Hey guys, here's the next chapter.

Also, thanks to WeAllHaveAnEscape for helping me when I had writer's block.

One more thing, I was depressed while writing the majority of this chapter, so that's why it is the way it is.

Disclaimer: I don't own Les Misérables or any of the characters...

Night had fallen and Eponine was asleep. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully. She didn't toss and turn; she didn't really move at all. She looked to be quite calm. Marius, however, was unable to sleep. He was overwhelmed by 'what ifs'. What if she dies? What if I lose them both? What if she dies, but the baby lives? I can't lose her... I need her... I love her... He gently pressed his lips to her forehead. He frowned as he realised that her fever had gotten even worse. What will I do if she dies? He gently took one of her hands in his own.

"I love you, 'Ponine..." he whispered. A few tears fell from his bright green eyes as he imagined losing her. The mere thought was painful. She was his best friend and he loved her. I'm in love with my best friend... he thought, smiling slightly despite the tears that fell freely from his eyes How many people can say that? His eyes moved to her stomach and the very small bump that was there. It was so small that you could only really see it if you were looking for it. Then Marius found himself thinking ahead. What might their child look like? He imagined a beautiful baby girl, with his bright green eyes and Eponine's dark hair. Then he pictured an adorable baby boy with Eponine's eyes and his hair colour. He could almost see the girl taking her first steps, or the boy running and laughing. He could see the little girl smile, the same beautiful smile that belonged to Eponine. His thoughts turned back to Eponine. He needed her to live, oh God how he needed her to live. He softly kissed her hand and then continued to watch her sleep. She was so pale, so thin, so... sick. If one were to look upon her, one would not think that she had much time left. She had dark bags under her eyes and her face was gaunt and sunken in. She was hardly more than a skeleton! It was amazing that she still managed to cling on to life when she looked like she ought to have died long ago. Marius closed his eyes and did something that he had not done for quite a while: he prayed.

A week had passed. Eponine had not been able to leave the hospital. She seemed only to be getting worse. The doctor had assured Marius that this was normal, that many sick people got worse before they got better. But Marius had difficulty believing that she would ever get better. She had lost even more weight, which had seemed inpossible! She was wasting away, there was hardly anything left of her. She was no more than a ghost of the girl she'd once been. She could barely even lift her head anymore! Marius prayed every night for her, hoping beyond hope that she would live, and that the baby would live. The baby bump was a bit more noticable, but only because she had lost so much weight everywhere else. Marius wondered if he would ever even get to see their child; if Eponine would live to give birth to the baby. It did not seem like she would.

Marius walked into the hospital room. He rarely left her side, but he had needed to visit his grandfather. He had needed to ask for more money to pay the hospital bills. Marius, who had once refused to take any money that he himself had not earned, was asking his grandfather for money. But he was doing it for Eponine. He would do anything for her. With the money from Monsieur Gillenormand, Eponine was able to stay in the hospital, where the doctor could tend to her as needed. And it was needed. Eponine was very sick and needed a doctor's care.

He walked over to her. Eponine's eyes were closed and she seemed to be asleep. Her long, dark eyelashes quivered against her cheek with each shaky breath. Her breathing was very very slow. For a moment, Marius thought that she wasn't breathing at all. But then he noticed the slight rise and fall of her chest and he let out a breath that he hadn't realised he'd been holding in. He kissed her forehead lightly. With effort, Eponine slowly opened her eyes. Even this simple task seemed difficult to her! She saw Marius and her face lit up. It broke Marius' heart. She smiled weakly.

"Hello Monsieur..." Her voice was weak, barely more than a whisper, and was broken by horrible, choked coughs that wracked her body and left her wheezing afterwards. The poor girl shivered. She never felt warm anymore. Her world had turned cold. Marius sat down next to her on the hospital bed (Eponine took up so little space that there was room for both of them) and took her in his arms. "I missed you." she whispered.

"I'm here now, 'Ponine. I won't ever leave you." he replied softly. She smiled again and closed her eyes.

"The light's too bright..." she murmured, "it hurts my eyes." It was night time and the only light came from that of a single candle and the moon that was visible through the window. Marius reached over and put the candle out.

"Is that better?" he asked. Eponine opened her eyes and then answered,

"Yes."

Her head was resting against Marius' chest. She could hear his heart beating and that seemed to comfort her. Eponine shivered again. Marius held her even closer, though being careful not to hurt her.

"It's turned so cold."

"I'll keep you warm." Marius whispered. He kissed her cheek softly. Tears fell from his eyes as he held the seemingly dying girl. Eponine, with difficulty, placed a hand on her stomach, where her baby bump was. Marius placed a hand over top of hers, causing her to smile.

"I think... it's a... boy..." Forming words was becoming near impossible for Eponine. Marius would have smiled, had her voice not been so weak. She blinked a couple of times and then shuddered. Marius noticed this and began to worry.

"'Ponine? Are you alright?"

"There's a d-darkness... which comes without... a... warning." she replied. More tears fell from Marius' eyes. He feared she was nearing her end. She closed her eyes once again. "I'm... so... tired..." she whispered, her voice even weaker than before. Marius' tears dripped down on to her face. "Don't cry... M'sieur. I l-love you... and I'll see you... when I... wake..." Her breathing stopped and so did her heart.

Depressing, right? Don't worry, this isn't the end of the story. There will be several more chapters and you'll see how in the next one. Please review!