I was going to sleep, but as that clearly wasn't happening, I decided to write this. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Les Mis or the characters

"Eponine?" Marius breathed, shaking her lightly. No, please no... "Eponine?" he shook her a bit harder. "No... no, no, no, no!" He checked for a pulse and found none. "Oh God, please no! Doctor! Someone! Oh, please no! Help! Oh God..." he cried out. Tears fell rapidly from his eyes as he looked down at the girl he loved, who lay limp in his arms, motionless. The grief he felt was immediate and it ripped through him, making his chest feel heavy with remorse. She can't be dead! Not my 'Ponine! She can't be gone! And... and our child too! I've lost them both... Oh God! No... no, God please no... Marius sobbed as he held Eponine in his arms. He kissed her forehead softly. The doctor came rushing in. He looked at Eponine and then hurried over to her. Marius let go of Eponine and moved out of the way, getting off the bed, so that the doctor could try to help her.

As the doctor tried to resuscitate Eponine, Marius sank to his knees, his hands clasped together as he prayed. He had never been particularly religious, but ever since he had first found Eponine sick and dying, he found himself praying multiple times, nearly every day. Though he did not necessarily believe in God, sometimes he just needed to believe that someone, somewhere would listen to his prayers and save Eponine. He just needed her to live. But now, he was finding it hard to have any faith. Eponine is dead. What is there to believe in? He buried his face in his hands and cried. I love her and... and she's gone... How... how does it even happen!? She was alive, she was there in my arms, talking to me, smiling at me, and now... she's gone... She was alive and now she's not... He continued to sob. He felt like he would never be happy again. I can't believe she's gone... I knew she was sick, but still... I just can't believe it... My sweet, beautiful, beautiful 'Ponine... Marius no longer had any hope for, well, anything. He was broken.

How long Marius stayed like that, on his knees with his face in his hands, he did not know. He did not seem to have the strength to move, nor the will. It was not until the doctor placed a hand on his shoulder that Marius looked up. The doctor frowned as he looked at this poor, broken young man, who looked like he had nothing left to live for. There was no light in his eyes, no hope. There was nothing. He was destroyed. He had lost everything of importance to him: the girl he loved. Marius had died inside. The doctor smiled at him.

"She's alive."

Marius froze for a moment. Then, a large smile lit up his face. Those two words filled him with such ecstasy, such joy. Though, of course, he knew that she was not yet out of the woods, she was still alive! She was not gone, there was still hope! Marius stood up.

"Thank you, Doctor." Marius said quietly. The doctor nodded before leaving the room. Marius walked over to Eponine. Her eyes were closed, but he could see that she was breathing. He clutched her hand. Silent tears fell from his eyes. The brief moment of joy upon finding that she was not dead had all but disappeared, being replaced with worry. He kissed her hand before sitting down next to her and gently hugging her to him. He held her close, tears falling from his eyes. "Oh God, 'Ponine..." he murmured, burying his face in her hair. He rocked her back and forth, just happy that she was alive. Yes, she was still sick, but she was alive. She was alive when she had been dead only moments before. He kissed her hair. "I love you, 'Ponine... I love you so much..."

He stayed there, with Eponine, the whole night. He did not sleep, he just watched her, thankful that she was alive; that there was a possibility that she could live through this sickness; that she could live to give birth to their child. He often whispered to her that he loved her. He wasn't sure whether or not she could hear him, but he whispered to her anyway. He wanted her to know that he was there, that he would never leave her. But then he realised that he had to leave her. There was something that he had to do. He would return, of course, but leaving would still be hard nevertheless. He remembered a line from a manuscript he'd read that summed it up perfectly, Parting is such sweet sorrow. Marius kissed her forehead before getting up.

"I'll be back soon." Marius promised her before leaving.

Eponine woke about 20 minutes after Marius had left. She was surprised to find that she was alone. She wondered faintly where Marius was. Hadn't she closed her eyes only a few moments ago? I must have fallen asleep... she thought. During the 20 minutes that Marius had been gone, the doctor had already given Eponine her daily dose of medicine. He normally did it while she was sleeping as he remembered that Eponine was not too fond of needles.

It was not long after she woke that Marius returned. His eyes lit up when he saw that she was awake and he hurried to her side. She smiled weakly at him. It was the most beautiful thing that Marius had ever seen.

"H'llo M'sieur..." she murmured, her voice still weak.

"Hello there, 'Ponine." he replied. He kissed her forehead, causing her to smile again. "How do you feel?"

"Been better." she admitted. Marius nodded in understanding.

"'Ponine?"

"Yes?"

"I love you. I love you so much. You're my best friend and you're pregnant with my child. You are the most amazing woman I've ever met. You're funny, and kind, and beautiful, and caring, and I love you with all that I am. I guess what I'm trying to say is..." Marius knelt down and pulled a small black box out of his pocket. He opened it, revealing a gold ring laced with silver and tiny blue sapphires. "Will you marry me?"

I hope you liked it! Sorry if there are errors, I'm too tired to go through and edit it (it's nearly 3 in the morning). And with that, I am going to bed. Please review!