Oh my word….oh my freaking word! I have no words to express how thankful I am to have such amazing fans as you! I am not worthy of such incredible fans! Let me send a special shout out to iputonefootinfrontoftheother for reviewing EVERY chapter (and most in one night too) and to Hannahzzz who drew me an amazing fan art! I have no words to describe how touched and loved I feel by all you guys (in my life there are those who touch my life….in my life there's been no like you anywhere!) In 12 hours I got 15 reviews and I got a good 26 in 48. Just wow, you have no idea how much this all means to me!

And the best part is I beat Enjolras, again, in the bet!

Enjolras: Don't remind me…

Anyway, anyone still interested in making me cover art, I have a tumblr under West End High and a twitter account under Eponine T Daae, you can send it to either or.

Ok so now getting down to business, last chapter me and Enjy had a bet and I won (4 times over) and I got one request for his punishment for loosing the bet, and I quite like it.

Enjolras: I don't like the sound of that…

Me: With good reason too, Danger (guest) said that I have to make you kiss R-

Enjolras: WHAT?! Please tell me you are joking!

Me: *rolling eyes and putting hand up to silence him* Calm down and let me finish! It's either him, or…wait for it….ME!

Enjolras: What!? But I- I…this just isn't fair

Me: Hey you got yourself into this mess, now it's time to pay the piper.

Enjolras: Are there any other options?

Me: Not really, I mean there was the suggestion of looking you in a room with Pontmercy while he was on one of his Cosette rants but I fear that you will end up strangling him or….. killing yourself

Enjolras: That's a safe assumption

Me: I thought so, besides you still have a choice either way

Enjolras: But don't really have much experience with well…

Me: Neither do I, it's sad really. I'm almost 17 and I've never had a boyfriend or been kissed

Courfeyrac: *listening in* What? Never?

Me: Yep….my mother told be about a year and a half that she was sure I would get one by the time I was 17 then just last week she said that I needed to seriously step up my game.

Courfeyrac: When are you 17?

Me: About 2 weeks, April 19th is my birthday. But the best part is that she thinks she knows why I'm single.

Enjolras: *mockingly* And what exactly does she think?

Me: In her words I need to "tone it down". I am apparently a little too stubborn, outspoken, feisty and headstrong, I don't need to have an opinion on everything and I certainly shouldn't express my opinion so much….

Enjolras: Can't say I disagree with that, you are a lot to handle

Me: *sending him a death glare* Oh put a sock in it! I didn't ask for your opinion!

Enjolras: The fact that you are reacting like that doesn't help your case...

Me: *open mouth to protest but no words come out*

Enjolras: *Laughs and looks at me in victory*

Me: Oh let's just get on with the story, and you still have to choose which punishment to complete!

Enjolras had a heart attack as the girl in his arms suddenly fell limp. Just moments ago they had all let out a sigh of relief when they found and rescued Eponine but now they were all huddling near in worry and freight.

"Eponine!" cried Azelma and Gavroche as they neared their older sister; tears formed in Azelma's eyes while Gavroche looked scared for his life.

Enjolras took two fingers and gently placed then right in where her neck and jaw line met, to his relief her heartbeat was strong and even, without even thinking he scooped her up and cradled her, her head now resting on his chest.

"We need to get her some help." he said sternly.

No one questioned him; all at once they ran straight for their cars. Marius strode right alongside him, keeping up with his pace, his sights focused on Eponine. As soon as they got to Enjolras' car Marius opened the back door and allowed Enjolras to place Eponine in there before he slid into the passenger seat. As soon as Enjolras got in they sped off, the others were taking Marius' car with Courfeyrac behind the wheel, normally Marius would never let anyone, let alone Courfeyrac, have the keys to his beloved car; however these were not normal circumstances.

While Enjolras kept his eyes on the road Marius continuously looked back at the unconscious girl in the back of the car; if he hadn't known any better it would have looked as if she was sleeping, her face looked very peaceful and there was a rhythmic rise and fall to her chest with each breath she took. However he did know better and guilt plagued him. His gaze was still on Eponine when he heard Enjolras swear and Marius automatically turned in his seat to see the cause. It took him all of three seconds to see the problem, just a quarter mile up ahead there was a serious traffic jam, most likely caused by all the people trying to leave the mall that night after the incident. The cars all honked at each other but none moved and in the distance the sirens and flashing lights of the emergency responders could be seen and heard heading toward them.

"This is not good." Marius muttered under his breath

"Yeah no shit." replied Enjolras coldly. Marius looked at him in shock, Enjolras hardly ever swore.

However Enjolras did not let Marius reaction to him get in his head, instead he turned onto some smaller empty roads so to stay off the main one that was now blocked off: from the rearview mirror he could see the other car follow them.

"Now what are we going to do?!" exclaimed Marius

"Well I sure as hell don't know! Getting to the hospital is out of question due to the road block and I am damn sure the paramedics won't be able to get to us very quickly either if we stay on this side of the jam. We just need to get somewhere safe and secure that Eponine could rest while we wait for the jam to clear up; somewhere the paramedics can meet us…"

Marius went silent as he tried to think of a place they could go, possibly with a first aid kit and with a bit of privacy but was close enough to town that it wouldn't cause a problem.

Suddenly it hit him, "E make a left!"

Marius rushed to the door and pushed it open as Enjolras came in right behind him, Eponine in tow. As soon he stepped into the room he automatically went toward the large sofa against the wall and gently put her down. Once she was laid down he shrugged off his hoodie and placed it over her like a blanket. He mad to admit he thought Marius had lost it when he suggested going to the café considering it was almost 1 o'clock am but when he called Mr. Myriel and explained everything to him all else just fell into place. Mr. Myriel had rushed over to the café and unlocked it for them while also turning on the lights and setting out the first-aid kit and coffee supplies for them. He couldn't stay but he trusted and cared for the teens, Eponine was his employee and Marius and his friends were the café's best customers, they had been going there since they were kids. Plus the café also had cameras so any funny business would be recorded.

Enjolras looked over at Eponine as he set his hoodie over her, she had seen better days. She was completely covered in soot and dust- especially her face and clothes- the hem of her skirt and shirt were torn but other than some scratches on her arms and face and the small gash on her head she looked alright, thought he couldn't vouch for internal injuries. Marius pulled up a chair and took a seat next to her, right by her head, his face showing pure guilt.

"I called Joly." He said solemnly, "He is on his way, should be here soon."

Enjolras nodded, they had no doctors on speed dial but Joly had taken several first-aid classes, went to medic camp, volunteered at the local clinic and even interned at the hospital, he was just as good as anyone else at the moment.

Marius looked at Eponine sadly, taking her hand in his.

"This is all my fault." He whispered, "I should have listened to you guys. What the hell is wrong with me?"

Enjolras sighed as he took a seat next to Eponine and across from Marius. "Well you aren't wrong; you should have listened to us. It was selfish, reckless and just plain idiotic. Eponine stressed how much she hated Black Friday and with good reason!"

"I know I-"
Enjolras cut him off, "But it was her own choice to go in with you, to stay for so long and to defend the kindle." He added, as much as he wanted to give Marius a piece of his mind and set him straight he could see that he was already hurt enough as it was.

"I just wish I knew what happened to her in there. Something tells me it had something to do with the cause of the fire."

"Knowing 'Ponine I wouldn't find that surprising"

Marius gave him a weak smile and nodded. Just then they both noticed a small figure enter the room with three others close by. Gavroche and Azelma stood next to each other holding hands with Grantaire behind, a hand on each of their shoulders. Courfeyrac stood by them as well; all had a worried look on their face.

"How is she?" asked Azelma

Enjolras gave her a small smile, "She looking ok. Knowing Eponine she will pull through, she isn't one to go without a fight."

The group all gave a slight chuckle at that, the tension seeming to be lifted just a bit. Azelma followed Grantaire as he took her hand and led her and Gavroche to some large chairs on the opposite side of the room. As they walked over Enjolras stepped up and stopped Courfeyrac.

"Courfeyrac you take Gavroche, we won't know anything till its light." He turned toward everyone else, "Everybody keep the faith for certain the sun as Eponine will be ok." He looked straight at his friend sitting next to Eponine, "Marius rest."

Courfeyrac nodded and took a sleepy looking Gavroche away from the café and to his house, both needed rest. For awhile, no one said anything else and there was a strong tension filled silence throughout the café. Marius fell asleep in his chair next to Eponine, hand still holding hers, and Enjolras stepped out to make himself a cup pf coffee and a cup of hot cocoa for Eponine, hoping she would come through in time to enjoy it. Azelma looked over her sister with worry and tears forming in her eyes, Eponine was always the strong one and now she was worse for wear. She let some tears fall out of her eyes and clung onto Grantaire's hand tightly and he did his best to comfort her.

"Get away from my sister wine-cask." Groaned a small voice, breaking the silence.

Everyone reacted at once and Enjolras ran into the room. They saw Eponine's figure slowly open her eyes. She moaned softly as she started to come to and sit up, Marius automatically reacted and gently pushed her back down.

"No 'Ponine, don't stress yourself out." he stressed

Eponine was shocked but his sudden concern and couldn't help but smile at it, her eyes brightening. Enjolras watched from where he stood nearby, while he was ecstatic and relieved to see that she woke up, there was a small pit in his stomach when he say how Eponine reacted to Marius concern, but he didn't interrupt; he knew she deserved that moment.

Azelma came running toward her and threw her arms around Eponine, pushing her back with her momentum, causing Eponine to hiss in pain.

"Oh Eponine I'm so glad you are ok!" She exclaimed cheerfully

Eponine groaned slightly and moved very stiffly as Azelma let her go. "I'm glad I'm alright to."

"You gave us quite a scare there Eppy." commented Grantaire

She let out a small laugh, "Oh I apologize I had no control over my body blacking out…which brings me to question where I am?"

"The Café" answered Enjolras from where he stood causing Eponine to look over at him, "there was a traffic jam and this was the only place we could take you to wait it out. Joly's been called and he should be here any minute."

Just then the very same guy came running into the café looking very frantic.

"I'm here! Sorry I am so late!" he shrieked as he came in. The second he saw Eponine he stopped in his track and gasped, when Marius said she was hurt he wasn't lying. He automatically got to work and began inspecting her. She hissed a few times when he touched a sensitive or injured part but other than that she was holding up strong. In the end he concluded that along with a sprained wrist and ankle she also had a shoulder injury and possible concussion but without hospital equipment he couldn't tell he extent of the injury. He wrapped her ankle and wrist in an ace bandage before looking at the gash on her head, he cleaned it and sterilized it and saw that it was actually smaller than what it seemed, for now another bandage would do but she would need stitches too.

"I think you will be ok." he said to her as he finished up

"Thank you Joly, I don't know what I would do without you."

"Don't worry about it; just make sure the paramedics fix what I couldn't."

She nodded in understanding, "No problem."

As Joly got up to go talk to Enjolras Marius came and took his seat next to Eponine.

"How you feeling?" He asked

"Better."

"Glad to hear it." He paused before going on, "'Ponine I am really sorry about this, this is all my fault."

She gave him a dry laugh "Yeah no kidding, I told you it was a bad idea to go into Sears. I'm laying here all broken thanks to a stupid kindle that you just had to get."

"For Cosette!" He said, trying to defend himself

She rolled her eyes, "Yes I know it's all about her lately."

He narrowed his eyes, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"What I mean is that ever since you saw her all you ever talk about is her. I mean where have you been?"

"I've been here." he said in confusion

"No, where have you been for the last month. I hardly ever see you anymore and when I do you aren't even yourself; you are hung up on Cosette and can't think of anything but her. Your mind is always in a different place."

"I'm sorry 'Ponine, I never meant to be like that. I just-"

She cut him off, "No need to explain Marius, I understand. I just wish your new self didn't make me do things that got me hurt."

"That reminds me, how exactly did you get hurt?"

She sighed, "Someone wanted your kindle, being who I am I became a little defensive and I didn't let him have it….I ran away until we were by some escalators, then we fought, a lamp was knocked over and I kicked him in the nuts before I lost my balance and fell down the stairs. That's all I remember."

"God Eponine the things you do, it was just a kindle."

She shrugged, "I know, but I don't like things being taken from me, I loose enough as it is."

He raised an eyebrow, "Now what is that supposed to mean?"

"Don't fret about Marius." she replied

Just then from the windows they could see the flashing lights of an ambulance and they knew the paramedics have arrived. Marius gave her hand a slight squeeze in support just as Enjolras came into the room. Eponine smiled at him and he nodded back at her, together with Marius they each stood at once side of Eponine and helped her walk to the ambulance, and Enjolras couldn't help but notice that she seemed to be leaning more on him than Marius.

While the paramedics worked on her Eponine continuously looked over at Enjolras. Her shoulder was dislocated but they were able to pop it back in and she showed no signs of a concussion. Eponine had asked Enjolras to stay by her side and held his hand tightly as the paramedics worked on her; hardly ever did she glance at Marius.

She was going to be just fine.