Chapter Five
A Spy

The barricade was in the process of being built as Marius' heart was in the process of being repaired. He hadn't slept the previous night, feeling himself toss and turn over thoughts of Cosette, Enjolras, and especially Eponine. Enjolras and Eponine were his bestfriends, why did he have the feeling that with the addition of Cosette to his life, he had become just another passing figure in theirs?

Eponine on the other hand was beginning to regret ever second guessing Marius' love for her. She needed him in her life, more so than she had ever needed Enjolras. Patria was always his mistress – never her, and it baffled her why had he chosen such an unfortunate time to become so emotional about his feelings for others…

Before the night could come, Eponine had begun to contemplate what they had done earlier that day in fear for what it may bring. They had so blindly waved their flags infront of the people of france and angered them during a memorial. She was thankful she was busy with Cosette earlier, or she might have done something she would've regretted - especially with Marius. He was slowly turning into Enjolras, headstrong and obsessed with politics. With an attack very possible in the passing hours, she had to talk to him. If they were to die, he had to know how she felt about him.

"Marius?" She whispered, looking around corners of the café and wine shop, "Marius?"

"What do you want?" He muttered, appearing suddenly behind her, leaning casually on the staircase.

"Marius, I have to explain –"

"There's nothing to explain." He differed, looking quite shaken, "I'm happy for you both. Enjolras deserves to be happy."

"And I do not?"

"You deserve more than happiness. I'm sorry I cannot give you that." He flung a gun over his shoulder and smiled sadly, "I must go."

"So it's true." Eponine replied quickly, stopping him from leaving. "You've fancied me for a while now, haven't you?"

"It's not like you cared though Ponine. Really, I don't want to talk about this."

"Marius," Eponine leaned in hesitantly and kissed his cheek, "I never meant to hurt you. I love you too much." She could feel tears rushing to her eyes, "I'm so sorry for everything I've done."

"Me too." Marius said, nodding and walking away from her. What had she done wrong? Did he not want her love? Was that not why he was so upset? If he wasn't happy, then perhaps he would not be focused during the fight and injure himself. Marius was going to get himself killed!

Running frantically up the stairs and into Cosette's room, Eponine devised a plan.

"Cosette, we have to fight." She whispered nervously, throwing blankets upon blankets out of drawers she had recently stocked.

"What are you doing?"

"Wrap them around your chest. Tuck your hair into a hat," Eponine replied, shutting the door and composing herself, "don't let anybody see that you're a girl."

"What?" Cosette asked, obeying and tucking her hair into black baker boy hat.

"We have to fight in this, I –" She stopped herself from venting about her feelings for Marius. "You love him, don't you?"

"Marius?" Cosette's eyes filled with joy, "He's a wonderful man…" She sighed, holding a blanket to her heart and smiling. "Yes, I suppose I do…"

"Really?" Eponine faked a smile and looked down to the floors, masking her tears. Perhaps it was time to let this boy go. "Then you cannot fight."

She threw off Cosette's hat and shoved it back into a drawer.

"What- no Eponine I want to!"

"I'm not letting you!" She answered, reminding herself a bit of Enjolras. "He will kill himself if you die. He cares for you. You have a chance."

"No," Cosette shook her head, "what if he dies?"

"Then that's a chance we'll have to take." Eponine muttered miserably, letting a few tears hit the floors.

"Eponine don't cry."

"I'm sorry Cosette." She said, grabbing her hat and tucking her hair into it. She wore a bulky jacket and stood by the door quickly. "I have to fight."

"Eponine, please don't!" Cosette shook her head, beginning to cry. "Enjolras wouldn't let you!"

"I can't let them die. They're my family…"

"NO!" Cosette grabbed onto Eponine's hand but she yanked it free and shut the door behind her, coming face to face suddenly with Enjolras by the door.

"Eponine…?" He asked slowly, stifling either a laugh or raw anger.

"Don't say anything."

"You know you aren't supposed to fight. I made that very clear."

"I understand." Eponine nodded, "But I've never wanted anything more than to fight alongside my family."

Enjolras hesitated for a long moment before embracing Eponine, hoping that Marius wasn't around. He could feel her pulse race against his, only making him more nervous. He couldn't lose her during the barricade; he wouldn't be able to live with himself. Then again, he couldn't stop her from doing what she wanted the most…

"Enjolras, I-" Eponine began before feeling his lips on hers. Caught off guard and terrified of the sudden turn of events, she pushed him away and ran down the stairs quickly, finding herself standing behind the completed barricade. People from the buildings surrounding the barricade had pushed out everything from cupboards to grand piano, forming a solid wall between them and the rest of the world. Eponine smiled, feeling her first glimmer of hope in what seemed like the longest time. the distance, she made out the silhouette of a man approaching, sending a shiver of fear up her spine.

"ENJOLRAS!" She screamed running back to shelter and into him as he approached. Before he could see what Eponine had been so terrified about, Gavroche approached with the man whose hands were above his head.

"Look what I found," he snickered, "what do you want?"

Enjolras raised a gun at him and the man crouched down, still raising his hands. "I only mean to help."

Eponine felt herself shake at his voice – she knew that voice. Quickly slipping out of Enjolras' comforting grasp, she ran up the stairs to Cosette's room.

"Oh thank goodness you're safe!" Cosette hugged Eponine's shoulders, "He's here. You have to warn the others." She whispered more urgently.

"Who?"

"Javert." Cosette shuddered, "I heard my father curse his name that day in the village."

"He's a spy – isn't he?" Anger boiled over her again as she marched down the stairs to warn them. Before she could do anything about it, he had disappeared and Marius had returned once more.

"Eponine!" He yelled, grabbing Eponine's hand and facing her excitedly, "I've found him."

"Who?" Cosette asked as she made her way down the stairs as well.

"Your father," he smiled, confidently. "I know his address. Cosette, you must go back to him."

"No! I cannot leave you before the fight has even begun!"

"Cosette, I'm begging you." Marius asked, moving closer to her and kissing her forehead. "Leave for your father. You're better off safe with you family than with us."

After a few moments of contemplating her choices, Cosette nodded with tears in her eyes, exchanging a thankful glance with Eponine. As she began to leave, she a noticed a certain darkness lingering over her friends that she hadn't seen before - could she really leave in the moment they needed her most? After one final glance for assurance, she caught Eponine's gaze and watched her nod solemnly. Eponine had hoped that Marius was finally content, even though he refused to watch as Cosette walked away from the barricade, and far, far away from his life.

"Marius," Eponine sighed, "I promise you'll be together again." The thought pained her but it was more important that Marius be happy. Especially because after all this was over, they people who they had once walked miles with, laughed till they turned blue with, drank with until there was no difference between up and down with - could be no less than dust in the wind.