Chapter 17
I do not own Les Miserables or any characters involved.
...
"How did it go?" Phillie asked chirpily the next morning at breakfast.
Enjolras smiled. "We saw...an old friend last night. But we don't know how that turned out..."
"What in the name of God, do you mean?" she asked confused, her eyebrows scrunching up, as she dished out breakfast onto the plates.
"We ran into Marius last night," grinned Joly.
Phillie stopped what she was doing, abandoning the eggs on Joly's plate.
"He what?! Boys, I hope you gave him a talking to- I don't- How's 'Ponin- Oh dear lord, where is 'Ponine?!" she fussed, anger pure in her face. "I swore to myself, if I ever saw the boy that ran away with 'Ponine's heart, I would-"
"You would what? Beat him with a wooden spoon?" grinned Joly, teasing playfully.
She shrugged. "I have plans...But they're far too evil for boys of your age," she added with a mischievous smile.
"Boys of our age?! We planned and survived a barric-"
"Irrelevant, anyways, back to the matter at hand! Where is 'Ponine? Is she alright, did she cry, did she scream, what did she say?"
Enjolras and Joly exchanged a glance, before Joly turned to Phillie with a grin.
"Well, Phillie...As far as we know, from all the singing and laughing she did very late last night when she came home, it went very well. Very very well," he winked, a grin still permanently etched onto his handsome face.
Enjolras rolled his eyes at the immaturity, but 'Ponine clasped her hands together, and held them to her chest, quite like a proud mother would do.
"Well, where are they now?"
"Good morning," grinned a cheery Éponine, sweeping into the kitchen.
"Someone's in a good mood," remarked Enjolras with a smirk.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Phillie, I have the best news!" she laughed, clapping her hands, happy that there was at least one woman there to appreciate her news.
"What dear?" smiled Phillie, playing along.
"Marius turned up last night, explained and apologised. Cosette blackmailed him, he thought that she would hand us in if he didn't agree with her! And then we kissed!"
Phillie hugged her. "That's great, 'Ponine! Celebratory breakfast?"
Éponine nodded eagerly and went to sit down across from Enjolras and Joly, who immediately starting interrogating and teasing her.
"So, 'Ponine, have fun last night?" inquired Joly with an inital straight face, that was chuckling within seconds.
She rolled her eyes, and again stuck out her tongue.
Enjolras, however, had never really been one for joking like that. Sure, he'd definitely lightened up since the revolution, but he still wasn't the joker in the pack.
"He's coming to see you again today, I suppose?
Éponine nodded, glad to be momentarily released form Joly's teasing.
"Where are you meeting?" "Yes, I'm going to go to work, and then he's going to meet me afterwards," she smiled, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
"I bet you can't wait," chuckled Joly, still teasing.
"For your information, you're right. But you're just as bad when it comes to Lottie. And Enjolras is just as bad when it comes to Enjy and Colie time."
Enjolras groaned at the newfound nickname. He'd been hoping, with everything that had went on, she'd forgot.
"And the Cosette situation?" Enjolras asked, choosing to ignore the comment, deeply concerned for what the blonde could plan once she found out that Marius was booting her, and going with Éponine.
"She doesn't know. We're going to talk about that today," Éponine answered, sounding deeply annoyed to have to spend her first real time with Marius talking about Cosette, and serious things.
Phillie then brought over the breakfast, and the four chattered on, and the lift in spirits in Enjolras' apartment was obvious, even to a foolish outsider. ...
"Éponine, tell me everything!" Nicolette pounced once Éponine entered.
"Of course Colie! Well, just after you left..."
"Let's go Enjolras, I want to show you a dress I made," Nicolette grinned, winking at Éponine. Éponine knew she hadn't made any dresses recently.
"Hmm, I'd like to see it too," Lottie nodded, dragging Joly with her.
Marius laughed after they left, suddenly awkward.
"They're not very subtle are they?" he asked nervously.
"Marius, you left me," she stated, ignoring his attempt at a conversation starter.
"I know, 'Ponine," he nodded. "But like I said-"
"I know what you said. I know what you said the day we met Marius, I'm not forgetful. Especially not when it comes to you," she smiled slightly.
"'Ponine...I'm so sorry. Words can't describe how sorry I am. I'm so sorry that I left you. I'm sorry that I never came back. I'm sorry I never offered an explanation. I'm sorry I let Cosette anywhere near you. I'm sorry that we lost time..." he reached out for her hand," to be together. 'Ponine, I love you," he whispered the last part, looking into her eyes.
She stuttered. She couldn't force any words out of her mouth, and she didn't know what she would have said had she been able to.
Unable to express herself in words, she pulled Marius to her, hugging him tightly. He grinned, and hugged her back with all he had.
"I- Marius, I love you too...But I'm sure you know that," she added with a laugh at the end.
"I know, of course...But I wasn't sure you'd still even want to speak to me after that."
"I wouldn't have. But now I know it wasn'tentirelyyour fault," she smiled, just happy to be in his arms and know that he loved her.
"Entirely?"
"Marius, I'm not letting you off that easy," she warned. "You have alotof explaining to do."
"I know that."
"And I'm not going to make it easy for you. I'mnevergoing to make anything easy for you."
"I wouldn't dream of it," and with that he leant down and kissed her.
Éponine eagerly kissed him back, her hands going into his hair. His hands snaked gently around her waist.
"I mean it, 'Ponine. I love you, and I'm never leaving you again. I'm so sorry-"
"Marius Pontmercy. I have heard enough talk of that garce to do me a life time. Over the last few weeks I have thought about nothing but that stupid girl. She has come into the shop, and annoyed me beyond belief. Now, I have just been reunited with the love of my life, after he was taken away by said garce. Do you really think I want to spend my evening listening to generic apologies and discussions and explanations and even more talk of the garce? No, you're right I do not. We can talk about this in the morning. One more mention of the Lark or the word 'sorry' and I swear to God, Marius Pontmercy, I will move to England and never speak to you again," she warned.
Marius chuckled knowing it was an empty threat, yet still just as scared of Éponine. "There's the 'Ponine I know. Thank God, I thought you were going soft on me, letting me have tonight without explanations," he leant down to kiss her forehead.
"I'm not letting you off full time Marius, be sure of that," she smiled, and kissed him again.
The kiss was broken aprubtly after minute or so.
"Hide, Belle," he urged.
"I could get used to being called Belle," she laughed quietly, and went to hide behind a bin.
"Marius, darling?"
Éponine scowled.
Of course, the Lark was here.
"Love? Darling?"
No answer. Éponine grinned to herself.
"Marius?" huffed Cosette.
"Yes?"
"Are you coming?"
"No, I think I'm going to go for a walk. It's a nice night. You go back, I'll see you back at your Father's house."
'Ponine peeked around the side of the large bin, to see a sceptical Cosette.
Luckily, if she had any doubts about his 'walk', she didn't voice them.
"You know, you could just call it home," Cosette growled.
"It's not home to me. It will never be home to me."
"And where is? You don't have an apartment, Monsieur Enjolras and Monsieur Joly won't be happy to see you, and that whore will be on the streets by now."
"For the last time, she's not a whore 'Ponine?"
"And for the last time, how can you be sure?" she smirked back.
"Cosette, just go back to your house."
The spoilt girl pouted, and left quickly, stomping her feet.
'Ponine emerged once she knew it was safe.
They smiled, and kissed, and joked for ten or so minutes.
"Listen, 'Ponine, I really must get back...The last thing we need is Cosette having suspicions."
She nodded sadly.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" he smiled at her.
"When? I have work tomorrow, until 4."
"Well, I'll wait for you outside Valerie's at 4," he grinned, kissing her forehead gently, and leaving, with one last smiling glance.
"'Ponine, that is the cutest thing I've heard in a long time!" Nicolette gushed.
"Cuter than 'Colie and Enjy'?" grinned Éponine.
...
Hey guys!
I know not a lot of dramatic stuff happened in this chapter, but I really wanted some cute Marius/Éponine, and trust me when I say these two are never going to stop being all gooey and sickly sweet romantic.
yayy,i missed them! who else?
I know I said she might have a visitor, but that may not be for a few chapters.
Now, I know I'm awful at updating:( And I'm going to get a lot more awful! Four weeks until my exams, so I'll be a revision machine 'til then.
And, no update til next week, because I'm heading down to Dublin for the weekend to see my aunty Eiméar, my uncle Peádar and my cousins Sinéad, Róisin and Áodhan, who I haven't seen in forever, so I'm really excited!
And, on Sunday is the National League Final! This is the final of matches between all 32 counties in the country, and the fact that my team has reached it is a big deal. We haven't won one of these in the top divison since I was 3, so I can't wait!
See you all soon, Thanks for all the amazing reviews!
Léis an ghrá i mo chroí, Niamh Ní Luachra.