Author's Note: Hello guyIs! It's been a very long while. My life kind of got a little hectic. This story has been on the back of my mind lately, and I feel like I owe it to myself to give it, and you, an ending. So, here we go ever onward with the story. Let me know what you think; send me a message if you have any specific requests. Thanks!
Chapter 12: Eponine
My eyelids flickered open and the world around me swirled as the room came into focus. A dull pain throbbed in my abdomen, and I could barely make out the face of a very concerned Joly crouching over me. "Enjolras?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "The baby." I felt like I was wading through gelatin as I tried to gather a coherent thought. The dizzy feeling I'd had when my eyes had first opened had yet to subside.
"He's here, Eponine." I heard the distorted voice but couldn't determine where it was coming from. I felt a soft squeeze on my hand and felt a small amount of comfort.
"I'm here, Eponine." He said as he squeezed my hand again.
I felt the tears slipping down my cheeks. "I'm sorry, Enjolras." I said, my voice still shaky. I looked up; he was crouched over me with Joly. "I'm sorry."
Before he could reply, Joly cut in. "Eponine, I need you to try to sit up." I felt his hand snake under my back and lift me upward as I sat up. I still felt kind of groggy as he got me into an upright position.
I looked around, and saw everyone in the suits and dresses. Cosette was standing with her head in her hands, sobbing as Marius tried to comfort her. I realized that I had done it after all; I had ruined the wedding. "What happened?" I asked softly.
"You feinted, Ep." Enjolras said. "Joly said it was probably due to hunger, dehydration, and the immense amount of stress that you're putting on yourself." He looked at me sternly, but despite his hardened look I could see the genuine worry and fear in his eyes as he scanned my face.
"I ruined the wedding." I said softly, looking over at Cosette again. "Marius must be furious with me." The concern that Marius might be angry was overwhelming. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt Marius in any way.
"Marius will survive." Joly said bluntly. "Do you think you're okay to stand? We need to get some food and water in you. Enjolras, please go get her something to eat. There is a wide selection at the table in the reception hall."
I could see the reluctance in his face, but he nodded to Joly and squeezed my hand once more before standing up. I watched as he walked toward the reception hall, looking as much like a dignified Apollo as ever. "He really does care for you, you know." Joly said as soon as he was out of earshot, looking at me.
"Joly," I replied, "Please don't. I can't." My voice broke as the last word fell from my lips.
"I know." He answered softly as Enjolras began walking back toward us, a bright shiny apple in one hand and a glass of water in the other.
He sat back down next to me, holding out his findings. "Eat, please Eponine." He said, and I heard the desperation in his voice. The thought of eating the apple made my stomach turn, but I couldn't say no to him as he stared at me with his eyes filled with alarm.
As I slowly nibbled on the apple, Joly made arrangements for Enjolras to take me back home. "You can't go alone just to be safe, and Enjolras volunteered." He whispered in my ear as he helped me stand up. "Accept the help Eponine. You need it."
I nodded as he passed me on to Enjolras. "Ready?" he asked softly, wrapping his arm tenderly around my waist to help me.
We walked out of the reception into the streets of Paris. I knew his flat wasn't far from here, which got me thinking about his previous request. "I've been thinking," I said softly. "About you asking me to move in with you." I stopped walking and he turned to face me. "I'd like to do it. I think that it'd be good for the baby to at least be under the same roof. Also, then you could be as involved as you'd like."
"Eponine-" he said softly before I cut him off.
"Also. I lied to you, yesterday." I said bluntly. "I lied when I said that I didn't feel anything when you kissed me." I stared at my hands to avoid looking at him. "I lied when I said I don't want it to happen again. I-I lied when I said I don't want to be with you."
Before another word could leave my lips, his were covering mine. I felt his knuckles gently stroking my cheek as he pulled me closer to him. I wanted to melt into the warmth of his body as his other hand traveled slowly up my back and tangled in my hair. I pulled away only when I needed to catch my breath.
"Enj. I still have feelings for Marius. It's not fair to you. I want this; I want you. But I can't. I can't want you. I can't need you. I can't fall in love with you, Enjolras. Not while I have feelings for Marius." I said, my voice breaking. "It's not fair to you."
"I know you have feelings for Marius, Eponine." He said softly, trailing his knuckles along my jaw. "But, you know as well as I do that there is no future for you with Marius. I'm standing here in front of you, and I want you Eponine. I want nothing more than to give us a chance, not only for our baby but for our happiness as well. We won't tell anyone that doesn't absolutely need to know about this. We can take it as slow as you'd like. We can start by just being flat-mates, but know this. I'm falling in love with you, Eponine, and I'm not going to give up on something that could be incredibly great because of fear." He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine again, this time slowly.
"Love?" I asked around his lips before he pulled away.
"Yes," He said, lifting my hand to his lips before he trailing his hand down to my fingertips where his fingers entwined with mine. "I love you Eponine. Please let me take care of you and our baby."
Nerves jumped into my stomach. "I can't say that back, Enjolras." I said firmly.
"I know." He said beginning to walk again. "You don't have to. All I'm asking is that you put your fears and doubts aside and give this a chance."
I took a deep breath, and against every thought screaming in my head, I whispered back, "Okay. Let's give us a chance." I knew that it was probably a bad idea, and every thought that I had was supporting the idea that this could ruin both of our lives. However, as soon as I said yes, I felt a small wave of happiness course through all the doubts in my mind. "But we have to keep this between you and me for now."
"Of course," he said back. "Now let's get you back to your old flat so you can tell your roommate that you're moving out." He said turning back and smiling at me. In this moment, he looked less like a God carved from stone and more like a little kid getting his favorite lollipop in a candy store. The playful look in his eyes was one that I'd rarely seen and one that made every shred of doubt leave my mind.
WELL?! What do you think!? Let me know! I will start working on the next chapter immediately! Thanks!
