Ack. So this will be the last chapter until at least Monday – I'm going home for the weekend, to ride this new horse my dad got, just in case she decides to throw some tricks after a 2-day trailer ride.
"M-Monsieur Marius," Eponine stammered, tacking the first word on out of habit. Marius frowned at her and grabbed her arm.
"Where's your keeper?" he demanded.
"My keeper?"
"That young man who took you home the last time I saw you. You shouldn't be out alone," he said, making an attempt to be kind. Eponine looked at him.
"Alone? Why shouldn't I be out alone?"
"Oh, well…in your condition," he said awkwardly, clearing his throat. Realization dawned upon Eponine. Marius thought that she was crazy! He had actually believed Montparnasse. She wrenched her arm free of his grasp.
"I'm not crazy, Monsieur Marius," she said defiantly, anger burning through her, "and the man that told you that was part of the gang that tried to rob your precious Cosette's house. I saved you both." She laughed bitterly.
"You are mad," Marius said, "and where did you get that nice dress? I'll bet you stole it, you wretch! Come on, I'm taking you back to your father's inn."
Eponine howled with laughter now, but a few tears escaped the corners of her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.
"For all your years of schooling, you're terribly dumb!" she sang out. Marius attempted to grab her again, but she dodged and fled, dashing away down the street. He watched her go, shaking his head.
Eponine arrived at Feuilly's house a few minutes later, her cheeks bright splashes of pink on her pale face, and her chest heaving up and down. Tears were frozen on her cheeks.
"Eponine! What happened to you?" Feuilly asked, taking her gently by the shoulders.
"I ran into Monsieur Marius," she said softly, "and he treated me terribly."
"What did he do to you?" Feuilly demanded, rage filling him. Eponine laughed, a terrible sound through her tears,
" 'E said that I was mad! 'Magine that…'e believed 'Parnasse! An' then – then he accused me of stealing me dress!" she cried, unconsciously slipping back into her old way of speaking.
"Oh, chère," he soothed, seating her by the sofa and putting an arm around her shoulders, "do you truly care what Pontmercy says?"
"No!" she said defiantly, her chin jutting up. Feuilly caught it between a thumb and a forefinger and guided her lips to his, kissing her.
"You mustn't let him bother you, 'Ponine. He's upset you so that you're speaking like a street girl again. You can't let him do this to you."
"I-I won't," she said bravely, taking a deep breath and forcing a small smile. Feuilly returned it and kissed her on the forehead, then looked into her eyes.
"I love you, chère," he said softly. Eponine let out a soft little gasp. Oh, she had known, and she was in love with him too. But hearing those words come from someone's lips…it was more than she had ever dreamed of.
"I love you too," she replied, with a real smile this time, kissing him. Feuilly put his arms around her waist and held her close, kissing her cheek, her temple, the top of her head, wherever his lips could reach. She was laughing, and so was he. Eponine had forgotten Marius.
After what could have been a lifetime or a second passed, the pair stood. Eponine went to the kitchen to prepare plum pudding for their Christmas Eve get together, and Feuilly hovered close, reading and watching her bustle about out of the corner of his eye.
It was twilight when they readied themselves to leave Feuilly's house, and the temperature was dropping rapidly. Eponine dressed in Feuilly's old coat as usual, and he brought out a warm scarf, wrapping it around her neck and the lower part of her face, so that only her eyes showed. He also found a cap which he placed on her head carefully, so not to disturb her hairstyle, which she was becoming quite adept at, and gave her one of his gloves.
"You'll have to keep the other hand in your pocket," he said, "I've only got one pair."
Eponine smiled and compromised by slipping her bare hand into his.
"Now we'll keep each other warm," she said cheerfully, pulling him out the door. He laughed and grabbed the dish of pudding. They set off down the street, walking briskly and chatting happily despite the bitter wind that blew in their faces.
They were shivering when they arrived at Combeferre's, but he had a roaring fire in the parlor and dining room, and they thawed out quickly. Joly greeted Eponine politely, and she was introduced to Combeferre and Courfeyrac. Joly's lady friend, Musichetta, was also in attendance, and she seemed to take kindly to Eponine, especially after learning that she worked in a book shop.
Musichetta loved books, and she and Eponine bustled about the kitchen, putting the last touches on dinner and chatting about novels they had read, hadn't read, or wished to read. Their conversation made dinner come to the table a little slower, but soon the two women were bringing platters of hot food to the table.
There was a small turkey with cranberries and stuffing, and wine and ale to drink, with hot cider to go with the plum pudding after the meal. The group of young people ate until they were stuffed, and then ate dessert and sat around the fire, talking contentedly.
Musichetta and Eponine sat on pillows at Joly and Feuilly's feet, discussing books again, hardly noticing the lack of chairs, as they were closest to the crackling fire. It was a perfect moment, and Eponine wished that it could be frozen in time. She was warm and content, surrounded by the first friends she'd had in her life, and the man that she adored. She couldn't have been happier.
But all good things come to an end far too soon, and before Eponine knew it she was yawning sleepily as Feuilly wrapped his scarf around her neck, bundling her up for the walk home, and they were walking down the street.
"Why don't you stay with me tonight, 'Ponine?" Feuilly asked, "That way we can be up early tomorrow to exchange presents."
Too sleepy to argue, she nodded, and was soon fast asleep in his bed. He kissed her temple, not regretting for a second that he would have a sore back on Christmas Day, and bedded down on the couch, falling asleep instantly.
" 'Ponine."
"Mmmm?" she rolled over, her cheeks pink with sleep and warmth, blinking in the light as he opened the window shade and sat down.
"It's Christmas morning, chère. Open your present."
"Mmmm," she blinked sleepily and pulled the blanket over her head. Feuilly pulled it off playfully and peppered her face with tender little kisses from his seat on the end of the bed.
"Up, chère! Sit up!"
"Oh fine," she groaned, playfully batting at him with her hand and slowly sitting up, "but you must open yours first.
She reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out the gift, wrapped in red paper and tied with a bit of string, placing it in Feuilly's lap. He untied the string and tore off the paper, revealing the blue silk of the handkerchief. Eponine bounced in excitement,
"Look at the corner! I did it myself!" she cried. He did as she instructed, and smiled.
"My initials. It's perfect, 'Ponine." He leaned over and gave her a kiss, and she beamed at him as he set the box containing her present into her lap. It was wrapped in shiny green paper, which she tore off carefully.
There were two things inside; the first was a fan with a portrait of Eponine that Feuilly had painted. She was laughing, and her hair was loose around her shoulders. Her name was painted in pretty script across the bottom. The second was a heart-shaped locket that was gold colored and engraved with flowers, and had a cameo head in the middle, carved from shell. Inside, there was an impossibly tiny painting of clasped hands, with their names above that Feuilly had painted.
"Oh, thank you, Feuilly! They're beautiful!" Eponine looked at her presents delightedly, her smile wide. Feuilly laughed and kissed her, helping her fasten the locket around her neck, then took her into his arms and held her.
Feuilly's stomach growled, prompting the pair to go into the kitchen for a quick lunch, and then they sat together, Eponine in his arms. He kissed the top of her head,
"Was it a good Christmas, chère?"
"The best Christmas ever," she said softly, leaning her head on his shoulder and blinking sleepily.
Ack corny ending! Made myself gag a bit…but it's cute riiiiight?
Oh, and if you want to see the necklace that I modeled Eponine's Christmas gift after, it's here: .. Nope, I don't own it. Just thought it was pretty!
All right, I'll be back Monday…until then, click review, click review!