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[theroseinmisery]

She had always hated walking alone at night.

In Paris, one was likely to be attacked or worse, if they were found walking the streets alone and in the dark. At night it was always colder and things just seemed more hopeless. Eponine had avoided it when she could, but sometimes it was necessary.

Here, it was a little better. Eponine didn't have to stay out at night, she had a warm apartment to stay in when it got dark. But, now, she had to. She had to see Marius after all of this, had to know what he was saying to her was true. It was foolish to think he was lying, but some part of her wouldn't be put to rest until it saw the truth in his eyes.

Even though it wasn't cold, she shivered, folding her arms and continuing to walk. Thankfully, Marius' apartment building was close to hers, just a few minutes away. Still, walking alone and with what was on her mind, Eponine wasn't enjoying herself. It was bringing back rather unpleasant memories that she would have preferred buried.

Things were a little better when she was inside and walking up to Marius' apartment. She took the stairs, not having any patience with the elevator. The apartment wasn't far up anyway, only a few floors. Once she'd arrived, there was a certain sense of relief. Eponine rapped twice on the door. "Marius?"

Comments

[mariuspontmercy]

Oh dear...it was really that obvious. (He blushed a little, again.)

"I'm sorry you were chased. Surely the loss of one flower wouldn't hurt a public park!

"And now you can have all the flowers you wish."

He kissed her hand, formally, then turned it over and kissed the palm, slowly moving his kisses up her arm.

He wondered idly whether that odd policeman had been the one to chase her. He'd only just begun trying to converse with Marius before they'd all switched platforms.

...actually policemen weren't what he wanted to think about at all.

[theroseinmisery]

"It is all right. There was a sign, but Azelma was little and didn't know any better." Eponine didn't mention that they'd had to run before that, for the same officer had caught them pickpocketing for their supper.

She smiled. "I know...the roses you sent me were lovely." Eponine had been pleasantly surprised that morning, no one had ever sent her flowers before. She was trying to learn how to press flowers, so that she might keep them and the one that Marius gave her on their first little outing.

[mariuspontmercy]

"I'm very glad you liked them."

He wouldn't mention the park sign. He felt as though he was making her uncomfortable. Maybe he'd come across as judgmental when he hadn't meant to. He placed her arm carefully back in her lap, not wanting to annoy her, and backed off a but.

[theroseinmisery]

Her head tilted to the side a little as he moved her arm, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she let her head rest on his shoulder again, snuggling close even though he'd backed off. "Something wrong?"

If he thought she was uncomfortable, he would be wrong. Eponine loved being close to the people she cared about, especially Marius. "Did you finish the book yet? The Phantom of the Opera?"

[mariuspontmercy]

It felt so good when she was close to him. Always. He rested his head atop hers.

"Not quite! Raoul and The Persian are in the torture chamber and I hated to leave it there, but had to get some sleep.

"I rather like Raoul. But I feel so sorry for the poor Phantom. I wonder whether Christine will choose Raoul or stay with the Phantom. I do hope Raoul doesn't die."

The death of fictional characters bothered him more than usual lately.

[theroseinmisery]

"Ah, so it's nearly over!" The idea of him reading Les Miserables didn't distress her as much as it had before. With reassurance that Cosette meant little to Marius anymore, Eponine felt a little better about him reading the book. She just hoped he wouldn't be quick to encounter whatever that memory had been.

"It is a complicated choice that Christine has." Of course, Eponine knew the ending of the book, but she didn't want to give away what happened. "There are many people who did not like the ending of the book, I think."

She had seen it coming, of course. It was a story and goodness and love always triumphed over everything in stories. For some reason, it had put her in mind of her and Marius and Cosette, only very different. After all, she certainly wasn't deformed and living under an opera house. Still, it was rather strange. And she had to inwardly giggle at the image of Marius as Christine.

"You will start the other book afterwards?"

[mariuspontmercy]

"Yes, I'll probably finish it up tonight and start on the other as soon as I can. I'm becoming less nervous and more curious about it."

He slid over closer to her again, simply unable to stay away.

[theroseinmisery]

"It is...interesting. I have not read the whole thing, only some of the bits that talk about me." She smiled faintly. "The author is not the most flattering of people." It could have been worse, though, she supposed.

Eponine snuggled into his shoulder, glad that he wasn't keeping away anymore. She did like it when he was close...it was something she'd never got to experience in the past.

[mariuspontmercy]

"I'm almost afraid to read what he says about me."

And about you...if that's in there, if that really happened...I don't think I'll be able to bear it. Please be a false memory.

This felt so cozy and domestic. He'd liked meeting her for coffee; he'd liked cooking omelettes for them; he liked just sitting and discussing books with her. For a moment, he began imagining what it might be like to be married to Eponine before he reined in his reverie, shocked at himself.

Cart WAY before the horse there. Settle down. You've got to take things slowly, no matter how much you want to rush them. Isn't that what we learned from the past?

He sighed.

[theroseinmisery]

"I have not read much about you. But I daresay it will be good." Nothing written about Marius could be bad, could it?

She sighed rather happily, not situated comfortably in his arms. Never in any life had she been so close to anyone, not even Azelma, though the two of them had often huddled together for warmth in the winter. She looked up as he sighed.

"Something wrong?" she grinned mischievously. "Have you thought of something bad that may be written about you?

[mariuspontmercy]

He laughed softly. "It's kind of you to say so. I'm not convinced of that."

He snuggled up with her, happy for her nearness and her warmth. This was what he wanted. To be allowed to be here, with her, like this...it was wonderful.

"Possibly," he said, catching her mischievous tone. "There's probably an entire chapter that says nothing but MARIUS IS A JERK over and over again."

[theroseinmisery]

"Well, then perhaps you should convince yourself," she kissed his cheek.

Her arms wrapped tightly around his middle as she settled into his embrace, closing her eyes. He was so very warm...

She laughed. "I wouldn't doubt it! Though, I daresay the author is a bit more eloquent than that."

[mariuspontmercy]

"Perhaps I should." Her laughter always made him smile.

His tone became slightly deeper. He leaned in closer.

"Perhaps I should..." he broke off, rather shocked at himself. His instinct to protect, to be a gentleman, was warring with a much deeper instinct.

He wasn't quite sure what to do except to fight it. Only Eponine made him feel this way. She made him feel all sorts of things he'd never felt before.

It was glorious, heady, and a bit frightening.

He kissed her again,but couldn't stop the soft, incoherent sound of pleasure that passed his lips.

[theroseinmisery]

Her head tilted to the side as he broke off. "Is something wrong?" She'd already asked that twice tonight...perhaps Marius wasn't feeling himself.

Worry left her, though, once his lips met hers again. Eponine returned it, wrapping her arms around his neck and tangling her fingers in his hair. God, this was incredible. Marius' kisses, especially ones like this, always made her feel as though she was flying.

Or something to that effect. Eponine had read that in a book once and decided it was an accurate description.

[mariuspontmercy]

He actually had to stifle a moan as her fingers tangled in his hair. Settle down, Marius. Settle. Down.

"No." His voice was slightly husky. "Not a thing is wrong. Not any more. Not now that you're with me."

He bent down for another kiss.

[theroseinmisery]

"Good," she grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him in for another kiss and angling her head to deepen it. Perhaps she was being a bit demanding, but it didn't matter now.

This would have never happened in her wildest dreams in the past, and to experience it now, when she never thought she would was pure euphoria.

"I love you..." she murmured against his lips as they had to pause for air. Perhaps it was still too early to say it...but Eponine didn't care.