The Darkest Night Will End

Cafe Musain, Paris, 7:23pm, June 4th, 1832

Cafe Musain, Paris, 7:23 pm, June 4th 1832

It was early, but already the core ABC members were meeting in the back room, beginning to take stock of the guns that had been stored in their lodgings.

"Well, its not ideal, but this could be enough." Combeferre said as the final numbers were counted, and the barrels of powder storage in the cellar of the cafe taken into counts.

"I can only bring extra rounds, nap sacks full of them though." Adrien offered.

"We still have the carbines and pistols at our flat," Enjolras said, "Though it's only one each for the two of us."

"Monteparnasse will be bringing the guns." Jacquelyn insisted.

Courfeyrac sighed, "Are you sure that he's-"

"Parnasse is good for his word." Eponine interrupted.

Before anyone else could say anything, Muischetta appeared at the top of the stairs, "Theres a man here to see you. Tall, dressed in black, very dramatic. Its that one bitch isn't it? He's got some guys with him, Says he comes bearing gifts."

Eponine smirked at Courfeyrac as Jacquelyn chuckled, "Send him up?"

Muischetta nodded, disappearing back downstairs and a few moments later Montparnasse took her place, grinning audaciously, nodding at the group clustered around the table, and then Eponine and Jacquelyn, "Gentlemen, Madsuier and Lady. I've come to make good on a favor."

"Montparnasse." Jacquelyn stood.

"I believe you asked for... these." He snapped his fingers and Babet and Brujon moved forward, dropping a few large trunks each on the floor, "Should outfit all the poor souls that end up here tomorrow."

Fueilly quickly moved forward, opening one of the longest chests to find 10 carbines, impossibly nestled together to fit inside, "Holy shit."

Montparnasse grinned, motioning for Babet and Brujon to leave before moving forward, opening the rest of the chests, "15 flintlock carbines, 10 rifles, 10 pistols, and enough rounds to take out every person down at the bar twice over."

Bahorel let out a low whistle, "That- is not what I expected from you."

He half nodded, moving through the room to glance out the window, "I'd start hiding those, if I were you."

"And why is that?" Enjolras asked, "You call the police on us?"

"No, but guard shifts are tightening, there's more patrols. They can tell something is coming."  He turned back to the people around the table as he spoke.

The room remained silent, all eyes on Montparnasse until he shrugged, "Well, I suppose I'll be going now. One less debt to be repaid madsuier." With that he tipped his hat and headed off.

Immediately the room surged back into noise, and people were rushing all over the place to count everything Montparnasse had brought, and hide them away with everything else.

"You should go after him," Jacquelyn nudged Eponine, "Tell him how you feel now, in case you never see him again. Or at least try to get him to help, lord knows we need everyone we can."

"But-" Eponine protested.

"You and I both know that I may be the only exception to only men on the barricade but you are definitely going to show up, I can almost hear you thinking about it sometimes." Jacquelyn chuckled.

She sighed, "I won't tell him, I mean, whats the point? Hell we could all be dead soon and nothing would change with him!"

"Its better to tell him now, than die with the regret of not telling him. And whats the worst that could happen?"

She took a deep breath, "I hate that you're right."

Eponine hurried down the stairs, picking up her skirt as she ran out into the street, "Parnasse! Parnasse wait!"

The man turned, looking back over the crowd at her, "What is it Eponine?"

She smiled, having caught up with him fully, "Are you going to the barricades when they rise?"

"Never. Dying like a martyr is not something on my agenda." He scoffed.

"We could use your help," She said, "We'll need every man to succeed against the national guard."

Montparnasse raised an eyebrow, already starting to walk on through the crowded streets, "They won't even let you near those barricades. You or Jacquelyn. Enjolras wouldn't put women in danger."

"Jacquelyn made the argument that their not a woman, used it as a loophole to get him to agree. -but that doesn't matter, we'll still need your help." She hurried to keep up with him as she spoke.

"Ponine I care about very few things in this world that aren't myself, and that cause is not one of them." He stuck up his chin.

Eponine sighed, "Well what else do you care about?"

"Nothing you would ever understand, not with your new ideals," Montparnasse said, crossing his arms, "Money, power, staying alive."

"Not anyone else?" She asked, trying to not let desperation creep into her voice.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, "No one else in particular."

She frowned, "No, I didn't expect so."

"And whats that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, nothing," Eponine shook her head, "So you won't be helping us come the morrow?"

"No, I should think not." He huffed.

They walked along in silence all but the sounds of the city around them until at last Montparnasse asked, "Why are you so adamant about this whole barricade nonsense?"

"Because I know that you're a good person Parnasse, and good people fight for what is right."

He stopped dead in his tracks, "I am not a good person. I do not fight for causes that are doomed to fail! I don't dream of an idealist future!"

Eponine bowed her head, "But you do fight for the people that you care about, and you look out for Gavroche, and repay Jacks favors without her asking and- and you can't say its not true because you know it is true!"

"That doesn't mean I want to die a hero's death!" He practically roared, "I'm not a fool Eponine! I am not like you!"

She bit her lip, slowly swallowing before looking back up at him, "Fine then. Yell at me, tell me I'm wrong, I don't care. Even when I try to get you to see me you never will."

"Ponine-"

She held up a hand, shaking her head, already starting to turn away, "No. In case I never see you again, because I have the guts to stand up for what I believe in, know that I love you. It's always you. But it'll never be me."

Montparnasse didn't move, just looked at her strangely, so Eponine began to trudge away, head held high, for she had done what she needed to do, and if he never cared- well, to her it seemed that soon his absence of feelings for her wouldn't matter at all.

She wandered through the streets, a strange sense of peaceful resolution filling her, even as she saw Marius, walking dejectedly down one side of the street.

"What's wrong with you?" She found herself walking in time with him moments later.

"She's gone Ponine shes gone." He sobbed.

Eponine frowned, "Whos gone?"

"Cosette- the girl whose house you showed me too. She's disappeared, the house is empty- all there was was a note with my name- and oh I can't bear to read it!"

"Why don't you go find her?" She sighed.

"Maybe- maybe I should." Marius said.