A/N: Thank you so much for supporting this story, it means so much because I really enjoy writing it. This is kind of another fluff chapter, but I promise I'll try to give you some sort of action in the next one!

Éponine struggled through a particularly challenging sentence. "Sound out the words," Enjolras prompted encouragingly. At her insistence, he was teaching her how to read and write. She had a very basic knowledge of how, but she lacked the practice and the understanding of grammar and spelling. He wanted to start her off with a much simpler book, but Éponine was determined to get through one of his old law textbooks, the language and vocabulary of which was difficult for anyone outside of the law profession to comprehend even if they were well read. Thus far, her determination and impressively fast learning ability were serving her well. Enjolras stunned by how quickly she had begun to pick things up. He had started teaching her less than a week ago and it was now early May and she had already gone from barely knowing how to write individual words, to forming simple sentences. Obviously it helped that she was already so well spoken when it came to expressing her thoughts aloud, but her rapidly expanding knowledge was astounding nonetheless.

She managed to get through the sentence and slammed the heavy book shut with an exaggerated sigh before Enjolras could instruct her to continue. "I'm calling it a day," she stated at his confused expression.

"Fair enough," Enjolras replied with a small smile, "You're soon going to have a better grasp on written language than I do at this rate."

Éponine scoffed and rolled her eyes playfully. "I'll be lucky to gain half your ability. You really have a way with words monsieur."

Enjolras brushed the compliment off and reached across the table to grasp her hand tenderly. "Well if the lesson is done for today, I suppose I should go into the café for a while."

"If you must," she said with mock annoyance, "I'll come with you." She gave his hand a quick squeeze and pushed her chair back, stood up and stretched her back, which was stiff for leaning over the large book. She felt Enjolras' large hands encircle her small waist, pulling her into him. His lips came down on hers with a strange sense of urgency. She could tell he'd been especially stressed lately, but he didn't seem to want to talk about it.

After a few minutes he pulled back. "I love you," he breathed and pressed a kiss on her forehead. The emotion in his eyes was unfathomable.

"I love you too," Éponine whispered, wrapping her arms around him. She rested her head against his chest and could feel his lips on her hair, his breath ruffling her hair lightly. "Is everything alright?"

"Of course," he said a little too quickly. Éponine pulled back to look at him. A neutral expression was pasted on his face, but his eyes seemed far away and there was a heaviness about him.

"Enjolras…" she sighed. He wasn't telling her the whole truth.

"I'm fine, truly." The corners of his mouth pulled up halfheartedly. "It's just that we received news yesterday that General Lamarque has fallen ill."

"Oh," she wasn't sure exactly what this meant for him, but could determine from his mood that it was weighing on his mind. Of course she had heard of General Lamarque and of his sympathies to the working class as well as his criticism of the monarchy.

Noticing her uncertain expression, he continued. "I believe his death may be the catalyst for our rebellion."

The reality of his words hit Éponine with swift brutality. She swallowed hard before speaking. "Are you scared?"

Enjolras stiffened. "I am fearful they we aren't yet prepared. I'm fearful for the lives of my men. I wouldn't have a doubt if you hadn't given me a reason to live. I worry love has made me weak," he smiled crookedly to assure her the last part was a joke, but she could tell his concerns were very real. He became serious again with a heavy sigh, "A leader should inject his people with confidence and keep his qualms to himself, so please do not let my worries reach the amis." He was staring over Éponine's head to avoid her concerned eyes.

She grasped his hand reassuringly in hers and put her free hand on his cheek to make him look at her; she found his brave façade admirable and knew it wasn't easy for him to let someone in on his concerns. "We will be ready and we will succeed. You know I didn't believe in your fight to begin with, but you made a believer out of me in a single conversation that night I ran after you to tell you to call of the entire revolution," they both smiled slightly at the memory of their first real interaction. "You have that effect of everyone who hears you speak with such conviction. Our side has grown by hundreds of willing citizens who are prepared to fight for their countries freedom because of you. Do not let our love make you fearful; we will be together in the end one way or another. There are so many people who believe in you and believe in this cause. Do not fail them, but withdrawing into yourself in fear."

Enjolras pressed his lips against hers tenderly. He could not even imagine how different the news of Lamarque's illness would be sitting with him if it weren't for the young woman who clung to him now. How dissimilar his entire world would be had she not followed him out of the café that night to essentially beg him for Marius' life. After watching her moon over the oblivious Pontmercy for so many months, it was incredible to learn that the waiflike street girl was much more intelligent than her desperate actions seemed. It was in that first full conversation that he discovered not only was she passionate and unafraid, but unbelievably strong. And right now she was proving once again that her incredible wisdom and bravery was well beyond her years. She had mastered a level of empathy that Enjolras had never experienced before. He was a man who had always seemed void of emotional attachments to people, mainly the women who watched him with lust filled eyes as he walked down the street. It was the bold and rough-around-the-edges Éponine who caused his marble heart to beat with an unbelievable love.

He almost wanted to laugh at himself now for being so apprehensive of making any sort of move towards her, but he has been so unaware of her mutual emotions. Enjolras had no real experience with women; he never felt he had time for them. It wasn't that he lacked all natural human desire; it was more that he never felt evenly matched by someone of the opposite sex. All the women his family had attempted to set him up with over the years failed to catch his eye, they were too well-behaved and spoiled, with their bonnet covered heads in the clouds. He longed for a woman to challenge him and to have opinions of her own and a sense of the harsh reality of the world. However, he assumed he would never find such a girl, so he simply stopped looking. It was the surprise of all surprises when his heart began to soar at Éponine's mere presence. She was exquisite and one of a kind.

A/N: Please review!