"Oh you're back!" Azelma greeted her sister upon her arrival back at their flat on rue de Richelieu, "how was it? Did it go well?"
"Yes, it was fine," Éponine replied then showed her sister her ring that Daniel had given her, "in fact it is more then fine."
Azelma gasped, "You? You're going to be married? To Daniel?"
Éponine laughed, "of course to Daniel who else could it possibly be? It's not like I have hundreds of men to do what I like with."
"I know... That's very exciting!" Azelma grinned.
Éponine smiled, "yes, oh how I wish Bella or Cosette were here so I could tell them..."
"Well you are in some luck, Marius and Cosette wanted to see you, they would like us to come by tonight, it seems they have news of their own."
"Oh?" Éponine raised her eyebrow, "but you don't know what sort of news?"
"No, but whatever it is to be it must be happy, or at least it seems like it is to be that way," Azelma shrugged her shoulders, "Oh 'Ponine, it's so good to have you back."
"What? I was only gone a week, did you really miss me so much?" Éponine giggled a little.
"Is it a crime to miss my sister? Yes, I loved being with 'Chetta and Bella... And you really should see how much Antoine has grown! But I did miss you..."
"It's alright 'Zelm I missed you too," she put her arm around Azelma's thin shoulders, "now what time did we specify we be there?"
"If you weren't too tired as soon as you could," Azelma added, "do you want to rest for a bit?"
"Heavens no! If it wasn't so odd for us to do such a thing now I feel that I could take to the streets and shout for joy!" Éponine laughed.
"So should we leave?" she asked her older sister.
"Yes we should," Éponine got up and picked up her coat again, Azelma got up to stop her, "perhaps Daniel should come with us?"
"Why?"
"Well you are marrying him aren't you?" Azelma laughed, "besides while he may not say so I can only assume that Marius would not wish to hear a bunch of girls chattering."
"I suppose I could ask," Éponine opened the door and looked at the stairs, "I'll be right back," she quickly walked down a flight of stairs to Daniel's flat and knocked on his door.
"What is it?" He called without opening the door.
"It's me Éponine," she called, within moments he opened the door, his waistcoat was undone and his cravat was loosened. "Well don't you look a down right mess," she laughed at the sight of him.
Daniel sighed and buttoned his waistcoat and retied his cravat, "is something the matter?" he asked her.
"No, I was just wondering if you would like to accompany Azelma and I to dinner? At the Pontermcy's?" she asked him.
"Would I not be imposing?" he asked as he straightened his cravat.
"I would think not, I'm sure they would love to see you," Éponine smiled brightly, Daniel said nothing, "alright this was Azelma's idea..."
"I thought as much..." He laughed a little at her, "of course I'll accompany you, besides I'm assuming you would like some help breaking the news to them?" he nodded to her ring.
"I don't need help telling them I'm engaged!" she scoffed proudly.
"Of course not, it's just enjoyable to see your feather's get ruffled," he grinned at her.
"Well keep going and at this rate I might not speak to you for a week!" she glared at him.
"Having a little lover's quarrel are we?" Azelma descended the stairs, "I thought you were ready to go?"
"In a moment," she replied, "well don't you need your coat?"
"You are right," called Daniel as he went back into his flat to fetch his coat and hat.
"I always am!" she called out to him.
Daniel laughed and shook his head when he came out, "I will not argue with you right now," he then looked to the two sisters, "shall we?"
"Eponine it is so good to see you," Cosette greeted them as they were shown in by Nicolette, "and of course Azelma... Daniel you've come with them?"
"Yes I have madame," he swiftly nodded his head to her.
"Oh no, I insist you call me Cosette," she smiled to him, "Marius will be down here in just a moment, so how was your trip to Marsielles?"
"It was wonderful," Éponine smiled then threw a quick glance towards Daniel, "we cannot wait to tell you all about it."
"I cannot wait to hear about it, now you should come in and sit down," she took them to the drawing room. Moments later Marius's voice could be heard coming towards the room, "sounds like our guests are here?" he looked into the room, "I trust you had an easy journey back." Then he noticed Daniel's presence, "Daniel? Has 'Ponine dragged you here with her? Whatever for?"
"Well..." He began and then looked to Éponine, "I have a feeling it's more of Éponine's place to explain why I am here."
"So you have good news I suspect?" Cosette looked at the two of them, "we have some of our own but I would like to here yours first."
Now Éponine blushed, she wasn't quiet sure how to speak of her engagement, "I'm getting married..." She spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm sorry I did not hear you," Cosette looked at her a little concerned.
"Come now, where was the girl who was brimming with confidence mere moments ago?" Daniel laughed a little.
Éponine cleared her throat, "very well..." she spoke a little louder, "we are to be married."
Cosette's eyes widened in happiness, "why that is wonderful 'Ponine!"
"Congratulations to you both, it's funny I never pictured you being tied down like this," he laughed at Éponine, "you are such a free spirit."
"Nonsense, all that means is that Daniel will never be bored with her," Cosette smiled, the small group burst into light laughter.
"Now 'Zelma told me that you have news of your own you wished to share?" Éponine asked with a questioning glance.
"Oh yes of course, that is part of why we wanted you to be here tonight," Cosette carefully arranged the skirt of her dress. "Our news is... Well I am pregnant." She spoke out rightly to them all and smiled.
"Cosette! Your news is greater then mine!" Éponine smiled brightly her brown eyes flashing brilliantly.
"Even I will agree with that," said Daniel as he turned to Marius, "congratulations my friend."
"And to you, I wish the both of you great happiness," Marius replied with a kind smile, it was now for certain that Éponine, one of his dearest friends was finally, truly going to be happy. He couldn't have wished for anything more wonderful to happen to her.