What is Love?

Chapter 44

Éponine couldn't get the sound of his voice out of her head the entire ride to the hospital. She had gotten no call or text from anyone which meant that nothing must have happened while she was gone. Éponine arrived back in the waiting room to find it still swarmed with police questioning witnesses. He saw Enjolras in the corner with his chin resting on his hands and she ducked he head quickly made her way towards him. She sat down next to him and he looked up.

When he saw it was her a huge smile spread across his face. "Éponine, when did you get back?" He asked.

"About a minute ago. What's going on?" She asked.

Enjolras rolled his eyes, "They're trying to make sure the story is valid. Marius is claiming to have never had a gun and I guess some people thought the gun was a trick of their mind" he said angrily.

"But he did have a gun, he shot it a few times! They heard it!" She said annoyed.

Enjolras nodded, "Yeah but they took him to jail anyway for going near you so he won't be at school for the rest of the year" he said.

"I saw him when he getting brought into the police station. He tried to make me get him out but I said no and walked away. It felt good" she said turning to him and smiling.

Enjolras smiled back, "I'm glad. You deserve to be happy".

Éponine leaned her he's on his shoulder and felt him sink back into his chair. "Thanks Enj" she said softly. A content silence fell over the pair as they waited patiently for the door to open.

Finally Joly appeared in the door a huge smile on his face. Enjolras and Éponine stood up and walked over to him. As they walked to him his smile faded. "What happened out here? They shut down the hallways and they wouldn't let anyone out" he said.

Éponine shook her head and Enjolras spoke. "Marius showed up with a gun and threatened to kill Éponine then himself but then he ditched that idea and said he was going to kill me. Thankfully Éponine knocked him out with her purse before anything bad could happen" he said.

Joly's eyes widened, "That guys insane I'm sorry but it's true. Anyway would you guys like to see them? Chetta and the baby?" He asked excitedly. The pair nodded and followed Joly down the hall into the room.

When they arrived they saw Musichetta laying in a bed covered in sweat. She looked disheveled but her face was beautiful. She was smiling down at a bundle in her arms and looked up as the door opened more.

"Hey baby I brought them" Joly said as he walked in through the door leaving Éponine and Enjolras to follow in behind him.

As soon as Éponine entered a huge smile spread across Musichetta's face and she waved Éponine over. She seemed different to Éponine, more mature, elegant in a way. Éponine could see in her face the look of a mother, one Éponine never saw in the face of her own. Éponine crouched next to the bed and looked at the small bundle in Musichetta's arms. She marveled at the small size of the baby. "It's a girl" said Musichetta.

Eponine looked up a her friend, "A girl?" She asked "she's beautiful".

Musichetta blushed, "Her name is Annabelle Éponine" she said smiling.

Éponine laughed, "She is worthy of the name. How bad was it?" She asked. Musichetta shrugged, "It wasn't awful but it was long and grueling, but worth it" she said "do you want to hold her?"

Éponine looked up surprised but nodded and Chetta carefully transferred Annabelle to her arms. Éponine stared down at the little baby's small face and felt a tear fall from her eye. She felt Enjolras place his hand on her shoulder and look down at Annabelle. Éponine stared at the faces of her friends and realized life was meant to be shared with the people you loved and Éponine vowed to never loose sight of that again.