Hey guys! Long time no write. Sorry... I stopped this story because I wanted to start writing an original story and I didn't want to have to focus on the two but this story kept on coming back to me so... Here you go! Another chapter!

Éponine stumbled into an alleyway, her hands shaking. Her heart was beating fast as she laid her hands over her chest, trying to catch her breath.

It's okay, it's okay, she tried to reassure herself but her breath didn't seem to slow. She leaned her head back against the wall and whimpered slightly to herself.

She's had worse situations with her father-much worse. She was only left with marks on her face now. What didn't scare her was the actions, it was the look in his eyes. He's never truly looked like he would kill Éponine like he did today. Her own father would kill her, the very person who contributed in bringing her to life. The irony of it all. Sometimes Eponine wondered if she should just take herself from this world, to save her father the trouble and not let him have the pleasure of doing it.

But then she would remember why she lived: Marius and to keep Gavroche from harm.

Now, however, Marius loved another. He was past the point of ever considering loving Eponine; she wasn't even an option. But Éponine's love for Marius could come in different forms. She would be there for him no matter what happened to them, no matter a friend or lover, despite how painful it was to be merely a friend.

But would he miss her so much of she were dead? Or would it just be a weight lifted off his shoulders? Should she kill herself not only for her father's sake, but for Marius's?

And Gavroche was in the hands of the men in l'ABC cafe, he didn't need her anymore, as much as he pretends like he does for her sake.

Éponine's hands moved away from her chest and she hugged herself, trying to not to cry.

"Lord," she prayed silently in her head. "Am I meant to join you in heaven now? Should I die? If not... Send me a sign. Show me I'm needed. Show me-"

A hand wrapped around her mouth and muffled her scream. She squirmed greatly, tears already forming in her eyes. She felt as if she had missed a step on the stairs and was about to fall. Her stomach just hollowed. Montparnesse again, she thought to herself horrified. She squirmed viscously but the grip would not budge. She screamed into the muffled mouth and began to try to push out out of the hold in the process causing her to fall back slightly and Montparnesse's hand to slip off her mouth. For the first time in a while tears streamed heavily down her face and she found herself scared. Not as scared for herself as she was for Monsieur Enjolras, because she knew that Montparnesse would eventually find out who the coat was from, and when he did he would probably terrorize Enjolras for ever being in her life. Lord knows how many times Eponine had to go to certain extents to keep him away from Marius but Montparnesse will probably kill her now, so what could she do for Enjolras?

It was strange that what could be her last thought were of Enjolras. "Please 'Parnesse," she breathed through her tears, trying to get as many words out before he would placed his hand over her mouth again. "Just leave me alone! I'll do anything!"

"Calm down Éponine," said a voice in a soothing, soft tone. A voice that was not in any sort of the imagination Montparnesse's. She stiffened. Of course, she thought to herself. She broke out of his grasp, which he let her do willingly, and turned around to find that man with the glistening dark blue eyes hard and concerned and golden hair in front of her, his jaw jutted out as if to try to his his emotion. Éponine felt her face flush and she grit her teeth. "Monsieur Enjolras-must our encounters in the dark always begin with you attacking me!" She hissed. She took a deep breath and looked toward the ground, quickly trying to wipe her tears away before he saw them.

Enjolras however saw the tears, and something in his heart ached in pity for her. "I'm sorry, I just didn't want to startle you, yet let you know I was present here as well. And I didn't want you to scream because it'd attract attention to us," he said, his voice hushed, dropping his hand to his side.

"You could have-I don't know, whispered, 'I am here Éponine, just telling you,' instead of giving me such a fright!" she whispered angrily.

Enjolras snorted at her sarcasm and defiance. She was an interesting character. Most girls in the town fancied him because he was the leader of the revolution, and treated him with unwanted respect. Eponine challenged him, and actually treated him as an equal. "My apologies, I'll do that next time."

Éponine snarled. "Please do." Then she took off his jacket and pushed it at his chest with such force that he took a step back. Enjolras looked at her with confusion, but then, with a pang of guilt he knew why she did this. She suffered because of it, and she had tried to tell him that when he first offered it to her. Now she had bruises upon her face because of his stubbornness. "Keep it," she mumbled. "It's caused me more trouble than good."

Enjolras put around his shoulders because he was jacket-less today. He was rueful, however to see goosebumps on Éponine's arms immediately, and the way she tried to hide her discomfort.

She sat down against the wall, and tried to ignore the presence of Enjolras for as long as possible, despite his breath being uneven, and the tapping of his foot. Éponine stayed there for about ten minutes, completely silent, waiting for Javert. Oddly enough, when Enjolras stopped taping his foot, she found herself missing the sound, despite her initial vexation. That was when she realized she needed to get out of there.

She stood and turned to him. "I doubt Javert is coming. I suggest you leave before someone else finds you," she said cooly and swiftly to him.

She walked out scowling at this situation. Enjolras saw her gasping for air, holding back tears, and just yesterday, he'd heard a backstory she had told no one. Just within the first few minutes he met her he listened to her rant about Marius. The man was bothering her. He had come into her life all too fast and now he was way to twisted in it all. She needed to avoid him. But he was now a slight weakness she had-surely not as great as Marius, but still there. She certainly knew she would be upset if he died though because he was one of the kindest people she had ever met, even more so than Marius.

She accidentally told him things she didn't feel comfortable telling even Marius. And why? She did not know. Maybe it was he treated her like he cared about what she said, or because he listened and saw and didn't wonder why. He stared at her with his dark blue eyes and he had a way of making her confess, and this was only after only their fourth or fifth encounter. She could not imagine the damage that would be done by several encounters. She had to stay away. She needed to disappear and go back to before when he didn't bother her nor her bother him.

Yet that was hard to do when he grabbed her wrist and spun her around. "Madam..." he murmured.

She hid her face from him, staring at the ground, not wanting him to the bruises. "Are you okay?"

Éponine whipped her wrist out his fingers and growled, "I'm fine! I don't need your help, I don't need you!"

Éponine turned and began to walk to the l'ABC, thinking of Marius, and his embrace when he saw she had his letter. The way he'd bury his head in her hair during their hug and remind her why she lived, even though his love would never belong to her.

"Éponine," he said, his voice had an edge to it that made her stop.

"What?" she asked impatiently.

"Where are you going?"

"Why do you care?" she demanded.

Enjolras was quiet for a second. He rolled his eyes, and grimaced. "I asked you first," he pointed out.

"To l'ABC," she answered.

"What a coincidence, as am I," he said with a smirk. "I'll join you."

Éponine scowled,"I'd rather you not."

Enjolras walked over to her side saying, "Sadly, I'm free to walk where I please, so you may just not have a choice her Mademoiselle."

Her face did not show it but, she was actually relieved Enjolras would join her, she felt safer with him next to her.

They walked in silence for a while.

During this quiet time Enjolras's eyes kept wandering towards Éponine. She looked troubled.

"Éponine, are you alright?"

Her jaw stiffened and her face became hard. "I'm fine," she said, with a sharpness to her voice.

Enjolras rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said defensively.

Eponine stared at Enjolras for a moment and said something she didn't quite think about: "What if you... Die in the revolution?"

Enjolras looked at Éponine, caught off guard, confused. "Then I would've sacrificed my life for my country, and I will die a happy death knowing I've served Patria."

Éponine's heart ached suddenly at the thought of Enjolras's blue eyes lifeless. She then thought what would happen if Marius died during the revolution.

What would she do? A horror fled through her.

Enjolras looked at Éponine, he looked at the bruises on her face and an idea suddenly came to him. It hit him like a ton of bricks but he knew she would get furious at her for proposing the idea.

"Éponine?" he asked. Her face was pale and her expression was filled with anxiety. "Éponine?" he repeated when he realized she didn't seem to hear him.

Éponine shook her head slightly as if to come back to reality and then looked Enjolras, the color coming back to her face. "What are you thinking about that's got you so horrified?" He asked.

"Death," Éponine answered.

Enjolras stared at her carefully. She hadn't truly witnessed death, not like he had, sure she's watched nearly every other tragic thing in her life transpire but no one has ever been gone forever with her. "You'll everyone again that you lost in this world, you will see them when you are reunited with God," he mumbled. "Everyone will be there."

Éponine raised an eyebrow. "How are you sure?"

He shrugged. "It's what I believe. You can never be sure, anyone who's dead is already dead. They cannot tell you, so you believe. It's one of the only things that cannot be proved in the world. But Éponine, don't think of death, think of your life now."

Éponine nodded. Then she chuckled to herself. "You are so wise, you always know what to say."

Enjolras smiled to her. Then they walked in silence in a while, both lost in thought.

When they arrived at l'ABC, they had barely spoken. Enjolras had avoided telling her his offer because he knew she'd be angry with him and not proceed to walk to him to l'ABC which he'd be fine with letting her do if he didn't now feel that if she was out of his sight there's a chance she'll never come back. There's a chance she'll die.

Inside the cafe the lights were on and they heard the loud voices of the school boys inside.

Éponine looked eagerly inside, ready to go see Marius, and have him hug her after such a bad night. Enjolras, however, pulled Éponine to the side before she walked in. Eponine clenched her teeth as she looked at him. What could he possibly want now?

"Éponine, I need you to know something," he told her seriously.

"What?" Éponine asked, her eyes wide in curiosity.

"I've want to help you," Enjolras said. Éponine's eyes narrowed and a line formed between her furrowed eyebrows. She opened her mouth, probably to yell at him, but Enjolras continued before she could. "I saw you get hurt," he said quickly. Éponine's mouth closed shut. "I saw your father hurt you; I yelled for Inspector Javert. I saw them hurting you and I couldn't let them hurt you. I want to help you Éponine. So I want to make a proposal to you: you can stay with me. But it won't be pity. It will not be a charity because you will work for me around my room if you please, and I will give you some of my money until you can get a place of your own. It is not a donation because you're earning the money. You could sort books and papers, and other things." He paused for a moment and Éponine looked at him speechless. Then he continued slowly, "Mademoiselle, I know you need protection from those men. I know you do. And I swore I would help the people of France, and you need my help right now." His hand seemed to have a mind of its own it slowly placed itself on her cheek. She, to his surprise, didn't seem to realize what was happening and didn't pull away. She just looked at him, her eyes softening ever so slightly. His thumb stroked her cheek as he breathed, "You can stay and go as you like, but I just want you to have a place where you feel safe. Everyone deserves that."

Éponine was quiet for a second. Enjolras actually thought she would say yes, for a second.

He was wrong.

She whipped his fingers off her cheek and scowled as she put her hands into fists. "How dare you! I told you I did not want help! I do not want help!" she said sharply.

"I know but-"

"Monsieur Enjolras, do you want to help the poor? Don't help me! I'm fine. I'm a survivor, not a victim. Help some whore off the street if you want to give her shelter for money! At least it'll give you pleasure!" she yelled at him.

"'Ponine-"

"Don't you dare call me that! My friends call me that. Marius calls me that. You are just a man who wants 'to help' but Monsieur, what have you done that has benefitted the poor and not just myself?" Éponine accused.

Enjolras's face was grave. He placed a firm hand on her arm because he didn't want her to run off. "I'm giving them a revolution. I am giving them my life. I'm giving them hope." His voice was slow, and serious. To this Éponine was speechless, because she knew, as always, Enjolras was right. He moved slightly closer to Éponine and his dark blue eyes stared into her brown ones. "I gave you my offer, it's on the table, whether you accept it or not is on you. I live three doors to the right of Marius if you need me."

And for a moment they stared into each other's eyes, daring the other to look away. They could've stayed like that the whole night if they wanted to, if it weren't for a drunken Grantaire stumbling our of the cafe.

Both of them looked away and saw towards the drunkard, and he stumbled over near them.

"Enjolras! It's you and your lady friend! How adorable! Oh no, don't let me interrupt you... Carry on, carry on, Marius's friend and Enjolras," Grantaire laughed to himself.

Enjolras scowled at him. Éponine grimaced in disgust and ripped her arm out of Enjolras's grip and went inside, disregarding the drunkard, and without so much as a goodbye to Enjolras.

Enjolras then looked exasperatedly to the bum in front of him who was assisting him to fight. He was a pitiful man, finding relief in alcohol. "Grantaire you seem to invest quite the interest of my love life. You're always asking about it. Perhaps it's time to find you a girl to invest your own time in."

Grantaire didn't even seem to comprehend. "Enjolras..." Grantaire said drunkenly. "I like your lady friend. She's got a fire in her, like you do. Make baby fires."

Enjolras rolled his eyes. "You're too drunk to probably comprehend it, but she loathes me at the moment. There'll be no baby fires, only dying embers between us."

"She's probably denying the feelings she contains for you because she doesn't know what they are and she is scared." Grantaire mumbled.

Enjolras raised an eyebrow. Though that was not the case, Grantaire actually said something intelligible while intoxicated. This was a grand moment!

"Where's my shoe?" Grantaire asked. And surely enough there was no shoe on his right foot.

The grand moment died as soon as it began.

"Grantaire, I'll take you home before you throw up all over France." Enjolras said, putting his arm over Grantaire's shoulder, helping him walk back home, and on the way he couldn't shake the fact Éponine not once complained that he touched her cheek from his mind.

Éponine walked inside, to find Marius sitting alone. He was staring out the window, his eyes dazed. She sighed slightly, trying not to feel guilty about the way she just exploded at Enjolras. She realized now he had done nothing but wanted to help, even though she didn't want it and it vexed her to no end she was being pitied, she should've thanked him.

"Marius," she said, smiling, her cheeks slightly hurting from the bruises.

Marius looked at her, his eyes hopeful and wide. "'Ponine!"

She pulled the letter out of her sash on her dress and handed it to him. A large smile spread onto Marius's face, as he embraced her. She felt the warmth of his arms she'd been waiting for.

He let go too soon though, as he eagerly unfolded the parchment and his quickly read through the note.

"She's amazing," he whispered to himself. She nodded in return.

"'Ponine come upstairs with me, I need some privacy from all these people while I think of her," he said.

Marius grabbed her hand and they ran up the stairs together laughing.

The lights were up and Marius sat on the very couch where Enjolras told her to fall asleep, where he comforted her, and listened to her.

Marius patted the seat next to himself, but then Éponine rapidly shook her head. Instead she took a seat on a chair. The irony of sitting on the very couch where she told Enjolras everything she could never tell Marius was too much for her to handle.

"Éponine I feel so happy right now," he grinned to himself. Eponine smiled, genuinely, because she was glad that he was so overcome by joy. "I'm happy for you," she said quietly.

"Eponine, you made this happen. I love you so much for that!" He said, smiling at her.

Eponine felt her heart crash to the ground. She knew he didn't mean it like that, but to hear the words leave his lips made her heart melt. "I love you, too," Éponine whispered back.

He shifted in his seat smiling. "So, Éponine, Enjolras talked to me about you."

Éponine's face flushed. "Oh?" She asked. If he said something about Cosette to Marius she would swear revenge on him.

"Well, he just asked me about how you were delivering letters for me. I told him what was happening and such," he said. "He swayed me as he told me that I was crazy letting a single person go out in the streets at night. You are okay right?"

Éponine's eyes widened as she nodded. She couldn't believe it, Enjolras was making Marius actually see her, like he did. Though it was slight and small, he was worried for her even though she hated that he didn't know she can last on her own for sure, he was actually expressing concern over her. Éponine didn't know if she should loath or love Enjolras right now for doing this for her. "Let's not talk about him now. Let us talk about Cosette for now," she said, wanting to let Enjolras slip from her mind, because the thought of him came with the remorse of her blow out with him. However immediately she shunned herself for being so stupid. If she didn't want to talk about anything it was Cosette! She just impulsively said that because well, she didn't want to hear about Enjolras.

He looked up at Éponine with a large smile. "Oh, 'Ponine, you don't understand the love I feel for her!" he said with a grin. You are mistaken, she thinks to herself. "I want to elope. Eponine, you will be at our wedding, you will have the front row seat! You'll watch us kiss and be married-and I want to thank you! Thank you for bringing my soul mate and I together!" Eponine's throat seemed to swell, because she felt she couldn't breath. It was only then she realized how dismissive Marius was of her safety so he could talk of Cosette. "She is the love of my life! I will have a letter ready by tomorrow 'Ponine, will you pick it up? It will be perfect! It must be! But words can't process the love I feel... I wish I could see her-'Ponine are you alright?"

"Yes. Why?" she croaked.

"You look slightly sick, are you okay?" he asked.

"Um... Yes. Continue talking."

Marius gripped her wrist and dragged her down the stairs and brought her to a group of men.

"You look at if you are going to faint... Joly! Come here!" Marius shouted.

The man named Joly whom Eponine met just yesterday walked up the stairs looking confused.

"Yes Pontmercy?" he asked.

"Eponine looks sick. Will you make sure she's well?" Marius asked.

Joly looked at her curiously. He extended his hand towards her and she shook it. "Joly."

"Éponine,"she introduced herself.

Joly then took his handkerchief and whipped his hands. Éponine raised an eyebrow. He looked towards her ruefully. "I apologize dearly, I'm terrified of germs. I don't normally touch other people's hands but for greetings I make an exception." It wasn't dismissed from her mind that Joly didn't point out once that because she was a gamine and probably full of germs.

"Joly, poor Éponine has grown pale, will you make sure she's well?"

Joly nodded. He stepped towards Éponine and examined her fair complexion. Then in a slight widen of his eyes she knew he saw the bruises. "How did you get-"

"Oh look at the time! I must be going, I'm sorry gentleman. Goodbye!" She turned and walked out of the cafe quickly. She couldn't listen to Marius talk like that about Cosette any longer. There's only so many times you can be pricked by a needle before the pain becomes unbearable.

But the night seemed cold and menacing now with the Patron-Minette closer than ever to her. But she couldn't go back to l'ABC because Marius will ask if she was well, have Joly look at her which would cause her to have to make up a story about how she got the bruises, and most of all she would hear him talk about that awful Cosette.

She scowled as she knew what she had to do. Sometimes desperation causes people to do things they don't want.

That's why Enjolras heard a knock at his door that night at eleven while he was reading a book. He stood and opened the door to his flat and saw Éponine standing there, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed.

I hope you liked it! As always review and tell me what you think because your opinions matter a lot to me!