AN: So hey guys… It's been a while hasn't it. I would like to apologize, I just didn't have any time or inspiration for this story, but now I've got plenty of ideas. I still don't have a lot of time, but I'll do my best to update as frequently as possible. Thanks to all who have stuck with me and this story! Before you say anything, yes this battle plays out more like the movie and the book than the musical. I love the musical, but the way Eponine is shot in the show just never sat quite right with me for some reason.

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The brief halt of motion seemed to burst like a balloon into a flurry of movements. Windows were locked tightly with loud slams as the impending battle drew closer. Snipers took their positions. Loaders manned themselves next to barrels of gun powder and ammunition. Medics set up their makeshift medical stations. Everything was ready, but were the men themselves prepared for what was to come. Most of them had this glorified idea of battle, but neglected to think of the pain that accompanies a chivalrous death.

All at once the marching of the National Guard stopped. "Who's there?" shouted the General. There wasn't even a tremor of fear in his voice. Obviously this wasn't his first battle, unlike so many of the revolutionaries.

Eponine watched the others from behind a large, neglected barrel. Enjolras peered his head above the barricade cautiously. Seeing that the National Guard was not going to shoot him, he took the revolution's blood red flag and thrust it into the air. As he stuck the flag into the barricade, he proclaimed, "French Revolution!"

A loud, "Fire!" was ordered by the General, and suddenly the narrow street erupted into gunshots. Eponine kept a close eye on Marius as she tried to stay out of the way. All around her, students fell injured. For every one National Guard soldier injured or killed, there seemed to be four more to take his place.

Reluctantly Eponine tore her eyes away from Marius so she could check on the other students that had become her friends, as well as see where her brother was. She spotted Gavroche, pistol in hand, shooting valiantly from just behind the barricade. Eponine considered reprimanding him for being there, but she knew how hypocritical that was, especially since he had warned her the night before. Besides even if she did approach him, it wouldn't help at all. He was as stubborn as they come. On the front line fought Enjolras, Combeferre and Courfeyrac shooting their rifles on either side of him. Grantaire lay passed out in the café- turned- hospital. Jehan stood shoulder to shoulder with Marius as they both warred with the oncoming National Guard troops.

The battle had turned into a full on attack from the Guard. More bloody revolutionaries fell dead at Eponine's feet until her trousers were splashed with the coppery red liquid. Medic weren't able to keep up with the amount of patients being admitted into the makeshift infirmary. Their tiny barricade seemed on the verge of breaking down all- together, but Eponine had faith. She knew they would never win, but if the Revs' could just win this first attack, maybe she could convince some of them to escape with her.

As the battle raged on, it seemed less and less likely that the Amis de ABC would last past the night. Slowly but surely the National Guard advanced towards the barricade. Panic fluttered in Eponine's chest as the soldiers marched nearer to her friends. She glanced briefly at her brother. Fear flickered in his young eyes and Eponine's heart panged. The creek of boxes and increased mayhem brought Eponine's attention back to the center of the barricade. Courfeyrac fell from the barricade splayed on his back as he clutched his right arm. Eponine audibly gasped at the pained look on his face as medics carried him as quickly as possible to the infirmary to be treated. With increased urgency, Eponine dashed towards the barricade. She didn't know what she could do when she got there, but she knew she had to do something.

Eponine's plan of action was determined the minute she saw a gun pointed towards an unsuspecting Marius. Without a thought, Eponine leapt onto the barricade, in front of the love of her life. With an indignant cry, Eponine felt the bullet tearing through her chest.

Her vision flickered in and out, and the searing pain in her chest was unlike anything she'd ever felt before. The burning in her chest spread throughout her body making her feel as if she were on fire. She felt herself falling off of the barricade as she was no longer able to stand. At some point during the fall, her cap tumbled off revealing her long and matted, but beautifully dark hair. Distantly she could hear Marius' voice as he single handedly forced the National Guard to retreat. Someone had his arm around her waist to help support her, although who it was she couldn't say. With the last stray gunshot resounding through the air, the barricade was left in a mournful silence.

The unknown revolutionary's arms that had helped Eponine were replaced with a more familiar embrace- Marius. Eponine tried to support some of her weight on her own, but ended up falling to the ground. Before she could hit the blood spattered ground, Marius caught her in his arms and sat her gently against his chest as he wrapped her in a gentle embrace. As soon as they sat down, a gentle fall of rain cascaded upon the barricade, washing some of the blood and grime down the sewers. Marius pulled Eponine closer to him as if to try and shield her from the rain.

"Don't you fret Monsieur Marius. All the pain I feel is but that of a pin prick. Surely I'm going to die anyways, no need to shield me from the rain." Eponine stuttered out hoarsely. With what little energy she could manage Eponine tried to isolate her pain so she could keep her eyes locked on Marius'. "Besides rain isn't all bad; it fills water buckets, and streams, and it helps flowers grow."

The pitying look on Marius' face broke Eponine's heart. She would've rather been shot one hundred more times if she never had to see the hopeless look that adorned his usually optimistic face.

"But you're going to live 'Ponine. God help me you're going to live. I'll do anything for you. All you have to do is keep your heart beating." Marius pleaded. His face was wet, though Eponine didn't know if that was from the rain or the tears.

"Shh. Just hold me and let it be." Eponine replied soothingly as her voice got weaker. Still she could feel her heart beating, and that was all Marius had asked of her.

In a last effort to give Eponine a beautiful death, or maybe even to keep her alive, Marius sang to her. The sound was so beautiful it brought Eponine to tears. The song was an old lullaby her mother would sing to her when she was little and loved. It was all about rain making the flowers grow. She was sure the other revolutionaries were watching, but at that moment, the only person she could see was Marius. Meekly Eponine tried to join in the lullaby with Marius, but the pain in her chest soon caused her to come in late. Marius' worry for her caused him to rush through the song and come in too early until the song had completely fallen apart.

Still, Eponine wanted to finish the song. She was going to finish the song for Marius. This damn song that lulled her to sleep every night as a child. When her mother stopped singing to her, it was the song Eponine would sing to Azelma and Gavroche to comfort them. The song that she used to comfort herself after Gavroche and Azelma left her. The song whose lines Eponine knew by heart, by her slowly dying heart. Most importantly this was the song that Marius wanted to sing with her to keep her living.

AS the song drew to a close, Eponine could feel the pain in her check ripping through her and it had become unbearable. In vain she tried to choke out the last word, but her voice had faded. Still, though her eyes had closed, her heart was still beating which was all Marius had asked of her…

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AN2: A bit of a cliffhanger…. Trust me I hate me as much as you probably hate me right now. I wanted to fit in what happens after the "A Little Fall of Rain" moment, but I felt like that needed to stand alone because it is such a poignant moment in the book, musical, and movie.

I promise to update as often as I can!