Chapter 26, January 2033

Months passed since the barricade. Marius and Gavroche's wounds slowly healed. As did everyone's mental wounds. Combeferre started his medical internship while he and his wife prepared for the arrival of their child, who's due date was early February. Coufeyrac and Marius both started working at a prestigious DC law firm thanks to Marius's grandfather who put in good words for them. Gavroche moved in with Coufeyrac and was currently hating middle school with a burning passion. Coufeyrac had also started to date Azelma. One day Marius was sitting with Cosette in his new apartment. He had moved out of his old one and into a much safer and nicer one.

"You know I haven't been to the Musain since the rebellion." He said looking over at Cosette. "Maybe we could go by and see how things are doing." Cosette looked at him, her eyes full of concern.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? After all that's where almost all of your friends died and where you almost died." Marius gently touched his shoulder where the bullet wound was.

"I think it would be good for me. It would give me some closure I guess." Cosette sighed.

"Well if you want to go. I'll come with you."

"You don't have to." Marius said. Cosette took his hand in hers. "I want to."

Soon the pair was standing in front of the ruined building that use to be the Musain. Even though the rebellion was long past. The aftermath was still evident. All of the windows were broken, the door was hanging off the frame at an odd angle from where the national guard broke it in. The interior was just the same, there was debris and broken glass all over the floor. Marius and Cosette walked through the main room stopping at the base of the stairs. Marius looked at Cosette, who gave him an encouraging smile. Marius looked back at the stairs and started climbing up them. He entered the top room and just stood there. Like the rest of the bar the room was destroyed. The place where he and his friends dreamed of changing the world was now full of bullet holes and dried blood. There cause had failed. They had failed and now most of them lay dead in the ground. Standing in that room brought back memories of all of his fallen friends. Enjolras giving speeches, Grantaire's drunken singing, Jehan sitting in a corner writing a sonnet, Joly panicking when Bossuet sneezed on him, Bahorel and Feuilly having arm wrestling matches. But all of that was gone now. All that remained was dried blood and broken glass.

"Oh my friends forgive me." Marius said quietly. He couldn't stay up there for another minute. Marius quickly turned around and went back down the stairs. Cosette was waiting for him at the bottom.

"Let's get out of here." Cosette nodded and followed Marius out of the bar. The pair walked silently to Cosette's house. When they were outside of the front door Marius finally spoke.

"I wonder who it was." Cosette frowned,

"What?"

"Who saved me from the barricade. The last thing I remember was getting shot. Then the next thing I know is I'm waking up in the hospital."

"I don't know who could have saved you, but thank god they did. I don't know what I would do without you." Marius kissed Cosette tenderly.

"I love you."

"I love you too." Valjean watched the couple from inside the house. Cosette had grown up so much. Soon she wouldn't need him anymore. Valjean sighed and went back into his study. After Cosette entered her house Marius walked back down the street once he was a couple blocks away from Cosette's house he pulled out his phone and dialed Coufeyrac's number. He answered after the first ring.

"Hey Marius, what's up?"

"Couf I need your help with something. Can you meet me at the mall?" Half an hour later the two men were walking into the mall.

"So what do you need my help with?" Coufeyrac asked.

"Earlier today Cosette and I went to the Musain. It's completely destroyed. Going there made me realize how short and important life can be, and it can end at any moment. I nearly died on the barricade, we all did."

"So?"

"So, when we were walking back to Cosette's house I realized that I want to spend the rest of my life with her. No matter how long or how short it is." Marius stopped walking. He had stopped in front of the Jewelry store.

"I'm going to ask Cosette to marry me." Coufeyrac smiled.

"Good for you man. There is no way she would say no. She loves you and you love her. How are you going to ask her?" Marius shrugged and entered the Jewelry Store. "A romantic dinner maybe."

"Wow, that is like the most boring way you could ask." Coufeyrac replied rolling his eyes.

"Well I did just decide I wanted to marry her like two hours ago."

"Let me guess, you're also going to ask her father's permission too." Marius paused. "Ya, actually I was planning to."

"Are you even from this century?" Marius ignored the comment and went back to looking at rings.

Two days later Marius was back at Cosette's house. Marius took a deep breath then rang the door bell. Valjean opened the door surprised to see Marius standing before him.

"Hello Mr. Fauchelevent is Cosette here?"

"I'm sorry Marius, Cosette is out with her friends right now."

"Good I was actually hoping I could talk to you." Valjean nodded, wondering what Marius would want to talk to him about.

"Please come in then." Marius followed Valjean into his study. "So Marius, what is it you need to talk to me about?" Valjean asked. Marius stood there for a moment before speaking.

"Mr. Fauchelevent, you know I love your daughter more than anything right." Valjean nodded.

"Yes Marius I am aware of the fact." Valjean had an idea of what the boy was getting at.

"She's helped me so much in the last few months. It just makes me love her more. I've never loved anyone more than her in my entire life." Marius paused for a moment. "What I'm trying to ask is, will you give me your permission to ask Cosette to marry me?" Valjean was silent for a moment.

"Yes." He said. "I will give you my blessing. I've never seen Cosette happier than when she is with you. But you must promise me to always take care of her." Marius was ecstatic.

"Thank you. I swear that I will always take care of her and love her." The two men talked for a little while longer before Marius left. Valjean sat in his study, Cosette would no longer need him soon. If she said yes to Marius. Which of course she would. His promise to Fantine would be completed. What would he do after? Cosette had been his life now for years. Soon he would need to move on yet again.

Hello everyone who reads this story! Sorry it's been awhile. Guess what I started, Junior year. Guess who now has barely any free time now? This writer. So things are probably going to be very slow now. Even though this story is only going to be three or four more chapter. On another note barely anyone has been reviewing and that makes me sad. So please review :)