hey!

okay sooo... srry it took me sooooooo long but at least i'm updating rite?! exactly! tehe! eenyways... it's kinda short and it could be a while before i post chappie 5 because i'm really stuck and sooooo... yea! but i do hope u guys enjoy and i'll try my best to hurry and finish chappie 5 so i can get it posted... okay... hope u enjoy! R/R
here i go...

SHOUTOUTS:

outstanding outsiders -- yea! i'm glad u liked it! that makes me happee! tehe! i really hope u like this nxt one and the one after that is gonna be really long so that will be good! but i'm really excited about ur update! congratulations on the date! i'm happee for u... i sooo have a myspace 2oo! we'll have to trade info another time! hope u enjoy! R/R

Mystik Genie -- same here! i'm all for humiliating the fop 2oo! but ur going to be very surprised when we get to the ending of the third story ur gonna be shocked! no joke! it's a little freaky! idc if u read it late... watev! as long as u got it read i'm happee! soooo... i hope u like this chappie! and the nxt one to come... even though it may take a while! (i have horrible writters block! PISS!) okay eenyways... hope u enjoy! R/R

Chapter Four

Apologies

It had been three days since the wedding. Three days since the confession. And three days since Meg ran. For the last three days Meg has been living with Erik and Christine in their guest bedroom. And it wasn't that Erik and Christine didn't love Meg, it was just that she was getting annoying.

"Erik, I don't know if I can handle her being here anymore. We have no privacy! And she has no where to go during the day, so she's down here with nothing to do but talk to me. Don't get me wrong, I still love her. It's just that I can only handle her in concentrated doses." Christine inhaled heavily trying to catch her breath.

Erik just chuckled, "Christine, relax." He paused, his attitude changing. "I know what you mean though. When she's not talking to you she's in my music room touching my organ! What are we going to do?"

"You know there's only one answer to all our problems... and I know he's not gonna do anything to fix it. He's too proud to bow down to her." She sighed.

Meg walked into the room, mouth agape.

XxX

"Jewel!" he called. A maid appeared at his bedroom door.

"Yes sir," she replied.

"Have my buggy pulled around front."

"Certainly sir." And she left. He changed his outfit quickly, eager to see Meg and bring her home. Then he headed down the stairs and out the front door to the awaiting buggy.

When he arrived at the Opera, hoping he wouldn't run into anyone he knew, he headed for Christine's old dressing room. But unfortunately Mme. Giry was walking down the same hallway.

"Raoul, what are you doing here? How are things at home?"

"I wouldn't really know how things are going at home because Meg left the house right after the wedding. She's been living with Erik and Christine for the past three days, and I'm here to get her back," a pang of guilt in his voice.

"Oh my God! Raoul what happened?"

"I told her about my "problem" and she freaked. She couldn't handle it and she ran."

"Raoul, I'm so sorry!" she said hugging him. "I hope everything works out for you. Good luck."

Thanks," he paused. "Antoinette, are you okay? You look like something's bothering you?"

She started to tear up, "Oh Raoul, I don't know what to do. I feel like such a horrible person. I . . . I don't know what to do? I hate to ask this, but . . . do you have a moment?"

He had never seen her act this way and so he wrapped his arms around her, "Come on, we can talk in here." And they slowly made their way into the dressing room, closing the door behind them.

XxX

"Do you really feel that way?" Meg asked, standing in the doorway.

"How much did you hear?" Christine asked shakily.

Meg started tearing up, "Pretty much everything. Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Oh, Meg, we didn't want to hurt your feelings. We love you, you just need a hobby while you're here so you're not overwhelming us. You have to remember we're not used to having anyone else in the house." She approached Meg and hugged her. "We really didn't . . . Raoul?!"

Meg turned around and looked at him in shock, "What are you doing here?"

"Do you think . . . " he stuttered.

"Ah Christine, shall we?" Erik offered his arm. She took it and they left the room leaving Meg and Raoul alone.

"Well . . . what do you want?" Meg asked, venom in her voice.

"Well it's hard to explain. I just knew I couldn't stand back and wait. I knew that if I waited too long there was no way I would ever see you again. You'd never come back . . . and I can't live without you, Meg. I love you."

"I know you do, but that doesn't change what you did."

"I know, that's why I'm here. I don't know if this will make things any better but . . . I'm sorry! I didn't mean to . . . " Meg placed her finger over his lips.

"Shh! I know . . . and I forgive you. But I just couldn't face you. I felt horrible just running out like that. When I came here the one thing Christine said was 'do you still love him?' and automatically I answered yes. I felt so stupid. The fact that I needed someone to ask me a question I already knew the answer to. I just couldn't handle it."

He placed his hands on either side of her face, "I love you."

"I love you too." Their lips met and his hands dropped to her waist as her's went to his neck and entwined in his hair.

Several long moments later they separated, gazing in each other's eyes. She grabbed his hand, "Come on Raoul, let's go home." And they left the cold, dark dungeon.

XxX

When they finally reached the mirror, both noticed Antoinette sitting on the bed. Meg pushed the mirror open, ran to her mother's side and kneeled, Raoul bent down beside her, "Mama, what's wrong?"

Antoinette wiped the tears from her face and looked at Meg, "Oh dear. Don't worry about me. I'm so happy for you two. Meg . . . " she grabbed her hand. "Raoul . . . " she placed her other hand on his cheek.

"Just tell the truth," he whispered. And he straightened up, leaving the room hand in hand with a very confused Meg.