Eyes flutter open. Her hand moves slightly. What was that splitting pain in her gut? She sat up and let out a loud moan. It was so quite... The sound echoed. She shook her head in confusion.

If I am dead... Why am I in so much pain? she thought as she looked around. And if this is Heaven... Why does it have such a strange resemblance of Cafe Musain? She gave a sigh. She had been shot. She had died. She could have sworn that she fell asleep and she could see herself going to the light. It was blinding. She had succumb to death in Marius's arms... A beautiful moment where he stroked her face and told her that she was going to be okay and that he wouldn't leave her. Assuring her that he was always going to be there for her- just as she was for him. That was all she asked for.

It suddenly dawned on her... She wasn't dead. She was alive. And well. She was breathing (though it hurt slightly) and she was seeing the world once again. She wasn't in Heaven because she was pretty sure that Heaven was a lot more glamorous than the old Cafe Musain. She gave a slight laugh... She was alive and she could walk and talk and sing and dance! She could be herself again!

She rubbed her eyes... She had to make sure that she wasn't just seeing things. Sure enough... It was truly real.

She found herself on a table and slid herself off. She let out a little hiss as her gut sent another set of pain.

She stumbled out of the Cafe... Going over a few dead Revolutionaries. They must still be moving bodies. It made her heart bleed. She was a survivor... Suddenly lucky. She was the first to "die" at the barricade. She thought... Now she wondered who had truly been the first.

She found her way around the barricade. It was still there. Amazing... What day was it? How long had it been since she was out? She pushed these questions aside. She couldn't think of herself... Where was Marius? Her best friend... The rich, young rebellious boy that she let her heart bleed for. She jumped in front of that barrel just for him. He would have died. She could never let herself live with that if he died and she was left to think that his love, Cosette, had to live without him. She couldn't live without him... She would never live without him. Even though he told her that he loved her- as a friend.

Where was Marius?

She stumbled a little further and something caught her eye... A man. Standing there. Facing the barricade with his hands in his pockets. His blonde curls blew slightly in the cool night breeze. His dark red coat was a little distracting... He defiantly got your attention when he stood in contrast with the rest of the streets. He had been so set on the idea of wearing the coat that his friends kept asking him why he would want to stick out like that. He would laugh at them and drape the blood red flag over his shoulder and walk out.

"Monsieur?" she muttered as she slowly approached him.

"Mademoiselle..." he greeted without looking at her. She gave a little gasp at his voice. He gave a slight chuckle. "Forgive me... I did not mean to startle you."

"It is alright..." she responded as she stepped back a little. "Where is everybody?"

"Dead... I saw most of my men's bodies lying in an alley way. Some were missing..."

"They are still in the cafe... Dead though. I am sorry Monsieur," she told him. "Monsieur Enjolras."

The leader of the Revolutionaries. "Mademoiselle Èponine. Are you a ghost?"

"I don't think so, Monsieur Enjolras," she smiled slightly. "I think I am no specter. It is pretty miraculous." He finally looked at her. His blue eyes were full of sadness yet they showed another emotion. Relief perhaps?

"Forgive my inquiry... I was only wanting to make sure," he sighed as he approached her. "You and I ask the good Lord above why he left us... How could any man live with a wound like this..." He moved his coat aside to reveal a gun wound that was as red as his coat. It had stained his cotton shirt and left a rip so the wound was completely exposed. It was an ugly sight... Bruised around the hole and bloodied. He let out a hiss as the cool air hit the wound. Èponine attempted to grab him before he could fall over from the way he doubled over. He held up a hand in protest.

"You were shot?" she whispered. "Monsieur! I must help you!" He chuckled lightly and gave a grimace.

"No need... I have made it all afternoon. Just... Sore that is all. How are you fairing? You were the first..."

She suddenly remembered her own wound. She paused and thought. "I am okay. I think that I am just sore like you. I could have sworn I was dead... I- I died. I saw Marius cry as I slipped away. It went... Dark."

"We have seen the same," he mumbled. "May I ask you another question?"

"Of course..."

"Do you love him?" he whispered. Èponine was a little taken aback... That meant one thing and one thing only. She made her affections obvious to the other men.

"Who, Monsieur?" she played dumb.

"Èponine..." he spoke. "Who else do you think that I am talking about?"

She groaned. She buried her face in her hands... "Yes... I think I do." Enjolras nodded and gave shrug.

"I am sorry..."

"Sorry?"

"Yes... That you love him. Even though he is blind to all. Don't get me wrong..." he smiled. "He is a great friend. He is... Marius. A rich, young boy who was slapped in the face by love and he can't get away. Èponine... I unfortunately know the outcome. I am the victim of the same."

She gave him a quizzical look. Enjolras? In love with a girl? This man... He loved everything that had to do with his cause. The Revolution. He was always for his cause. Lover of his history books and lover of his solitude.

"I expected that reaction... Funny isn't it?"

"Do I know this girl?"

"I would hope so!" he smirked. "She is very kind. Funny girl... She loves her friends. She does what she can to keep them around for company."

"That is very vague..." she huffed.

"Need a hint, Èponine?" he asked. She bit her lip and nodded.

"Just a small one..."

"Fine..." he shrugged as he got closer to her. He got close to her ear. Why was he going to whisper? Not like anybody was going to hear... Nobody was around...

She was going to speak but he stopped her by planting a quick peck on her cheek. She felt her face burn... Not with anger. With shock...

"Monsieur!" she gasped. He gave her a look as though to say "I have no shame". "How-"

He cut her off again with his lips on hers. She was even more surprised. Yet, after the shock was pushed aside, she decided that she was comfortable with the situation. She felt safe. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he placed his hands softly on her hips. When she kissed back a little harder, he took it as a signal that she was alright with him kissing her and he kissed a little bit harder.

He pulled away and gave a little hiss. She looked into his eyes... "I jumped in a little quicker than my body expected..." She gave him a little pout.

"You are horrible at giving hints..."

"My weakness!" he gasped in a mocking tone.

"Maybe there is a reason that God let us live," she whispered. He gave her one more quick kiss.

"I would hope so..."

"We need to get you some medical attention," she told him as she unwrapped her arms and took his hand. He rolled his eyes.

"Fine..."

"Come on... I know somebody that might be able to take care of you."

She pulled him along. She didn't have a care in the world. For once in her life time... She wasn't feeling hungry. Tired. Sad... Hopeless.

No, she felt lovestruck. She was alive... She was walking. Hand-in-hand with a man that made her forget all that made her sad. She forgot about her heart breaking for Marius. Perhaps- she had finally found real love. She couldn't help but feel that her heart was truly full of love.

He loved her back and that all that mattered.