Hey guys! SO SO sorry for all the late updates. I'm back in a routine now, so they should be more frequent. The more comments, the sooner I update!

When Enjolras reached his flat, he was chilled to the bone and ready to collapse; but as he looked at Eponine's drawn face which had turned an alarming shade of blue, he knew the urgency of the situation. Springing into action, he gently placed Eponine on his bed, placing quilt after quilt atop the frozen girl. Enjolras changed into dry clothes and was about to sprint to his friend, Joly's, flat when he heard a weak cough come from his room. He rushed to the bed and ran a hand over Eponine's cheek.

"Ice cold," he thought. Eponine let out another weak couch and groaned. Enjolras took her hand.

"Eponine, 'Ponine," he whispered, a single tear trailing down his cheek. Realizing how dire the situation was, he sprinted from his own flat to that of his friend, Joly and quickly explaining what had happened. The boys ran back to Enjolras' flat and into his bedroom. Joly sprang into full doctor mode, checking Eponine's pulse and vital signs.

After several minutes, he turned to Enjolras, saying, "She'll be fine. Judging by the coughs, she probably has a mild case of pneumonia, but thanks to you, she escaped hypothermia. There's not much I can do since I'm not certified yet. If I were you, I'd call the physician."

Enjolras sighed. "She's okay," he thought. "Thank God, she's okay." Coming to his senses, the boy clapped his friend on the shoulder and said, "Thank you, Joly. You've taken a great weight off of my shoulders."

Joly chuckled and said, "You're welcome, and lighten up, Enj. Eponine's a nice girl."

Enjolras blushed and frowned. "I suppose she is," he said, attempting to hide his feelings. As soon as Joly was out the door, he rushed to the bed, taking Eponine's small, frigid hand in his own. He ran his thumb over her knuckles and stared at her expressionless face. The water had rinsed layers of grime from her face, revealing her creamy complexion. She was quite beautiful in his opinion. He called her name a few more times, but she didn't respond. Enjolras sighed and stroked her dark hair and smiled. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but he knew she would never feel the same. What would he even say? He took a deep breath and poured out his heart to her unconscious form, feeling much better after getting it off of his chest even though Eponine hadn't heard him.

Eponine heard someone calling her name. Without opening her eyes, she tried to place the voice with a face. Enjolras. She felt his strong hand gently enveloping hers. He was whispering something, and the girl strained to hear his words.

"The first time I saw you, I knew you were different. You made me feel things that I'd never felt before, and I wish I had the courage to tell you how I really feel. Every time you smile, my heart skips a beat, and I find myself thinking of you all the time."

Eponine felt her heart flutter as he spoke those words to her. He sounded so sincere, and tears sprung to her eyes at the thought of someone loving her. Eponine had never known what it felt like to be loved, and as she opened her eyes and stared into Enjolras' face, she felt happier than she ever had before and finally realized who had actually loved her all along and found that she shared his feelings.

She sat up and put her arms around his neck, saying, "I feel the same way." Feeling Enjolras tense up, she pulled back and rested her forehead against his. "I love you," she whispered.

Enjolras was dumbfounded. Could it really have been that easy? He took Eponine's face in his hands and looked into her eyes.

"What made you change your mind?" he asked, knowing that she would know what he meant.

"You," she replied simply. "Marius never really loved me, and I realize now that I never loved him. I was looking for affection in all the wrong places."

Enjolras smiled and kissed Eponine's forehead, saying, "I love you, too."

Eponine smiled, but a raspy cough erupted from her lips, sending her back onto the pillow.

A worried look passed across Enjolras' face, and he placed a hand to Eponine's forehead. "You were ice cold, but now, you're burning up. Joly says you probably have pneumonia."

Enjolras saw a tear roll down Eponine's cheek, and he ran his thumb across her cheek bone, wiping it away. "What is it?" he asked gently.

Eponine sniffled and said, "You jumped into the river. It would be a lot more than pneumonia if it weren't for you."

Enjolras smiled and whispered, "I couldn't bare the thought of losing you."

Another cough erupted from the girl's lips, and Enjolras stood from the bed. "I'm going to fetch the doctor," he explained. "Will you be alright by yourself for a few minutes?

"Don't worry," she said with a playful smile. "I'm a big tough girl, but hurry back. I'm quite jealous." Enjolras smiled at Eponine's joke, caressed her cheek, and shut the door, hurrying off to the doctor's.

Eponine sighed happily and fell back on the pillows. It felt so wonderful to love and be loved in return. She dozed off for a few minutes until she heard the creak of a door opening. She sat up eagerly, expecting to see Enjolras walk into the room. Her smile faltered, and she gasped as a familiar face peeked around the door frame.

"'Parnasse," she exclaimed. The boy smiled. "How-how'd you find me here?" Her eyes widened as another man slunk around the doorframe.

"'Ello there, my dear!" sneered her father. Eponine began to shake and perspire nervously. "Where's that boy of yours?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean." The girl winced as her father's arm rose up to strike her. She waited for the blow, but it never came. Opening one eye, she saw her father drawing a rusty knife from his belt. Eponine gasped yet again and scrambled back against the headboard of the bed. Two of her father's thugs entered the room and yanked her from the bed. Suddenly, she was acutely aware that she wore nothing but a corset and pantaloons.

"You'll come with us and make no fuss."

"Never," spat Eponine.

"Or we kill him."

Two more thugs entered the room, dragging Marius in with them.

Eponine's eyes widened. "Let him go," she commanded.

"Good choice," said her father, turning to face Marius. "As for you, you will go on home and pay no attention to where we go, or we kill her."

Marius gasped and watched helplessly as the gang drug Eponine from Enjolras' flat to who knows where.

Remember, the more comments, the sooner I update. Also, go check out Diary of a Chorus Girl in the Catch Me if You Can category. I'm publishing it for a friend, so PLEASE comment with what you think!