Author's note: Sorry for the late update! Been very busy! (and I was locked out of my account) I still love you all! Hope you will like this next chapter!
"June eleventh is your wedding date?" Madame Enjolras asked as she and her son took the carriage back home. "Oui! Why? Is it a bad date?" Enjolras asked with concern. The Madame laughed. "No! No, it just…that's your father's and my wedding date." Enjolras grew red with embarrassment. "Oh…I always wondered why that date stuck with me. Is that okay if Éponine and I get married on that date?" Madame Enjolras smiled. "It would mean the world to me if you two did so." "Momma?' Enjolras asked. "Oui, mon fils?" his mother answered. Enjolras hesitated on his words before finally asking, "Do you like Éponine?" His mother adjusted herself in her seat. "Well…she is not the ideal woman I would like you take as a wife. Her manners are good, not great but good. Her cooking I heard is phenomenal, but her dancing…oh God it's horrendous. I don't know how Rachelle and Clithby could say that is good! She dances like me when I was her age…" Enjolras was confused. "I thought you and poppa were the best dancers in all of France?" Madame Enjolras smiled. "How old is Éponine? Seventeen?" Enjolras nodded. "I was pregnant with you when I was seventeen. You threw off my counting with your constant kicking, wanting to be free from the sheltered world of my belly! To this day I am still off beat." Enjolras frowned. "Sorry." Madame Enjolras chucked, "Don't be sorry! It was all worth it!" Enjolras grinned at that remark. "You know, I didn't fall in love with her because of her etiquette." "I know. She has that sense of Je ne sais quoi. You've said that before, mon fis." "It's not just that. She has this fire, this passion, something you don't see in any woman. And…she understands me. I don't know why she would want to, but she does. And…I don't deserve a woman like that." Madame Enjolras held her son's hand. "A woman who understands you? A woman who risked her own life to save yours? A woman who fell in love with a stubborn, strong-willed, overworked, dedicated, intelligent man like you?" Enjolras shook his head. "Any woman. Especially her. Éponine has been through a lot in her life. I just don't think she deserves anymore pain." "Well she said yes to your proposal, didn't she? You love her, don't you?" Enjolras grinned at his thoughts of every kiss he and Éponine shared, every hug, every moment of bliss. All his troubles melted in her arms, her lips, and her 'I love yous'. "I do love nothing in the world so much as her." "And does she love you?" "Enjolras! Stop!" Éponine giggled as he grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist. Enjolras gave her heated kisses all along her neck, jaw, and shoulder blades. "You are such an asshole!" she laughed. Enjolras turned her around to face him. "I am?'' he asked with concern. Éponine wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. "Yes, but you're my asshole. And there is no one else I want more than you." She whispered. Enjolras beamed at her. "Then I will forever be your asshole." The two of them laughed and their lips collided in wonderful harmony. "Yea. She does." Madame Enjolras squeezed her son's hand. "Then that's all that matters. If she wants to be with you, then she knows what she's getting into." I should probably tell her what happened today. I don't want to hurt her, and she needs to know...but how am I going to do that?
Éponine sat in the ballroom with Clithby and Rachelle, listening to Rudolpho's magnificent harpsicord playing. The notes seemed to echo against the high ceiling, making an enchanted sound. When the song ended, the three of them clapped. Rudolpho took a bow as if he were at a real concert. "Oh, bravissimo my love! That was beautiful!" Rachelle exclaimed. "Oui! Very!" Éponine told. "I called that piece, L'Agnello Danza, The Dance of the Lamb. I named it after the one and only love of my life. The Queen to my heart." Rudolpho romantically stated as he took Rachelle's hand and kissed it. Rachelle blushed. "Rudolpho?" asked Éponine, reluctant to break the connection between the two. "Si?" Rudolpho answered. "Do you think, if it's not a problem that is, you could maybe write a piece for Enjolras and my wedding day?" Rudolpho's eyes got wide and ran over to kiss Éponine on her cheeks. "WHY OF COURSE I WOULD! I will get to that as soon as possible! When is the wedding?" "June eleventh." Éponine responded. "Alright! June eleventh! Let's see…today's the fifteenth…so I have a little more than a year from now…" "No! June eleventh of this year!" Éponine corrected. Rudolpho fell backwards. "WHAT?! That means five weeks! Everybody, GET OUT! I must make this a masterpiece!" Rudolpho announced as he shooed Rachelle, Éponine, and Clithby out of the room. "Hey! Watch the suit!" Clithby complained before all three of them found themselves out of the ballroom. Rachelle started laughing. "I swear, my husband doesn't know when to quit!" Éponine felt embarrassed. "I'm sorry…" "For what? Giving my husband something to do? He hasn't been getting a lot of work, so this would be good for him. Don't worry." Rachelle put her hand on Éponine's shoulder and smiled. Éponine returned a smile. "Ladies! The Madame and Monsieur Enjolras have returned!" exclaimed Clithby, who had little Milo next to him. "Come on, mama! Auntie Éppie!" Milo said as he pulled Rachelle and Éponine's hands down the hall.
Madame Enjolras and Enjolras walked into the house with bright smiling faces, munching on some Madelines. The entire family caught up to see the two and began hammering questions like, "Where were you two?" "What happened?" "Where did you go?" "Are you all right?" The Madame just smiled. "Everything is fine. I just got to spend the day with my young man." "And I got to spend the day with the World's Best Mother." Enjolras said before planting a quick kiss on Madame Enjolras's cheek. She playfully punched him in the arm and chuckled. "You are your father's son!" Madame Enjolras teased. Éponine cheeks felt hot and she smiled like an idiot. "They reconciled! They are together again! They are happy. I'm so proud of them!" Éponine sighed. The image of mother and son in pure happiness, it made her feel like everything was falling into place.
Enjolras and his mother looked at the faces of their family (which were blank in stares). The Madame placed her hands on her hips. "Well? What are all you waiting for? Supper is in two hours! Get ready! Go!" As the crowd dispersed, Éponine tried to get a glimpse of Enjolras and hopefully (without speaking) tell her how his mother and he reconciled. Enjolras glanced at her, but for some reason, he frowned. "What's wrong?" Éponine mouthed. Enjolras didn't respond. Instead, he walked off in a hurry as if he didn't want Éponine to look at him for some reason. Emotions of anger and sadness seemed to enter her body. Does he not love me anymore? Nonsense! There must be something he is hiding. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Éponine turned to see Clithby. He grinned at her. "Come, my dear! Let's get you ready."
At supper that night, the table was lively and cheerful. Now that the Madame and her son had finally made amends, there was no more arguments. No more stress. No more anger. It was almost as if the past two months never happened. Éponine was the only one who wasn't as gay as everyone else. She couldn't stop thinking about why Enjolras was upset. Is he alright? Is it something to do with me? What is it? Maybe it's nothing and I'm overthinking this. I'll write to him after supper. "…June eleventh! Isn't that right, Éponine?" Madame Enjolras asked, catching Éponine off guard. "I-I beg your pardon?" she stammered. "The wedding. You are getting married June eleventh. Isn't that right?" Éponine nodded quickly. "Is there something wrong, my dear?" My dear? Did she just call me her dear? I don't believe it! Éponine grinned at those words. She likes me! "No. Everything is fine." As Éponine said that, she noticed Enjolras handing Clithby a note. I wonder if Enjolras's note will tell me what he's thinking. "Well, I'm glad that you are fine, my dear. You know, Bash told me that you have a tendency to get yourself into trouble, is that so?" Éponine looked at the Madame and said, "Let's just say I picked that up from my mother...and a little bit from my father." "Ah, yes! There wouldn't be anything called 'relations' if we didn't pick up things from our parents." Éponine nodded in understanding. "If you all will excuse me, I shall retire to my chamber. Bon nuit everyone." Madame Enjolras told as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. When she got up, all the gentlemen took a stand from their chairs. The women stayed sitting. "Bon nuit, madame." Everyone at the table chimed. As soon as the Madame left, Éponine decided to head for bed to. "Come on, Clithby! I'm going to bed." Clithby glanced at Enjolras then to Éponine. "Of course, mademoiselle."
"Monsuire Enjolras wished me to give you this." Clithby told as the two of them entered the office. Before Clithby could hand Éponine the note, she grabbed it out of his hand. She ripped it open and read what her beloved wrote:
Do not go to bed tonight. I need to talk to you. Do not worry, I have figured out how.
-Your affectionate lover, Enjolras
"'I need to talk to you?' Oh, God! Wait…what does he mean he has it figured out? You mean that he knew how to talk to me without anyone knowing and it is now he decides it time to try it?" Éponine ranted. "Mademoiselle! Calm down! I'm sure there's some explanation for all this! And besides…I'm going to have to tell the Madame—'' Clithby began, but was cut off by Éponine who grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. " Do. Not. Speak. A. Word. Of. This. To. The. Madame." Éponine enunciated every word in a strong staccato full of anger. Clithby, absolutely terrified, nodded like a maniac. "Oui, mademoiselle." He stammered. Éponine let go of Clithby and the poor servant ran out of the room. After he left, Éponine settled down and went to go change into her nightgown.
The grandfather clock hit ten, and Enjolras was nowhere in sight. Éponine was getting worried. He must've gotten , I hope he's not in trouble. She kissed her engagement ring, hoping that some good luck would come. Please! Please, Lord! Bring him to me! Bring Enjolras to—Suddenly, there was a light tap that came from the window. Could it be? Éponine wondered. She ran over to the window and to her heart's relief, it was him. Enjolras was wearing a shirt and trousers. His hair was a curly mess. Éponine quickly opened the window and leaned out close so her face was near the top of his head. "Enjolras!" she called out to her beloved. "Shhhhh! Do you want to wake up the entire house?" he whispered. "Sorry, my love. What took you so long to think up of a way for us to meet?" "You will be surprised how many times I have good ideas that come to me last minute." he told. "True. What do you need to tell me? Are you upset about something?" Éponine whispered to him. "I can't tell you now Not here. I have a place we can talk." Enjolras gestured her to come to him. Éponine was shocked. "You—you want me to jump? What if we get caught?" "It's not that far. Don't worry! I'll catch you! And getting caught is your biggest worry right now? Éponine Thenadier! You've never gotten caught!"He was right, but Éponine was still very nervous. Mainly, She didn't want to hurt him. "Come on, 'Ponine!" Enjolras encouraged. She hesitated, but Éponine climbed onto the windowsill and jumped. Enjolras did catch her, if you count Éponine knock him to the ground and she landing on top of him as catching. "Well, I did not expect that." Enjolras teased. "Are you okay?" Éponine asked. "Yes. You?" Éponine nodded. "Come on." Enjolras said as he got up onto his feet. "There's somewhere I want to take you to." He held out his hand to Éponine in which she gladly took. When she got to her feet, the two of them ran in the direction Enjolras was leading.
A rusty grey gate surrounded by vines stood with pride in front of the two lovers. A green hedge with blooming flowers made a barrier, as if it had something inside. Éponine stood in awe. It was a gorgeous sight. Enjolras smiled at her beautiful face. It had been a long time since he got to properly look at it. He slowly leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek. Éponine, startled, looked at Enjolras. "What?" he asked. She smiled. "Nothing, love. It's just been a while." Enjolras nodded. "Come on in. I have something to show you." He opened the gate and let Éponine in.
The inside was a small garden, filled with blooms of every color. The moon shone directly onto the garden, lighting up the grass with a greyish-white glow. The hedge was at least seven feet tall and had no sign of an opening. It was a heavily romantic place to be at this time of night, and Éponine loved it. "You know, this is the place my father proposed to my mother." Enjolras told. Éponine turned to look at her fiancé. The moonlight gave Enjolras a godly aura, He looked very attractive in Éponine's eyes. Butterflies began to flutter very quickly in her stomach. She had the urge to take this man into her arms. To feel his body pressed up against her own. To feel his lips on her's. They haven't touched in almost two months, wasn't she entitled to embrace her husband-to-be? Enjolras, putting up his confident front, said to her, "Éponine…I have to—" before Enjolras could even finish his sentence, Éponine ran over to her lover, grabbed him, and pulled him into a kiss. Enjolras did not push away. Instead, he returned her advances by kissing his wife-to-be very heavily. "Éponine!" Enjolras broke the kiss, holding his fiancée by her arms. "What's wrong, love? We haven't talked, we haven't touched and yet when we have the chance, you kiss me then pull away…" "Éponine, I killed my father." Enjolras told. "By accident. I know. Genevive and Claude told me—" "Éponine, I got my friends killed in this revolution—" "Enjolras, why are you bringing this up? What are you trying to say?" Éponine asked with concern. Enjolras let go of her. "I…I'm…I'm not sure if I deserve you. After looking back at the chaos I have cause to the people I love…if anything happened to you, I would never forgive myself…" Enjolras stammered. "Are you saying that we shouldn't get married?" Éponine asked, holding her breath for an answer. "I do want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you! I need you, Éponine! It just…I just can't lose you." A tear rolled down his cheek. Éponine wiped the tear away with her thumb. "You will never lose me. You are not the only one with a troubled past, you know. My life was a living Hell. If anything, I don't deserve your kindness and love. But look at us. We are two very broken people who say that we don't deserve eachother, and yet we need eachother to have and to hold. I don't want our past to be the thing that will drive us apart. Look at us! We have come so far from where we've started. The fact that we are both alive is a miracle. We must be doing something right." Enjolras cupped Éponine's cheeks with his hands. "You know you are quite brilliant for a woman with little education." Éponine giggled at that remark. "Is that a compliment?" "No." Enjolras teased. The two of them chuckled before gazing romantically in eachother's eyes. Just the power of their glance had enough compassion, admiration, passion, and devotion for four couples. "I love you, 'Ponine." Enjolras breathed. Éponine grinned. "And I love you, Enjolras." She leaned into his lips, kissing him heavily and passionately. Enjolras could feel Éponine's hands unbuttoning his shirt. In return, he untied the lace on the front of Éponine's nightgown. When her dress fell to the grassy floor and his shirt followed suit, Enjolras laid Éponine on the ground, not breaking their connection.
For the first time in two months, Éponine and Enjolras shared a night of bliss in the garden, beneath a moonlit sky. And the idea of them getting caught never once crossed their minds.
Ooo...naughty naughty! Review!