Chapter 10
Marius awoke, and his first thoughts were the same as his last; Eponine. He knew she was safe and he ached to see her again. He felt pain in his torso and coolness on his forehead. He wanted to open his eyes and drink the sight of Eponine as he had before. But when he opened them, it wasn't Eponine he saw, but Cosette. She was placing a damp cloth on his forehead when she saw he was awake.
"Papa?"
A man moved towards Marius. It was the same man whom everyone thought was the spy. He had proved he wasn't in the army when he shot a sniper that was targeting Enjolras. The man was wearing a bandage over his shoulder.
"How are you, son?"
"A little in pain." His emotional pain nearly doubled his physical. "Was I the only..."
"Don't get cocky, Marius. Your Fearless Leader has survived."
"Oh, thank God, Enjolras."
"And Grantaire is alive, unless he's drunken himself into a stupor."
"No doubt he's drunk on love."
"Oh Marius," breathed Cosette. "I was so afraid that you wouldn't make it." She couldn't see Enjolras raise his eyebrows.
"We'll give you a minute," said the man leading Enjolras, who wore a sling, out of the room. The door closed and Marius spoke first.
"You got my note?"
"Oh, yes."
"Thank God. I need not explain myself."
"Explain yourself for what?"
"It was a farewell note, Cosette. You're going to England."
"And you are coming as well."
"What did you say?"
"Papa said that you would be more than welcome to come with us. That way, we can be married in England, and..."
"Wait, Cosette. Did you say 'married'?"
"Yes. Papa has agreed that you would be a perfect husband for me."
Marius sat up, and as the sheet fell off his chest, he saw that he wore no shirt and that his stomach area was wrapped in a large white bandage. Grabbing the covers out of humiliation, he looked at Cosette.
"We never talked about marriage."
"You said you loved me."
"I said I adored you and that I cared about you."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I can't marry you, Cosette."
Cosette stared at him harshly. "And why not?" she hissed.
"I don't love you. I love someone else."
"I don't suppose you could tell me who this person is, could you?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yes, Marius. I want to know."
"Eponine."
"Eponine?" Cosette could hardly breathe. "Eponine Thenardier? That spoiled rotten brat! I knew she would do something like this!"
"Like what?"
"She always wants what I have. She can't be happy unless what is mine is hers."
"How do you know Eponine, besides when she came here?"
"I used to live with her family. They were horrible. I was beaten, and tortured, and treated as their slave. Eponine and her sister taunted me and treated me like dirt while they acted like perfect angels. But then I got my father back. I began to live a perfect life, and I had the perfect love. She was in her place. Poor, disheveled, and unhappy. It made me grin to see her like that on the street."
Marius sat with his mouth half-open. "How can you say that? Do you know what that girl has been through? She's tried to make sure that her siblings get the best of everything! They've suffered all these years!"
"And I didn't!"
"You may have, but she's worked her hands raw to make sure Azelma and Gavroche live properly, eat properly, and are happy. And that's what I love about her."
"That's wonderful then. Go live with your gamine, and I'll go to England and find a man who will fall in love with the right kind of woman. Your friend can help you out."
She left the room in a rage and Enjolras stepped in.
"Don't say anything, Enjolras."
"I was just going to suggest seeing how you stand. We'll have to walk downstairs to the carriage."
"That much I think I can do."
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A tear escaped the corner of Eponine's eye as she thought of the kiss her and Marius had shared the night of the barricade. A couple of days had gone by and the four survivors had hardly spoken of anyone. Azelma and Grantaire usually took Gavroche out during the afternoon while Eponine lay in Marius' old room crying.
It had only been days, and yet she missed him. She missed everything about him. The smell of him, his clean-shaven appearance, his laugh, and most of all, his smile. She replayed him speaking of politics and his studies of law. She heard him joking with his friends and arguing with strangers. She saw him playing silly games with her brother and embarrassing her sister. She felt his fingers touch her cheek and his lips brush her own.
She heard the door open and footsteps enter the room. She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and pocketed it.
"Gavroche? Azelma? Grantaire? You haven't been gone an hour."
"Haven't we?"
Eponine knew that voice, but it wasn't one of the aforementioned people. It couldn't be possible. She came into the main room to see Enjolras supporting Marius. Marius looked up at her, and sighed deeply as he smiled. Her face lit up. Enjolras eased him down into a chair and Eponine ran to his side.
"Oh my God. They said you were dead!"
"Do we look dead?" asked Enjolras jokingly.
"Where have you been?"
"At Rue Plumet. Saying goodbye again."
"Marius." She threw herself into his arms, but pulled back when he cringed in pain. "Oh, you've been shot."
"Not badly."
She made a face. "You can barely walk."
"I made it all the way here."
"By carriage," muttered Enjolras.
"Please, Enjolras, make me look like a knight in shining armor. Where's everybody?"
"They took Gavroche for a walk. You know, he was extremely disappointed that you wouldn't let him stay."
"Could you blame me, Eponine?" asked Enjolras. "Only three people who were at the barricade during the battle survived."
"Thank God you're both okay. But everyone else..."
"They're gone," said Marius heavily. "All of them."
"I'll go get your bed ready, Marius. You need rest. The doctor told me before."
"How do I know that isn't a lie?"
"I wouldn't keep someone secluded in a room, even as a joke, for weeks on end."
Marius groaned as Enjolras went into the back room. He turned to look at Eponine and saw her swollen eyes.
"You were crying?"
"We thought you were dead. I was so upset."
"Don't be anymore. I'm here, and I promise never to leave you again."
"You give me your word?"
"'Ponine, I'll do better than that."
"How?"
"I promise that I will never leave your side if you promise me that you will be my wife."
Eponine hardly saw through the tears. What she had always pictured him saying were finally true. She finally had Marius as her own.
"Yes! Yes, I will, Marius! Yes!"
She wrapped her arms around him as he breathed in the sweet fragrance of her. They met in a kiss, which was soon interrupted.
"You really should close the front door before making such a private display," said Grantaire.
"Marius! You're here!"
"He's not the only one."
"Enjolras! You're both safe!"
"You bet we are," said Enjolras picking up Gavroche and placing him on his shoulders.
"Something tells me these two have finally realized that they were hiding something all this time," said Azelma as Grantaire draped his arms around her.
The two couples became engrossed in themselves as Gavroche became disgusted by the display.
"You don't like this?" laughed Enjolras.
"I am not living in the same house as this."
"You're right. You need to be in a man's house."
"A regular bachelor pad."
"Well, my dear, little leader, I am currently without a roommate. Would you be up to the position?"
"Really?"
"Indeed. I'm not looking to fall in love anytime soon. You're a safe bet with me."
"Thank God. I might have gone crazy with all of them."
************************************************************************
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Eponine glowed as Marius smiled back at her. There was just the six of them at the church in a private joint ceremony, but Eponine thought it was perfect. Marius had managed to rent a small cottage about and hour and a half outside of Paris, which is where they were going to live. Azelma and Grantaire decided to keep the room at the cafe while Grantaire finished University. Gavroche and Enjolras were comfortably situated in Enjolras' apartment, although they might as well have lived in the cafe.
Marius was hired at a law firm a short distance from their cottage, which would provide a steady income. He and Eponine had already talked about starting a family, and they were more than eager to become parents.
The two brides kissed each other goodbye before hugging their brothers-in-law. Enjolras kissed Eponine on the cheek.
"Take care of him, and yourself."
"I'm more than capable of taking care of my own wife, thank you."
"If you say so, Marius," said Enjolras, hugging his best friend.
"Bye, 'Ponine! Bye, Marius!"
"Oh, Gavroche. Listen, behave yourself."
"Oh, God. Like she was my mother."
His sister planted a kiss on his forehead and took her husband's hand. He helped her up onto the carriage, and they both waved goodbye as they drove away.
Eponine leaned her head on Marius' shoulder while looking out her window. He played with loose pieces of her hair while he looked out the other window. Just as they were leaving the city, Eponine sat up and stared out the window.
"Driver! Stop! Give me a minute."
"'Ponine, what is it?"
"There's something I need to do."
Eponine stepped out of the carriage in her brand new dress that made her look and feel like the Baroness that she was. She approached two figures sitting beneath a bridge.
"Good day, Madame. Can you spare anything at all?"
"Madame, my wife is sick. Anything at all would help."
"What do you need?" asked Eponine, opening her purse.
"A few francs, perhaps."
Eponine found the envelope that she had been saving for months. Inside, it contained nearly a hundred francs that she had saved. She gave it to the man. He opened it, and his smile grew wide.
"How can we ever thank you?"
"Stay away from the Cafe Musain."
"What? Stay away? Why?" asked the woman.
"Because you've enough money there to be content away from all that."
"Who are you?" asked the man, looking her over again and again.
"I used to be your daughter, Eponine Thenardier. But now, I'm Madame Pontmercy."
"You..."
"I'm happy now, Mama. And now that you have that money, no doubt you are as well."
"Your sister and brother. You finally abandoned them, have you? We raised you better than that."
"They are being taken care of. Azelma is in love and married as well and Gavroche is in more than capable hands. I have plans to see them again soon. You, however, I never wish to see again."
She heard her father mutter, "Me own flesh and blood." She blocked him out.
"Good day to you both. I hope life treats you right." She went back to the carriage and went in. "Driver," she called and they were off again. She heard her mother yell, "Good riddance!" That didn't matter now. The name 'Thenardier' was a thing of the past. She would never be a 'Thenardier' anymore. From this day on, she was a 'Pontmercy'.
The sun was just about to set when they arrived at their cottage. Marius paid the driver and thanked him. The driver took the three bags and placed them inside. Eponine watched him drive away. She stepped into the house and gazed around, awestruck. Marius came up behind her, and gave her a kiss.
"Welcome home."
Marius awoke, and his first thoughts were the same as his last; Eponine. He knew she was safe and he ached to see her again. He felt pain in his torso and coolness on his forehead. He wanted to open his eyes and drink the sight of Eponine as he had before. But when he opened them, it wasn't Eponine he saw, but Cosette. She was placing a damp cloth on his forehead when she saw he was awake.
"Papa?"
A man moved towards Marius. It was the same man whom everyone thought was the spy. He had proved he wasn't in the army when he shot a sniper that was targeting Enjolras. The man was wearing a bandage over his shoulder.
"How are you, son?"
"A little in pain." His emotional pain nearly doubled his physical. "Was I the only..."
"Don't get cocky, Marius. Your Fearless Leader has survived."
"Oh, thank God, Enjolras."
"And Grantaire is alive, unless he's drunken himself into a stupor."
"No doubt he's drunk on love."
"Oh Marius," breathed Cosette. "I was so afraid that you wouldn't make it." She couldn't see Enjolras raise his eyebrows.
"We'll give you a minute," said the man leading Enjolras, who wore a sling, out of the room. The door closed and Marius spoke first.
"You got my note?"
"Oh, yes."
"Thank God. I need not explain myself."
"Explain yourself for what?"
"It was a farewell note, Cosette. You're going to England."
"And you are coming as well."
"What did you say?"
"Papa said that you would be more than welcome to come with us. That way, we can be married in England, and..."
"Wait, Cosette. Did you say 'married'?"
"Yes. Papa has agreed that you would be a perfect husband for me."
Marius sat up, and as the sheet fell off his chest, he saw that he wore no shirt and that his stomach area was wrapped in a large white bandage. Grabbing the covers out of humiliation, he looked at Cosette.
"We never talked about marriage."
"You said you loved me."
"I said I adored you and that I cared about you."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I can't marry you, Cosette."
Cosette stared at him harshly. "And why not?" she hissed.
"I don't love you. I love someone else."
"I don't suppose you could tell me who this person is, could you?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yes, Marius. I want to know."
"Eponine."
"Eponine?" Cosette could hardly breathe. "Eponine Thenardier? That spoiled rotten brat! I knew she would do something like this!"
"Like what?"
"She always wants what I have. She can't be happy unless what is mine is hers."
"How do you know Eponine, besides when she came here?"
"I used to live with her family. They were horrible. I was beaten, and tortured, and treated as their slave. Eponine and her sister taunted me and treated me like dirt while they acted like perfect angels. But then I got my father back. I began to live a perfect life, and I had the perfect love. She was in her place. Poor, disheveled, and unhappy. It made me grin to see her like that on the street."
Marius sat with his mouth half-open. "How can you say that? Do you know what that girl has been through? She's tried to make sure that her siblings get the best of everything! They've suffered all these years!"
"And I didn't!"
"You may have, but she's worked her hands raw to make sure Azelma and Gavroche live properly, eat properly, and are happy. And that's what I love about her."
"That's wonderful then. Go live with your gamine, and I'll go to England and find a man who will fall in love with the right kind of woman. Your friend can help you out."
She left the room in a rage and Enjolras stepped in.
"Don't say anything, Enjolras."
"I was just going to suggest seeing how you stand. We'll have to walk downstairs to the carriage."
"That much I think I can do."
************************************************************************
A tear escaped the corner of Eponine's eye as she thought of the kiss her and Marius had shared the night of the barricade. A couple of days had gone by and the four survivors had hardly spoken of anyone. Azelma and Grantaire usually took Gavroche out during the afternoon while Eponine lay in Marius' old room crying.
It had only been days, and yet she missed him. She missed everything about him. The smell of him, his clean-shaven appearance, his laugh, and most of all, his smile. She replayed him speaking of politics and his studies of law. She heard him joking with his friends and arguing with strangers. She saw him playing silly games with her brother and embarrassing her sister. She felt his fingers touch her cheek and his lips brush her own.
She heard the door open and footsteps enter the room. She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and pocketed it.
"Gavroche? Azelma? Grantaire? You haven't been gone an hour."
"Haven't we?"
Eponine knew that voice, but it wasn't one of the aforementioned people. It couldn't be possible. She came into the main room to see Enjolras supporting Marius. Marius looked up at her, and sighed deeply as he smiled. Her face lit up. Enjolras eased him down into a chair and Eponine ran to his side.
"Oh my God. They said you were dead!"
"Do we look dead?" asked Enjolras jokingly.
"Where have you been?"
"At Rue Plumet. Saying goodbye again."
"Marius." She threw herself into his arms, but pulled back when he cringed in pain. "Oh, you've been shot."
"Not badly."
She made a face. "You can barely walk."
"I made it all the way here."
"By carriage," muttered Enjolras.
"Please, Enjolras, make me look like a knight in shining armor. Where's everybody?"
"They took Gavroche for a walk. You know, he was extremely disappointed that you wouldn't let him stay."
"Could you blame me, Eponine?" asked Enjolras. "Only three people who were at the barricade during the battle survived."
"Thank God you're both okay. But everyone else..."
"They're gone," said Marius heavily. "All of them."
"I'll go get your bed ready, Marius. You need rest. The doctor told me before."
"How do I know that isn't a lie?"
"I wouldn't keep someone secluded in a room, even as a joke, for weeks on end."
Marius groaned as Enjolras went into the back room. He turned to look at Eponine and saw her swollen eyes.
"You were crying?"
"We thought you were dead. I was so upset."
"Don't be anymore. I'm here, and I promise never to leave you again."
"You give me your word?"
"'Ponine, I'll do better than that."
"How?"
"I promise that I will never leave your side if you promise me that you will be my wife."
Eponine hardly saw through the tears. What she had always pictured him saying were finally true. She finally had Marius as her own.
"Yes! Yes, I will, Marius! Yes!"
She wrapped her arms around him as he breathed in the sweet fragrance of her. They met in a kiss, which was soon interrupted.
"You really should close the front door before making such a private display," said Grantaire.
"Marius! You're here!"
"He's not the only one."
"Enjolras! You're both safe!"
"You bet we are," said Enjolras picking up Gavroche and placing him on his shoulders.
"Something tells me these two have finally realized that they were hiding something all this time," said Azelma as Grantaire draped his arms around her.
The two couples became engrossed in themselves as Gavroche became disgusted by the display.
"You don't like this?" laughed Enjolras.
"I am not living in the same house as this."
"You're right. You need to be in a man's house."
"A regular bachelor pad."
"Well, my dear, little leader, I am currently without a roommate. Would you be up to the position?"
"Really?"
"Indeed. I'm not looking to fall in love anytime soon. You're a safe bet with me."
"Thank God. I might have gone crazy with all of them."
************************************************************************
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Eponine glowed as Marius smiled back at her. There was just the six of them at the church in a private joint ceremony, but Eponine thought it was perfect. Marius had managed to rent a small cottage about and hour and a half outside of Paris, which is where they were going to live. Azelma and Grantaire decided to keep the room at the cafe while Grantaire finished University. Gavroche and Enjolras were comfortably situated in Enjolras' apartment, although they might as well have lived in the cafe.
Marius was hired at a law firm a short distance from their cottage, which would provide a steady income. He and Eponine had already talked about starting a family, and they were more than eager to become parents.
The two brides kissed each other goodbye before hugging their brothers-in-law. Enjolras kissed Eponine on the cheek.
"Take care of him, and yourself."
"I'm more than capable of taking care of my own wife, thank you."
"If you say so, Marius," said Enjolras, hugging his best friend.
"Bye, 'Ponine! Bye, Marius!"
"Oh, Gavroche. Listen, behave yourself."
"Oh, God. Like she was my mother."
His sister planted a kiss on his forehead and took her husband's hand. He helped her up onto the carriage, and they both waved goodbye as they drove away.
Eponine leaned her head on Marius' shoulder while looking out her window. He played with loose pieces of her hair while he looked out the other window. Just as they were leaving the city, Eponine sat up and stared out the window.
"Driver! Stop! Give me a minute."
"'Ponine, what is it?"
"There's something I need to do."
Eponine stepped out of the carriage in her brand new dress that made her look and feel like the Baroness that she was. She approached two figures sitting beneath a bridge.
"Good day, Madame. Can you spare anything at all?"
"Madame, my wife is sick. Anything at all would help."
"What do you need?" asked Eponine, opening her purse.
"A few francs, perhaps."
Eponine found the envelope that she had been saving for months. Inside, it contained nearly a hundred francs that she had saved. She gave it to the man. He opened it, and his smile grew wide.
"How can we ever thank you?"
"Stay away from the Cafe Musain."
"What? Stay away? Why?" asked the woman.
"Because you've enough money there to be content away from all that."
"Who are you?" asked the man, looking her over again and again.
"I used to be your daughter, Eponine Thenardier. But now, I'm Madame Pontmercy."
"You..."
"I'm happy now, Mama. And now that you have that money, no doubt you are as well."
"Your sister and brother. You finally abandoned them, have you? We raised you better than that."
"They are being taken care of. Azelma is in love and married as well and Gavroche is in more than capable hands. I have plans to see them again soon. You, however, I never wish to see again."
She heard her father mutter, "Me own flesh and blood." She blocked him out.
"Good day to you both. I hope life treats you right." She went back to the carriage and went in. "Driver," she called and they were off again. She heard her mother yell, "Good riddance!" That didn't matter now. The name 'Thenardier' was a thing of the past. She would never be a 'Thenardier' anymore. From this day on, she was a 'Pontmercy'.
The sun was just about to set when they arrived at their cottage. Marius paid the driver and thanked him. The driver took the three bags and placed them inside. Eponine watched him drive away. She stepped into the house and gazed around, awestruck. Marius came up behind her, and gave her a kiss.
"Welcome home."