"Are we going to Courf's tonight?" Eponine mumbled against Enjolras' shoulder. She was still only half awake, and somehow since coming out of a deep, peaceful slumber, had managed to practically climb on top of Enjolras' completely awake person. It bought her extra time to lounge in bed with him, since he enjoyed the feel of her weight against him too much to move her.

"To watch my friends get drunk on New Year's Eve? Of course, I couldn't possibly find a more valuable way to spend my time," Enjolras replied sarcastically.

"They don't even drink that much. They're usually tipsy, not drunk," Eponine protested. "You're just a teetotaler, so everyone is drunk next to you."

"I'm not a teetotaler. And Grantaire is drunk."

"Well he doesn't count."

Enjolras scoffed. "How does he not count? He's a friend, he's at all parties, and I can't think of a single occasion when he wasn't drunk."

"He's only one person. You can't say 'everyone gets drunk' when consistently it's only one person, two at the most."

"Doesn't this conversation just make it painfully obvious, once again, that he has a problem?"

"Yeah, well…when you figure out what to do about it, let me know." Enjolras' hand found hers and gently squeezed, and they fell back into a comfortable silence.

Only seconds away from sleep again, Enjolras' voice jerked her awake. "Are you going to talk to me yet about what you want to do? About us?"

Eponine didn't answer for a minute, and a petulant and childish 'no' almost escaped her lips, but she managed to stop herself in time. Instead she raised her head to look at him and chose her words carefully. She had avoided the subject for eleven days now, though they had spent all of them, including Christmas, together, and fallen back into the comfortable pattern established before he left.

"I don't know what I want yet."

The frustration that he felt was evident in his eyes, but instead of taking it out on her, Enjolras asked calmly, "Can you tell me what you're thinking? How you're thinking?"

Eponine sat up and stretched, considering his request. It wasn't that she hadn't thought about what she wanted – she had, extensively. She just hadn't come to a decision yet. But maybe he could listen without getting upset, and that conversation alone could potentially help her.

"We can talk," Eponine said finally, "but can I take a shower first? I can't think straight when I'm still in my pajamas."

Enjolras grinned as his eyes drifted down to her flimsy tank top. "But I like your pajamas."

She gently smacked his arm as she rolled out of bed. "Meet me in the living room with coffee in twenty minutes and you'll get your discussion."

Twenty minutes later, true to her word, Eponine appeared in the living room, fresh from the shower and still brushing the tangles out of her damp hair.

And in true Enjolras fashion, a steaming cup of coffee was also ready and waiting for her. She sank down next to him on the couch and took a sip, letting out a sigh of satisfaction. Enjolras waited patiently for her to begin, all the while nursing his own caffeine addiction.

After gathering her thoughts for a minute, Eponine began with a rather blunt statement, and the only conclusion she had been able to come to about the entire situation. "So, I think this ends only one of two ways. Either we break up for good or I move to Boston."

Enjolras put his coffee down and turned to face her more fully on the sofa, not bothering to hide his surprise. "Long distance isn't an option anymore? Not at all?"

"Well, for a few months – until I'd move, since I obviously have to stay to graduate here," Eponine said. "But no, I'm still not willing to be in that kind of relationship limbo with you indefinitely, just waiting to see if it goes somewhere. It's off the table, if you accept that."

They studied each other carefully and Enjolras soon nodded. "I accept that. You don't want that uncertainty, and I respect your feelings."

"Thank you." Eponine smiled gratefully. "Beyond that, though, I don't know what I want. Moving to Boston is a big decision."

"But it's something you might be willing to do?"

"Clearly." Eponine rolled her eyes. "If I haven't told you to leave yet, I think it's pretty obvious."

"So what's stopping you? Either way?"

"What's stopping me from just breaking up with you?" Eponine cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. "Seriously, do you really have to ask me that?"

"Yes, seriously. How do you know we're worth moving to Boston for? Potentially?"

"Because I love you, you jerk. You know that."

Enjolras smiled and scooted closer, laying his hand on her knee and squeezing gently. "Yes, I know that. But I also know that love often isn't enough. So what do you think might make this work? Why is it worth moving across the country?"

Eponine squirmed. This kind of conversation, discussing feelings and the future, made her uncomfortable. There had never been much of a future to discuss before and she didn't even know how to think or plan for one.

"What exactly do you mean?" she asked, desperate to stall for a minute.

"What do you want? From us, and from your future? If you're really thinking of moving to Boston, you must think that we could survive for the long haul. So what do you want out of life? Marriage? A family? When do you want those things?"

Eponine blinked owlishly and shook her head to clear the images those words conjured. "You make it sound so simple."

"None of it is simple," Enjolras admitted. "And I understand if you don't want to talk about it. But if we were to continue this relationship and take such a big step, don't you think we should?"

"Well, what do you want?" Eponine turned the tables on him, wondering if he would have an answer like he expected from her.

"I want to marry you," Enjolras said with no hesitation. "Is that really that big of a surprise?"

"I…what?"

"I'm not talking tomorrow or even next year. But eventually, yeah. I want to marry you. I want to travel with you – see the Great Wall of China and walk along the Seine in Paris. I want to see the world with you. I used to think that was something I'd do alone, but now when I think about doing things like that, I imagine you with me and seeing it together."

Eponine stared, contemplating his words and this time letting her mind's eye linger on the images flooding her brain. He'd said something like this this before, but she didn't take hims seriously then. Now that kind of life didn't seem so bad.

"That sounds…good," she said weakly. Enjolras chuckled and shook his head at her discomfort.

"Okay. So now you go. Do you want kids? Don't think about it. Just say what you really think."

Eponine considered her words carefully, trying to verbally express an idea she had never even fully formed for herself before. "I guess that I want kids if I have them with a man who will be a real father, who would take care of them and love them and never leave them, even if our relationship ended at some point. Someone who's kind and responsible and who would always put them first." She took a deep breath and blushed, not sure why this topic made her feel so flustered. "So yes, I'd like to have kids if it was with you, because I know everything I just said would be true."

"See? We're getting somewhere." Enjolras squeezed her knee again. "Where we live eventually is something we could decide together. Boston is a temporary stop for now," he reminded her. "Nothing else about the future is set in stone for me, except for the fact that I want you to be a part of it."

"I want that, too," Eponine admitted, but then let out a frustrated groan and rubbed her temples. "But moving to Boston, even for just a few years, is way more complicated than we just made it out to be."

"I know. So what are your hesitations there?"

"School. I want to get my masters, but I'm an idiot and I didn't finish the applications for any grad schools in Boston, so I wouldn't be able to start in the fall. And they're all ungodly expensive, so I'd be in debt up to the ceiling…"

"Could you wait to start your masters? I'm going to make good money when I graduate law school. And if we get married, then you going back to school wouldn't be such a financial burden."

Eponine shook her head. "Just hearing you say things like that, it just…the whole thing freaks me out. It's so adult. How are we even ready to have these conversations?"

"I don't know. Are you ready? If you're not, then I guess that's one more strike against moving to Boston."

Even though he was trying to stay objective, Eponine could still see the tension and hope written all over Enjolras. He desperately wanted her to move, she knew, but only if it was really the best decision for her and would truly make her happy. Because she loved him, Eponine decided to push her own discomfort and anxiety with such adult topics out of the way and dive back in head first.

"I'm ready. I have to start being an adult sometime, don't I? So, okay, yes. I could potentially put off graduate school until a more stable time in our lives and that wouldn't really be so bad. Teachers don't make that much more with a master's degree, anyway, and it would be nice if I could find a job and work for a few years before going back to school. But I did really, really want to get it out of the way now."

"I'd still support you if you do want to start right away," Enjolras said. "The decision would be up to you, but you have options."

"That's obviously not the biggest issue, though," Eponine added suddenly. "There's my brother. And my sister, to a lesser degree."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Enjolras deflated and sank back against the couch cushions. "Yeah...I know. We've talked about that before."

Eponine studied his defeated pose for a moment and realized Enjolras knew exactly what her brother meant to her. So much that he automatically assumed she would never leave Gavroche to be with him.

"I can't just leave him," she said quietly. "I know he's with a family that loves and cares for him, but what if that situation changes and I'm a thousand miles away? Foster care can be completely unpredictable. And cruel. But once I graduate, if I'm still here, and in a stable situation, I might be able to take care of him myself instead of strangers."

Enjolras nodded and looked away to the window. A muscle in his jaw twitched as Eponine studied his profile. "I know I don't have to justify this to you," she said gently. "And even with Gavroche in the picture, I haven't ruled out moving to Boston. It just makes the decision more complicated. There's more than just me to consider."

"I get it, Eponine. I understand." He still didn't look at her, though, and Eponine sighed, scooting closer and lifting up his arm so she could snuggle into his side.

"I mean it," she said firmly. "I haven't made a decision yet. Don't be mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you," Enjolras insisted, and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head to prove his point. "I'm just digesting all of this. Give me a minute."

After sitting in silence for a little while, Enjolras grumbled softly, "So are we going to this party tonight, or what?"

"I can't believe the year is already over," Cosette sighed later that night. "Doesn't it seem like we just started college? Now we only have one semester left."

"It feels like the older I get, the faster time goes by," Musichetta agreed. "And seriously, now that I've graduated and have bills to pay and insurance crap to worry about, being an adult is not all it's cracked up to be."

"I'm sure it's not too bad," Eponine said. She pulled her coat tighter around her and glanced through the porch window back at the party. They had escaped for a minute to get some fresh air and relative quiet, compared to the booming music Courfeyrac had going inside the house. "But, you know, time might go by even faster in an unfamiliar place, like, oh, I don't know…Boston?"

Cosette and Musichetta both turned to stare at her with identical expressions of shock. "What?!" Cosette shrieked. "You decided to go?!"

"Shh," Eponine hissed. "Keep your voice down! No, I haven't decided yet, but we talked about it today. Really talked, and Enjolras made it seem so feasible. And nice."

Musichetta grinned. "Aww, you love him."

Eponine rolled her eyes. "Of course I love him. I wouldn't be considering moving across the country if I just sort of liked the guy."

"I think it's romantic," Cosette said. "Just the two of you starting your lives together in a brand new, big city. It would be such an adventure."

"I've had plenty of adventure in my life," Eponine grumbled, and then shivered. "Can we go back in now? It's cold tonight." They all made their way back into the living room, and Eponine excused herself to go stash her coat in the back bedroom where it wouldn't get ruined by spilled beer or someone's drunken vomit later.

As she retreated back down the hall towards the party, a hand suddenly shot out of the hall closet and closed around her wrist. Eponine jumped, her heart leaping into her throat, and tried to pull away until she heard Enjolras' voice.

"Shh, it's just me." He gently tugged her into the closet and closed the door, the only light coming from the crack at the bottom.

"What in the hell are you doing, you nutcase?"

Enjolras laughed and stepped flush against her, putting his arms around her waist and trailing his hands slowly over her bare back. "What do you think?" He lightly kissed her neck and grinned when he felt her shiver. "Did I tell you I like this dress?"

"You might have mentioned it." Eponine bought it because she thought he'd like it – red, lacy, backless, and tight around her hips. At first the fact that she'd bought it for him embarrassed her, but seeing the way his eyes followed her from across the room tonight, and the way his hands automatically reached out to caress the small of her back if she was next to him, made it worth it. "But why are we in a closet when I just came from a perfectly nice, empty room?"

"Well it's been almost a year since I was in a closet with you," he reminded her, "and that was such an enjoyable experience I thought it would be nice to start off the New Year the same way."

"Did you now?" Eponine gently pushed him away and rested her hands on his chest. "And what did you think was going to happen in the closet this time?"

"It doesn't matter," he said sincerely. "I just wanted a moment alone with you."

"Well…" she slid her hand down his side to his pocket, reaching in and grabbing his phone. She blinked at the sudden light as the screen lit up with the time. "It's 11:41 pm. So you have 19 minutes."

"Are you implying that we should have a quickie in this closet?"

"I might be." She reached down again and began to unbuckle his belt. "Are you up for the challenge?"

He didn't answer, but instead leaned down to roughly capture her mouth. He kissed her until she was dizzy, all lips and tongue and teeth crashing together. Once she managed to unbutton and unzip his pants, Eponine hastily pushed them down his hips, wrapping her hand around his hard length.

Enjolras pulled his mouth away and rested his forehead against her shoulder as she touched him. Goosebumps pricked along her arms as Enjolras traced her spine, and Eponine quickly kicked her heels off so she wouldn't lose her balance in the dark. With one hand she continued to stroke his arousal, while the other she wrapped around his shoulders, running her hand through the curls at the nape of his neck.

"I wish I could see you," he whispered, and pushed her hand away from his arousal, instead pressing himself firmly against her and rocking his hips forward. He squeezed her breast as his lips trailed along her jaw, and Eponine moaned.

"Maybe that's part of the fun of it…" She moved his hands back down to her hips and helped him hastily pull her skirt up, then moved his hand between her legs.

Enjolras stilled for a moment, clearly expecting to feel her panties, but instead finding nothing but her wet center against his fingers. "You didn't wear underwear," he accused.

"Of course I didn't. I knew you liked this dress," she smirked, then gasped as he began to stroke her. Her head fell back against the door as his fingers moved, and she held tightly to his other arm as he made her toes curl. "Oh, fuck…" As usual, his hands were magic. Eponine could barely look at them anymore on a regular basis, especially if he was writing something. His long, elegant fingers were made to touch her.

"Not to rush this, but I'm sure we're down to about ten minutes…" Enjolras mumbled between kisses to her mouth and jaw.

"Get on with it, then." Eponine wrapped both arms tightly around his neck and raised her knee, feeling his erection hot between her legs. Enjolras was soon inside her with one long, slow, thrust, and Eponine moaned. He hooked her leg over his arm to better hold it up and support her, while his other hand was braced against the door.

Things started off slow and quiet, controlled even. His thrusts were deep and even, his hips rocking against hers in a rhythmic pattern that caused heat to slowly pool in the pit of her stomach. She felt every bit of him, deep within her, and thought that nothing in the world could ever possibly overshadow the way he felt inside of her. Eponine ran her hands through his hair, her nails rough against his scalp, and whimpered as his thrusts became faster and less controlled.

Enjolras' mouth found hers, and he growled as she bit down on his bottom lip. His thrusts turned frenzied in response, his cock buried all the way to her core. Eponine's body clenched around his as the first waves of her orgasm hit her, and she buried her face in his shoulder to stifle her frantic cries. She saw stars as the first waves of pleasure hit her, despite the blackness inside of the closet, and wondered how on Earth one man could make her feel this intensely over and over again.

Enjolras moaned her name soon after, his own release eminent, as his fingers dug into her hips, sinking into her again and again in deep strokes as his own orgasm hit. His breath was ragged and hot in her ear as he finally finished, and Eponine gently stroked his cheek, feeling his rough stubble beneath her fingers. As he slipped out of her, Eponine tightened her grip around his shoulders, reluctant to lose contact. Enjolras pressed his lips just below her ear as both of her feet settled back on the floor, his own grip just as tight as hers.

"I need you to move to Boston," he suddenly said, his voice low and desperate. "I fucking need you, Eponine, God help me." Her stomach twisted in response, and she was about to agree, filled with overwhelming love for him in the moment, when the music of the party suddenly stopped, and a cacophonous, but muffled, countdown to midnight began out in the living room.

Eponine waited until they reached zero, then kissed Enjolras gently on the lips. "Happy New Year, Gabriel."

Enjolras didn't mention his desperate plea again, and Eponine didn't bring it up, either. She still didn't know what to do. Every time she was about to give in and say yes, an image of Gavroche or her sister would pop into her mind and make her doubt herself. And she knew that to say yes, there couldn't be any doubt.

So Enjolras left again without an answer.

She promised she wouldn't end things one way or the other until she came to a final conclusion, and right away, she noticed that they both put forth more of an effort to connect as Enjolras settled back into life in Boston.

Unlike before, communication didn't dwindle after only a few weeks. They texted almost constantly, and each called the other whenever there was a free moment, even if there was only enough time to speak for a few minutes before they had to rush to their next commitment. And if she didn't answer, he left a voicemail telling her what he was doing, or seeing, or watching, or thinking, and generally made her feel like as far apart as they were, he thought about her constantly. She did the same for him, usually leaving messages about something she saw on the local news that she knew would make his blood boil, or telling him a joke that would make him roll his eyes. All in all, it was enough this time. Eponine didn't feel nearly as disconnected from him as she had the first semester, and though it didn't make her miss him any less, it did make her resolve about staying in New Orleans grow weaker by the moment.

Everything that he said about Boston, about moving away and trying something new for a while, suddenly appealed to her more than it ever had. Even without Enjolras in the picture, she found herself wondering what it would be like to explore a new city, meet new people, and have to become accustomed to a totally different culture.

One day in early March, in what she figured was a sign from fate, or destiny, or whatever higher power was out there, everything suddenly became clear, and she knew exactly what to do.

Hi, all! Happy summer!

I finished this chapter just in time to update before I go out of town. Unfortunately, my beloved aunt passed away on Saturday evening, so I'm heading home to spend some time with family and attend her memorial service. Her passing has really hit me hard.

There is only one more chapter after this one, and no epilogue planned, so I am determined to finish completely by the end of June. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know your thoughts, and thank you for reading! :)