AU in which Eponine was treated the same way as Cosette, the two are rescued by Valjean, fates change until the day barricades arise.

AN: I'm guessing at ages here, I wasn't sure how old they would be I know Cosette was in the inn for 5 years and I'm guessing she was around 4/5 due to her portrayal in the productions.

December 24 1823 Montreuil-sur-Mer

The inn had once been great, but just a few years of neglect the building's interior had degraded. In some ways the girl who sat on a stool near the heart was like the inn. Looking at her now any passersby would never have imagined her Eponine the spoiled and dotted child, her dark hair was tangled and her nearly olive skin dull, dirty and patterned with sores from various illnesses. Her cheeks were hollow and arms thin. She was dressed in rags, far from the fine dresses she wore for the first seven years of her life. She was trying to repair a blanket, that's if the scraps of fabric could be counted as one.

She looked up from her work to the window. The woods stretched out behind the inn, dark and gloomy. Cosette was out there after her father had thrown her out with a pail to draw water from the well. The guests at the Inn were few and far between, at least today it was full, with the holiday tomorrow. She leaned against the wall, remembering the Christmas's of her past filled with treats and presents, when Alzama was still with her, before Papa had sent her away. The drunken laughter was however stopped by the appearance of an older man and Cosette, Eponine set her work down and crepped closer to the man,

"I have been entrusted to care for this child, her mother is gone and she left Cosette in my care." Her father tried to convince the man to leave but as soon as money was introduced the innkeeper quickly changed his mind. The man told her father, Eponine's eyes widened This man was here to take Cosette? She shifted out of the shadows of the inn so Cosette could see her. Her friend gently pulled on the mans coat, he turned to her and Cosette pointed at Eponine, she cowered back behind a pillar "Come here child." The man called and Eponine slowly made her way to the man, but her father grabbed her arm and drew her close.

"Now why would you want to see my allouette?" He asked and patted her head,

"This is your child?" The man questioned taking in her appearence Eponine quickly twisted out of her father's grasp and dashed over to Cosette grabbing her hand. Her father smiled " Now my love you must let her go, come to your Papa." He opened his arms, but the child would not fall for it,

Jean Valjean looked at the girl cowering next to Cosette, he knew he needed to get to Paris in a hurry one child would slow him down, another would just add to it. But when the girl looked up at him, with dark eyes he felt the same pull that Cosette had on him. He knew that if he left this child here she would surely perish at some point far to soon. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out another wad of francs

" If you would agree I can take this child, give her a proper education and life for no charge." The man told her father, he didn't do anything but the man put more francs on his hand and her father quickly snached them up and shoved them into his pocket. It was at that moment that she made herself forget about her father, about the love he gave her in the past, how she was worth a wad a francs. Her father grabbed her and gave her kisses on the top of her head and face, Eponine squirmed at the wet whisky scented residue he left. The man smiled and took her hand, Eponine felt no fear this man didn't reek of alcohol, he was clean and dressed nicely. She looked over to Cosette who had his other hand, the girl gave her a slight grin. The three left the inn, and went out onto the snowy streets, a carriage waited for them, the inside plush and safe from the winter. The man helped her inside and offered a heavy blanket, she and Cosette sat next to each other staring at the man.

"I will be both a father and mother to you both, you will never be cold, hungry or scared again, I'll keep you safe." The pair smiled, true smiles, and as the carriage left the town they settled against each other, feeling the fear and pain melt away. They were safe and Eponine knew this man would not change like her's had done. He would be her true papa.

Valjean watched the two children sleep

feeling a strange force overcome him. They were so innocent, so young, yet they had suffered so much. He leaned against the window, as the snow fell around them, this was his fate. To care for them, to give them his life.

May 1825 Paris

The sun was warm and the flowers of the garden were in bloom, offering a scent of perfume to the garden. Jean Valjean sat on the bench watching the two young girls run around the walled space. They had spent nearly a year in the convent making sure that no one would know who they were. The girls had gained weight and became lovely children, Cosette with golden hair creamy fair skin and bright blue eyes. Eponine's skin had gotten a warm glow that suited her dark hair and eyes.

He found the home in the early days of the new year, In the few months they had spent in the home the girls had opened up even more, they spent their days happy, he educated them himself, with reading, sums, and history. His children received all he could give, toys, treats and clothing, It was in the convent that he saw their personalities emerge. Cosette was the more quite of the two, kind and submissive. While Eponine had rebelled, she played rougher and acted more like a young son then a little lady. Even though the pair was so different it was clear to him that they both loved each other, they played games together sharing the same fine doll he had gotten the night he found them. And at the end of the day when he put them to sleep they would crawl into bed together, and listen contently to a story. They would drift off, peaceful reminiscent of angels. He only wondered how long this could last. Before Javert would come rapping on his door.