Enjolras and Courfeyrac ran immediately to Montparnasse who was standing in the middle of the room, staring at something. Marius followed his gaze and saw Eponine laying there. Motionless. He ran to her and took her in his arms. He heard someone laugh.

"She's dead! I killed her!"

It was Montparnasse, pushed to the ground by a knee of Enjolras. Then the evil laugh turned into sobs.

"Oh my god I killed her. I killed my dear 'Ponine. If you just had stayed where you belonged!"

"She belongs with us!"

Courfeyrac slowly walked to Montparnasse. His hands were clenched into fists. He kneeled down and lifted Montparnasse's head up by his hair.

"You have no right to speak like that about 'Ponine"

Courfeyrac was not a man who got angry very fast, actually, Enjolras had never seen him angry before. That's why he watched the conversation in amazement. But when he saw the eyes of Courfeyrac, he had to intervene.

"Now, calm down a bit. We shall hand him over to the police."

Courfeyrac calmed down from the soft tone Enjolras was speaking with. Slowly he let the hair go and went to Marius and Eponine.

"Is she really…"

"I don't know. I honestly don't know!"

Courfeyrac knelt down and felt the pulse on her neck. "She's still alive." He said with a sigh of relieve.

"But I'll go and get Joly."

He ran to the stairs but he was pushed aside by Gavroche.

"They're coming! The Patron-Minette is coming! Someone warned them!"

"Merde!" Enjolras, Courfeyrac and Marius had been so busy with worrying about Eponine that they hadn't heard the noises Montparnasse was making. He had called for the Patron-Minette.

Before they could do anything Gavroche was smacked on the floor when a furious looking Claquesous entered with a leaden pipe. He ran straight to Enjolras and attacked. But Enjolras defended himself bravely.

Gavroche ran to Marius. "I'll take care of her, go and help Enjolras!"

Marius sneaked in the shadows to Claquesous. In the meanwhile he grabbed a bottle of wine. Claquesous hadn't noticed him, so the impact was massive when Marius let the bottle down on the back of his head. He staggered and fell.

Enjolras wiped away the blood from a cut above his eye.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. It's nothing. Go upstairs with Eponine and send as many men as you can find down. Gavroche, you stay here to guard these criminals with me."

His eyes were shining with joy. For him, all this was a big adventure.

Marius wanted to pick her up, but then she opened her eyes.

"Monsieur Marius?"

"I'm here. You are safe now. I'm going to get you out of here."

He tried to lift her but she stopped him.

"Wait. I want to talk to him."

Her voice was nothing more than a whisper.

"I can walk by myself."

"Are you sure?"

She slowly got up with the help from Marius, but then she walked (a bit unsteadily) to the middle of the cellar where Enjolras still had Montparnasse down with a knee. He looked concerned. She smiled to him. "Can I have a moment, s'il vous plait?"

He hesitated, but then he let him go and took a few steps back. His eyes kept focused on Montparnasse, ready to act if it was necessary.

"You're alive…"

"I want to make something very clear to you. Look at me. I don't think I can ever forget what you did to me, but maybe someday I will forgive you."

Montparnasse shook his head. "'Ponine…"

"Don't ever call me like that again."

"But I love you!"

"I know that, but my heart belongs to someone else and you can't change that."

She got up. Montparnasse also got up. Enjolras and Marius stepped forward at the same time, but Eponine hold her hand up.

"'Ponine… I mean Eponine..."
He smiled at her, but a tear trickled down his cheek.

"If I can't get you, no one will."

He made a quick move with his hand. Something glinted when it came down. Eponine gasped. Enjolras was in a struggle with Montparnasse. On the floor lay a knife.

Courfeyrac came back with Bossuet, Bahorel, Grantaire and Joly. The last one immediately ran to Eponine and Marius, the rest went to help Enjolras and Gavroche to help them.

"Are you okay, 'Ponine?"

She looked around and smiled. They all had come to rescue her. These brave students really were her friends.

"Eponine?"

"I've never been better."

Marius could catch her just before she touched the floor when she collapsed.

Author's note: Don't worry! It's not over yet! Please review :)