Hello again, friends! I've just got back off a night out so if anything doesn't make sense, that's why. Please just tell me, and I'll fix it.

DISCLAIMER: still no.

Combeferre arrived home the next morning to a strange atmosphere in the apartment. Something was definitely different; Éponine and Enjolras weren't behaving any differently towards each other, but he got the feeling something had happened. If it was possible, and he wouldn't have thought it was until now, they were MORE awkward around each other than they had been before, but they seemed determined not to be. If it had been anybody else, he would have thought they'd kissed or slept together or something, but Éponine and Enjolras… not a chance. Neither of them would make a move.

He kept quiet all through breakfast, gathering his thoughts until he helped Éponine have her bath. As he took the plastic off her leg afterwards, he asked her if something had happened.
'Oh, no! No no no. I'm just nervous… I'm meeting Cosette for coffee later and I'm really not looking forward to it. Nothing's wrong.'
'Have you and Enjolras had another fight or something?'
'What makes you say that?'
'You're being really awkward with each other.'
'We're always –'
'more than usual.'
'Oh. No, nothing's wrong there. Well, he was funny while Marius was here yesterday, actually. Kept trying to fight my corner, bless him.'
Combeferre chuckled 'you don't need any help there.'
She laughed, throwing her head back so that her hair flicked water all over the place. 'Nope.'

She'd intended to walk to the Musain – it wasn't THAT far and she was getting kind of stir-crazy from being inside all the time. To her dismay, this decision was immediately vetoed by both Ferre and Enjolras, who insisted she let Enjolras drive her there ('We have accepted that you're set on going through with this ridiculous venture, but there is no way on God's green earth we are letting you injure yourself further in the process.').

She put on her underwear and a t-shirt, and then looked at her one and only pair of jeans. They were black, low-rise skinnies, and there was absolutely no chance of her getting them on over the strapping on her legs. Rifling through the drawer of the clothes she only came up with Grantaire's shorts or sweatpants as alternatives. Shit.

Deciding the sweatpants were the less horrendous of the two, she pulled them on, ran her fingers through her hair in an attempt to tame it slightly, and then grabbed her shoes and jacket. Enjolras was waiting in the living area, sat patiently in the armchair as she wrestled her shoes on. As she slowly straightened up and got her breath back, he asked 'ready?'
'As I'll ever be.'

He gave her a small smile then picked up his car keys, before opening the apartment door for her to walk through. Aww. What a gentleman.
'I… erm... I can carry you down the stairs again, if you'd like.'

Part of her would like. It was going to be hard work. But, frankly, she was too proud and started mumbling something about how she'd never get better if she didn't push herself (not true), before she declined gratefully, and set off on her Herculean trek down the stairs.

It was extraordinary; he had to give her that. Considering she physically couldn't manage this just yesterday, even the painfully (in every sense of the word) slow progress she was making was incredible. He went down beside her, ready to catch her if she tripped or give support if necessary, but he needn't have bothered: she eventually made it all the way to the car unaided. He drove her to the café and dropped her off, then went away to class, but the look of triumph that had been on her face when she'd reached the car kept flashing across his mind. Éponine really is one tough cookie.

Éponine sat at a table downstairs, to avoid both the stairs and the watchful eyes of Les Amis, of which at least a few would definitely be in the upstairs room. Musichetta brought her her usual black coffee, then smiled sadly at her, saying gently 'it's not too late you know. Leave. Why put yourself through this?'
'It's not for me. Thanks for the coffee, 'Chetta, I appreciate it. Could you take the price out of my next lot of wages?'
'Have it on the house. And don't you even dare think of coming back to work yet, you need to get BETTER.'
Éponine rolled her eyes and mumbled 'Yes, Mum…'
'You wish I was your mother.' Musichetta quipped before leaving to take someone's order. You have no idea.

Just then, a slight, beautiful, blonde angel appeared at the table. It was Cosette, dressed in another pink dress. I wonder if her entire wardrobe is pink…
'…Éponine?' she asked, shyly.
'Yeah… Cosette, right?'
'Yes!' she beamed. 'Can I sit down?'
'Course.' Keep it short. Brief. To the point. That way you can't give anything away.
'I'm so excited to meet you, finally, I've heard all about you from dear Marius, of course, but it's not the same, is it?'
'No… Nice to meet you, too. I've heard a lot about you, too.'
Cosette blushed prettily. How is that even possible? A PRETTY blush? I always look like I've been out in the sun too long. 'Oh dear, how terrible. All bad things, I'm sure.'
Éponine laughed. 'No, definitely good things. A lot of them… seriously, a lot. Marius never talks of anything else.' She hadn't intended it to be funny, but Cosette was laughing, a tuneful laugh like bells. Or wind chimes.

They made polite small talk for a while: the weather, the coffee, the cake Musichetta brought. After that, they moved on to more personal things; how they'd met Marius, Les Amis and their schemes and their personalities and their quirks. Despite herself, Éponine found she was talking 90 to the dozen and laughing and smiling – Cosette was very easy to talk to: she was a good listener and seemed to know exactly what to say and when. She was also very, very… NICE.

This was not what Éponine had expected.

A short silence fell as they both started on a second drink – another black coffee for Éponine, iced tea for Cosette.
She couldn't take it anymore and suddenly burst out 'you know who I am, don't you?'
Cosette looked confused. 'Yes, you're Éponine. Aren't you? This might be pretty embarrassing…'
'The same Éponine, though. From the inn. Éponine Thénardier.'
'I know.'
'Aren't you… mad at me? I was horrible to you.'
Cosette laughed again. 'Éponine that was 10 years ago, I haven't held a grudge all that time! Anyhow, you were just doing as you were told!'
'But I was AWFUL!'
'I have been lucky enough since Papa adopted me to have had the most wonderful life, full of love and joy. Nothing you did has caused me any permanent harm, so why get upset?'
Damn, she's just LOVELY, isn't she? So cheerful and kind and… dammit. I can't even dislike her!
'I'm really sorry, Cosette.'
'Oh nonsense. I am too, I know you haven't had the easiest time since the last time we met.'
'Oh don't pity me, I'm fine, really. I've got by. Me, Zelma, Gav. We're ok.'
'Gav?'
'My little brother, Gavroche. He's nine.'
'Oh, lovely! Do you know, there's a Gavroche in the school I work in – a few years above my class? I'm a teacher, by the way. Anyway, he's such a character! He's a Jondrette though, not a Thénardier.'
'It's actually him. We don't like advertising who we were…' Éponine explained.
Cosette understood completely. 'Fair enough. Oh, I wasn't going to mention it, please don't be offended but… can I take you shopping one day? Those sweatpants are far too big, they're falling right off you!'
'They aren't mine, they're R's. He leant me them after the… incident.'
'That was kind of him! You're so lucky to have such fantastic friends, Éponine. All of them sound just lovely. Marius says Enjolras and Combeferre are letting you live with them!'
'Yeah… it's only temporary. I want to get my own place.'
'Of course, but it's lovely that you can stay there now!'
'Yeah. They're great.' Éponine swallowed hard, then said 'And I'd love to go shopping with you. As soon as my leg is better, promise.' It wasn't even a lie. Cosette was very easy to be around. If only she wasn't with Marius, Éponine would just love her, but at least now she saw what he saw in her. She really didn't have a chance any more. There was no way she could compete with THIS.

They continued to talk right through lunch, and were still sat there chatting away when Enjolras came for Éponine at 3. He looked astonished at the happy young women, but said nothing.

Éponine, you are either the world's best actress or just a very strange girl.

Something tells me it's the second.

Thanks for reading! Also thank you all so much for your reviews on the last few chapters - please, keep them coming! :D