I DO NOT OWN LES MISERABLES OR ANY ORIGINAL CHARACTERS.
...
"Maman, why is he here?" Éponine grinned at her mother, knowing full well she'd never be innocent in situations like these.
"I may have slipped an invitation," Thérése smirked.
Éponine laughed, and took a drink out of her glass. "Well, I'll leave them be," she smiled.
The pair giggled and laughed together, Éponine tipsy and Thérése well on her way to being drunk. Ten minutes or so later, Marius and his grandfather rejoined them, smiles on their faces, and the women stood to greet them.
"Grandfather, this is my new wife Éponine," Marius introduced, slipping his arm around his new wife's waist.
"Please to meet you, my dear. Although I dare-say we've met before?"
She smiled and nodded. "On the streets, Monsieur."
"Oh no, no, please call me Mathieu," he chuckled.
She nodded, and Marius gestured to Thérése.
"And this is her mother, my lovely new mother-in-law, Thérése Thernardier."
"Nice to meet you, Mathieu," she grinned, extending her hand.
"The pleasure is all mine," he smiled, shaking hands with her.
Lottie rushed over in that instant, frantically.
"What's wrong?" Éponine asked, worried.
"It's Enjolras!"
"What?! What happened, is he okay?"
"He just proposed!"
"No way!" Éponine squealed.
"He must of been planning this for weeks, he'd be too worried it'd go wrong," Marius chuckled.
"I know! But he did! He doesn't even have a ring, it was just spur of the moment!" Lottie rushed, a buzz of excitement. At that moment, she noticed Mathieu, and hurriedly curtseyed, embarrassed at having ignored him this long. In response, he kissed her hand.
"Oh my, who's this?" she smiled, impressed at his manners.
"That's my grandfather, Mathieu. Grandfather, this is our friend Lottie," he grinned.
"This Enjolras, he is the same one I know of?"
Marius nodded.
"And he proposed?"
Again, Marius nodded.
"What a transformation," Mathieu chuckled.
Joly soon walked over, followed by the newly engaged couple.
"I'm so sorry, 'Ponine, that we took the attention away from you two for a minute there-"
"Oh, wise up, Colie," Éponine laughed. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Grandfather, this is Enjolras, our friend Nicolette, the one whom he just proposed to, and that's Joly. You three, this is my Grandfather Mathieu."
...
Half an hour found most of the group dancing around the room somewhere. Joly and Nicolette were laughing, and Thérése found herself leaning on Marius for much support in her drunken state. Lottie and Mathieu were talking at a table, and Éponine was just coming back from the bathroom, when Enjolras stopped her.
"I just realised we haven't had a dance, 'Ponine. You avoiding me or something?" Enjolras questioned playfully, joking along.
"Never," she grinned, dragging him out.
"So, this day lived up to your expectations?"
"More than, there was something I didn't expect at all," she grinned slyly.
"What, Cosette turning up?"
"No, Enjy. You finally doing something romantic, and spontaneous, without any prompts from us lot. I mean, we're like your Cupids! The Marble Statue got himself engaged," she laughed, playfully punching his arm.
"I'm perfectly capable of something romantic!" he argued, with a grin on his face.
"Oh yeah, like what?" she challenged, unable to contain her laughter.
"I'll show you all, at my wedding."
"You realise how high my hopes and expectations are for that wedding now, don't you?"
"Yep."
"And you know that if you so much as annoy Nicolette, I will cut all your hair off in your sleep and call you Enjy on a permanent basis?" she warned.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," he grinned. "And if Marius ever hurts you again, just tell me, and I'll sort it."
"What do you mean by sort it?"
"I'll give Cosette his address," he smirked.
Éponine's head flew back in laughter as she danced with Enjolras.
"Look at you, all emotional and protective, it's almost like having a big brother," she grinned.
"I'm flattered, but that would never work."
"And why's that?"
"I'm tall and blonde and gorgeous and brilliant...And you're Éponine," he chuckled.
She gasped in mock shock. "Monsieur, I'm sure your lovely fiancée wouldn't like to hear that."
"I'm being serious, 'Ponine. You're more than gorgeous, more than brilliant. You're beautiful, and perfect," he smiled.
"Aw, Enjolras! See, I knew you were a big softie inside," she triumphed.
"You should have heard my proposal," he smirked, pride clear in his face.
"I'm sure I'll hear it at work about seventeen times before the first customer even comes in on Monday," she grinned.
"Suppose so, awful to be you!"
"Thanks for the moral support, big man!"
"I'm not big, you're just small."
And with that, Éponine and Enjolras were back to being the two best friends who tease and laugh at each other's expenses.
...
The following Monday at work, Nicolette, Lottie and Éponine were giggling arounds cups of tea. Nicolette, as predicted, was now launching into her 9th re-telling of Enjolras' proposal. The door opened, and Lottie got up to greet their customer. When she reached the door, all her two friends could hear was laughing. They cautiously, curiously, went out to join her.
What they saw, also made them laugh; Cosette was standing in the doorway, red faced, embarassed, clutching the wedding dress she would no longer need.
"I-I'd like to return this," she mumbled, humiliated.
"Why?" Nicolette asked, pretending to act dumb. Éponine swatted her arm playfully, and Lottie turned to Cosette.
"Sorry, no can do. That dress was made especially for you, therefore, we can't take it back. It's your measurements, and your design. Nobody's going to want it," Lottie smiled, trying to be helpful.
Cosette narrowed her eyes. "Of course you can take it back! You just don't want to because it's me!"
"Actually, it is a rule," Lottie replied.
"We wouldn't refuse you a refund, as we don't take personal matters into the workplace. I suggest you do the same," Éponine interjected.
"What am I meant to do with this?!" Cosette demanded, angrily.
"We don't provide uses. We provide dresses. However, I suggest you don't kidnap a groom again," Nicolette smirked.
"Can I get any money, at all?"
"Oh yes, of course, you keep your dress and we'll give you money for it," Lottie sarcastically added.
Cosette groaned in frustration, and stormed out of the shop.
"Well, I don't think she'll bother us again," smiled Lottie.
...
You guys!
First off, thanks for all your lovely reviews!
Second, we've had a reunion, cute Enjolras/Éponine friendship, and a final farewell to Cosette. I really don't know what more I can do, I think this is the last chapter. I'll add a next chapter, 20 years on or something along those lines, and thats it:(
Thanks so much for your support the whole way through, it was and still is absolutely priceless.
Is grá an léis i mo chroí,
Ó Niamh Ní Luachra x