A/N: I would've updated earlier today, but our plane was canceled and stuff anyways, I'm back now! Wooo party! I missed writing my story!
Clara decided that it would be best to send a letter three days prior to their departure to let Aunt Agnes and Uncle Jacques be aware of their arrival and inform them that there will be two extra guests, Eponine and Grantaire. When the letter was sent, Eponine could feel the time between freedom and captivity vanishing, and that startled her. Every day, Eponine would insist that it wasn't necessary that she accompanied them, and Grantaire posed the same argument, but each time they brought the subject up, both Enjolras and Clara would insist they came.
"Three days before we leave," Eponine said, and a grave looked reflected upon Enjolras' stony face, but gave no further acknowledgment from his spot on the couch.
"I won't know how to act, I apologize in advance if I embarrass you or Clara," Eponine said absentmindedly. Enjolras put down his book for a moment and gave her a stern look.
"You could never embarrass me, Eponine," Enjolras said stroking her cheek and offering her a small smile.
"Will your aunt and uncle spare any kindness towards us?" Eponine asked chewing on her lower lip in worry.
"Calm yourself, I am sure if we all behave in line, everything will be fine," Enjolras said cryptically, and Eponine wanted a straight answer.
"Are they genial people, Enjolras?" Eponine pressed, and Enjolras sighed.
"They are selectively kind, and they do not extend their hospitality towards me. However, you might make a good impression on them," Enjolras said without much hope. Eponine squeezed her eyes shut, and tried recalling all the advice Clara had given her during their lesson.
"Eponine, I cannot see how they won't like you, as long as they are under the impression that you are rich. I know that my aunt and uncle have always wanted a daughter, and they will probably treat you like one," Enjolras said holding her petit hand. Eponine snuggled into his side, and admired how perfectly she fit into his strong body. She lifted her head and stared deeply into his passionate eyes.
"I'll be there for you," Enjolras assured her, but the sinking feeling in Eponine's stomach didn't go away. She didn't care too much about what Agnes and Jacques thought of her; she was just afraid of losing her freedom. There will be no more running amuck on the streets with Gavroche, no more pickpocketing, no more dirt caking her body throughout the duration of the 'trip.'
Eponine felt some solace in the fact that she would be able to return to the streets upon their return to Paris. The only reason she was at Enjolras' flat was because she had been injured, and now he wanted her to keep clean until they leave for Provence. Eponine was an independent woman, and she wasn't going to keep relying on Enjolras.
"I know you will, and I will be there for you in re-"
"I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU DID THAT, GRANTAIRE! YOU MESSED UP TOO SPECTACULARLY FOR YOUR OWN GOOD THIS TIME!" someone shouted interrupting Eponine.
"Ah, there they go again," Enjolras said rubbing his temples as Clara slammed the front door angrily, but not before Grantaire walked in.
"It was hardly a problem! In fact, the only issue is that you are too sensitive!" Grantaire snapped back, and Clara slapped his face.
"You can definitely tell she loves him," Eponine whispered to Enjolras.
"Don't you dare," Clara said harshly, and Grantaire almost looked ashamed.
Eponine cleared her throat from the couch, letting Clara and Grantaire know that there were other people still in the room. "What exactly happened… this time?" she asked curiously.
"I kissed her," Grantaire said simply as though it were no big deal. Eponine and Enjolras were confused, didn't Clara fancy Grantaire? Why would she have minded? Clara opened her mouth in protest.
"That is not all that happened! I wouldn't have minded if you had just kissed me! It was why you kissed me and where you kissed me that is so frustrating!" Clara screeched hitting Grantaire on his chest. "This git kissed me to make another woman jealous! The woman was approaching us, and he just pulled me in for a kiss as though we kissed regularly! We were in public, and he humiliated me! Not to mention, he used me!"
Enjolras and Eponine both gave Grantaire the harshest glares they could muster, and Grantaire could not decide whom he was more afraid of at the moment.
"If it makes you feel better, my plan didn't even work! The woman, Gabrielle, is courting someone else, as we found out," Grantaire said bitterly.
Eponine felt her heart go out to Clara; that must have wounded her.
"Grantaire you used to call me blind to women, but this surpasses anything you have previously accused me with! How can you be so ignorant?" Enjolras shouted. He may not have always gotten along with his sister, but he would always defend his little sister. Eponine said nothing, but her glare intensified if that was even possible.
Grantaire was definitely more scared of Eponine.
"This is not a big deal all of you! I am going out for a bit, and when I return, I expect all of you to accept my apology!" Grantaire said walking outside. A single tear slipped down Clara's cheek, but she wiped it away before Eponine could say anything.
"Maybe you two could take a walk; I would prefer to be alone," Clara sniffled as she sat down on the chair.
"Come on Enjolras, we could use some fresh air," Eponine urged. She hadn't been outside in an entire day, and she was drowning. Enjolras embraced his sister before he followed Eponine outside.
"We can venture all the way down to the slums and say goodbye to Henri and his friends before we leave," Eponine suggested, and Enjolras gratefully accepted the idea. The couple laughed and chatted blissfully as the made their way to the slums. They didn't even think about changing their clothes, and beggars kept grabbing onto them and begging for money.
Enjolras was overwhelmed with the desperation and hunger that glistened in the dead eyes of the poor, and Eponine noticed that he had shut off his emotions and was as detailed as a blank sheet of paper.
"Enjolras keep moving! What has gotten into you?" Eponine asked attempting to get Enjolras moving at a faster pace.
"I apologize," he grumbled. "I am always dumbfounded when I see people that deserve so much receive so little."
Eponine squeezed his hand, hoping to offer some comfort. The sky was growing darker by the minute, and Eponine knew they needed to walk faster in order to return to Enjolras' flat before it was too late at night.
Suddenly, Eponine's thoughts were disrupted by a loud, piercing scream that plagued the night air. The scream was not a scream of terror nor pain, but rather heartbreak and loss. Eponine could see the source of the heart wrenching scream; it was a young woman cradling a little bundle in her arms. Her heart sank immediately as she recognized the scene: the woman was a mother who had just lost her baby. It happened frequently on the streets, but each time Eponine witnessed it, she felt a knife freshly being stabbed into her heart.
"We don't need to see this, Enjolras. We can come back and talk to Henri tomorrow," Eponine said trying to hide her watering eyes. Enjolras didn't know what was happening.
"I think that woman over there just shouted out, maybe we can help her!" Enjolras suggested, but Eponine shook her head sadly.
"She is beyond help, we should probably go," Eponine said trying to pull Enjolras away, but he wasn't having it.
"I insist that we go help," Enjolras said running up to the woman who had broken down into sobs, clutching onto her lifeless child. Eponine followed him and tried to get him away, but her efforts were in vain.
"Is something wrong?" Enjolras asked the woman gently as she lifted up her head.
"Charlotte?" Eponine gasped as she stared into the woman's eyes.
"Eponine? Enjolras?" Charlotte replied through her tears, still holding her baby.
Enjolras was about to ask what happened, but Eponine cut him off.
"Will you be okay?" was all Eponine said, but Charlotte shook her head.
"My daughter was too young to die! She hadn't seen enough of God's green earth! It wasn't time for her to go away!" Charlotte cried, and Eponine gave Charlotte a sympathetic hug. Enjolras understood now what had happened.
His 'overwhelmed' emotions from earlier could not even compare to his agony now. He could not stop the hot tears from spilling down his face, and Eponine was taken aback, and she leapt up to hug him with all her might. Enjolras was not a man who cried.
Charlotte had calmed down a little at this point. "Thank you for coming over here. I'm glad to know that somebody cares about me," Charlotte said wiping her eyes.
"Of course, Charlotte. I am truly sorry this happened to you," Eponine said placing her hand gingerly on Charlotte's shoulder.
"You should get home soon; you know how dangerous the streets are at night, especially in attire such as yours! That is a fine dress," Charlotte said. Enjolras was still sobbing heavily into Eponine's shoulder as Charlotte walked away with her shoulders slumped.
"Let's go home, Enjolras," Eponine said trying to get him to look at her.
"That is why France must change!" Enjolras shouted to nobody in particular.
"Enjolras, bad things happen, okay? Bad things happen. We can either dwell on the past, or move on. It will do Charlotte no good to pity her. Nothing in this world can bring her child back," Eponine said sadly.
"I want to help so that it will never happen again to anybody," Enjolras said sadly. "How can the government allow this to happen? It isn't fair that someone so young has to die before they get to experience life!"
Enjolras hoped sincerely that he could rally some of the bourgeoisie.
A/N: Aw that was a little sad…