A/N: Let's just say I was very excited to write this chapter. And also, in the last chapter, I thought 'the rivers not just a river anymore! Haha! Thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews, they keep me writing!
Soft footsteps against the wooden floor in the bedroom were the first thing that Eponine heard when she woke from her deep sleep. The first thing that she saw was Enjolras nervously pacing back and forth in front of her bed, muttering to himself.
When she saw him, there was a strange elevation in her heart, and she couldn't help the blush and smile that were forming on her face. This man had saved her life. She would be dead without Enjolras.
She couldn't even comprehend the amazing feat that Enjolras had gone through to save her! This man touched her soul in a way no other human being had ever done before. He had shown her the ultimate form of love; by putting himself at risk to save Eponine. His actions had such a great impact on Eponine, and he didn't even know it.
"Enjolras?" Eponine asked trying to snap him out of his apparent trance.
"Oh, Eponine! Glad to see that you are awake!" he said joyfully, but then worried lines fell back in their place on his face.
"What's wrong?" Eponine asked biting her bottom lip; if something was bothering Enjolras, it must be serious.
"Nothing is wrong, per say, just… Something's changed," Enjolras said sounding like he had been hit with a sudden realization. He kept running his hands through his hair, shaking his head, and muttering to himself.
"What's changed?" Eponine asked innocently as Enjolras approached her bedside.
"The sun, the moon, the stars, the sky; everything has changed, Eponine," he said somewhat deliriously. Ah, the side effects of love. He sounded like Marius; it startled Enjolras.
"That's… vague," Eponine chuckled, eyeing him strangely.
"Eponine, you've changed me," Enjolras whispered.
"I've noticed a great change in you as well. Instead of being this untouchable marble statue, you are allowing the poor to humanize you, and they can see that you really are a caring human being who is capable of being the best leader of all time," Eponine said fervently. She was almost surprised at her words, but then she remembered that she was talking to a man who had saved her life and soul.
"I thank you for your kind words, but that wasn't exactly what I meant," Enjolras said shyly with faint blush creeping up on his cheeks.
Eponine's heart stopped for a moment, and she was desperate to know what he meant. She encouraged him to continue.
Enjolras opened his mouth, but no words found their way out. Frustrated at his own silence, Enjolras decided that he should show Eponine what he meant, and then he did a very, very stupid thing.
Enjolras slowly leaned forward and kissed her.
Eponine was too surprised to react at first, but then she found herself involuntarily kissing him back, melting into his strong body. Eponine noticed that she was a perfect fit for Enjolras, and he wrapped an arm around her drawing her even closer towards him.
They probably would have stayed that way for a while if it hadn't been for blasted Grantaire and his endless wits barging in.
"Clara was whining and whining that she really needs to talk to you, and that-" Grantaire immediately stopped talking at the sight of Eponine and Enjolras. He cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"I'll tell Clara it wasn't an opportune moment," Grantaire said trying to shut the door.
"Send her in," Enjolras' authoritative, and slightly out of breath, voice rang out. Moments later, a flustered Clara entered the room.
"I have something to tell you that I should have said earlier," she said uncomfortably.
"Pray tell, then," Enjolras said motioning for her to continue.
"I lied when I said I came to visit because I was lonely. Actually, I've been the opposite of lonely. For the past year I've been living with Aunt Agnes and Uncle Jacques. They insisted that I come to visit you, and they want for you to return with me back to their house in Provence for a little while. I think they want to try and talk you out of the revolution, or maybe they just want to see if you're still alive; I'm not quite sure," Clara said her eyes darting around the room nervously.
"Aunt Agnes and Uncle Jacques want to see me?!" Enjolras asked incredulously, and quite angrily. His aunt and uncle reminded him exactly of his parents; they were small minded, dull witted, annoying people who spat at the poor and worshipped the king. Enjolras couldn't even stand being near them.
"I refuse," he said dismissively.
"I'm afraid you can't refuse; if you do not come with me, they are going to make me take back all the money I gave you, and they will send the coppers after you before your revolution even starts," Clara said slightly reluctant.
"Clara, you don't have to listen to them," Enjolras tried to reason. Eponine felt very awkward with Enjolras' arm still around her, listening to this very personal family argument.
"I agree with them! Just come visit, please!" Clara begged. Enjolras sighed and cast a sidelong glance at Eponine.
"I will go if Eponine can come," Enjolras said.
Both women in the room disagreed with his statement.
"I can't let you bring filth into our home! What will Aunt Agnes and Uncle Jacques say about a beggar soiling their carpets?" Clara cried as Eponine said: "I would not know how to act around rich people who despise the very person I am!"
"I will not go then," Enjolras said simply, and Clara sighed.
"Fine, Eponine can go. But you better clean her up a bit and buy her new dresses or God knows the chaos that will ensue," Clara said bitterly slamming the door on her way out of the room, leaving Eponine and Enjolras alone.
"You do not have to bring me, I am not very important," Eponine said wistfully.
"Not important? Eponine, you are wonderful! You are such an inspiration to me. Every day you have to put up with so much horror on the streets, but I have noticed that you always find a way to smile through your pain, which is something that is not easy. I see now though just a sliver of what you have to go through on the streets and I can say without hesitation: you are the bravest person I have ever known in my entire life. And, I thought that maybe I had shown you when I kissed you, but I suppose it needs saying: Eponine, I am falling in love with you."
Suddenly the heavens parted and a beam of sunlight and consumed Enjolras, or that's what Eponine thought. At his kind words, Eponine felt such a raw and delicate feeling that she had never experienced before; she felt as though she were flying through the air at the speed of light, but she also felt grounded to the Earth. Grounded to Enjolras. Nobody had ever spoken to her with such respect and fondness, and Eponine found herself gaping at Enjolras.
"Do you really mean that?" Eponine choked out lightly touching his arm. Enjolras held her intense gaze and nodded soundlessly.
The next thing he knew, Eponine's lips were upon his once more.
A/N: Wow, this story is still far from being over. Let's just say, this is going to have a happy ending, wink wink, nudge nudge. I can't wait to write more!