Running

Epilogue

Epilogue

Grantaire returned home late after his students' performance. He crept in the door and looked into the living room to see Eponine snuggled up with their son, Henry, watching one of his favorite movies, Monsters Inc. 

Henry was three years old, and a spitting image of Grantaire. He gripped his stuffed dog tightly as his mother played with his curly hair. Eponine smiled when she saw Grantaire standing there. 

"Henry, looks who's home," she whispered. 

Henry jerked around to look at his father, "Daddy!"

Grantaire smiled and sat on the sofa beside them. 

"He wouldn't go to bed until you got home. I told him we'd watch a movie while we waited," Eponine explained. 

Henry had recently developed a fierce attachment to his dad, almost to the point of separation anxiety. They were worried at first, but knew it was something that would eventually pass. 

"Oh, I see. Well, why don't we get you in bed. It's awfully late" Grantaire said.

He could tell that his son was already exhausted. 

"Okay, daddy," the toddler sighed, rubbing his eyes. 

Grantaire swept the little boy into his arms and took him to his bedroom. He plopped him down on the bed and pulled the covers up around him. The little boy was already drifting to sleep. 

"Night, daddy."

"Good night Henry. I love you," he said softly, kissing his head and turning out the light. 

He returned to the living room to find Monsters Inc. still playing, but with Eponine staring at the baby monitor. It really was a cool gadget. It was a camera that let you watch your baby. They found it very helpful. Grantaire knew she was watching their baby daughter sleep, anxiety filling her mind. The baby girl was only six months old. She was born severely premature, and they were afraid she wouldn't make it. They named her Sadie, because it meant princess and that's what she was. She was Grantaire and Eponine's tiny, little princess. She was a fighter, but Eponine still constantly worried about her. At six months old, she was healthy and happy, but that didn't stop Eponine from watching her every movement with severe caution.

Grantaire sat down beside her and looked at his baby girl through the monitor. She was sleeping peacefully. 

"Good day?" he asked, kissing her temple. 

"It was. Henry was as wild as ever, Sadie as happy as ever."

"We're lucky," he smiled. 

"We're more than that. We're blessed," Eponine said quietly. 

Grantaire took the monitor from her and placed it on the side table. 

"Enjolras suggested we get together in the park tomorrow. Let the kids get some energy out."

"I think that sounds like a nice idea."

Over the years, Enjolras had married his girlfriend, Adella, and they had one daughter only a little younger than Henry. Her name was Ava. 

"I thought so too."

Eponine shifted, and Grantaire could tell by the look on her face that she was thinking about something. She was worrying her bottom lip with her teeth, so he reached up and ran his thumb across her lips, trying to soothe her. 

"What's wrong, Ep? You’ve got that look."

"I just...sometimes I still think about Marius. But not in the way I used to. I just think about that if I had never married Marius, then I never would've had to run. And I never would've met you, and I wouldn't be able to snuggle with Henry or worry over Sadie. With all of my running, I ran right into you. Despite how evil he was, I don't think I would've changed a thing about my life."

"I completely agree," Grantaire smiled, tipping her chin up so he could press his lips to hers.