"I feel like I haven't seen you in days," Eponine says as she snuggles against his chest. "You've been working extra long."
"I know. That's almost over, though, just a few more days." He kisses the top of her head. "I miss you."
"Miss you, too." She kisses his chest, then swirls her tongue around his nipple, biting gently. "Are you too tired...?"
"Nope." He grins and swiftly pushes her onto her back, attacking her neck with his lips. His hands push up her flimsy nightgown as his fingers trail patterns over her stomach. She sits up just enough to let him slip the nightgown over her head and Enjolras moves his lips back to her neck, his hands just barely ghosting over her nipples.
He moves his lips slowly down her chest to her left breast and runs his teeth over the hardened peak, his other hand finding Eponine's other breast and squeezing. Eponine whimpers at the contact, then gasps. "Ow! Ow, stop. Stop!"
Startled, Enjolras quickly pulls away, terrified that he's somehow hurt her. "I'm sorry! What did I do? Are you alright?"
Eponine reaches up and gingerly touches her breasts, wincing. "Ow. Jesus, they hurt. That was awful."
Now he's a little worried. Her breasts are her erogenous zone number one – to have her not want to be touched there is totally unusual. "Why do they hurt? Has that ever happened before?"
"No. That's weird..." She frowns and looks at him. "Try it again, maybe it was just a fluke."
Enjolras raises his eyebrows. "Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously." She grabs his hands and puts them to her chest. "Do your thing."
"'Do my thing?'" He's beginning to think she's insane.
"Squeeze, bite, suck...you know. All the stuff that makes me squirm."
"Well now it just doesn't feel right."
"Goddammit, Enjolras, just fucking do it."
"Fine. Bossy. Can I at least kiss you first?"
"I suppose." She smirks, but leans forward and lightly touches his lips with her own. He deepens the kiss by pulling her closer, running his tongue over her bottom lip and teeth. They kiss for a few minutes, trying to get the mood back, and Eponine reaches down and squeezes him through his pajama bottoms. She begins stroking him and Enjolras quickly feels himself getting hard. He's practically forgotten about before with the way she's touching him, and moves his mouth back to her breasts. He unconsciously bites harder at her nipple as she squeezes him and she yelps again, pushing him roughly away from her.
"Ow. Ow. Okay, it hurts."
Enjolras lets out a ragged huff and glares at her. "Yeah, I gathered that. Are you alright?"
"Yeah..." She frowns and glances around the room for a minute, her eyebrows furrowed. Suddenly, she reaches over and grabs her phone from the nightstand, beginning to type something in.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm Googling 'why do my breasts hurt?' I know it can sometimes happen because of your period but that has literally never happened to me."
"Oh. Smart, I guess..." He shifts uncomfortably, hoping they can get back to their previous activity once this mystery is solved.
"Oh my God." She looks up at him, her eyes wide. "Enj..."
"What? Is it bad? Are you alright?"
"I'm an idiot is what I am. Oh my God."
"Eponine, fucking tell me."
"I think I'm pregnant."
"Come again?"
"That's the first thing it says!"
Enjolras grabs the phone, quickly reading through the article she's pulled up and trying not to get too excited. "Well that could definitely be one reason why they hurt...but it could be something else, too. Are you supposed to start your period soon? We shouldn't get our hopes up over something so small."
"This has never happened to me before, weren't you listening? Ever. I know my body, Enjolras. I know we've only been trying for two months, but maybe it happened!" Eponine is clearly trying to keep the hope from her voice, but is failing miserably. "I'm not supposed to start my period for a week. Do you think a test would pick it up already if I'm pregnant?"
"I have no idea. Do you want me to go buy one?"
"Yes! I have to know now." Eponine grabs her nightgown and pulls it back over her head. "Get every freaking brand they have, I have no idea which one is the best."
"Okay." Enjolras is definitely not aroused anymore as he vaults off the bed and begins to change. "I'll be right back, okay?" He leans over and quickly kisses Eponine, then runs out the door to the car, actually making the tires screech when he pulls out of the driveway.
He goes to the twenty-four hour Walgreens, his heart racing the entire time, and buys every pregnancy test he can get his hands on. Now is not the time to read boxes and compare brands, and he isn't concerned with the amount of money he spends. The clerk looks at him with amusement when he checks out.
"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" she asks curiously.
Enjolras grins sheepishly. "Only a bad thing if she's not."
"Good luck then."
Enjolras grabs the bags and bolts out of the store; in total, he's only been gone for twelve minutes. That's a record. It only takes him four minutes to drive back home (when it usually takes 7.) Pretty good time.
He slows himself down before going into the house; he doesn't want to let Eponine know how much he hopes these tests say positive, just in case they don't, so he wants to play it nonchalant. When he walks into the living room, however, any chance of things staying normal go right out the window. Eponine sits on the couch flanked by Courf and Grantaire, and Combeferre sits in the armchair.
"What the hell?"
"Apparently these manly men heard you peel out of the driveway like a bat out of hell and were a little alarmed. They were worried you'd murdered me in a fit of passion and wanted to check that I was still alive." Eponine rolls her eyes and glances at the three bags that Enjolras carries with him. "Did you buy enough?"
"I think so..." He glares at his friends for a minute, thinking (not for the first time) that he and Eponine really have to find somewhere to live that's a little farther away from them. (Although, if she's pregnant, they'd be great babysitters. Or...not, on second thought. There's no way he's leaving his child in their care, except for maybe 'Ferre.)
"Why so secretive?" Grantaire asks, narrowing his eyes and trying to peer into the bags Enjolras is carrying. "What was so important that you had to make a midnight run?"
"None of your business. Now, as you can see, my wife is fine. Thanks for checking. Now get the hell out."
Enjolras turns his glare on them all, and they reluctantly rise. Just as they're making their way past him, however, Courfeyrac darts out and grabs one of the bags from Enjolras' hands, reaching in and pulling out one of the tests in the blink of an eye.
His eyes widen as he turns to look at Eponine. "Oh my God! You're knocked up!" He points an accusing finger at her and Eponine throws a pillow from the couch at his head.
"If we knew that, would Enjolras be carrying three bags full of pregnancy tests? Use your brain, Courf!"
"Whoa. But you think you might be?" Combeferre asks excitedly. "Is this planned? Are you guys trying? You didn't say anything!"
Enjolras sighs and tosses the bags onto a chair. "Yes. We're trying. And now, I'd really like to find out if we succeeded. And I'd like it to be a private thing..."
Combeferre, absolutely the most rational of the three, begins to usher Courfeyrac and Grantaire out of the house. "Absolutely. Come on, guys, we can't be here for this. But you'll call and tell us? Tonight?"
"Please?" Grantaire echoes, looking at Eponine with puppy dog eyes. "I'm not going to be able to sleep at all now, especially if I don't know."
Eponine looks at Enjolras and shrugs. "Well, it does seem kind of cruel to not tell you guys now. But seriously, don't get your hopes up. I've only been off birth control for like, nine weeks. So even if I am pregnant, it might be too early to even tell. So please don't act disappointed if it's a no." She says it casually, but Enjolras can tell she's going to be very, very disappointed if the results are negative. He wraps an arm around her shoulders and kisses her forehead.
"Of course. Either way, it'll happen eventually," Combeferre says reassuringly. "Good luck!"
He firmly closes the door behind them and Eponine shakes her head in disbelief. "Sometimes I can't decide if we have the best friends in the world or the most idiotic. Or both."
"Both," Enjolras says firmly, and hands Eponine the first bag. "Time to pee on some sticks, babe."
Eponine laughs. "This is so gross, but I'm just going to pee in a cup, then dip them in. Doesn't that seem logical?"
"Well, you've thought it through more than me."
"You're not watching me pee."
"It's not like I haven't seen it before."
"No. Stay here." She pushes on his chest to get him to sit down on the couch and takes the bags from him, going back through their bedroom to the attached bath. She's gone for a few minutes, and Enjolras gets more and more nervous the longer he waits. She comes back out after a few minutes and sits next to him, immediately beginning to tap her leg.
"I left them in there. They all said to wait fifteen minutes. I didn't want to stare at them the whole time."
"Okay. It's 12:32. So, 12:47, we go in and check?"
"Yep."
They sit silently for three minutes, then Eponine bursts out, "Holy shit, Enj. I might be pregnant. Like, going to give birth to an actual human being – our human being – in seven to nine months kind of pregnant."
"Is there another kind?" Enjolras asks with amusement.
She rolls her eyes. "Aren't you nervous?"
"Extremely. Are you?"
"Yes. But I don't want to be too excited. I mean, even if I'm not, I know we'll have a baby eventually, but...I don't know. I just want to now. I want a little holy terror with curly blond hair and blue eyes running around while ranting about the idiocy of the government and U.S. foreign policy and staging protests in the Quarter."
Enjolras' eyes light up as he feels his chest swell with pride at this completely (so far) imaginary child. "You really wouldn't mind that?"
Eponine shrugs, scooting into his lap. "Not so much."
"We have three more minutes to wait," Enjolras announces and rests his forehead against Eponine's shoulder.
"You said you're nervous, but...will you be happy?" Unless he's mistaken, Enjolras hears a little bit of trepidation in Eponine's voice.
He raises his eyes to meet hers. "Eponine, I will be ecstatic. More than. You have no idea. I absolutely want a child with you."
"Okay. Just checking." She smiles and kisses him quickly, then glances at the clock. "Okay. One minute left." She bites her lip and slowly stands up. "I'll go check. Just stay here. If it's a no, I'm gonna need a minute."
"Okay. Call me if you need me." He watches her go into the bedroom and then runs his hands through his hair, suddenly more nervous than he's ever been in his life; way worse, even, than when he spontaneously asked Eponine to marry him, or when he finally grew the balls to tell her he loved her.
In just a few seconds, Eponine comes back into the living room, carrying three of the little sticks in her hands. "Oh my God!" She bursts into tears and thrusts one at him.
Enjolras takes it, a bit startled, and unsure whether she's crying because she's happy or upset. When he looks down and sees the little plus sign, however, his heart stops and his breath catches in his chest. "You're...?" He can't even finish his thought, and she's nodding at him, hands over her mouth. "Oh my God." The room is spinning, and Enjolras leans forward to put his hands on his knees. "Oh my God," he says again.
Eponine laughs and gently rubs his back. "Are you alright?"
"Yes. Yeah. Oh my God." Enjolras quickly straightens and grabs her, lifting her off her feet and holding her tightly to his chest. "I can't believe it."
Eponine is smiling wider than he's ever seen her smile before, and she clings tightly to his neck. "Wow. Wow...for it to even pick it up, I have to be at least two weeks. Probably more..."
Enjolras pulls away and kisses her roughly, mumbling "I love you" against her lips.
He soon feels more tears against his cheeks and pulls away to find her crying harder. He gently cups her face and brushes them away with his thumbs; he's only seen Eponine cry a few times in her life, and even when it's happy tears like now, he still hates it.
"I'm sorry." She leans forward and buries her face in his chest, soaking his t-shirt. "I just...I was really hoping and I'm so relieved. And excited, and happy, and..." she hiccups and clings to him for a few more minutes as he soothingly rubs her back. "I don't cry! Why am I crying?"
Finally, she pulls away, sniffling. "We have to tell Courf, R, and 'Ferre."
"Oh, yeah...I guess I should call them." Enjolras reaches for his cell phone, but Eponine shakes her head.
"Watch and learn."
She walks over to the front door and slowly opens it to reveal the Three Stooges sitting on the front steps, half asleep with their heads resting on their hands. When the door creaks, Grantaire's head quickly straightens and he elbows the other two. He stands up and faces Eponine, giving her a sheepish smile, but quickly frowns when he sees her obviously wet eyes, clearly thinking it's a bad sign.
"So, it's a no...?"
"It's a yes," Eponine grins, then laughs when Grantaire lets of a whoop of joy and scoops her up in his arms. Enjolras is even grinning like a madman, his usually composed and stoic mien too excited and happy to contain himself. Courf claps him delightedly on the back and Combeferre solemnly embraces him.
"Congratulations, daddy," Courf says excitedly. "You guys are gonna be kick-ass parents."
"Really, Enjolras, congratulations. You're gonna be a wonderful father," Combeferre says confidently, and Enjolras suddenly feels tears pricking his own eyes. He's going to be a father. A little human being is going to call him daddy.
Eponine smiles at him knowingly and wraps her arms around his waist again, kissing his neck.
"Group hug. Come on, Enj. Just this once," Courfeyrac pleads, and Enjolras rolls his eyes, but gestures them forward.
"Five seconds. I give you five seconds and then you go home," Enjolras says firmly.
"I'll take it!"
They are enveloped in a brief, but tight hug by their friends, and when Enjolras counts to five, everyone lets go as promised.
"Alright, we're getting out of here now. You need to get your rest, Eponine," Combeferre says firmly. "Go easy on yourself for a while."
"Don't worry, Enjolras will watch her like a hawk. He's gonna be the most over-bearing, over-protective parent you've ever seen."
"I am not. And I'm definitely not the boss of her." Enjolras gently shoves Courfeyrac and Grantaire towards the door. "Now good night, guys."
"Fine, fine...good night." The three guys leave and Enjolras turns back to look at Eponine. He doesn't know what to say he feels so overwhelmed (in a good way.) Finally he holds out his hand and Eponine takes it, tugging him towards the bedroom.
She slips under the covers on her side of the bed and turns to face Enjolras. They still don't speak for a while, until Eponine slowly smiles. "Two years ago we weren't even together and now we're married and pregnant. And we did it in the 'right order.' Proved my dad wrong."
Enjolras laughs. "I told you you were going to be stuck with me from now on."
"I like being stuck with you."
"I like being stuck with you, too."
Shit, guys. I wrote that little one-shot proposal last night and the response was so great, and then I realized I had never read a story about Eponine getting pregnant on purpose and then I realized I knew exactly how it would happen for these two in the whole Comfortable universe...and then I just wanted to write it. Crap.
Now, the question is...is it worth continuing the whole way through? Making a multi-chapter thing out of? (Not huge, but more than just a oneshot.) Let me know if I should just leave it here or if you would like me to continue! Hope you enjoyed!