Author's Note: Hello! I told you guys that I was working on an ending to this story, and I'm trying to get these chapters up sooner rather than later. I want to do these characters justice. Let me know what you think of this chapter. Thanks!

Chapter 13: EPONINE

"Eponine!" Enjolras' scolding voice broke the silence in the flat as I dropped another box into the living space. "You shouldn't be lifting boxes; the strain isn't good for the baby!"

"Oh Enjolras," I said sighing, brushing a strand of hair out of my eyes. "I told you that I'm fine. The baby is fine." It had been a few weeks since I'd first agreed to move into his flat with him, and he'd made sure to make sure there was plenty of space for what little stuff I did have. "Thank you," I noted. "I know you still had some boxes from when you moved in here a couple of months ago, so I appreciate you making space for my things. There are only a few boxes left downstairs."

"You're welcome," he answered crossing the room and planting a sloppy kiss on my sweaty forehead. "I'll go get them, you should sit down and rest." Before I could open my mouth to protest, he added, "Just do it Eponine. You've brought up your fair share of them."

A small smile flirted with the corners of my mouth as I watched him walk out of the front door. The door clicked quietly behind him as it closed and I began to think. He'd been so compliant with my wish to keep the change in our relationship as quiet as possible, and he'd agreed to keep the others out of the moving fiasco. When he'd announced that I was moving into his flat so that he could keep an eye on me and help prepare for the baby's arrival no one had questioned it, and he'd very tactfully added that we wouldn't need any help.

"Eponine." His voice shook me out of my thoughts as he plopped another box next to the growing stack. "Someone is here to see you," he said, his voice growing softer with each word that fell from his lips.

"Who-?" I asked as he appeared through the door before the words could come out. "Marius. You're back."

"Yeah, we're both back. Cosette asked me to speak to you. Imagine my surprise when the others told me that you were moving into his flat?" He said, his voice full of contempt. I hadn't spoken to Marius since the day he was supposed to marry Cosette. Because of what happened at the wedding, they had to postpone it. They ended up marrying on what was supposed to be their honeymoon, and I knew that they were both furious with me for ruining what was supposed to be their big day.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," I said, struggling to find the right words as my eyes traveled over his face. "I didn't know how to reach you and- " he held up a hand to cut me off.

"I don't want to hear it, Eponine. I came for one reason and one reason only." The look he gave me was colder than ice, and my stomach jumped into my throat for fear of the next words out of his mouth. I'd never seen a look of such chilling abhorrence come from him, especially directed at me. "I wanted to tell you that we think it would be best if you just stayed away from us from now on. Every time Cosette looks at you, she thinks of the wedding that you ruined. I can't say that I blame her. And the more that we think about it the more we think you did it on purpose."

I stared at him in disbelief, unable to find words to respond to the ones that had just come out of his mouth. "On p-purpose?" I asked, my voice barely audible. I felt the familiar sting of tears welling up in my eyes; I fought to keep them at bay. "Why on Earth would I purposefully ruin your wedding?"

"Because you have feelings for me!" He said, throwing his hands up in the air dramatically.

"You know?" Enjolras chimed in, the confusion clear in his voice as he stepped up behind me.

A cruel look that I'd never seen before crossed over Marius' face. "I've always known. But how could I ever reciprocate those feelings toward you."

His words stung, and very suddenly it felt like someone was sitting on my chest. I was unable to breathe, and I couldn't believe what he'd just said to me. He'd known all along; every time I'd bent to one of his requests he knew that I was doing so because of my feelings for him and he used it to his advantage. He'd never seen me as even a friend, just someone he could take advantage of. He never saw me as anything more than a gutter rat.

"Get out." The force of Enjolras' voice startled me. "Now." I had never seen such fury in his eyes as he maneuvered Marius toward the door. "You do not get to speak to her like that. Not in her new home, not ever. Do you understand me?" Once Marius was back in the hallway, a dumbfounded look across her face. "You have your wish, but If I so much as see you at the Café Musain I will escort you out myself. The others will back me up after they've heard of the way that you've treated Eponine." The door shut forcefully as Enjolras closed it loudly. "Are you okay?" He asked turning to me, his voice softer now. All the anger washed away from his face and it was replaced with concern.

Unable to muster any words, I shook my head silently. "No," I answered definitively. "I'm going to go to the café," I said, my voice quiet. "They have extra shifts, and they could use the help. It will get my mind off of things."

"Eponine-" he said, taking my hand in his gently. "What he said doesn't matter. You can stay here, start unpacking your things. I can make lunch and we can start getting you settled. I cleared space for your things, but we still need to figure out what to do with the baby's things."

I looked up at him with my tear-filled eyes. "What did I do to deserve someone as sweet as you." I slowly reached up and cupped his face in my hand. "Thank you Enjolras." I said softly. I turned to the box on top of the small stack that had accumulated in front of his sofa. "I guess I'll start unpacking then." I turned to walk to the bedroom where we had set up my small bedframe. "Oh, and the baby doesn't have any things." I said, feeling slightly embarrassed that I had yet to get anything to prepare for the baby's arrival.

"The baby has no things?" he repeated following me into the bedroom. "Nothing at all?" He sighed and dragged his fingers through his hair. "Well, I guess it's time that we make the trip to see my mother."

"Your mother?" I asked cutting him off, feeling a slight panic rising in my throat. "Why-why-why would we go see your mother?"

"She still has a lot of the baby things that I used as an infant. We can get a bassinet and some baby clothes. That way we'll at least have a place for the baby to sleep and something for him to wear." At my confused stare he added, "I kind of feel like it's a boy."

"And I have to come along?" I asked softly.

"I would appreciate the company. Also, my mother will want to meet the woman carrying her grandchild. We will make the trip tomorrow." He said his voice forceful yet still gentle. "She lives in the country outside the city, so it shouldn't take long at all." He stepped over and kissed my forehead. "Oh, one other thing, she doesn't like the idea of having a child out of wedlock, so tomorrow you'll have to pretend to be my wife. Now what can I cook you for lunch?"

CLIFFHANGER! Well, I'm starting the next chapter. So, hopefully It will be up tonight if not first thing in the morning. Please do let me know what you think. Thanks!