A/N: This chapter deals with the immediate after effect of Valjean's death and the long-awaited reunion of Enjolras and Eponine. The next chapter will delve further into the aftermath of his death for all members of the group, I haven't skipped over it.

Constructive criticism and reviews welcome

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters from Les Miserables, but I do like to take them out for a spin once in a while to play. I've played with timelines from both the story by the marvellous Victor Hugo, and the actual accounts of the Occupy movement. Be kind, it's about reader enjoyment after all. Thanks for reading!

Songs listened to: "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks. This is a love song but in this instance it's about Valjean and Cosette (and can also be for Enjolras and Eponine in the later scene).


Sometimes late at night
I lie awake and watch her sleeping
She's lost in peaceful dreams
So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way I feel
About her in my heart

If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she's my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face this world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes

"If Tomorrow Never Comes", Garth Brooks


Cosette was still looking down despairingly at the cell phone in her hand. After the ominous feeling had passed she was standing at the breakfast line with the others, trying to shake the feeling off. "Why isn't he answering?" she said to no-one in particular. "It's going straight to voicemail".

Marius grabbed her hand, rubbing it gently. "I'm sure he's just busy".

"No Marius. It's lunchtime. He always either calls me or texts me. Always." She went to put the phone in her jacket pocket when it she felt it buzz. She picked up without looking at the caller ID.

"Dad?" she asked.

"No Ma'am. This is Officer Krakowski of the NYPD", said the voice on the other end of the line. Cosette walked over to the far side of the dining room so she could hear above the morning din.

As the conversation progressed, Marius froze as he saw all the colour drain out of Cosette's already pale features. Enjolras and the others had stopped talking and were now looking from one face to the other, trying to ascertain what was going on.

Cosette was making her way back to them now, her delicate hand over her heart and her eyes brimming with tears that were spilling down her face and onto her shirt. If she felt them, she paid them no mind.

"Cosette? Cosette what is it?" said Jehan, running up to her. He used the arm of shirt to wipe her tears.

"I have to go, I have to get out of here. I have to go now.", she said frantically, her eyes wide and far away.

"Cosette, take a breath, what happened? Who was on the phone?" asked Marius.

"It was…it was the police in New York. They say..oh God…they say Papa had a heart attack". She burst into further tears and the others gathered around her.

Combeferre stepped forward. "Don't worry Cosette. We'll get you on the next plane back to New York to see him".

The others nodded in agreement.

"No! You don't understand. It doesn't matter! Nothing matters. Papa is dead! Valjean is dead!" she cried.

And with that Cosette lost all semblance of herself, sitting down in the middle of the dining room floor. The tears came freely now, her chest so heavy with sobbing she could barely breathe. Marius ran to her side, taking her in his arms as the others struggled to come to terms with her words.

Combeferre was shellshocked that something so mundane as a heart attack could kill the myth and the legend that was Valjean. He was trying to match up the news with what he knew of Jean in his head and he found it incompatible.

"Valjean is dead", repeated Enjolras in a tone devoid of any emotion. "Valjean has died".

Jehan was crouching by Marius and Cosette, crying himself as he tried to comfort the others. Enjolras looked around at the devastation the news had caused. Joly was inconsolable, being hugged by both Musichetta and Bossuet. Feuilly and Bahorel both had tears in their eyes as they struggled to contain their emotions.

Enjolras stood apart, a look of shock and devastation etched on his features. He took a deep breath, willing any emotion to remain inside. He needed to do what was best for the group. Right now – at this moment.

"Everyone, go back to the bus. Pack your things. We're going home. We're going home to New York on the next flight we can get", he said loudly and firmly.

Combeferre looked over to him. Enjolras had never looked more like the marble man as now. He face was stoic, his jaw hard and set. Any emotion had been sent scurrying deep underneath the facade. Now is not the time, he thought. They need a rock. I can do that for them. Bring them home, that's what I need to do. Bring them home.

"Come on", he urged. "Let's get out of here."

Slowly and painfully the group gathered themselves together and made their way back to the bus. In the fifteen minutes it had been since Cosette had been informed, the news had leaked out to the media. Peter met them at the door of the bus. His grim face made no pretence. He had already heard the news.

"Airport?" he asked as they approached, to which Enjolras nodded. Peter held out his arms to Cosette, and she went gratefully to him, letting herself be wrapped in his large, fatherly embrace. He kissed her head. "I'm so sorry love", he whispered as he released her. "He was a fine man".

They climbed slowly up the stairs of the bus, finding quiet spaces of their own to digest the news. Marius held Cosette in the back of the bus and the others left them in peace. Enjolras sat at the front, opposite Peter. His face was pensive as he stared out the window, his dark blue eyes unblinking and his thoughts a million miles away.

He quickly dialled Eponine's cell phone, though he did not know what he was going to say. She picked up after only one ring. "Hey", she said softly. He could hear it in her voice immediately. "You heard already?" he asked.

"Yes, it was just on a news update". Then nothing. Silence except for her ragged breathing. She's been crying.

"We're coming home. We'll get the earliest flight we can. I'll see you tonight".

"Okay". He hung up quietly, pursing his lips in thought before putting the phone away.

A dark mood descended upon the group as the bus made its way down the WA-99 to Tacoma International Airport, and did not leave.


"Peter, why don't you come home with us? You can crash at my pad for as long as you want", offered Combeferre as he put his luggage on the oversize bag conveyer belt.

"Thanks. Thank you. The offer means everything to me, but right now, I just want to go home and see my son. And the drive will do me good. You'll let me know when the funeral is?"

"Of course", said Marius. Cosette, still dazed and confused, her eyes red from crying was by his side.

She hugged him tightly. "Thank you Peter. Thank you for everything. Have a safe trip home".

Once all their bags were tagged and on the way to the plane, they walked through the terminal in a rag-tag fashion, each handling their heartbreak in different ways. When they finally boarded the plane, the mood was no different from that of the bus; heavy and forlorn. They needed to get home, each of them becoming more and more desperate for people and places that soothed them.


After an uneventful flight, they finally landed some five hours later at LaGuardia airport in New York. After collecting their bags, the group were now standing by the cab rank.

Enjolras was seeing off Marius and Cosette, as the others also piled into cars, but he was addressing all of them. "Everybody keep the faith", he said as they all departed for their separate destinations." Let's meet tomorrow night, alright?"


Enjolras walked through the door quietly. The apartment was cool, all the lights were off save one lone candle and the dark covered him as his eyes struggled to adjust to it. In the blackness he could see the outline of Eponine on the couch, dozing as she waited for him.

She woke as he locked the door behind him. It was not the homecoming either had hoped for, but the relief of seeing each after all this time was immense, even as the grief enveloped them.

She stood up as he approached silently. His eyes were drinking her in, even in the darkness the new highlights in her hair made her eyes glow. He reached over to her, grasping her tiny hand in his and pulled her over to him.

"Hello Eponine", he rasped. The guilt of being so happy to see her in these circumstances flooded him.

"Enjolras", she replied softly, rubbing his hand gently with her fingers.

He reached out, delicately removing a strand of hair that was in her face. He ran his fingers lightly over her, touching her lips, her cheeks, the dimples he adored. The feeling of home. He let his hands wander freely, still unsure if he was awake or dreaming this bittersweet reconciliation. I'm really home.

She looked up and he wiped away the tear running down her face. Eponine touched his hand lightly and Enjolras leaned in to kiss her lips nervously, before bending down and tenderly kissing the spot just under her ear.

"I need you now, 'Ponine", he said; a low, throaty sound that vibrated through her neck as he continued to nuzzle her.

He carefully placed her arms around his neck, and she tangled her fingers in his beautiful dirty blonde hair. He leaned in, his gaze so full of heated passion that Eponine nearly melted right then and there.

"Then take me", she responded.

With a harsh groan his lips met hers again, and he deepened the kiss. She couldn't stop the trembling that shimmered through her body. She hung on tightly as she felt his tongue explore her mouth as if for the first time, barely registering his fingers at the waistband of her shorts. Then his hand was inside her panties, soft fingertips circling her sensitive bud as he pushed her shorts off her hips. He dipped one finger into her wetness, then another, catching her cry in his mouth.

Eponine let her hands slide beneath his T-shirt, down over his chest, her fingers tracing his muscles all the way to the top of his pants. She opened them, nipping along his neckline as she reached inside, wrapping her hand around his cock. He was already hard against her palm as she stroked him base to tip, causing him to gasp. She groaned as he slid his fingers out and lifted her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. He leaned her up against the wall and holding her tightly with one arm he shoved his clothing out of the way with the other, entering her in one long, smooth thrust.

Eponine's head dropped back, her body thrumming with the intensity of unexpected emotion; a mixture of need and grief. She felt his lips on her chest, gently sucking on her breasts before moving up her collarbone and over her neck, on the tip of her chin. She lifted her head, eyes closed as she waited to feel his mouth against hers once more.

"Open your eyes, Eponine," he breathed, and she did, slowly. He pulsed inside her as she met his gaze, shocked at the intensity staring back at her. "Tell me that you're mine. Tell me now – I need to hear it". She felt tears spilling slowly down her cheeks as he stilled, waiting.

"I'm yours," she whispered against his lips. He rewarded her with a crushing kiss and began to move within her, sending spirals of pleasure rushing through her body. Eponine let her eyes close again, giving herself over completely to the feel of his lips moving down her neck, his body locked tightly to hers. She felt whole again, as some part of her she hadn't even known was missing had been restored. Moving with him, she matched his movements as she gave herself over to passion.

Her body tightened as his thrusts came faster, more insistent. The tension wound stronger, exploding out from her core with a shocking intensity as she felt him come inside her. Then she was floating, all of the tension draining away as she collapsed in his arms. He hugged her against his chest, kissed her neck and then after a few minutes set her on her feet, making sure she could stand on her own before pulling her in again for a lingering kiss, hugging her fiercely to him once more.


They were lying on the bed in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Both had showered and Eponine was wearing one of Enjolras' favourite shirts, along with her boy shorts. Enjolras was outstretched on the bed, clad in a Henley tee and his boxers.

"How is Cosette?" asked Eponine. Even though Eponine would admit that at first she had not taken to her, in time Cosette's good heart had won her over. Eponine's own reverence of Valjean had made her understand a little of the girl's life, realising that Cosette too, was no stranger to heartbreak. And fate had decided it was not through with her nor any of them on that account.

"She's devastated. Marius was very good with her but…"

Eponine rolled towards him on the bed, reaching out her hand to touch his chest. "I don't understand it. Jean looked after himself so well. He was one of the fittest sixty-something's I've ever seen. For him to have a heart attack.." She shook her head.

"I guess we'll know more after the autopsy", he said bluntly. The tone was cutting, even for Enjolras.

"Enjolras", she scolded lightly.

"What?"

"I know you loved him. And I know he loved you". She frowned at him. Now was not the time for him to withhold his emotions.

"He was my business partner, my compatriot, we shared a vision", he replied, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and sitting up.

"No".

"No?"

"You know that's not all. He was you. He was what you wanted to be at his age. He inspired you, he believed in you. And you loved him".

Enjolras pursed his lips, getting up from the bed.

"Don't. I can't do this now", he said. She heard the emotion flood back into his voice and quickly got up from the bed herself, confronting him as he reached for the door knob.

"Don't you walk away from me Enjolras. That man loved you like you were his own son.", she said gently but firmly.

He spun around to her, grasping her shoulders desperately. She caught the flicker of emotions running behind his eyes. Anger and grief, and the inevitable battle as he sought to restrain it all.

He softened as they locked eyes, his grief finally breaking the dam he had built to hold them in these past few hours.

"It's true. I respected him. How could anybody not love Jean? But what am I to do with that now? He was more father to me than my own has ever been. He made me feel like we weren't just daydreaming our beliefs. He lived it 'Ponine! He lived it his whole life! And you should see the others. They're broken Eponine. They're all so broken. And I don't know how to fix them because I'm fucking broken too!" His voice rattled as he swallowed a sob. But he sat down on the bed again, his head in his hands.

"Enj, you have to face this. You won't be able to help the others if you don't face your own grief"

He looked up at her, rubbing his hands through his hair. "And what of you Eponine? What of your grief?"

The tears came easily with his question, and the feeling of loss rose in her chest as she began to sob. "I will miss him all the days of my life. He was one of only a few people that made me feel like my past was nothing to be ashamed of. And he redeemed me by letting me start the Harvest. So, how do you replace that?" she asked, mostly of herself. She breathed deeply, stabilising herself.

"I'm sorry", he said.

"It's alright, in the past I've mostly had to deal with death alone. This is new for me too".

"Come over here", he beckoned her. He caught hold of her hips as she returned to the bed, pressing his face into her stomach as clasped his hands around her back. She fingered the tendrils of his hair as he lifted her shirt, placing kisses on her stomach. He needed to lose himself in her again. In Eponine, he could wallow until there was no more pain. Just her.

"I'm sorry", he mumbled again, tracing around her bellybutton with his tongue.

Despite the drying tears on her face, Eponine felt herself becoming aroused. She'd heard of people having sex after funerals, and perhaps now she could understand the reasoning. It makes me feel alive, she thought. In this moment, she would let herself be worshipped until every cell in her body let her know that death was surrounding them but they were not dead.

Enjolras' fingers were tugging at her top of her boyshorts. Underneath them she was bare. He pulled them down till they fell at her feet, leaving her standing in front of him in only his t-shirt.

He looked up, catching her eyes. "I want to taste you. It's been so long". Her knees almost buckled at the words. She'd forgotten how good his tongue could feel on her. She nodded as he pulled one leg up onto the bed, even as he slid down so he was seated on the floor.

He spread her lips lightly with his hands before tentatively tasting her with his tongue. The muskiness and the immediate response from her made him instantly hard. He groaned into her as he licked her, tasting the deliciousness of her sex, all the while keeping away from her sensitive clit. Instead he teased around the edges with long strokes of his tongue followed by loving, passionate kisses to her delicate folds. Her hips started to buck involuntarily and he knew she wasn't far off. Slowly he turned her around, getting to his knees as he laid her in front of him on the bed.

Speech evaded her now, and Enjolras listened to her ragged breath and hot moans as she got closer and closer to release. Never taking his mouth off her, he continued until he couldn't take it any longer, inserting his tongue as far and as deep into her as he could, keeping it firm and hard as he fucked her with it. She pulled his head upward and he knew what she desired.

He paused for a moment, making her need grow before flicking her clit with tongue, and then gently sucking.

"Fuck yes!" she screamed. He roughened his tongue, not licking the nub directly but slightly above. He slipped a finger inside her as he continued and the double stimulation finally made her come undone. Her legs started shaking as the pleasure built and then spilled over as she climaxed hard and fast. Relief and tears were on her face as she pulled him up to her.

"I missed you", he said, laying her on his chest and using his thumb to brush away the tears.

"I missed you too", she said when she could gather her breath. She put her head down and listened to his heartbeat as she struggled with the melting pot of emotions flooding through her.

"How are we going to get through this?" he asked.

"You'll find a way. You have to pull everyone together now", she said, reaching up to stroke his cheek. He grasped her hand and kissed it.

In the dark as they lay together, he wondered where the strength would come from, and what else lay ahead.