AN- I know, I know… I promised to post on time, and I didn't… I'm really sorry! So, I'm not going to promise to get chapters done on time anymore. With all that I'm doing, I don't have much time to write. I will write when I can, but I won't be able to post any updates every week. I hope you all understand. Anyway, here's chapter 17 :) I hope you love it! ;)

June 5th, 1832

It was only mere minutes into the fight, and the barricade was already being scaled by the French. We're they already done for? That's when Marius had an idea.

Eponine was just arriving back to the barricade when she saw Marius climbing to the top. He had a barrel of gun powder in one hand and a burning torch in the other. Eponine's heart jumped out of her chest in fear for Marius's life. What Marius didn't see, and what Eponine did, was a musket aimed straight for his heart.

Eponine scrambled up the barricade to save him. She grabbed the barrel of the gun and pulled it toward herself. With her hand covering the front, and with her body in the line of fire, the man pulled the trigger.

A burning sensation went through Eponine's hand as the ball passed through it and into her chest. It then promptly exited out the other side.

Eponine fell, tumbling off the top of the barricade and onto the cobblestone ground. There she sat, watching the battle's events unfold.

"Be gone, or I'll blow up the barricade!" Marius had a terrible look in his eye. Eponine had never seen him this way.

"Blow it up, and yourself with it?" asked one of the national guardsmen.

"And myself with it." Marius then started to lower the torch towards the barrel.

"Retreat!" yelled the guardsman as fear filled his eyes. In an instant, the barricade was free of intruders.

Marius stepped off the top of the barricade where almost all the men who had survived the first attack sat to reprimand him. Only a select few thanked him, knowing that if he hadn't done so, the barricade would've already been taken over.

"Thank you, Marius, for your bravery," praised Enjolras.

"Monsieur Marius…" called a meek voice. Marius turned around to find Eponine still sitting on the ground. A light rain began to fall.

"Eponine, what's wrong? There's something wet upon your hair." Marius kneeled down to get a closer look. Taking her head in his hands, he saw the splatter of blood on her face. "Eponine, you're hurt! You need some help!" He then ripped open the front of her jacket to see her white shirt stained crimson. "Oh God, it's everywhere!"

Eponine took Marius's hand in hers and had him sit down. Once sitting, she spoke to him in a hushed voice. "Don't you fret, Monsieur Marius, I don't feel any pain." The rain picked up a little. "A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now. You're here, that's all I need to know, And you will keep me safe, and you will keep me close, and rain will make the flowers grow."

All of Les Amis stood around watching the conversation between Marius and his now dying shadow.

Marius put his arms around Eponine, trying to make her a little more comfortable. "But you will live, 'Ponine, dear God above, if I could heal your wounds with words of love!"

Eponine sighed and gave her Marius a happy smile. "Just hold me now, and let it be. Shelter me; comfort me." Marius tightened his grip, cradling Eponine in his arms.

"You will live a hundred year if I could show you how. I won't desert you now-"

"The rain can't hurt me now." Enjolras sat there, speechless. He had no idea what to do; he was frozen in place from shock.

"This rain will wash away what's past. And you will keep me safe, and you will keep me close, and rain will make the flowers grow." Eponine laid her head on Marius's shoulder and looked up at him. "The rain that brings you here is heaven blessed. The skies begin to clear and, I'm at rest. A breath away from where you are, I've come home from so far."

Marius said in a comforting tone, "Hush-a-bye, dear Eponine, you won't feel any pain. A little fall of rain can hardly hurt you now." Marius paused, trying to keep his emotions under control. "I'm here."

"That's all I need to know."

"I will stay with you until you are sleeping," Marius whispered.

"And rain…" Eponine said.

"And rain," Marius echoed.

"Will make the flowers…" And Eponine's body went limp.

"Grow…" Marius choked out, stifling a sob.

All of a sudden, Eponine started coughing. "Marius?" she asked.

"Yes, 'Ponine?" Marius said, looking a little hopeful.

"I love you." Again, her body went limp.

"Joly ran up and checked for a pulse. "She's still with us!" he exclaimed. Together, four men carefully moved Eponine to the wine shop to be cared for.

Enjolras kneeled down next to Marius. "How are you doing?"

"She loves me?" Marius was dumbstruck. He never would've thought that Eponine, his best friend, would've been in love with him. "Why?"

"Think about it." Enjolras tried to explain to Marius that she has had a hard life and that through that all, Marius was there. He was kind to her like no one else ever was. Enjolras also told him how much he had hurt her.

"I wish I would've known. I never wished to hurt her. I had no idea."

"I think that you need to apologize, but not now. Give her some time to recuperate." Enjolras then stood up and went to check on Eponine.

When Enjolras went to Eponine, she was all bandaged up and sleeping. He had never seen someone so pale. She had lost so much blood that she was lucky to be alive.

Joly walked up to Enjolras and said, "We need to make sure that she doesn't get an infection. If she does, there's almost no chance of her-"He didn't finish.

Enjolras placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "You're doing well, mon ami. Attend to your other patients."

"Okay. If she wakes, make sure that she doesn't move. We don't want her ripping open her stitches in her chest and hand." Then he was gone.

June 6th, 1832

Through the night, Enjolras sat at Eponine's side. He was relieved that she made it through the night, but he was aware of the severity of her wounds. She might not make it, even then.

Gun shots could be heard from inside the wine shop, and cannon fire shook the ground. The battle had begun again, and Enjolras knew that he was needed. He had to lead his friends, but he didn't want to leave Eponine's side.

Combeferre entered the wine shop. "Enjolras, we need you out here," he pleaded. He could see that Enjolras was really struggling. Maybe the other men were right. Maybe Enjolras did have feelings for the girl.

"I'm coming!" Enjolras's voice sounded hollow and emotionless. Combeferre left, leaving his not-so-marble leader with Eponine once more.

Enjolras, unsure about what to do, stroked Eponine's soft cheek. He had to return, but he had to do one more thing first.

"Eponine," he started, "I love you…" It was as if a giant weight was lifted from Enjolras's shoulders.

"I love you!" he said more confidently.

Enjolras, then, leaned down, and gave Eponine a soft kiss. Jumping up, Enjolras left the room to help his friends. Little did he know that the young girl had just awoken.

She had heard Enjolras's confessions; it was what had stirred her. What had woken her fully was the feeling of Enjolras's lips against hers.

"He loves me." Eponine sighed a contented sigh, and fell back asleep.

AN- How did you like the chapter? Finally, Enjolras admits it! Haha, it took 17 chapters, but he finally got it out. Please review/follow/favorite! Thanks for reading! :D