Chapter 3

A/N: Can you say angst? Please R and R :)

Eponine woke first. She moved to get up, but found that an arm that was laced protectively around her prohibited her from doing so. Her situation came back to her and she smiled and relaxed back into Enjolras's chest.

Without him, I feel his arms around me, and when I lose my way, I close my eyes and he has found me.

She watched the river flow slowly by, and remembered what Enjolras had said last night. How could it be? The man of marble...afraid? No, it couldn't be. But it was, it was all true. Enjolras stirred beneath her and gave out a little grunt.

" Ponine? What..." He muttered. Eponine got off him and smiled. "Morning sleepyhead." She giggled. "I didn't want to wake you up." He blinked a couple of times and rubbed his eyes. "Oh, well you could've I wouldn't have minded." He smiled back. Enjolras hesitated. "Look, I'm sorry about last night..." "No, Enjolras, let me speak." Eponine interrupted. Enjolras, not used to being interrupted, cocked an eyebrow at the wench but listened.

"You have no right to blame yourself for all the deaths that resulted from the uprising." Enjolras started to speak but was quickly silenced by a glare from Eponine. "Those students followed you into war, but you never forced them too. You told them they could leave if they wanted too. But they didn't because they believed in YOU. And that was their choice to make, not yours." Eponine's tone grew softer and reached out to touch Enjolras's cheek. He saw the gesture and held his breath, silently waiting to experience her gentle touch. But Eponine blushed and drew her hand back.

"You started something. You've taught France a lesson. And when it's time, it's going to reform, and it's going to be in your honor." She finished quietly. Enjolras took advantage of her silence to process what she just said. He gave out a slow chuckle. "You know, you're a lot smarter than I thought you would be." Eponine flushed even redder, and sighed. "Don't beat yourself up over it," she chided him. She got up and brushed the nonexistent dirt off of her. "Well, I'll see you around." She smiled and extended her hand. Enjolras accepted her offer and shook it with a smile of his own. He watched her walk away, and after she was gone, he inspected his transformed hand. He then suddenly longed for her soft touch to be enclosed in his hand again, for reasons only God knew why. The two souls went separate ways without being satisfied.