AN: No reviews until now? o_O ...well, I'm not giving up! ;)

About the chapter, I know, the fountain at Place Saint-Michel was only built in the late 19th centuries, yet it fitted in there so good so I decided to just leave the little mistake.

And, again, parts of the dialogues are from 'A Heart Full Of Love', 'In My Life' and 'The Attack On Rue Plumet'.

Please, please, please leave a review. It would mean so much too me!

Greets,

Catharina

III. Envie - Envy

The next morning, Gavroche led Éponine to the house at Rue Plumet. He had spoken truth with his description. Full of envy she stared at the shallow cremecoloured home with the red roof and the wine covering most of the southern side. It stood in a beautiful rose garden, the blossoms spread their flowery smell even to Éponine and her brother clenching to the black metal curlicue fence's poles.

But when she met Marius that evening she didn't tell him about her findings. She didn't the next day or the one after that. Only Gavroche, urging her to get his pay, finally convinced her to tell him about the address.

He had given her the name of a café at Place Saint-Michel. Only that that square was quite the opposite of the city quarter of Saint-Michel. With her head drawn-in she poked along the bourgeoisies until she reached the place Marius had described. The Boulevard Saint-Michel and the Rue de la Huchette merged at the octahedron, the fountain dabbled along, carrying it's swoosh into the cloudy night sky. In the darkness the Palais du Justice and the Cathedral Notre-Dame rose minaiciously tall, only their silhouettes were seen in the dim light coming from the lanterns.

It was neither empty nor crowded, a few couples were making their way in the evening, their arms crossed. Éponine felt a little sting with every sight of them.

She found the café Marius had described easily. It was one of the few lit buildings, through the large windows golden glow fell onto the pavement. Inside, she saw mainly men, young, about Marius' age. He still hadn't told her exactly what he was doing all night, but until now she knew at least he was having serious discussions with other students from the university.

Carefully she took the few steps to the front door and opened it. Heat rolled over her from within, the bar room was filled with laughter and humming of too many voices at a time. She spotted Marius sitting at the counter, sunken into a conversation with a dark-haired man. They were both holding jars of beers, taking a sip from time to time.

Éponine tried to raise his attention. She had already noticed one or another curious looks and would've gratefully avoided crossing the room. But Marius didn't look up.

„Can I help you?" A man's gentle voice made her turn around. She looked into the friendly face of a young student, no more than twenty-five years old. Well, from what Éponine knew, he looked like a student: he wore good clothes, a taupe jacket over a white shirt and a red patterned scarf, dark trousers and black elegant books. Shaken up strawberry blonde hair, observant eyes that studied her from head to toe, making her feel uncomfortable again. He seemed to notice the same second she did and his gaze softened.

„Forgive me, where are my manners? I am Jehan, pleased to make your acquaintance." He reached out for her hand, a gesture she returned stunned and puzzled. Amazed she responded: „Thénadier." It took her a few seconds to realise she was still so stunned she was holding on to his hand all along. „I'm sorry", she stammered, „I have a message for Monsieur Pontmercy."

He nodded. „He's right there." He pointed across the room and immediately Marius rose his head. A genuine smile spread on his face and, waving his hand, he made his way to Éponine and Prouvaire. Her eyes grew larger, her heart started racing.

„I see you've met Jehan already." Marius gave the named one a smirk, then turned to Éponine again. „Did you find her?"

Jehan rolled his eyes. „Get over her, Pontmercy", he sighed, then departed from the two.

Éponine nodded. „Gavroche found out a lot", she said. He was already leaving when she held him back. „And he wants pay."

Marius was too delighted to care and handed her a full franc. „Thank you, Monsieur", she gasped but he just waved at her impatiently. „Come!"

Éponine turned back once more, catching Prouvaire's uncomprehending and the annoyed look from a red coated man, then she rushed after Marius into the darkness.

„I can't describe this feeling, Éponine!", yelled Marius hurrying, almost stumbling over her leading him. „It's like nothing else, I wish you so much you'll have it yourself someday."

Éponine smiled sadly, realising the irony of what he was saying. She nodded. „I hope so too."

„It's just – like something is over but yet something has begun." He was still screaming, causing her to give him a reproachful noise. „Sh!"

„Éponine!" He turned back to her, spinning her around like a child. „You're the friend that has brought me here, thanks to you – heaven is near!"

Every word was like a dagger to her. She felt the knife's stabs in her chest, brutally as if they were trying to knock her down to the ground. She walked with shaky knees, hardly keeping up with Marius' speedy tempo.

There had been know one like him ever in her life, these emotions she felt around him weren't comparable to anything else. She was surprised how right his description was – she knew these celestial feelings. Only that – other than Marius – she was sure hers weren't answered.

„We're here", she whispered. Every inch of her body begged her to turn around, to leave him in the dark. Let him search himself!, her mind screamed at her.

But she couldn't resist that begging look to go on. „Rue Plumet", he read the road sign and just this little name sounded like a lullaby from his mouth. „She's waiting near."

She was waiting here! Once again she wondered how he could be so blind. Here she was right in front of him, all he had to do was ask!

But he didn't turn around to her. Instead he walked down the road, looking around like trying to catch every detail of the area his loved one lived in.

„What's her name?" he asked, his voice echoing from the house's walls. Éponine opened her mouth to answer when he interrupted her. „No, don't tell, I want to hear it first from her lips. I bet her voice is beautiful."

Éponine had no tears in her eyes. She didn't feel like sobbing or snuggling together to blind out the pain. But pain was the only thing she could feel, accompanied with a cold emptiness spreading even to the farest corners of her body.

And then they arrived at the house. It looked peacefully in the dark. Fauchelevant said the name sign next to the bell to announce one's visit. Marius was reaching out for it when Éponine held him back. „You'll raise her father's attention!", she warned him.

„But what can I do?"

It was then that Éponine spotted her in the darkness. Her golden hair shimmered under the light a patio light threw at it, soft and smooth. She touched her own dirty dark curls, messy as always.

Marius followed her gaze. He gasped when she saw her, grabbing tight to the metal fence. „I found here", he whispered and it was the moment when Éponine realised it was time to back off. Quietly she took a few steps backwards but stayed within earshot in the shadows.

She heard Marius calling for the girl, making snapping noises with his hands to catch her attention. Finally, she looked up and her big eyes widened even more recognising his light up face. She got up, put aside the book she had been reading and moved towards the fence. Her white gown flittered behind her in the soft breeze.

„I found you! It's really you!", Marius said, but then stopped. „Oh God, I'm doing everything wrong! I do not even know your name. Mademoiselle, will you tell?"

The breeze blew over Cosette's gentle voice, whispering but full of wonder. „I can't believe it either", she said. „Is it really…you?"

„My name is Marius Pontmercy."

„And mine's Cosette." She smiled, lowering her eyes shyly.

„Cosette." Marius repeated her name like a precious flower. „I don't know what to say."

She did not answer. She just looked at him, blue eyes flowing over with emotion. The air was filled with breathless silence.

Until Marius inhaled again. „I love you. Forever."

It was the moment Éponine felt herself sink to the ground. Her knees buckled and suddenly the hard pavement was below her.

The words he would never say to her. She realised that now, all over again, and the truth came with all its bitterness and pains. She bit her lip to stop them from shaking. It's over, it's all over, she told herself again and again yet the words didn't seem to reach her mind.

And then she heard the muttering voices behind her. She leaped to her feet, her hands shivering. The voice grew louder, know she understood what they were saying. „You shut your mouth, give me your hand!" She noticed her father's angry tone and backed off to the wall behind her yet they had spotted her already.

„What have we here?"

„Who is this is hussy?"

„It's your brat Éponine, don't you know your own kid?"

She smelled her father's breath when he took a closer look towards her.

Babet interfered from behind. „Why's she hanging out on here?"

Her father nodded. „'Ponine, get on home! You're not needed in this, were enough here without you."

„What are you planning?", she answered, throwing worried looks between the Patron-Minettes and Thénadier.

Her father nodded towards the house. „Let's say we've got a debt to pay." She heard Claquesou's dirty laughter from behind.

She stood still in shock. Marius was there – if they hurt him….

„I know this house, I tell you! There's nothing here for you. Just the old man and the girl, the live ordinary lives!" She held her father's shoulders, trying to convince him to cancel the attack.

„Don't interfere!" Here pushed her against the wall. „Take care, young Miss, you've got a lot to say!" He was close to hitting her again, but Montparnasse held back his fist. „She's going soft, happens to us all." He leaned closer to Éponine, locking her up between his and her father's body. „Go home, 'Ponine, you're in the way!"

She pushed them off, using all of her strength. „I'm gonna scream, I'm gonna warn them", she threatened, looking for Marius, but he was gone. Instead, the garden gate was wide open. He must've gone inside.

„One scream…" Thénadier didn't finish his sentence, Éponine had already cried out, sharp and loud.

Her head flew to the side, receiving her father's slap and she tasted blood. She spat out.

„Leave her to me, hide in the sewers!", he ordered the Patron-Minette, Éponine however was hit again, this time her other face side being hurt. „You'll rue this night, I'll make you scream!" She winced.

A torch lit up the street and Marius returned. Within seconds Thénadier had let go of Éponine and disappeared in the night.

Marius hugged her gratefully sighing. „You saved me once again, sent them away with your cry and brought me to my beloved Cosette." He looked around cautiously. „Let's get going, they are still near." And he pulled her away.

They said goodbye at Place Saint-Michel and it was then when the night's events really hit Éponine. She watched Marius leave until the darkness swallowed his body.

She was afraid of heading home, she didn't doubt her father meant his threats. She knew for sure there was only one place she could go now and the thought of her secret spot at the river bank comforted her a little. Yet it was not enough to push back the tears one last time. While walking she felt her eyes flooding over, teardrops running over her cheeks, wetting her face. She made no sound but she cried all along. When she arrived at the river she felt weak and empty.

She crossed the private garden, where the apples were starting to ripe, and pulled back the hedge.

A little scream slipped her throat.

Facing her his back, a man was sitting at the shore, just like Éponine always did, his feet dangling in the air.

He turned around when he felt the branches pushed aside.

She couldn't see his face yet the mane of locks were curling around his head in the light coming from the side across, almost like a halo. She believed he was as stunned as she was.

„Éxcuse-moi", she whispered and was about to pull back when he answered.

„I forgive you, Mademoiselle." His voice was strong and powerful but also careful and cautious. „Maybe I have to apologize myself. Is this your place?"

She nodded, caught with an uneasy feeling. „I'm used to come here all the time", she explained. She began chewing on her nails.

He began to rise. „I found it today when I dropped my books." He pointed at a pile of volumes he picked up next. „It's yours again. Have a good night." He nodded slightly and headed to leave.

Éponine realised she couldn't be left again this night, not even by a stranger. „You can stay if you like", she called after him and he turned around, puzzled.

„I…I don't think that's a good idea", he stuttered. He made another attempt to go, but Éponine went after him.

„I insist upon it", she demanded and now they had moved as far as to the next lantern. Light fell in her face and recognition crossed his face. When his breath passed her she felt coolness were the tears had left their stains, suddenly embarrassed she brushed them away.

„I've seen your face", he realised. „You were the girl picking Pontmercy up today."

She looked at him awkwardly. „Are you a friend of him?", she asked only noticing a second too late she was being rude.

He stood straight. „I wouldn't say so."

She kept her view at her bare feet, not daring to look at him. „But you know him."

He made an agreeing sound. „We…meet. From time to time."

„And what do you do?" Merde, she thought. She had been impolite again.

He exhaled loudly. „It's complicated."

Éponine forced herself to smile and look up. „You could tell me. I understand a lot of things."

He shook his head. „I should go home."

„Please." Éponine looked at him petitionary.

She watched him struggle with himself, finally he sighed, giving in. „Maybe a few minutes", he agreed and they walked back. They sat next to each other at the small place, as far from each other as possible.

„I'm sorry", Éponine said suspiring. „I'm usually not like this." She pointed at herself.

He didn't answer, but an unspoken Like what? Was hanging between them.

„Desperate", she added.

He nodded silently, his hand resting on his books.

Now, with the moon coming out from the clouds, she risked a gaze at his face. He seemed familiar to her, too. But she couldn't remember. Only when the pale moon light showed his jacket's burning colour, she remembered. „I saw you at the café today", she burst out. Nodding.

„You're not much of a talker, aren't you?" She couldn't help but being honest and direct.

This time, he shook his head. „I told you it wasn't a good idea."Again, he rose to leave.

„Well, then, tell me about what you are doing."

He closed his eyes in annoyance but sat back eventually. „I study law."

„Is that hard?"

„Yes." A swift smirk appeared on his until now unmoved face.

Awkward silence followed. Éponine began feeling uncomfortable again. „I'm Éponine", she said, trying to find a subject to talk about.

„Enjolras."

„Is that your first name?"

„No."

„So what's your first name then?"

„Do you always ask that many questions?"

She silenced. She didn't know herself where that sudden flood of words came from. She was only used to talk that much to Gavroche and on some days maybe to Marius, but apart from these two she usually kept her conversations short.

She moved her legs slightly and bent down over them to look down at the river. It was even slimmer now but the clouds above her promised rain. Soon the city would liven up again. The heat had made everyone tired and slow.

„Monsieur...", she began again, this time more carefully. „Has Marius been talking about me?"

She could see him raising his eyebrows. „He did talk a lot the last few days about some girl he met. He's being ridiculous."

„And what did he say?" Éponine knew deep inside her already, Cosette was the girl Marius had been adoring these past days yet she had to try that little chance left.

„I didn't listen, Mademoiselle", Enjolras replied with sharp voice. „This is not the kind of talk I listen to."

Éponine felt her heart sink in disappointment. „What do you listen to then?"

Again, she had crossed the border. Enjolras got up, brushed the dirt of his trousers and picked up his books. „I should go to rest. It was…nice talking to you." Without another glance he turned around and left her behind, alone again with her thoughts.