Their fifth date is scuppered before it's begun, when Azelma phones to tell them her flight is cancelled and she won't make it home in time to babysit Gavroche and his pals at their sleepover tomorrow night.
Éponine has to bribe Enjolras to help her out, kissing him on the corner of the mouth and making all sorts of exciting promises which send his blood pounding and leave his cheeks an odd pink colour as he blushes furiously under her seductive smile.
But he agrees (as she knew he would) and they spend the following evening, not on the romantic riverside walk as they'd planned, but surrounded by shouting, boisterous seven year olds, who demand they play twister and serve ice cream for dinner. It's not her ideal way to spend the evening, but Éponine has to laugh when she returns from drying the remaining dishes to find Enjolras sat on the couch amid a sea of children, stony-faced as he is forced to listen to a CD of The Wiggles for a fourth time around.
Catching sight of her in the doorway, he stands abruptly and picks his way through the toys cluttering the floor.
"Ep, can I have a word in the kitchen please?"
He struts past her and she follows with a smirk.
"Éponine, we – MIND THOSE KNIVES!"
Enjolras claps a hand to his eyes in horror as Éponine rushes over to salvage the cutlery that is teetering on the edge of the counter, shooing the mischievous child out of the room.
Wide-eyed and staring at her from between his fingers, Enjolras lets out a groaning sigh. "Eponine..."
"Oh come on, Enj, it's fun!" she interrupts, giving him a playful punch on the arm. "Besides, it's good practice for when we have kids."
She flashes him a wink and a grin, exiting the kitchen.
He follows soon after, open-mouthed and pale.
"What do you mean, when we ha-"
A small child wearing a plastic Viking helmet headbutts his stomach, and the children gasp in unison as Enjolras lets out a string of expletives.
...*...
She giggles as she hugs him comfortingly back in the safe haven of the kitchen.
"Well what do you know Éponine, now we can't have kids. Might as well take one of these ones, eh? Pick one and we'll keep it."
She laughs and flicks his nose, and he reaches up to grab her hand, leaning forward to give her a small and tender peck on the lips, just as the unmistakeable sound of The Wiggles 'Hot Potato' starts in the next room.
He groans into her mouth and pulls away.
The sixth time, Éponine has measles, and their date takes place via satellite as they talk on Skype.
"I'm sorry I've ruined our plans."
"It's not your fault. I bet it was one of those damn kids the other night."
"Don't be ridiculous."
There is a comfortable silence as Éponine eats a mouthful of chicken soup, nibbling on the edge of some buttered toast.
Enjolras watches her eat affectionately.
"I'm sorry I can't be there to look after you."
"It's alright. Really, I got a note through the letterbox from Joly telling me not to let anyone in anyway. In case it spreads. You know what he's like."
Enjolras rolls his eyes.
"The best thing that could happen to him is measles. Then maybe he'll learn to deal with it and calm down and the rest of us can be ill in peace. Honestly, remember that time I had the flu, and a pounding headache and I was throwing up everywhere? And all I wanted was some peace and quiet but he simply refused to-"
"Enjolras?"
"Yes?"
"Hush."
Their seventh attempt at a date sees the two of them boating in the park.
They get up at ExtremelyEarly:am and catch a train to the edge of the city, Éponine nodding off on Enjolras' shoulder as their carriage rattles along the track. The day is peaceful, a lazy and sunny Sunday afternoon, and the park is filled with couples and families, old and young, all eager to make the most of the sunshine before Monday arrives once more and drags them back indoors.
As Enjolras takes charge of the oars, Éponine reclines on her seat and lets out a contented sigh, feet hanging over the edge of the little rowing boat.
"I could get used to this life. What a way to travel, eh?"
Enjolras can't help but smile.
"And where exactly would you be going via rowing boat?"
They meander across the little lake, enjoying the heat of the sunshine.
"Hey!" Éponine perks up. "Didn't we have some left over sandwiches? We should feed the ducks."
"I don't know, Ep, no one else is doing that-"
"Oh what harm could it do?"
She rummages through the picnic basket and begins to crumble the remains of their lunch into breadcrumbs. Enjolras eyes her uncertainly.
"I don't think it's allowed, Ep-"
But she has already thrown the food out over the water, and as she does so a gust of wind picks up from across the lake and blows it all backwards, coating Éponine's dress with a layer of breadcrumbs. As the seagulls dive from overhead, she gives a blood-curdling shriek and stands up in a panic, sending the boat rocking and Enjolras cursing. People passing by in other boats stare in astonishment as the young man tries to bat away the birds with one of the oars, the boat rotating across the water and the girl squealing in terror.
The ordeal comes to an end when, with an almighty bang and the sound of splintering wood, they crash sideways into the rocks on the edge of the lake.
The park-keeper is less than amused as he rescues them from the water, (the young girl snivelling, and both drenched head to toe), and makes sure to charge for the damage to the boat.
"I'm sorry about this."
"Don't be silly."
Éponine gives a final wave to Enjolras' aunt and uncle as their car disappears around the corner of the street, and closes the door softly.
"It's just, I know this was your first night off work in ages, and I meant to do something nice."
"This is nice," she replies with a sigh, reaching for his hand. "Besides, I haven't had to do this since Gavroche was a baby. It'll be just like old times. 'Cept the company's better this time, of course."
Éponine leans back against the closed door and grins mischievously, grabbing the collar of Enjolras' shirt and yanking him closer for a passionate kiss.
They are just getting lost in each other when a loud howl erupts from somewhere upstairs.
"Woops."
Flushed, Éponine ruffles her hair and steps away from a protesting Enjolras, ducking beneath his outstretched arms.
"Duty calls."
Enjolras give a rough cough and runs a hand through his dishevelled curls. "Yeah…'course."
Leaning back against the doorframe with a contented sigh, he watches his girlfriend bound up the staircase two at a time, in the direction of the cries.
...*...
One pizza, two glasses of wine and an entire boxset of Scrubs later, the couple are huddled cosily on the couch, simply enjoying the quiet time together. It is almost time for Enjolras' aunt and uncle to be back, Éponine declares, stretching and standing. They go their separate ways, Éponine upstairs to check on the baby one more time, and Enjolras outside to take the garbage to the bin.
A little while later, as he passes quietly down the hall from the bathroom, a quiet sound reaches his ears, stopping him in his tracks.
The door of the baby's room is slightly ajar, a sliver of warm light falling across the dark landing, and leaving Enjolras just enough room to discreetly peep round. From where he stands, he cannot see the crib, but catches sight of Éponine in the mirror, humming a soft refrain as she holds the infant close to her chest and rocks to and fro. As he gazes at the scene, something he has never felt before washes over him, a feeling so strong that he fears it will burst from his chest.
Oblivious to no presence but that of her charge, Éponine cradles the little bundle lovingly to her, and continues singing quietly.
"Only you, beneath the sun and under the moon…"
He stands in the doorway for a long while, unable to tear himself away.
To Be Continued.