Éponine walked through the busy club, a tray of empty glasses balanced on her one hand. Her long dark brown locks were tastefully curled and and dropped down over her bare shoulders. She didn't wear much, just a black corset over top a short silky skirt that displayed her legs where she wore fishnet thigh highs that were attached to garters that peeked out from under her skirt.

She weaved her way through the club easily balancing on her four inch heels. She took a deep breath as she went to walk by one of the men she had been waiting on, the one who was looking at her like she was a piece of meat. The breath slowly escaped from her lips with relief that he didn't want to order anything, but she stopped in her tracks when she felt his hand on her ass. She rolled her eyes before putting on a smirk and turning around to wink at the man.

Sometimes she had to remind herself that she endured this for her little brother. She could easily find another job, but none would pay enough for her to take care of herself and Gavroche. Her tips kept food on the table, and her rapport with the gentlemen customers stopped her father from asking too many questions about her need for the money.

Her smile dropped immediately when she turned away and walked over to the bar, setting down her tray in frustration.

"Relax," Monteparnasse said taking the glasses from the tray, "You know your father's rules."

"Always appear interested," Éponine said with a look of disgust, "And you know not to refer to him as that."

"As what he is?"

She gave him a pointed look but he only chuckled and went to tend to a customer at the other side of the bar. The last thing she wanted was for any costumers to know she was the owner's daughter or that she was a minor. Though her birthday was in a month, she wasn't legally allowed to work there and her father picks and chooses his battles. With a brothel in the back, he can't be caught with a seventeen year old minor serving alcohol.

"Some new guys just sat down in your section Éponine," Monteparnasse said and she turned to see three young men sitting down at one of the tables, "Remember lose the sneer and be charming."

"I know what to do," she spat before grabbing her tray and letting out a breath. He shook his head with a smirk as she took a step back and turned around.

As she approached the table, she found that the mend certainly were young and even a little handsome. They were all talking and some were laughing as she came around and stood in front of the table.

"Bonsoir Messieurs," she said with a smirk as all their eyes flickered up to her. Most of them looked her up and down, "Is there anything I can get you?"

"I can think of a few things," the curly haired man said and the one next to him elbowed him.

"Grantaire!"

Éponine only chuckled and leaned forward to rest her hands on the table, giving them an even better view of her cleavage which all of them indulged in for a few moments, "I'm sure you have quite the imagination too. Don't you, Monsieur?"

"I am very creative," he said with a smirk. The two other men shook their heads but Éponine was just genuinely amused.

"Don't mind him," the dark haired one next to him said, "he's harmless."

"Let me just reign in some of that creativity then, if you don't mind," she perked an eyebrow, "What can I get you three lovely men to drink?"

Grantaire laughed a little bit before ordering his drinks followed by his two friends, Joly and Marius. Courfeyrac was the one who scolded Grantaire before snickering at the exchange. Marius was more quiet and therefore caught her attention more. He had such a genuine face and looked her in the eyes when she spoke to him, but not as though he was forcing himself to in order to be respectful.

"Those boys look well off," Thénardier observed as Monteparnasse poured their drinks, "Do make sure to treat them well, Éponine." She knew what he was telling her to do and part of her didn't want to because of how nice this group of men seemed. With a nod of her head she grabbed her tray and walked back over to the group.

"Voila," she said as she passed out their drinks before against leaning forward on the table, "I don't think I've seen you boys here before."

"It would be our first time here," Courfeyrac said with a charming smile.

"In celebration of Marius's birthday!" Grantaire lifted his glass excitedly.

"Oh a birthday!" Éponine stood straight and walked around the table to where Marius was sitting, her finger gliding on the table as she walked. She gave him a smile before sliding down into his lap. He seemed confused and unsure of what to do but his hand went around her hips to stop her from falling, "We love a good birthday here."

She gave him a warm smile, "How old are you , mon cher?"

He cleared his throat and met her eyes, this time making sure to avoid letting them wander anywhere else, "I've just turned 21, mademoiselle."

"Please," she ran a finger gingerly down his cheek, "My name is Éponine."

"Éponine," he corrected himself and smiled back at her.

"Tell me, Monsieur," she said glancing up at the other two who were watching with amused smirks, "Do you have a special lady?"

"I-I don't," he hesitated like he was unsure of her reasoning behind the question.

"Wonderful, then I can give you a birthday present," she said gliding her finger down his cheek and under his chin to lean his head up so she could capture his lips with her own. It was a soft kiss, and she was surprised when he didn't kiss her back eagerly like any other man at the club would. His lips responded to her but with equal tenderness, something she wasn't use to in the least.

"Joyeux anniversaire, Monsieur Marius," she said with a sweet smile.

"Merci, Éponine," he said softly still wearing a small look of surprise.

"Why didn't we come here on my birthday?" Courfeyrac leaned over and asked Grantaire who was staring with the rim of his glass on his lips.

"Can I say it's my birthday too?" Was his only answer.

Éponine broke the kiss with a smirk and looked over at the other two men, "Je suis désolé, Messieurs." She chuckled a little bit as her hand glided up and down Marius's chest. She could feel his wallet and skimmed over it because realizing she couldn't bring herself to take anything. With a soft sigh, she stood up and resigned herself to whatever punishment her father would deal her later on.

"If you gentlemen need anything else, just let me know," She said with a small smirk.

Marius looked up at her with a sincere smile and elbowed Grantaire as if he knew his friend would say something crude. She looked down at the curly haired man and gave him a warm smile before leaning over the table. She saw his eyes dart to the new view of her curves before his eyes flicked back up to hers as she kissed him sweetly on the cheek. She looked at Courfeyrac who raised his hand to halt any of her movements and instead to her hand in his to place a kiss to the back of it.

She couldn't help but giggle at the gesture, "I think you boys are my favorite customers here yet. Enjoy the show."

"We'd enjoy it more if it were you up there," Courfeyrac said with a charming smile as he released her hand.

"Oh I'm sure you would," Éponine gave Marius one last glance before picking up her tray, "I'm afraid you'll have to use your imaginations for that though."

"I do have a creative one, remember?" Grantaire called as she walked away causing her to turn and regard him with a chuckle.

"No sneer?" Montparnasse questioned with a perked eyebrow as she came over to the bar.

"No," Éponine shrugged, "They were actually pretty sweet."

"Oh yes, I saw just how sweet the one gent was," he smirked when she shook her head at his words, "Did you get anything?"

Éponine tried not to hesitate, "There was nothing to get."

He regarded her with a questioning look and she just let out a soft sigh before picking her tray back up and returning to the floor. She would constantly stop to engage in amusing conversations with the three men and they would be nothing but nice. They were even completely respectful of her. No wondering hands or vulgar words came from them. Only light hearted jokes and pleasant conversation. Especially from Marius, who she found to be the kindest of them. They stayed until closing, howling at the dancers and getting completely drunk.

"Do I need to call you three a cab?" Éponine asked when Marius came up to her seat at the bar and leaned against her chest.

"I think that would be the best idea," Courfeyrac answered as he shook a snoring Grantaire causing him to fall from his chair. Marius started laughing but then hummed at Éponine's fingers that ran through his hair. She didn't even realize she was doing it, it was something she always did for Gavroche when he was younger.

Grantaire jumped from the ground appearing to be very alert, "Marius!" The brunette's head snapped up and Éponine felt a small ache at the lack of warmth.

"Stop hogging our new waitress friend," he ordered causing Éponine to giggle.

"Éponine," Marius slurred before falling into the bar seat next to her, "she has a name remember?"

"We're closing" Thénardier announced walking towards them.

"I know," Éponine said turning away from them, "I'm just calling them a cab."

"You lads have paid, right?" Thénardier turned to ask the men and Éponine just rolled her eyes as she ordered the cab.

"That we have," Courfeyrac said.

"It should be here in a few minutes," Éponine said hopping down from her bar stool.

Her father looked at her and narrowed his eyes. She glanced over at Monteparnasse who simply looked away.

"I'm sure you three won't mind waiting for it outside," her father said and the three men looked at him. Grantaire looked dazed, Courfeyrac looked confused, and Marius looked uncertain.

"We really need to clean everything up," Thénardier simply said. They all looked at Éponine who offered them a warm smile.

"Bonne nuit," she said trying to hide any fear she was experiencing from her father's cold gaze.

Courfeyrac took her hand and again gently placed a kiss on the back of it, "Bonne nuit, Mademoiselle Éponine."

She smiled almost shyly this time as she felt the eyes of her father on her. The three of them cleared out after saying their goodbyes to her and now she was left alone with Monteparnasse and her father.

"You didn't get anything?!" He snapped.

"There was nothing to get," Éponine offered as an explanation only to stagger back as the back of his hand hit her cheek. She held her face and looked up at him with guilty eyes. Part of her wished that she could be surprised at occurrences like this.

"Do not take me for a fool Éponine," he barked, "and if I catch you pulling stunts like that kiss without getting something from it, I'll make sure you regret it."

"I'm sorry," she surrendered glancing Monteparnasse who was just leaning on the bar watching. Her father just shook her head and grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the bar before making his way back up to his office. Eponine started to nibble on her bottom lip as she turned towards the bar and looked down. She felt a hand on her cheek and let out a hiss as a finger ran over the mark that was probably forming. She looked up to meet Monteparnasse's eyes.

"Best make sure you cover that up for your shift tomorrow," he said simply. Éponine couldn't help but wonder what happened to her friend. Every time something like this happened she wanted to believe she saw a flicker of his old self, but he stopped being there for her a long time ago.

"I know," she said pulling her face from his hand, "I always do."

A/N This little plot has been in my head for a while now and it's based around é/e, but involves a lot more than At The Beginning did. I'm really excited to get it started finally. Do not fret, our marble leader will be appearing in the next chapter and things will get good. Enjoy :) Also, don't kill me for the kiss. I had to do it, but trust me when I say enjonine is the main pairing in this fic.