Chapter Eight
Eponine and Valjean's Decisions

The night had begun in the worst, and best, way possible. Enjolras was alive, but the possibility of another attack shook les amis' very thoughts and kept them awake.

Enjolras had never been so thankful to somebody in his entire lifetime. Valjean, the man he owed his life to, was now sitting quietly on a broken cabinet near the back of the barricade, pondering over the day's events and sending out a prayer for each young boy and girl at the barricade. Where had he come from, and why?

Soon, Enjolras saw Cosette and realized that she had brought him here to help them and ultimately, had saved his life. She was still something to be marvelled at, but Enjolras no longer felt anything for Cosette, especially now that she knew how much Marius had grown on her. He watched quietly as they held hands and spoke softly to each other in the darkness outside, accompanied by Gavroche, Combferre, Courfeyrac, and Grantaire.

"Enjolras," Eponine whispered, making her way over to him, "how're you feeling?"

"Lousy," he began, "if somebody attacks – I'm useless."

"Better useless than dead… don't torture yourself, it's not your fault you got shot."

"But it will be if anybody else does." He sighed and looked up into her eyes, smiling. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." She kissed his head and watched him turn red, "I'm just happy you're safe."

She turned to walk back outside, joining the small circle some of the barricade boys and Cosette had formed.

"'Ponine!" Gavroche exclaimed, taking a seat next to her.

Marius smiled in her direction but avoided eye contact, hurting Eponine deeply. What had she done now? Why was he being so hostile towards her?

"Marius, may I speak with you?" She asked, making her way up to him.

"Why?"

"Marius…" She repeated through clenched teeth. Without hesitation, Marius began to follow Eponine to a vacant room.

"What is it?"

"Why are you so upset?"

"I-" he stopped, completely caught off guard.

What was he to tell Eponine? That he was in love with Cosette but hated seeing her with Enjolras. Even though he was a great man, dedicated and passionate about everything he did, he seemed too different from Eponine to make her happy. She loved to tease, and laugh, and help in any way that she could… Enjolras simply worked to free France. Simple as that.

"Eponine, you cannot carry on this way with Enjolras."

"And why not?" She raised her voice, "Marius I'm sorry if this hurts you but I thought you loved Cosette –"

"I do!" Marius pushed her back and caught the attention of Jean Valjean through a broken window nearby.

Was he speaking of his daughter? Cosette had fallen in love?

"Marius, where are you going with this?"

"Eponine, I'm just trying to help you!" Marius sighed, "Cosette loves me the same way I love her, but Enjolras – I'm worried he'll hurt you the moment he's back on his feet."

Valjean threw his head back and looked above, panting and praying that what he heard was not true. A young man, the very young man he had spoken to before – in love with his Cosette? And she had returned his love?

"But he hasn't!" Eponine differed. "Marius, please, I know what I'm doing."

"Fine!" Marius threw his hands up and walked away bitterly, leaving Eponine standing in the once again vacant room.

Cosette had spent the majority of the time away from Eponine and once Marius had left with her, she began to talk more and more with Gavroche.

"Ya seem real nice, ya know?" He smiled, playing with her hair.

"Alright, alright," Courfeyrac interrupted, picking Gavroche up and placing him on the opposite end of the circle.

Cosette laughed, "What're you doing here anyways?"

"Fightin'." Gavroche shot her a toothy grin and she giggled.

"Where are your parents?"

"They're pretty stupid… I'm betta' off here."

"Who are they?"

"Monsieur and Madame Thenardier." Gavroche answered quietly, shaking his head.

Cosette nearly choked, "Oh my gosh..."

"You know 'dem?"

"They raised me…" She mumbled bitterly, looking back to see if she could find Eponine.

"No way!" Gavroche moved to sit next to Cosette, "So you and 'Ponine are like sisters?"

"I guess."

"So you're my sister too?"

"Sure." Cosette laughed and pat his head, "You're very lucky to have Eponine here with you."

Gavroche nodded quietly and realized how long Eponine had been gone. Slowly, he left the group and went to go find his sister.

"'Ponine!?" He called, "'Ponine!?"

"Shh." Eponine muttered from the room, sitting on a small table in the corner.

"I should'a known you'd be all alone."

"Very funny." She sighed, "Why the sudden interest to come and find me?"

"Well," Gavroche took a seat next to her, "we might die – so I thought I'd come talk to ya."

"Thanks." Eponine smiled sadly, putting her arm around her brother.

"Are you going to marry Enjolras?" He asked suddenly, catching her off guard.

"What?!" Eponine laughed, "I don't think so..."

"But you love him."

"I do…" Eponine sighed awkwardly, "besides, I doubt he'd ever ask."

"Maybe he will." Gavroche smiled, "He's never been so nice to anybody… 'Specially a girl."

Eponine chuckled, "Thanks 'Roche." She messed up his hair and he ran off.

"Eponine!" Enjolras called from the room he was resting in. "Eponine, I have to talk to you!"

Although she heard him, she refused to answer – terrified that Marius was right about the way he thought of her. Marius had been the one to acknowledge her every day while she blatantly ignored him, never Enjolras. He only warmed up to her after she almost got attacked by her father. Marius had cared for her since she had ever come to the café, never Enjolras. She had just sat back and admired his determination from afar… Maybe he was being delusional. Maybe he really didn't care about Eponine, and once everything was over would go back to obsessing over Patria. Patria is his mistress, Eponine thought, not you. Eponine shook away her thoughts and walked outside, leaving Enjolras behind her.

Valjean still stood by the door, mesmerized by the all the conversations he had overheard. There was so much love and hope in the barricade, and all of it was about to go up in flames. A battle could arise at any time, and all these people, with hopes and dreams and aspirations could be dead. Gone without another say in the world. He had to talk them out of it.

"Cosette!" He called urgently, watching his daughter run to him from the distance, Marius at her heels.

"Papa?"

"Marius, Cosette –" He stopped himself from bringing up their romance, "you cannot stay here."

"What?" Marius asked, sharing a glance with Cosette. "Monsieur, I understand your worries but we've gone too far."

"Please," he took a deep breath, "you will lose your lives."

Cosette covered her mouth and shook her head, "Let's ask everybody."

Marius nodded and made his way back to where most of les amis rested, "Listen up!"

"What is it Marius?" Grantaire asked.

"Let us not waste lives, all those who wish to leave, can."

A silence rang over the barricade – not a single sound was made, not a single person had left. Cosette looked back at her father and shrugged, making Valjean realize that this was all that the children held close to them. If it were up to him, he would save each and every one – but they wouldn't let him. He had to accept that very soon, the death of each and every student was possible.

But what about his Cosette? Was her new lover to die? And at his age, he would be gone soon – who would look after Cosette?
He watched silently as Marius and Cosette embraced near the fire that had been started near the café and nodded. It was time to let Cosette go.