_Ch.5 _

The next morning, Eponine woke up on the sofa with a ratted blanket laid over her. She saw Gav asleep on the floor across from her.

She leaned over to him and tapped her shoulder lazily. He instantly woke up and smiled at her. "Morning sleepyhead." Eponine whispered. "What did I miss?"

Gavroche rubbed his eyes and explained slowly, "After Azelma stormed off, she fell asleep in your bed. Then you fell asleep. Marius left soon after. Then JP came over for Azelma. I told him what happened. And oh right!"

As Gav digged in his pocket, Eponine silently groaned. It was kinda embarrassing to have anyone really know about her so-called robbery that she really did out of kindness. Gav handed her a folded slightly ripped piece of paper. "It's for you." He quipped. Eponine took it and read:

'Dear Miss Thenardier,

I'm saddened to hear about the loss of your job, and I'm sure you stole for a good reason as well. Knowing how hard it is to be put down like that, I spoke with my boss at the florist and she has an opening for a job if you like. Don't worry, I put in good word for you. If you'd like the job you can come tomorrow morning, she will be waiting. Most of all, I wish you the best of luck getting back on your feet.

Yours truly,

Jean Prouvaire '

Eponine looked up for the note. Wow. Maybe this kid wasn't so bad after all. Eponine considered the job for a moment, and then quickly decided to go to the interview. She stood up and gently laid aside the blanket, ruffling Gav's hair. "Go get dressed, I'm gonna try and see how Miss Sunshine is doing." She sighed. Gav grinned as Eponine winked at him and went into the hallway.

She knocked on the bedroom door and called, "Zelm? Azelma?", after a few more desperate calls she opened the door to see Azelma still asleep, a pink rose flower crown adorning her messy hair. She sighed and sat on the bed at Azelma's feet.

"Zelm…." she crooned. Azelma tossed sleepily then groaned. "What do you want?" she mumbled. "You have to go to work, quick there's not much time." Eponine informed. She rubbed Azelma's foot and stood up, heading for the door. "Didn't you hear?" Azelma mumbled. Eponine stopped dead in her tracks. She frantically wondered, 'What did she do this time? Did we get a pet, a parrot perhaps? NO Eponine silly, there are no parrots here. Did she quit her job? Oh God no.'

Azelma mumbled, "It's Sunday." Eponine breathed a sigh of relief, Azelma had no work on Sunday. "Thank God." she thanked. Azelma sat up and rubbed her eye. "What did you think?" she asked.

Eponine blushed and went to the doorway. "I thought you quit your job," she confessed. Azelma let out a shy chuckle and shook her head. Eponine smiled and turned away from her sister, wondering if she should bring up last night. She glanced at her sister, who was currently combing her fingers through her knatty hair happily.

'Mmm, better not.' Eponine thought.

About an hour or two later Eponine sat in Holsten's stirring an egg soda slowly. She took a sip from it as a waitress bounded towards her.

Eponine glanced up at her and let go of the straw, this lady was gorgeous. She had angelic blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and skin no whiter than a swan. She gently pulled a chair up to Eponine's table and sat across from her.

"Rough day?" the girl asked sadly. Eponine tiredly nodded. The girl tilted her head in sympathy and placed her thin hands over Eponine's tan folded hands. "Sorry, wanna talk?" she whispered.

Eponine wondered, 'Should I tell this complete stranger about my troubles? Think Eponine, she seems super nice. And something in those baby blue eyes seems trustworthy.' So Eponine spilled about everything.

Once she was finished, the girl shook her head, "Such a shame, so sorry to hear that m'am. I'm Cosette." She extended her hand and Eponine numbly shook it. Cosette. Why was that so familiar? She shook the thought away and smiled, "I'm Eponine."

For the same reason, in the back of Cosette's mind something buzzed. Danger, Danger it said. She also shook away the thought.

Cosette chirped, "So Eponine! Please don't take this the wrong way, but do you have any friends?" Eponine felt a pang of sensitivity, but she answered, "Yeah, but they're all boys."

Cosette grinned. "Now that doesn't seem fun." She chuckled. Eponine let out a little laugh too, although she was a bit offended; Cosette looked so disgusted. She continued, "But don't worry, I'm your friend now. We can talk about girl things!" Eponine tilted her head at the thought. She'd never really had a girl friend besides Azelma. But she liked this idea.

Eponine nodded, "Okay."

Just then, Courfeyrac bursted through the door he gave a small wink to Cosette before greeting Eponine. Eponine rolled her eyes at her friend's flirtatious personality. "So I heard about the thing." He whispered as soon as Cosette went to check on the other tables. Eponine turned burgundy. "Does everyone know?" she whispered back. He nodded.

"Marius told us."

"Did he now?" Eponine sighed as she lazily dropped her head in her cupped palm.

Courfeyrac nodded and quipped "But we aren't mad at you though! You did it out of kindness…..right? Like to get a little somethin'-somethin' for Gav? After all, it is his-"

"Birthday!" Eponine exclaimed jumping up. Her heart beat as her stomach churned. Jesus Christ, she forgot the her brother's birthday!

"Ugh, I'm such a horrible sister." She sighed.

That night, due to Courfeyrac's quick thinking and bribery and Cosette's social butterfly (she knows people) they were able to get Holsten's cleared for a birthday party for Gav. JP was going to bring flower decorations, and Enjolras bought Gav a train set, although Grantaire preferred to 'get the youngster a good ol' air rifle' in his words.

Soon everything was ready. Enjolras, Marius, and Grantaire were getting Gav from his job, Azelma and JP were putting centerpieces at each table, and Courfeyrac and Joly were trying to make ice crea, without Cosette's help.

Eponine and Cosette were painting a cardboard sign that read 'Happy Birthday Gavroche!'. To intrurrupt their moment of silence, Eponine thanked quietly, "Thanks for all you've done Cosette…it really helps, so so much."

Cosette looked up from her work and smiled at Eponine. "Don't mention it." She replied. Eponine smied and asked, "So, how did you clear the place?" Cosette answered, "The owner is my dad's friend…some guy named Fauchelvant. I think that was his name before he moved here. Now he prefers Holsten."

Eponine nodded. JP exclaimed, "I'll be right back! I need to pick up some more begonias!" he ran outside. "He's a good kid." Eponine commented, with an agreeing 'mmm-hm' from Cosette.

All of the sudden the boys came through the door, Enjolras carrying Gav on his shoulder. Eponine looked up and grinned. She approached the four boys and hugged them all, leaving Gav for last. She crouched down and whispered, "Happy birthday Gavvie." He grinned and hugged her. She led the boys to their table, not noticing Marius was gone.

Cosette toddled over to the silver awning outside, carrying the sign. She pulled a chair outside with her and opened the door. She held it open with her foot then closed it gently. Cosette sighed and shivered, it was so cold. She got ontop of the chair and pulkled the sign up. With her hands, she held it up trying to picture what it would look like.

"Need some help?" a voice asked.

She looked down to see a tall (well, small compared to her height on the chair) boy with a dirty blond quiff, freckles were splatted all over his nose and his emerald green eyes stared into hers.

Right there, her heart melted. Was this love at first sight? Cosette stammered, "I-if you don't mind sir."

The boy chuckled and took the other part of the sign from her. "My name is Marius Pontmecy." He said as she crouched down to get the duct tape. "And mine's Cosette." she answered back. He smiled at her as she ripped a piece of duct tape off and handed it to him.

"Thanks." He said taking it. Soon the sign was hung and Cosette came down from her chair. He took the chair from her voluntarily and Cosette held the door open for him.

Eponine chuckled, watching Gav chow down his birthday sundae, but stopped when she saw Marius come through the door.

Them.

Together.

Forever.

_A/N: SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOOS OOOOOOOOOOO SORRY GUYS! I know I haven't been updating regularly, since know I have volleyball and school plus homework. I promise that whenever I can I'll be working on a chapter. I love you all! 3 -G