The performance was two days away. Raoul thought things were getting better then a ghost turned out to be alive. A name he cursed and thought dead for ten years was dead. What other surprises lurked in the shadows of Coney Island? How could Christine not tell him? To protect that thing she calls a man of course. He thought to himself as he gulped back another drink. Things were different he knew that much. These past years Raoul knew things weren't the best between him and Christine. Raoul knew the only reason both of them tried to make it work was for Gustave. With Erik back he feared she would leave. Raoul wasn't stupid. He knew that Christine loved Erik; she always had. He hated the thought but he knew it was true. If Christine left what would he have? She would take Gustave with her he knew that much, but after that he would have nothing. He had a small bit of hope that his wife would stay, but he knew that that was wrong. He had been sitting in the bar for so long he had lost track of time, then he heard her. "Morning Bernie! One coffee if you please." Raoul looked over to see Meg smiling and looking for a seat. Then she saw him and all the happy was gone. "Raoul," She greeted. "Mother thought I would find you here."

"Miss Giry," Raoul said as he cleared his throat.

"Drowning your sorrows?" She asked with a bit of a laugh.

"No, celebrating. Not every day you are reunited with long lost friends, and find out one isn't dead." He said somewhat annoyed.

"He means you no harm." She said. "Nor Christine."

"Not to sound rude but why are you here?"

"I just came from a swim." She said as Bernie handed her, her coffee and she walked to him. "This place, it gets to you after awhile." She said taking the seat next to him. "The pressure of everything. Theater life is one thing, but this, this is Coney Island. A place where everything has a part, and if you don't play it perfectly, things go wrong, and it's always thing you can't afford to go wrong. Trust me, I know better than anyone on this damn Island."

Raoul looked at her curiously "What do you mean?"

"I've been through a lot these past ten years. You and Christine see me as the same stupid little girl from Paris; well I can assure you I'm not. Everyone refuses to believe I have grown up, but no one seems to care or notice. I have worked hard to get to where I am." She told him.

Raoul couldn't help but laugh. "Get to this? To be walking around half dressed all day and singing advertisements. Yeah, you're living the life alright."

Meg scowled him. "You don't know what you're talking about." She said angry. "You have no idea how hard it was to get to where I am."

"Obviously pretty hard to convince Erik to let you be the star."

Meg knew he was right on that matter. It had taken her months to make him see her talent. Meg knew she was wasting her time with her act now, but she always thought her moment was coming. But that moment wouldn't come with them here. "You shouldn't be here." She said simply after a moment of quite. "He'll take her from you. They're connected in away. They always have been. If given the chance she will go to him. Even you know that."

"So what the hell do you suggest I do?" He demanded.

"Run." She said. "Leave. Don't give him the chance. Take Gustave and Christine and leave. There's a boat that sets sail tomorrow at noon; I suggest you be on it." Meg put money on the counter and left the cup of coffee no longer interested.

"And how exactly do you suggest I do that?" He asked

"You're smart you'll think of something. But trust me, once she sings there will be no getting her back." And with that she turned to leave.

Raoul quickly jumped up and grabbed her arm. "What are you talking about?"

"Just trust me. I know what I'm talking about. I've seen things that let me know the truth. If you don't remember any of this conversation, I suggest you remember this one little detail. If she sings you will lose her." Meg jerked her arm away and ran out.

Raoul huffed and ran his hands through his hair. Then after a moment of thought he went after her. "Meg!" He ran down the walkway and before he knew it he was far from the bar. He stopped to catch his breath then he heard her with someone in an ally way it didn't sound friendly either.

He could hear her struggling. "We paid you for the month!" She yelled as he threw her up against the building.

"Well then why don't we just get next month out of the way?" The man said.

Raoul acted fast running from behind and grabbing him throwing him to the opposite side. He quickly pinned the man up against the building. "If I ever see touch her, or hear about you touching her again you won't live another day! Do you understand me?!"

The man was scared out of his mind at the moment and all he could do was nod. Raoul threw him to the ground and yelled at him to leave. Raoul turned to Meg after the man ran off and went to her. "Are you alright?" She didn't look at him; she couldn't, so she just nodded. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Look I'm fine." She replied trying to move away, but Raoul stopped her by putting both his hands on the wall trapping her. She made the mistake of looking into his eyes and seeing the broken man he was.

"Out of all the people in this world that hate me, please don't be one of them Meg." He whispered.

She was trapped and she knew it. She couldn't leave his gaze. "I'm not." She whispered. Raoul stared at her and his eyes moved to her lips, and then he began to move in. She stopped him by speaking "Do you truly wish to be unfaithful with me of all people?"

Raoul kept moving forward and nodded, then when their lips were an inch apart he answered. "Only you." Lips met in a fiery passionate kiss.