Éponine was not allowed into the halls of the court. Instead she went to her family's Inn to pass the time and pray that Enjolras would suffer no heavy penalty for trying to protect her. She knew that her mother would be thrilled to see her grandbaby again.

"There's my daughter and my gorgeous grandson!" Madame Thenardier exclaimed, shoving a mug of ale into a customer's hand and coming around the counter. "Where's that handsome man of yours?" She questioned as she took Dunstan from Éponine's arms.

"At court."

"I didn't know he was a lawman."

Éponine shrugged, "He's not. But he's having to act as his own."

Her mother rocked Dunstan in her arms, "What's happened?"

She shook her head, "I have made a few huge mistakes in my life. One was being with 'Parnasse. He's trying to ruin my life because I chose to get one. He used be such a sweet boy. But the longer he spent time with father, the quicker he became a monster. I once thought I loved him and I cared for him, but not anymore. I know what love is now. And that son of a bastard is trying to ruin my life with Enjolras."

"What's he done? I kill that boy dead"

"He's accused Enjolras of assault. But because of Enjolras' affiliation with the fight at the barricade, we would assume he could get a heavy verdict. Enjolras lost friends in the war that could have helped him. The only thing we're left with his prayer."

"Let me at Montparnasse and I'll give him something to claim as assault. Trying to ruin my grandson's home."

Éponine frowned. Could she confide in her mother? Honestly, what else did she have to lose, besides Montparnasse discovering the truth. No, she loved her mother, but she still couldn't trust her. "We just have to pray that Enjolras gets out with only having to pay a fine."

"Éponine, I know you father isn't for all of this romance and love. But, I am thrilled to see you living out one of those juicy romance novels I used to read when I was pregnant with you." She pressed kisses against the baby's cheeks. "Such a handsome little boy. Look at those stunning green eyes." Dunstan giggled as the woman tickled and kissed him.

"He does have some pretty amazing eyes." Éponine smiled, sinking into a seat. "Let's just hope that he doesn't lose his father." Because of his other father.

~o~

"And where is your pretty little hussy and her son?" Montparnasse questioned, holding his hand out for Enjolras to shake. "You see that woman you're living with is truly no more than a whore."

"I don't need to listen to this." Enjolras gritted, turning away from the thief.

"I hear that your son has green eyes."

Enjolras turned back around, "What of it?"

"It would appear that you do not have green eyes. It would appear that you have eyes much like Éponine. But there is someone, who I know for an absolute fact, has green eyes. And, might I add, has had your precious Éponine in so many different ways."

Enjolras took a deep breath, fisting his hands into the fabric of his trousers. It would be poor form if he struck Montparnasse now. It would only be more damning. "You might have had her but I have her now."

"You have her and my son. How does that make you feel to know that the child is more than likely mine?"

"The boy has my mother's eyes." Enjolras retorted, taking another deep steady breath to remain composed. "Even if he wasn't mine, it doesn't matter. He's more of my son than he will ever be yours."

"Aren't you the high and mighty Enjolras. God, I have heard about you and that attitude, but I didn't it was quite this bad. You would raise a bastard as your own?"

"If this is some attempt to cause me to strike you, it is not going to work." Enjolras looked away from Montparnasse, trying to maintain composure.

Javert stepped out of the courtroom, beckoning the two men to follow him. His eyes lingered on Montparnasse, giving him a slight nod as they entered the courtroom. The court would go as follows.

Enjolras would give a very fine and well-spoken report of what had happened that day to cause him to strike Monsieur Montparnasse across the jaw. Though his words would sway the judge to feel sympathetic towards the rebel and his fiancé and unborn child, it wouldn't be enough.

Montparnasse would give his side of the tale, one that explained that he did not believe that the baby was Enjolras'. He would also say that the attack was not instigated by himself, but by a naturally furious Enjolras. Though the young rebel sat in the courtroom calm and composed, Montparnasse claimed that Enjolras was violent by nature.

When Javert stood to give his own report, he spoke so much in favour of Montparnasse that you would have expected that he was the rich and well-bred aristocrat and not Enjolras. Montparnasse's thievery and murder seemed to be forgotten, while every little thing that Enjolras had ever done wrong was laid out before the courtroom.

With the court seemingly against Enjolras, the court was adjourned for the day. The verdict would be given the following day at noon. A verdict that Enjolras suspected would be against him no matter how hard he fought. There was no way that Montparnasse could win without some sort of devilish intervention.

Enjolras couldn't bear to return home to Éponine and tell her the pitiful news. By tomorrow evening he could find himself entering into a new life chained between two real criminals. This evening he needed to see Grantaire, for perhaps one last time. He needed to set some things right for the pitiful drunk before he was sent away.

~o~

"What do you want?" Grantaire roared as he answered the door. He could hardly stand up straight as he swung the door wide open. "Enjolras. What a… pressure… pleasure? Yes… that."

"Don't you seem to be in a bad way." Enjolras said, taking the mug out of his friend's hand and taking a whiff. He didn't drink. But currently it didn't seem to be such a bad idea. If he could be completely oblivious to what was happening, it wouldn't seem so bad. But he wouldn't trade one last cognizant evening with his loved ones for the world.

"Azelma, she… towered… no tossed… me out of her life…" Grantaire left the door wide open as he stumbled away from it. He could hardly keep his feet one in front of the other as he moved to slump into his chair. The fire had gone cold. He hadn't bothered to keep it up.

"I heard." Enjolras commented, moving to start the fire back up. "It's like a tomb in here."

"Wouldn't mend… er mind if it were." Grantaire shook his head, looking around for where his mug had gone. "Why are you here?"

"Azelma came by a couple days ago." Enjolras stoked the fire as it started to burn. "She told me something that I think you should hear."

"What?"

"It's not my place to tell you."

"Then where are you… I meant why are you here?"

Enjolras shrugged, "You need to go to the Inn and talk to her."

"No. She doesn't want to see me."

"She loves you."

"She left me."

"For your own safety. It would seem that there is more than you know going on."

"You look often… awfully… Yes, you look awfully serious or serene. No serious. What's wrong?"

Enjolras sat down in front of the fire and felt the weight settle on his heart. "I'm going to be joining a chain gang it would appear."

"What?" Grantaire burst into laughter. "Are you trying to make my misery less harsh?"

"No. I'm just telling you what's going on. I was in court all day today, fighting for a battle I have already lost it seems." Enjolras shook his head, "Dorian Enjolras, son of a wealthy family and fine Parisian aristocrats is losing to a filthy street-born thief, murderer, and bastard." He covered his face with his hands. "I don't understand it. I realize that Javert does not like me, but honestly. Montparnasse is a dirty rat."

"God, Enjolras." Grantaire rose unsteadily from the seat, moving to sit beside his friend. "I can't lose you too."

"You're not going to lose Azelma. Because you're going to win her back, you oaf." Enjolras elbowed the drunk the ribs. "At least one of us can win a fight."

"Well you can't lose Éponine. Now can you? Didn't you survive the barricade to be with her?"

Enjolras shook his head, "I did. But I can't escape this fate."

"Sounds like someone's being brided."

"What?" Enjolras cocked his eyebrow as he stared at the inebriated Grantaire.

"Bribed." He hiccupped, "Sorry words are getting jumped."

"Jumbled?"

"That too." Grantaire rubbed his face. "So you want me to talk to Azelma?"

"Yes."

"I will if you go and talk to that Inspector."

"What's the point? Javert's not going to reveal if he's being bribed. I'm surprised the righteous lawman would allow himself to be bribed."

Grantaire shrugged his shoulders, "You know who I saw yesterday?"

"Who?"

"Marius."

"He's alive?" Enjolras asked, surprised that the young man had survived escaping the barricade. He had chosen to go after Cosette instead of staying and fighting. "I thought he'd be a goner."

"He married that man's daughter."

Enjolras rose to his feet, "That's it! You're a genius!" He pulled Grantaire up by the back of his shirt. "That girl's father happens to be an escaped convict, so I've heard."

"You think that Javert-"

"I wouldn't be surprised if he was being bribed with capturing him." Enjolras clapped his hands together, "It would appear that I will not be go to jail after all. Thank you Grantaire!" He hugged his friend. "Now get Azelma."

"That's terrifying."

"So is going to jail." Enjolras slapped Grantaire on the back. "I'm finding Inspector Javert and I'm going to stop this before it happens."

A/N: This girl doesn't know a lick about the law. Despite knowing a couple lawyers. Especially French law back then. So, I skimmed. *whistles* I hope it was acceptable. Hope you're enjoying where it's going.

Also, now that I'm here. I have internet. Tomorrow I'll have another 5 hour drive and I'll write and then post at the hotel that evening. Then another 5 hour drive and I'll post back here.