A/N: I briefly planned out in my head what I what to happen in the story… my gosh there is still so much left to write! Bertrand is a horrible person.
By the time Eponine had finished speaking about her woeful life and the miserable life of those on the streets, some of the men had shed tears. Enjolras had even been moved by her words despite the fact that he had already heard her story. Today she had shortened it a bit leaving out some of the more private details, but she still painted the sadness that was present in her life.
"It is so hard to hear that you had to grow up in such poor conditions," said a man with a tear in his eye.
"I am still in shock that Albaric has found love in a street rat! How can you kiss her filthy face, my friend? Does she not disgust you?" Bertrand asked. Enjolras marched up to him and slapped him across the face with all his might.
"Never talk about Eponine in such harsh tones in front of me! I love that woman, and I do not need your approval! I cannot believe I was foolish enough to think that you, you shallow monstrous man, could ever help someone other than yourself! I told you all I had to say, but I can see that I have not swayed your opinions! Good day to you all," Enjolras said as he glared at the entire room.
"I think it is all time we cleared out of here," Bertrand said rubbing his face where Enjolras slapped him. The men dispersed from the room whispering among themselves. Enjolras and Eponine stormed out of the house.
"Not one of them was affected by what we said! They are so stupid that I-" Enjolras stopped his rant when he noticed a man had followed them outside.
"Who are you?" Enjolras said somewhat coldly. The man was short and lean with dark blonde hair and a magnificent display of freckles. His warm brown eyes were disarming, and he looked slightly younger than the rest of the men.
"My name is Colin. I am the brother of Hugh Mangold; he is one of Bertrand's close friends," he said.
"Ah, I remember Hugh. I did not like him," Enjolras spat.
"My brother is quite a pest," Colin admitted. "I came out here to say this: I support your cause. I was quite intrigued with what you had to say about the barricades and the revolution and overthrowing the king. I have always despised the king and his obsession with money and power. I could try to convince the rest of the men in there to join in your crusade, but then I shall also spread the news to my friends at school who disagree with the king as well."
"You would do that?" Eponine asked with delight in her tone. Colin nodded.
"When you spoke of your life story, the horridness teeming with it angered me. I was very touched that Albaric helped save you, and the love between you two is obvious. You depend on each other more than you realize, I think," Colin said wisely. "You both fight for love, and that is much better than fighting out of hate. Love always prevails."
Eponine and Enjolras both kindly thanked Colin as they climbed in the carriage and started the journey back to the Enjolras Manor.
Upon their arrival, Eponine and Enjolras immediately retreated to their special place in the garden where they had sat the previous night.
"That was a waste of time," Enjolras grumbled, but Eponine voiced her disagreement.
"We gained Colin's support! He will be able to help us, and he will convince his friends to join in the fight! Can you not already see the new world forming on the horizon? I admit I was skeptical about your idea at first, but you have dedicated so much of your time and energy, your plan seems to be so strong that a thousand men couldn't break it!" Eponine exclaimed.
"What about several thousand men?" Enjolras asked casting his eyes downward. Eponine looked at him incredulously.
"Do you doubt yourself, Albaric Enjolras?" Eponine demanded and Enjolras averted his eyes.
"I suppose every leader has his doubts now and then," Enjolras said more to himself than to Eponine.
Eponine was worried he would began to lose faith, so she passionately captured his lips in a loving kiss.
But, Enjorlas pulled back after a couple minutes.
"Eponine, I am new to all this. I am new to love. I am not good with my emotions; I do not know what I am doing," Enjolras admitted and Eponine looked at him in confusion.
"I can show you," Eponine said trying to kiss him again, but Enjolras pulled back.
"You deserve more than I offer; you deserve the kind of love that Marius bestows upon Cosette. He will always be there for her, but I am not sure I can always be there for you," Enjolras admitted. Eponine looked up at him sadly.
"You do not mean that, surely? I thought you love me the way I love you," Eponine said desperately.
"I do love you Eponine. I fear that I will die at the barricades, however, and I am trying to tell you that you should find a man who will be by your side throughout your entire life," Enjolras said.
"But I only want you, why can you not understand? I know that your first priority is the revolution, but I am quite alright with being your second priority," Eponine said through her breaking heart.
"Eponine, you are my new first priority. It's just… I want you to be happy," Enjolras told her as he stared into her chocolate eyes.
"I am happy with you!" Eponine shouted and she could feel her heart tear even more.
"Eponine, we may only have a couple months left together! The parting blow will not be as painful if you have gotten over me when I die!" Enjolras argued.
"Do not say that you are going to die! Have faith in your efforts! If an unsure leader is the father of the revolution it will be condemned to fail before it has started. Enjolras, I love you, and I will never go away. Be strong, my love," Eponine said. Enjolras noticed the tears in her eyes and he felt truly terrible for making her cry. He pulled her close and held onto her as though his life depended on her, and it did in a way.
"You are right, Eponine. If we only have a couple months left together, we shall make the most of the remaining time we have," he whispered into her forehead before placing a gentle kiss there, then another one on her nose, and finally another one on her mouth.
"I will never doubt you again," he whispered before capturing her lips in a powerful kiss. It was the kind of kiss that melted Eponine's brains and made her heart beat at an irregular pace.
"You will survive the barricades, and I will come to fight with you," Eponine said firmly. Enjolras began to protest, but he knew that Eponine would always get her way.
"If you insist, you shall come with me to the barricades. But be careful when you come, I could not bear to lose you," Enjolras said.
"I'll be careful," she promised before returning her lips to his.
A/N: I really want Marius to come into the story, but I have no idea how to bring him to Provence! Also, the next chapter will have some Clara and Grantaire action! Yay it's so fun writing those two.