Phantom Faces at the Window/ Phantom Shadows on the Floor

Chapter 3

After a long night of conversing with his old friends, Marius' eyes began to flutter shut. That was until Bahorel came up behind him and clapped at hand onto his shoulder.

"Ah it seems as if our lone survivor is getting sleepy." He said in his naturally booming voice. This called everyone's attention over to them. Marius opened his eyes.

"Sleepy? No. No of course not. "He said as he held back a yawn. The others could see it though.

"Go on home Marius. Go home to your beautiful wife and get some sleep." Courfeyrac said suddenly feeling a little guilty that they had kept him there for so long. As ghosts didn't need to sleep, they had forgotten that for Marius, who is still living, needs it. Marius shook his head. He didn't want to leave his friends. Not when he had just gotten them back. But the day's events had exhausted him and he was about ready to pass out right then and there.

"Marius it's alright. You've been here for hours. I'm sure Cosette is worried by now." Combeferre said

Marius looked down almost afraid to ask the next question. "Will I ever see you again?"

Nobody answered. Nobody knew. What if they suddenly disappeared? If ghosts were real, then anything is possible. Finally Feuilly spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Why don't you come back tomorrow? Maybe we will still be here."

Marius nodded and stood up. He walked towards the door but did not exit.

"I hope I see you tomorrow. Maybe I'm crazy, but I think if I have you all with me, I can deal with being crazy." He said with a smile before walking out. The café was silent as they watched their brother go. Would it be the last time they saw him?

Jehan's small voice broke the silence. "Will we see him tomorrow?" He wasn't sure whether he was talking more to himself than his friends.

"I don't know Jehan. I mean the possibilities are endless. Perhaps now that we have seen him again or perhaps because he was last of us and has received closure, maybe we will not see him again. Maybe we will finally pass on." Combeferre said running a ghostly hand through his hair.

"Combeferre that sounds ridiculous." Enjolras said even though he knew it was possible.

"But I don't want to pass on. I want to see Marius again." Gavroche said sadly. To him passing on meant leaving forever. And that is what it meant. But he didn't want that. Even if he had to stay a child forever, he would rather stay. He would rather see Marius and Cosette. And even the baby they don't have yet. That sounded much better than passing on.

"Don't worry Gavroche. Whatever happens, we will still be together. You'll still have Eponine." Courfeyrac said putting a hand on the young boy's shoulder. This didn't bring a smile to the boy's face. He was young and did not understand what was going on.

"How come Marius can see us?" Gavroche asked trying to change the subject.

Combeferre and Enjolras shared a look. They had been talking about this earlier in the night and have come up with sort of an explanation, or at least part of one.

"Obviously it has something to do with him being part of Les Amis." Combeferre said. "I previously thought that it was because he knew us, but that would not explain why he can see us and Madame Hucheloup cannot. She knew us quite well."

The room quieted as everyone contemplated the situation.

"Maybe it's because he isn't dead." Gavroche said. Everyone looked to him.

"What do you mean?" Courfeyrac asked.

"Well, Marius was one of us. And he didn't die. Maybe we were meant to die together. But since he was saved, we have to wait for him to join us before we pass on." Gavroche said seeming very proud of himself for coming up with that all on his own.

"Marius defied fate. Broke his destiny." Enjolras said with a deep look in his eyes.

"Enjolras, surely you don't believe in all that destiny, fate nonsense." Joly said. He was never one to think that his life was already planned. Enjolras turned to face him.

"Well what else could it be Joly? Seeing as we are still here, I'm about willing to believe in anything." He said.

"You may be onto something my little friend." Courfeyrac said. "I think it will need some more thought though."

As soon as Marius walked out the door, he smiled. This dream was much better than the ones he usually had. When it came to his friends, Marius always had nightmares. But this, this was the first good dream he has had in a long time. At least Marius thought it was a dream. Then he saw a ghostly figure stop in front of him. Eponine.

"Monsieur Marius. I was just on my way to get you. Cosette was getting worried." She said. Marius' eyes widened.

"So that was not a dream? You are really here 'Ponine?" He asked her a little breathlessly.

"Yes. We all are real." She said reaching out her mangled hand to touch his shoulder. He looked at her hand. The memories came back. Eponine dying right in his arms, taking the shot that was meant for him, saying that she had loved him.

"'Ponine, do you…I mean, do you still love me?" He asked looking down at the ground.

"Not as I once thought I did. You will always hold a special place in my heart though Monsieur Marius. I must go now, before someone sees you talking to yourself. Cosette is waiting for you." Eponine gave him a small smile before walking back towards the Musain.

Cosette smiled as she heard the front door open and saw her husband walk in.

"Oh Marius. I'm glad your home. I was worried. You've been out for so long." Cosette said as she stood up and walked over to him to give him a hug.

"Cosette. Did you really spend the afternoon with Eponine?" He asked her. He was sure now that it was not a dream. But he needed Cosette to erase any shred of doubt he had.

"Yes. I really did. We talked a lot. About what she had done after I'd left the inn. About you." She said as she led him to their bedroom. Marius didn't say anything. Once they were in the bedroom they both changed into their night clothes and got into their lush bed. Marius put an arm around Cosette's waist and pulled her towards him so that her back was against his chest. Just when he was about to fall asleep, she spoke.

"Did you ever love her Marius? Eponine, I mean?" She asked.

"No love. You are the only one I have ever loved." He said. "I suppose though I loved her in a way, she was or is very special to me. But I promise you that I never loved her the way I love you."

Cosette smiled. She wasn't looking for assurance that she was the only one Marius loved, she just wanted to know.

"Well it's ok. She has Courfeyrac now. The two of them plus Gavroche, they make a little family. It's nice." After a pause she continued. "I'm so glad that you are with me Marius. I don't deserve you." She said happily. Marius kissed the back of her head.

"Please my love. If anyone is undeserving, it is I." He said through a smile. Cosette took his hand and placed it on her stomach.

"I can't wait Marius. We are going to have our child in only seven months!" She whispered excitedly.

"Neither can I love. Neither can I." Marius said as he fell asleep.

Hey everyone. I know it's been awhile since my last update. And I can't use the "Oh I didn't have time." excuse. I totally had time. I just lacked motivation. But yesterday I was reading over the reviews and felt really bad about not updating. So that is where this came from. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I usually try to make them a minimum of 2000 words, but I thought that this would be a good place to stop this chapter. Anyways, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews. I have such wonderful readers. And tell me what you think of Eponine and Courfeyrac? I want to know your thoughts. Anyways have a nice life!

~15YearOldSinger