*Note: I do not own any of these names and I do not own Les Misérables, Victor Hugo does. However I wish I owned it.
Chapter Eight – The Wedding: part one
3 months later on the 6th of September
Éponines's POV
It was 8 am when I woke up.
''I'm getting married to the most wonderful man ever!'' I thought while getting out of my bed.
I am glad that I can walk again.
*start of the flashback*
4th of July, 10 am
When I woke up I saw Joly looking at me.
''My god. He is so beautiful. Not only on the outside, but also on the inside!'' I thought while pulling him closer to give him a kiss.
''What are we going to do today?'' Joly asked.
''Joly, I want to try to walk again. You've been carrying me around for almost a month now and I have to seek out my wedding dress soon.'' I said.
He smiled from ear to ear and said ''That's amazing, dear! Let me get myself ready. I shall give you a bowl of water, 2 towels and clothes so you can get ready too.''.
Joly came back in after I washed myself and he helped me to put my dress on.
''Joly, you know you don't have to help me with getting dressed.'' I said to him while he was tying the laces of my dress.
''I know that, but I thought I'd just help you.'' he said. I could hear that he was smiling.
After Joly finished tying the laces he helped me to the edge of the bed.
''Now try to stand up slowly.'' he said and I stood up slowly. I smiled from ear to ear.
He grabbed me by the waist and gave me a kiss.
''Now try to walk.'' he said and he held me while I walked, but all of a sudden he let me go and I continued walking.
''SEE I CAN WALK! I CAN WALK!'' I shouted happily and Joly started laughing.
When I turned around I saw Joly standing right behind me.
He leaned forward and gave me a kiss.
''Joly, now the biggest challenge of all: walking up and down the stairs.'' I said and he looked worried.
''Are you sure you want to do that?'' he said and I nodded.
''Alright.'' he said and we walked to the stairs.
''I am going down first and then when I am downstairs you can come downstairs. I'll catch you when you fall.'' he said and he walked downstairs.
As soon as he was downstairs I set my foot down on the first step. I managed to walk down the stairs without falling.
Joly picked me up when I set my foot on the ground and gave me the biggest kiss ever.
''Now you can try to walk upstairs. When you are upstairs I will come upstairs to carry you downstairs again because you've already walked enough.'' he said.
I managed to walk upstairs without falling and as Joly promised he came upstairs, picked me up and carried me downstairs.
*end of the flashback*
That was one of the happiest moments in my life.
''I can't wait to see Joly today, but first I have to wake Cosette.'' I thought.
Cosette has slept here because she is helping me to get ready for the wedding,
Joly has spent the night at Marius and Cosette their house.
Cosette opened the door when I reached the guestroom.
''I thought I already heard you so I was just coming to check up on you.'' she said.
I laughed and said ''You didn't have to, Cosette.''.
''Let's get you ready!'' Cosette said and set me down in a chair and started working on my hair.
*2 hours later at 10.10 am*
''I look beautiful, Cosette. Thank you so much for helping me!'' I said while giving her a hug.
''It was no problem, Éponine. That's what friends do for each other right?'' she said.
''Yes, I guess so. I shall leave you alone now so you can get ready.'' I said and I left her room while closing the door behind me.
*1 hour later at 11.12 am*
I was downstairs when Cosette emerged from the guest room.
''You look stunning, Cosette.'' I told her.
''Thank you Éponine. Now we have to go outside because I saw our carriage waiting.'' she said.
*20 minutes later at 11.35 am at the church*
I was nervously pacing in the front room of the church.
''Éponine, I take it that you are nervous.'' Cosette's father, monsieur Fauchelevant, said laughing.
He is giving me away.
I know he is not my real father, but he has been like a father for me since I met him.
''I am very nervous monsieur. What if I fall while walking down the aisle?'' I said to him.
He laughed and said ''Don't worry about that. I'll catch you.''.
I laughed and said ''Thank you monsieur.''.
*10 minutes later at 11.50 am*
A door openend and the priest came into the room.
''Bonjour monsieur Fauchelevant and mademoiselle Thenardier.'' he said.
''Bonjour monsieur.'' I said.
He laid a hand on my arm and said ''Don't be nervous mademoiselle Thenardier. Everything will be alright.''.
''How did he know that I am nervous?'' I thought.
Soon enough the doors were opened and Cosette's father and I were walking down the aisle to Joly.
I couldn't take my eyes of him. He was looking so beautiful.
When monsieur Fauchelevant and I reached Joly he laid my hand in Joly's hand.
''We are gathered here today to take part in the most time-honored celebration of the human family, uniting a man and a woman in marriage.'' the priest began.
''I, Alain Aime Joly, take you Éponine Thenardier to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.'' Joly repeated after the priest.
I was crying now.
''Repeat after me.'' the priest said to me.
''I, Éponine Thenardier, take you Alain Aime Joly to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.'' I repeated after him.
We both said ''I do.'' and then placed the rings around each other's fingers.
''I now pronounce you sir and madame Joly. You may now kiss each other.'' The priest said.
Joly lifted the veil of my head and kissed me with so much passion that we almost fell.
