we're coming to the edge,

running on the water,

coming through the fog,

your sons and daughters

iv.

Eponine was so sick of Christmas music she could scream. The Monday the law office reopened after Thanskgiving, Jennifer put on a Christmas Pandora station and the damn thing hadn't been turned off since. If she saw Frosty the Fucking Snowman on the street, Eponine refused to be held responsible for her actions, and his little snowy ass would be done for.

She was eternally grateful, however, that for the first time in eight years, she wasn't working retail for the holiday season. In addition to her waitressing or barista jobs, she had always picked up extra shifts at any store in the mall that would hire her. There was a special place in hell for cranky Christmas shoppers. So, if she had to make a choice, Eponine guessed she would choose listening to Jennifer's Christmas music over working in the mall any day.

But still, the soft classical music of the restaurant Enjolras' work colleague had chosen for dinner was a really nice change. She sighed happily as she sank down into her chair at a small, intimate table in the corner. "Thank God there's no Christmas music playing."

Enjolras grinned. "Not a fan?"

"I am for the first week or so...after hearing 'All I Want For Christmas is You' five million times, however, no."

"Agreed." Enjolras fell silent as he looked around the restaurant, and Eponine did the same. This place was different than the places people usually picked for business dinners – the lighting was dim and romantic, with candles placed on every table, and the waiters were even dressed up. Thank God Eponine had actually splurged and bought a new dress the other day or she would have been painfully underdressed even in her nicer work clothes. It looked as if there were several couples on dinner dates scattered around them.

"This place is a bit...different...than where we usually go," she remarked.

"I know. This is my first time here, or I probably would have suggested somewhere different. We're surrounded by couples." Enjolras shrugged and checked his phone. "I wonder where Mark is – it isn't like him to be late."

A few seconds later, a waiter approached their table to take their drink orders, and as Enjolras smoothly ordered what sounded like a fancy glass of red wine, Eponine panicked inside. Would she look like an idiot just asking for water at a place like this? She knew nothing about wine, which was apparently what every single person in the restaurant was drinking, she confirmed after a quick glance around.

Almost as if he could read her mind, Enjolras asked, "You like white wine, right?" When Eponine nodded, he ordered for her, as well.

"How did you know I prefer white wine?" she asked once the waiter left.

"The first time we were at dinner, it's what you got and you wrinkled your nose at my glass of red. I just assumed."

"Oh." There he went, being all observant again. "Well, thanks. I never really know what to get at places like this. Not that I've ever actually been to a restaurant this nice before."

Enjolras was about to respond when his phone buzzed with a text. He read it and scowled. "Shit. Mark just canceled. Apparently his son is sick."

"Oh...well, that sucks. I was looking forward to my free dinner!" She meant it jokingly, but Enjolras frowned as he looked back up at her from his phone.

"I'm sorry. I guess that's just one of those things that comes up, but I wish I would have known sooner and saved you the trouble of coming here."

"It's alright. No harm done. I need to catch up on my DVR, anyway." Eponine reached over to pick up her purse, but stopped as the waiter came back with their two glasses of wine.

"Have you decided what you're going to have tonight?" he asked expectantly.

"Oh, uh, we were actually..."

"I'm still deciding, can you come back in a few minutes, please?" Enjolras interrupted. As the waiter walked away, Enjolras turned to her and asked, "Would you like to stay and have dinner with me?"

Apparently alarmed at the look on her face, Enjolras hastened to add, "Not like a date! I just meant, we're here, we already have wine, and we were planning on a good dinner. We could just stay? If you want to?"

Eponine bit her lip and slowly let go of her purse, leaning back in her chair. "Um. I...that isn't weird? I mean, I don't feel weird about you, but just...is it really okay to have dinner with me? I work for you."

"We're not doing anything inappropriate. We didn't plan it, and even if we did, there's no law that says we can't be friends outside of work. We've done things together before, kind of? I understand if you don't want to stay, though, it's alright."

Eponine studied him for a minute, a little surprised by what she thought looked something like nerves or insecurity in his eyes. Maybe she was making way more out of this than she needed to. "I would like to stay," she finally agreed, and Enjolras visibly relaxed.

"Good."

They both ordered when the waiter came back again, and after a few minutes of decidedly awkward conversation that made Eponine wonder if she should have actually gotten up and left, Enjolras asked curiously, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"How old are you?"

Eponine smiled, remembering how Gavroche asked him the same question at Thanksgiving dinner.

"I'm 24. Why?"

Enjolras frowned. "And your brother is 13?"

"Yes, why?"

"No reason. I just kind of wondered...I thought you might be older than I thought originally," Enjolras admitted. Eponine's eyes widened as she realized what he was getting at.

"Oh my God. Did you think he was my kid?"

"Maybe...I wondered. I mean, it seemed like you have a very maternal relationship with him. If you were my age or a little bit older, it wouldn't really be so far-fetched for him to be yours. You would have been young, but it happens."

Eponine downed the last of her wine, wincing. "Jesus, does that mean I look old? I really look old enough to have a thirteen year old kid?"

Enjolras snickered at her reaction. "No. That's why I asked."

"Well, no. He is definitely my brother. Although I don't think my mother ever changed a single one of his diapers, so, you know what? I should say he's mine. Maybe I could claim him on my damn taxes or something," Eponine mused.

When the waiter brought their food out, Eponine didn't say no to another glass of wine, and neither did Enjolras. Conversation seemed to flow a lot easier with a little bit of alcohol.

"So...you're 24," Enjolras remarked. "And you just graduated college?"

"Yes. It took me a little longer, I know. I had to take some time off to work."

"So you really didn't get any help from your parents?" Enjolras looked skeptical, which was kind of a typical reaction whenever Eponine explained to people that she was really on her own, and it always rankled a bit.

"No, I didn't," she said shortly. "I haven't lived at home since I was 18, and I would have left sooner if it wasn't for Gavroche. And just for your information, I'm trying to get him out of there and with me, too, because when I say my parents are assholes, I mean my parents are assholes."

Enjolras held his hands up. "Okay. I believe you. I'm sorry. It's just...you seem to have it really together for someone who comes from that kind of situation."

"You'd be surprised," Eponine said drily. "I'm not a basketcase or anything, but I've got issues. We all do."

"Can I ask..." Enjolras began hesitantly, "what is so bad about them? Are they abusive?"

"Yes, more or less." Why the hell am I telling him all of this? He doesn't need to know! Ignoring the voice in her head, Eponine continued, "They're involved in a lot of illegal things – mostly drug related. But I suspect my dad has committed his fair share of armed robbery, as well. They're just the worst kind of people. If he's drunk or high, my dad can be physically abusive, but they're mostly neglectful, which is why I take Gavroche as much as I can. If I didn't, he'd be out on the streets doing God knows what all the time."

"I don't even know what to say to that," Enjolras said softly. "That's a lot to handle, and you do it gracefully."

Eponine blinked at the sincerity of the comment, and the word gracefully. That was an adjective that she would normally associate with Cosette and not herself, but coming from Enjolras in context, she could see the truth in it.

"Thank you." She felt her cheeks flush, but definitely not from embarrassment.

"So, I've seen your apartment. There's definitely not room for Gavroche there."

Eponine laughed. "Geez, you have a way of cutting straight to the point, you know that? And yeah, I know. I'm saving to try and get a two bedroom somewhere, but it's hard to find something affordable. And it's actually really expensive for Gav to play soccer, which I really want him to keep doing. He idolizes Courfeyrac. And you," Eponine added.

Enjolras' eyes widened a bit. "Me? He's only met me a few times."

"I know, but he won't stop talking about you. He asks me how you are every time I see him. He really likes you."

"Oh." It was Enjolras' turn to blush, and Eponine silently scolded herself for thinking it was cute. "Well, that's...surprising."

"So now that I've divulged my secrets, what are yours?" Eponine swiftly changed the subject, leaning forward conspiratorially.

"I'm afraid I don't have any. I'm pretty boring."

Eponine laughed. "Oh, right! When I really think about it, I barely know anything about you except for the work you do. That obviously tells me about the kinds of things you care about, but I know nothing other than that."

"Well, what do you want to know? I promise, there's really not a whole lot to tell." Enjolras looked a little bit more uncomfortable now that they were talking about him, but Eponine pressed on, anyway.

"Do you have siblings?"

"No. I'm an only child."

"We know my parents are douchebags, so how are yours?"

"They're great, actually. I probably don't see them as much as I should. My dad works for a software developer and my mom is a high school history teacher."

"So how did you become what you are?" Eponine gestured at him, trying to convey something she struggled to put into words. "I mean...you're very put together. You're incredibly intelligent, and you do amazing work to help people. And you can wear the hell out of a suit."

Eponine clamped her lips shut, embarrassed beyond belief at her last admission. Apparently, two glasses of wine made her completely lose control of her motor functions.

Enjolras blushed again, but laughed, and took it in stride. "Thanks? And honestly? I have a very specific story that made me start thinking about issues of inequality, but it can sound really contrived, so..."

"Please, tell me. I'd love to hear it. Before I say anything else inappropriate and embarrassing."

"Okay. Well, when I was a kid I went to a really nice, private elementary school. It had great teachers, always had really high test scores, and mostly everyone there was pretty well off, considering it was an expensive school. When I was in third grade, they started offering scholarships to kids from other schools who were considered 'in need' and who were outperforming their peers in their current environment. So, a kid named Devone started the school year with us, and he stuck out like a sore thumb, mostly because he was the only black kid in the grade, and one of only 4 in the school – the other three being the other new scholarship students. A lot of kids showed their true colors, or maybe just echoed their parents, and were clearly racist pricks, but my parents encouraged me to befriend him. Once I did, several others did, too, and eventually, Devone started fitting in really well. Am I making this too long? Are you bored?" Enjolras suddenly looked concerned as he glanced at the table.

Eponine followed his gaze and realized with a start that, not only were they done eating, but the waiter had apparently come to collect their plates while they were talking and neither of them had noticed. He seemed to sense they'd come to a pausing point in their conversation, however, because he quickly rushed over when he saw their attention not on each other for once.

"Would you care for some dessert this evening?"

Eponine was about to decline when Enjolras answered, "I would. I'll take a slice of cheesecake. Eponine?"

"Oh, um...do you have anything chocolatey?" She wrinkled her nose at the thought of anything else, and decided that since Enjolras was apparently going to indulge, she would, too.

"I have a triple chocolate cake that I think will do." Eponine nodded eagerly and turned back to Enjolras once the waiter left. "I was listening to your story, you know. Please finish it?"

Enjolras smiled and nodded, and Eponine felt a jolt of electricity run through her as she felt his knee brush hers under the table.

"Okay. So...Devone and I became good friends, along with a couple of other boys. At first, I didn't really think about our economic differences. It just didn't cross my mind as a really sheltered nine year old kid, because I'd never been exposed to anyone that was different than me, who had less or whose parents weren't educated. But halfway through the year, Devone's uncle was murdered, and this was a kid that was only a teenager, and Devone really looked up to him. He was devastated, and I remember telling my parents that I wanted to go to the funeral...but they wouldn't let me when they found out where it was."

Eponine had a feeling she knew exactly where it probably was – the part of town where she grew up, where Gavroche grew up, where violence could erupt at any given moment over any stupid argument. She just nodded in understanding.

"So, anyway, I kind of started to understand then, how different his life was from mine. And I just couldn't understand why. He was as smart as I was, even better at math and science. But he had to go home in fear, wondering if he was going to lose anyone else, or wondering if he and his mom would lose their housing and end up on the streets. I just...woke up to all of these issues of inequality and no one would give me any answers, or tell me how this could possibly happen in a country where we all supposedly have equal opportunities to succeed."

Eponine could tell Enjolras was getting worked up – she heard that same commanding power in his tone as she'd heard before, except now she sensed the anger that probably always fueled his passion, too.

"I realized that year, and every year since, that people that live in uneducated poverty are chained and oppressed just as surely as if they had actual physical chains on them. They may as well have. And the part that still baffles me sometimes is that many of them don't even know it – they have no clue that they're part of this oppressive cycle. And only a few people manage to escape it. People like you."

Eponine bit her lip, afraid she was actually going to cry. She had never liked to talk about or even acknowledge where she came from with her friends because it was embarrassing. Her experiences were so vastly different from their own that they couldn't even really fathom the things she had seen – yet, she knew that Enjolras could. It didn't feel embarrassing for him to know, but rather kind of empowering. His praise wasn't empty. It meant something.

"I...yeah," Eponine whispered, their eyes locked. "That's amazing. What happened to Devone?"

Enjolras sighed and cleared his throat, tearing his gaze away from hers. "He died. When we were in fifth grade, he was at his sister's birthday party. There was a drive-by shooting; apparently the guys in the car were after someone else at the party. But they hit Devone and his three year old sister instead. They both died."

Eponine reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it gently before letting go. "I'm sorry. That's horrible."

Enjolras smiled crookedly and took a deep breath. "Yeah. It's been a long time since I talked about him."

Eponine nodded and picked up her fork, trying to break some of the tension, even though it wasn't the uncomfortable kind. "Heavy topics tonight. Now I really need some fucking chocolate."

Enjolras snorted and began eating his own cheesecake, reaching over once to steal a bit of Eponine's dessert. The gesture made her heart skip a beat, because even though they'd clearly said this wasn't a date at the beginning of the night, it distinctly felt like one now. And it felt good.

The waiter brought the check when they finished eating, and Eponine watched Enjolras take out his wallet. Oh, shit, she thought, reaching out to grab his arm as he pulled out his own credit card, and not the company one. He always kept the company credit card in his pocket, she'd learned, and not his wallet.

"What's the matter?" he asked, confused.

"Are you paying for this yourself?" she asked, horrified. Of course he was – why in the world had she assumed the law firm would pay for it when it was clearly not a business dinner from the moment Mark canceled?

"Well, yeah. I can't use the company card, this wasn't business..."

Eponine groaned and closed her eyes. "Gabe...shit. I'm sorry." When she opened her eyes to find Enjolras grinning at her, she looked at him suspiciously. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You called me Gabe. Finally. I guess it just took me spilling my guts to get you to call me by my name." He looked distinctly pleased with himself, and it only made Eponine feel ten times more mortified. She hadn't even realized she'd done it, though she'd been calling him that in her head for weeks.

"I...I...fuck. I'm sorry. This was a bad idea. God, I'm so stupid. I didn't think about you paying for it, I know that was expensive with freaking glass after glass of wine and dessert..."

"Eponine, it's fine," Enjolras said gently. "I asked you to stay with the intention of paying myself. It's really okay, it's what friends do."

"Is it?" Eponine said skeptically, and she wondered if he got what she was hinting at. "Please, can I pay you back?"

"Absolutely not. No. I wanted to buy you dinner." His eyes held hers even as he continued in a much more uncertain tone, "And I ordered dessert because I wanted to sit here and keep talking to you."

Eponine felt her heart speed up as her stomach twisted itself into knots. This was a feeling she hadn't felt since she was a stupid teenager, talking to Marius for the first time her sophomore year of high school. Holy shit, crushing on him is a bad, bad idea. Don't do this. Don't do it, Eponine!

"I..." She was saved by the waiter coming to the table to take Enjolras' credit card, and she took the few seconds of his presence there to calm herself down. She refused to give into feelings like that. She could acknowledge them, but damn it, she was an adult and needed to act like it.

They didn't really speak again until they were in his car, another thing that felt suspiciously like a date. When he pulled up in front of her building to drop her off, Enjolras was out of the car and opening her door before she even realized what was happening. What is he playing at? she wondered. He has to know what he's doing...

If he tried to get into her apartment, Eponine would put her foot down. Maybe he was just putting on an innocent act when all along he'd intended to take advantage of the situation tonight. It was disappointing, she thought, and was about to tell him so when they reached the door of her apartment.

"I really didn't intend for this to be a date," Enjolras insisted very quietly. Eponine turned to face him, about to give him a piece of her mind, but stopped when she saw the sincerity in his face. "I know it feels like one now, and that's really inappropriate considering our work relationship, but I just...I hope you know I mean it. I would never try to take advantage of you that way."

He looked so damn earnest that Eponine immediately lost all resolve. She hadn't intended for it to be a date, either, but she was guilty of harboring a tiny crush all along, and she knew that just as well at the beginning of the night as she did now, so she wasn't completely innocent, either. And maybe he didn't even like her that way; maybe it was just the atmosphere of the restaurant, and the wine, and the topics they'd discussed that made it seem so intimate.

"I know. It's okay, really. I actually...I mean, I had a really nice time tonight, the nicest time I've had in a while. So thank you for asking me to stay."

Enjolras smiled, relieved that she seemed okay with everything. "I did, too. You're really wonderful company. So, even though this was a little awkward, I hope we really can be friends?" he asked hopefully.

"Of course, yes. I'd like that."

"Good." Unexpectedly, Enjolras reached out and pulled her into a brief hug. "Good night, Eponine." He respectfully released her and turned, heading straight back to his car.

Eponine watched him drive away, chewing fretfully on her lip. This sucked. This royally sucked. Out of all the guys in the world that she could potentially develop feelings for, it had to be her boss.

Despite the feelings of attraction that threatened to overwhelm her at the most inopportune moments, both Eponine and Enjolras kept things professional for the next several weeks. When the office closed for an entire week for Christmas, Eponine was more than relieved. She had a paper to write for grad school, presents to wrap for Azelma and Gavroche, and had to come up with registration fees and tuition for Gavroche's spring season of soccer. Despite the fact that Courfeyrac was the coach and her friend, Eponine still had to pay everything on time just like everyone else. She had at least managed to save half of what she needed to get a new apartment, though, and was determined to look on the bright side and not get overwhelmed. She had it better than she ever had before.

On the afternoon of December 23rd, the last person she expected to see showed up on her doorstep. She left her unwrapped pile of presents on the bed and gaped once the door was open. "Gabe? What are you doing here?"

Enjolras smiled and said sheepishly, "I, uh...I wanted to give you a present."

Eponine's eyes widened in momentary panic. "Oh. Um, come in? I'm sorry, it's a mess."

Enjolras stepped in and looked over at the presents on the bed, which consisted mostly of a few new shirts, two books, and a scattering of gift cards to different fast food places Gavroche could use when she wasn't around and her parents were...well, wherever.

"For Gavroche?" Enjolras asked curiously.

"Oh, yeah. It's not much, but he'll be happy. He's not greedy. And definitely doesn't feel entitled." Eponine shifted nervously from foot to foot and perched on the edge of her small loveseat, the only thing that would fit in her apartment aside from her bed. "You said you have a present for me?"

Enjolras nodded and sat down next to her, but still at a respectable distance. "Yes, I do."

Before he could say anything else, Eponine shook her head and said quietly, "I can't accept it. It just feels wrong, you know that line we said we wouldn't cross."

Enjolras smiled like he expected her to say that and shrugged. "Well, that's kind of what I thought you'd say. So I might have gone about this in a pretty underhanded way, which I don't think you can refuse."

Eponine raised her eyebrows. "What did you do?"

"What I got you actually isn't for you – it's for Gavroche. And I didn't think you could say no to that." Enjolras smiled smugly as Eponine's mouth fell open.

"I...what? What did you do?"

"His soccer fees are taken care of, along with his new uniform. Courfeyrac also has a new pair of soccer cleats on hold for him at the store that are already paid for – he just needs to go find his size."

Eponine blinked, astonished. "I...you...what?!"

Enjolras grinned and pulled several gift cards out of his pocket, handing them to Eponine. "I figured he could use some new clothes, or maybe some video games to keep with you and take to your new apartment. Maybe an iPad?" Enjolras shrugged. "Whatever you want to use them for. There's lots of good after Christmas sales you can take him to."

"You...I..." Eponine could barely process this. And damn, he was right. He had done something she would never refuse because it wasn't for her own benefit, but her brother's, her biggest weakness. "You sneaky fucking bastard!"

Enjolras laughed uproariously, and put the gift cards in her hands, closing her fingers around them. "I am. Are you mad?"

Eponine stared down at his hand still covering hers and bit her lip. "No..." she admitted quietly. That fact alone was incredible – she usually hated getting anything she perceived as charity. Accepting help from others wasn't easy, even when it was given freely and with no strings attached. She didn't know why it usually bothered her so much, and didn't have a clue why she wasn't bothered by this enormous, sneaky, but incredibly kind and well intentioned stunt he'd pulled.

"Really?"

"I'm not. I don't...I mean, I don't even know what to say." Eponine swallowed, dangerously close to tears, and looked at him in amazement. "Thank you." She didn't trust herself to say anymore.

Enjolras nodded and squeezed her hand. "You're very welcome. I just wanted you and Gavroche to have a good Christmas."

"We will. I don't think I've ever had it as good as I do right now. I feel like I owe you so much."

Enjolras shook his head. "You don't. You don't owe me anything. You got here all on your own, Eponine. Good things happen to good people who work hard, and you're one of the hardest working people I've ever met. I'm glad I've gotten to know you."

Eponine smiled and mumbled another embarrassed "Thank you." They stared at each other for a few more seconds, her hand still in his, before Enjolras broke the spell.

"I guess I should get going and leave you to your wrapping." Enjolras stood and Eponine followed him to the door.

"I can't thank you enough, really. I hope you have an amazing Christmas." She was reluctant to let go of his hand, but finally did.

"I will." Enjolras leaned forward and ever so lightly brushed his lips across her cheek. "Merry Christmas, Eponine."

Eponine watched him start to walk away, biting her lip. She didn't want him to go, so before she could really think about the pros and cons and talk herself out of it, she called out, "Gabe, wait! Do you maybe want to stay for pizza? I owe you dinner."

Enjolras stopped and turned around, smiling slowly. "Sure, I'd love to."

When I say I can't stop writing, I really mean I can't stop writing. There's only five chapters left!

Please, please, please let me know what you think about this chapter because I LOVED writing it. Also, the story that Enjolras tells Eponine about the way Devone died is based in truth. A five year old little girl was killed at her own birthday party in a drive-by shooting here in NOLA, and three others were injured. You can find the news story on NOLA . com. It happened about three blocks away from the school where I teach, and she was the cousin of some of our kids. It was incredibly sad, but unfortunately, all too common.

Anyway! HAPPY SUMMER! And please review!