Enjolras's P.O.V

I sat with Grantaire and Gavroche. The others were still convinced that Eponine would be okay. Meanwhile my own mind replayed what Dr Dorian had said, over and over again. 'She's not out of the woods yet.' If I could I would cut a path through those woods and set up a beacon she could confidently and casually walk towards. I'd get rid of anything in her path so her trip would be easier. Grantaire and Gavroche now stared at me with a smirk and a glare. You could probably guess which which was which. I looked at them.

"What?" I asked.

"You love my sister do you Enjolras?" Gavroche glared up at me. I blushed, remembering my words to Thenadrier. The ten year old glared at me with an unwavering gaze, his usual spunk retrieved. I gulped and Grantaire laughed at my discomfort.

"...Yes Gav, I think I do." At this, Grantaire stopped laughing and the others looked to me. Gavroche seemed to consider this for a bit before walking away to Courfeyrac and the others.

"Pay up losers." He held his hand out and everyone grudgingly stuffed money into the boy's hand. Even Valjean.

"You guys bet on this?!" I asked, feeling somewhat violated and insulted. Gavroche nodded as he counted the money in his hands.

"Oh yeah, I could actually buy my own Xbox with this much." He grinned pocketed the money. I sighed to myself. As much as I wanted to be mad at him, I couldn't. I had just admitted to all my friends that I loved Eponine, not liked, loved. I sighed as they laughed or grinned, despite losing about a hundred bucks each.

"Come on guys lay off, this is hardly the time to be laughing about anything." I said in a dejected manner. "I'm going back in, I wanna be there when she wakes up. Come if you want to." I stood up and made my way back to her room, 601. I had memorized it. I walked into the room as Dr Dorian walked out.

"Oh, Enjolras, good timing. She's a little better than I thought, her leg's only sprained, yes that's better than fractured, and it's only 2 ribs that are broken. It should be easier for her to recover when she waked up. " He patted my shoulder and walked away to check on other patients. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open once more. She was looking better. The ventilator mask had been replaced by a smaller tube that snaked inside her nose and out to an unknown source. Her cheeks now held colour, but were still sunken in. I smiled a little as I sat down. I waited for a little while, even though I knew nothing would happen. The others came in at different points to see her. Joly and Combeferre were the most supportive. They had sat down on the other side of her. Combeferre smiled.

"She looks a little like Hazel Grace." I smiled as I recalled Eponine's favourite novel, The fault in our stars. The pair looked at each other and grinned. They left some time later and I fell asleep.

I awoke to bright lights. I looked around and saw that I was tied to a chair. I tried struggling against the rough restraints, but to no avail. A scene appeared before me and I was fairly sure I stopped breathing as I watched a scene that would forever be engraved into my memory.

"NO FATHER PLEASE, PLEASE STOP IT, I'LL BEHAVE, I'LL BE GOOD, I'LL DO ANYTHING YOU WANT!" It was Eponine, tied to a post as people took turns flaying her alive.

"STOP IT, LEAVE HER ALONE SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER!" I yelled out, and the figure turned to me. My eyes widened in horror as the figures switched out form her father and his gang, to our own group of friends, each with a sadistic grin upon their face.

"STOP IT, PLEASE, MARIUS, COSETTE, GAVROCHE! PLEASE!" She begged and begged but they never stopped. Finally I broke free of the restraints and ran to her, taking the lash that Marius dealt. My body screamed with pain as it continued, but my heart was torn in two as Eponine was dead in my hands. Slowly disappearing into nothingness.

"No, nononono Eponine, stay with me, Eponine don't leave me, EPONINE!" I cried out.

I awoke with a start and looked around frantically. To my great relief, I was not restrained, and Eponine still lay in her hospital bed. Just a dream. I slipped my hand into hers and kissed it.

"You'll be okay." I said softly and closed my eyes once more.

"Mmm." I heard a groan a few hours later and looked down to see Eponine's eyes slipping open."ut's oing-" She stopped with a start and looked around frantically for something. My guess was she still thought she was with her father. I quickly sat her up and tried to ignore her cry of pain."P-please dad, I'll behave, don't hurt me please!" She called out. My heart split to hear her say those words.

"Hey, Eponine, Eponine, it's me, it's Enjolras. You're in the hospital, you're not near that monster, he's far away and going to go to jail." I soothed her. I felt her stop shaking and she looked around.

"Enjolras?" She said softly. I nodded, smiling.

"Yeah, it's me." I looked at her and saw her tear up. I frowned."Hey, what-" She didn't say anything as she hugged me tightly.

"Thank you. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She said into my chest. I was startled to say the least.

"What are you sorry for?" I asked.

"For leaving so quickly." She replied."For not believing you. For being stupid enough to think that you guys would care." The last one shocked me.

"First, we'll talk about that later, Second, I get it, and three. Of course we care. We're all here. Everyone's waiting for you to wake up in the waiting room. Even Valjean's here."

"R-really?" I took her in my arms so she could face me.

"Listen to me. You are the most, amazing, beautiful, adorable, witty, intelligent, and caring girl that any of us have ever known. And..."

"And?" She prompted me. This was it, it was time. I took a deep breath and kissed her passionately. She didn't at first, but then she slowly kissed back. I pulled away, needing oxygen, and figuring she needed it more than me.

"I love you Eponine Thenadrier." She opened her mouth to say something, but we were very rudely interrupted.

"DAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN!" Grnatiare's voice came from the door. Gavroche was grinning ear to ear for the second time that night.

"PAY UP AGAIN!" He grinned as once more people surrendered their money.

"You guys bet on-"

"We sure did sis. Now go back to smoochy smoochy." Gavroche said, walking away. The others all laughed as they left us, both redder than a third of the french flag. She turned back to me and kissed me once more.

"I love you Enjolras Hugo." She smiled and wrapped her arms around me. I did the same and kissed the top of her head.

"Am I interr-"

"YES!"