"Éponine wait!" Cosette called as Éponine had taken off running through the park and abandoning Mr. Fauchlevent and Gavroche, Mr. Fauchlevent looked on in confusion while Gavroche smirked knowingly. Azelma had calmly staked a seat under a tree and sat there with her pencils and sketchbook.

It was the Forth of July in Paris and to Éponine that meant one thing and one thing only, baseball, every year Eponine always joined in with a pick up game of Baseball at the parks baseball diamond, last year she even had a glove the the had borrowed from Courfeyrac. She had learned how to throw and catch from her father when she was young, and being light on her feet made her a very good player, it was one time that she liked to show off her skills.

"Éponine!" Cosette huffed and panted, "what are we doing here?" she looked around the diamond immediately recognized everyone who was there, Laurie, Marc, Chris, even Alex and Marius were playing.

"Baseball of course, you can't get more American then that," Éponine grinned brightly.

"And there she is, the Angel of the Infield and outfield," Courfeyrac smiled at her as he approached the two girls, he held two mitts and two hits, "these are for you," he tossed her a mitt and a Chicago Cubs hat, "since you always love to root for the underdogs."

"Hey! Wait just a sec-"

"'Ponine, just face it, the Cubs suck, they haven't been to the World series in close to a hundred years," Courfeyrac cut her off.

Éponine just grumbled and tried on the glove, the leather was soft and worn from years of use and on the side she could see faded writing that said, "Damien Courfeyrac." "Wow, you're letting me use Damien's glove?"

"You play well," Courfeyrac shrugged, "can't let you use that piece of crap I had in middle school."

"Awww... Aren't you just so sweet," Éponine giggled slightly.

"So you guys are all here to play baseball?" Cosette asked.

"Well the whole town always gathers at the park for the 4th so why not?" Courfeyrac replied, "would you like to play?"

"Oh no," Cosette shook her head, "always been more of a cheerleader," she heard Courfeyrac laugh quietly, "hey! Cheerleading is a sport! We were very close to making it to Nationals this past year!"

Courfeyrac immediately shut up, he did not want to face the wrath of Cosette Fauchlevent right before the game, "well I suppose we could use you for a morale boost," he shrugged slightly, "Ummm... 'Ponine wanna go toss a ball around for a bit before we get started?"

"Sure, whatever you say Courf," Éponine smiled and followed him quickly to the outfield while Cosette decided to watch from the bleachers, "do I even want to know what kind of deal you struck with Alex to get him to play?"

"It was actually pretty easy, I just told him we were short a few guys," Courfeyrac replied as he tossed a ball back and forth between his hands.

"You sure it wasn't that he just didn't want to hear you complain?" Éponine asked as she waited for his first throw,

"You doubt my abilities in persuasion, I'm hurt," Courfeyrac replied as he pitched her a fast ball.

Éponine had to jump to catch it, "Too high!" she shouted to him.

"No, you're too short," Courfeyrac replied.

Éponine frowned and pitched him a slider knowing that he would not be able to catch it.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Courfeyrac called as ran after the ball, Éponine just smirked.

"Hey you fellas up for a game?" A boy came up to Courfeyrac, Éponine recognized him immediately as Louis Brujon a friend of Alain, the two of them locked eyes, "you have a girl on your team?" Louis wrinkled his nose at Éponine.

Éponine clenched her hands into a fist.

"So what if we do?" Courfeyrac practically growled at the boy, "she's good and I'm sure she can match your best player any day."

Now, Éponine turned to her friend wide eyed, "Courf are you crazy?"

Louis smiled, "So I guess our game is on?" he held out a hand to Courfeyrac.

Courfeyrac didn't take his hand, "Just go get your boys so we can get started."

"Will do," Louis replied curtly, and as he walked away he walked right past Éponine, "good to see you 'Ponine."

"Shut up," Éponine turned away from him.

"You I think Al would love to see you again," Louis ignored her.

"He isn't here?" Éponine asked.

"Nah, he's got bigger things on his mind, so just me, my boys and a few others," Louis replied.

"Well, like Courf said, go get your guys and we'll start this game," Éponine replied.

"It will be my pleasure to crush you and your friends to the ground," Louis replied as he went to get his team together.

Courfeyrac came up behind her, "Want a bat so you can smash his head in?"

"Nah," Éponine shook her head, "I think killing him fair and square in the game will be enough for me, so why don't we inform everyone of the game you've gotten us into."

"Right, we're gonna kick some ass," Courfeyrac winked and high fived Éponine.

Within ten minutes Louis had returned with his team and they were ready to play ball, "We'll be nice," Louis approached Courfeyrac, "you can be at bat first."

"Sounds good," Courfeyrac then gathered his friends as the sorted out a line up, "Éponine, I want you before Alex, then Alex will be followed by Marius, are we good."

"Clear as crystal, now let's kick some ass!" Éponine shouted as they went to their "dugout" on the side of the diamond and each person awaited their turn at bat.

Courfeyrac was first up to bat and Louis was pitching, the first pitch was a ball and it went soaring right over his head, "Come on, is that the best you've got?" he taunted.

Louis frowned and when he pitched the fast ball it went zooming past and still Courfeyrac tried to swing, "I believe that's strike one?" Louis called.

If there had been a strike zone painted Courfeyrac would have already ground it out with the tip of his black converse. This time he prepared himself for Louis' next pitch and had luck as he sent the ball flying into the outfield as he dashed along the baseline.

"Second base, second base," Courfeyrac chanted to himself as he stepped off first, the boys in the outfield were chasing the ball and were about to throw it back, it was unlikely to be a triple play so he stopped. From the sides he could hear his friends cheering for him loudly, he waved to them cheerfully and smirked at the second baseman.

The game continued to be played and they were doing well, sadly Jehan had gotten tripped up on the way to first base and Marc collided with the shortstop who had the ball meaning that they had two outs. Courfeyrac scored them their first run and was now giving a pep talk to Éponine who was next to bat after Andre was to go.

"You can do this, just keep your eye on the ball," Courfeyrac coached.

"I know Courf, I know how to play baseball!" Éponine rolled her eyes dramatically.

Courfeyrac quietly sat down one the bench as Andre got walked and Éponine took her place on home plate more than ready to knock the ball out of the park.

Éponine grabbed the bat and held it tightly in her grasp as she glared at Louis who was smirking at her from the pitcher's mound.

"You are going down Brujon," she muttered to herself.

Louis threw his first pitch to her, Éponine had focused in on the ball and swung the bat as had as she could, but she didn't here the familiar crack of the ball connecting with the bat, she had missed.

"Good show Thenardier!" The catcher teased behind her.

"Shut up Babet," Éponine growled as she waited for him to throw the ball back to Louis.

Zoning her focus in once more she readied herself for the next pitch, "Come on 'Ponine, focus..." she chanted to herself.

Louis pitched again and Éponine swung the bat once more, only this time she was too soon.

"'Ponine you've got this!" Courfeyrac shouted from the sidelines.

Éponine smiled and tipped her hat to him and waited for Louis' next pitch, it was a fastball headed right for her and she swung and heard the resounding crack of wood and leather and took of running towards first base. Her converese were thudding against the dirt as she ran down the baseline, as she rounded towards second she saw Andre make it home and they were throwing the ball to third. She stopped on second and was panting heavily but was smiling brightly, as Alex approached home plate he shot her a brief smile and Éponine got ready to run to third.

Alex had his blue eyes fixated on the pitcher and it was making Louis feel nervous and it showed when he pitched, it was weak but Alex hit it cleanly into the outfield. Éponine ran to third, she was fast and light on her feet practically flying towards home plate, but fate was not on her side today.

"Go back! Go back!" Coufeyrac shouted.

Éponine couldn't, she wouldn't go back, instead she just picked up more speed, took the risk and slid into home, completely forgetting she was wearing shorts. Her leg was on fire and she wasn't sure if she could stand as she stayed on the ground while the dust settled.

"'Ponine are you alright?" Marius asked as he ran towards her, Courfeyrac close behind him.

"A little bit of help would be nice!" Éponine replied from where she sat on the ground.

Marius knelt beside her and looked at her leg, it was cut up and bleeding slightly, he put his arm around her and with the help of Courfeyrac they got her to stand. Together they helped her walk over to the bench where Cosette was now waiting with a worried expression on her face. Éponine sat down holding onto Marius' hand.

"Chris you go," Courfeyrac directed, "take Mar-dog's place."

"Big scratch, looks painful," Marius' voice was tinged with concern.

"Oh now don't you fret," Éponine smiled, "I don't feel any pain, this can't take me out of the game."

"Anyone got water?" Cosette asked, Jehan passed her his water bottle, she unscrewed the lid and began to pour the contents on Éponine's wound, it went from her knee practically all the way up her thigh.

Alex who was stuck watching this all unfold from his position on second base seemed very out of sorts and unfocused.

"OW!" Éponine hollered and grabbed Marius' hand tightly, "okay, maybe it does hurt."

"I know," Marius grimaced, "I think you broke my hand."

Éponine immediately let go, "Sorry..." her face flushed bright red.

"It's okay," Marius sighed, "feeling any better?" he asked.

"Let's find out," Éponine looked at her leg and the awful scratch that it bore, she tried to stand but immediately her leg began to shake terribly so she sat back down, "I'll be fine, I'll be ready to play in the outfield, I'm sure of it."

"Are you crazy?" Marius scoffed.

"I'm fine, I'll sit now, but I'm telling you that I'm fine," Éponine replied.

"'Ponine-" Marius began but Courfeyrac put his hand on his shoulder momentarily distracting him.

"Hey buddy boy, you're up to bat," Courfeyrac spoke up.

Marius sighed, picked up the bat and the went to play.

Éponine watched Marius make a fit that brought Alex in and Chris got to third but Marius got tagged on his way to second bringing them into the bottom of the first inning.

Éponine picked up Damien's glove and started limping towards third base, Alex stopped her.

"You're playing?" Alex asked.

"Of course I am," Éponine tried to go around him but he continued to remain in her way.

"You're hurt," Alex replied.

"So what?" Éponine folded her arms across her chest, "I can still play third base."

"'Ponine you're limping, I know you want to play, but why don't you take the outfield, maybe center?" Alex suggested.

Éponine raised her eyebrows, "What? No thanks," she shook her head, "I'm taking third."

"Trouble in paradise?" Louis asked as he walked past the couple.

"It's none of your business, stay out!" Éponine glowered at him as he walked away before turning back to Alex, "I'm taking third, don't stop me."

"Hey you two, get your asses out on the field!" Courfeyrac shouted to them from where he stood as shortstop.

Éponine slowly but deliberately made her way to third base while Alex took second, Courfeyrac quickly ran over to him.

"A little advice about playing baseball," Courfeyrac whispered.

"What do you mean?" Alex whispered back.

"When you play with 'Ponine don't mess with her, it could bring you bad luck-" Courfeyrac paused for a moment, "actually why am I telling you this? She's your girlfriend, you should know that by now!" he laughed and ran back to his position, Alex sighed as they began to play.

From that moment on the game for the most part was not exciting, they were now in the bottom of the fifth and it seemed Louis' team was not as great as he claimed seeing that Chris seemed to be well on his way of pitching a perfect game. Courfeyrac and his friends were now up 6 runs and were almost debating calling the slaughter rule.

"Gotta give them a chance, it wouldn't be fair if we called it," Éponine advised.

"I know you are not saying that to be nice," Courfeyrac replied, "you just want to see them pounded into the ground, that's the only thing that will make you happy."

"Gee, how did you guess?" Éponine glanced about with an innocent look on her face.

"How about when you practically winded what's his name, Gus Claquesous?" Courfeyrac replied, "I think you deliberately tripped Louis, and you are playing with an approximately six inch cut down your leg?"

Éponine simply rolled her eyes, "Whatever, let's just play this game, I'm dying for a snow cone."

The other team got lucky and during that inning they scored to runs but were still down by four points when Éponine's team was up to bat. When they came back to their dug out Gavroche and Azelma had joined Cosette as part of their fans.

"Hey, 'Ponine what's the inventory?" Gavroche asked, at fourteen he was not willing to drop the game that he and his sister always played whenever she was in some kind of sports game.

"Let's see two eyes, neither of them black," Éponine began to list, "I still have all ten fingers and none of them are broken and I-"

"What the hell did you do to your leg?" Gavroche noticed suddenly.

"Oh I uhh..." Éponine did not really want to admit that she slid into home wearing shorts.

"She had a fight with home plate, and lost," Courfeyrac smirked.

Éponine pushed against his shoulder, "Not funny!"

"Did you slide?" Gavroche asked.

"Maybe," Éponine replied quietly, she didn't like it when he made it feel like she was the younger sibling.

Gavroche shook his head, "Sometimes 'Ponine you need to think."

"Like you're one to talk," Éponine scoffed.

"Hey Gav, wanna join our team?" Courfeyrac asked.

"Nah," Gavroche shook his head.

"What about you 'Zel?" Courfeyrac to the redhead.

"Are you kidding?" Azelma laughed.

"Well you can't say I didn't try," Courfeyrac shrugged.

Xxxx

"And that is a wrap!" Courfeyrac hooted with joy, the game had really turn around during the 8th inning to the point that the opposing teams had been tied up and were dueling it out. It wasn't until Éponine and her team finally scored during what had become their tenth inning. "We won!" he continued to shout as the other team walked off in a huff.

While Éponine still couldn't move too well she wasn't going to let that spoil her fun as the boys all collected in a huddle on the pitchers mound. Alex stood beside her and he wiped the sweat off of his brow, "You play really well, I still think you are crazy or playing with an injury like that-"

"Hey, let's not fight about this," Éponine cut him off.

"I'm not fighting, it just wasn't your best move," Alex replied.

"I've been through worse, it's never stopped me before," Éponine replied, "don't judge a girl on how she looks, there is a lot more to me than meets the eye."

"I know that," Alex laughed slightly, "only an idiot wouldn't be able to see that, you are fantastic."

"Yoohoo! Lovebirds!" Courfeyrac grinned at them, "how about some celebratory coke and burgers with the Pontmercy family before they set off those fire works?"

"I'm game," Éponine replied excitedly, "what about you?"

"Sure, let's go," Alex smiled, together they walked off as the sun disappeared from the sky.