A/N on last chapter - A friend just told me that 'mortal' isn't widely used outside of Newcastle (where I'm from), so if there was any confusion, it just means really drunk basically :L sorry, I'll keep the Geordie-isms out in future!

Trigger warning for some stronger language and upsetting scenes of a violent and sexual nature - nothing too graphic but if you don't like that, you might want to give this chapter a miss. Sorry!

Disclaimer: I don't own Les Miserables... yet (muahahaha)

'Well, look who it is. Bonjour, Mam'selle, I see ya've come back to grace us with your presence!' Thénardier sneered as she walked through the door. 'In the back. Now. There's customers waitin' for ya.

Oh please, no. I was having such a good day.

'Not today Pa, please. Let me have the night off from… that. I'll do anything else, please!' Jesus, Éponine. Are you seriouslybeggingright now? Where did your self-respect go?
He sneered at her as she spoke and sniggered darkly when she stopped. The cruel, cold sound of his laugh sent shivers down her spine. 'We'll be needin' a bit more dough than usual tonight, so I suggest get yourself back there before I make you'
'Wait! I've got money! Look, lots!' she held out the cash from earlier to her father. 'This, plus the extra if I sing, it's the same and I don't have to…' His piggy little eyes lit up with greed and for one, glorious moment she honestly thought she was getting out of it until -
'Thanks Aretha, but I'd rather hear slightly different noises coming from ya than ya usual warbling, if ya catch my drift' he guffawed at his own 'joke'.
Dick.'Wow Pa. That's hilarious. Really, you could have a career in comedy. It was so funny I forgot for a second that you're a massive twat who's trying to whore off his own flesh and blood.'

He stopped laughing, a murderous look in his eye, then swung for her with all his might, punching her square in the face. Nicely done, 'Ponine. That was super helpful. 'Go on, get back there! And if that fuckin' bruises before ya done ya'd better be ready to make up the money ya've lost me!'
BRILLIANT.

She made her way to the back room, where a very drunk, very hairy, middle-aged man was waiting by the bed. He stood up as she entered, spouting off a long, slurred speech about how she was beautiful.Beautiful people aren't whored out by their fathers. I'm not beautiful. I'm a source of income.
'Look, Casanova, you've paid so that you don't even have to seduce me, so can you please just do us both a favour and get the fuck on with it?'
He grinned, showing an impressive array of missing teeth. 'Oh good, I like 'em fiery.'
And then he pushed her against the wall.
Think of Marius, think of Marius.
He pressed himself up against her
His beautiful brown eyes
He pushed his mouth roughly against hers
Those freckles
She could taste the gin on his breath
His crooked smile
His hand fumbled at the fastening on her jeans
The way he calls you 'Ponine
He dropped his own pants. She knew what was coming next and closed her eyes, desperately dreaming of far-away places and the love she could have had, if only everything were like it used to be.

After what felt like years, six more men had come and gone. The last of them had been the worst: he completely sober and had taken his time, punching and kicking her before he had his way with her. Éponine lay on her side on the dirty floor, in nothing but her bra, exhausted, in pain and more feeling more helpless than she ever had before. She heard the creak of the door and closed her eyes, curling into the foetal position.Please, God, no more.
She heard the familiar cruel chuckle of her father. 'That's it for tonight, slut. Get the fuck out of here, your sister needs to clean.'
Slowly, carefully, she stood up and pulled on her jeans. She kept her head down as she walked past her father and sister without a word, straight upstairs to her room to lay face-down on her bed. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes but she was damned if she was going to let anybody see her break down.
She heard Azelma come in and go to bed shortly afterwards. When she was sure that her sister was asleep, she crept out the room and into the night.

She walked and walked. The same streets she had walked early that morning with Gavroche, when everything was wonderful, even just for a while. Unable to hold it back any more, she folded her arms tightly and let out a sob.

NO.

YOU ARE NOT LETTING THEM BREAK YOU, EPONINE THENARDIER.

YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS.

THEY ARE NOT WORTH YOUR TEARS.

STOP CRYING.

She stopped. The night was so silent it was smothering her. She needed to do something, anything. So she looked at the sky and began to sing.

I'M SORRY

IT WAS HARD TO WRITE

You might get another chapter today if it helps, all this Royal Baby excitement has me too cheerful to leave it there!

(ps what do you guys think, boy or girl? I think it's a girl and if it is, I reckon one of it's middle names'll be Diana :D)

(pps no cheating if you read this after it's born, you rascals)