A/N: How did you spend your weekend? I watched Les Mis. And cried.
Enjolras gently grabbed Eponine's arm when he caught up to her. His heart still fluttered when they touched, and Eponine felt the same way.
"Have you come to yell at me for ruining everything? Your uncle will surely send us away in the morning, and I have turned even more of your family against you," Eponine said stiffly, but Enjolras had never heard her say anything more incorrect.
"Eponine, you don't understand. I am not angry with you! How could I be angry with you? What you said back there was quite brave. It takes a lot of nerve to stand up to my uncle, and I am so proud of you," Enjolras said gently with passion in his eyes.
Eponine studied his face, and she could feel her heart melt. He studied her with such love and respect that she was almost at a loss for words. His stormy eyes had settled into a little fall of rain yet the possessed such intensity that Eponine had never seen before. So this is love.
"What he had been saying to you was horrible, I had to say something," Eponine mumbled, her speaking abilities were failing her.
"You amaze me, Eponine," Enjolras said gently before leaning in and capturing her lips softly.
"I still don't know why you chose me of all the women in this universe to fall in love with," Eponine whispered as though she were telling a secret.
"Eponine, I didn't choose to fall in love with you; I just fell. You are the only woman who I have ever and will ever love. Around Paris, I have noticed countless women trying to flirt or engage in conversation with me, but none caught my eye. Then one day when I was sitting in the café, I turned around and suddenly I saw a gamine talking to Marius. Her hair was matted, her eyes were dark and tired, she was merely skin and bones, yet the smile on her face seemed to stop my world. I was afraid of the power the one glance held over me, and I tried to ignore it. Eponine, I love you more than you know," Enjolras said before kissing her again soundly.
Enjolras inhaled deeply taking in Eponine's sweet scent, and he ran his hands lovingly through her long locks. Eponine melted in Enjolras' strong form with her hands delicately resting on his face.
When they broke apart, Eponine stared at him through doe like eyes.
"I was so afraid to fall in love," she admitted. "All my life, I have been the girl who loves too easily. When I love someone, I don't take it lightly, and I fall hard. When I first knew you, I honestly thought you were annoying and naïve, but yet I also find you fascinating. I could feel myself unwillingly starting to love you, so I tried to ignore it by avoiding you. Soon, I tricked myself into thinking that you meant nothing to me, and it worked for a bit. I knew that you were so devoted to your country, and would never look at me twice. That is why I tried to stay away from you because I didn't want to get hurt again," Eponine said solemnly.
Enjolras cupped her face.
"I will never hurt you, Eponine. I will not betray your love. It seems so strange; I always shied away from love, yet I seemed to have fallen in love with you so fast," Enjolras commented. Eponine buried herself into Enjolras' shoulder, thankful for the warmth that it gave her.
"I have never loved another person like I have loved you, and nobody else has ever returned my love," Eponine said. She was feeling very overwhelmed by everything Enjolras had said to her, yet she refused to tear up. She was strong, and crying was a weakness.
"Surely someone has loved you before, Eponine," Enjolras said as her comfortingly rubbing her back.
Eponine glanced sadly at him. "I informed you of brief experiences I had in my past, but I never did tell you my whole, sad life story. If you would like, I can tell you. I have never told it to anybody before; I have never had anybody to discuss it with."
Enjolras felt touched that she trusted him enough to confide in him such a dark past.
"I would like to hear it, but let's go outside. We don't need any intruders," Enjolras said boldly enveloping her hand in his as they strolled outside. The moonlight hit the top of Eponine's head casting a glow around her entire body, and Enjolras had never seen anything more beautiful in his entire life.
The walked across neatly trimmed grass through the large garden in the back yard past beautiful sculptures, flowers, and fountains to reach the marble bench that was in the heart of the garden.
They sat down upon the cold marble side by side, holding hands, and Eponine cautiously began her tale of woe, starting with early life at her parents' inn. She told Enjolras that when she was a child, her parents treated her so well; spoiling her with clothes, toys, and love. She told him how harshly they treated Cosette, but when she was young a kind man took her away and the Thenardiers began to treat Eponine in the same way they had treated Cosette. She told him how hard it was for her to grow up, doing her father's dirty work. She explained how her childhood was ripped away from her cold hands.
Over the course of her heartfelt story, Enjolras' arms had wrapped around Eponine as though to protect her from any harm.
His grip tightened when she told him how her father would beat her if she didn't do as he told her. It started with merely a slap and grew progressively worse as Eponine grew older.
Eponine was surprised to see a tear slowly glide down Enjolras' face.
"I wish I could have protected you from that life," he said wiping the tear off his face, only to have another one replace it. He raised his hand to wipe it away, but Eponine grabbed his wrist and brought her face up to his and kissed the tear away.
"I should be the one crying," Eponine said softly, and Enjolras chuckled.
"I never realized how horrible your life had been," he said stroking her hair.
"The past is done, and now we must live in the moment and look forward to a new tomorrow. Enjolras, you saved me," Eponine said passionately before capturing his lips with the same passion that she had in her tone.
A cold breeze swept over the garden causing Eponine to shiver.
"I think maybe it is time we go inside; it might be warm during the day, but the nights are still cold," Enjolras said standing up, offering Eponine his hand.
"If your uncle lets us, I would like to stay in Provence for the remainder of the trip. He will not make us return, surely?" Eponine asked as they made their way back inside.
"No, Aunt Agnes wouldn't allow him to send us away," Enjolras said holding the door for Eponine. She let out a big yawn as they entered the manor.
"Come, you need sleep. You have had a long day," Enjolras said.
"I'm not that tired," Eponine mumbled, but a large yawn signaled Enjolras that she really was.
"Goodnight, my love," Enjolras said as they reached their rooms, lightly kissing her on the nose. He spun around and began to enter his room when a pair of small arms spun him around, and the next thing he knew, a soft pair of lips pressed against his.
"Goodnight, Albaric," Eponine said with a large smile before retreating to her own room.
Eponine took of her dress and grabbed a nightgown from the wardrobe, and began to settle into bed. She felt tired, but she couldn't sleep. The past few nights she had grown accustomed to Enjolras' warmth sleeping beside her, and now she felt empty without him.
She carefully slipped out of her bed, and began to tiptoe to the room next door.
A/N: Once Upon a Time is on tonight and I am sooo excited because August is coming back!