Well, this is awkward.

[Eponine]

*She smiled gently and squeezed his hand.*

[Marius]

*Marius looked at her for a moment.*

"'Ponine...I--I can't..." *he shifted in his wheelchair for a moment.* "...come here," *he bid her in a quiet voice.*

[Eponine]

*She did as he said, kneeling on both knees in front of his wheelchair, looking up at him curiously.*

[Marius]

*Tracing the line of her cheek with his fingertips, he held her still as he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips.*

[Eponine]

*She was completely taken by surprise by what he'd done. All her life, she'd almost come to depend on Marius not doing things like kissing her or returning her sentiments. For a moment, she was completely at a loss for what to do--gone was the mother of two, the experienced and adoring young woman that Eponine had become. She was, for a moment at least, the 17-year-old girl experiencing her first major crush.*

*Then her senses set in and she let her eyes flutter closed, gently resting a hand on his shoulder and tentatively kissing back.*

[Marius]

*If only he hadn't seen the truth so late...if only it didn't feel so right to hold her...if only there were a way to make things better...*

"I'm sorry," *he whispered, ending the kiss and resting his forehead against hers.* "I wish I knew how to--God, 'Ponine, I'm all wrong for you...I can't even walk! How can I take care of you if--" *he couldn't finish.*

[Eponine]

*Eponine shook her head, heart racing, and wrapped her arms around him.*

"Don't you understand? I don't care." *She murmured softly, burying her face in his neck.*

[Marius]

*Marius folded his arms gently about her petite frame.*

"Always so strong..." *he whispered.* "Even where I failed..."

*He kissed her dark hair, tears in his eyes.*

"I thought you were dead...twice...and now...now I know I couldn't bear to lose you again."

[Eponine]

"I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon." *She whispered.*

[Marius]

"...then...will you marry me?" *he asked gently.*

[Eponine]

"Well that just seems to be the question of the week, now, doesn't it?"

*She attempted to keep herself from hyperventilating. All she could do was hug him tighter and nod for tears.*

[Marius]

*Marius stroked her hair lovingly.*

"'Ponine...'Ponine..." *he murmured.* "...what a fool I've been...I don't deserve you."

[Eponine]

*She simply blinked past tears and held him tighter, perfectly content to stay exactly where she was.*

[Marius]

*Marius pulled her into his lap with his Sooper Amazing upper body strength, honed by wheelchair-ing everywhere, and held her curled in his arms.*

[Eponine]

*She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes contentedly.*