A/N: And here I present to you the sequel! Yay! I want to thank all of you who read the previous story "No Day But Today" and especially all of you who left reviews and gave me ideas for a title! I did go the route using RENT lyrics once again and I think these truly fit the story. Like the previous one it will not have completely fluid plot line (Fifteen years is hard to cover and I'm not Victor Hugo). Please enjoy and leave your reviews please!

December 28, 1997

"When are they going to let me out of here?" Éponine groaned, "I feel like a fucking science experiment."

"Soon enough," Enjolras replied with a slight smile, he was so glad to have Éponine back and alive.

"Great," Éponine sighed, she still looked like crap but now she was back on her medication and was actually eating again. The last time she had gotten a heroin fix was about five days before she had been found and was in the middle of the beginning stages of withdrawal. It didn't so much as make her ill anymore but she was irritable and had developed a couple of nervous ticks that the doctors said should go away as she got further along in the process.

"'Ponine, I've gotta ask you something..." Enjolras was taking advantage of the fact that they were alone in the room.

"Ask away," Éponine smiled weakly.

"Will you forgive me for being the biggest asshole in the history of mankind?" Enjolras asked.

Éponine giggled, "The biggest asshole in the history of mankind? Well.." She paused thoughtfully, "I suppose-"

"And do you think that maybe someday we could get married?" Enjolras then proceeded to ask.

"Married? Where did that come from out of the blue," Éponine's eyes were wide, "are you serious?"

"I am," Enjolras smiled, "I would give you a ring but I don't have one now... And I was thinking on going back to school and finishing up my law degree-"

Éponine gently pressed her finger to his lips to quite him, "I don't need a ring."

Enjolras batted her hand away, "So you'll marry me?"

"Of course," Éponine smiled.

Right at that moment was when Courfeyrac intruded on that moment, "Uhhh..." His face turned bright red, "what just happened?"

"Nothing!" Éponine and Enjolras replied simultaneously causing them both to laugh.

"Right," Courfeyrac nodded dumbly, "so you're feeling better, right?"

"Yes," Éponine nodded her head, "and I'm so ready to get out of here-"

"Need I remind you that you died briefly?" Marius leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed.

"Yeah, I got better," Eponine pouted.

"The doctor said they wanted to keep you under observation for a week," Marius replied, "if I recall correctly."

"Whatever," Éponine replied with a huff.

Azelma the peered in, "Excuse me?" she tapped Marius on the shoulder, "you think Gav and I could have some time with our sister?" the younger Thenardier had barely any chances to see Éponine ever since she had been taken to the hospital. They hadn't even gotten a chance to speak with her, they certainly had quite a bit of talking to do.

"Sure thing 'Zelma," Marius let her and Gavroche past.

"Hey 'Ponine," Azelma smiled.

"'Zelma!" Éponine exclaimed, "Alex would you mind terribly?"

Enjolras was a bit hesitant at first about leaving Éponine but knew that she wanted to have a chance speak with her siblings. "I'll be back soon, maybe I can sneak in some of your favorite Chinese take out-"

"Do that and Joly might have a stroke," Marius teased as he, Courfeyrac and Enjolras left the Thenardier siblings.

As the door shut behind him Courfeyrac turned on Enjolras, "Okay what just happened before I walked in there?" he folded his arms across his chest.

"Nothing!" Enjolras replied, "'Ponine and I were just talking."

"Right," Courfeyrac grinned, "you two kids are totally up to something."

"We are not," Enjolras glared at Courfeyrac.

"You didn't just propose, did you?" Courfeyrac smirked.

"What?" Enjolras cocked his head, "how the hell could you know that?"

"So you did!" Courfeyrac grinned, "congratulations man!" he playfully hit Enjolras on the shoulder.

"I didn't exactly propose," Enjolras rubbed at the back of his neck, "I just asked if she would someday marry me, that's not exactly asking her to-"

"Alex," Courfeyrac laughed, "by asking Éponine to marry you is the same as proposing, get over it."

"I guess," Enjolras sighed as he glanced back at the door to Éponine's room.

"Well we should give Éponine and her siblings some time to catch up," Marius added.

"Yeah, except she'll probably pass out within an hour," Courfeyrac replied, Éponine would occssionally exhibit bouts of energy like she had just done so only to quickly lose it soon after. "So let's call everyone and get some drinks?" He suggested.

"Why would we do that?" Enjolras knit his brows together.

"You're practically engaged," Courfeyrac smiled, "that's cause enough to celebrate."

"But Éponine," Enjolras paused.

"Will be fine with her siblings," Marius smiled, "I agree with Courfeyrac, we're gonna go and celebrate take your mind off of things and you think about your bright future."

"Fine," Enjolras sighed as he accompanied his friends out of the hospital.
xxxxxx

January 1, 1998

"So Cosette told me that you told Marius you are going to finish your law degree and take the bar?" Musichetta asked Enjolras as they were getting Éponine ready to leave the hospital.

"Yeah," Enjolras shrugged.

"That's good, thought about where you might work?" Musichetta asked.

"I've still got over year to worry about that," Enjolras replied, "in the mean time I'll probably doing the odd job here or there at a bookstore or somehing-"

"Well I don't know if you're interested but maybe we could work together?" Musichetta suggested.

Enjolras had been caught off guard, "What, you and me have a law practice?"

"Just a thought," Musichetta shrugged.

"Who would come to two inexperienced lawyers?" Enjolras asked.

"Those who don't have anyone else," Musichetta smiled, "isn't that what you always wanted to do? Fight for the underdog?"

Musichetta's comment made Enjolras smile, "I like the way you think."

"Thank you," Musichetta grinned as they headed outside, "Now I'll take care of the taxi," she decided, "not gonna let you and 'Ponine traipse all the way back through the snow and cold."

"'Chetta, you don't have to do that," Enjolras replied.

"Because you can totally pay for a taxi?" Musichetta raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, maybe we can't but-"

"Come on, I'm sure 'Ponine is itching to get out of here," Musichetta smiled, "you know I don't think I told you how glad I am you're back together."

"Yeah," Enjolras nodded, "god I can't believe how awful I was-"

"Don't beat yourself up about it," Musichetta gently touched him on the shoulder, "we all make mistakes-"

Enjolras have Musichetta a knowing look.

"Admittedly yours were bigger than most people," Musichetta added, "but that's in the past and from what I can see I can hardly say that Éponine hates you."

"I know it's just," Enjolras sighed.

"I'm gonna hail a cab, you go get 'Ponine and we'll get you on your way, alright?" Musichetta smiled.

Enjolras just nodded and went to go where Éponine sat in a wheelchair with a nurse. She had been frustrated that morning when they wouldn't let her walk by herself even though she was being discharged, she complained that her bones were sore from disuse.

"Hey," Enjolras walked over to her, "ready to go home?"

"Yes!" Éponine smiled, "please!"

Enjolras smiled as he took over for the nurse and wheeled her to the door. Musichetta waved to them from where she stood next to a taxi.

"I think I can take it from here," Éponine slowly rose from the wheelchair, "I feel like a 90 year old man..."

"Maybe you should just let me get you to the taxi?" Enjolras suggested.

Éponine sighed, "Maybe you're right." She then sat back down in the wheelchair as they went to brave the outdoors.

Once in the taxi Éponine lay her head on Enjolras shoulder, five minutes into the drive she was fast asleep. Éponine blamed the large amount of medications she was now on to accompany her usual medications for coping with HIV, but it was clear that while she seemed out of danger for now she should not strain herself too much.

Éponine only awoke when they reached the loft, Enjolras helped her out of the cab and all the way up the stairs to the loft. During her stay at the hospital Éponine had agreed to stay in the loft with the boys while she recovered. But she had also considered making to move permanent as well.

She slowly made her way to the couch and sat down letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank god I'm not trapped in that laboratory anymore" Éponine smiled.

"I could hardly call the hospital a laboratory," Enjolras smirked.

"You weren't hooked up to all those machines and wires," Éponine shivered.

"But you are home now," Enjolras then sat beside her, "and I'm glad to have you back."

"I'm glad to be back too," Éponine leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, she the nuzzled up against him as he wrapped his arms around her.

Enjolras sighed with relief as he playfully tangled his fingers in Éponine's long curls that trailed down her back.

"Enjolras you kinda have a visitor," Marius stood awkwardly in the door, "I tried to explain the situation but she-"

"Please let me see my son," A woman with blonde hair stood behind Marius.

"Mom?" Enjolras turned around and Éponine sat up as well, "what are you doing here?"

"I came to see my son of course," his mother smiled, "although your father still won't let up... He is so stubborn that way, and I know it's been almost two years since we came to visit you after Rory..." His mother paused, "how have you been doing? Have you been well?" she sat down in the chair across from Éponine and Enjolras, "who is this lovely young woman?"

Éponine blinked a couple of times in confusion, "Uhhhh... I'm Éponine Thenardier I'm Alex's girlfri-"

"Mom, this is my fiancée," Enjolras replied correcting Éponine.

A smile spread across his mother's face and her eyes lit up, "Well I'll be!" she laughed slightly, "Lydia Enjolras, Alex's mother," she the proceeded to introduce yourself. "Poor thing you look completely exhausted-"

"Well Éponine just got discharged from the hospital today," Enjolras spoke up.

"Oh?" Lydia looked at her in confusion.

"'Ponine also has HIV," Enjolras explained.

Éponine carefully watched the expression on Enjolras' mother's face, and instead of contorting in disgust she nodded politely.

"Well I do hope that you recover swiftly," Lydia Enjolras replied.

"Thanks Mrs-" Éponine began.

"Call me Lydia, darling," Lydia Enjolras smiled.

"Lydia," Éponine replied with the slight nod of her head.

"Now Alexandre I want you to take good care of your fiancée," Lydia started in on her son, "I like this girl and I want you to keep her."

Enjolras took Éponine's hand in his, "Don't worry mom I will."

"Then I highly recommend you clean this pigsty you call an apartment," Lydia teased.

"Mom..." Enjolras groaned.

"Alex I'm just giving you some pointers, that is all," Lydia continued to smile, "so when is the big day?"

"I don't know," Enjolras shrugged, "but we don't want a big ceremony or anything like that."

"Well you must let me know, perhaps I'll twist your father's arm," Lydia replied thoughtfully.

"Are you sure the old man would approve?" Enjolras asked.

"Alexandre, your father may be a stick in the mud sometimes but I'm sure that he would like to see his son get married off to such a lovely girl," Lydia's eyes sparkled.

Éponine blushed slightly at the compliment, she then yawned, "I'm sorry," she apologized.

"Nothing to apologize for," Lydia turned to Éponine, "you just go an get some rest."

Éponine just nodded before dragging herself off to Enjolras' room.

"So any reason you chose to visit?" Enjolras started now that Éponine had departed.

"I told you I wanted to see you," Lydia replied.

"Mom it's been two years," Enjolras replied, "you could have visited at any time but you chose now."

"You don't know how hard it is for parent to lose a child," Lydia sighed, "Your father was furious and practically blamed you for Rory-"

"Mom I know that," Enjolras cut her off, "but that doesn't explain why you are here."

"Some of that sentiment rubbed off on me," Lydia admitted, "I was angry for a long time, but all I want is for you to forgive me, to forgive me for not being there for you." Lydia withdrew a Kleenex from her purse and dabbed at her eyes, "please?"

Enjolras sighed, "I was never angry with you mom," this was true, his biggest qualms had been with his father.

"Really?" Lydia pushed a lock of blonde hair from her face.

"Yes," Enjolras took her hands in his.

"Very well," Lydia smiled slightly, "so how have you been these last two years? What have you been doing?"

Enjolras sighed, that was all a rather long story, "A lot happened mom... A lot happened."

"I see, perhaps a story for another time?" Lydia understood, "perhaps I should come back when you aren't worrying about your fiancee."

"Mom," Enjolras sighed, "you came all the way out here-"

"Alex it's no problem," Lydia smiled, "You are worried about Éponine, go and take care of her, I can always come back."

Enjolras nodded his head in response to her.

"Well when I come to visit again I want to take you and your Eponine out to dinner," Lydia smiled.

"Mom..."

"No, no I insist!" Lydia laughed, "like I said maybe I can twist your father's arm."

"Mom..." Enjolras sighed once again.

"I'm sorry for intruding at this time," Lydia looked up at him, "I'll make sure to call next time, be good."

"Yes Mother," Enjolras replied with a smile.

"Goodbye Alex," Lydia pulled him close and kissed him on the cheek.

Enjolras blushed slightly, "Bye Mom."

Lydia Enjolras departed from the loft and Marius approached his friend, "Well that was interesting."

"Were you really just standing there the entire time?" Enjolras looked up at Marius.

"What else was I supposed to do?" Marius shrugged slightly, "anyway I believe your lady love awaits."

Enjolras smiled as he then withdrew to his room, Éponine was wrapped up in the blankets asleep. Enjolras sat down on the bed next to her and shifted slightly, she looked so peaceful and relaxed, more so than she ever did in the hospital.