A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed my story! I have so many wonderful reviews; I am still amazed that I somehow managed to get over 100!
Dinner that evening was quite pleasant. Uncle Jacques did not even bother to show up; instead he chose to eat his dinner in a separate room. Not that Eponine or Enjolras were complaining. Aunt Agnes' cheery attitude toward Eponine did not seem to waver after Eponine had released the news of her involvement in the revolution, and Clara and Grantaire were as entertaining as ever with their strange relationship. Everything was going well until the couple revealed their shocking news, Eponine nearly choked on her food and Enjolras' spewed out his sip of wine all over the tablecloth.
"I would like to make an announcement! Grantaire and I are engaged!" Clara shouted, beaming at Grantaire, as she held up her hand possessing a giant ring. Chaos ensued, of course.
"What?! You two seem to have such a versatile relationship, how can you make such a solid commitment? Clara are you sure this is what you want? I know you have always dreamed of a white, fanciful wedding, but are you ready for what comes after the ceremony is over?" Enjolras stressed. Eponine seemed to have a different opinion.
"Congratulations my friends! Clara I am immensely happy for you, and I hope that I can help pick out your wedding dress! My goodness, there is so much preparation that has to be done before the big day! Grantaire, if you ever hurt Clara, I will personally injure you so that-"
"I will never hurt my Clara!" Grantaire interrupted, clearly unwilling to hear what exactly Eponine would do to him.
"I am sure Grantaire will be a lovely new member of our family," Aunt Agnes said graciously causing Enjolras to gag. He hadn't realized that Grantaire would be his brother-in-law.
"What's the matter with you, Enjolras?" Eponine asked noticing that his face had turned green and he looked slightly insane.
"Grantaire, you blasted man! You are to be my brother-in-law! I cannot handle that sort of stress in my life! I need a moment to process that," Enjolras murmured into his hands, and Grantaire smirked.
"I could say the same to you," Grantaire retorted. Eponine rolled her eyes at the boys' immature behavior.
"Oh, Clara, your dream is coming true!" Eponine sighed romantically, the girlish side that she possessed as a child was clearly coming out of her tonight. When she was a girl, she always dreamed about growing up and marrying a handsome man who loved her very dearly, and she couldn't help but get excited over her friend's wedding. Though, in the pit of her stomach, she could feel a bit of jealousy brewing.
"Eponine, I would like for you to be my maid of honor. After all, you are the only true friend I have ever had. There are other girls whom I have been acquainted with, yet they have only befriended me for my social status and my wealth. I would not want one of those hags to be my maid of honor," Clara said genuinely, and Eponine gave her a grand smile.
"Of course I will be your maid of honor!" she exclaimed happily.
"Do not call those girls hags, dear. They are your friends!" Aunt Agnes reprimanded slightly, but Clara just rolled her eyes when Aunt Agnes looked away.
"Grantaire. Brother-in-law. Grantaire. Brother-in-law," Enjolras chanted as he massaged his temples. Eponine raised her hand to console him, but she wasn't exactly sure which action would be placating.
"I am highly offended, Enjolras. I thought we were friends!" Grantaire chuckled, but Enjolras just shot him a pained glance.
"I don't understand why you are being so rude, brother. My engagement to Grantaire means that he will move out of your apartment and him and I will buy a new home together. 'Brother-in-law' is merely a label, but you are treating it as though our marriage is a death sentence! I was expecting you to be more excited!" Clara pouted.
"I think he is just in shock, Clara. It will pass," Aunt Agnes assured her. Enjolras was indeed in shock; he still resembled a madman with his imperceptible mutterings and his crazed expression.
"Albaric does have a point, as he said earlier: Clara is this what you really want? I do not doubt the power of love, but this is all so sudden!" Aunt Agnes exclaimed.
"If I may add a word, Madame. I proposed to Clara because I know that no matter how long or hard I searched, I would never find anyone who I would rather spend the rest of my life with. She brings a light unto my life that can never be duplicated, and it mentally causes my pain just to imagine a life without her. I know that our time together has been short, but I have fallen hard and fast. I love everything about Clara. I love the way she smiles with her heart, I love the sound of her laugh, I love the way her eyes shine when she is happy, and I even love our disagreements. I love the way she loves me, and I could never have imagined a better woman for me, personally. I love you, Clara, and my life began the day you said 'yes,'" Grantaire said suddenly sober. The effect of his words cast a solemn silence over the room, and Clara's heart nearly melted as he finished his passionate speech. She had happy tears that leaked out of the corner of her eyes, and she flung herself onto her fiancé. Aunt Agnes clapped jovially and began to communicate words of approval.
The whole time he spoke however, Enjolras couldn't help but think of Eponine. The love he felt for her was reflected in Grantaire's words, and he knew that Eponine was something special. A large rush of emotion clouded his heart for the woman, but yet his heart sunk when he briefly thought he may be gone in a couple months, dead with his revolution. He would have paid more attention to his new realization about Eponine if he hadn't been so preoccupied with his new nightmare that Grantaire would soon be his brother-in-law.
A/N: Ooooo an engagement! I love Clara and Grantaire I was very happy that Jacques wasn't in this chapter; he really annoys me.