Almost Lovers
In the confusion after the barricade was breached, no one noticed the man in a corner who lay bleeding to death as the result of a bullet wound. Marius Pontmercy had accepted his inevitable demise and was at peace, for soon he would be reunited with his dear Eponine.
"Eponine…" he gasped, a tender smile playing across his face as he thought of the way she used to tease him, and how she liked him for who he was rather than for his money, of which he had plenty.
Darkness fell, then, and Marius knew no more.
When he next opened his eyes, it was to discover Eponine crouched over him, her face lined with worry. When she saw that he was awake, she leaned back and helped Marius to sit up. He took stock of his body, and realized that the wound which had been bleeding profusely appeared to be healed. Looking around in wonder and amazement, he saw that he was on top of a hill, while spread out below him was a lush green valley with a river running through it and various settlements situated along the river's banks.
"Where am I?" he asked Eponine.
"In Heaven," she replied tersely. "Tell me, Monsieur Marius, did you not care enough about your own life to do whatever it took to survive?"
"What was the point of living if you weren't there beside me?" Marius swiftly countered, raising a hand to Eponine's cheek and gently stroking the skin that was for once free of grim and bruises. Although he had been saddened by Eponine's death, he had also been grateful that at least she had been further spared her father's wrath.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Eponine snapped. "What of your darling Cosette?"
"A passing fancy," Marius replied. "It's you I have loved, all along. It just took dying for me to realize that."
"I don't want your pity, Monsieur," Eponine cautioned him.
"Please, Eponine, how many times must I ask you to call me Marius?" he groaned good-naturedly.
"At least once more, Monsieur," Eponine replied, though the twinkle in her eye gave herself away.
Marius laughed in spite of himself at Eponine's cheek. If he had lived, oh how he would have missed Eponine's tinkling laugh and cheerful smile. His hand cradled the back of Eponine's head, and he drew her in closer to him. "Eponine," he whispered, "I'm going to kiss you now."
When Eponine offered no objections, Marius closed the distance between them to softly brush their lips together. He could feel Eponine smile against his lips, and he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Eponine responded with enthusiasm, climbing into his lap and wrapping her arms securely around his neck.
"Now that I have you, I won't ever let you go," she whispered into his ear when they at last pulled away to breathe.
"That sounds perfect to me," Marius replied, drawing back to smile at her, only to pull Eponine in again and continue to ravish her mouth. It was many minutes before they descended the hill to find their new home and meet their new neighbors.