Four

It was the night Eponine and Enjolras were planning to tell their friends about Eponine's pregnancy. They moved a smaller table over for the kids to eat at, and they made sure they set enough places for all eight adults at the main table.

They had told the twins about the baby the day before. Evangeline was very excited and enthusiastic. Luc, however, had been oddly quiet since he was told the news.

Dinner was cooking so Eponine decided to check on her kids and make sure they were getting ready. Evangeline was dressed and brushing her hair. Luc had received a smaller cravat to wear because he'd wanted to be just like his father, and now he was struggling to tie it correctly. Eponine was about to help him when she realized she didn't really know what she was doing either.

"Adrian," she called.

He appeared in the doorway moments later, "Yes?"

"Could you tie Luc's cravat please? I was going to do it, but I don't know how either."

"Of course," he replied, kneeling in front of his son to tie it.

Eponine pinned Evangeline's dark hair back before hurrying back to the kitchen since they'd left the cooking unattended. Enjolras joined her, and soon their friends began to arrive. Everyone had a wonderful time at dinner. For Grantaire and Adelaide, it was a good distraction from their recent heartbreak. After everyone was finished eating, Enjolras and Eponine decided it was time to tell their friends.

She squeezed Enjolras's hand, "Well, we wanted to invite everyone over for dinner because we have something to tell you. We're expecting," she smiled.

Adelaide was vaguely aware of the chorus of congratulations around her, but she could feel her world shutting down. Her breaths were shorter and a huge lump was quickly settling in her throat. She didn't understand how Eponine and Enjolras could be expecting their third child when she still didn't have a baby. They had been married only a few months longer than she and Grantaire. Adelaide knew the way she was reacting was ridiculous, but the irrational, emotional side of her mind told her that it just wasn't fair.

"Excuse me," she rasped, jumping up from the table and fleeing the room.

The table fell silent, and Eponine's heart sank. Grantaire stood to go after her, but Eponine stopped him.

"I'll go talk to her," she said quietly.

She gave Enjolras's hand one last squeeze before following Adelaide down the hallway. She heard cries coming from behind the bathroom door, and Eponine knocked gently.

"Addy, it's 'Ponine. Can I come in?"

There was no answer, so Eponine tried the doorknob and found it unlocked. She opened the door slowly to see Adelaide sitting on the floor sobbing, her knees pulled up to her chest. Eponine shut the door behind her and sat down by her "sister-in-law."

"I'm sorry, Addy."

Adelaide shook her head and wiped her tears away, "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacted like that."

"Your reaction was completely understandable. You don't need to apologize for anything."

"I'm happy for you. I really am. I just..."

Adelaide sighed. Neither she nor Grantaire had told anyone about what had happened a few days earlier.

"Last week, I was feeling weird, and after thinking about it, I thought I was pregnant. Grantaire and I were so sure, almost completely certain. But then a few days ago...well, I was never actually pregnant to begin with," she explained, more tears staining her cheeks.

Eponine wrapped her arms around the other woman, "Oh, Addy, if I had only known...I am so, so sorry. Are you OK?"

"As well as I can be I suppose. Still trying to sort some things out, as you can see," she answered, trying to laugh slightly.

"Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, other than your husband, I'm always here for you," Eponine offered.

Adelaide smiled kindly, "'Ponine, I don't really want to go back out there."

"You have to come out eventually. Everything will be fine. Take some time to clean up and calm down. I'll see you in a moment."

Adelaide nodded and Eponine left her alone. A few minutes later, Adelaide emerged from the bathroom to find the house empty except for the Enjolras family and Grantaire. She suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

"I didn't mean to run everyone off," she said quietly.

Grantaire enveloped her in a hug, "You didn't run them off. I explained the situation, and they decided to go home, thinking you probably didn't want or need an audience right now."

She pulled free from her husband's grasp and turned to Enjolras and Eponine.

"I'm really, truly sorry for that. I guess I just got overwhelmed with everything that's been going on," she apologized.

Enjolras wrapped his arms around his "sister."

"Don't apologize. It was completely understandable."

Eponine saw Luc yawn sleepily.

"I think it's time for bed for the little ones," she smiled.

Luc complained, but took his mother's hand willingly. Evangeline ran up to Grantaire.

"Uncle Grant, will you read us a story?" she asked.

"Well I don't see why not," he replied, sweeping the girl into his arms.

Eponine and Grantaire went to put the twins in bed. Once they were in their pajamas, a story was read, and they were all tucked in, Eponine quietly shut the door.

"I know it's probably a bad time, but I was wondering if you'd talked to Addy about hiring some help," Eponine said quietly.

"Actually, yes and she agreed. It might be good to bring it up to change the topic."

They walked back into the living room and sat before Grantaire announced, "Addy, meet our new bakery employee!"

"I'm so happy you decided you wanted the job!" Adelaide smiled.

"I am curious, though. How did he convince you to hire? Grant made it sound like it was going to be an impossible feat," Eponine laughed.

Grantaire raised his eyebrows, "Oh, I have my ways..."

Adelaide blushed profusely, and Enjolras tried to think about anything other than what his "sister" and friend do in their spare time.

Adelaide quickly tried to change the subject, "Anyway, why don't you start in a month? I've got some housekeeping business to do, so to speak, and everything should be taken care of by then."

"Sounds fantastic," Eponine smiled.

0000

A few days later, Grantaire sent Adelaide home early yet again after she almost had a breakdown. He knew she was having a hard time, and the stress of everything was getting to her. He was returning home from work with a surprise, and he hoped she liked it.

Adelaide emerged from the bedroom when she heard the door open, but immediately stopped when she saw the scruffy, scrawny dog standing in the living area.

"Um, Grant, why is there a dog in our house?"

Grantaire laughed and sat on the couch so he could pet the dog.

"Well, I found him snooping around behind the bakery, and he looked like he could use some food, a good bath, and some love. Also, I figured he'd be a good distraction for us. Are you OK with it?"

Adelaide slowly walked over to the couch and sat with her husband. The dog nudged her hand before licking it, and she scratched behind his ears.

"He seems friendly, and I've never had a pet before," she said thoughtfully, "What would we name him?"

Grantaire smiled, "You choose."

Adelaide thought for a moment before finally deciding, "How about Monèteau? It's the town where Adrian and I grew up."

"Welcome to the family, Monèteau," Grantaire laughed.

After a good cleaning, some table scraps, and a game of fetch, Monèteau curled up by the fire. Adelaide and Grantaire were settled in on the sofa, watching the fire dance.

"I love you, Grant," Adelaide sighed softly.

Grantaire kissed the top of her head, "I love you. Very much so."

0000

When Enjolras and the twins walked into the house on Friday afternoon, Eponine knew something wasn't right because she could hear Enjolras talking incessantly in what she'd labeled as his stern voice. Evangeline walked into the kitchen, an annoyed look on her little five-year-old face.

"What wrong, Evie?"

"Luc got in trouble at school, and Papa's been talking in his stern voice the whole way home," she sighed.

Oh no, Eponine thought.

She kissed Evangeline on the head before going to the living room where her husband was still lecturing Luc.

"What's going on?" she asked, her hands on her hips.

Enjolras looked at Luc sharply, "Go to your room. We'll continue this in a moment."

Luc walked to his room, sulking.

"Well?" Eponine asked again.

"He got into trouble today at school. He hid at lunch, and Nicolas couldn't find him anywhere. Nicolas started to panic, so he pulled me out of class. Even Evangeline didn't know where he was. He finally came out after I started panicking. He was right under our noses, and he heard us shouting for him."

"How did 'Ferre punish him?"

Enjolras sighed, "He has to stay after school on Monday with a couple of other kids. It's my turn to stay after with them, so we'll be home about an hour later than normal. I also made him apologize to 'Ferre."

Eponine placed a hand on his shoulder, "I'll go talk to him. You won't get through to him. You're too much alike."

She kissed him and told him to relax before going to the twins' room. She found Luc sitting on the bed, fiddling with the hem of his pants leg. She sat down beside him.

"Do you want to tell me what happened today?"

Luc didn't answer.

"Well, your father already told me what happened, but I was going to give you a chance to tell me yourself. I'm not going to give you a long lecture because I know your father already has, but we do need to talk about it. Will you talk with me?" she asked gently.

Luc nodded and looked up at his mother.

"Why did you hide?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. I thought it sounded fun, I guess. I was going to come out, but when I heard them yelling, I knew they were mad. I didn't know it would cause this much trouble," he sniffed.

Eponine wrapped her arm around his shoulders, "Well, it's very good that you apologized to Uncle 'Ferre, but you still have to suffer the consequences for what you've done. I know you have to stay after school Monday. No dessert tonight, okay? I also think you need to apologize to your father. Does that sound fair?"

"Yes, Mama," he said.

She kissed his head, "Is there anything else you want to talk about?"

Luc thought for a moment before speaking, "Why are you and Papa having another baby?"

The question caught Eponine off guard, "What do you mean, Luc?"

"Are you tired of me and Evie?"

Eponine was so upset that her son would think that. She pulled him into her arms.

"Oh no, Luc. We could never be tired of you or your sister. We love you both very, very, much. And we're also going to love the new baby very much as well. Papa and I are having a baby because we want you and Evie to grow up in a big family that's full of love. We want you to have other siblings to grow up with and play with. We can't wait to introduce the baby to you and your sister. You'll be a very big help as well. I might be really busy with the baby at first, so you'll be a big help to Papa and to me. If it's a boy, you can teach him all of your games and everything else little boys should know. If it's a little girl, you get to protect her and watch out for her, just like Papa does for Aunt Addy. You'll like that, won't you?"

He nodded, "So you won't forget about us?"

"Never. We'll love all of you. We'll just share our love," she explained.

"Do you have any siblings, Mama?" the little boy asked.

"Yes, and you and Evie are named after them. I had a little sister named Azelma, and her middle name was Belle, just like Evie. You're named after my little brother Gavroche. His middle name was Luc."

"Will we ever meet them?"

Eponine looked at her son sadly, "Not for a very long time, Luc. They're in heaven, but you'll meet them when you get there."

That seemed to cure Luc's curiosity, and the two walked back to the living area. Luc went over to Enjolras who was sitting in a chair, boots kicked off and cravat loosened.

"I'm sorry for getting in trouble today, Papa," the little boy said.

Enjolras lifted him onto his lap, "It's alright. You just scared Uncle 'Ferre and I very much, and we don't want you to do that ever again," Enjolras said, this time not in his stern voice.

They had a wonderful and relaxing weekend together. However, the Enjolras family didn't notice the shadowy figure watching them all weekend long.

Author's Note: I love being on Christmas break. I get so much writing done! Thanks for the support for the last chapter.

What are your thoughts on this chapter? Who might this shadowy figure be? Hmmm…

So, I'm putting the gender of the newest Enjolras baby to a vote. Tell me if you want it to be a baby girl or baby boy in a review! You have PLENTY of chapters until the baby's birth, so you have lots of time and opportunities to vote!

Thanks again for reading, and I look forward to releasing the next chapter soon!

~loislane16