New chapter! Not the best, in my opinion, but whatever. It works for me. Also, I was writing while sick, and with my mind blown, as I just found out while writing that in the season 3 finale of MLP Twilight apparently turns into an alicorn. My immediate response was, naturally, WTF?! OMFG!

Enjolras: You watch My Little Pony?

Me: What can I say? Friendship really is magic, and it teaches people to love and tolerate.

Chapter 2

Eponine smiled as she walked down the streets of Saint-Michel. It had been three days since she had left Enjolras, and she was, for the most part, happy to be back out on the streets. She felt free there, and felt like she belonged. She knew deep down that she was being ridiculous, but she couldn't help it. Things had changed between herself and Enjolras, and she couldn't stay there anymore.

However, at the same time, she somehow missed him and felt guilty about leaving. He cared about her, and might be worried. She frowned at the thought, and shrugged it off, just like she always did when she remembered that. It didn't matter to her anymore.

This was her life, the streets, fighting to survive. Not sleeping under the same roof as some bourgeois man. She had given up that dream now. Marius didn't matter, Joly didn't matter, Enjolras didn't matter; none of them did. Her only regret was giving up her brother. She knew that if Gavroche knew where she was, nothing she told him would keep him from informing Les Amis of where she was, and she would be right back under their watchful eyes, stuck in a life that she knew could never be. So she avoided him as much as she avoided all of the others.

She considered herself incredibly lucky that she had yet to run into her father or a member of his gang. She thought that she had spotted Claquesous once, but he hadn't noticed her, thankfully. She hated to think what could have happened if he'd seen her.

She hadn't changed her outfit or removed her cap at all during those few days. She was too afraid to. While sleeping, her cap would come off, but she would always put it right back on, covering her long hair, first thing the next day. Being recognized would be disastrous, and she knew it.

She sighed and continued walking, fighting back the tears that suddenly threatened her. Trying to forget everything that had happened in the past few months was more painful than she liked to admit.

Her heart nearly stopped when she saw Gavroche walking happily, Montparnasse not far behind the boy. Gavroche clearly wasn't aware that he was being followed. Just then, Montparnasse glanced in her direction and smirked.

Her heart hammered in her chest. Had Montparnasse recognized her? No sooner had she wondered that than 'Parnasse suddenly grabbed Gavroche and dragged him into an alley.

Without a second thought, Eponine ran after them. No one hurt her little brother. Especially not Montparnasse.

Enjolras and Marius were walking through Paris together, although Enjolras was seriously wishing he were anywhere but there. Even the moon would be preferable. Marius was, once again, babbling about his golden-haired angel.

"I am so excited, Enjolras! I proposed to her last night, and she said yes-"

"You've told me a hundred times, Marius, I know that you and Collette-"

"Cosette!"

"-are getting married," Enjolras finished, rolling his eyes and ignoring the correction. He had more important things to worry about than getting the name of the fiancé of one of his best friends correct.

For example, Eponine. Even Gavroche didn't know where she was. He was beginning to wonder if she had left Paris or, even worse, died.

Marius smirked at him. "Thinking about Eponine?"

Enjolras glared at him. "Obviously! She could be hurt, or dead, but somehow, you don't even seem to care!"

Marius sighed. "I've known 'Ponine for years, Enjolras. She's tough, she can take care of herself-"

"She nearly got killed on the barricade."

"You're overthinking things, Enjolras. But that's perfectly natural for a man in love-"

"I am not in love with her!"

"You keep telling yourself that," Marius replied with a grin. Enjolras scowled, knowing that Marius was, unfortunately, right. He did love Eponine, but after what she had told him the morning after the night at the barricades, he really wished that he didn't.

He was about to try to change the topic when an all-too familiar figure ran past, nearly making his heart stop.

He wouldn't have recognized them if not for the feminine face that clearly contrasted the loose, boyish clothes, or the cap that he had seen her wear so often.

"Eponine," he whispered.

"Hmm?" Marius asked, turning to look at him. "Finally admitting you love her?"

"No, never," Enjolras retorted, knowing very well that it was a lie. "I think I just saw her."

Marius' eyes widened. "We'd better go after her, then." Enjolras simply nodded, and ran towards the alley that he had watched her disappear into.

Eponine followed Montparnasse and the no longer struggling Gavroche down the alley. Her heart pounded violently in her chest. What did he do to my brother?

He finally stopped about halfway down the alley and threw the now unconscious Gavroche to the ground and smirked at Eponine.

"Leave him alone, 'Parnasse," she hissed furiously.

"It's good to see you too, Eponine," he said mockingly. "But let's be honest, I would enjoy seeing you even more if you weren't wearing those ridiculous boy clothes." He walked towards her and pressed her against a wall.

She felt her cheeks burn with rage and her hands balled up into fists. She was about to give him a scathing retort when a familiar voice startled her.

"Eponine!"

She groaned inwardly. No, not Enjolras! Why him?

She turned her head, glaring at not only him, but Marius as well. Great. They're both here. But on the other hand, now I can finally give Marius a piece of my mind! After dealing with 'Parnasse, of course. Maybe this won't be so bad after all…

She turned her attention back to Montparnasse, who looked rather annoyed at the arrival of the two men.

"She's busy," he growled at them. Eponine took the opportunity provided by his distraction lift her knee, striking him right where she knew it would hurt him the most.

"Clearly you didn't learn your lesson the last time!" she snarled at him. "A pity I didn't kill you then!" She watched with satisfaction as he fell to the ground, swearing at her, then kicked him in the face. "That was for trying to hurt Gavroche!" she told him viciously before running over to her brother.

"You see? I told you 'Ponine could take care of herself!" she heard Marius tell Enjolras.

Marius. The very thought of his name made her quiver in rage. She was half tempted to just leave Gavroche and snap at Marius then and there, but her brother needed her more at that moment. She carefully lifted him up, or, at least, tried to. Les Amis had clearly made sure he'd been eating well in the past few weeks, whereas she was still weak, and her shoulder hadn't quite healed fully.

She sighed, not sure how to go about asking them for help, and looked up at them, biting her lip.

She was startled to find that Enjolras was already beside her.

"Come on, we'll take him back to my flat," he told her. She simply nodded, not sure what to say in response. Then she saw Marius approaching them, smiling rather stupidly at her, and she knew exactly what to say.

"Will Marius be going too?" she asked.

Enjolras glanced at her, rather surprised by the question. "Yes."

"Good," she said, frowning. "There are some things that I would like to say to him."