A/N: I'M NOT DEAD! Just scooting in with another chapter right before the new year.
I'm SO sorry; I'm the worst at updating. But between the end of the school year, finals, practicing, and family in for the holidays, I've barely had time to write! But hopefully, this chapter makes up for everything. Enjoy, and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Grantaire put the key into his apartment lock, sighing softly under his breath. Enjolras had put his father on trial that morning, and he knew it was not going to be a pretty case for the next few weeks. He worried for his friend – he knew that Enjolras had Éponine to take care of him, but all the same, he would catch himself being nervous about Enjolras' mental health.
"Alan?" He heard Azelma's voice called from inside the apartment. "Is that you, love?"
"Right here, sweetheart," he answered loudly, shutting the door behind him. "How was your day?"
She rounded the corner towards the door as she spoke. "It was fine. Have you seen the papers today?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
Grantaire frowned. "No, what's happened?"
"Here," Azelma answered, handing him the front page of that morning's paper. "I think that headline will say more than I could."
Frowning, Grantaire took it from her and started to read, slowly setting down his coat. "What…?" he murmured as he read, slowly walking towards the kitchen as he carried it. "This is ridiculous; they're slandering him for no reason!"
Azelma nodded. "I can't imagine why, though…he's doing the right thing, isn't he?"
"The papers are making a big show of the fact that it's a case of son vs. father. It's disgusting," Grantaire grumbled, setting the paper down on the coffee table and running his hands over his face as he plopped down on the sofa. "I worry about him sometimes, 'Zelma…this case is really hard on him already, and it's just begun."
She sat down next to him on the sofa, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It'll be alright, Alan. I'm sure of it," she reassured him, gently rubbing his shoulder blade. "My sister will take good care of him, trust me. She did the same for me and our siblings."
"I know she will, but…" Grantaire trailed off, sighing softly.
Azelma frowned. "But?"
"I worry about what he may not be telling her. I've known Enjolras for several years, and he tends to bottle up his emotions, especially things that may hurt other people. Considering the fact that his father hates her, I think he'd want to keep her from that as much as possible, and he'll do whatever it takes to ensure that his father can't get to her. He wants to protect her, but I'm afraid it may end up hurting her."
A bit to his surprise, Azelma chuckled quietly. "If Éponine wants to get it out of him, she will. She has a way of doing that, and believe me, I'd be one to know," she said.
She brought a smile to Grantaire's face, as she always did, and he leaned in to gently kiss her. Her lips were warm and soft when they met his, and he let his arm gently curve around her as she kissed him back. "I love you, Azelma," he murmured between kisses.
"I love you too, Alan," she answered softly, reaching up to stroke his cheek with a soft smile. "And I'm still so thankful that you stepped up to let me stay here."
Grantaire couldn't help but smile. "I just wanted to do the right thing…I never imagined how happy it would make me."
Azelma chuckled quietly. "Neither did I."
His smile grew a little as he stroked her hair back from her face. "Then…you are happy here? With me?"
"Well, of course. Why wouldn't I be happy?" she said.
"Will you marry me?" he blurted out.
Azelma recoiled and jumped up in surprise. "W-what?"
Grantaire suddenly felt frozen, but somehow, the words left his mouth again as he sank to one knee in front of her. "Azelma Thénardier, will you marry me?"
She started to stammer in shock. "A-Alan…are you sure?"
"Sweetheart, I couldn't be more sure," he said in the most serious tone she'd ever heard him use as he took her hand. "Look at what we've been through together already. We've seen good days and bad days, and we've come out of all of them stronger than ever. I want to be with you through all of the others that may come. You have enriched my life so much, just by being yourself, and being with me at the end of every day. Marry me, Azelma. Make me the happiest man in the world."
Azelma was speechless. She couldn't have seen herself getting engaged to Grantaire so soon, but simultaneously, she felt as though it were the perfect time. She covered her mouth with the hand he wasn't holding, trying to hold back her tears of joy. "Yes," she answered, almost laughing. "Yes, I'll marry you."
Unable to form a coherent thought, he got up and enveloped her in his arms, the woman who would soon become his wife. "What did I do to deserve you, Azelma?" he whispered into her hair.
His new fiancée reached up to wipe a tear he hadn't realized he'd shed from his eye. "You loved me," she answered simply, kissing his lips gently. "You took me in, you gave me all I could have asked for, and more than I could ever dream of having."
Grantaire couldn't help but smile. "You are my soul mate," he said softly, holding her face in his hands.
She chuckled softly. "You're so sappy," she grinned, kissing his cheek. "But it's part of what I love about you."
His own grin grew in response as he kissed her one more time. "Come on, let's go out to dinner tonight and celebrate. We can invite Enjolras and Éponine to come with us."
"That sounds perfect," she grinned back.
Éponine was was even more worried for Enjolras now that the trial had actually begun. His face was even more tired and worn, his tone of voice more haggard and harsh. She had thought that if anything, having part of the trial off his shoulders would ease him, but instead had only aggravated his condition.
So when there was a hurried, excited knock at the door, she was a little surprised, to say the least – but even more so when she opened the door to her joyful sister and Grantaire.
"Azelma! Grantaire!" she said, letting her pleasant surprise color her voice. "What brings you two by here?"
"We wanted to go out to dinner tonight," Grantaire grinned just as broadly as the lady at this side. "We were wondering if you and Enjolras would like to join us. Seems like he needs to get out for a while, anyway."
"I heard that, Grantaire," Enjolras called as he walked over to the door. "What's the occasion?"
Azelma only grinned. "That's a surprise."
"Well, I suppose we have no choice but to go to dinner, then," Enjolras laughed as he looked to Éponine. "What do you say?"
She smiled. "I'd love to."
"Perfect. Meet us here at 5:30? I can make a reservation for us at the Stork Club."
"We will!" Azelma grinned excitedly.
That night, as they were getting ready to leave the apartment, Éponine suddenly spoke.
"I wonder what this is all about," she said.
Enjolras looked at her as he straightened his tie. "This dinner?"
She nodded. "I haven't seen Azelma this happy in a very long time, and it makes me wonder what she's so happy about."
"Well, there's only one way to find out," Enjolras said as he shrugged on his suit jacket, "and that's to go to dinner. I'm assuming there's a reason they invited us to go with them."
Éponine chuckled quietly. "I suppose you're right. Ready to go?"
Her boyfriend nodded just as there was another knock at the door. Grinning, Éponine opened the door to Azelma and Grantaire. The women hugged fondly, while the men shook hands, Enjolras feeling more cordial towards Grantaire than usual. "Are we ready to go?" he asked, looking around towards the sisters.
Azelma nodded. "I believe we are."
Enjolras smiled, picking up his car keys. "Then let's head out. Our reservation is for 6:00."
The four of them piled into Enjolras' Model A, Éponine sitting shotgun to Enjolras; Azelma and Grantaire in the back. There was constant laughter and chatter all the way to the restaurant, a drive that seemed to take no time at all. Éponine looped her arm through Enjolras' as they walked up to the door, Azelma doing the same with Grantaire as the quartet walked in.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Stork Club," the young gentleman greeted them at the door. "Reservation?"
"Richard Enjolras, Jr., for four," he said.
He checked his list, looking up and smiling when he saw the name. "Right this way."
Behind them, Éponine could hear her sister murmuring to Grantaire, but all she could hear was the word "us." Her interest piqued, she risked a sideways glance over her shoulder at the pair. Azelma blushed when they made eye contact, and Éponine raised an eyebrow at her sister.
The younger woman merely grinned at her, the same mischievous grin that Éponine had seen since they were children. Azelma was going to stay tight-lipped for as long as she wanted, Éponine knew.
Soon, they were seated at a table close to the middle of the room, neighboring another small party in suits. Enjolras thought he recognized one of the men, but the ever-present smoky haze in the main room made it hard for him to tell. "Now, what will you all have to drink?" he asked.
"Just a water for me," Enjolras said.
"And me," Éponine echoed.
Azelma took a quick look at Grantaire. "Water all around," she chuckled.
A small smile crossed the waiter's face. "I'll have those right over," he said, walking way.
As soon as he was gone, Éponine grabbed her sister's wrist. "Come on, 'Zelma, tell us what's going on! I'm dying to know!"
Azelma grinned ear to ear, before looking to the man sitting next to her. "Alan, should we tell them?"
Grantaire chuckled. "Oh, I think it would be too cruel to make them wait for the news any longer."
Even Enjolras was leaning in towards them now, intrigued by the conversation. He'd been suspecting that something had been going on between them since the day he and the rest of the Amis had been teasing him at the Café…now was to see if he was right.
"Well, Alan asked me to marry him this afternoon…" Azelma started slowly; her sister's jaw was already agape. "And I said yes!"
Éponine barely contained a squeal of delight, and only because they were in a very high-end restaurant. However, she did dash around to the other side of the table to tightly hug her sister. "Oh God, that's brilliant! I'm so happy for you!" she said, also embracing her future brother-in-law.
"Dinner's on me, lovebirds," Enjolras grinned, shaking Grantaire's hand and embracing Azelma. "Congratulations!"
A look of pleasantly surprised shock crossed their faces. "Oh, Enjolras, you don't have to – " Azelma started to say, before he held up a hand to stop her. "I want to," he assured her with a smile.
The rest of the dinner passed with much laughter amongst the four of them, Éponine and her sister already gushing over the details of the wedding, while Grantaire and Enjolras mainly spectated, occasionally chuckling at their enthusiasm.
Enjolras, however, turned his head at exactly the wrong time, and promptly made eye contact with his father.
His stomach dropped, but he kept a strong front as their gazes locked. Grantaire followed suit, his face clearly hardening. Éponine looked over at Enjolras to ask his opinion on something, before she saw the man walking towards the table and simply held onto his elbow.
"Richard," the older man greeted his son coldly.
"Father," the younger replied, not even with a nod.
He surveyed the small party at the table with clear indignation on his face. "Care to introduce me to your…friends?" he asked icily.
Enjolras grit his teeth. "Grantaire, Azelma, meet my father."
His father's eyes darted between the two sisters just briefly. "I know there are men out there who enjoy two sisters at once…" he said. "I didn't think you'd be one of them, Richard."
Now, even his patient temperament had had enough. Enjolras stood up with a mind to slap his father across the face, but Éponine caught his arm. "Don't," she said quietly. Still fuming, he sat back down.
"I'll see you tomorrow back in court, son," Enjolras, Sr. said.
"I'll be counting down the hours," he retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The happy mood returned once the two couples piled back into Enjolras' car and the sisters started gushing over what kind of ring Azelma and Grantaire should pick out. However, once Enjolras and Éponine had dropped off Azelma and Grantaire at their apartment, his somber visage returned. She sighed softly, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't fret about it, my love," she said gently, rubbing his jacket. "You can't let him get to you."
"I don't know how much more of this I can take, Éponine," he said heavily. "The headlines on this case are getting worse day by day, and soon they're going to start slandering you…my father's already started."
She sighed softly, letting her arm wrap around his shoulders, and he turned his head to look at her. "Don't worry about me," she said. "You've got more urgent things on your plate right now than me."
Enjolras opened his mouth to protest, but knew it would be fruitless to try and argue with her. "Alright," he said softly. "Let's just go inside for a nightcap. I could use a drink."
Éponine nodded, and they got out of the car together, walking up the steps to the apartment. Much to their surprise, a hooded woman was on the doorstep. She turned to face them without taking off her garment, her eyes instantly connecting with Enjolras'.
"Cosette!" he said softly; Éponine heard the urgency in his voice. "Are you alright? Where's Fantine?"
"I need to talk to you," she said urgently.
He nodded, opening the door and ushering the two women in ahead of himself. "Can we get you anything, Cosette? A cup of coffee, tea, a glass of wine?" he asked concernedly.
His younger sister removed her hood and gently took a seat on the sofa. "A cup of tea would be nice, thank you," she said meekly. Éponine promptly walked to the kitchen and started the kettle as Enjolras sat next to his half-sister, taking off his tie. "What brings you here?"
"Our father has found out where I live," she said fearfully. "I'm scared, and I don't know what to do."
Enjolras' heart dropped. If he'd found out where Cosette's apartment was, that was certain to spell trouble later on. "Can you go back to your mother?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Papa is his bootlegger; he goes there too much for me to be safe."
"We have a spare bedroom, if you want to stay with us," Éponine offered as the kettle whistled from where she stood in the kitchen.
"You don't think he'd come storming over here?" Enjolras asked. "I'd be putting both of you at risk."
Éponine chuckled as she set Cosette's tea down in front of her. "We might be women, but we can look after ourselves, love. Don't worry."
Cosette smiled a little, comforted by Éponine's words as she took a drink of the warm beverage. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble for the two of you, I think I would like to stay here," she said, still seeming rather shy.
Enjolras smiled, looping his arm around her shoulders. "You're my sister," he said softly. "The only sibling I've ever had. I'm happy to have you under my roof."
In a sudden break from her shyness, Cosette threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Richard. I couldn't have asked for a better brother. I love you."
He was somewhat shocked, but deeply touched by her words. He hugged her back just as tightly, murmuring in her ear, "I love you too, 'Sette. You can stay with us for as long as you like."
Éponine and Cosette took the car back to her apartment that night to pick up the things she needed; Cosette wouldn't stop thanking them all the way home. Her brother always responded the same way – "We're happy to keep you here. It's no trouble for us at all. We love you."
The next morning was another early morning for Enjolras; he was meeting Combeferre at the courthouse at 8:00 am before the next day of the trial began at 8:30. He got out of bed as quietly as he could, trying not to disturb Éponine as he showered and dressed for the day. Another black suit, another day of this bullshit, he thought bitterly as he cinched up his tie a little tighter.
His eyes fell on Éponine, still sound asleep in bed. Smiling a little, Enjolras knelt next to her for just a moment to watch her sleep – the way a tiny smile tugged at her lips, the rise and fall of her chest with her deep, slow breaths. He placed a gentle, chaste kiss on her forehead as he stood again. He loved her so much.
The drive to the courthouse was mechanical, as it always was. He parked his car in the same spot as always, grabbing his briefcase from the back as he walked up the steps to meet Combeferre. "What do you have for me?" he asked wearily.
"Fantine is coming in today; she'll be the second witness we question," he said as they walked through the doors. "The defense may try to assume she intentionally got him drunk to sleep with him, so be aware of that on the cross-examination."
Enjolras nodded mechanically as they made it into the courtroom. "Who's before her?"
"Your father."
He barely contained a groan. "Perfect."
A/N: So we have some happiness, and some suspense, all in one chapter! :D Review if you liked it, and have a great New Year!