Chapter
Finalement

Enjolras would have attacked Thenardier on the spot if it were not for his weakening body and the gun trembling in the man's oversized hands.

Thenardier simply seemed to be shaking from his sheer anger, his face turning red and his eyebrows furrowing.

"Come Eponine." He commanded harshly, reaching to grab her violently.

"YOU CAN'T SELL ME!" She screamed, hiding behind Enjolras, who stumbled slightly.

"Why on Earth not?" He differed, laughing almost maniacally, "Ya'r a product 'Ponine." He said in a relaxed manner, as though he were uttering the truth, "Men want to 'ave you and they will! For money!"

Being drunk, the situation sounded five hundred times worse coming out of his mouth, although it was already a waking nightmare to everyone else.

Enjolras had been contemplating how to save Eponine since he saw her father's face. What could he do? What would he do? If he killed him, or ordered Marius to do so, it would simply scar Eponine and he would never get the blood off his hands. It would spill out like a river onto the streets, everyone would know he were no hero - just a murderer. Then again, it was this very man who was torturing Eponine so.

Setting on a thought, he knew what to do next. It was time for him to change Eponine's life, to help her get away from the monster she had been trying to run from her entire life.

Clearing his throat, Enjolras spoke up, "You can't sell her."

"What the 'ell do ya want!?" He asked, pointing the gun at him as he put his hands over his head defensively.

"You can't sell or tell a married woman what to do Monsieur."

"'Cuse me!?" He stuttered, dropping his gun.

Marius flocked towards it, grabbing it and hiding it in his pockets.

Grantaire hiccupped, seeming to have become drunk from the situation on its own.

"Eponine is married." He said as he squeezed her hand to make sure she understood what he was doing.

"To who, you lil' slut!?" He moved towards her but stopped as Marius' pressed the gun to his head angrily.

Thenardier dropped to his knees again, now shaking even harder from frustration.

"To me." Enjolras replied confidently, slipping a ring he had kept on his left hand on her ring finger secretly, and then revealing it to her father.

"You cannot tell a married woman what to do, 'Father'." Eponine said, curtseying sarcastically at her father then slapping him in the face.

"Get out, and don't come back." Marius threatened, kicking the man out of the door and firing the gun above his head.

After shutting the doors quickly, checking if the coast was clear, and after a long moment of awkward silence, the inn broke out in joyous cheers and applause.

All eyes were riveted on Eponine, anticipating her answer to his sudden proposal.

"You didn't have to do that for me." Eponine smiled, "He could have sold me and we'd be rich. Really, I'm used to abuse."

"No, enough is enough." Enjolras reassured, stroking her cheeks. "Remember that night your father tried to hit you? I suspected he was at fault because of your bruise, and you know what that did for me?"

"Made you realize I'm pathetic?"

"No, it made me fall in love with another part of you. Your bravery."

"What?"

"I'd fallen in love with your bravery first, then your heart, then your determination, then your humour – I could go on."

She smiled, but stopped herself.

"Here," she sighed, giving him back the ring. "It must have cost a lot."

"I found it on the streets actually." He replied, "Can you wear it for now?"

"Why would I wear it?"

"Because I want you to be my wife."

"What!?" She nearly choked, "I thought you were only doing that for my father…"

"The love I feel for you is real, so is my proposal. I don't know what I'd do without you, and I want you to be by my side forever." He slipped the ring back into her trembling finger, "What do you say?"

"YES!" She kissed him immediately, feeling the best she had ever felt.

Around them, les amis broke out in cheers once more and looked at eachother completely aghast. Who'd have thought Enjolras would have ended up with Eponine, and not the lovestruck Marius, who was the first to congratulate them.

"I am so happy for you both! Really, I'm so glad."

"Marius, are you sure?" Enjolras asked, making sure his old friend was feeling alright.

"I'm more than sure." He embraced them both, "You have my blessing, although you probably didn't need it." They all laughed and Marius handed them a sheet of paper, "Valjean's address, my wedding gift to you both!"

Enjolras thanked Marius a thousand times and Eponine kissed her old friend on the cheek, thanking him for always being there for her.

Later, Gavroche approached the two smugly, "I told ya he'd propose!"

"Yes you did." Eponine smiled, kissing her little brother's cheeks, "I should have listened!" She teased, nudging him along.

Grantaire quickly cracked open a bottle of champagne from the wine cabinet along the bar in the lobby hectically and watching as Marius proposed a toast.

"To Eponine and Enjolras!" He exclaimed, pouring them both a glass.

At last, they were together - in peace.

Although it took a month of planning, the wedding took place two months after the proposal.

The first person Enjolras had invited to the wedding was Jean Valjean, who had begun tending to his duties as mayor once Marius and his grandfather had made sure he was not to be charged guilty for his previous crimes.

Eponine had invited all of les amis to the wedding, and Thenardier had barely passed her mind. The old fool was stuck begging on the streets, haggling for money with his wife, both of them deserving what they had gotten.

Gavroche and Marius were made the best men and Grantaire was to tend to the bar, almost a dream come true for him.

The wedding was to be held inside the inn Marius' grandfather, who had also been invited, had bought and decorated for the event. With Feuilly's help, a series of white, pink, and red roses lined the walls and vases around the lobby. The tables were set and the cake was bought, having three tears, all covered in red and white flowers as well.

On the day of the wedding, Eponine had never looked, or felt so good in her entire life, feeling as though she had begun a new chapter in it.

Feuilly had designed thin wreaths of white flowers that were wrapped around her waist and her hair. The silky white dress fell to her ankles and was accented with lace, her shoes adding slightly to her height.

Enjolras had never been so glad to have Eponine in his arms at last, both of them together in peace. His suit was black, with a red sash to emphasize the struggles the two overcame to be together at last, also to remind him of all the work he'd gone through to assure their victory at the barricade.

Upon the wedding, Jean Valjean sent out another prayer for the children, wishing them long and prosperous years ahead.

As their vows were made, all of les amis could have sworn they heard singing from above, a little tune Cosette used to hum when she was alone upstairs in Musain. Although it shocked them at first, it gave them peace knowing they had just received her blessing.

Eponine and Enjolras kissed one another for the first time as man and wife short after, joining their friends for a celebration.

With all the lives gathered in the inn that day, Jean Valjean confirmed that each day they had all endured was worth it in the end. One more day for things to mend themselves was worth waiting for. With Cosette's song fresh in his mind and his heart out to the newlyweds, Valjean smiled above and thanked God.

They had all found happiness at last.

Fin.

A/N:

Alright mes amis, that is the end of the story! I cannot thank every single one of you enough for all the amazing reviews, follows, and favourites - it motivated me to keep writing and writing. Please let me know if you want me to write anything in particular, I'm open to suggestions all the time! Merci beaucoup!

P.S. I'm currently writing a Modern AU called Red and Black, it's another Eponine/Enjolras love story with the barricade boys and Cosette and etc. I'd love for you all to read that too! *skip to the 2nd chapter if you do*