never alone: finding home

Summary: They made it to America; now they've got to learn to put their demons behind them, how to live and eventually how to love.

A/N: Because of all the love, I decided to expand never alone into a collection of drabbles. The format I used is one of those a hundred themes challenge, but I modified it a bit to fit in with this universe. So please enjoy yourself. My plan is to do ten drabbles per chapter.

Oh I just thought of something. Since I am planning to make this a 100 theme drabbles, if there's any suggestion or request please write them in reviews, PM me, or drop it in my ask box on my tumblr (link in my profile).

(P.S. I am not Victor Hugo or a reincarnation or a spawn of Hugo.)

001. introduction

The new world is so different from Paris or London. Enjolras has never seen so many trees and green in one place. Eponine finds herself completely mystified by America. Her father always had dreams of coming to this far off land, but she never dreamed that she would make it here herself. As the two are ushered off the boat, fear suddenly creeps up their spines.

They are prepared for a new life. What they're not prepared for is actually going through it because it's one thing to talk about doing something. It's when you actually have to do it, that's what terrifies them. Without any hesitation, they reach for each other's hands.

"Ready?" She asks nervously in French. Her English is hasn't improved much, so she always responds in French.

"No, not really." He says truthfully. She squeezes his hand.

"Same here."

"We'll get through this."

"Together."

And maybe for now, that's just enough.

002. confusion

Jane is weird, Eponine concludes. With her weirdly red, ginger hair, her bright green eyes, and her overly bubbly personality, she's not like any other person Eponine has ever met. On her first day in Burrell Dress shoppe, Eponine listens quietly as Jane explains the job. Despite her efforts, Jane talks way too fast for Eponine to keep up.

The young French woman is too embarrassed to tell the older woman to slow down her speech. Eponine can understand English well enough, but she was used to Enjolras' slow and articulate way of speaking, every word out of Jane's mouth drove her completely crazy.

After a moment, Jane stops talking and raises an eyebrow at Eponine. It takes her a while to realize that Jane had asked her a question.

"Merde," Eponine curses. She fumbles stringing along words while Jane looks on amused.

"Are you still learning how to speak English?" Jane asks slowly. Eponine turns red before nodding.

"Oui. My speech is..." She pauses and curses again in French. "Slow." She expects Jane to laugh at her, but instead she gives her an sensitive smile.

"Don't worry, I'll be happy to help you."

003. making history

"So you're French!" Benjamin says. Enjolras nods as he shakes hands with the burly Englishman in front of him. He is the husband of Eponine's coworker, Jane. Unlike in England, Eponine was able to find a job before Enjolras. She and Jane quickly form a bond. After learning that the French couple had been finding shelter in the Puritan church, Jane had happily offer their spare room for the 'married' couple. Today, Enjolras and Eponine were moving in.

"I'm Benjamin Northrop, but you can call me Ben." The man has strong grip, Enjolras shakes his hand to regain feeling. In contrast to her husband,

"Antoine En—" Enjolras has to stop himself before he reveals his true name. Though America is very far from France, he and Eponine didn't want to risk their brand new life because of their past associate with the June rebellions.

"I'm sorry. I'm afraid I missed your last name," Ben says happily.

"It's Giroux." Eponine looks over from where she stood with Jane.

"Giroux. That's one splendid name."

"Thank you," Enjolras was rather fond of the name. He did pick it after all.

"What part of France are you and the wife from?"

"Paris." Recognition flashes through of the other man's eyes.

"Nice place. I've been there once. I have a cousin there. Were you there for the Student Rebellions last year?" The Frenchman pales. Eponine instantly senses Enjolras' facial expression. She carefully reaches her hand out.

"You have to excuse my husband. He had lost quite a few of his brothers in the rebellion," she says slowly. Enjolras notes that she says brothers instead of friends.

"Oh I see. My apologies."

"Antoine," she whispers. He looks at her as if she was a ghost. She brings his hands to her lips. Instantly he snaps out of his daze.

"Don't apologize Ben. It's just still a raw subject," Enjolras finally says as he squeezes Eponine's hand. Ben and Jane watch the exchange with smiles on their faces.

"Hey if it helps, your brothers had guts. They definitely made history." But Enjolras knows this is a lie because years from now, the June rebellions would only take up a single paragraphs in the history books (that is if it even makes it).

004. jewelry

They don't have wedding rings. Jane and Ben find it odd, but the French couple didn't mind. Then again, they never feel like they are truly married. When Jane confronts Eponine, the young woman simply shrugs and says, "We eloped so fast, rings just weren't a priority."

They think nothing of it until one day, Ben drags Enjolras into a jewelry store.

"Why are we here?" Enjolras complains. The Englishman slapped the man hard on his back.

"To get your wife a ring," Ben declares.

"Why? We're already married."

"Oh come on man, every little girl dreams of getting married."

"Okay?" Enjolras asks cluelessly.

"Once the wedding is over, they're stuck with a marriage. And mind you, being married is awesome, but women love to remember their wedding day that's why we provide them with rings." Enjolras gulps. He and Eponine never actually got married. It is only a simple piece of paper that declares them married.

"I can't afford much." He confesses. Ben pats him on the back.

"It's the thought that counts." The two men rummage though the jeweler's collection before Enjolras selects a simple gold band with a small red gem for Eponine and a simple gold band for himself. It's not much, but he figures it's probably nicer than anything Eponine has ever had.

When he and Ben leave the jewelers, he's suddenly overwhelmed by the idea to present this gift to his wife. Would it fit? How would she take it? Would it be overly affectionate? Would she like it? Does she even like him?

All these theories flashed through his head, he doesn't even notice the very woman he was thinking of approaching him.

"Antoine," she says gently. Ben ushers Jane quickly in the direction towards their home. He gives Enjolras a quick wink.

"Eponine," his voice uncharacteristically cracks; it suprises the both of them.

"Are you okay?" She switches to French. They are the only fluent speaking French people in the whole town so it's easy for them to have private conversations.

"I have something for you," he replies.

"What is it?" He flushes red. He pulls out the ring, but because he's nervous his hands are sweaty, he fumbles with the ring and ends up dropping it on the ground. He goes down a one knee to pick it up and presents to her while still on the ground.

"'Ponine, I know we're already 'married', but we never had a proper wedding or ceremony. So I thought, maybe you would like this ring. Will you accept it?" Her eyes widens when she sees the red gem on top of the ring. She accepts it with a shake of her head.

Enjolras stands up and slips it on her thin finger. It looks as if its going to slip. He frowns. Not matter how long they've been out of Paris (almost half a year), she remained way too skinny. That's something he's gonna make sure changes.

But for now, it's okay. He brings her hands to him lips and chastely gives it a kiss.

005. unbreakable

He likes to watch her when she sleeps. Most nights, she sleeps very peacefully. Other nights, she has very terrible nightmares. It's easy for him to tell the night she has one. She gets this worried look on her face, and if the dream gets really bad, she'll whimper.

The worst however, is when she starts screaming and sobbing simultaneously. The first time it happened, she screamed so loud, their neighbors in England called the police. It was hard having to explain why she was always hysterical but now that's it's been almost a year. He is used to explaining her state.

Still, it pains him to always to she her like this. Before the barricade, he always envied her a bit. She was child of the streets. She had seen it all, and survived through it all. He knew of her father's gang and of her own crimes.

He had seen her one night in the alley tending to a rich aristocrat, sexually. He remembered confronting her after the fact. She had simply shrug and said it was a regular occurrence.

She was so bold. Her life was so sad and miserable, but so she was still sp strong in his mind.

But as she lays in their bed, crying and distraught, he knows that she's broken.

The worst part, Enjolras thinks, Enjolras knows, is that this is all his fault.

006. obsession

Marius' letter remains unopened in Eponine's bed side drawer. Enjolras thought that maybe she had read it in private after he gave it to her, but the seal was still in tact. He wants to open it, but he knows it's not in his place to do so.

Eponine doesn't know herself why she won't open it and read it. She loves Marius. However, she has an internalized fear that she can't quite explain. So her letter remains unforgotten in her drawer.

007. scars

Their first kiss happens on the first anniversary of the rebellion. He's been stuck in bed for a week and a half already when the date falls. Ben and Jane are worried, but Eponine assures them that he's fine, just a little sick. It is the truth. He is sick, homesick for France and missing his friends—his brothers. Eponine is just as broken as he is.

On the day of the anniversary, they lay side by side silently. They lay awake for hours and closing their eyes to avoid their nosy hosts. As the afternoon descends, Eponine is the first to say something.

"Let me see your scars." They've been together for almost a year but yet to see each others physical scars. Though they are both privy to each other's emotional scars.

He stares at her for a while before heeding her request. He lifts his nightshirt off his body and lies on his back. She props herself up and counts the bullet holes. She's at five when he breaks the silence.

"Seven," he says. She nods silently. She traced each one with her fingers.

"They're horrible." He says meekly. Eponine chuckles.

"They're proof that you are a survivor." She leans down and softly kisses each one of his scars. He shudders underneath her. When she's done kissing the last bullet hole scar, he sits up and lays her down.

"Your turn," he says as he hovers on top of her. She nods. She unbuttons her sleeping shirt. She modestly hides her breast behind her shirt, but shows enough skin to reveal the single bullet hole in her chest. Any more inches closer to her left, she would be dead. He traces the scarred skin with the lightest brush of his finger tips.

"'Ponine," he whispers as if he was speaking to a lover. He leans forward and kisses her scarred skin like she did him. Her skin burns where his lips touches. He has kissed her hands plenty of times before, and she certainly isn't an innocent woman. After all she was a street rat, and almost all street rats become whores.

However, she never felt her body feel such a sensation. When he lifts his head from the valley of her breast, he gives her a powerful stare. Her heart skips a beat as he licks his lips. He grips her hips firmly, but not enough to cause her pain. He kisses her skin again, and again, and again. His kisses trail up towards her neck. He nips on her jaw. She lets out an unintentional moan that surprises even her.

He flashes her a cheeky grin before his eyes lock with hers. They both take deep breaths, and he's so close to her face, she can feel him breathing on her. Slowly she closes her eyes and puckers her lips slightly. His breath hitches slightly. He moves the hand closest to him to stroke her hair from her forehead. She looks she vulnerable and sweet, he can't help but to press his lips against hers. It starts as a simple peck, but it escalates quick to become more.

He pulls back and they open their eyes at the same time. She gives him the smallest of smiles and he smiles back. He lies back down. She's still on her back, but he's practically on top of her with his left side of his body covering the right side of her body and their legs intertwined. His right arm props his head up and his left had gently taps on her forehead.

"Enjolras," she says softly. The man above closes his eyes and kisses her again. They continue to kiss for a long time. When he's tired and she's sleepy, he re-buttons her nightshirt, puts his shirt back on, pulls the covers over them, and falls asleep in her arm. When they wake up the next morning, they speak of nothing of the night.

008. wedding

"What's wrong?" Enjolras ask as his 'wife' sits down next to him. She shakes her head no, and proceeds to put her head in her hands.

"Come on my dear Pony, tell your hubby what's wrong," he teases. She looks up and raises her eyebrows at him.

"Don't be funny, it doesn't suit you." She says seriously.

"I can be funny." He retorts. She glares at him.

"In the year we've been married, you have never once tried making a joke."

"So?"

"What?"

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"Do you know what day it is?"

"Tuesday?"

"Date," she clarified.

"The 16th of August."

"And?"

"And what?"

"It's our wedding anniversary!" She yells in french. "At least on paper, you know."

"Eponine..."

"Look I'm sorry," she sighs frustrated. "It just... I always thought if I got married, it would for love not for convenience. I used to dream that I would get swept off my feet when I was a little girl, but we lost everything, I didn't even think I would get married. But now, I'm married to you! It's not anything I expected or wanted. Don't get me wrong, our relationship is great the way it is but it just—" he cuts her off with a kiss. He grabs the back of her head firmly. When he pulls back, she's left catching her breath.

"I know. I know I'm not exactly what you wanted, but I promise I'll always be everything you need. Have faith in me my dear wife." She hesitates but does eventually nod. He's no Marius, the one that got away. He's no Montparnasse, her first love who turned wicked. He's certainly not any of her former clients, men who used her for her own benefit.

He is Enjolras, her companion, her friend, her husband.

009. drink

"Antoine buddy, drink some more beer!" The Frenchmen wrinkled his nose. He wasn't fond of beer and preferred wine. However, this cheap tavern that Ben took him to had no wine at all so he had to settle to drinks the vile liqueur.

"I already had five glasses," he complains. The man slaps him on the back and laughs.

"That's not enough. Come on man, loosen up a bit." He drank the rest of his bottle and gave him a there-are-you-happy-now look. Ben just laughed and ordered two more beers. They are soon joined by Ben's coworkers at the butcher shop.

"Ah, the famous Antoine. Nice to meet you." The man introduces himself as Phineas.

"My kid goes to your school," the other man, Gideon, says.

"That's nice, what's their name?"

"John Dalton." Enjolras pictured a brown-hair devil child, but knew better to express what he honestly thought of the child.

"He's a a good kid," he lied.

"I hope so," Gideon sips his drink. "Boy's a nightmare at home."

"You and 'Ponine thinking of having kids?" Ben asked. Everyone knew that he and Jane had been trying for kids for a long time. The blonde man shook his head.

"Not anytime soon at least." They hadn't even talked about the idea of having kids.

"Is she at least good in the bedroom?" Phineas asks.

"Excuse me? I would appreciate if you wouldn't apeak of my wife that way," Enjolras says angrily. Ben flashes an amused look before berating Phineas.

"No need to be so vulgar, Finn. Sorry Antoine, I forgot you may have to get used to Phineas' way of talking. Ex-navy man after all."

"Excuse me man, I've just seen your wife at the dress shoppe, and she's a total beauty. I mean, she's all little skinny, but I bet she's a animal in the sack." Enjolras stands up. Phineas keeps talking about the inappropriate things he would do to Eponine when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turns on his stool only to get punched in the face by Enjolras. He fell out of his seat and on to the ground. The tavern goes quiet as everyone stares at the fuming Frenchman.

"Whoa whoa whoa," Ben holds Enjolras back before he could luge forward and jump on the man he just punched. "Calm down Antoine." Enjolras starts swearing in French. Onlookers on the tavern look on, not sure if they should intervene or not.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Phineas repeats over and over. His nose if bleeding. Gideon gets down on one knee and hands him a handkerchief.

"I'm gonna take the kid home. I'll see you guys tomorrow." Ben practically drags the hostile Frenchman back to their place. When they get in the house, he knocks impatiently at the door. Eponine opens with a tired look in her face. Ben hands her husband over.

"He got into a fight at the tavern," Ben says as Enjolras plops down on the bed.

"He what?" She says suddenly awake.

"Yep, punched a man while defending your honor. It was quite romantic." Ben teases. He yawns and bids her a good night. Eponine shuts the door and walks over back to the bed.

"Defending my honor?" She asks coyly. The man next to her looks at with a broodily experssion.

"He was saying inappropriate things about you," he defends. She caresses his cheek.

"I used to be a whore, you know. I probably heard worse. Hell, I've probably done worse." He shrugs.

"Well, you're my wife now. If anyone says bad something about you, I'll always defend you." She leans forward and kisses him smiling.

010. opportunities

"It's such a shame," Jane starts while all of them sit at the dinner table.

"What is dear?" Ben asks.

"Didn't you hear about Mayor Wallance?" Eponine asks. The two husbands shake their heads.

"He died." Jane says bluntly.

"How?" Enjolras questions.

"Have you seen him? He's like a walking corpse," Ben jokes. Jane laughs along with him. When he sees that the Giroux's frown at his joke, Ben scowls. "You guys need to laugh more," Ben says seriously.

"You know, Antoine told me his first joke a couple a months ago," Eponine teases. Enjolras frowns at her.

"I can be funny," he says seriously. She burst out laughing. He should be annoyed, but instead he cracks a smile.

"So what are they going to do for the mayor position?" Enjolras asks curiously. Eponine raises an eyebrow.

"I don't know. I think maybe an election within the next month." Jane shrugs. The conversation dies down. Later, when they're alone in the room getting ready for bed, Eponine reaches out to Enjolras.

"Maybe you should do something about that mayor job." She says nonchalantly.

"What?"

"I mean, you could put that fancy law degree to use."

"I hate politics." She blinks at him before laughing.

"You need to stop making jokes, my dear husband."

"I'm being serious," Enjolras turns red.

"Darling, don't lie to yourself. Politics are your life. I know you read your law books for fun."

"I do not."

"Enjolras."

"Eponine."

"Look, when you're ready to admit to yourself that you still want to be a lawman, I'll be here." She shuts her lamp off and dives under the covers. He follows suit. Eponine falls asleep right away, but Enjolras stays up.

She's right, he thinks. He misses studying law. He misses Patria, but she led his men to death. Enjolras hasn't fully healed. He misses Patria, but at the same time, he's just not ready.

Maybe next time.

TBC