As they approached the square Eponine saw a large plaster form peeking out from above the shorter buildings before it. Gavroche's grip on her hand tightened as he picked up their pace, "come up Eponine we are almost there." he said eagerly.
"Oh… I see why this is your favorite place." Eponine responded as Gavroche dragged her along, faster and faster.
"The Elephant" Gavroche said when he finally stopped before it, looking up in awe. "Are real elephants that big?" Gavroche asked.
"I don't know, what do you think?"
"Probably not." answered Gavroche.
"And why is that?"
"Well it would be funny if an animal was high than a building."
Eponine laughed. "You're probably right."
"Why is the elephant here Eponine?"
"Well aren't you full of questions."
"But why is it here?"
"I don't know, it was something to do with Napoleon I think."
"Who is Napoleon?"
"He was a small man with big dreams, he fought many battles and made too many men die for him, he used to be the emperor."
"Did he make men die for him because he was little?"
"I'm not sure…"
"Because he shouldn't do that, he doesn't have to." Gavroche said adamantly.
"What do you mean?"
"Little people can fight just as good as big people, and you have to fight for yourself, and defend yourself."
"Who told you that?"
"Tyce did."
"Did he?" Eponine didn't like the idea of someone telling her brother to fight.
"Yup, Tyce says that little people, like us, look like we are easy pickings, but we've got some fight and we must not give up, it's like the tavern."
"The tavern?" Eponine was confused by his sudden change of topic.
"Yes, Chiot de Combat, where I live."
"Ahh yes, the Fighting Puppy, but remember Gavroche puppies grow up into dogs, great big strong dogs, so pick your fights wisely. You may be able to fight, but other people are bigger than you and you can't do anything about that for now. But wait until you grow up Gavroche, they'll run for cover then."
Gavroche stood a little straighter at the sound of this, "so just don't go picking fights ok?" Eponine asked.
"Ok, so Napoleon what happened to him?"
"What?" Eponine had forgotten what she was talking about.
"Napoleon, the Emperor? What happened to him?"
"Oh…He lost a fight, and then had to go away."
"Where is he now?"
"He died."
"Oh." Gavroche seemed disappointed.
"Maybe you will be the next emperor of France, would you like that?" Eponine asked, trying to cheer him up.
"Yes, I could make a whole city of elephants, an elephant for every person. And I wouldn't make anyone die for me."
"I think that sounds like a fantastic plan." Eponine replied and Gavroche smiled proudly. "I have something else I want to show you, are you ready for another adventure?" she asked.
"Where to?" replied Gavroche.
"I know where to find you, I want to show you where to find me."
As they approached the street with her apartment Eponine slowed.
"Is this where you live?" Gavroche asked.
"Just a little further up, only we have to be careful not to be seen."
"Why?"
Eponine looked around and saw a cart parked precariously across the street from her apartment. "It is a game, do you see that cart over there?" Gavroche nodded. "Let's go hide behind it, pretend like there are monsters in the windows across the street and they will hurt you if they see you." Gavroche smiled, he loved making up games with Eponine, Eponine smiled back, hoping Gavroche wouldn't have to realize that the game was closer to reality than she would like to admit.
Once they made it to the cart Gavroche looked at Eponine, "what is the next part of the game?" he asked.
"The next part of the game is show and tell…plus a challenge. Do you see that window up there?" Eponine pointed to her apartment and waited for Gavroche to acknowledge her. "That is where I live."
"Is that the show part?"
"Yes." Eponine replied, "you see it?"
"Yes, but what is the challenge?" Gavroche asked impatiently.
"You have to get my attention, and I am up there, what do you do?"
"I would go and get you."
"No Gavroche" Eponine said harshly. "No, you must not go up there, plus that would not be a hard challenge, how else can you get my attention?" Gavroche looked around for a couple moments.
"Could we have a code, could that be part of it?" Gavroche asked.
"Yes, a code could be part of it."
"Then I would bang on that pipe over there three times." Eponine looked behind her and saw a broken pipe protruding out of the wall a couple feet down, she had never noticed it before.
"That sounds like a great challenge solution, so Gavroche whenever you need me or can't find me, you come and bang on that pipe three times and hide and then I will come find you. But remember the most important rule, don't come up to find me, I will find you, do you understand?"
Gavroche nodded.
"Good" Eponine said.
When Eponine looked back towards her apartment she saw the four men from the previous night enter the building. She remembered her father's orders to be back by tomorrow evening and was all of a sudden very aware of the sun's lowering position in the sky.
"Gavroche, I need you to go back to Tyce now."
"Why?"
"It is getting late, and I am getting tired and need my rest and so do you."
"But…"
"Gavroche there is time for fun and there is time for rest, now we have had our fun and now we must rest."
"But it isn't even dark out."
"But it will be soon, and I don't want you to get lost, come one I will take you back, we can run, it will be like a race."
"Ok…" Gavroche responded.
"Come on" Eponine said as she started to run off "follow me."
When they returned to the alley the boys were gone but Tyce sat there waiting, "Gavroche, Eponine, did you have a nice day?"
"Yes, we went to the elephant" Gavroche said "and Eponine told me about Napoleon."
"Really" Tyce said, looking down at Gavroche and flashing Eponine a smile.
"Bye Gavroche, see you later." Eponine said as she turned to run off.
"Leaving so soon?" Tyce asked.
"Yes, I need to get home."
"Stay and have dinner with us."
"I really can't, I need to get going."
"If this is about how I acted earlier I'm sorry, I was just upset."
"It's not, but I really must be going." Eponine took off Tyce's jacket, which she had been wearing all day and handed it back to him.
"Keep it, it suits you."
"I couldn't explain it back home, just take it back."
"Fine, I'll hold on to it for you."
"Ok thanks, goodbye" Eponine said before she ran off.
As she rounded the corner she could hear Tyce call after her, "be careful."