Author's Note/Disclaimer: It didn't take me as long to write Chapter 6 as some of my other chapters, and yet, it's the longest chapter I've written! So much inspiration the last few days! One again, the lovely characters here are Victor Hugo's creations. I've only sent them down a fluffier, AU path through the inner workings of my imagination! I hope y'all like the small intense scene I brought in, as well as my fluffball scenes where Enjonine are being adorkable!

Chapter 6: Get Away from Shadows

"You what?!" Joly's voice raised incredulously as he started to drop the plate he had been holding. Musichetta reached out and grabbed it before it could fall to the ground and glared at him, muttering under her breath at his clumsiness and walking away. He glanced at her sheepishly when she walked away but then fixed his eyes on the man in front of him. Enjolras stood staring out the window at the sunny day, his shoulders hunched and his hand at the base of his neck. He shook his head from side to side and let out a deep sigh that spoke more volumes than words did.

"I wasn't thinking," he replied simply, unable to look his friend in the eye.

"I told you to focus on the revolution, and what do you do? You throw yourself into the arms of a woman! A woman you have not seen in years, nonetheless! Enjo..." Joly began, but he stopped when Enjolras turned back to face him, the look in his eyes defensive and deeply troubled.

"That's not how it happened, Joly. I was simply helping her read."

"With your lips?!" Enjolras' face became unamused, his brow raising and his arms folding.

"Ha. Ha ha. You're hysterical," he retorted. "No. I was sitting next to her, helped her pronounce a word, she turned around to look at me, and I saw the look in her eyes. A look of complete joy I hadn't seen on her face in years. And I couldn't help it. I wanted to see how it felt, to feel something different for once! And with Eppie, it's easier...I'm not a piece of stone to her. She used to know me more than anyone...until her father stepped in and..." He was getting frustrated as he began to walk back and forth in the small room, his eyes flashing with about five different emotions at once. Joly watched him, his own face softening as he slowly started to understand. Musichetta turned around to smile at Enjolras, moving towards him and placing her hand on his arm to stop his movement.

"Enjolras...you care for Eponine...it's all right to say so," she spoke gently. He looked at her with a thoughtful frown.

"I can't...she's..." he said, appearing defeated as his head hung. "Love is...I have an entire country relying on me to keep focus."

"I saw the way you looked at her," she squeezed his arm in reply.

"As did I. Dear friend, I might know you better than anyone right now. You can fool all of your followers into thinking you do not feel, but I also grew up with you. I saw the two of you playing together as children. The last thing you are is a statue, especially to Eponine," Joly chimed in, leaning back against the wall.

"Then why are you so against the way we..." Enjolras wondered. It was Joly's turn to sigh, watching his lover as she left the room.

"You need to focus your mind elsewhere right now. Win the revolution, and you can play Romeo all you want," he interrupted.

"Joly...Romeo thought he lost Juliet, killed himself with poison, which in turn caused Juliet to kill herself in despair...that is a horrible analogy..." Enjolras let out a small chuckle, though it was mixed with horror at the thought of anyone dying because of him.

"I meant with the whole 'I love you and will proclaim my love for you outside of your balcony' thing," Joly tried not to laugh aloud, his amusement showing on his kind face. He knew that Enjolras understood him and was simply being difficult. That's the Enjolras he knew. The intelligent, thoughtful man who could rally troops with a single phrase.

"She's still asleep. It seems the valerian worked," Musichetta reported as soon as she returned, an affectionate smile on her face as she placed her hand on Joly's shoulder and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him softly. He wrapped an arm around her to keep her from falling. Even though it only lasted for a few seconds, Enjolras looked away and tried to mask the crestfallen wince on his face.

"Monsieur Enjolras..." He glanced back at Musichetta and forced a small yet pained smile. "Never let go of something that you love. Especially if it makes you a stronger person." Joly shot her a half glare of disapproval at first, which she ignored, but his look softened quickly to one of pure love after hearing her entire statement. Enjolras watched them and nodded once, glancing back at the room where Eponine was sleeping soundly for the first time in probably a long time.

"Now go, or you'll be late!" With a swift kiss to her love and a pat for Enjolras, she began to shoo them out the door. "I'll take good care of Eponine!"

"Late? For wha...damn, the meeting!" Enjolras almost smacked himself in the forehead. How could he almost forget about the revolution meeting tonight? Joly laughed and ran ahead, Enjolras right behind him as they sped down the street. Only a few moments later, they arrived at Cafe Musain, slowing their pace and walking inside, out of breath.

"I always win," Joly smirked proudly. Enjolras pushed at his shoulder with a laugh and smiled at all of his friends who stood there inside the cafe. They greeted him in a chorus of chants saying his name, and he nodded in return. Clapping a few of them on the shoulders, he headed towards their map on the table. He made a few changes here and there, silent as a graverobber while he worked. His men stood in growing confusion yet said nothing to him until he was finished.

"I had a couple of ideas while I was gone the past few days. We must use our strengths wisely while thinking of the barricades. We must place the best medical students near the larger barricades, where we will have more men in possible need of medical attention. The military men should be stationed at the barricade on La Rue du Bout du Monde. It's one of our largest strongholds and will hold longer. Those men can fight harder and longer than others can, and we must use that to our advantage." He motioned along the map to his friends and the leading men of their revolution. Each one listened diligently to him, only asking a few questions here and there.

"Enjolras, what of any women and children?" Courfeyrac asked him curiously, taking a sip of wine.

"Make sure they are far away from any barricades. They stay safe and out of the fighting," he reacted almost immediately, his tone alert and slightly bothered. Courfeyrac could've sworn his eyes showed a guarded ferocity for a moment, though it was most likely his imagination, for Enjolras quickly became his vigilant and calm self once more.

"Of course," Courfeyrac shifted where he stood, biting his fingernail and smiling a bit when he thought about his latest lover waiting for him to return home that evening.

"Enjolras seems quite focused today," Combeferre whispered to Joly, who shot a sideways glance at him. "What has him so riled?" Joly opened his mouth to answer but then closed it again, unsure of what to say. He thought for a moment and then shrugged.

"I stopped asking a long time ago. His cause and thoughts are his own, as long as he's ready to lead the people on revolution day," he provided the first answer that popped into his mind, which seemed to satisfy the second-in-command. Combeferre blinked a few times and then moved back to the map, bending over to study the new positions.

Eponine cracked one eye open, groaning when sunlight shot through the window and hit her in the face. Rotating her body around slowly, she faced the other wall and nestled deeper into the pillows and blankets to get warm and comfortable. Closing her eyes with a contented smile, she began to drift back to sleep when she felt someone's hand shaking her arm.

"Madameoiselle, hello!" Musichetta's lively attitude made her groan in slight annoyance as she tried to shake off her hand. She attempted to pull the covers over her head, but Musichetta yanked them off of her. "Oh, no you don't! It's time to get up and move around! You've been in bed for too long!" With a shiver, Eponine sat up and glared at the other woman.

"Are you always so happy in the morning?" she wanted to know, blinking to adjust her vision to the brightness in the room.

"Of course! It's a new day! There are so many reasons to be happy!" The reply was cheery and genuinely satisfied, and Eponine raised a brow.

"Speak for yourself..." she muttered, looking back down at her hands. Musichetta stopped to look at the younger brunette.

"Well, what about Monsieur Enjolras? I'm sure he makes you happy, hmm?" Eponine's head snapped up at that question, a blush creeping up her neck. Musichetta smirked knowingly and placed some clothes on the bed, motioning for Eponine to stand. After she gradually obeyed, Musichetta helped her change her clothes into something different.

"Whose dress is this?" Eponine asked as she played with the soft fabric in awe. Lacing up the corset, Musichetta smiled sadly.

"It was my sister's," she responded. Eponine could hear the undertones of death in that statement and decided not to push her further. Nodding, she fell silent as she pulled up the sleeves and adjusted herself accordingly. When they were finished, she glanced down to admire the way the dress fell over her skin. Looking up at Musichetta, a genuine grin spread across her normally troubled face.

"You look beautiful in that color," Musichetta continued with amusement, stepping around to play with Eponine's hair. "And may I say, Monsieur Enjolras will think you the most beautiful lady in France when he sees you."

"Monsieur Enjolras has more important things to worry about, Madameoiselle Musichetta," Eponine countered, avoiding the compliment like the plague. "The revolutionaries need him. France needs him."

"They aren't the only ones who need him, dear," Musichetta acknowledged, raising a brow slightly as she twirled some pieces of brown hair around her fingers and gave Eponine short curls, securing most of her hair on top of her head save for a few soft curls at the base of her neck. "Absolutely lovely." Musichetta steered her to the only mirror in the household, and Eponine could only stare at herself.

"I'm...I look...different..." she spoke softly.

"Different. Is that good or bad?" Eponine smiled at Musichetta's nervous face, feeling her respect and gratitude for the kind woman growing.

"It's wonderful!" she hugged her with a soft laugh. She was the same woman on the inside, but she looked cleaner and nicer without the raggedy and overly tight dress she usually wore. Musichetta took her hand and placed it through her arm, nodding at the door.

"I think it's time you and I went for a stroll, hmm?"

"I would love to get out of this house!" she laughed a bit and followed alongside her new friend as they exited the home and wandered slowly down the street together. Musichetta would whisper a few things here and there into her ear to teach her how to properly greet people and how to walk with her head high and proud. She looked like a lady, so she wanted to act like one. Men and women alike bowed their heads in respect to them as they walked, and Eponine was beaming a few minutes into it. She felt like a flower that had just blossomed in Spring. It was a sweet and beautiful change from the bud it had been before, and people took the first blossoms as a good omen for things to come. It was exhilarating to see men look at her like a proper woman instead of a street urchin with no worth.

"What I would give to experience this bliss every day..." Eponine sighed wistfully after having bowed kindly to two men passing by. No longer did she appear as a piece of property but rather a woman of stature.

"You can," Musichetta answered. "You should never feel like you are worth less than you are." Eponine was wordless with her thoughts, considering what she had just heard. She had no time to truly reply, however, as she halted mid-step and tugged on Musichetta's arm. "What is wrong, Madameoiselle?" the slightly older lady asked.

"That is the man who attacked me..." she inhaled a sharp breath as she stared down the street at Montparnasse, who was glaring suspiciously around him like a creature who was looking for a meal. She tucked her head into Musichetta's shoulder and turned it away to keep her face from view. Musichetta's arm wrapped around her.

"We will go to Cafe Musain, dear. Les Amis will keep you safe," she reassured the afraid young woman in her hold. She felt a nod against her shoulder and moved them around the corner and out of sight. Eponine shook in her arms and hated herself for it. She hated feeling weak and scared, particularly when her father's gang was concerned. When Musichetta told her that he was gone, she took her head out of hiding and raised it back to its higher position, tightening her jaw but not letting go of her friend's arm.

"I'm all right," she half-lied, but Musichetta didn't push her. With a shared frown, the women both headed to the cafe, their speed increasing. They stepped into the cafe, Eponine's pulse slower now that she had time to calm down. Many of the men smiled at Musichetta and then stared at the newcomer, flabbergasted once they realized who it was. Eponine's eyes moved around each face, and she bowed jokingly at her younger brother Gavroche, who smiled warmly at her, before she heard an audible gasp.

"Eponine..." Her head turned to see Enjolras frozen halfway down the steps. He was staring at her, mesmerized at her transformation with his hands gripping the rails. She immediately began to fidget with her dress, smoothing it out and keeping her head down to hide her blush. She heard his footsteps moving again, and then a few moments later, a hand ever so slightly took her chin and enticed it upwards. He was gazing at her now, a meek smile spreading across his face. His eyes never left her face.

"It's Musichetta's fault," she bit on her lower lip anxiously as she made her excuse. This caused him to laugh softly and touch one of her loose curls. "She gave me a dress and made up my hair and taught me how to bow, and I can barely breathe in this corset..."

"Eponine..." he repeated, cutting her off, and she stopped speaking. "You don't need to worry...Musichetta did a wonderful job enhancing what was already exquisite about you..." His voice was breathy and barely audible, and she smiled wide in response, glad he was complimenting her. Joly cleared his throat and nudged Enjolras with his elbow, nodding his head in the direction of all of the men in the cafe. Everyone had stopped to watch the two of them, many of them gaping at his reaction to a woman. Were they imagining things, or did Enjolras laugh?

"Thank you, but your revolution needs you..." Eponine told him assertively, scrunching her nose teasingly and making him smile again, patting his shoulder. It made him that much more high-spirited to know that she supported his cause, and he turned his attention back to his men. His face sobered up instantly while he barked orders to scatter them and get their attention off of him. She listened, attentive as ever as he spoke about their plans to Grantaire, who was actually partially sober for once.

"Hmm...so that's what he's riled about," Combeferre mused, smirking to himself as he saw Joly's guilty face.

"While we were walking, she saw the man who attacked her," Musichetta reported in her fiancé's ear. Joly glanced at her, his body alert as he then looked at Eponine and then around at every man inside of the building. "He's gone, darling, but she was afraid. I wanted to bring her here to feel safe." Joly kissed the top of her head affectionately and held her to him, looking down at the table.

"She will most certainly be safe here," he said with a secure nod.

"Should we tell him?" Her gaze hinted at Enjolras, who was speaking a few passionately angry words about the government, his eyes fierce. Eponine was staring at him with a look of pride and absolute attention.

"And have him put away for murder before the revolution?" Joly kidded, evoking a giggle from his future wife. "No...let's keep this between us for now. Unless, he tries to come after her again. We'll need to keep a close eye on her for a bit." Musichetta nodded in agreement.

"All right, enough battle talk...we need some wine!" Eponine furrowed a brow until she saw Grantaire and Marius carrying a barrel. She watched Marius as he moved around and didn't notice how Enjolras watched her. Marius saw his dear childhood friend and wrapped his arms around her, picking her up and twirling her in a circle before placing her down again. She looked away with a puzzled expression.

"Eponine, you look wonderful!" Marius praised her with a look of approval. "Reminds me of a dress my dear Cosette would wear!" She bowed her head in thanks and nodded at him.

"Thank you, Monsieur Marius," she smiled courteously, stealing a glance sideways at Enjolras before Marius left her alone to break out the wine.

"Well, I never thought I'd see that..." Combeferre commented at Enjolras' side.

"See what?" The leader was confused.

"Eponine has been in love with Marius for years." Combeferre nudged his friend in the side with his elbow. "Yet now, she barely even blinks...I wonder who's responsible for stealing her heart..." With another nudge, he headed over to join the others and left Enjolras in his stunned state. Was he being that blatantly obvious?

"Where the hell is she?" A loud snarl could be heard from the doorway to the cafe, and everyone spun to see Montparnasse checking out his surroundings, his trademark knife in his hand. Enjolras rushed to where Eponine was halted mid laughter with Musichetta, the color draining from her features. His eyes searched hers with worry before he placed his arm around her protectively. His stare fixated on the snake then, his anger blazing.

"Who?" Grantaire asked, completely out of the loop with the events of the past few days.

"That bitch, Eponine. Her father's looking for her," Montparnasse leered furiously, his voice slimy as a snake's hiss. Enjolras' hold tightened ever so slightly as he fought with everything not to pound his fists into the thug right then and there.

"Her father? Are you sure it's not you?" Joly challenged, raising a brow as several of the men formed a line to keep him back. Even Grantaire was getting incensed at the unwelcome newcomer, setting his half-full glass down and eyeing him up and down with an unspoken challenge. Montparnasse's knuckles tightened into fists, but he stayed where he was. A vengeful scowl was plain on his unattractive face.

"You stay out of my business, schoolboy. That little hussy is none of your concern."

"And none of yours as well, you unlicked cub." Enjolras finally managed between gritted teeth. "I will only say this once, so make sure those hideously misshapen ears pay attention. If you come near her ever again in any way...if you even think about Eponine, and I find out...God as my witness, I will make sure you can not walk out of the next fight...you may have her father's gang...but she has the entire revolution on her side...do not mess with us. While I have your attention, send a message to her father. She will not be needing him from now on."

"She has her family here," Joly added on to Enjolras' plan, smirking as he advanced and loomed over Montparnasse, who took a few steps back out of necessity, though his anger only seemed to worsen as the grip on his knife tightened..

"'Parnasse," Eponine's voice cut through the intense silence like a knife. "Do not touch me ever again. I am done being thrown around. Next time, I'll be prepared to fight."

"Eponine, out on the streets, you're just a hussy. Don't forget where you really come from. When these 'friends' of yours die in the fighting or get tired of you, you'll be back out there with no one to help you. No one to care," he threatened. Some of the men who got tired of his mini speech grabbed him by his collar and flung him outside. Enjolras' demeanor changed from daunting to concerned in a heartbeat as he took her shaky hand and checked her over to make sure that she was all right. She took a few steadying breaths before moving her head up and down.

"I'm all right, Enj..." she reassured him. "Truly. It's about time I stood up for myself to that rat." He smiled a genuine and impressed smile at her, taking a step back and dropping his arm from around her, looking a bit embarrassed as he did so. She exhaled in satisfaction, observing him with growing affection as he returned to his men. It felt like she was slowly sucking the venom from her poisonous life, and it was all thanks to Enjolras.