Gavroche Thenardier thought nothing could surprise him anymore. After he was randomly taken away to a foster house, rescued by his older sisters and friends, and then practically adopted by his sister's best friend, Grantaire, he thought he could expect anything. Until of course, he saw Gabriel Enjolras, the man made of marble, walk into the café with a small girl, who looked almost painfully familiar, skipping by his side.

.oOo.

Vivienne bounced in place, looking around the café excitedly. The Café Musain looked exactly like her mother had described it. She could vaguely identify a few of the people sitting around from Eponine's stories. She recognized a man with auburn hair with a blonde-haired woman sitting close him and a man sitting at the bar holding a bottle in each hand. Combeferre, Courfeyrac, and Jehan immediately left to join another group of men at a table, leaving Enjolras and Vivienne at the door. Gavroche took the chance and walked up to them.

When Vivienne spotted a boy, probably only fourteen or fifteen, walk up to them, she immediately hid behind her father's leg out of instinct. Enjolras chuckled and picked her up and balanced her on his hip while he shook hands with the boy as he walked closer.

"Mornin' Enjolras," the boy said cheekily before looking at Vivienne. Once Gavroche saw her up close, his eyes widened like a deer caught in a car's headlights. The younger girl was the spitting image of his older sister who disappeared seven years ago.

"A-And who's this?" He asked, acting as casual as he could.

"Gavroche, meet Vivienne. Vivienne, meet Gavroche," Enjolras introduced them, eyeing the younger boy carefully. He had noticed his look of surprise and swore in his head. This was going to take a lot of explaining.

Vivienne, on the other hand, perked up at his name. "You're my mama's little brother!" She exclaimed in wonder. When her mother had spoken about him she always described him as an energetic little boy.

Well, she thought, he certainly isn't that little anymore.

Gavroche almost stumbled back in shock. He stared at Vivienne then back up at Enjolras, his eyes wide with curiosity and almost begging him for an explanation.

Enjolras looked around desperately before calling for Jehan, who was standing closest to them. The poet walked over and looked back and forth between Gavroche and Enjolras then looking at their leader worriedly.

"Why don't you take Vivienne over to meet the rest of the Amis," Enjolras suggested calmly, letting his friend bring his daughter into his arms. Jehan promptly took her and brought her to the rest of the group, leaving Enjolras alone with Gavroche, who was now glaring up at him. He grasped the teenager's shoulder and led him further away from the Amis, praying in his head that Gavroche had gotten over his tendency of throwing things when he was angry.

.oOo.

"So we need to talk," Enjolras began as they sat at a table.

Gavroche sat across from him and crossed his arms, waiting for him to continue.

"I'm pretty sure you already know who Vivienne is," the older man stated, not even questioning it.

Gavroche grimaced. "She's Eponine's daughter isn't she," he mumbled, not looking at him, "And obviously you're her dad."

Enjolras nodded, running a hand through his hair without saying a word. He was never good with comforting people.

Gavroche stood and paced his side of the table, clenching and unclenching his hand, "That's why she left, isn't it? She left 'cause she was pregnant with Vivienne and when Azelma found out she just had to go with her. Leaving me behind," he finally growled out, tears burning his eyes, though he refused to let them fall.

"Gavroche," Enjolras tried, not knowing how to comfort the boy without making it worse.

Gavroche flinched back and glared at him. Without a word, he turned away and ran out of the café.

.oOo.

Vivienne looked worriedly back at her father and Gavroche then looked at Jehan, biting her lip nervously. "Did I say something wrong?" she asked softly.

Jehan felt his heart melt and shook his head right away, tickling her slightly in attempt to make her feel better, "Not at all, mon petit, Gavroche was just surprised, he's never had a niece before."

The seven year old laughed and nodded, though she didn't quite accept his explanation.

Soon, the two reached the table and Jehan stood Vivienne up on one of the chairs.

"Les Amis, this little one's name is Vivienne. Vivienne, these are the Amis," Jehan introduced, exaggeratingly waving his hands between them.

"This is Cosette and Marius," Jehan began, pointing to the couple she saw before.

"Those three would be Joly, Musichetta, and Bossuet," he continued, gesturing to a man holding a handkerchief, a redheaded woman, and a bald man.

"And this would be Feuilly, Bahorel, and Grantaire," he pointed to a man wearing a Poland flag pin, a burly man with several bruises scattering his arms, like he's been in many fights, and finally, the man she had scene at the bar holding bottles of wine.

"And you already know Combeferre and Courfeyrac," Jehan finished as the two men smiled at her.

Vivienne giggled and waved shyly, slightly overwhelmed at the number of people.

They all looked at her, smiling kindly, though all of them besides those who already knew her seemed confused.

"She's adorable, Jehan," Musichette spoke up first, "is she your niece? You once mentioned you had a sister, right?"

Jehan shook his head while rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "No, actually she's –"

"She's Enjolras and Eponine's daughter, isn't she?" Grantaire said simply, not taking his eyes off of her and smiling sadly.

"Don't be ridiculous, Grantaire," Joly said unsurely while running a hand through his hair, "She can't possibly be." There was a chorus of agreements, though some were just sitting in shock since they haven't heard Eponine's name for years now.

"But I am," a soft voice spoke timidly, causing them all to turn to her. The small child shifted uncomfortably under all their looks but continued. "My mama's name is Eponine," she said nodding and pointed to where Enjolras and Gavroche were speaking, "A-And my papa's Enjolras."

They stared at her in shock, except for Grantaire who mumbled, "Toldja," and stood up, walking towards that young girl.

"You're mama was my best friend, Vivienne," He said, grinning at her.

She smiled as her eyes lit up with recognition, "She told me all about you! All of you, really."

The rest of the Amis smiled kindly at her, albeit weakly. Most were still trying to comprehend the fact that the girl was there, a spitting image of their best friend who's gone missing.

Cosette stood and moved towards her, stroking her hair and smiling brightly, "Well I think you're absolutely adorable. Your hair reminds me of your mother's, though a different color of course."

"Aunt Azelma says that too!" She giggled then wrinkled her nose cutely, "Mama complains it's too curly and hard to brush. But she likes braiding it!"

Suddenly, Musichetta gasped happily and went to sit next to her on the opposite side of Cosette. "Your mama had the best hair to braid, may I braid yours, petite?"

Vivienne nodded furiously, her curls bouncing around her as she clapped her hands, "Oui, please!"

The rest of the men smiled slightly but looked at Courfeyrac, Combeferre, and Jehan curiously, almost demanding for answers.

Eponine, and even Azelma, were like little sisters to them. They'd been worried sick when they went missing, and now they realized they had simply got up and left. They had searched for months to years, trying to find any clue to getting their best friend back. None of them had ever truly given up on them. Now, this seven-year-old girl comes after years of waiting for hope. It seemed too good to be true.

Grantaire had not joined in either of the groups, simply staring back and forth from his best friend's daughter to the men interrogating each other. He held his bottle to his lips, but not drinking from it. He was probably the most hurt when Eponine and Azelma disappeared, not including Enjolras and Gavroche of course. Eponine has been the best friend he's ever had. She helped him through the hardest points in his life. She kept him stable, grounded.

Unlike the rest of his friends, however, he knew exactly why the sisters had left. Grantaire was the first person Eponine had come too. And every day he regretted not being able to talk her out of it. But he never told, he had promised her to keep her secret. And Grantaire never broke his promises.

.oOo.

Enjolras ran out after Gavroche, looking around frantically. To his relief the boy wasn't far away at all. He had plopped himself down at one of the tables outside the café. He was staring at the ground –Enjolras couldn't tell if he was glaring or holding back tears, maybe both. He went to stand across from him and Gavroche picked his head up and looked at him. To Enjolras's surprise, his eyes were dry and there was no trace of a glare on them. Just a sad, distant look that reminded him of how he felt all those years when Eponine was gone from his world.

"Gavroche," Enjolras said gently, looking at him sympathetically, "I know you're probably angry at Eponine and myself, I know I would be. But don't get mad at Vivienne. Give her a chance, okay?" Gavroche looked to where the girl –who he now knew was his niece- stood through the window. Vivienne was sitting in between Cosette and Musichetta, letting Musichetta braid her hair as she spoke excitedly to the two women. She was practically bouncing in her seat while trying not to move much as Musichetta did her hair.

He grimaced, "I'm not mad at her. She hasn't done anything wrong. And I'm not mad at you either. Shocked that you have a daughter? Yes. Mad? Not exactly. And as for Eponine… I don't know. I know I should be mad at her, even the slightest bit, for leaving. But I can't bring myself up to it. I just want her back."

Enjolras sighed and sat down, his mind racing. There were times when he forgot Gavroche wasn't the bubbly little kid he was when his sisters were still around. He remembered how he acted when he found out they were gone. He was a complete wreck. At first he was in denial, he wouldn't believe his family was gone after he just got them back. Then he was angry, he would break everything and scream at everyone. And soon after that it seemed like pure depression. He cried for ages and refused to talk to anyone but Grantaire and Courfeyrac, who were right messes themselves. It took them months, almost years; to get Gavroche back to the energetic kid he was supposed to be. And even then, Enjolras knew he wasn't all there. No one was, really.

"I know," he said at last, "I feel the same.

Gavroche smiled weakly, "At least we know you're not completely made of marble, eh?"

Enjolras chuckled and ruffled the younger boy's hair; glad he was getting back to his normal self.

"C'mon 'Vroche," he said, putting a hand on his shoulder and led him inside, "I think it's time you and Vivienne had been introduced properly."

Gavroche nodded enthusiastically and entered the café.

.oOo.

Vivienne stood on a chair in between the only two women at the table. She was small enough so that she was barely a head taller than them while they were sitting. The child played with her newly braided hair and giggled as the men tossed jokes around.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder, startling her slightly. She looked up to see Enjolras smiling softly down at her, causing her to grin widely and jump into his arms.

"Hello, papa!" She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck as he balanced her on his hip.

The rest of the people at their table watched the scene while trying, and failing, to hide their shocked but entertained expressions at their Enjolras's loving nature towards the little girl.

"Vivienne," he began, ignoring his friends' looks, "I believe it's time for you to be properly introduced to a friend of mine."

At the queue, Gavroche stepped out hesitantly from behind the taller blonde, looking up at Vivienne and smiling sincerely.

"Hey, Vivienne, I'm Gavroche. And I believe I'm your uncle," he grinned then pulled a face, "that's gonna be hard to get used to."

The seven year old giggled, "I've never had an uncle before."

"And I've never had a niece. Guess we can learn how it works together, eh?" Gavroche smiled cheekily and held out a hand towards her. Vivienne beamed and shook it gratefully then threw her arms around his neck.

"My mama told me hundreds of stories about you," she murmured into his shoulder, "I'm so happy I get to meet you."

She looked back at the rest of the Amis and then up at her father, not letting go of Gavroche, "All of you. I know you didn't expect me, but I hope I'm not being a bother by showing up."

Enjolras smiled lightly and gathered his daughter back into his arms. It had been less than a day and he already never wanted to let go.

"You'll never be a bother, Vivenne," he spoke softly and kissed the top of her head lovingly, the rest of the Amis watched the familial moment happily, "You're one of the Amis now, and you shall be one forever."

I know it's been a thousand and one years. I'm so sorry. I started this when I was fourteen and now I'm almost nineteen. Grown a lot, had a lot of problems. I make no promises about updates, but I never stopped loving this story. Best to all, hope I can still update if you want me to. Sammy xxxx