A/N: I know, I know, it's been forever! *dodges rotting fruit*

I really cannot apologize enough for how inexcusably late this chapter is. My muse had completely left me, and this chapter was completely plateaued for months. But thanks to a little kickstart from Freedom909 and Anne-Lilian, I'M BACK BABIES! Hope this chapter lives up to your expectations.

Enjolras had to be dreaming. He was sure of it. But this all felt too real for him to be sure…

He was back at the courthouse, the day Montparnasse had led the shooting that disrupted Thénardier's trial. Gunshots and smoke pervaded every inch of the room, and he saw Éponine standing up, trying to hurry off the witness stand as quickly as she could…

"Éponine!" he barked from his station on the ground. "Get down from there, before they see you!"

She looked at him once, opening her mouth to respond, before Montparnasse walked straight up to her and shot her directly in the heart. Blood poured out her chest and her mouth, making her choke as she crumpled to the ground…

"NO!" he screamed in utter grief, scrambling to her, clutching her to his chest, staining his suit with her blood, before he felt the barrel of a gun being forced into his own mouth…

"You'll see her again soon," a sneering voice said behind him as a trigger was pulled in the distance…

Enjolras shot bolt upright in bed with a strangled yell, grabbing at the air before he realized what he was doing and tried to catch his breath. A quick glance at the clock next to the bed told him it was a little after 5 am. He was covered in a hot sweat, the sheets were tangled around him, and Éponine was sitting up next to him, wrapping her arm around him and looking at him in worry.

"It's alright, Enj, it was a dream," she whispered softly. "What on earth happened?"

He swallowed hard, the phantom taste of gunmetal still in his mouth. "I was back at the courthouse, the day Montparnasse shot up your father's trial…" he said softly. "You were trying to get off the stand, and I yelled at you to get down…but 'Parnasse got to you before I did, and he shot you square in the heart," he said. "Then he forced the barrel into my mouth…I heard him pull the trigger…and I woke up."

Horror covered her face, and she pressed both hands to her mouth. "Oh, sweetheart," Éponine whispered, holding him tightly to her chest and letting him try to catch his breath. "I'm so sorry."

"It was terrible…" he murmured. "Because I don't want to think about losing you like that."

She took his face between her hands and lifted his gaze to meet hers. "You never will," she said softly, before placing two gentle kisses on his lips. "I'm not going anywhere as long as you need me here."

With a weak smile, he stroked her hair back from her face. "What did I do to deserve you?" he whispered, pressing his forehead to hers.

"You didn't have to do anything," she smiled back, letting her hands fold loosely at the back of his neck while his cradled her face. "I think we would have found each other eventually."

Enjolras kissed her lips once, as sweetly and chastely as he could. "I love you, Éponine."

"I love you too, Enjolras."

The sun rose all too soon, Enjolras' eyes opening as it came in through the east-facing window next to his bed. With a quiet sigh, he extricated himself from Éponine's warm embrace and got up to get ready for the next day of the trial. At least this drudgery is almost over, he assured himself. We can close soon, and then life will go on as normal…hopefully.

He heard Éponine take a deep breath as she stirred in the bed. "Mmh…Enj?"

"Right here, love," he murmured softly, leaning over to gently kiss the top of her head before he went back to the closet to get out his suit. "How did you sleep?"

She rolled over a little. "Fine, after you gave me that little scare earlier," she said. "I should be asking how you're doing."

"I'm fine; don't worry," he assured her. Truthfully, he was still incredibly shaken from his bloody nightmare. He knew his father was likely plotting a way to separate them, and murdering her likely wasn't out of the question. He was doing everything in his power to protect her, but he feared it wouldn't be enough.

He double-checked the room – he had his suit, tie, pocketwatch, and briefcase of papers; he was ready to go. "Alright; I'm off to court," he said. "Wish me luck."

She stood up from the bed to embrace him. "You don't need it, but good luck," she smiled. He let himself close his eyes again, rubbing her back gently as he held her close. He truly loved her, so much. "Let me know how everything goes today?" she murmured in his ear.

"Of course, just like always," he said, kissing her lips gently. "I'll see you tonight. I love you, Éponine."

"I love you too, Enjolras."

He took the drive to the courthouse a little slower than usual, thinking about his life, what was happening, how it had all come upon him so fast. In just the space of a few months, he had met Éponine, taken her out on two dates, and fallen in love with her, and she had started living with him. At the same time, the mother of his half-sister had come forward after nearly 30 years of living in silence on the streets, and had asked him to prosecute his father for his negligence.

Amazing, how quickly these things can happen.

He gently steered down the next street, before the majestic façade of the courthouse came into view. He parked the car and sighed heavily as he watched judges and jurors streaming in. It's going to be a long day.

Combeferre caught his eye as he stepped out of the car, waving to him from the steps. Enjolras jogged lightly up the stairs to meet him. "What's happening today?"

His friend chuckled. "What's your hurry?"

Enjolras, on the other hand, was not so amused. "My hurry is to get this damn case over with," he grumbled under his breath. "Does the defense have any witnesses lined up?"

"I haven't heard yet. I suppose we'll find out today," Combeferre said as they walked in and towards the packed courtroom. As the trial had gained more and more outrageous publicity, the attendance grew and grew, but Enjolras noticed that Fantine kept her same seat in the back of the room.

Soon enough, the defense entered, followed by the judge, and the trial was back in session. "Mr. Johnson?"

"Your Honor, the defense will now hear the testimony of Frederick Combeferre."

The jaws of both young prosecutor's dropped, but Combeferre was undoubtedly more shocked than his best friend. What on earth? How did Johnson get to him? What is he going to say? His head was spinning as he watched his tall, thin, gray-haired father walk to the bailiff.

"Mr. Combeferre, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

"I do."

"Sit down, please."

Combeferre was in shock as his father took the stand. This man, the man who raised him, was about to give a testimony against his side of the case. His teeth ground in fury as he watched Johnson walk forward and begin his questioning.

"Mr. Combeferre, can you recount to the jury the background of your relationship to my client?"

He sat up a little straighter, nervously adjusting his tie. "We met in law school, since we were both studying to be prosecutors, and we were fast friends. We started our own law practice together when we graduated, we were each the best man in the other's wedding, and we raised our two sons together," he said. "I can safely call Mr. Enjolras my best friend."

From the corner of his eye, Enjolras saw his father nodding and smiling. It made him angrier for a reason he couldn't explain.

"Can you recount your own version of the events that transpired the night of September 17, 1903?"

His best friend's father shifted in his seat. "As Mr. Enjolras said, we were working a murder case together. It was completely baffling, the most difficult case we'd seen yet as lawyers."

The questioning seemed to go on forever. Eventually, Combeferre got up to question his father, not unlike how Enjolras previously had in the trial. Enjolras had to grit his teeth and close his eyes to contain himself as his best friend's father described, in detail, the events of that night. Combeferre was clearly having trouble keeping his composure as he probed deeper and deeper into his father's testimony. "No further questions, Your Honor," Combeferre said eventually, and returned to his seat. He looked frustrated, and Enjolras completely understood why. Questioning his father had clearly not swayed the jury in their favor. Time to move to the nuclear option.

Leaning over, Enjolras motioned for his friend to do the same. "I think we should bring in Cosette now. Your father was the last ace they had up their sleeve." Combeferre nodded once as Judge McDonald asked, "Prosecution?"

"The prosecution calls Cosette Tholomyés to the stand, Your Honor," Enjolras declared in a strong, solemn voice.

A murmur ran through the courthouse, and Enjolras noticed Fantine nearly standing up in the back. This was the moment everyone had anticipated. Everyone wanted to know about the supposed illegitimate daughter of Richard Enjolras, Sr. All eyes were on the small woman of 28 years as she stood and walked almost soundlessly to the front of the courtroom, her head down as Enjolras had instructed her to do earlier that morning. She wore a white dress that fell to her knees and modestly covered her body. Her yellow hair was the only thing visible under her hat, the Russian veil even hiding a small portion of her face. She stopped in front of the judge, staring at her shoes.

"Mr. Johnson, please allow your client to step forward at this time."

The defense was clearly unprepared for this. Johnson was fuming – Enjolras caught Combeferre grinning in satisfaction out of the corner of his eye – but their father cautiously stepped forward to stand between his children.

"Cosette?"

Looking up, she removed her hat in one swift motion, staring down the judge as her hair fell to her shoulders with her clear, pure blue eyes. Exactly the same as his.

Judge McDonald was openmouthed, unable to speak. "Turn to the jury, please. Both of you," Enjolras instructed, turning also to look at the assembled men.

Cosette did as her brother said, causing the entire jury to gasp and erupt into whispering. Their father, on the other hand, could only mimic them. He stared at the girl, clearly marveling at how she resembled him, and even how she looked like her half-brother. Your own seed was too strong for you, Father, Enjolras thought to himself.

"Gentlemen of the jury," he spoke loudly and clearly, "this woman is my sister. My father's daughter. He may believe that he made a mistake in putting her on this world, but that does not change the fact that she is family." He took a second to look every member of the jury in the eye. "What kind of man would refuse the care of his own child?" He paused for effect, looking over everyone in the courtroom. "Ladies and gentlemen, anything else I could say would pale in comparison to the clear evidence before you. I believe your decision should be obvious." With a nod to the judge, and a word to his sister, Enjolras returned to his seat at the bench, feeling as though an enormous weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Judge McDonald seemed to be just regaining his composure. "Does the defense have a response?" he asked, still a little shell-shocked.

Mr. Johnson slowly stood and said in a terse voice, "The defense rests, Your Honor."

Enjolras barely managed to hold down the huge sigh that wanted to escape from him. It's done. They can't fight it anymore.

"This court will take a 30-minute recess for the jury to deliberate. We will reconvene at 9:30 am," he said, hitting the gavel once. The sound reverberated, and it felt final. This whole mess was finally nearing its end.

Finally, Enjolras released his huge exhale. He turned to Combeferre, smiling, and the two men embraced each other. "We've done it," his best friend murmured in his ear.

"Almost," Enjolras replied. "I'll celebrate if the jury sides with us."

"You know they'll never vote in that whore's favor," Mr. Johnson called to them loudly. "You just wasted a lot of money, boy."

Enjolras' face darkened, but his mood hardly went down. Even though the verdict hadn't been delivered, the jury's reaction had said all. There was no way they couldn't find him guilty.

The 30-minute recess seemed to crawl to its close, but eventually, everyone filed back into the courtroom. The trial was called back into session by the bailiff, and Enjolras could barely contain his pounding heart as one of the jurors stood.

"The jury has reached a verdict, Your Honor."

Enjolras closed his eyes.

"How do you find?"

"We find the defendant, Richard Heiland Enjolras, Senior, guilty on all charges."

He opened them again, breaking out into his first true smile in months. His father and Mr. Johnson looked as though their heads were about to explode as the judge sentenced him to 30 days in prison and a $5,000 fine to be paid to Fantine. The moment he hit the gavel, Enjolras and Combeferre embraced, laughing for joy.

Their celebration was interrupted when a small, strong hand found Enjolras' shoulder. He turned to meet Fantine's gaze. "Thank you, Richard," she murmured softly. "For everything."

He smiled, hugging her gently. "It was the least I could do for you, Fantine." Enjolras kissed his sister on the cheek, before turning back to Combeferre. "Come on, let's go tell Éponine the good news."

"So you're ready to cook for the reception?"

"Check."

"And the church is booked?"

"Yes."

"And we have the dresses?"

"Check."

"Alan, are the groomsmen ready?"

"They've all checked in."

"Okay, I think we're ready for the big day!" Éponine exclaimed as she went down her checklist. She and her sister simultaneously squealed in delight, embracing.

"I can't believe I'll be a married woman in less than a week!"

"I'm so happy for you, 'Zelma," Éponine beamed as she hugged her baby sister.

Grantaire grinned, and the front door of the apartment suddenly opened. Enjolras and Combeferre strode in, clearly happy. "How'd it go?" she asked immediately, hurrying to her boyfriend's side.

Enjolras was beaming ear to ear, the first real smile she'd seen from him since the case began. "The jury found him guilty on a 30-minute recess. Bringing Cosette up really sealed the deal."

"Oh, honey!" Éponine exclaimed joyfully, hugging him tightly and kissing his lips. "I'm so glad." She grinned, pulling Enjolras by his tie into the kitchen. "Come on, I know just the treat to celebrate. 'Zelma, Alan, 'Ferre, stay for dinner! Let's all celebrate!"

The celebration lasted for hours, with plenty of Éponine's cooking and a 1924 Malbec she'd been hiding in the spare cabinet. Enj and 'Ferre had won their court case, and it was less than a week until her sister's wedding.

Truth be told, she was somewhat upset with and confused by Enjolras not making the next move already. They'd been dating and living together longer than Azelma and Grantaire, and already, they were getting married. She started to wonder if he was content with where they'd plateaued, or if he had something up his sleeve…

"Éponine?" his voice jerked her out of her reverie. "Everything alright?"

She smiled. "Yeah," she said. "I've never been happier, Enjolras."

He smiled back, kissing her again. "I love you. So much. You know that, don't you?" he murmured.

"I do."

A/N: Coming up soon will be Grantaire and Azelma's wedding, and maybe some talks between Éponine and Enjolras? Stay tuned for more! :D Please review! I've missed you all!