Author's Notes: I'm so very sorry for the long wait! I was busy with Language Enrichment classes, Archery classes, Charity work and... Pretty much everything to keep my brain from shutting down. Brace yourselves though...

This story will be on HIATUS. I'm not joking. "My One And Only Patria" will be on Hiatus until I find the time to post another chapter. I told you that I have graduated and am now an incoming Freshman this June. I have to focus on studies. I was not able to make the honor roll last year and my mom was extremely disappointed. I hated that feeling. I promised them I will become valedictorian to make up what I did in 7th grade. I'm sorry but... Family means a lot to me and seeing them all upset and disappointed in me kills me inside.

I love you guys and when I am able to find the time, I will post another chapter. This story is almost done anyway. Only a few chapters...and a surprise ;)

Sorry for the long author's note. On with the chapter. Don't forget your Kleanex, it's pretty sad. I cried myself writing this.

Diclaimer: Ugh... You know the drill

Chapter 21

"Black - the dark of ages past"

June 5, 1835

"He's back!"

Enjolras watched as the volunteer entered the barricade. He climbed down to hear what he had to say. "They intend to starve you out. The will attack when it is light." he managed to hear and he was slightly disappointed at that. Were the National Guards deciding to be cowards? Do they think that a bunch of students were that big of a threat that they want to attack at daylight? That's rich...

Everybody else seemed as down as he did and even little Gavroche stomped his foot in disappointment. "Everyone, rest..." he started to say but when he saw the man smirking under his hat, he knew who it was. "Wait, don't rest." he held his hand up and everyone looked at him curiously. He looked towards Gavroche and nodded towards their supposed volunteer and the little boy smirked in response. "I have a feeling that they will fight tonight." he told everyone and they all looked at him again but this time as if he was a nut case.

"Good evening there... Inspector!" greeted Gavroche and with his eyes widening, he took action. He grabbed Javert on the shoulders and knocked him to the ground. "Remember me?" he whispered threateningly at the Inspector and he only tried to wriggle out of his grasp. "You were the one who arranged for Patron-Minette to kidnap me. I just know it." He had in inkling on who it was once he saw the man in a National Guard uniform at the factory, someone working for the government had to be behind that.

And since only Javert was the only government official who hated his guts, he seemed like a likely subject.

"I have no idea what you're talking about boy!" Javert screamed in Enjolras' face and spit came out of his mouth. "You know exactly what I'm talking about." he said giving the Inspector a slap to the face. "How dare you do that to Inspector Javert!" he yelled again, thrashing on the ground, trying to get out from under Enjolras.

"I can see why Éponine didn't like you." he said with a nonchalant shrug and punched the man in the nose. Javert's nose started to bleed and he was struggling much less. The man had the unhealthy habit of referring to himself in third person. "I was the gamin who saved the girl you kicked." he whispered again and Javert had realization written all over his face. "Y-You? H-H-How?" he stuttered out looking fearful for the first time.

Enjolras only smirked and called for Joly and Combeferre to take him in the Café. "I was born a gamin. I became a bourgeois when my father acquired a job. I sneak out almost every night to become a gamin again." he said, very aware that he just told his secret to everyone around him. Marius smiled from the corner of his eye and Grantaire looked as if someone told him that the king has left France.

"You hurt my kind, especially my beloved Éponine, the pain you inflicted on her will come back to you tenfold." he told him turning around as Joly and Combeferre dragged him into the cafe and tied him up. He looked around to see the faces of his Les Amis, all of their eyes held questions and he knew exactly what to answer. "Now you know why I want to win this revolution so badly. The people that I fight for are my people. I intend to end their suffering, right here, right now." All of his friends looked at each other and started murmuring between themselves.

He climbed up the barricade again and grabbed his abandoned gun. Since Javert told him that they were supposedly supposed to attack at daylight... He heard the distant marching steps of the National Guard and nodded. Javert meant the exact opposite. They were going to attack once the sun has set.

And right then, the sun has disappeared from view and the red uniform of the National Guard caught his sight. "Everyone, get into positions!" he yelled out to all of his friends who have now taken notice that they were going to be attacked. They all scaled the barricade and went into positions. "Who goes there?" he heard the Head Soldier yell out and he locked eye contact with Marius. He nodded and he smiled back at him.

"French Revolution!"

Éponine clutched the almost damp letter in her hand as she walked through the streets of Paris. She saw barricades wherever she went and her heart swelled with pride. She saw Enjolras' friends leading each barricade she passed by. The only thing that worried her was that there were only 5 barricades. That was nearly not enough to defeat the National Guard and that terrified her. She imagined all of them holding their hands in surrender for they were still poor. They were still street urchins.

They were still afraid.

She quickly and expertly maneuvered her way through Paris and found herself in Rue Plumet in no time at all. She picked the lock with her hair pin and entered the garden. "Cosette? Monsieur Fauchelevent?" she called out and knocked on the door. For a few minutes, no one answered. She knocked again and there was still no answer. She was starting to get worried and was contemplating if she should break down the door when something shiny caught her eye.

She turned her head and there it was. A butterfly hairpin twinkling in the moonlight on the stone bench she always sat on. That was Cosette's favorite hairpin. She always wears it because that was the first accessory Monsieur Fauchelevent gave her. Even when it doesn't match her dress, she wears it. Éponine slowly picked up the hairpin and examined it. Did she leave it for her?

Her question was answered when there were two little envelopes. One was addressed to Marius and the other was addressed to... her. She picked up the one addressed to Marius and stuffed it in her pocket alongside the butterfly hairpin. She sat down on the bench and opened the letter and started reading it. It was short and it seemed like she was writing it hurriedly.

Dearest Éponine,

My father has relocated us to Number 5 Rue de l'Homme Arme. I do not know why but he believes it is safer for he heard of the starting of the rebellion only moments ago. He wishes for me to stay but I tell you, he is going to the barricade to help Marius and Enjolras. I fear for him, 'Ponine. Come to the apartment, I do not wish you to be killed.

Cosette

She nodded at the letter as if Cosette was right there. She took of to find Rue de l'Homme Arme, leaving the gate open. She managed to find the place and Cosette's room but she did not linger. She only went to deliver Marius' letter. She longed to see if Enjolras was alright so she slid the letter into the space underneath the door. She ran down the stairs and headed for the barricade once more.

Once he said the line, guns were fired and smoke filled the air. He could barely see but he blindly kept shooting, in hopes of hearing a pained cry from one of the soldiers. Combeferre hands him another gun and he starts shooting until he saw someone holding a torch and a powder keg. It was Marius.

"Marius!"

What are you doing?"

"Put that down!"

"You're going to get us all killed!"

Marius did not listen. Enjolras watched as he climbed the barricade, getting ready to blow it up. Enjolras did not see any of this coming. He tried to get Marius' attention but he just ignored their cries and continued to climb the barricade. "There is someone climbing the barricade!" yelled out Courfeyrac and Enjolras thought it was another person who wanted to join their ranks, they've had at least 5 of them ever since Javert left to supposedly "Spy"

Marius stopped at the top with his powder keg and torch. He was about to say something when He heard another gunshot, extremely close to where Enjolras was standing. He heard a cry of surprise, not pain thank God, and realized that it was not a boy's voice. "Enjolras!" he yelled at his leader but Enjolras was already helping Éponine up the barricade.

"What are you doing here? I thought you would go somewhere safe." he whispered into her ear in frustration. "I'm not going to leave you here." she whispered back with a determined tone to her voice but Enjolras still had to get her out of the line of fire. "Stay behind me, I'm not letting you die to-" his voice clipped short and a scream emitted from Éponine's lips. One that sounded almost like his name.

Suddenly, a searing pain came from his abdominal area and he finally registered the sound of the gunshot. "Enjolras!" He looked towards Éponine but he was starting to fall down from the barricade. He felt light-headed and the pain doubled when he landed in Grantaire's arms. He faintly heard Éponine shuffling from the top of the barricade to his aid. Grantaire sat him up against the wall of the Café.

He clutched his stomach and lifted his hand up to his face. His hand was covered in sticky blood and it was dripping unto his jacket. The red liquid blended into the fabric. "Merde, Enjolras." he looked away from his hand, which he let fall limply to his side, and saw Éponine trying to staunch the flow of blood. It was not really flowing like a river or anything, it was just there and it terrified her.

"You're going to be fine, Enjolras." she told him over and over again, tears starting to gather in her beautiful brown eyes. She called for Combeferre and he was also by his side, covering his wound with a bandage. He felt numb. The bandage around his stomach only caused him more pain and he screamed in agony. "You're going to live..." said Éponine clutching his hand. If he thought hard enough, he could feel her hand, but he still couldn't.

His face was pale, his lips were starting to get a blue tint and his eyes were losing life. "It's no use, Épy..." She tried to whisper but he started to cough up blood. Éponine wiped the blood from his mouth and held his hand tighter. "No Antoine, you promised me you wouldn't leave me! You promised!" she scolded him half-heartedly with tears starting to run down her cheeks. His heart started to beat faster and slower and faster... he was not going to make it, he knew that.

"I'm not going to leave you, Épy." he told her faintly. He felt the rest of Les Amis and the volunteers' eyes on him and he smiled at nothing in particular. "What do you mean? You're dying, Antoine!" she screamed, her voice cracked and her eyes bloodshot. "I will always be with you... right..." he slowly raised his other hand up to rest in the middle of Éponine's chest.

"Here."

Éponine let out another sob and she kissed both of his hands repeatedly. "Why now, Antoine? We had so much ahead of us!" Enjolras smiled weakly for he knew what she meant by that. She wanted a future with him. She wanted them to get married, have kids, grandchildren and die together. He promised all of that to her during one night in their bedroom and her smile was the brightest he's ever seen.

Right now, he just wanted to see her smile.

"Smile for me... Please." She gave him a melancholy smile but that was enough for him. He didn't want the last time he saw her like the first time. He didn't want the last image he had of her were tears and the distant rain falling down her face. "Do something for me, Épy... before I-I go."

"Don't say that..."

"But it's the truth." he interjected and she tried to staunch the flow of her tears. His mind was starting to fuzz up and he knew it was almost time. "Do something for me." he whispered and she had to strain her ears so she could hear him. "What is it?" she asked, tucking a strand of his golden hair away from his beautiful eyes. She wanted to cherish them for this moment. His eyes, the shade of her favorite color.

"Kiss me."

Éponine looked at him and her tears stopped flowing down her cheeks. This would be the last time she kissed him. She knew that he wanted the last thing he felt was the closest thing to heaven... for he was about to go there now. "Kiss me." he repeated looking at her with the last bit of sparkle left in his mesmerizing ocean blue eyes. She nodded slowly, wiped her cheeks and leaned in until their noses were touching.

"I love you." he whispered so soft that it seemed like she was the only one who heard it. She let one tear land on his paling cheeks and she laughed hollowly. This was the first time he said that... and also his last. She didn't imagine this milestone moment in any relationship to happen when he was about to leave her. "I love you too. I love you so much, Antoine... I love you." she leaned in and captured his lips into her own, her tears coming back.

She felt him sigh in happiness and she was only moments away from a breakdown. "I love you, Éponine. Never forget that." he whispered against her lips as she placed her hand on his bandaged stomach. If only the bandage worked. She lifted her head as Enjolras' eyelids fluttered closed...

Those beautiful ocean blue eyes never going to watch beyond the barricade and the world he longed to see.

I'm so sorry.