Grantaire rushed into the hotel room. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I can't believe this." Charla was fuming. "I just called the Musain to check on the progress of our cake and it turns out the baker is out of town! With a girl! Unbelievable."

Grantaire looked confused. "It's two weeks til the wedding."

"They should be practicing now. I got that young woman at the tasting to promise that they would practice at least once or twice and that I could come check on the progress. Turns out he's gone until who knows how long...wait a minute. What's that face? Did you know? Did you know and NOT tell me?" Charla said glaring at him.

Sheepishly Grantaire realized that in hiding Cosette from her birth father, he may have inadvertently sent the baker of his wedding cake to Maine. "Um..."

"Grantaire are you fucking kidding me? God you're absolutely useless! And why were you ignoring all my texts? I had to call you for Christ sake!" Charla fumed.

"Sorry I thought I told you I was out with friends."

"You did, but remind me, which friends were these?" She raised her brow, already knowing the answer.

"Joly, Musichetta, and Bossuet just arrived in town. Eponine joined us for lunch."

"I hate it when you're out with that polyamorous mess of people." Charla huffed. "Jesus Christ! They're such a horrible influence."

Grantaire looked like he was about to be hit. That's how Charla knew that she may have gone too far.

"I'm sorry, babe. It's just you were gone all of Saturday and Sunday. These pregnancy hormones, I think they're making me feel like you don't love me." She pouted.

"I do love you," Grantaire assured her pulling her towards him. "I'm sorry I've been out so much. You're right I should have been here for you. I'll stay in tonight if you would like. We can spend some alone time, just you and me."

She laughed. "That's sweet, babe. But tonight I'm going over to see my bridesmaids. They arrived recently and I've been too sick to check in on them."

Grantaire replied. "Oh. Right. Of course."

"But you should stay here. Dial up some pay for view-"

Grantaire choked. "What?"

"Look I know what men like to do when they are alone. I won't stop you. At least not until after the wedding. And besides it will complete the sleazy inn aesthetic we've got going on in this trashy place," Charla laughed. "Jesus, I can't wait til we're on our honeymoon."

Grantaire just nodded. He knew it was better to keep silent rather than say anything.

Within an hour or so Charla left to go over to Eponine's. She arrived and found her bridesmaids all in the living room mooning over the Bachelor. Everyone was there except her maid of honor.

"Where's Eponine? R told me he dropped her off," Charla asked with a frown. She liked for all her ducks to be in a row, and hated when one had the audacity to not be where she expected.

"Out." Cynthia replied not looking away from the tv.

"Yes I can see that. Where is she?"

"Her sister showed up here? Like she was a crying mess," Katherine said.

"So Eponine went to talk to her, and then took her over to a friends? Not like we could fit an extra person here," laughed Catherine. "Let alone an emotional high schooler."

"Hm," Charla was still in a mood. There was no saying where the Thenardier girl actually was. Charla was displeased, a frown settling on her beautiful brow. But as if her thoughts had summoned her, Eponine came in through the front door. She looked haggard and weary as if the world had dealt her another blow. "Oh, Eponine! I was wondering where you were."

Eponine shrugged. "I had some family stuff to take care of."

"I see."

"Ugh. Things are too sombre. Let's drink. Mimosas anyone?" Louisette offered as she stood and made her way to the kitchen.

"I only have whiskey," protested Eponine. Whiskey which she had let Gav try once, so long as he promised never to drink it on his own. Whiskey which she barely touched, and only in cases of emergency. Lord knew what a problem their father had with alcohol. It had made them both cautious around the stuff. On top of that, she had it hidden it away pretty well with all her unwelcome guests crawling about the house. The last thing she needed was to deal with them while they were hungover...although from the looks of it, they were already well on their way there.

Louisette sniggered. "Don't worry. I brought some from my own stash."

Soon the bar was covered in glasses filled with orange drink. Each of the bridesmaids made their way over grabbing a glass.

"Come now, Eponine, even you," Mary-Lynn charmed. "We're having a toast."

Reluctantly Eponine picked up a glass.

"You too, Charla. After all the toast is in your honor!" Mary-Lynn chided.

"I'll have water, thanks."

"You can't toast with water," Cynthia said dryly.

Charla hesitantly picked up a glass of mimosa. Mary-Lynn and Cynthia eyed her peculiarly, but none of the other women seemed to notice. They were all too wasted already. Then Mary-Lynn turned to address the hostess, "Eponine?"

"Huh?"

"You are the maid of honor, confidant to the bride and leader of the bridesmaids. I believe you should be giving the toast?" Mary-Lynn prompted.

Eponine self consciously cleared her throat. The Katherines laughed at her. "Um to the bride…?"

"Is that it?" Mary-Lynn's drawl came out as a harsh accusation. "You're clearly a novice at this, do you mind if I assist? Ahem. To the bride's health in these coming weeks, and to her beauty and poise. May she not lose either after she's a married woman."

The other women clinked their glasses together.

"Cynthia, Eponine, Charla? May I have a word?" Reluctantly the three women followed Mary-Lynn to the other room, away from the boisterous laughs of Louisette and the Katherines. Once they were alone, "so what was that little stint with wanting a glass of water?"

Cynthia's usually bored expression disappeared, and suddenly she looked mildly interested. Eponine was just confused why she had been dragged into this.

Charla looked into her glass. "I am not usually a day drinker -"

"Horse shit." Mary-Lynn interrupted. "I think it's cause you've got a little bun in that oven."

"What?" Eponine turned to look at the bride. Charla merely downed the rest of her drink, not making eye contact with any of them.

"You're not supposed to drink while you're pregnant," Cynthia reminded her coolly.

When Charla looked up she was no longer the meek blushing virgin she had appeared to be, now she looked pissed and vengeful. "As if I care what happens to this baby."

The Mary-Lynn and Cynthia looked nonplussed. The former commenting, "so you are pregnant."

Charla nodded. "Unfortunately."

Mary-Lynn and Cynthia still looked unfazed. The latter calmly sipping her drink. Eponine was in shock.

"Does Grantaire know?" She asked.

"Of course he knows. It's his after all."

Eponine nodded. It was all starting to make sense now. "I see."

"Oh do you Miss Thenardier?" Charla taunted. "And what is it you could possibly see?"

Eponine stood her ground. "A lot more than you might think."

"Jesus, I need another drink." Charla growled and made her way back to the kitchen.

"If she keeps up like this she's going to have one fucked up kid," Cynthia reasoned.

"With a father like that, kid had no chances of being normal from the start," Mary-Lynn laughed leading the way back to the others. Eponine remained alone clenching and unclenching her fist. She understood Grantaire's words now, and hated knowing the reason behind them. No matter what she told R: about Charla, about Enjolras, about the email, nothing would get him to leave that baby. Nothing.

As soon as the hospital was open for visiting hours, Enjolras went to go visit his mother.

"Mere?" He said poking his head into her room. He saw her curled up in a fetal position, the hospital cot was barely wide enough to hold her sickly frame. She was shivering. With a sad sigh, Enjolras went to go turn the a/c unit down. He settled into his regular chair and was about to pull out his books to do some studying when he saw his mother waking up slowing.

"Ange?" Her voice was raspy

"I'm here. I know it's been awhile-"

"Oh, hush, not that again." She tried to shift in her bed, but she was tangled in her wires. Enjolras moved immediately to help her.

"There's actually something I've been wanting to confess," Enjolras mumbled once she had settled again.

The crease between where Jeanne's eyebrows should have been deepened. "What is it? What's happened?"

"I've been involved with a man," Enjolras started, not looking her in the eye.

"I remember," Jeanne said softly. "What's happened? Did you two break up?"

"Not exactly. I tried to end it with him. I did. But he doesn't want that. He's been calling me all the time and...and he wants me to leave with him."

"Leave?"

"Go back to DC with him, be his..." Enjolras couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Do you want that?"

"No. But he's made an offer that-"

"What?"

"He said he could pay for your bills, and I don't-"

"No, Enjolras. I won't let you do this," Jeanne said sitting up suddenly.

"I don't want to, but Feuilly won't give me any more shifts...and I'm always so tired that I keep missing my shifts at the Corinth and Musain-"

"Enjolras you don't like this man, you tried to end it. Why would you want to go back?" Jeanne asked.

"Because it could all be so easy?"

"Oh, ange." Jeanne looked sad. "Life isn't supposed to be easy."

"I could just forget." Enjolras sounded wistful. He remembered that night at the Corinth with Felix and Matt. Matt had taken something and looked so at ease, he wondered if Felix could provide him with that lack of caring too. Unfortunately he suspected if it was ever offered to him again he would take it.

"Never forget. Enjolras, going with that man will make you miserable. I can't let you do something that stupid because of me."

"But-"

"No."

"You're not thinking this through-"

"Enjolras. Don't you dare tell me that I am not thinking this through. Because clearly you aren't. Don't throw your life away to that man...don't be like Fantine..."

"Who?"

"In college I knew this girl. She was beautiful and sweet, wanted to become a teacher. Anyway she met this man, a pre-law major, and she went mad for him. She stayed out late with him and his friends. They were horrible influences, and she was so in love that she was blind to my caution. She let him do whatever he wanted to her, so long as at the end of the day he gave her a kiss and promised that he loved her. She was twenty years old, Enjolras, and she got pregnant. She moved off campus with me, I was the only one to take pity on her. She had the baby, a beautiful baby girl. She loved her more than anything, we were all charmed by Euphrasie. She continued to go to classes as best as she could, and we did our best to forget about the father. Although I know she stayed up crying over him, there were many nights like that. A few years later we received a call from the father. He was about to get his first internship at his father's firm. He needed the child to disappear. He couldn't have anything on his record," sneered Jeanne. "So we located a dear old friend. I approached him and asked for an unspecific favor. He said he would do his best to uphold it...a few days later we left Euphrasie on his doorstep. There was a letter explaining everything that had happened between the father and my friend, and it asked him to keep Euphrasie safe."

Enjolras swallowed. "I see."

"My friend said she needed a new start. She moved away, and I never saw her again. I don't mean to use her story as a cautionary tale, but Fantine had so much planned in her life, she had dreams. Even once she had Euphrasie she had wanted things for them...but because she had let someone else control and choose her life, she never got those things. Enjolras, please don't let someone else decide the fate of your future because of me. I'm afraid that if you do, you are going to have so many regrets. This man, whoever he is, he doesn't love you. If he did he would respect your wishes to end the relationship. He wouldn't need to emotionally blackmail you into going with him. That's not healthy, ange."

Enjolras nodded. "What ever happened? To Euphrasie?"

"My friend took her far away...I...I lost contact with them. I don't know what's happened to her."

The name seemed familiar to Enjolras, and with a sense of dread he asked, "what was the man's name? The one who seduced Fantine."

"Felix Tholomyes," the name came of Jeanne's lips like a curse.

Enjolras looked like he had been hit.

Jeanne saw the tears come to her son's eyes. She pulled him into her arms. "Whatever is the matter, love? What's frightening you so? You're shaking."

Enjolras sobbed into her bony shoulder. He didn't trust himself to speak. Jeanne's hand stroked his hair gently.

"Ahem," came a dry cough from the hall.

Mother and son pulled apart to reveal the form of a thin, plain, young nurse.

"Ah, Nurse Simplice, time for my treatments?" Jeanne guessed with a rueful smile.

"I'm afraid so."

"I'll see you soon, Enj." Jeanne said warmly.

Enjolras nodded. He kissed her forehead as she was helped into the wheelchair and wheeled away. After studying for a bit he stood to stretch his legs and went for a walk. He was lost in thought, when he ran into someone.

"I'm sorry, miss." He looked up, "Eponine?"

The young woman looked scared. She nervously glanced back at a closed examination room, before looking at Enjolras again. "Hey."

"Why are you here? Is everything okay? Is Grantaire-?"

She shook her head. Eponine seemed to blink away tears. "It's my little sister. Um...she was on my porch crying...I had to bring her here."

"What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Eponine replied. Suddenly, "God I hate my parents."

"Did they-"

"Drop it, Enjolras." All the fighting spirit left her. Eponine's shoulders dropped and she looked defeated. "I have to go back to my house. There are six tipsy bridesmaids currently inhabiting my it, and I don't trust them...but I need to look out for Azelma. God and I think Charla's coming later and-"

She began to cry. Enjolras' eyes widened and he pulled her into a hug.

"Whatever this is, we can fight it."

Eponine let out a harsh laugh. "You and your fighting spirit. We can't fight every battle placed in front of us. Sometimes it's too fucking much, and we have to surrender. We have to give in."

"I refuse to believe that, Eponine. Whatever it is-"

"Azelma was raped." Eponine spat. The moment those words left her mouth she looked like she regretted saying anything. She tried to pull away from Enjolras, but he held her close.

"Who did this?"

"A guest at the B&B. My father was trying to make a deal, and he offered her to close it." Eponine wept bitterly. "She's pregnant."

"What?"

"God, I hate him."

"What can I do to help?"

"This isn't some problem you can magically fix, Enjolras. Fuck, can't you ever keep your nose out of where it belongs?"

"Eponine, this is serious-"

"I know it is." She snapped.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to kill that bastard, and burn that place to the ground."

"That's not exactly sensible is it?"

"Fuck sensible, they've gone too fucking far."

"Where will you take Azelma?"

Eponine paused.

"Back to yours?"

"I've got a lot of bridesmaids there, currently. It wouldn't be smart to have her there." Eponine said in a carefully clipped tone.

"Okay. Fuck. If only Cosette were around. She'd know how to handle this."

"Where is Cosette?" asked Eponine.

Again Enjolras felt a wave of nausea as everything fell into place again. "She's running away from her birth father."

Eponine nodded, her mind too concerned to allow her another distraction. "I don't know where to take Azelma. She doesn't exactly trust anyone who's not family right now. Or no that's not right. Fuck my family. She seems only to trust me, maybe Cosette, but she's gone."

Enjolras watched as Eponine's face crumpled again as she contemplated what had happened to her sister. He pulled her into a hug and whispered in her hair, "it'll be alright, Eponine. We'll figure something out."

"But what?"

"You said she trusts Cosette right? Would she trust Valjean?" Enjolras asked.

Eponine bit her lip considering it, slowly she nodded. "I think so. I'd have to ask...but...do you think he would?"

Enjolras nodded. "Yes. I think he would."

The door to the examination room opened and a doctor stepped out seeking Eponine. She rushed over to the woman and they began to confer in low voices. Eponine seemed to grow older as the conversation progressed, but eventually she nodded and returned to Enjolras.

"Azelma's just getting dressed...but we need to schedule an appointment for the abortion, and I still don't know where to take her," Eponine's voice said breaking in all the wrong places.

Enjolras held her hand. "It's okay, Eponine. How did you get here?"

"I borrowed my neighbor's car," she said dully. "Grantaire wanted...but Charla..."

Enjolras nodded, he didn't exactly want to hear more about the detestable woman. "Alright. I'm going to call Valjean while you talk to your sister. It's going to be okay."

Eponine nodded. She left him to make the phone call and to go hold her baby sister in her arms.

Eponine drove up the long driveway that led to Valjean's. The property was still beautiful, but it was showing signs of neglect due to its missing resident. Parked in front of the house was another car that neither of the adults recognized.

"Valjean didn't say anything about guests." Enjolras said with a slight frown.

"We're here now. It's going to be alright," Eponine said more for her benefit than anyone else.

She helped Azelma out of the car, and walked with Enjolras to the front of the house. They knocked and had to wait only a minute or so for Valjean to open the door.

"Ah, you're here. Hello Enjolras, Eponine, Azelma. Come on in." He sounded weary, perhaps from missing his daughter or perhaps because of the sorrow of the young people before him. Despite that, he still managed to warmly welcome them into his home.

He led the three of them upstairs to a guest bedroom. It was clean and airy, the bed looked freshly made.

"I hope this will suffice?" Valjean asked turning to Azelma.

The girl nodded, her dark eyes flickering uncertainly from her sister to Valjean.

"Good, I am glad." he murmured gently. "If you are in want for anything, you only have to ask."

"Thank you so much, Valjean. I'm indebted to you," Eponine said.

"Nonsense," he shook his head. "I am happy to help. I'm only sorry that such dark deeds are what have finally drawn you to my door. You know you were always welcome before. I know how you and Cosette were..."

Eponine blushed. "I was embarrassed on my family's behalf. I still am."

"Those people don't need to be your family if you don't wish it. You may create a family with whomever you want. But I think you already know that?" Valjean said, a hint of his normal joviality returning to his eyes.

Eponine nodded. "Thank you. I, uh, I better get back...I've been gone for quite awhile. I'll come check on you tomorrow, Azelma."

The girl made no sign of hearing as she was already moving about the room in a daze. Her fingers ran softly over the edge of the bed as she seemed to study something not there outside the large windows. Eponine moved as if to go to her sister again, but Enjolras held her back.

"She needs to adjust. She needs to get comfortable on her own."

Eponine looked up at him with a sad smile, knowing he was right.

Valjean led them out, shutting the door softly behind him. They made their way back downstairs and Eponine left. She explained how she needed to get back, since she had guests and was sure Charla would be stopping by. She had offered Enjolras a ride, but he turned her down.

"I want to thank you again, Valjean." Enjolras said deliberately staying behind.

"It is not necessary to do so," the older man assured.

"I have a question. You were friends with my mother, Jeanne, when she was in college. She came to you to take care of Cosette," Enjolras said. "How is it that she doesn't know you're here?"

Valjean suddenly looked his age. "I met those girls, Jeanne and Fantine, while they were at college. That was far from this small town, I'd never been here, but I suppose I heard your mother describe it. Well when I left for England with Cosette I put our pasts behind us. I didn't forget your mother, or hers, but there were other things at the front of my mind. As Cosette's birth father circled in I knew we needed to escape. I remembered your mother talking so fondly of this place, or perhaps I didn't...but subconsciously I remembered Montfermeil and that's how I ended up here."

"And why did you never visit my mother? She's been here for years. I'm sure she would like to see you again." Enjolras tried not to sound like he was accusing Valjean of being neglectful. He failed, but the old man didn't seem to mind.

"Like I said, perhaps I forgot that this was where your mother lived, and if not I had no reason to think she would return here. I am sorry, Enjolras, truly."

"It's not too late."

"No. It isn't." Agreed Valjean.

Suddenly from the study came a voice. "Valjean?"

The door opened and out stepped Javert. Enjolras recognized him from his fateful dinner with the other man. He stood paralyzed like a mouse facing a python. Stupidly all he could think to say was, "you should be in Kentucky."