Hello, my lovely readers! I wasn't originally going to publish thid chapter until Friday, but, thanks to my new followers (I know right? I can't believe it either! XD) I felt the need to just write and write and write, so it's done! Maybe I'll have another early chapter if y'all leave lots of comments! ;)

To her dismay, Eponine did wake up the next morning, but she was no longer out in the cold. She lifted her head and glanced around the room. This was not her small,shabbily furnished apartment that her family shared in the slums of San Michele It was a modest but nice bedroom with a large, plush bed, a writing desk, a large wing backed chair, and a roaring blaze in the fireplace which she recognized as the apartment of Enjolras, the leader of the schoolboys' revolution. She had been here once before to deliver a note from Marius. Curious, the wispy girl sat up and hopped down from the bed. Surprised by her weakness, Eponine crumpled to the ground, making quite a racket. This roused the other occupants of the house.

Enjolras rushed into his room and found his guest on the floor in a faint. "Eponine!" he called softly, slapping her wrists. "Eponine!" She jerked up with a startled gasp, lashing out with her hands. She scraped Enjolras' face with her long nails. "Ah!" he cried in pain, reaching for the girl's wrists. "It's alright! It's me, Enjolras! You know me!" Eponine stopped suddenly and gazed into his eyes then let out a startled gasp. "Your face! I'm terribly sorry! Please forgive me! I thought you were..." she trailed off. "No matter; it's just a scrape," replied the man of marble graciously. The bit of compassion he had just shown was quite unusual in itself, and it was not unusual for Enjolras to shrug off any ordeal as if it were nothing. Enjorlas noticed a look of confusion cross over Eponine's face. "How did I get here?" she asked. "The I was leaving Marius' and saw you sleeping on the street, so I brought you here." "Oh. Thank you; you really didn't have to do that." "That's what friends do," replied Enjolras with a small smile. Was there a crack in his marble facade? His expression quickly morphed back into stone as he swiftly put Eponine back in bed and left the room.

He regretted the small display of affection he had shown her. Enjolras knew Eponine loved Marius even if Marius had never noticed, but Enjolras had loved Eponine even with this knowledge. He had never shown it, though. He had never shown affection to anyone, but ever since his revolution had failed, he had felt all alone. Only he and Marius had remained when the barricade fell, and now the only friend he had left had deserted him. Maybe it was time to open up his heart, but he didn't know how. He had to do something, or he would go mad. He couldn't live alone with his grief any longer.

Eponine sat in bed, wondering why Enjolras had saved her. He couldn't fancy her. Could he? The only thing she had ever known him to love was Patria, and that was all over now. Feeling weary, Eponine dismissed the thought and snuggled beneath the covers. She had never known a bed to be so warm and soft as this one, and she fell asleep as soon as her head met the pillow.

That afternoon, Enjolras made a platter of Croque-Monsieurs (French ham and cheese sandwiches) and carried a tray to his room for Eponine after he had finished eating. Finding her fast asleep, Enjolras quietly placed the tray on his bedside table and tiptoed out of the room.

A few minutes later, a pleasing aroma woke Eponine from her deep slumber. She rubbed her eyes groggily and scanned the room, stopping when she saw the platter of sandwiches on Enjolras' bedside table. The food immediately made the starving girl perk up. Eponine downed the whole platter within a few minutes. She had never tasted such a delicacy before. When she ate, which was very rarely, she was lucky to snag a half eaten rotten apple or the crust of a stale baguette from the rubbish cans in the alleys. Her last meal had been a moldy orange peel a month ago, and even that was a lucky break. Eponine had never known what it was like not to be hungry before now. She had always focused on providing for her younger siblings, Gavroche and Azelma, but Eponine knew the feeling wouldn't last. She couldn't stay here, or her brother and sister would starve. Her parents were too preoccupied with themselves to watch after their children, and Eponine had been forced to look after Azelma and Gavroche since she was thirteen years old. She hadn't seen 'Zelma for several months as she had left home when she turned fifteen. She and Eponine were only a year apart in age. Gavroche was but eight years old but was as independent as his siters and came and went, so Eponine was often alone. But she always checked in on him and made sure he was eating. Ironically, he often had a fuller stomach than her. The large meal had made Eponine's eyelids heavy, and she soon fell asleep.

The next day, Eponine felt considerably less weak, but she was famished. So she put her dress on over her shimmy that, thank God, remained on her thin frame and slowly made her way downstairs. She found Enjolras sitting at the dining table in his small kitchen. "Feeling better?" he asked, not bothering to glance away from the newspaper. "Yes, thank you," she replied and sat down, not wishing to impose on him in her need for food. After several minutes, the boy glanced up and exclaimed, "Where are my manners? Would you like something to eat?" "Please," she said, thankful that she did not have to ask him herself. She sat awkwardly as Enjolras prepared two eggs and warmed a thick slice of ham in the oven for her. When he set the plate before her on the table, she thanked him and did her best to eat slowly. Despite these efforts, her plate was clean in before the food had time to cool. "Would you like some more?" asked Enjolras, noticing her longing gaze gravitate towards the ham. "No, thank you," she said even though she knew that she could devour the whole ham. "I know you do, 'Ponine," he said and sliced up two more pieces. Eponine blushed, embarrassed but accepted it and murmured her thanks. Three slices of ham and two more eggs later, Eponine once again had a full stomach. She sighed happily and leaned back in her chair. Enjolras chuckled, making Eponine blush with embarrassment.

"Well, I'd best be getting home." she said, clearing her dishes away from the table and washing them. "Alright. Perhaps I'll see you at the Cafe this evening?" said Enjolras. "Oh, I don't know...I...I really should..." she trailed off. Eponine didn't have a reason not to go, but now that Marius wouldn't be there, she didn't really have a reason to visit the Cafe. Why did Enjolras care if she showed up or not? He had never acknowledged her presence before. Why now? "I need to check on Azelma and Gavroche," she said, suddenly coming up with an excuse. Enjolras suddenly looked uncomfortable. "W-well, Eponine," he stammered awkwardly. "Gavroche showed up at the barricade with Coufeyrac, and..." "No," said Eponine. "Th-that can't be true! Stop lying to me, Enjolras; it's not funny!" "'Ponine," said Enjolras cautiously. "I wish I was lying; I really do, but...I'm sorry." He finished and finally gave up, walking around the table to comfort the girl he loved. Eponine pushed him away. "If you knew he was there, why did you not send him away? He was eight years old; he couldn't have fought!" she burst out angrily. "I didn't know until he faced down the soldiers; it was too late. Your brother was a very brave boy. I'm sorry," he said again, trying once more to put his arm around her. Eponine couldn't take it anymore. "I don't need your pity!" she yelled, sinking down at the bottom of the stairs. "I don't need you!" The hysterical girl burst into tears, sobs wracking her small body.

Enjolras didn't know what to do. He had never dealt with female emotions or anyone's for that matter, but he knew that if he wanted a chance with Eponine, he had to try his best to comfort her. He sat beside the weeping girl and pat her back awkwardly until she stopped crying. "I'm sorry," he whispered for the third time. "It's not your fault," replied Eponine after several minutes of silence. "It's...it's mine. I should have paid more attention to him. I've been paying too much attention to Mar- to other things for the past few months. Its...all my fault," she said and began to weep again. Enjolras knew what the other things were or rather the other person, but that was over now. It was his self appointed duty to comfort Eponine and be there for her as Marius never was. Perhaps she would notice his affection for her if he was always there to catch her when she fell. "It's not your fault, 'Ponine. Look at me," he shook her shoulders. "Look at me!" When she finally glanced at him, he said, "You couldn't have saved him. None of us could. Who are we to try to change the future God has planned for us?"

Eponine thought about what Enjolras had said, and she liked the sound of it. Gavroche was now in Heaven which was a far better place than San Michele. Yes, Gavroche would never be cold or hungry again, and she would see him eventually. "You're right," she said aloud. "Thank you. I feel much better, and I apologize for blaming you." "Think nothing of it," said Enjolras gently. All of the sudden, Eponine was acutely aware that Enjolras' arm rested across her shoulders, and she was surprised to find that she quite liked the way it felt. In her emotionally drained state, she suddenly realized that like Marius, she had been blind to the depths of another's affection. She suddenly realized that Enjolras loved her, but that was not the strangest discovery that she made as she sat there on the stairs. Eponine realized as Enjolras scooted closer to her that she felt a familiar fluttering in her stomach. It was a feeling she hadn't felt since the day she met Marius. Eponine was shocked to discover that she had feelings for Enjolras.