A/N- This was going to be a quick update, but the site wasn't cooperating with me. I was going to post this chapter on Saturday, the day after I updated, just because I loved the reviews from T-R-Us so very much. It didn't work, though, so this is the best I can do. Oh well. This is my favorite of favorite chapters. If it doesn't make you smile, you can flame me.

nebulia- When I was writing this story, my friend Pink Velvet was constantly saying "It's so soap opera-ish!" but, as you said, she told me it was in a good way. Maybe I should be the scriptwriter for a soap opera...

elenlaurelin- Nina is currently safe from all and/or any kind(s) of death. Hehe... that looked like a question off a test or something. No, no STD's are present in my stories.

T-R-Us- I loved your kind, kind, kind reviews! You made me feel... well... loved. I did try to do one of the quickest updates I've ever done just for you, but... as I said... the site was all messed up.

Danica Enjolras- You love Scott almost as much as Rob and Mark? Wow... he has a following now. My English teacher's first name is Mark, and every time I see/hear it I get so distracted...

The Artist Formerly Known As The Greenwitch, Fae- There are some things I see in fanfiction that I really wish could be a video/recording. It would be quite... amusing. Then again, I am easily amused.

BellaSpirita- Yay another reader! I love your diary of Victor Hugo. I tried to review it, but for some reason the computer I was on wasn't working. Yeah, I hope Gary Morris never reads this story...

Obsetress- Fabity-fab-fab? That's a new word that I'll have to attempt to put into circulation. Nina... is... I dunno. I just... thought she should have a kid from Scott. It's my strange soap opera-ish tendencies. Odd, because I've never even seen a soap. Except once... but that was an accident, simply an accident.

Nina arrived at the theater several minutes after the curtain rose.

"Nina," Amanda gasped. "Oh, Nina! We were so worried about you! Mark showed up a long time ago, and he was almost crazy! John practically wrestled him into his convict costume and had to shove him onstage when the show started..."

Mark... Nina thought sadly. I told him that we couldn't work... It's over... It has to be over... There's nothing I can do... nothing he can do...

The convicts were filing offstage, and Mark immediately rushed to her. "Nina! Where were you? I was so worried..."

"I had to... I... lost track of time," she answered quietly, stepping away from him.

"Come on," Amanda said, pulling her into the dressing room.

The state of despair in which Nina found herself made for another breath-taking performance. The sound of sniffling and nose blowing from the audience nearly drowned out Mark's lines after Nina had collapsed into the arms of Scott's understudy.

By the time the curtain call was over, Nina was ready to go home. She turned to leave the stage, but John stood in her way. He whispered, "Stay here."

"My name is Mark," came a voice from behind her, "and – as you probably know – I play Enjolras-" He was interrupted by a wild applause.

Nina turned to face him. Mark smiled at her as he continued to speak to the audience. "I've met quite a few people who are avid fans of the show, and I've answered some odd questions in the time I've been in Les Mis. The ones I hear most often are, 'How'd you get on the flag?', 'Why'd you say for Marius to rest after telling everyone not to sleep?', and the ever-popular 'Where can I get a vest like that?'"

Several of the audience cheered, and Mark paused again. Nina looked around the stage, surprised to see that the entire cast was standing behind her. John grinned and winked when he caught her confused glance.

"But my favorite question is definitely 'Why doesn't Enjolras hook up with Eponine?' I've gotten that one quite often – does anyone else wonder about that?"

There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd and, interestingly enough, from the cast.

"Those of you who've read the book get it, because Eponine in the book wasn't beautiful like the one onstage." Nina flushed. "In the book... it's just impossible."

Mark grabbed one of Nina's hands and pulled her toward him.

"This isn't the book."

John stepped forward, handing him a little black box. Mark took it and dropped to one knee.

"Eponine – Nina? Will you marry me?"

Her mind raced. But I've told him that we can't be together! I'm pregnant with Scott's child – didn't he hear that? If people realized that I was pregnant before the wedding they would think... But what do I care what they think? What do I want? Don't I want to be with him? And here he is offering to help me with this child...

"Say 'yes'!" someone shouted from the balcony. A few people laughed nervously.

Nina looked at Mark's face. He was beginning to look worried. She made a decision.

"Of course I will."

Mark got to his feet, pulled Nina into his arms, and kissed her.

The applause was louder than it had been for the show.