May 28, 2010

It was what she had been hoping her and now she was terrified, tonight, as he had promised Alex was introducing her to his parents. She looked at her reflection in her full length mirror, she was wearing dark jeans, a tank top trimmed on the top with beads and lace and a black cardigan.

"'Ponine, Alex is here!" she could here Cosette calling to her.

Éponine touched the heart shaped pendant around her neck, Alex's gift to her and smiled, her fears having diminished slightly. With a smile she went down the stairs and greeted him at the door.

"You ready?" Alex asked.

Éponine nodded, "Yes, now let's do this before I chicken out."

Alex laughed, "you were the one who insisted we do this," he walked over to his car and opened the door. Éponine sat herself down and fastened the seatbelt, Alex did the same and put his car in reverse moving it down the driveway.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Alex is bringing his girlfriend to dinner tonight," Sandrine informed her husband.

Armand lowered his paper and looked at his wife in confusion, "Alex has a girlfriend? Who is she? How long has this been going on? Why didn't he say anything?" Armand was not able to to get much out of Sandrine other than a shrug because that was when Alex entered the house with Éponine.

"Here they are," Sandrine smiled and went to go and greet them.

"Hello," Sandrine smiled at the young girl, "you're Éponine, correct?"

Éponine nodded her head quietly, her cheeks felt warm but she was not embarrassed.

"I'm Sandrine Enjolras, you can call me Sandy if you would like," Sandrine introduced herself. "Alex why don't you take her into the living room and introduce this charming young lady to your father."

Alex nodded his head and gently took Éponine's hand and took her to the living room.

"Do how is it that I only now discover my son is in a relationship?" Armand began, he stopped when he realized that he recognized the girl, he had seen her picture in a file, the Fauchlevent/Thenardier ordeal... "Éponine Thenardier?" He started.

"Yes?" Éponine's voice was quiet.

Armand stood up and walked over to her, now he understood why his so did not like it when he discussed this case in particular. "I'm Armand Enjolras, pleased to meet you," his face softened to a smile that he flashed at his son coupled with a wink, this caused Alex's face to redden.

Éponine had watched the exchange and began to giggle lightly.

"Well I don't expect you to just stand around, come over and sit down," Armand gestured to the couch while he sat back down in the chair he had previously occupied.

Éponine glanced at Alex who shrugged slightly, so they both sat down.

"So Éponine, how long have you been together with Alex?" Armand asked.

Éponine should have expected this, after all the was Alex's first girlfriend, his parents were bound to be curious as to how in gods name that had occurred. "Ummm... New Years Eve."

"Good, good," Armand nodded.

"Now just how did you get his mind away from school books long enough to worm your way into his heart," Armand asked but there was a joking tone in his voice.

"Uhhhh..." Éponine threw a look at Alex that read "help me!"

Before Alex could say anything Sandrine intervened, "Armand really, don't chase the nice girl away.

"Very well Sandy, I'll be good," Armand replied.

Alex could have easily predicted his father's behavior, but he was glad his mother seemed to be keeping him on a relatively short leash.

"So Éponine," Sandrine was letting to soup she had finished simmer and sat down near her husband, "you go to school with Alex, correct?"

"Yes, but I'm a sophomore," Éponine explained.

"So how did you get to know Alex?" Sandrine continued.

"We share a lot of mutual friends, but it was mostly because of Antoine Courfeyrac-"

"Tony? Jay's son? How is the boy?" Armand interrupted.

"Antoine is fine," Alex replied.

"Tony..." Éponine muttered to herself, she had never heard Courfeyrac called Tony before...

"Anyway," Sandrine cut in once again, "do you have any hobbies? Interests?"

"Oh yes, I do like to sing..." Éponine began.

"She just got cast as Annie Oakley in next year's fall musical," Alex added.

Both of his parents congratulated her on the happy news, "I'm sure you will be absolutely wonderful," Sandrine smiled brightly at her.

"Maybe you would like to give as a small recital after dinner?" Armand was teasing once again.

Éponine hadn't realized he was joking and became fearful at the thought of singing for Alex and his parents.

Armand noticed the expression on her face, "I'm sorry," he apologized to her, "I was only joking."

Sandrine glanced at the watch on her wrist, "dinner should be ready so I will suggest that we move to the dining room.

They did just that, and they went to the table that was set for four, Alex and Éponine sat on one side while has father sat on the other waiting for Sandrine to come in with the first course of salads.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx

Dinner was delicious and slowly it was becoming less awkward, Éponine still had trouble realizing just when Mr. Enjolras was joking and when he was not but he liked his mother very much.

"That is a very pretty necklace," Sandrine commented as they were finishing with the main course.

Éponine fiddled with the chain, she wore so often she would sometimes forget it was there. "Oh... Alex gave it to me," she explained, "at Junior Prom."

Sandrine smiled at her son, who felt embarrassed that he couldn't make eye contact with his mother. "Alex, that was very sweet of you," Sandrine spoke to him, Alex remained silent.

Soon the discussion turned back to school, and then during dessert they switched to summer plans, "Éponine, you are welcome at our house any time," Sandrine nodded as she was clearing away the dessert plates.

"Thank you Mrs... Sorry... Dr. Enjolras," Éponine replied.

"My dear, even my patients call me Dr. Sandy, I insist you can just call me Sandy too," Sandrine smiled at the younger girl.

The evening came to a close and Alex was getting ready to take Éponine back home, "I hope to see you again soon Éponine," Sandrine smiled as she said her goodbye.

"You hear that Alex?" Armand clapped his son on the shoulder, "don't hide her away from us, you hear?"

Alex simply nodded his head and rubbed his shoulder as he walked Éponine to the car to drive her back home. As soon she sat down in the car she let out a sigh of relief, "that was stressful, but it could have been a hell of a lot worse if you think about it."

"I would rather not," Alex commented as the fastened his seatbelt.

"I like your mom though, she's really nice," Éponine decided.

"That's what most people tend to think," Alex replied, "makes for being a good pediatrician, everyone loves her."

"So since when has anyone ever called Antoine Tony?" Éponine asked.

"Only his father and mine, and as much as you may want to I think he hates that more than he hates Antoine... So don't do it." Alex cautioned her.

"Really now? He hates it that much?" Éponine spoke with a mischievous air.

"'Ponine..." Alex began but was laughing a bit.

"You know what I think I'll have to generate a list of annoying nicknames just to see how much I can piss him off," Éponine grinned.

"Is this really what you do in your free time? Come up with ways to annoy the shit out of Antoine?" Alex smiled, they were now turning into the neighborhood where Cosette's house was located.

"How do you know he doesn't do the same?" Éponine asked defensively.

"You have a point there," Alex nodded as they pulled up in front of her house.

"Well goodnight Alex," Éponine sighed as he put his car in park.

"Night 'Ponine," Alex replied.

There was silence for a moment and then Alex leaned in and kissed her, it was more passionate then any of their previous kisses and seemed to be going on for a bit longer. When they broke apart both of them had flushed faces and were laughing slightly.

"You know," Éponine giggled, "Cosette and Azelma were probably spying on us again, they are going to take note of the time when you entered the driveway and when I enter the house."

"Nosy much?" Alex shook his head, "well goodnight."

"You too, and don't worry, I don't kiss and tell... Most of the time," Éponine teased as she or out of the car, walked up the steps and into the house. When he saw the door shut behind her he backed out of the driveway and drive back hone for the night.