A/N; Hey guys, so we are having internet issues which is why I haven't been able to update or even read fanfics (I had to upload at the library)….Ahh living without fan fiction was so flipping hard, it killed me a bit! I have no idea how I am going to do it next month…but that's a different story

Anyway guess what!? In Musical Theater Experience! my teacher wanted three girl soloists to work with a clinician and I am one of those girls! Next week I am going to be singing On My Own to 40+ people, fair to say I am a little nervous….wish me luck!

Enjolras; Luck won't help you, skill and practice will

Me; Shut up Enjy no one asked you!

Enjolras; Stop calling me Enjy!

Me; Smile more!

*continue bickering

Courfeyrac; *Looking at us like we are insane While those two keep talking, please enjoy the chapter. And if it isn't too much to ask, please review and tell her what you think, please do….. I think she might be crazy

Me; I can hear you!

*Courfeyrac runs away

Montparnasse watched from the shadows, a cigarette hanging from his mouth. He had been in Thenardier's home for hours and Eponine still hadn't shown up, not even a sign of her, that's when he remembered the car; he wasn't an idiot, he knew how to put two and two together, while the Thenardiers couldn't afford a car that nice, nor could anyone from their gang, one of Eponine's 'friends' could. He had seen Eponine talk to those boys, and even hang out with them from time to time, they were your classic rich boys, studious, put together, always flaunting the fact that they had money and could afford whatever they wanted, what they were doing with Eponine he did not know but it rubbed him the wrong way.

After the meeting Montparnasse drove around the block and circled back, parking in the black shadows of the trees, hoping the car would come back. His theory was proven correct when he saw the silver car pull up into the driveway again. For awhile all was still and no one out, but once the car door opened he saw it was none other than Eponine herself leaving the passenger seat. She had this stupid smile on her face as she bid the driver good-bye, waving back at him once she was at the door, it was a smile of content and nervously. Montparnasse squinted his eyes to try to get a good look at the driver but he couldn't make out much except that the driver was indeed a guy.

Everything started clicking in that twisted mind of his. He could feel his blood boil as several possible and explanations entered his head, each one only making him angrier.

Has Eponine betrayed us? Did that guy convince her to spill everything?... Did he act as her knight in shining amour? Was she seeing him?

The last thoughts really got under Montparnasse's skin, he puffed on his cigarette a few times but either way his hatred for the person in the car grew with each second. Eponine was his and his alone! Montparnasse knew he could have other girls and he had been with others, multiple others, but Eponine's fire and struggles against him only made him crave her more. He didn't know who was in the car or what his business was with Eponine but he did know one thing, he wasn't going to let her go without a fight.

Eponine crept into her house quietly, the room was dark but she knew from experience that the darkness only posed more dangers, they hid the threats that light would otherwise reveal. She was just about to pass through the living room and go down to the hallway toward her room when her shifting weight caused the floor to creak under her and her father popped into the room behind her from a shadow and turned on the light.

"Well if it isn't my precious Eponine."

She gulped slightly, all the cheer that she just experienced drained from her body, and slowly turned to face him, "Father."

"Oh come now, no need to be so formal, I'm your daddy."

She nodded but remained silent.

His demeanor changed from fun drunk to threatening, "Where've you been girl."

"Out." She responded flatly

He took a large step toward her, causing to back up, "Don't you get all snippy with me young miss. Answer the question!"

She looked up to meet his face, her eyes icy, "I don't see why it matters but if you must know I was at the café."

"You spend a lot of time there don't you."

She shrugged, "It's a nice place, nice atmosphere, good food, nice people…."

"People like those rich boys you spend your time with." He stated curiously, cutting her off.

"Only one was there today." She said defensively, "I don't see why you are so interested, you never cared before."

"Montparnasse was asking for you."

"And I care because?"

"He is fond of you that boy is."

"And others are of him," she said mockingly, "but I couldn't care less."

His eyes narrowed at her, "Watch out young miss you've got some gall, you've got a lot to say. Let me tell you something, that boy is the biggest asset to the gang we have. He cashes in more profit than anyone….even more than you did as a child. You used to be an excellent pickpocket and thief and no one suspected a thing, making you all the better."

Her icy glaze broke for a second but she quickly froze them again, "Don't remind me of my past! I told you I was done! I don't need to relive it!"

"Do not tell me what to do, I AM YOUR FATHER!" he spat, "Now where was I, oh yes, that boy's mind are what bring in money, money that supports all this." He said gesturing to the shabby room.

"You mean all this crap." She challenged

"You ungrateful brat!" He yelled lunging at her

She turned to run but he grabbed her by her coat sleeve, pulling her back until he got a good grip on her hair. He dragged back to the middle of the living room by her hair and threw her on the floor, adding a hard kick to her side. He picked her head up by her hair again to make her look straight into his eyes.

"This may not be much compared to all your rich 'friends' but get this through your thick skull 'Ponine, you don't belong with them!" He threw her head back down, "You belong with people like us. Like father like daughter the scum of the street. I accepted the fact of what I am, its time you did too. Montparnasse is like us not only that but he likes you, and if what you are what it takes to keep him happy then you better stuck it up." He crouched down next to her, "My dear we all must stay alive."

Her face filled with anger and hurt, reaching to the point where she couldn't hold it in anymore and she spat at him, hitting him square in the eye.

He fell back in shock, "You are going to pay for that you brat maybe it's time to teach you a lesson!"

He reached down to his belt buckle to undo his belt and slid it off. He raised his hand and Eponine tensed up, ready for impact, when a small voice broke through.

"NO! Get away from her!" it cried and a small figure ran to her aid.

"Gavroche no!" She screamed

SLASH! It was too late he jumped in just in time to take the first lash; he yelped in pain and fell to the floor. Eponine reacted in an instant she pulled herself up and embraced Gavroche, guarding him with her own body, her back taking the next whipping. Pain filled her body and Gavroche tried to squirm out of her hold but she wouldn't let him go. Her father raised his arm again but this time Eponine extended her leg out in front of her and swung it under him, causing him to fall flat on his back and have the wind knocked out of him. The two children wasted no time, before Thenardier even had a chance to realize what happened they sprang onto their feet and ran back into Eponine's room. She pushed Gavroche in before using her body weight to slam the door open and locking it, even going so far as using the extra bolts she installed herself. Eponine pressed her back against the wall and took a deep breath before letting out a big sigh of relief. She looked up to see Azelma curled up on her bed looking afraid for her life and Gavroche on the other bed with pain swimming in his eyes.

She walked over toward him, regret and guilt plaguing her, as put a hand to his little head, "Gavroche I am so sorry."

He looked offended, "Why should you feel sorry? You aren't the one that whipped me, dad is."

Azelma's eyes widened, "He what?!"

Eponine shook her head, "Buts it's all my fault. If I had…."

"Eponine what are you talking about? This isn't your fault."

"Yes it is Gavroche!" she said wringing her hands together, "If I just learned to hold my tongue and do what papa says then he wouldn't get so mad and he wouldn't hurt you."

"How can you say that?"

"Because it's true!"

"No it isn't." said the younger of the two

"Yes it is! I know how he is but I keep pushing my limits. If I just kept my trap shut then none of this would happen. You wouldn't have gotten hurt…"

"Ep'" said Gavroche as he climbed unto her lap and curled in her arms, "it's not your fault, not at all. It's not your fault he is drunk, it's not your fault he is violent and it's not your fault he hit me…or you."

"I just wish you hadn't gotten hurt." She whispered softly as she gently stroked his head with her fingers, "I can handle getting hurt but I can't handle seeing you guys suffer under my watch. Promise me you will never to that again. Please promise me you will stay put no matter what!" she said as he put her chin on the top of his head.

Gavroche stiffened a bit but nodded. He lifted his head to meet her eyes but when he say her face his face scrunched a bit, "'Ponine, your nose is bleeding."

"What?" She asked in slight surprise, bringing the tip of her sleeve up to her nose, realizing all too late once it reached her nose that she was still wearing Enjolras' sweatshirt. "Shit." She muttered under breath as she flicked her hand down and saw that Gavroche was right, blood was coming out of her nose, "Great just perfect….Azelma could you hand me something to wipe my nose with."

Azelma hopped on her bed and handed her a tissue, her eyes a bit curious, "Whose jacket is that?"

"Huh?" she asked as she dabbed her nose

"Whose sweatshirt it that?"

"Mine." Eponine said with a slight roll of her eyes

"Nah I don't think so, you may be a master liar but I know that isn't yours."

"Oh really, what makes you so sure?"

"You wouldn't care so much if you got blood on something of yours….actually you would be more willing to use that since its red."

Eponine sighed in defeat, "Fine, if you must know it belongs to a friend."

Azelma raised an eyebrow, "Which one?"

"Enjolras" Gavroche chimed in.

"Gavroche!" exclaimed Eponine

Azelma's eyes widened, "Really! How do you know?"

"I see him where it all the time, kind of hard to miss it since its bright red, plus the pin on it kind of gave it away."

"Dammit," muttered Eponine under her breath. From the corner of her eye she saw Azelma grinning at her, "What?!"

"That's Enjolras' sweatshirt." She beamed

"Yes and?"

"You're wearing his sweater!" she squealed

"Your point being?"

"You were hanging out with him today weren't you? That's why you were out!"

Eponine rolled her eyes, "He saw me walking and it was raining, so he offered me a lift."

"School's been out for hours."

"To the café." Eponine said as if it was obvious.

"Oh really?" Azelma asked, wiggling her eyebrows

"Right….and his jacket?"
"Unlike most guys, Enjolras is happens to be nice. I was cold and wet so he offered it; he would have done the same for anyone."

Suddenly there was a pounding at the door.

"Eponine get your lazy ass out here now!" her father hollered on the other side of the door

Eponine tensed but didn't move, "No!"

"What did you say?"

"She said no!" yelled Gavroche, causing Eponine to spring up and pull him close to her.

""You kids think you are so smart, hiding in that room, but you can't stay in their forever. You have to come out sometime." He stayed at the door for another moment before giving up, turning on his heel leaving them.

Eponine looked at Gavroche with hesitation, "Gavroche he won't be very happy with you in the morning….."She sighed, "I'm gonna be in for it."

"Why should you take the heat? You don't deserve it!"

She ran her fingers through his hair, "Shhhh….I couldn't bear it if you guys got hurt due to me. Knowing you are safe and ok makes everything bearable." That and Marius, "Now let's put this all aside for now and get our homework done 'kay?"

The two younger kids nodded and they all went to work. This wasn't the first time they were all trapped in that room for the night, it had happened many times, and they were already prepared for it. Eponine went to the back of the closet and pulled out several blankets while Azelma went to the dresser and got out the boxes of crackers, pretzels, bag of apples and can of peanut butter that they stashed there. Without saying much the three kids got into their normal routine and spent the night working away.

When it was time for bed Gavroche was already half asleep so Eponine carried him over to her bed and tucked him in. She made a pile of blankets into a makeshift bed on her floor and lied down. As she snuggled in she found herself staring out into the darkness again. She noticed that the trees were full of starlight in the night and smiled at the pretty sight. She turned her head to face her sleeping siblings and the pain in her back seemed a lot more prevalent, but she didn't mind.

The morning sun flooded into the small room and landed directly on Eponine's eyes. She woke up and stretched her arms over her head, automatically wincing as the sting from last night's lash kicked in. She sat up and gently reached back to touch the tender spot on her back. She slowly stood up and walked over to the mirror on the far in the corner, stopping when she could get a good view at her entire body. She was wearing pajamas consisting of shorts and a tank top, hiding nothing from her. She saw that her upper arms, especially her shoulders, were slightly purple and lifted her shirt a bit to reveal her abdomen, which was covered in purple bruises and red marks. She turned around slightly so she could inspect her back and noticed that the mark from the belt was red and swollen. Remembering the lash her brother got she turned her head to look over at Gavroche only to see that he wasn't there.

Gavroche was missing and panic swept through her. The door was still locked and the room was small but he was nowhere in sight. She collapsed on the windowsill, head in her hands, when something caught her attention. While the window was closed the latch was undone and a small piece of paper sat next to her….

Gavroche took a deep breath as he walked up to the door with nothing but the clothes on his back and his backpack. He had snuck out of Eponine's room earlier that morning, being as sneaky as he could possibly be so not to wake either of his sisters up, and then he snuck into his room through his window, he grabbed what he needed and hightailed it out of there.

After the incident the night before he couldn't stay at that place called home. He woke up late that night and looked over on the floor where Eponine was asleep, she rolled over in her sleep and in the moonlight he saw all of her bruises, the mark from the belt and shadows from previous beatings. He sat there and realized that hardly any bruises were on him, he just couldn't stand it; he had to leave. His only regret was leaving his sisters but Eponine took more beating because of him and he couldn't let her do that, it killed him inside. So before the sun rose he left his house behind and didn't look back.

He slowly took a deep breath and knocked on the door of the house. When the door opened Gavroche was relieved to see a familiar face looking at him, even it was full of surprise.

Gavroche smiled shyly, "You said your door was always open."

Thanks to Allana Stone for the inspiration :D And thanks to all of my wonder readers and reviewers, I love you all! :D