A/N: I tried to use influences from the novel as well as the musical, but mainly from the novel. It's been awhile since I read it so some things might go differently. This story is definitely not Eppie-Sue.

Behold, the night falls

You sent him there in the first place.

I know, I know. No need to repeat it.

But... It's your fault. You don't... really... want him to die now, do you?

Well?

...No.

Well 'sweetheart,' what are you gonna do 'bout it?

I...

Yes.

But how?

You'll find a way. That's why you're his delivery girl, ain't it?

Now go. Before it's too late.

I must move quickly. I have to safe him from his doom, the doom I created. I didn't want her to have him, but now it's gone too far. He loves her, that's clear. And if he loves some one else, how the hell can I be a part of his story? He will never understand. I have to correct my mistake and accept it. I don't want him to die... After all.

I must move quickly. I have to safe him from his doom, the doom I created. I didn't want to have him, but now it's gone too far. He loves her, that's clear. And if he loves some one else, how the hell can I be a part of his story? He will never understand. I have to correct my mistake and accept it. I don't want him to die... After all.
Éponine ran past the deserted rues of Paris as fast as her feet would carry her. She had to get back quick- or it would be too late and all was lost. She was tired, hungry, scared (for him) and lovesick. She had previously made a decision which she should now undo. Delivering that letter to Cosette's father had been his last wish, as he saw it. She had to make sure that it wouldn't come true, to make sure that he could deliver his next letter.

It certainly hadn't been easy for her to decide that she would not be selfish for once but accept the truth, something which she had finally realised after seeing Monsieur Fauchelevent. She didn't know exactly how, but something in that man had made her change her mind. He just looked at the letter in a weird way, something she did not understand. There was a strange sense of feeling in the air, something she certainly had never felt. Perhaps it was something like a special bond between fathers and daughters. Something she had never really had.

She had been so jealous of Cosette. Their fates had turned around completely. Once upon a time she, Éponine, had been pretty and wealthy, but now the lark was in good health. Something Éponine wasn't. Her teeth had begun falling apart and shattered at the mere touch of hard bread – if there was in fact any bread at all – Her long hair was filthy and smelled quite badly, her clothes were torn and her usual pale, sickly skin was black with dirt. She felt dirty but couldn't care less; she had to survive in the rotten streets of St. Michel, the part of Paris where she could stay together with her family, the place where she had met him.

She smiled and hid in an alleyway as a lost Guardsman walked in her direction. Once he had passed her, she continued her way. She shivered as the cold wind whistled past her bare arms, revealing scars from past hardships.

She since then tried to stay as close to him as she could, he would even give her money to buy her some bread. Monsieur Marius was a good person, he is a good person.

She bit her lip as she neared the barricades. She could hear the words of anger, the sounds of death and the cries of sorrow. They made each hair on her body stand up right into the air. She shook heavily as she neared the start of the barricade, where she would begin her climb.

Her helplessness once she realised that he was in love with someone, how terrible it had been! She couldn't explain why she found it terrible, but she had never felt that feeling of such despair. Despair she had to end. If he couldn't be hers, he would be no one's. Oh the joy she had felt once she convinced him to join the fights at the barricades! He would stay at her side! They would be together, without Cosette. But then... When she finally reached him... He sent her out on this errand with one of his precious letters. For Cosette. 'Ponine would do anything for him, anything. She couldn't possibly refuse him this. So she took the letter to Cosette with the assignment to let Cosette read it only.

Éponine breathed heavily through her ill trachea once she reached the top of the barricade. Now where was he?

Unfortunately, Cosette wasn't there, but her father was. 'Ponine had been rather satisfied with the idea that she didn't have to face Cosette after all. She had handed the letter to the old man and left, only to find out what a mistake she had made. A mistake which she now had to correct.

Éponine peered through the rotten air which was all smoky because of all the gunpowder. No matter how hard she looked, she couldn't find him. She nearly panicked when suddenly she noticed Gavroche, standing next to a man with black hair; Marius! She laughed and jumped down. Once she reached the ground she saw how a National Guard aimed for the young man standing in his way. Éponine gasped in horror as she realised that it was Marius who didn't pay attention and he couldn't see the gun pointed at him. As if in slow motion, Éponine yelled and ran forward, her hand stretched out before her as if she was trying to stop the bullet from being fired. She was nearly there when she tripped over a dead body and she fell towards the gun still. She screamed as the gun fired, her hand barely missed it, the bullet flew past her, on its way to its target. She fell against the man and took him in her downfall. He made her landing quite soft and she crawled up immediately.

"Marius!"

She yelled, on top of all the gunfire. She ran forward and dove right next to him, he was still breathing; his body wet with blood. Éponine was unsure of what to do. She looked up, her black eyes wide with disbelief. She met the eyes of Cosette's father. It was him, she was sure of it. He was wearing a National Guard uniform but he had been standing talking to a student, a rebel. Éponine frowned and tried to make her brain function properly. The old man came forward and tried to get her aside but she brushed him away. He left her side and stood at some distance. She bent over Marius and once he saw her, his face cleared up. She nearly smiled; he was happy to see her!

"Did you take... the letter... to Cosette?"

Was all he managed to bring out. Éponine was too stupefied to answer directly. She tried to regain her breath. Then she nodded. Marius smiled, but then grimaced as he began to twitch in pain. Then he sank back to the ground. He was dead. Éponine shook her head.

"No... No, no! Marius..."

She pulled his arm but he did not show any reaction. The realisation of his death hit her hard.

"Forgive me..."

She whispered and she took his hand and pressed it against her cheek, swaying back and forth slowly, as a grieving child.

"Monsieur Marius, I believe I was a little bit in love with you..."

"Get away from him!"

Another student pulled her aside roughly. She did not even try to remain there. She watched them as they moved Marius, his wounds were bleeding feverishly and his red blood left dirty stains on the floor. Suddenly she was awakened by the sounds of the guns, which now frightened her more than ever. She had to get away as fast as she could. As she ran away, she felt the eyes of Cosette's father burning into her back.

Once she reached the relatively safety of the slums, she dropped herself on the pavement and just sat there. No silvery tear ever reached the ground.