A/N: AAAAHHHH! I'm sooo sorry for the looong time without an update! I'd give you an excuse, but I can't remember what I've done all these weekends I should have been writing… probably something stupid… meh, I can't even remember what I had for dinner on thanksgiving (lol, just kidding) ANYWAYS, I'm sorry again… like I said, I'll be updating AT LEAST once a month. ATTENTION BLACK THE DARK OF AGES PAST READERS, next week is you're week. I shall update for sure next week on your story…. As a gift, read the end of the chapter. I hope you will be contented.

Around me changes

I woke up in warm blankets, in a soft bed. It was the best night of sleep I'd ever gotten. Sighing happily, I sat up and looked around… it was an unfamiliar room. For a second, I was afraid, but then I realized it was Azelma's room in Joly's house. I rested my head back on the wooden frame, looking around at the small room, and then I jolted as I recalled a painful fact. Today was the day before the barricades.

My heart began beating quicker and I brought my knees to my chest then wrapped my arms around them, resting my head on my knees. Oh my gosh, I- it was the last day. Tomorrow we could all be dead; tomorrow Azelma could be dead, or 'Vroche or- No. I wouldn't, I would not let them die. Tomorrow, I'd be dead, but I would not let them die no matter what. I could die, but they could not. Gavroche and Azelma were kids, they had to live… and so did this rebellion.

But, What if the people didn't rise? What if the National Guard overcame us? They'd go for the leader for sure. They'd go for Enjolras first. Tears welled up in my eyes, and my chest was so heavy and tight, it felt like there was a tight ball in my chest that I'd just swallowed that was moving ever so slowly down my body… I shivered, as the tightness exited my body and another wave of panic began.

The thought of Enjolras no longer alive… I had to protect him too. This rebellion had to succeed or he'd die. If he dies and I never tell him… I… I had to tell him. I had to try to get him to take me back, I had to protect him, and I had to kiss him one last time before either of us died. Not just one last time, multiple times.

Newly inspired, I jumped out of Azelma's bed and put on my shoes. I made her bed, and brushed my hair with the brush on her table, then took one of her ten clips there and clipped up my hair. I hurried outside, and rushed down the rickety stairs and past the kitchen where Azelma and Joly were flirting.

"Eponine?" Azelma's voice called.

Flinching, I turned to look at her. She was wearing a clean dress, this time light blue, and she had a ribbon in her hair that contrasted nicely with her hair. Joly's hair was combed back and he had on his usual coat with a clean shirt underneath and some black slacks. Both had revolution pins on them.

"Where are you going?' Azelma asked with a smile.

"To the Café. Is 'Vroche awake yet?" I asked.

"No," Joly laughed, "Let's let him sleep."

I nodded at them, and smiled politely. Azelma took a step closer to me, as if inspecting me for damage and I looked at her smaller frame in the eyes defiantly.

"Is there something wrong? You look worried," she observed.

"It's the day before the barricades," I reminded her.

"I know, but we'll be out of the line of fire-"Azelma started.

"I won't." I said.

"Yes you will, you have to be in the hospital with Joly, 'Vroche and I!" Azelma snapped.

"I'm not staying in there. If I don't know how to help anyone, I shouldn't take up space in there. Keep 'Vroche in, we'll talk about this later," I said, slinking away before she could say another word.

After I was out the door, I ran at full speed to the café. I didn't stop until I reached there, I pushed open the door hastily and I looked at Monsieur Hucheloup who waved me over. Slowly, I approached him and he looked at me, worried.

"Tomorrow's the day, huh," he observed.

"It is," I whispered.

"Nervous?" he asked.

"Of course I am, aren't you?" I responded.

"Nah, I've seen enough in all my years. Not nervous 'bout my life anyways, just about the boys'. They're so young, I've never seen a bunch so eager to fight in my life, I just hope they don't get themselves killed," he murmured.

"Some of them are going to die," I said in a shaky voice, tears coating my eyes.

"We all are eventually, 'Ponine," he said, "You just stay out of trouble and pray to God that things turn out all right. That's all we can do in these times."

Silently, I nodded, too worried to say anything else. He left for a moment and came back with a hot cup of tea which he placed in front of me.

"It's on the house," he said, wiping his hands on his apron, "These boys have gotten us so much supplies to cook with, if we survive this barricade I'll be set for months."

Smiling sadly, I took a sip of the tea and let the warmth of it spread to the tips of my hands and feet and hair. Comforted, I took another deeper drink of the tea and let the warm sensation melt through me once more. As I drank, I breathed it in between sips.

On my third chug, I heard voices coming from the stairs. Down came a boy with black hair, glancing back with a smile on his face at a boy with red hair, who was also faced back, and Combeferre followed by Enjolras. The group was leaving the café, and I heard Enjolras saying something quietly to them.

Before they reached the door, I stood up quickly, almost spilling my tea and I shouted Enjolras's name feebly. All four turned, and Enjolras flinched at the sight of me but his eyes flashed with the familiar look I'd grown accustomed to. He took a step towards me, not hearing the red head who continued talking until Combeferre put a hand on his arm and shook his head.

It was understandable; either Combeferre didn't want me to break Enjolras's heart again, or he really needed Enjolras to be focused for today, either way, I wasn't hurt by the fact that he pulled Enjolras away.

Combeferre all but dragged Enjolras out who was looking at me as if he was locked in the galleys and I was his key out. The look hurt me to be on the receiving end of it, but somehow, I knew it was the look I always gave Marius. The look, that I promised myself, either intentionally or not, would belong to Enjolras from now on.

"Eponine, please help Courfeyrac upstairs if you can-"Enjolras started, but Combeferre pulled him outside harshly, placing his arm around Enjolras this time for an easier grasp.

I sighed, looking into Enjolras's shattered, blue eyes and then they were gone. They were out the door and I was forgotten. Combeferre didn't want me talking to Enjolras now, but I was going to talk to him sooner or later.

Quickly, I drank the rest of my tea and gave thanks to Monsieur Hucheloup before dashing up the stairs to find Courfeyrac. As I scampered up the stairs, the voices of a crowd inside were clearly audible. Their conversations could be easily overheard, and if I were a cognes randomly stumbling up here, I would have probably been able to report that there was going to be a rebellion today. This annoyed me, so I sought out Courfeyrac in the mess of boys quickly as I could.

The room was overwhelmingly hot, and guys glanced my way as I passed making me self-consciously wrap my arms around myself. I finally found Courfeyrac sitting at a table with some guys, chatting with a determined look in his eyes. With a smile, I bounced up to him and waved.

"Bonjour Courfeyrac, Enjolras just sent me up here to help you out… he didn't say what on," I said.

"Why would we need a woman's help?" The guy next to Courfeyrac snorted.

"I know, I was just about to ask why you were here," I remarked, sitting next to Courfeyrac.

"Eponine," Courfeyrac warned.

"Can you believe her? This one, eh? We're protecting you, Mademoiselle," he said.

"I can protect myself," I growled, "Plus, I'll be fighting alongside you tomorrow, so you better show me some respect."

"Girls don't belong in wars," another man pitched in, "You can't fight with us. Why don't you go learn how to reload a gun, or cook?"

"You dirty pig!" I roared, "I can fight if I want to!"

"I'm not fighting alongside a woman!" the first man shouted, jumping on a chair.

"Nor will I," the rest of the guys grumbled.

"What?!" I shrieked, "You've got to be kidding!"

"Out with you, girl," the man on the chair glared, "Go on next door to where you can learn to reload guns inside."

"Why?" I said, softly.

"She will be a liability! It will be our duty as men to protect her on the battlefield, don't think we're jerks simply keeping you out to keep you out; we fight for equal rights, but you're a woman, and men must protect women," the first man announced.

"Yeah!" People rang out to my dismay.

"Fine!" I roared, getting to my feet and running to the stairs.

As I ran, I heard Courfeyrac yell after me, "Wait, 'Ponine," to the guys he said, "now look what you've done, you fools, she's Enjolras's girlfriend!"

A jolt spiked my heart as I heard those words; he still hadn't told that we weren't dating. I slid down the stairs quickly while was in their view, but when they couldn't see me, I walked down slowly, waiting for Courfeyrac.

By the time I'd reached the door to go outside, Courfeyrac had caught up with me. He held the door open for me, and I stepped outside, biting my lip.

"Sorry about the guys," he murmured.

"Whatever."

"Don't be upset with me," he begged.

"I'm not," I said dully.

"Good," he said happily. We were quiet for a second, and then he began leading me to the corner, "Gav is at Joly's, right?"

"Oui," I responded, as he crossed the street with me.

"That's good," Courfeyrac said.

I was still silent while we crossed the street, fuming in my mind. That jerks… those boys… why did I even bother…

"Calm down, 'Ponine, you're radiating anger," Courfeyrac warned.

"Sorry," I said, though I wasn't.

"We'll find a way for you to fight," Courfeyrac grinned, "Hey, how about you wear Joly's clothes again? You looked absolutely stunning in them."

"I suppose I did," I said, suppressing a smile.

"Splendid! I'll go find him after I'm done with these sexist bast- err, pardon," he blushed.

"You can say bad words in front of me, you know," I said, "I was thinking the same thing about them."

"Yeah…" he said, I knew he wouldn't say a bad word in front of me. At least he was chivalrous.

"Thanks, Courfeyrac," I smiled, as he opened the door for me. We were at the building across the street from the café, it was a rundown building that wasn't very big, but it was loud the second he opened the door.

He led me in, and took me to the bar table in the back. In here there were all the girls of the barricades, the ones that weren't permitted to fight. The ones in this room were learning how to load and unload guns.

"Bonjour," Courfeyrac said slyly as we approached the bar. Behind the counter was a girl with pretty blonde hair and green eyes.

"Bonjour," she blushed.

"I've brought my friend, Eponine here to learn how to load up the rifles. Think you can manage to teach her?" he asked, his voice slick as silk.

"Oui," she stammered.

"Merci," he whispered, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek to my amusement.

"Wow, Courf, I never knew you were a flirt," I giggled, as he leaned away from the girl.

"I'm a man, aren't I?" he asked, shifting his lasting gaze from her to me.

"No," I chuckled. He play glared at me for a second, then turned to leave.

"Wait," I called, "Tell Enjolras… I'm in here, to meet me when he gets back."

He nodded with a silly grin before turning and leaving for good. Sighing happily, I turned back to the blonde girl who watched Courfeyrac leave hungrily.

"Umm… I'm Eponine," I said.

"Bonjour," she said softly, "I'm Marie. Are you ready to learn?" she asked.

Page Break

By noon, I was caught up. I knew expertly how to load and unload a barrel, but I still didn't know how to shoot. I thanked Marie and rose to leave, when I bumped into someone. Apologizing, I spun around and found myself face to face with Enjolras.

"Enjolras," I sighed.

"Bonjour, Eponine," he whispered.

"C, can we go for a walk?" I begged.

"Oui," he said immediately, then turned red.

With a polite arm on my back, he led me outside and I blushed as the girls gawked at us. It was the leader of our section of the barricades with his arm around me. I had to admit, I felt a bit smug.

Outside, his arm dropped and he clasped his hands together. We walked away from the café in silence. All the while, my heart fluttered in my chest and my hands grew sweaty and I nervously brushed my hair back repeatedly for something to do.

"I don't love Marius," I said quickly.

Enjolras was silent.

"It took me one second after I broke up with you to realize it," I added.

He was still silent.

I opened my mouth to tell him that I liked him, but I remembered my inspiration from this morning. If Enjolras died tomorrow… and he wouldn't, but he might… no he wouldn't…

"Because I kind of… I like you," I said, chickening out.

Nothing. He still said nothing.

"Grant told me you loved me!" I said, frustrated.

"Did he?" he asked indifferently.

"Oui. He told me you did for a while, but that you never did anything about it because I'm Marius's shadow. I was Marius's shadow."

"That traitor," he muttered, "Well you can rest assured my feelings will be contained and I will be nothing but professional-"

Gulping, I grabbed his arm and pulled him down, locking my lips on his. He slowly stepped back, looking at me with confused eyes, but after that moment of hesitation, his lips had found mines again, and I was now pressed against the wall as he kissed me urgently.

"It was a mistake to break up with you, I'm sorry," I panted, as I pulled away, "I don't love Pontmercy, because you have my heart," It took all my courage to say it, but I forced it out, "I love you."

Once again, he said nothing, but he placed his lips on mines again making me almost jump for joy. I gently wrapped my arms around him, and his hands moved to my waist where he picked me up and spun me around.

"You've no idea how many times I've dreamed you'd say that," Enjolras said.

He spun me to the ground, and then took my hand as we walked together again. I didn't deserve to be forgiven like this! He should have refused to forgive me, and then walked away leaving me heartbroken. This was both infuriating, yet refreshing.

"As you know, I've never been one to try and woo a woman," Enjolras blushed.

"Oui," I smiled.

"But, may I attempt a line on you? Grant taught me it… to get you back," Enjolras said.

"Sure," I giggled.

Without looking at me, he pulled a paper out of his coat and unfolded it, his hands shaking. Completely embarrassed, he uttered, "Grant told me to say this, and I quote, 'Eponine, I love you. Without you, I am a moth without a light. A sailor without a ship. I am a dull leader; leading men into the darkness I'm locked in without you're glow. If you are not in my life, everything around me changes.

A/N: P.S. If any of you saw Catching Fire and wish to discuss it, I'm here. I want to fangirl too! XD