A/N: I finally got to upload the next chapter, so here it is. :)

Please tell me what you think! ;)

Chapter 4

Two Weeks Later

Éponine and Azelma had moved into a little hut near the river, a little one-room barrack, windowless, but safe against the elements, bought from the money Joly had given them. Éponine was sure she would pay it back to him one day, but the two sisters hardly had any money for a proper meal a day. It didn't take long until the two of them started stealing again, a skill, they had learned and grown up with over the years, taught by their father who was now in the slammer.

It was only a question of luck until a plan went wrong. Afterwards, Éponine couldn't tell where the mistake had been, but she didn't blame her sister, that was for sure.

Éponine and Azelma had taken a closer look for the man they were planning to rob. He looked wealthy, flaunting around with his shiny, black hat and drawing his fat purse from time to time. He seemed so careless and lavishly, Éponine was sure he wouldn't miss the couple of Francs jingling in his coat's pockets.

They sneaked nearer towards him, eyes and ears open for any noise from the police. The man was ambling between the booths offering fruit and meat, unobservant to any possible disruptions. He was about to examine a net of apples, when Éponine, tiny and alert, crept towards him, her hand fishing for the coins in his pockets. She was just about to pull them from the luxurious material, when fingers, cold and tight, winded around her wrist.

She gasped in horror when the man turned her around, so she would look right up into his face. His dark eyes were burning with anger as they pierced into her warm and brown ones, his lip twitched uncontrolled in his rage.

"You little slut, you dare to..." he began cursing, but luckily Azelma reacted instinctively, using a passing, old man's cane to hit the robbed man into the back of his knees. He yelled and cruised around, furious and enraged, dangerous in temper. Éponine used convenient moment to wind from his grip.

"Azelma!" Éponine cried, starting to run from the crowded market place in which the riot hadn't attracted any attraction. She looked back to see her sister sprinting in the opposite direction. She had no choice, but to keep on running. The man had spotted her again and she could hear him screaming for the police.

Silently, she cursed as she pushed through the crowd, already hearing the voice of everyone's most feared inspector Javert in her neck. She sped up, even though the jostle of an early Saturday morning slowed her down.

Panting, she stumbled from between the people, entering a small, but empty alley. She didn't allow herself a very long break and carried on running, but she could already feel her still slightly injured leg starting to hurt, a pain spreading through her muscles and bones. Still breathless, she kept walking, taking easy steps now.

For a second she thought about going home, where she hoped to find Azelma, but their new home was already registered – they would just have to find out her name. Éponine was sure Azelma was clever enough to think of that. There was nothing else she could do than wander around Paris and hope to find her somewhere.

Éponine couldn't believe it. As fast as they had gotten their new home, they had already lost it again. Azelma and she were back on the streets with nothing but what they wore. No money for food, nothing to trade with except... No! Éponine banned that thought from her mind, before it even appeared complete.

Sunken in her mind, she turned into a new lane, when she stopped abruptly. She was already on her heel to turn back, but they had already spotted her. Having a new track, she heard the police men running after her, growling, the loudest one of them Javert.

Éponine hadn't felt that kind of fear very often in her life. Her heart pounding, she raced back from where she had come, looking back from time to time. Twice she hoped to outdistance them, but they were fast. And they were catching up.

Avoiding the crowded market, Éponine turned towards a brought alley, turning around a last time – when she cannoned into somebody. Stumbling back from the crash, she looked upwards, in fear of seeing another police officer.

She couldn't help but sigh relieved when she recognised Enjolras. His face showed confusion and concern.

"Èponine, what...?" he began, but she interrupted, pulling him into a gap between two houses. She dragged him in front of her, trying to cover herself from the police men, but the amused look she got from a passing woman clearly showed her, he wasn't protection enough.

"Pretend you're my boyfriend" she whispered, already hearing Javert's furious voice echoing through the streets.

"Excuse me?"

Éponine rolled her eyes. That was typically Enjolras, polite in any situation.

"Now!" she ordered, pulling him towards her. Without thinking twice, she pressed her lips on his. She could feel his confusion, but he played along, grabbing her wrist and bending her over.

Over his shoulder, Éponine could identify Javert's bright blue uniform, the dark hat, the bearded face. He only threw a small glance at them, mistaking them for a passionate couple, but Éponine couldn't suppress her fingers clenching into Enjolras' hair.

The police men kept running, but Éponine only relaxed, when the sound of their steps had disappeared behind the houses.

She detached herself from him, avoiding the piercing and questioning look from his burning blue eyes.

"Thank you", she murmured, "I think I owe you."