Chapter Thirteen
Final Decisions

The familiar white walls that had embedded their colour into Eponine's mind had returned, this time bearing a different sense of urgency. Last time, she had feared for her hand, this time, she feared greatly for the sanity of three very important people in her life. This time, Grantaire and Joly were not lying on her sides, but Marius and Enjolras. How silly she felt having to be chosen by either one, like she were some prize to be passed around and fought over. She had never seen herself as much, she wasn't, but why these two men bickered over her baffled and perplexed her.

Enjolras had fallen asleep so quickly and peacefully that it had given Marius piece of mind knowing he was at ease. He understood how overwhelmed his hardworking friend was, and more than anything, he knew his sudden outburst in front of Eponine had bothered him. In the quiet and calm atmosphere of the hospital, Marius began to thoroughly contemplate the reason he had tried to kill himself. It must have frightened the others so much, as it terrified him. It was more of an instinctive action. And action he had given much thought to, but never with any realism. Although he did not know why for certain, Marius had been troubled with horrible thoughts coming and going for hours and hours on end that day and throughout the events that had unfolded. It was as if they were taking control of him and not letting him speak for himself. His tortured mind was manipulating his words, his broken heart taking advantage of his actions.

Marius remembered a time when Enjolras would look down to the streets when women admired him, and now, he had finally found somebody to share a loving glance with. How selfish of him it was to tear apart something that was meant to stay together.

It were as if he were tearing apart the wings of a butterfly. It would be difficult for the poor creature to fly without one wing, and with both wings gone – it would not be able to live at all. The wings needed to be together, just as Eponine and Enjolras. They had worked themselves sick trying to get something out of their lives while Marius abused his grandfather's care and rebelled against the government. He had found love with Cosette, but he had acted horribly upon her death and ultimately tried to forget she ever existed. How this must have bothered Eponine, how it must have confused Enjolras…

"Marius?" Eponine whispered, trying to make certain he was awake.

"Yes?"

"Thank goodness you're awake!" She sighed, shifting herself to a sitting position, "Were you hurt?"

"I cut my leg open trying to help Enjolras, but I'm fine." He quickly glanced at the bandage wrapped firmly around his bruised and stitched thigh, "How's your hand?"

"Fine." Eponine looked down again quickly, not to mask any tears, but to stifle a laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm not sure." She carried on, looking up and grinning ear to ear, "I guess, in a way, I'm glad that everything's over." Whispering, she added, "For now."

Marius couldn't help but smile as well, a weight finally being lifted off his sagging shoulders.

"Did you see what happened to Cosette's father?" She urged, looking around for any sign of him.

"Yes."

"Is he alright?"

"I hope so. He was still asleep when I saw them take him away."

"Marius – do they know he was a criminal?"

"You heard too?" He looked around to see if anybody would hear him.

Other than Enjolras' quick mutters of useless words and heavy breathing, no significant movements or noises were made. Not even from the nurses.

"I did…" Eponine sighed, "I can't bring myself to believe he'd ever done anything that bad."

"Me either."

"Me too." Enjolras added as he woke, blinking a few times to adjust to the bright lighting.

"Oh! I'm so glad you're awake!" Eponine sighed, looking into his tired eyes.

Bright purple bruises, turning yellow, had appeared underneath them, likely a result of the blows he received in battle that Eponine had been too blind to notice.

"Are you both alright? Is Jean Valjean?"

"We don't know." Marius and Eponine replied in unison.

"I was so worried about him."

"I was worried about you." Eponine replied, almost reading Marius' thoughts and taking the words out of his mouth.

Although he was in no position to comment on Enjolras' sanity, he was tired of his self-sacrificing, as well as Eponine's. Even his to be quite honest… If they did not begin to communicate soon, a disaster greater than the current one would occur.

Before much more words could be exchanged between the three, Valjean had appeared in the doorway wearing his thick coat and top hat. He seemed to be looking for an escape – was he trying to run away?

"Monsieur!" Enjolras called out quickly, bringing his attention to the three.

"Enjolras…" He began, walking towards them with a certain weakness, "Marius, Eponine." He whispered, as if to refresh the names in his memory.

"How are you feeling Monsieur?" Eponine asked. Trying to brighten his mood, she added, "You were certainly under the care of God at the convent. I' sure Javert won't bother you any more."

"Why didn't you tell me?" He differed suddenly, batting away the words.

"What?" Marius shook his head, trying to keep the man from bringing up his daughter's death.

"Marius, you know what I'm speaking of." He replied grimly. "I saw her body. I saw the lifeless heap it had become in the rain. In the battle." He looked as though he was trying extremely hard not to break down sobbing. Who could blame him?

"Monsieur, Cosette had told me to tell you it was the only way she could have ever been truly happy." She began to remember Cosette's exact words then, "She said that you have a place with her in heaven, and that you were the greatest thing to have ever happened to her. That she loves you."

He took a moment to contemplate the words, his expression that of a dying man. Truthfully, although he knew it were wrong, he envied the children for being alive instead of his daughter.

"Cosette saved my younger brother's life. He is extremely stupid, I know, but – I'd never seen her so happy with anything she'd done after she'd saved him. Monsieur, your daughter is a hero and an angel." Eponine added quickly.

With her words, Valjean finally noticed that her hand had been amputated, that Marius had a pair of crutches by his side, and that Enjolras was covered in cuts and scrapes, as well bruises underneath his swollen eyes. These were all children of the barricade, they had all lost a part of themselves, and for better or for worse, they would be changed forever.

Cosette was simply a part of them, and now, she was in the kingdom of God – with Fantine. The very women she had been separated so suddenly from years ago. Had Valjean not made a promise to care for this daughter? He had kept that promise till the battle, and now, she was in the care of her mother at last. Although it was a heartbreaking lost, it was nothing Jean Valjean wasn't accustomed to – especially after his nineteen brutal years of prison time. He had lost a piece of himself, perhaps the biggest part there was, but his heart would mend eventually, and he too would join his daughter in heaven one day. One day.

Looking back on the events of the past few days, it seemed as if so much could change in one very short day. No one ever knew what tomorrow would bring, and till tomorrow, Valjean would have to bear with his loss day after day until it faded. As did Eponine, as did Enjolras, as did Marius.

"My children," he sighed softly, pain still in his voice, "come with me. I shall take you to your friends."

"Where will you go?" Marius called anxiously.

"To my home." He replied smiling, giving Marius a sense of relief, "I must also apologize. If it were not for Javert, you would have never found out about my past. I know it's horrible."

"Monsieur, we have nothing but respect for you. We admire you. Nothing could change the way we think of you and all you have done for us."

Enjolras responded quickly, trying to sit up and face him. After failing at the attempt, he merely smiled nonchalantly at the man as he summoned the cabriolet he'd called earlier. He was never trying to escape; he was merely trying go back to his home.

After being discharged, the first he helped onto the cab was Enjolras, clearly now the weaker of the other two which was the biggest shock to Valjean. Years of intense studies and planning had finally worn him out. He is just a boy, Jean said to himself as Enjolras sat down, trembling, followed by Marius, then Eponine. Valjean took the final seat and the short journey began.

Eponine had wondered where the rest of les amis were now, after all, the barricade and Musain were nothing ore than a battleground, covered in rotting corpses and broken furniture, not to mention blood tainted floors and the acrid smoke that filled the air. It was no longer a home to them. It would no longer be a place of laughter and drinking, with tears and cheers from the victories planned on late nights, or the books piled high to the ceiling from studying. It would no longer hold the late night conversations between Marius and Eponine, or perhaps Combeferre and Courfeyrac or Grantaire and Enjolras. Gavroche would never dance on the tables again and the group would never have to hide from Thenardier on his surprise visits. It was sad really, but again, something they would all grow accustomed to eventually. At least they had their lives intact, that was truly important.

The clouds were partially covering the morning sun, sending it down in streaks and beams of light, illuminating the cab in sections. Eponine smiled at the small light show, reminding herself constantly that her struggles were over and that she could move on.

She was the first to notice they had stopped in front of a large, tidy, inn. Shudders flew up her spine as she remembered the inn that her parents had owned – where was this place?

"Your grandfather, Marius, was so impressed with your victory that he bought the inn he planned on giving to you as a home earlier. Just in case he had passed before you'd come back."

"My grandfather?"

Valjean nodded contently, "It seems as though the people in the villages are spreading news of the heroes that are saving France. Your grandfather must have heard too."

Marius didn't know what to do with himself, neither did Eponine. His grandfather had finally accepted Marius' antics; he was no longer a disgrace. Enjolras had done General Lamarque proud, the man he looked up to, and now, Marius had done his grandfather proud, the man who had taken him in after his parents' death. A piece of himself had grown back, mending his bruised and battered heart.

Before he knew it, they had entered the inn, showered in cheers from les amis, who were sitting in chairs and sofas amongst the well-furnished lobby. Eponine's jaw nearly fell to the floor in awe as she walked in, getting embraced quickly by Gavroche.

What an inn! It was beautiful! Nothing like she would have ever imagined an inn could be. There weren't drunkards scattered throughout the lobby, illegal affairs taking place in the rooms next to hers, and vomit from poisoned food tainting the floors and tables.

"'Ponine! Your hand!" Gavroche suddenly exclaimed.

"Battle scar." She corrected, smiling at him confidently. "I saved Monsieur Marius' life you know," She whispered, suddenly adding, "but don't tell him that!"

Gavroche giggled nervously, still in shock, and joined Grantaire, who seemed lifeless and tired.

"What's the matter with you?" Enjolras asked weakly, shocked that his old friend was just a lifeless heap now. What happened to all his spirit?

"He's been sober for days." Courfeyrac replied instead.

"Sober?" Enjolras asked laughing, "For days!?"

"Don't mock me…" Grantaire moaned, rolling onto his stomach. "Doc' said I got to stay sober."

"Ugh, you're a bigger mess than you were when you were drunk. Please, go back to drinking." Enjolras begged, laughing.

Eponine hit him playfully and giggled, "Don't tempt him. To be honest, I like this version of him better."

"Oh! Are you and Eponine still, you know." Courfeyrac asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Shut up, will ya?" Eponine snapped teasingly, entwining her fingers with Enjolras'.

"Actually," Enjolras began only to be stopped my Marius, who had just finished his goodbyes with Valjean, tears still in his eyes.

"I need to speak with you." He said urgently, Enjolras following Marius as he limped with his crutches tucked underneath his arms.

Eponine instead began talking to Valjean, making sure he knew how much of a father figure he had been to her in the past days, and how Cosette had become a sister to her.

"Listen," Marius began, "I know you and Eponine are together but –"

"Say no more, Marius. I know how fondly you think of her and always had. You can have her. She's not a gift to be passed around, but, you truly deserve her."

"No!" Marius differed.

Although the words he were about to say stung him to the core, he had already made his decision. Enjolras had never felt love so deeply, whereas Marius became infatuated easily. After all, before Cosette, who he was less than infatuated with, lasting only a day, Enjolras only knew Patria as his mistress.

"I've seen you both together. I fell in love with Eponine for the sake of falling in love. If I were any sort of man, I would have stuck by her instead of venturing off to Cosette as soon as the opportunity presented itself. I'm sick of all this sacrificing Enjolras!" He continued, "Cosette sacrificed her life, you sacrificed Patria, and now, I'm sacrificing my infatuation. I've gotten over Eponine previously; I just felt the need to love again after Cosette was gone. She's yours, and honestly – I think she may be for a while." Marius patted Enjolras on the shoulder heartily, "Take care of her, will you?" He smiled and moved towards the crowd of his friends.

Enjolras was moved by his friend's words, had he gone through the same thoughts as he? Marius was a man, for no person, let alone man, would give up his love for the wellbeing of another.

Enjolras never received the chance to say goodbye to Jean Valjean, for when he returned to the group, he had left the inn.

Looking for Eponine to ask her whether Valjean had left a forwarding address where he could be contacted, he realized that there was a knock on the inn's doors. Hoping it was Valjean, he awaited for them to open. As they flew open, a familiar face appeared in the doorway, striking fear into his heart but mostly Eponine's.

As she let out a scream, the man approached her, grabbing her wrists so tightly they began to turn purple. He seemed to ignore the fact that she had no hand on her right arm, but with the fury in his eyes, it was no shock.

"LET GO OF ME!" Eponine screamed, kicking him in the groin and watching him sink to his knees in pain, a yelp escaping his lips. She could feel the burning pain return to her wrist, her eyes began to fill with tears, her head beginning to spin. The pain was unbearable. Marius quickly attempted to make a move but stopped as the man pulled out a gun.

"Thenardier, let go of her!" Enjolras snapped, his voice like ice.

"Oh, an' who are ya' to tell me what to do?" He slurred, "I've 'ome to take 'Ponine away."

"Why!?" She cried, scrambling to her feet, trying to fight off the urge to faint.

"Oh, why are ya so surprised? Ya disappear for days, and expec' a warm welcome?"

"I do, yes." She spit, frantically backing away from him.

"Well, ya'r new 'hero' status has made ya'r new job even easier!"

"My new job?" She stuttered, "What on Earth are you talking about!?"

"I've sold you." He replied smugly, revealing five gold coins in his filthy hand.

Authors Note: Alright mes amis, the finale of this story is fast approaching, so I've got a question about what to write next! I'd love some help deciding between my current ideas. I'm deciding between a Les Miserables 50's/60's AU OR a totally modern version of the story. Also, I have yet to write the sequel to Life Moves on. I've also had this idea of writing The Phantom of the Opera, before, after, and during the story, in Christine's POV. Let me know what you think please! Merci beaucoup!