away at sea on a long voyage, many months Henri had said beaming with pride. Their papa was a captain in the navy, a respected man who earned good and honourable money which he would send back to their home every month. Although the money would have been enough to support the two of them well, Henri's pride had no room for unemployment and he believed that all able bodied men should work hard to provide for thei family no matter how rich. Éponine admired him for this, gazing at him with admiration. The only problem with Henri working most of the day away was that Estelle would be left in the home alone, wih no company and little to do. She had refused many nannies and maids claiming that no one could ever replace her mama who had looked after her up until last year.

"I could stay with ye during the day?" Eponine asked shyly hoping the answer to be yes, "I wouldn't be yer maid, i'd be yer friend!we could play games all day, or stroll through the market. I could take ye to see the beautiful gardens, I know ye would like them very much!"

Henri didn't even consider, he just nodded with a small smirk on his face, pleased. He had been going to ask Éponine to stay with Estelle but was much happier that she had volunteered herself. "That will be great, won't it Estelle?" Henri asked, turning to see Estelle's thrilled face as she sat crouched by the glowing logs.

"Oui! Éponine thank you so much! We shall play together all day, oh what fun we shall have." Estelle began to hum softly, combing through Clara's hair with her slender fingers. She was the picture of childhood meeting serenity and it caused Éponine to smile at Henri wispering quietly, "She is dear, I do envy ye Henri. With yer lovely home and yer kind sœur."

Henri lent across in his chair, making Éponine's heart soar, he gently held her hand with his, leaning between the two chairs. "Don't you worry, what's the purpose of thinking saddened thoughts when springtime is near? We shall all live Éponine and we shall never go away, you will see us everyday.I think it is time for notre repas."

He stood up still holding Éponine's hand, he eased her up, onto her feet so they stood face to face, chest to chest. Éponine nearly swooned and backed away a little. "Come." He said and lead her forwards into the kitchen with all the pretty hangings and sweetly smelling herbs.

"What shall we have for dinner? It's your choice Éponine, for you are the guest." asked Henri as he displayed the contents of his cupboard to her. Éponine was caught slightly off guard by his proposal, all the food which lay before her seemed mouthwateringly better than her usual meagre meal and she eyed them with a fancy. There was bread and mead and potatoes and enough to make a soup or broth. There was vegetables and even a slice of cheese. The selection seemed wondrous to Éponine and her mouth had instantly become wet with the thought of food. "How could I ever choose? There is too much choice!" She exclaimed eyeing Henri with attempted humour, he too smiled back and suggested, "Why don't we make a broth? Estelle loves to cook and I am not particularly hungry." Éponine nodded, instantly agreeing with his every word and Henri continued, "All right, a light broth it is then! I shall go and fetch Estelle."

The three of them were seated around the table, each mouth filled with the food and each face bright with mirth. "I say, well done to us! We are champion chefs!" Henri goaded. "Oh, Oui! A meal fit for the king no doubt!" The three laughed in delight. "Yer right, we should be sent to work in the royal kitchens." Éponine lent back into the chair slightly, she enjoyed the light and pleasant banter which was thrown back and forth across the table between brother and sister. She tried to imagine her family, the Thènardier's or the Jondredette's as they now went by, behaving like this. Being so loving and warm, she could, with no attest to how hard she tried, dream like that even though she wished she could. "I have to say Èponine, it is as if you have never cooked before, am I right?" Henri asked grinning dubiously with gaiety at his remark, however his face soon lost that shine when he saw how Èponine darkened slightly and became silent. She was terribly embarrassed by the truth behind Henri's words and was afraid that Henri would now think less of her.

"Well, what of it?" Asked Èponine quietly peering out at Henri's wide eyed stare. "Do ye mock me Henri? Why should ye ask a girl such a thing?" She let a small tear fall from her eye and travel in its glistening path down her cheek.

Estelle was stunned also, she complemented her thoughts by staying true to the silence of the room, not yet brave enough to bold it. Henri was different and he challenged the silence by ladling a large mouthful of the broth into his lips in a crude display of showing remorse. "No harm was meant to it Èponine, no one shall judge you here. In this home you will be yourself or whoever you desire to be, no one will judge you. Definitely not me."

Èponine nodded slightly and used her hand to brush the frail tears from her cheek. "Thank ye, I am finished. I fear that's have lost my apatite." Spoke Èponine as she lay the dainty spoon back into her dish and began to stand. "It is late and I should go." She announced with an air of finality however Henri did not bid her leave.

"Oh Èponine! You cannot leave now, the night is yet young! We shall sit together, the three of us, tell heroic tales of bravery round the fire!"

Èponine paused chewing at her lip with her lip and debating the path she should choose. She feared her stay would just bring her more mockery and humiliation but she also bore no wants for arriving home. "All right, I'll stay but not for too long and besides I'll be back tomorrow." She explained and watched as Estelle grinned and began to quickly tidy the dishes.

They had set themselves around the fireplace on the floor, all of them trying to steal as much heat as possible from the flickering flames. "Once upon a time." Began Henri in a voice full of mysteries which seemed to be as old as time. He spoke with a kind of burning passion which fuelled the soul.

"There was a young girl with beautiful chestnut locks and sparkling sapphire eyes. She lived in a small farming village just outside of Lyon, she lived with her father and sisters. Then one day, as she walked through the markets of the village, she encountered a fine young sailor. She said that he was the handsomest man in all of France. His hair was said to be darker than night, even though it is now white with age. They were happy together, loving each other a little more with every day that passed. Eventually they married, and when they did it was said to be the happiest joining in years. Both bride and groom dressed in finery with a band and dancers as well! They lived in Lyon for only a year before they moved to Paris and when they did, their son was shortly born healthy and both parents blossomed in love. They shone as they walked through the streets and though they tried for more children, god would not bless them that miracle for another many years. The boy grew and soon his sister was growing too, but as she grew their maman weakened. No matter how many fine doctors came and went, their mama grew weaker still. She was cold and frail yet she took pride in her children, cherishing them until the day she slowly slipped away, leaving a husband and two children behind. She will always be loved."

Èponine and Estelle gazed, wide eyes at Henri before Estelle broke the silence by asking, "Mama?"

"Oui Estelle." Replied Henri, "That was the story of our Mama. It was sad wasn't it?"

Èponine replied with a burst of astonishment. "Oh, no it was not sad, it was beautiful! She was brave and I admire her."

Henri's brow twitched in surprise. "How can it not be sad?" He asked, "For she has died."

Èponine nodded solemnly agreeing with Henri but then whispered into the smouldering flames. "Oui, she died. Yer right but she has also lived, she had lived more than any of us."

Henri stared at Èponine, amazed by her comforting words which would have usually come from him. He took her hand and squeezed it slightly, looking to see that Estelle's worried expression mirrored Èponine's. "you are right Èponine." He said.

"That was the nicest story that you have ever told me." Added Estelle smiling softly towards Henri and Èponine's interlocked hands.

"Oui, it was a lovely story Henri." Agreed Èponine, her eyes alight with life.

And so, as Henri started to open his heart to both his dear sœur and good companion Èponine, he learned to see the light through the darkness. He learned to trust and he learned to forget. He knew that despite the shadow that hung over his life from his past, his future could still be as bright and happy as the lives of his parents had been. So even when the past binds us and we wonder lost in yesterday, the future is waiting just a little further ahead. Even Then.

Even then, when the pasts dark memories call and the future becomes distant, the path will become clear and the truth will be known, Even then.