40 chapters?! This is MENTAL. I only planned for 40 all together when I started :L
Thank you all so, so much for sticking with this story all the way through, it means so much to me. I genuinely never expected anyone to read this and the response has been overwhelming, I can't thank you enough!

This one's quite short, but if you read the A/N at the bottom, you'll see why.

Disclaimer: I used to own Les Miserables, but then some guy called Victor nicked it and said he wrote it. 133 years before I was born. Dick. I also don't own Peter Pan...anymore.

Winter was cold in Paris that year. The week between Christmas and New Year, snow fell on snow and turned to ice on the cobbled streets of San Michel, making the roads too treacherous for cars and marooning Les Amis in their homes. Éponine found herself in the odd position of being the only one of her friends able to move around (she had gotten used to wandering the streets in all weathers a long time ago). Gavroche and Jacques stayed full-time with Courfeyrac at his insistence, and Éponine took in as many street children as she could, letting them sleep on the sofa, in Gavroche's bed, on the floor: anywhere in the apartment she could house a child, she did. She was nervous about bringing the first little girl, Océane, back with her the night of Boxing Day – would Enjolras and Combferre mind her bringing the adorable but admittedly filthy children into their home? – but her heart swelled with pride and love when they jumped into action as she opened the door to the apartment, fetching blankets, food and running a bath for the tiny girl without asking any questions, save for 'are there any other kids out there?'. If she had ever needed confirmation that her friends were the best guys in the world, that was it for Éponine. Each night more kids came, until the night of the 29th of December, the coldest of all, and there were twenty-four kids sleeping in their home under whatever towels or bedding they could find. Of course, they couldn't give them all a proper bed, but every last one got a bath and a bowl of soup before they went off to sleep with full bellies to keep them warm and cosy (a rare thing for most of the urchins that turned up).

Despite the weather, Courfeyrac invited them all to his apartment for his annual New Year's party, so for one evening the make-shift orphanage was left under the command of Gavroche and Jacques (they were under strict instructions not to cause any trouble from Enjolras and Éponine, and not even Gavroche would face their wrath if they returned the next day, to a trashed apartment. Gav still winced when he thought about the last time he picked a fight with his sister when she was hung over) while the adults all went out. It was a predictably great night, with drinking, dancing (even Enjolras) and fireworks – or so Éponine was told. Her memory of the party only went up to around 11.30, when Grantaire and Bahorel challenged her to a shot competition (she won). She vaguely remembered being on a table at one point, singing at the top her lungs. God, she hoped she was clothed.

The New Year brought a lot of change. First of all, the snow left, leaving Paris shivering under a dry, icy wind that chilled even the toughest to the bone and cut even the most weathered of cheeks until they were shining red as cherries. To the confusion and frustration of Enjolras, the homeless kids slowly left the apartment to return to the freezing streets. 'We don't wanna bova ya. Ya've dun enuff for us' was the reason given, but Éponine knew they really felt claustrophobic cooped up inside, and missed the freedom of the outdoors. She got that way herself sometimes. Enjolras couldn't understand why she let them go with only a minor fight, even after she tried to explain, but she could only hope they'd be safe out there.

New Year also brought a new government – or rather, a stronger version of the last government, with less opposition and more powers. As far as the outside world was aware, it was a fair and democratic general election, but the people of France, especially those in Paris, knew differently. They knew it was amazing what having rich, powerful supporters could do for a man like President Bêcheur: he didn't need anyone to vote for him at all, he'd still have gotten in. Rich-favouring, anti-poor policies were being announced every day; it was only a matter of time before the formality of Parliamentary review was over and the President passed them into law. As it was, the only reason Parliamentary review was even taking place was because Minister Lamarque, the Minister of Social Affairs insisted on it. He stood as a lone voice for the poor in the legislative system in France, but his power was limited without support in Parliament. Les Amis stepped up their protests – Enjolras rarely left the café before 3am for planning - but their efforts seemed futile. The government was too powerful – increased military presence on the streets, under the harsh new Chief of Police, Inspector Javert, was enough to frighten the most of the poor into staying quiet. Éponine was starting to agree with R when he said they'd just get themselves killed or locked up and not do any good for anyone, but, like R, she continued to attend every meeting and protest. After all, what good would it do to give up?

There was some good change: Éponine also celebrated her twentieth birthday on the 16th of January: she insisted none of them spent any money on her, but that didn't stop her friends – she received a hand- knitted scarf from Marius and Cosette, a beautiful ornate fan from Feuilly and Sylvie, breakfast in bed from Combeferre, a fabulous silver dress from Bahorel ('I didn't spend any money, promise – some bird left it at mine. It might be a bit big, but Cosette said she'll alter it if you want.'), a phenomenal painting of the Jardin du Luxembourg from Grantaire, enough cake to feed an army from Musichetta, Joly and Bossuet, another book of poetry from Jehan. Courfeyrac informed her that Gavroche and Jacques had attempted to get him to marry Éponine as a joint present from all three of them, but said he felt a sincere offer of intercourse whenever she wanted it was more appropriate. Marriage was apparently too big to be anything but a twenty-first birthday present.

After an afternoon of cake and spending time all together, they decided to go out, get really dressed up and party. Éponine wore her new dress (which was a little big around the hips, but she quickly pinned the sides so that it fit perfectly) and was met with a very flattering (and more than a little embarrassing) crowd of dropped jaws and effusive compliments from her very well-dressed friends – even Enjolras cleared his throat and stared a little, though he said nothing, as excepted. After the best night of her life celebrating with all her friends, she returned to her room to find a small rectangular parcel, neatly wrapped in red paper, lying on her pillow. A note on the top read

I knew what I wanted to get you for your birthday a long time ago, but the no money rule made it pretty difficult to do. I found a way, though.

I hope you have the perfect birthday you deserve.

Underneath, at a slightly different angle to the rest of the neat cursive, as though it had been added later, was a post-script.

P.S. you looked beautiful tonight, Wendy.

Wendy? Éponine thought with confusion. She opened the gift to find a Moleskine notebook, filled cover-to-cover with the same neat handwriting, dotted with the odd sketch. This must have taken someone forever! The first page said 'Peter Pan, by J M Barrie. Presented to Éponine Thénardier on the occasion of her 20th birthday. Copied out in full to avoid present-related cheating.' Neither the note nor the book was signed, but she knew who it was from. A smile played at her lips, and she had to fight the urge to run next door and thank him. A sudden image of throwing her arms around him and kissing him soundly on the mouth flashed across her mind. What?! Nonono. No. Bad idea.

God, I must be drunker than I thought.

She carefully hung her dress on a hanger, then climbed into bed with her notebook and began to read.

So, a short one!

BUT

I think I'm going to write one-shots for New Years' Eve, and the birthday party, which will be longer. I wanted to do a kind of update chapter, like I did earlier - chapter 10 was one I think? - so that I could move time forward a wee bit. This does advance the plot, promise! (...there is a plot, promise. I'm just slow.)

They should be up in the next few days; if you want to read them that would be incredible, if not, I understand! :)

Please leave a review and let me know what you think! Just passed 200 reviews, which is INSANE, thank you so much! I have no words!

*UPDATE* I have uploaded a one-shot for the 29th of December bit - feel free to have a read! It's called A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes :)