Chapter 5

It was agreed that Marius and Eponine would meet every six months. Since their first meeting they had met five times, most of it was just small talk. Sometimes Marius would peer in on the adults suspiciously, but at the end of the day his suspicions were dispelled. Then they would say their goodbyes, and each time their goodbyes would become harder. Something Eponine found rather peculiar was the fact that Marius was different each time they met.

"Last time we met, he was so different." Eponine spoke to Azelma. It was almost frightening that she looked so young still, but Marius was maturing so fast. She quickly changed the subject as worry crossed her features. "I need to tell you something, but you need to keep this a secret?"

"Alright," Azelma replied simply.

"You have to keep this a secret from everyone: even mom and dad." Eponine stared at her, her gaze practically forced Azelma to keep this secret.

"Alright," She repeated.

"You know the trouble we used to have with the landlord? Recently it has come to a stop, and I have discovered why this is." Eponine said, but cautiously held back from spitting out the rest that she had to say.

"Are you going to tell me why?" Azelma asked impatiently.

"Last time I went to visit with Marius…you know that trick that dad does when he wants to excuse himself right?" Eponine asked.

"The one were he spills something on himself." Azelma stated.

"Yes, that is the one I'm speaking of. I caught him purposely spilling wine on his shirt, and then he excused himself from the table. Neither Marius nor M. Gillenormand noticed this, but I'm so used to his behaviors that it was obvious to me. I decided to follow him, and can you believe what I saw? He was rummaging around for something. The next thing I saw was my own father is stealing from them!" Eponine seemed rather shocked by this behavior despite the fact that it was only three months after their last visit.

"Eponine," Azelma was about to say something more, but was quite shocked by this herself.

"I knew that he would sometimes overcharge customers, but I never knew he was the type to outright steal from another." Eponine spoke softly. "I should have known once the landlord stopped knocking on our door constantly, and now he is able to afford new clothes for the entire family."

"I suspect he has a lot more than he leads on, because he would probably want to keep most of it to himself." Azelma stated.

"If he is caught then I won't ever be able to see Marius again. Maybe I should tell him that I've seen what he has been doing, and that he should stop before we get in trouble." Eponine said.

"I don't think that is going to work." Azelma said, "I think he likes the extra money too much to stop what he is doing."

"Ever since dad has been able to afford nice things for the inn, we've been receiving more costumers. Maybe he will stop after he receives enough money." Eponine tried to reason with the situation around her.

"Eponine, have you not notice yet that when it comes to our father there is never enough money?" Azelma asked her.

"Yes, I know that you are right, but if he were a rich man then it would be enough. All he needs is enough to impress M. Gillenormand then Marius and I will be able to meet without any worries." Eponine spoke.

"Eponine, dad does not care if you are in love with Marius. All he wants is for you to marry Marius so he can leach off of you." Azelma said bluntly.

"How could you say something about your father?" Eponine grew upset, "He may not be the best man in the world, but he certainly is not a bad man!"

"He is not a bad man in our eyes, because he is our father." Azelma replied, and then left her sister. She was absolutely not in the mood to argue with her sister.

Once Azelma closed the door behind her, Eponine stood in front of the new mirror that her mother had persuaded her father to buy for Eponine. The mirror was becoming an obsession, each time Eponine would grow upset she'd stare into the mirror. She often wished that she were a few years older, because at the current state she felt like a child.

"Once a few years have passed, I will be a beautiful young lady." Eponine whispered to herself, "I may be beautiful enough that he'll see me as more than just a girl who comes to visit with him."

A few months passed, and Eponine and Marius met once more. Though Eponine was very excited to see him, Marius was nowhere in sight when she arrived. Of course, the girl thought, he's probably still preparing for our meeting. Eponine then sat at the bottom step of the staircase nearby, and waited for what seemed like hours. After that she was fed up, and decided to go find him herself.

"How could he do this to me? Every six months Marius knows that I will be visiting him, so why is he still in his room?" She hissed to herself. With a huff, she stomped up the stairs, and even fought with herself on the way for god knows why. If anyone had seen her rush by, they would be confused by her constant babbling.

It had taken her some time before she finally found her object of affection. She pushed the door open expecting him to greet her like a gentlemen, but instead he just rummaged through an old box of trinkets. Maybe he was going to give her a gift, but hadn't found what he wished to give her! Eponine quickly hid behind the wall, and listened with a playful smile on her lips.

"Where could that thing be?" She heard him whisper in the room, "This box hasn't been touched in a century! It has to be inside this box."

"Do you need help looking?" Eponine asked, before she pranced inside the room.

"Eponine," Marius was surprised.

"Good morning Monsieur Marius." She said and curtsied.

"Good morning." He responded, and continued to dig through the box.

Eponine frowned a bit. She wanted attention badly, and currently he acted as if he hadn't a care in the world if she existed or not. "How have you been?"

"I've been fine." He replied, not even returning the question.

"Are you upset?" She interrogated.

"I was going to give you something, but I cannot find it." Marius finally admitted.

"Are you sure that it is in there?" Eponine asked, and looked at the cluttered box.

"I am positive." Marius replied.

Eponine's stomach dropped, and she averted her gaze from the box. She asked in a low tone, "What did the present look like?"

"I do not want to give it away." Marius replied.

"If I knew what it looked like I could help you find it. Besides it is the gift that counts, nothing more." Eponine replied.

"It was a brooch that belonged to my mother before she passed away. My grandfather gave it to her for her birthday. It was a silver rose with a blue sapphire. I swear you will love it. That is if I find it before you leave." Marius replied.

The minute Marius finished his short description of the brooch, Eponine's stomach dropped even farther. Five months ago she remembered seeing something similar to the description on her mother's nightstand. Eponine even tried it on in front of Azelma who only warned her never to touch her mother's things. Against Azelma's warning, Eponine had tried to find the brooch again, but had never seen it since. No, no, no, Eponine thought as she began to panic.

"Are you alright?" Marius asked, noticing the pained expression on Eponine's face.

"Let me help you find the brooch." Eponine thought, and then she dug through the box, hoping to god that her father hadn't stolen it.

"You do not need to worry about it. I am sure that I'll find it before we meet again." Marius said.

"I am not so sure." She muttered. Marius had heard her clearly.

"Eponine, what are you talking about?" He was confused.

"Marius…" She couldn't finish her sentence, and let herself sink to the floor.

"Eponine, what is the matter?" Marius asked, and continued with concern, "What happened here?"

"I do not know. I am fine." She tried to sound convincing, but the waterfall of tears pouring down her cheeks preventing her from convincing him that all was fine.

"I will buy you something else if that is what you really want." Marius said slightly disappointed by her behavior.

"No, it is not that Marius." She wanted more than anything nod in agreement, but at the same time she did not want Marius to think her selfish.

"Then what is the matter with you?" Marius was at a loss at what to do. How could he know what to do? Eponine was the only female that he had a close relationship with aside from his aunt.

"I cannot tell you. You will hate me if I tell you. Good lord, I will never be able to see you again." Then more tears began to stream down her face.

"I will not hate you." Marius responded.

"Do you promise never to tell? If you tell your grandfather, I will never see you again." Eponine said.

"Eponine," Marius said.

"Please, just promise me you will not say anything!" She grabbed his arm.

"Fine, I promise I will not say a word of this to my grandfather." Marius finally agreed.

Silence engulfed the both of them as Eponine searched for a place to start. Her lower lip twitched nervously, and then she pulled him close to her. Right now, more than anything, she needed his comfort. No matter how she told him, he was definitely not going to be happy.

"I am not what you think I am Marius." She started.

"What do you mean?" He was confused again.

"My father is a dirty filthy liar. He's been lying to you and your grandfather." Eponine stopped, and then finally admitted, "My father is not rich at all. He is an inn keeper in a small town. You must have wondered why my father would not allow us to exchange letters. Well that is the reason why, because he did not want you to find out about his scheme."

"What scheme?" A worried look crossed his features.

"I do not know what it is yet. My father and…another man have been plotting something ever since I first met you." Eponine said.

"I knew it." Marius said. "Since day one, I knew that he was up to something. Now I have just got to figure out what he is plotting."

"Please do not tell anything. Oh lord, you promised that you would not say a word!" Eponine begged.

"I did not know it was this serious."

"You promised me." She quacked with fear. "You must hate me now. I knew that I should not have said a word. Now I will never be able to see you again. Oh god! What will my father do to me?"

She then Eponine thought of that poor lark, Cosette was her name. That is exactly what she would become once her father discovered that she had snitched on him. Cosette only brought in more money though, but what would he do to someone who caused him to lose money? There was no telling what her father could do if he were angry enough.

"What are you talking about?" Marius spoke.

"Never mind," Eponine replied, "Since you are already going to tell on me anyways then I suppose I should tell you about the rest. My father has been stealing from your family since the moment he got here. He takes the things he steals and sells them when he gets home."

"Eponine, how could you?"

"What was I suppose to do? Tell him that he cannot steal, like he would ever listen to me." Eponine replied.

"You kept the secret for so long."

"But I am telling you now." She replied and reminded, "You promised that you would not say anything."

He was absolutely infuriated by this all, but then again what would her father do to her if he ran in and repeated everything she just said to his grandfather? Eponine may not have been completely honest, but he didn't wish to harm on her for any reason. "I will not say a word."

"Oh, thank you." Eponine replied; relief had never felt so good in her life.

"I would like your address." Marius said.

"Why?" Eponine asked.

"Six months is a very long time." He replied.

She smiled. "What will we do though? My father will know?"

"I will pretend to be someone that you met in Paris." Marius responded, "The letter will be addressed with a false name."

"Marius," Eponine said.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing," Perhaps it was best if he didn't know his father was involved in this just yet.

God lord, this is the longest installment I have written for this story. Please don't forget to review. It really encourages me to write more when I know that there are others who enjoy this story.