Well, this is awkward.

[Marius]

((*barfs*))

*hours later*
"Zzzzzz..."

[Eponine]

((No need to stikethrough. I'm about to dry-heave.))

*She woke up, blinking, and extremely uncomfortable. Her muscles hurt from being curled in the same position for too long. Then, of course, she replied where she was and was happy again. But still uncomfortable. So she got up, yawning, and begin making some food, because that was all that Eponine ever did was make food.*

[Marius]

*Yeah, if you could call it "food".*

[Eponine]

*Eponine walked in slowly, hoping Marius was awake.*

"Marius?" *She said softly, still not entirely sure how she was going to say this.*

[Marius]

*Marius had been reading a book, but he looked up and smiled at Eponine, closing the book and placing it on the table before he wheeled slowly towards her, an un-oiled gear making the chair squeak softly as it moved.*

Squeak-squeak-squeak...

"Good evening, 'Ponine," *he said in a soft voice, almost shyly.*

[Eponine]

"Did you... hear any of... that? We were only yelling loud enough for the next building over to hear."

[Marius]

*removes his iPod earphones* "Say what now?"

"Any of what?"

[Eponine]

"I... Alexei's father showed up. We got into an argument."

[Marius]

"Is everything alright? Did he hurt you? Or Alexei?" *he asked, his voice growing stronger with the beginnings of righteous outrage. If he hadn't been in a wheelchair, he would have leapt to his feet, and even so, his torso strained forwards with the desire for action against those who may harm the ones he loved. Altogether, it just made him look more pathetic as he still sat in his wheelchair.*

[Eponine]

"No!" *She said suddenly.* "I mean... no. He didn't hurt any of us. He just... reminded me of something."

*Could she really go through with this? Could she seriously crush him this way?*

[Marius]

"...oh?"

[Eponine]

"I..." *She said softly, looking at her hands.* "I promised you something last night... something that I wasn't at liberty to promise."

*She felt ill.*

[Marius]

"...you're...you're married to him?" *he asked softly, swallowing over the sudden lump in his throat.*

[Eponine]

"I... it's not... not... technically. He's not allowed to legally marry anyone. But that... was the arrangement, yes." *In true Ponine style, she was, of course, withholding information.*

[Marius]

"Then it's just an engagement?" *Marius shook his head.* "I know you've a child by him and you may feel pressured by that to submit to an attachment, but believe me, 'Ponine--I will be just as much of a father to Alexei. You needn't fear I won't love him as my own, or grudge you for having been with another man. God, didn't I do the same to you when I wed Cosette? The important thing is that we're together now...as we always should have been."

*He took her hand and kissed it.*