A/N: Again, sorry for the wait. I'm going to try to write a lot in the next couple days so hopefully there will be another chapter up by the weekend! Thank you for reading!

"You're hopeless," Grantaire laughed as he watched Enjolras attempt to assemble a meal in the kitchen. "How do you keep yourself alive?"

"As if you could do better," Enjolras grumbled without looking up from his task.

"I could actually," Grantaire informed him, gently pushing him aside and taking over with preparing the food. "I'm quite handy in the kitchen. My mom always gave me little tasks while she was making dinner to keep me out of trouble."

"You've never talked about your family before," Enjolras murmured, admitting defeat and letting Grantaire's knowing hands take over. He leaned against the counter and watched as the dark haired man expertly diced the vegetables he had laid out.

"You've never asked," he replied.

Enjolras nodded. He had never asked Grantaire about much of anything really. In truth, he barely knew the man on a personal level. "Where is your family?"

"They live out in the country," he sighed, "they were none too impressed when they caught word of my involvement in the rebellion. Actually, they were shocked."

"I can imagine," Enjolras said, remembering Grantaire's endless cynicism towards his ideas and reasons behind the revolution. They shifted into a heavy silence and Enjolras stood their feeling useless as he watched Grantaire work. The two had never had a good relationship, but Enjolras found him much more bearable now that he was sober, plus he knew how close him and Éponine had gotten while when Enjolras had lost his memory. He was also grateful at this moment that Grantaire was there to cook; he wanted his plan to go smoothly and his awful food preparation would not have put it off to a good start.


Éponine awoke to the muffled sounds of voices outside the bedroom door.

"Geez Enjolras," Courfeyrac muttered, "man up and just do it!"

"You already asked her, it's not like she's going to say no," Grantaire sighed.

"Really Enjolras, there's nothing to be nervous about, she loves you," Combeferre said patiently.

She could hear him suck in a deep breath before the doorknob turned and Enjolras' peaked his head in, his golden curls falling over his forehead. She smiled at him and his eyes widened in alarm. "Did you just hear everything?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied innocently, but his face reddened anyways. She pulled her body into a seated position.

He sighed anxiously and entered the room carrying a tray full of food. "I made you breakfast," he said, setting the tray down over her legs. A loud, conspicuous cough could be heard on the other side of the door and Enjolras rolled his eyes –of course they were listening in. "Well, Grantaire was actually a huge help."

Grantaire? Éponine thought, feeling shocked, but also pleased that maybe the two would become friends. She tried to imagine the odd pair standing in the tiny kitchen and working together, but it seemed so out of place that a small giggle escaped her lips. "Wow, what's the occasion?" Her stomach grumbled and she licked her lips as she looked at the impressive spread he had prepared for her. She immediately began to dig in, realizing how starving she actually was.

"I feel as though our love is something that should be celebrated every day," he said barely above a whisper. "I know that technically I already asked you this and I remember doing so now, but it felt necessary to remind you how much I want you in my life. So…." He trailed off, kneeling before her. He pulled a small satin box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a sparking emerald on a thin diamond encrusted band. She gasped at the sight of it. "Éponine, will you marry me?"

"Of course I will," she shrieked. She carefully moved the food tray to the side before throwing herself at him and knocking him to the floor. He winced in spite of himself and Éponine immediately felt guilty. "I'm so sorry," she murmured, planting kisses of any bare skin within her reach.

"It's quite alright," he assured her, a brilliant smile engulfing his face. "I hope you like the ring."

"I love it!" she said as he slid it into place on her left ring finger. "It's incredible."

"It belonged to my grandmother," he told her, smiling luminously.

This news startled Éponine. "Are you sure I should have this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whispered.

"Of course," Enjolras insisted, grabbing her hands in his and forcing her to look him in the eye. "It was given to me to give to the woman I love. That woman is you -you're my family." He planted a passionate kiss on her pouting lips, driving his words home.

"I want to meet them," Éponine announced when their mouths finally broke apart.

"Who?" Enjolras asked stupidly.

"Your family," she replied with a laugh.

Enjolras' reply came swiftly and sharply, "absolutely not." He released her hands and angrily pushed his hair out of his eyes.

"Why not?" she asked, feeling shocked by his dark mood and abruptness. She waited for a response as Enjolras pinched the bridge of his nose, not meeting her gaze. After several minutes of him not saying anything, she spoke up again, "they won't like me, will they?" she asked sadly. "They won't approve," she stated, already knowing it was the truth based on his intense reaction.

Enjolras sighed. "I don't care where you came from or what happened in the past…. But they will."

"You don't think they would want to know you're getting married?" Éponine pressed.

"We don't need them," he responded shortly. Éponine's face fell and Enjolras cold see the hurt and disappointment in her eyes. She knew they would judge her, but the desire to understand where he came from overrode her nervousness about their assessments of her. She had realized just how little she knew about his family and felt that meeting them would gain her an even better understand of the man she was to marry. He sighed and grabbed fistfuls of his hair in frustration. "But, if it means that much to you perhaps I could arrange a short trip to my family home," he conceded.

"Really?" Éponine asked -her wide brown eyes shining as they met Enjolras' blue ones.

"Really," he stated, again cracking a smile at his future wife.

Éponine smiled brightly back at him. "Thank you," she murmured, kissing his pink lips.


That night, the group was beginning to gather in the living room as they each returned from school or work for the day. The chatting was lighthearted and the laughter boisterous and full-bodied. Courfeyrac burst through the front door, waving an ivory piece of stationary tied with an elegant ribbon over his head. "We just got an invitation!" he hollered as everyone stared at him.

"An invitation to what?" Combeferre inquired, attempting to take the paper from the other man's hand, but Courfeyrac tore it away from him just in time, a smirk on his face. He opened the note with obnoxious slowness and cleared his throat dramatically.

"Dear friends, you are cordially invited to witness the union of Marius Pontmercy and Cosette Fauchlevant in wholly matrimony," he read. It was scheduled to take place in two weeks time at the Gillenormand manor.

"Pontmercy is getting married?" Enjolras asked, seeming astounded by the news.

"Of course," Combeferre stated, "he was enamored with this woman. Certainly the memory of him nearly abandoning the rebellion for her has come back to you."

Enjolras just grumbled in response, apparently he hadn't focused much on that thought. Éponine though was thrilled for him. Any leftover jealousy for Cosette was long gone. Marius never appreciated all the affection and attention she gave him and their relationship was definitely not meant to be. Cosette, however, captured his heart after merely a glance and it seems that now that they have gotten to truly know each other, that love is even deeper. The only negative thought in her mind was the knowledge that Marius and Cosette's wedding would be the most lavish affair she had ever seen. Her and Enjolras' would never be as fancy. Even though she knew his family had the money to pay for whatever her heart desired, she couldn't fathom spending more francs on one day than she had ever had in her entire life. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a tiny pang of envy as she looked at the thick ivory cardstock invitation. Everything about their life together would be beautiful and expensive and, well, easy -and for once, Éponine just wanted things to be easy.


By some strange coincidence, a few days following his conversation with Éponine regarding a visit to his family, Enjolras received a letter from his mother. It stated that the father of his bride-to-be had contacted them and that she would like to invite them home at their earliest convenience. A knot formed in his throat as his eyes scanned the words on the page for the fifth time. He was unsure how Thénardier would have known about his and Éponine's engagement, yet somehow he not only knew, but had also reached out to his family with the knowledge of their wealth. And he was most certainly hoping to get something out of this marriage.

A/N: Well there you have it! It's all family drama and weddings to come! PLEASE REVIEW!