Chapter 18
I DO NOT OWN LES MISERABLES OR ANY OTHER CHARACTERS INVOLVED.
This is dedicated to the girl who told me this was better than the original...I honestly don't believe that for a second, but THANK YOU SO MUCH!
...
Marius quickly settled into life with Éponine, Enjolras, Joly, Nicolette, Lottie, and Phillie.
Éponine didn't take long to forgive Marius.
Phillie didn't take long to adjust to cooking for the whole group.
Marius didn't take long to adjust to the fact that he wasn't the only one that called Éponine 'Ponine'.
But Enjolras and Nicolette never accepted being called 'Enjy and Colie', as they were now affectionately known by all their friends.
"Enjy and Colie, one of you please pass the milk?" Éponine pleaded sweetly, an innocent smile plastered on her pretty face.
Marius laughed into his tea, and Joly and Lottie just gave each other a despairing look. They were sure it wouldn't be long before the annoyance inside Enjorlas fizzed up and exploded.
Just then Phillie came in and sat down beside Lottie. The pair were already close before Lottie befriended the group, and you could often find them chatting away in the corner of the kitchen.
"Now, Now, 'Ponine, how many times I have told you to tone down the 'Enjy and Colie' thing?" Phillie scolded.
"Just as many times as I've used the term inside this home," she smiled sweetly.
"Which is?" the old woman prompted.
"At least over thirty," she grinned proudly. Marius had recently taught her how to count to high numbers.
He'd also taught her some reading and writing, although at the moment it was very basic and still needed a lot of progress.
Enjolras rolled his eyes. "Thirty?! Under-statement," he grumbled.
"Woah, Enjolras, actua-"
"I think we should get going to Val's 'Ponine, before Enjolras throws a fit," laughed Lottie, who had also recently secured a job at the seamtresses.
Lottie stood up, and so did Joly, who gave her a hug and a quick peck on the lips, before picking up his plate to bring it to be washed.
Nicolette got up, followed by Enjolras, who seemed to be making progress in his "unmarbaliz-ing" as Éponine called it. Inspired by the Marble Statue quip, it was her term for making Enjolras seem less awkward around his girlfriend. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and a smile, before going to join Joly.
Éponine and Marius rose at the same time. Nicolette and Lottie groaned, and Joly and Enjolras ran for the kitchen, citing, "Run, Enjolras, before they start all that again!"
Not seconds later, Marius and Éponine were locked in a tight embrace and an everlasting kiss.
"Young ones," Phillie tutted, shaking her head as she left for the kitchen.
Nicolette and Lottie looked away almost instantly.
"It's been what, three weeks? And that pair still haven't calmed down!" Lottie complained.
"I know! They're going in reverse. Normally, you start off courting a lady politely. I don't know anyone as...openly, publicly physical as that, who isn't married!" Nicolette commented.
"Well, the way they go on, you'd think they were married," Lottie mused.
"I don't think it'll be very long."
"Really, Nic? I don't know. As...full on, let's say, as Éponine is, Marius is quite traditional and old-fashioned. I'd say he'd want to start off slow."
Nicolette pointed her thumb over her shoulder. "You call that slow?"
Lottie laughed. "You have a point." She then turned around, to see Marius and Éponine still locked in each other's arms. "Éponine Thernardier, you plan on coming with us any time soon or will we just tell Valerie that her rising star seamtress is late for work, once again, because she's too busy courting her man, once again?"
Marius realised this, and began to pull away, but Éponine wouldn't let him.
Nicolette came up behind Éponine and lightly hit her upside the head. The former turned around, with a look of anger on her face.
"Thank god," Nicolette rolled her eyes. She grabbed one of Eponine's upper arms, and Lottie quickly skipped up to take the other. They half-dragged Éponine out the door, and just about heard Marius shouting to Éponine that he loved her.
Éponine pouted when the girls proceeded anyway and didn't let her reply.
"You two are so mean to me," she huffed.
"Oh, calm down, you love us both," laughed Nicolette.
Lottie nodded. "We're doing this for your own good."
"Ha...Doesn't feel like that," laughed 'Ponine, already having forgave them.
They giggled and chattered the whole way to Val's.
...
At lunchtime, a mysterious woman came into the shop, her hair concealed in a masculine cap. She wore a long, simple, shabby grey coat, with what seemed to be a brown cotton skirt on underneath. Her face was stained with dirt and tears, and her hands were shaking. Her skin was filthy and tanned, although Lottie could not be sure if that was her natural skin tone or just the dirt. She didn't seem like a woman who would step into such a high end shop, but Lottie ignored this.
"Hello, Madame, how may I help you?" smiled Lottie. Nicolette and Éponine were in the back room, sewing, and drawing up dream dresses.
"I'd like...to speak to s-someone," croaked the woman hoarsely.
"Oui, Madame. I am an employee," Lottie smiled. Was this woman stupid?
"Non...A...A c-certain woman. A miss É-Ép-" she struggled to rasp out the words, all her energy having been taken up with the previous sentence, and the effort it took to get to the shop in her state.
"Éponine?" Lottie suggested helpfully.
The woman weakly nodded.
"Why don't you sit down in the mean time, Madame?" smiled Lottie.
She slightly shrugged, even then a frail movement.
Lottie helped her slowly over to a chair and sat her down, before turning and going to find Éponine.
When she did reach her, Éponine was laughing hysterically and Nicolette was giving her a desperate look. When she noticed Lottie, Nicolette jumped up.
"Thank God! I'm coming out there with you! I swear, that woman is insane-"
"'Ponine, you have a visitor," grinned Lottie.
"You serious? They haven't seen each other for three hours and Marius is already visiting her? There are normal mushy romantic people, and then there's that, and that's just wrong," Nicolette shuddered.
"Just because you're with Enjolras, who doesn't seem to know the meaning of romantic," Éponine laughed.
Nicolette rolled her eyes. "He's the smartest man any of us now, of course he does!"
"And his girlfriend doesn't know the meaning of sarcasm."
"It's not Marius!" interrupted Lottie.
"What? I don't see why Enjolras or Joly or Phillie would visit...Well, maybe Phillie."
"It's not any of them. I have no idea who she is!"
"And she wants to talk to me?" asked a confused, and disbelieving Éponine.
Lottie nodded. "Come quick, the poor woman's in a bad way."
Éponine got up and followed Lottie out. Nicolette came out too, curious as to who it was.
When she came out, Éponine saw the person she least expected to see.
"Maman?!"
...
I'm back!
Thanks for all your lovely reviews, they mean piles and piles and piles!
So, what do you think of Nicolette and Lottie's thoughts that Éponine and Marius are going to get married sometime soon? How will Éponine react to Madame Thernardier? Why is she coming to see 'Ponine?
See you soon, hopefully!
Léis an grá i mo chroí, Niamh Ní Luachra. xx