Hey! Sorry if it's been awhile since I've updated. Thank you so much if you have taken the time to review the story. You have no idea how happy I get when an email comes across with updates like that!

I figured I should probably spew out some sort of chapter before my mother takes my Kindle downstairs for good and I have a lot of trouble posting. Anyways, what you came here for, your chapter.

9:15 AM

"There once was a man. He went by the name of Jean Valjean." The elder man spewed. Marius sat, slowly drinking it all in. Here before him sat a more complex man then anyone he had ever met. Slowly, pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. Why he had never seen Cosette before no matter how many other times he had been to the Luxembourg Gardens. Why she sometimes went by different names and why it was such a big deal to her when they were meeting in secret. Her dad didn't want to be found out, and Cosette never knew why. She just knew that there was a reason why her father lived shrouded in secrecy, and not to ask questions.

"So, for these reasons, I give you my blessing to marry Cosette." Marius was pulled from his thoughts at these words. Cosette is mine. Forever. And nothing can keep us apart!

The younger man hastily jumped up and shook the old man's hand. Probably a little harder than he needed to.

"Oh, thank you, sir! I promise, you won't regret it. I'll take great care of Cosette. She- well, she means the world to me." Jean Valjean have a sad smile.

"Just promise me something, young man."

"Anything."

"You can't tell Cosette any of this." Marius blinked. He furrowed his brow.

"But sir. You are her father! What am I supposed to tell her? No matter what I say, she's not going to believe me." Marius asked.

"Just tell her- " Valjean sighed. "Just tell her it would hurt too much to see her go." And with that, he turned on his heal. Quickly wiping a stray tear away before he hopped on his carriage back home.

6:00 PM

"Please, Marius, tell me where we're going!" Cosette giggled, pretending to be mad at Marius. They bumped along the cobblestone streets of Paris in a small carriage. Marius just smiled and kissed his teeth.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that, love." She gave a quick pout before leaning into Marius. "You'll just have to find out when we get there.

When they arrived at their destination, Marius placed a hand over Cosette's eyes to keep them shut until he had her right where he wanted her.

"And 3-2-1, open." He removed his hand to reveal a bench nestled between many flowers in the Rue Plummet. A few candles surrounded the small area to give it a romantic air.

"Do you like it?" Marius asked softly.

"Marius," she turned to face him. "I- I don't know what to say!"

"Then make no sound." He chuckled, remembering a line he had used when they first met. He pulled her into a long, drawn out kiss that left them both gasping for air.

The pair spent an hour or so, just walking and talking around the garden. They recounted their many adventures and steps taken to get to this point in time. They laughed for the joyous times and mourned for the amount of people they had lost. They watched the sun set, Cosette resting her head upon Marius's shoulder.

The sun has just dipped below the horizon when a nervous Marius took a deep breath and asked Cosette what he had brought her here to ask.

"Cosette," he began. "You mean the world to me. I feel like I can't live without you and- "

"Yes?" She asked, sweetly tilting her head to one side and offering him a loving smile.

"Cosette- would you- would you make me the happiest man on the planet and- become my wife?" He gave her a shy smile as she planted a small kiss to his forehead.

"Yes." She breathed. " Yes I would love to be your wife."

Overjoyed, Marius stood up and spun her around. Their laughter echoed into the night and he pulled her into a deep kiss. They spent another half-hour dancing together in the moonlight.

A content smile had been fixed on Cosette's face as she twisted the small ring Marius had given her. She knew he was poor, and this was the best ring he could afford to give her, but she didn't care. All that mattered was that she had his love. Suddenly, she sat up with a start.

"Marius, you did get my father's blessing, right?" Marius chuckled at the sight of his flustered fiance.

"Yes, love. I've taken care of everything. You don't need to worry about a thing." And with that, she settled into Marius's open arms. Content and happy, and in love.

Let me know what you think! I will try and post the next chapter soon!