(Wow. I was so excited I just had to post it now. I also do that.) Tada! A 'She Waits' sequel like many of you asked! I'm really excited for this! Thanks judybear236 for helping me through many decisions and ideas; you're de bomb. ;)

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing from anything from anytime or anyplace that has anything to do with Les Mis. I only own my imagination. Merci.

He Begins Again

Ruby brushed her orange hair back and switched Athena onto her other hip. Four children. Four completely mad, rambunctious, loud, loveable children was what she dealt with day in and day out. There was Alfred, who was fourteen now. Henry was nine (he was the milk-man child; his parents died in a house fire when he was four and Ruby insisted they take him in because he was an extremely distant family member). Jehan was five and a philosopher to boot. And then there was precious Athena, merely two, the baby and only girl of the family. Enjolras insisted on naming her after the Greek goddess. Athena looked like Ruby, with the same fiery red hair and green eyes. Jehan was the split image of Enjolras, quite literally; he'd been named after Jehan Prouvaire because Enjolras knew, in his heart, the two would be so much a like; he never told his wife that. Henry looked nothing like any of them, but he fit in just fine because.. well, he never shut up. Alfred looked more and more like Eponine each day; he was carefree and caring, like her too.

Ruby had agreed to marry Enjolras on the spot when he asked. He'd asked four weeks after Alfred's sixth birthday, and they were married the same week. Ruby confessed she'd fallen for him the moment they met. "It's the eyes, I think," she told him that night.

She'd endured eight blissful years of marriage to the now college professor so far. The year was 1843 and the revolution was fourteen years behind Enjolras; thoughts of it still plagued him everyday. Enjolras, when they still lived in France, had this thing about him that Ruby never could quite understand; she still didn't. He rarely spoke of the days before their marriage and it sometimes seemed as if Alfred knew more than she did. One day, he decided it was time to leave France. He felt Paris pushing closer to him everyday and Eponine's grave was.. Well, he needed to leave. None of the other three children were even considered are the time; it was just Enjolras, Ruby, and Alfred. They moved to England that spring, the spring of 1838, also the year Henry was born. After finding as respectable house in the countryside (Enjolras hated the city now), with a lot of land for the children, they felt well instilled after Enjolras got a job teaching history at the local college.

They were happy; very happy.

Athena gurgled and reached for her mother's chin. Ruby turned around quickly, grabbing the nearest arm she could find. It was Henry's.

"Children," her voice was calm. Like always. "Your father is studying in the room just over there. He has many things to do for his students. If you're going to yell," she focused on Jehan. "Please, go outdoors. That's what the Lord made the outside for: yelling boys."

Jehan blushed and held his mother's hand. "I'm sorry, Mama." he looked positively beaten.

With her free hand, Ruby touched Jehan's cheek. "I'm not angry, Jehan. Go outside then."

The boys followed instructions, yelling all the way out the French doors. Ruby thought she caught Alfred say something about a woman named Eponine. She shook it off. Athena gurgled again and Ruby smiled.

"Here now, my lady." she placed the girl in the high-chair beside the stove. Grantaire was coming for a visit along with his wife and their two children and she had much work to do. "We have to get ready for out guests! They're coming tomorrow and I have a lot to do, but you can have this for now." she handed the child four apple slices.

"You always did look so good with children."

Ruby looked up. Enjolras leaned against the framing of the door that lead from his office; his arms were folded across his muscular chest and a smirk played across his lips. Ruby blushed and pushed a book over to the corner of the table.

"Are you hungry?" she asked, pointing to a chair. "You've been in there all day. What have you been doing?"

"Writing a letter," Enjolras said as he sat down.

"Really? To whom?" Ruby sat down in front of her husband after placing a plate of meat, cheese, and bread in front of him.

"Marius Pontmercy."

Ruby cocked an eyebrow. "Who's he?" she took a fork from Athena's hand.

"A.. friend. From France. From.. a long time ago.." Enjolras sighed, fingering the necklace around his neck; it held Marius' family ring on it, Eponine had kept it always and it was the last thing he found just before they buried her. He had never taken it off in respect.

At this, Ruby looked away from her cook-book. She knew almost nothing of Enjolras' life in France. She knew, also, not to touch the subject. All she knew was that Enjolras was the father of Alfred; Alfred's mother died during childbirth and Grantaire was the man who saved Enjolras' life. It annoyed her that he kept so much hidden. Ruby mustered up courage from deep down.

"Tell me," she whispered. She had a right to know.

"Tell you what?" Enjolras flipped a page of one of his student's homework.

"About France." there was a pregnant pause. "I know nothing, my love." she sighed. "I wish only to help you."

Enjolras stared across at his wife, swallowing his bread. God, he loved her. She was gentle and calm; he'd only heard her raise her voice once and that was when Alfred nearly broke Henry's arm during one of their many skirmishes. She'd been so scared she smacked him clear across the face and began to cry, yelling at him for being so careless, only to fall to her knees right after and apologize for her actions. Alfred had been so stunned he didn't know what to do; he just stood like a dolt awkwardly patting the woman he now called 'mother.' Ruby's hair was as orange as fire and she often tied it up in a blue ribbon to keep it away from her face. She was past beautiful and Enjolras felt more than lucky to have her for his own. Her soft skin and bright smile helped sooth him after a long day of teaching. And the way she said his name.. It made him shudder to just think about it.

Eponine would have liked her.

"Ruby," every time she asked about France he would begin his decline with her name.

"Don't Ruby me, Enjolras!" her voice became hard. "I am your wife, correct? You seem so troubled lately. If you don't tell me, I wont be able to help you. Now, please, dear, tell me why you hate France so much.."

Enjolras leaned back in his chair and glanced out the window. The three boys were, unknowing to him, playing Alfred's favorite game, Les Amis et le Café de l'ABC. He was fourteen and he still played it.

The man with the blond hair laughed roughly; Ruby blinked. "I do not hate France, Ruby. I would die for France. I would.. still.." he stood up quickly and retreated to his study; Ruby followed, glancing over her shoulder at Athena who rested her head on the high-chair, fast asleep.

"Still? What do you mean still?" Ruby was not about to let this go. Not now.

Enjolras sat at his desk and poured over his letter to Marius for the umpteenth time. "Ruby, please, not now."

She perched herself in a chair in front of the desk. He didn't look at her. She reached forward and gripped his hand, squeezing it lightly. "It's time you told me everything."

And he did.

He told her, quite literally, about every boring detail, every mundane meeting, every speech he ever wrote, every fight he ever had with Grantaire, every time he held Eponine in his arms. Ruby listened the whole time, silently; she was very good at listening, one of the things Enjolras loved about her the most. She never once tried to add anything when he practiced his lectures on her and she never got tired of them either. When he was finished, hours had past.

Outside (for Enjolras had shut the door to the office), Alfred had served dinner and was waiting patiently for his siblings to finish; he knew when to leave his parents alone.

Enjolras finished with his head in his hands and tears in his eyes. Ruby was hurt, at best. She couldn't say why. Maybe it was the fact he never told her some of the most important things he'd done in his life, or the fact that he never told her of this.. Eponine. Ruby brushed a tear off her cheek and placed her hands in her lap.

"Well," she breathed after some time.

Enjolras looked up and rubbed his chin. "Well," he repeated.

"Thank you."

He nodded.

Ruby bit her nail. "So.. Epon-"

Enjolras looked away from the bookcase, his eyes wild. "I love you, Ruby! Don't forget that."

She fell silent.

"But, somehow, I feel-"

"Ruby!" Enjolras raised his voice, standing up, placing his clenched fists on the desk. Ruby jumped in her chair. "Eponine passed away many years ago. I do admit that I loved her with all my heart, but, in that time, I knew I would die; I hoped I would die. We knew we wouldn't make a life together." he sighed and came around the front of the desk, kneeling in front of his wife. "Then I met you." he cupped her cheek in his hand. "I was swept away by how beautiful you were and I knew I needed to-"

"Enjolas, please." Ruby pulled his hand away and sighed. "You say you love me, but-"

He held her hand tightly. "I do."

Ruby looked at her husband. He was telling the truth; she could tell. She loved him, too. He made her feel loved, protected, cherished. They were the best of friends and whole-hearted lovers. Ruby wouldn't give him up for all the money in the world, or even the chance of getting her family back. They'd gone through their rough patches with her two miscarriages and Enjolras' nightmares. He had helped her through the sudden death of her mother, the disownment from her father; he'd always been there to hold her when she cried. Likewise, she was there when he woke up screaming and the children came rushing in to find her struggling to keep his shoulders pinned down on the bed. All the while, she would sing soft songs her mother taught her when she was young. Ruby didn't know, until now, was haunted his dreams; maybe they would stop now that he told her?

Ruby smiled and bit her lower lip. "I love you, as well."

He moved to kiss her but she turned her head, laughing loudly. "We have work to do, Enjolras!" she slid out of the chair and away from his arms.

"Mon dieu! I only want to kiss you!"

Ruby turned around at the door. "Save it for later," she whispered, winking and rushing out the door.

Enjolras chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. He would get her back, and good, too. He picked up the letter from the desk. He sorely hoped Marius still lived there; he probably didn't. But.. he needed to tell him. Folding the letter into his pocket, Enjolras entered the kitchen to help deter Henry from pulling Jehan's hair.

asdfjkl; I'm thrilled! Please let me know what you think!

Good to be back with this story!

Jessie