I'm so sorry it's been a week since I've posted! The play I was in ran this weekend, not to mention I was having complete writers block and still sort of am but it's getting there.

Disclaimer: I do not own Les Mis here, I do not own Les Mis there, I do not own Les Mis anywhere!

Chapter 18

Eponine found her hands shaking as she set the table for dinner that evening. This was the evening Enjolras and Eponine were going to announce their engagement. The last two weeks their engagement had been a secret. It was a bit of a rush for her, being engaged and not telling anyone. But she also felt guilty for keeping it quiet. She was excited to finally let it out in the open.

It had been a stormy week, quite dull and boring; and Eponine proposed having a dinner to Cosette, who then brought it up with her papa. Monsieur Fauchelevent agreed, and the date was set. Of course Eponine, Cosette, Azelma, and Gavroche, would be there, along with Enjolras. Cosette had invited Marius, and Azelma invited someone as well. Though Eponine wasn't sure who it was, she highly expected Combeffere, because Eponine often saw the two together, even though Azelma denied it. Eponine had invited Courfeyrac as a surprise for Gav, but she highly doubted he would show up. He was probably out with some girl, but Eponine set a place for him anyway. And then there was Monsieur Fauchelevent of course, bringing the total up to nine; seven of which did not know the real purpose of this evening.

The first to arrive (out of the people who did not live there of course) was Enjolras. Eponine had asked him to come about a half an hour early to discuss what they were going to say. When she heard the knock on the door, She rushed to it shouting , "Don't worry, I have it Marie!"

Eponine opened the door for Enjolras and after a quick look around to make sure no one was watching them, she embraced him, kissing him on the cheek.

"Are you ready?" Enjolras asked with a nervous but playful smile.

Eponine smiled back, "As ready as I'll ever be! Let's go to the sitting room so we can talk."

Eponine found Gavroche in there, bouncing up and down on the chair, "Gav! Stop that, go to your room and start getting ready. Dinner starts in half an hour. Plus I need to talk to Enjolras."

"Sure you need to talk to him," Gavroche teased.

"I do!" Eponine argued.

"What are you talking about then?"

Eponine started pushing Gavroche out of the room, "None of your business! Now leave!"

Gavroche finally started to leave, but not before he got one last jab in, "Well as long as your only talking I suppose I'll go!" and he shot up the stairs to his room.

"Gavroche is always a good time," Enjolras laughed, "Are we talking then or talking?"

She sat down with a thump and a grunt , "I just can't handle him, but down to business, have we decided what we're going to say?"

"Here's what I was thinking..."

When Enjolras and Eponine were done talking, they found that Marius had arrived with Combeffere in tow, whom Azelma sat herself beside. Eponine couldn't help but wonder what was going on between those two. Were they just friends, or were they something else? Eponine wasn't crazy about the ladder, Azelma was young and naïve; but Combeffere was a great guy, shy and sweet and Eponine knew if they were together there was no guy who would protect her sister better. Eponine and Enjolras sat next to Cosette and Marius with Azelma, Combeffere, and Gavroche across from them. Monsieur Fauchelevent was sitting at the head of the table.

"Are we still waiting for anyone, Eponine? I see there's an empty place at the table," He asked.

"Umm… sort of. It was a loose invitation, he wasn't sure if he would make it, so I set up a place for him anyway," Eponine was pretty sure Courfeyrac wasn't going to show up, "We can start if you would like."

"Starting without me?" Courfeyrac burst through the door.

Gavroche was bouncing out of his seat, "You invited Courfeyrac? And look at that, a seat right next to mine."

"Courfeyrac, you made it!" Eponine said happy but surprised.

"Of course!" He said, "So let's get started!"

Eponine and Enjolras had decided to make the announcement right before the main course came out. Eponine's hands were shaking so bad she could hardly eat any of the appetizer, and when she could she didn't taste it. Eponine started noticing things instead of eating, because that was just too hard. Cosette and Marius were holding hands under the table. Gavroche was stealing food off of Courfeyrac's plate. Azelma and Combeffere met eyes, and then looked away blushing. Enjolras and Monsieur Fauchelevent were in a deep conversation bouncing between politics and the unfair punishment of criminals. Though she knew it should be the last thing on her mind, she wandered back to the revolution. She knew all of this perfectness was going to change. All of the people she loved would be torn apart. So she just let the moment sink in, because she wanted to hold onto it forever. She was finally pulled out of her daydream by Enjolras, who had taken her hand and said it's time.

Enjolras spoke first, "Before we start the meal, Eponine and I would like to make an announcement. But first I would like to thank Monsieur Fauchelevent for the wonderful meal this evening."

Monsieur Fauchelevent nodded as to say you're welcome and Eponine continued, "Two weeks ago, Enjolras took me on a wonderful walk ending in a picnic."

"And there," Enjolras picked up, "Was where I asked Eponine to marry me."

Eponine pulled the ring out of her pocket and put it on her finger, then looked around. Marius looked shocked, along with Azelma and Combeffere. Cosette looked smug as if she saw it coming. Gavroche gave a mischievous smile as Courfeyrac let out a low whistle, but Monsieur Fauchelevent looked if anything, proud, "Congratulations."

"We organized this dinner tonight to let you all know, but mostly to ask Monsieur Fauchelevent a question," Eponine said.

"I know Eponine is not your daughter , but when I asked her to marry me, I had told her I wanted to be married with a father's blessing; and since she has seized contact with her father by birth, She told me there is only one other man she would ever consider a father. So Monsieur Fauchelevent, may I marry this beautiful, gorgeous, young woman?"

"You have my blessing," Monsieur Fauchelevent said, then turned to meet Eponine's eyes, "A father's blessing."

The rest of the evening was a good time, There were jokes about the wedding, including a silly argument over who would get to be the maid of honor, Cosette or Azelma. A little later in the evening, Marius asked permission to court Cosette, and after some hesitation Monsieur Fauchelevent agreed. It almost made Eponine forget about the revolution, and she could only hope, seeing such a wonderful future all together, Enjolras would forget about it too.

I don't think "Court" was exactly time era appropriate but I wrote and rewrote that sentence and it was the only word that sounded okay. Alright guys so as I said when I posted the last chapter (I think) I have a MAJOR plot twist during the barricade, and I was thinking if I get so many reviews on this chapter or something like that, I'll post a hint about the barricade at the end of the next chapter. So let's say ten reviews? Does that sound like a plan?