I woke up this morning and there was snow on the ground. Then it rained today, so most of it is gone, except for the parts where there were still a foot of snow that hadn't melted from First Winter and Second Winter in the first place. And that is why I hate my hometown. No, I'm just kidding. The weather's not the worst part. The racist and/or homophobic morons who make up a about two thirds (possibly closer to three quarters) of the population are the reason. Yeah, Northwest Ontario has no people problems at all...

OK, enough ranting. This chapter is sickeningly sweet. Writing the second half of it made me want to vomit. But I have relationship issues (only way for me to keep a boyfriend for longer than one or two months is for it to be long distance, and even then I suck at relationships) so maybe it's just me. Enjoy.

Chapter 14

It had been two days, and Eponine had already formed very strong, and likely very accurate, opinions about each member of Enjolras' family. His father was just as much of a revolutionary as his son, it appeared. The man was also quite outgoing, and Enjolras had clearly inherited his clever way with words from him. His mother, on the other hand, was usually quiet, although she was also fiercely protective of her family.

The second day they were there, one of the eleven year old twins, Adrien, had fallen and cut his hand, and Rose had gone completely crazy, scolding him about being more careful and yelling that he could have ended up being far worse off and lost his hand entirely, while her son had sat there looking ridiculously bored. Eponine had instantly made a mental note to tell Enjolras not to introduce his mother to Joly. She was certain that the meeting would be disastrous were it to ever occur.

Gabriel was exactly like his older brother. Stubborn, icy cold, and dead set on making serious changes to France's government. He was as dedicated to Patria as Enjolras was, if not, more so, since Eponine had entered Enjolras' life.

Eponine was certain that her brother would get along perfectly with Enjolras' thirteen year old sister Celeste. The small blonde was like a fireball, and clearly wanted nothing more than to run amok through the streets of Paris.

And the twins were both completely crazy. Vivienne obviously adored her eldest brother, as did Adrien. They were always nicer to him than anyone else. However, that niceness had a limit and didn't stop them from sneaking into his room the morning after they arrived and waking him up by throwing a bucket of cold water on his face. That morning, Eponine had learned why Celeste and Adalina had insisted that the twins just share their own room, and why the two other girls had insisted that they lock their door.

Adalina was, by far, Eponine's favourite. Celeste had been right about Adalina's love of romance novels, but Eponine had quickly learned that she wasn't interested in things like Romeo and Juliet, which the other girl had quickly dismissed as 'a ton of ridiculous nonsense', as 'Juliet is a simpering, thirteen year old moron who doesn't know what love really is and Romeo doesn't really love her, how can he when he clearly 'falls in love' at the drop of a hat?' The two had become friends very quickly after that statement. Adalina preferred romance that involved a strong heroine and adventure, and, unlike Eponine's mother, who also loved romance novels, she didn't dream of meeting a prince, which, at that moment, as the two girls were walking to Musichetta's shop, was their topic of discussion.

"Why should I wait for a prince?" Adalina asked, tossing her long black hair over her shoulder. "Princes are snobby, rude, vain, and self-obsessed! Not to mention the entire idea is very one sided. In every fairytale, the princess is rescued by the prince, and they live 'happily ever after'. But does the princess even get a say in it?" She scoffed. "If I were a princess, I'd run off with the stable boy!"

Eponine instantly wondered what would happen if Adalina met Jehan. The two would probably write a love poem together. She could easily picture the two becoming friends. Then she pictured Courfeyrac. No doubt he would instantly fall head over heels for Enjolras' sister.

She wondered if Enjolras was concerned about that happening. Then again, he was probably more worried about Grantaire.

Adalina interrupted her thoughts, however. "Then again, my brother beat me to it," she said.

"Hmm?" Eponine asked, and Adalina grinned.

"How sweet! You're so in love with him that you can't stop thinking about him!"

"I wasn't thinking about him," Eponine insisted, feeling her face grow warm.

"Sure you weren't," Adalina replied with a smirk.

"I'm serious! I was thinking about what'll happen when you meet Adrian's friends later, after we get Chetta," Eponine insisted. "You're going to drive them all crazy."

A wide smile spread across her friend's face. "I look forward to that," she said wickedly. Yup. Courfeyrac was going to love her.

"Well, we're here," Eponine said before opening the door and walking in. "Musichetta?" she called, and the red haired woman ran towards them, squealed when she saw Adalina, and threw her arms around the raven-haired girl.

"Addy!" she shrieked.

"Chetta, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" Adalina asked as she hugged the other woman tightly.

"No matter what you tell me I will never stop," the red head replied.

"Ugh, you're worse than Aidan!" Adalina groaned as she pulled herself out of Musichetta's grasp.

"And you're just like him half the time!" Musichetta shot back. "Look at you, read from head to foot!"

It was true. Adalina was wearing a simple red dress with sleeves that ended in a ruff at her elbows, and her hair was once again pulled back with a red ribbon.

"It's my favourite colour!" she retorted stubbornly.

"Just like Enjolras," Musichetta sang.

Adalina looked confused for a moment before scowling. "I forgot that here he just goes by his last name," she muttered. "But I don't see what my favourite colour has to do with anything!"

"You're also just as stubborn as him," Musichetta commented.

"You two can argue about this later," Eponine said impatiently, crossing her arms. "They're probably all waiting for us at the café."

"Ponine's right," Musichetta said cheerfully. "We can keep talking about this later, Addy, let's go!"

"You just want to see Joly again," Eponine teased, nudging her friend with her elbow.

"And you can't wait to see Enjolras," Musichetta replied.

Adalina sighed. "I still can't believe you're in love with my brother," she said to Eponine. "Really, what do you see in him?"

"You're his sister, Addy, of course you can't believe it!" Musichetta said before Eponine could answer.

"I told you not to call me that!"

And so it continued until they reached the café. By the time they got there, Eponine was about ready to push both of her friends off a cliff. But thankfully, Musichetta was in Joly's arms and fawning over him from almost the second they walked in the door, so their bickering ended instantly.

"Pony! About time you got here!" Grantaire yelled drunkenly as Enjolras looked up and smiled at both her and Adalina.

"Grantaire, I've told you a hundred times not to call me Pony," she snapped back.

"And who is this lovely young Mademoiselle?" Courfeyrac asked, raising an eyebrow as he walked over to them. Adalina blushed instantly. "A friend of yours, Eponine?" he asked as he took Adalina's hand and kissed it.

"That is my sister, Courfeyrac. Paws off!" Enjolras snapped, shooting him a glare. Courfeyrac quickly backed off a bit, but kept his eyes on her.

"Aidan, be nice!" Adalina said with a frown. She then turned back to Courfeyrac, a smile quickly spreading over her face again. "My name is Adalina, Monsieur. And I take it you're Courfeyrac?"

Eponine walked away from them to join Enjolras. "You don't seem very happy," she commented.

"Courfeyrac is going to corrupt my sister, of course I'm not happy," he replied.

"Look on the bright side, at least it's not Grantaire," she told him, laughing at the look of horror that crossed his face at the thought. She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "I'm sure Adalina can take care of herself," she said as they watched Courfeyrac wrap an arm around her shoulder and lead her off to talk to her in a corner.

"And I'm sure that Courfeyrac is going to be a problem while she's here," he replied, still frowning.

"You're just being over-protective of your sister," she replied.

"He's way too old for her! She's seventeen, and he's twenty!"

"By that logic, there's a problem with our relationship then," Eponine said. "You and Courfeyrac are the same age, and I'm the same age as your sister."

Enjolras opened his mouth to say something, then changed his mind and closed it again.

"Enjolras, she'll be fine," Eponine assured him. "I'm quite sure that Courfeyrac is too afraid of you to do anything to your sister. You didn't get a good look at his expression when you snapped at him earlier, but I did. He was quite terrified. He only showed it for the briefest moment though. He definitely likes her already, since he was clearly trying to impress her."

Enjolras groaned. "Great. Courfeyrac is falling for my sister. I'm doomed."

"You're doomed?" Eponine asked. "In what way are you doomed?"

"If they get married and have children, I can pretty much guarantee you that the children will be even worse than the monsters that decided it would be a good idea to dump a bucket of cold water on my head yet again this morning," he replied.

"So, there isn't really a problem at all then," Eponine stated, deciding that she had fallen in love with a man who was possibly in some ways a bigger idiot than Marius.

"I thank you for your sympathy," Enjolras said sarcastically.

"You are just being ridiculous and overthinking it all," Eponine told him as she perched herself on his lap. "And just think: if they do fall in love and get married, Courfeyrac will be your brother in law."

"That really isn't helping," Enjolras told her.

"At least it's not Grantaire," she reminded him.

"I suppose I should be grateful for that. But really, Courfeyrac? The man is worse than Pontmercy, he's chasing after a different woman almost every day!"

She grinned. "There's the problem. You're just scared he's going to break your little sister's heart!"

Enjolras narrowed his eyes in their direction, where Courfeyrac and Adalina were giggling happily as Adalina twisted a lock of her raven hair around her index finger.

"If he hurts her in any way, I'll kill him," Enjolras growled.

Eponine sighed and rested her head on his chest. "Well, at least now you're being somewhat sensible," she muttered.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Enjolras asked, looking down at her.

"If you killed him, then Adalina and Gavroche would team up and have your head, and I would not be all right with that," she replied. "My little brother adores him, and your sister looks like she wants him to kiss her already. His death would be a major loss for both of them. They would definitely track you down, and I can't speak for your sister, but Gavroche would probably want your head as punishment. I prefer your head attached to the rest of your body."

Enjolras grinned. "I suppose you're right. But still, he'd better not hurt my sister."

"I've never seen Courfeyrac this interested in a woman before, I don't think you or Adalina have anything to worry about," Eponine assured him.

Enjolras sighed and wrapped his arms around her. "How did I get so lucky?" he asked as he kissed her forehead.

"Simple: Pontmercy's an idiot," she muttered.

Enjolras rolled his eyes and exhaled in annoyance.

"I didn't say it was a bad thing. I'm glad he is. If he wasn't, then I wouldn't have you," she said quietly, her dark eyes shining happily as she looked up at him, her head still resting on his chest. "I love you."

He leaned down to kiss her. "I love you, too."