Hello, there. I know it's been a while. I started college this year, and time got away from me. I would like to beg for forgiveness with the final chapter of this story. If anyone's still reading this, please accept my apology. And I would just like to say thank you for everyone who has read this story from the beginning and those who have left reviews, you are all so amazing. I love you all and I'm sending you computer hugs(: I hope you enjoy this last chapter!

Epilogue

Marius Pontmercy was late. Pushing against the sea of people that clogged the sidewalks, a sense of panic, mingled with excitement, overwhelmed him. It had been a year and a half since he had last seen Eponine and Enjolras being packed into an unfamiliar cargo ship that would take them to a destination unbeknownst to him.

About four months after the incident with Germaine, and after weeks and weeks of excessive police questioning, a letter arrived at Marius' office without a return address. Only one line was scribbled across the yellowed paper. Have reached safety. Laying low for a while. E.

It was another two months until he received another letter, this time detailing where they had settled down and that they would send word for when it was safe for Marius to visit. The second letter lifted an immense weight off of Marius' shoulders; he started to eat more and was sleeping more fitfully as well. It wasn't until late June that he received Eponine and Enjolras' final letter, revealing their new address and a ticket across the sea to England. The ship would leave in March.

Now, finally maneuvering the streets of London, his heart began to beat faster at the prospect of seeing his friends again. Despite the overcast skies, children were running through the streets, as carefree and blithe as children should be. It filled him with joy, seeing the children play in the streets. It was definitely a different scene than the callous streets of Paris that little Gavroche used to roam.

Marius paused to check his pocket watch. It was half past eleven, ten minutes after Eponine had agreed to meet him. Just then, thunder erupted from the clouds, and a persistent rain began to fall. Marius swore under his breath and ducked under the nearest awning that he spotted.

He shook out the water from his hair, droplets flying all over the place. Suddenly, a hand reached out and grabbed his arm. Marius jumped, and a raspy female voice laughed.

"It's good to see you, my friend!" Eponine said gaily, a wide grin spreading across her face.

Marius chuckled, embracing the thin young woman. "Eponine! What a sight! How did you find me?"

"I still know my way around, even if it's a different place," she was still smiling, her smile so radiant it seemed to light up the entire street. It suits her, Marius thought.

"Where's Enjolras?"

"At home. He had some things to work on. He's taken a job as a journalist, you know," Eponine told Marius, looping her arm through his. The rain had let up a little, and the two ventured into the streets.

"A journalist? Really?" Marius asked bemusedly. "A political journalist, I suppose?"

She nodded, another laugh bubbling to her lips. "It's been difficult adjusting to some parts here," she confessed, "but there is much more opportunity here for us. And there are no cops after us. Yet." She grinned wickedly at her last statement.

She led him through the crowded streets, regaling him with the tales of their lives in England. There was a large part of Marius that was extremely happy for his two friends, but there was a selfish part of him that wanted them to only be happy with him, in Paris. But he knew that life in England would be better for them.

"Are you planning on staying here?"

"In England? Who knows? One day we might decide somewhere else sounds nice. We have talked about traveling," she explained, turning onto a street filled with flats and spilling over with beggars and street urchins. Eponine led him halfway down the street and climbed the front steps to her tenement. A delicious aroma was escaping from Eponine's door when they arrived; Marius's stomach rumbled. He realized that he hadn't eaten anything all day.

"Enjolras?" Eponine called out. The living room was still filled with boxes from when they had taken their hasty leave from Paris. The candles in the room were all lit, emanating a warm glow around the living space. It was definitely a change from the rainy streets.

Enjolras appeared from the kitchen in his shirtsleeves. A smirk flew across his face when he beheld Marius and Eponine, soaking wet, standing in the doorway. Marius walked up and embraced him, and Enjolras settled for awkwardly patting him on the back.

"It's good to see you," He told Marius. "I have supper waiting. I hope you don't mind leftovers Monsieur Baron." Marius rolled his eyes good naturedly.

As the two men followed Eponine into the kitchen, Enjolras gripped Marius' sleeve. "Did you bring them?"

"Of course," Marius replied, patting his coat pocket.

Enjolras paled visibly, but there was an enthusiastic gleam in his eye.

Their supper was filled with jokes and smiles and even misty eyes. Catching up on the past year and a half was precious, and to these three dear friends it felt almost as if no time had passed at all between them. At the conclusion of the meal, Eponine went downstairs to check the mailbox.

"What's this?" She inquired, waving a large packet in front of Enjolras and Marius.

"Open it," Enjolras told her. She gave him a quizzical look, but carefully unsealed the large envelope. She cocked her head to the side.

"Is this…?"

"Yes," Enjolras said. He held out his hand, two rings glittering in his palm. "Marius has made it official. That's our marriage certificate."

Eponine's breath caught in her lungs. Time seemed to slow, everything else seemed to melt away except for the two wedding bands that Enjolras was holding. She placed a trembling hand over her mouth, as a slow tingling spread throughout her body. She felt as if she were floating to the ceiling. She reminded herself to keep both feet on the ground.

Enjolras walked up to her and slipped the ring onto her left hand. "You deserve to be happy, Eponine. And I swore to you years ago that I would do whatever it took for you to be happy. And more than anything I want you to be happy with me, no matter how selfish that may sound. This is our chance."

Eponine could on stand there, shocked into silence. Enjolras searched her face, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. "What do you say?"

She didn't say anything. Instead, she lifted the gold band out of his outstretched palm, and slipped it onto his left hand. Eponine was one of the few people to frequent Enjolras' smiles. But this one reached all the way up to his ice blue eyes, eyes that always softened for Eponine, eyes that melted into the ocean.

"It took you long enough." Her cheeky jibe earned a laugh from Enjolras, who picked her up and kissed her on the mouth in the middle of their cramped kitchen, despite Marius' eyes on them. It was the most promising of kisses. Tender and fierce all at once, it tasted of freedom, new beginnings, and second chances.

June 5, 1833

Eponine kept her head down as she weaved her way through the clogged streets. A few people bumped into her, jostling her shoulder. It had healed, but the rough pushing of bodies caused her to grit her teeth in discomfort.

'Remember why you're here, Eponine.' She chastised herself, forcing her way through the crowd of people. Finally, she was safely planted on the sidewalk outside of the bookstore. She fingered the grimy sous that sat in her pocket and smiled. This would be the first time she actually had enough money to buy something she wanted rather than having to steal it.

She had procured a job in a flower shop, not far from where she lived with Enjolras. Over the past few months, the pair had grown into great friends. He had interesting views on the government, which Eponine found fascinating. She liked to listen to him talk. His eyes lit up with a fierce blaze, and she always wondered if this was how Marius had looked at him during their meetings in the back room of the Musain. The thought made her sad, but content as well. She felt as if she were somehow connected to her brother and Marius whilst she was with Enjolras. It didn't erase the pain she felt, but it did ease it.

After purchasing her book, she roamed the filthy streets, inhaling the perfumed pages of her book and scanning the pages. It wasn't until she looked around that she realized where she was.

The Rue de la Chanvevrie.

The bullet wound in her chest flares up and her heart contracts. God, she had not meant to come this way.

Eponine shuts her eyes, trying to repress the bloody and terrible memories. All of the young men, dying, their life force spilling out of them in crimson waves on the brick. Marius. Her poor Gavroche. He was so brave, so brave.

She's trembling, and doesn't realize her legs have betrayed her until she feels the rough brick against her knees. Eponine forced her tears back, but to no avail. They overflowed from her eyes, running in hot, thick streams down her face. She doesn't want to remember. She doesn't want to feel the guilt that comes with remembering. The guilt that she should have been the one to die at the barricade, not Marius. Not Gavroche. Her.

The soft footfalls behind her break her out of her trance. She looks up, her brown eyes locking with Enjolras' ice ones.

"What're you doing here?"

"Visiting old ghosts, just like you." He extends a hand to her and helps her off the ground.

For a minute they both stand together, shoulder to shoulder, staring at the empty street. But they are both seeing the same structure; the gargantuan barricade, the red flag, the bodies. Enjolras slips his hand into hers. His hands are surprisingly warm, and the gesture fills Eponine with a strange feeling.

"I'm leaving, Eponine."

She whips her head towards him. How typical. He was going to leave her alone, just like everybody else. 'Why do people always leave me?' But what she really says is "Why?"

"Because remembering is too painful. Everywhere I go I see them in their last moments, my name dying on their lips. I let them down. I want to go somewhere where I won't let anyone down. Where I can help people. This place is full of ghosts for me." His golden hair wreaths his head like a halo. Eponine thinks he looks like a noble lion. When he looks at her this time, his gaze is softer, excited even. "And for you."

Eponine blinks. "Are you saying…?"

"Come with me? Yes." He clears his throat awkwardly. "That is, if you want to come with me."

Her lips lift into a slight grin. What would her Maman say, running away with a revolutionary?

She squeezes his hand, and he returns the gesture, smiling with understanding.

Enjolras turns to go. Eponine loops her arm through his and walks with him. Together they leave Paris behind.

THE END.

Thanks for reading! I appreciate the love and support. Until next time, happy reading!

Xx carlessfreedom