A/N: And here is Chapter 10:D Hope you enjoy! And please, read and review, that's all I ask of you. :-)

xoxo

Chapter 10: A New Day has Dawned.

"Christine," cried softly, the voice. Obvious pain radiated from its simple plea.

Henry came into the house, a woodpile in his frail arms. He dropped it when he heard the soft, choked up call from the other room and immediately rushed in to check on his patient.

Henry groaned slightly, pain wracking his old body. But he had to make sure the man was ok.

"Christine," the voice cried again.

Henry put his hand on the man's forehead and realized it was burning up. The man must be delirious. He went to fetch the man a wet cloth and a glass of water.

"Can you hear me Monsieur?" Henry asked in fear.

He took the cloth, and squeezing the water from it, began rubbing the warm wet cloth across the man's face that appeared distorted in pain. He set the glass of water down next to his head, and then pulled the covers off the man's body. He inspected the wound, and decided to clean it up, and re-dress it again.

As Henry got to his feet, the man's eyes opened partially and seemed to widen.

"Monsieur?" Henry asked again when he noticed that the man realized he was there. But the man's eyes had already closed and he was drifting off in a restless sleep as he groaned once more.

Henry decided to leave him be, in hopes that he'd wake up again. He began to finish the tasks he had started, and limped his frail body back to the woodpile that he had previously dropped and began to put some of the wood into the already burning fireplace. He wiped his hand across his sweaty brow and stood. He decided he'd make dinner for him and his mystery guest, if his guest was even ready for any kind of food yet.

xoxo

"Meg, would you go get the door?" Madame Giry called to her daughter from upstairs, as she heard a knock at the door.

Meg heard her mom and stood up from the book she was reading and set it down, before making a beeline for it.

"Who could be here at this hour?" she silently asked herself. It was only seven in the morning.

What she didn't prepare herself was for who may be at the door. When she opened in, she practically screamed when she saw who it was.

"Christine!" she launched herself at her old time best friend. Christine hugged her back tightly as well, relieved that her best friend still lived here, and was still happy to see her. "I've missed you so much!" Meg exclaimed, finally letting go of her, to take her all in. "You look beautiful as ever!" Meg complimented.

"I'm glad to hear that." Christine laughed. It'd been the first time she'd laughed since she was with Erik.

"And what do I owe this pleasure?" Meg smiled brightly, taking her friend's pale hand into hers.

Christine sighed and forced a smile across her grieving face. "I miss my dear friend, is all."

Meg could tell already, from the way her lip quivered, to the sound of her shaky voice… something wasn't quite right. But she decided not to comment.

Instead, she hugged Christine tightly again. Her eyes squeezed shut, and then opened. She saw Duke.

"I see you brought a horse companion. Go inside and sit down. Or get something to eat. I'll put-"

"Duke,"

"I'll put Duke away, for you, and then I'll be right back." Meg promise, putting her shoes on and ushering Christine in while she attained to Duke.

"You know you don't have to-"

"No, I want to do this for you." Meg smiled softly at her dear friend and squeezed her arm in a reassuring manner. "Just go inside… you look like you're freezing."

I am… both inside and out.

Christine went and sat on one of the chaises in the living room, waiting for her best friend to return. The house was small, but cozy, just like how she remembered. She recalled coming here when she was little. Meg and her mother were the only ones that didn't live at the Opera House.

She sighed as she stared at the pictures, which adorned the walls. She had ridden through the cold morning without a clue as to where to go. Part of her wanted to go to Erik's house… but she had no clue how to get there… and it would be a painful reminder of what happened.

Part of her had regretted just leaving like that… she had no idea what to do! And what of Raoul? What would he do when he found out she was missing…?

"I don't want to think about it…" she whispered. "He's already ruined my life."

"Christine!" Madame Giry called happily and shocked, as she came down the stairs and spotted Christine in the living room.

She immediately made her way over to the lone girl. Christine stood up and embraced the only motherly figure she had ever really had in her life.

"Marguerite," Christine cried happily.

Marguerite pulled back, cupping her second daughter's face. "My God, have you grown up!" she smiled through her tears. "You're not the little girl I once saw before my eyes…"

Christine began to tear up as well from all the emotion.

Meg came back in at that moment. "I see you've found Christine then." Meg laughed, watching as the two reacquainted themselves once more.

"Are you hungry?" Marguerite asked Christine as they parted, and she checked Christine over, making sure she was alright. Christine nodded. She hadn't eaten anything in a long time.

Marguerite noticed though, that Christine seemed unusually thin. She immediately worried. Christine seemed pale and queasy. And where was Erik?

"Would you like some chocolate cake?" she asked, knowing that was Christine's favourite. And she needed something to put a little bit of meat back onto her bones and add colour to her face.

Christine nodded. "Thank you, that sounds lovely." She whispered.

"Would you like some too, Meg?" Marguerite asked her daughter.

Meg nodded as well as all three of them went into the kitchen. Christine and Meg sat down at the table, while Marguerite served all three of them some chocolate cake that she had baked previously.

"So what brings you here?" Marguerite asked Christine as she sat a plate down in front of the girl.

Christine looked down at her plate and willed the tears not to start… but alas, they did, causing Meg to immediately get up and hug her and Marguerite to go into mother mode.

"Christine, please tell me what bother you so." she began to fear the worst. She never knew what had happened to Christine after that night. The only thing she knew was that Christine had left with Erik. She hoped Erik hadn't done anything horrible to her, or so help her God...

"He's dead." Christine choked out. This caused her to cry even more. She had now said the words, for the first time, out loud, and it stung.

"What?" Marguerite asked shocked. Dead? Erik? He was always the annoying ghost who wouldn't die. And now he was gone? And Christine seemed extremely upset about this. Then suddenly it dawned on her. Christine was in love with him!

She must be in love with him… or why else would she care? Marguerite thought to herself as she patted the dear girl's back.

"But... but how?" Marguerite gasped.

"Raoul killed him." Christine sobbed.

"Oh Christine!" Meg exclaimed.

Marguerite said nothing. Instead she stood up and went over to Christine, pulling her up from the chair and hugging her, stroking her hair, knowing that no words could ever fix the big hole in her heart.

xoxo

Dear Vicomte de Chagny,

I'm sorry about my sudden departure.

But I had to leave. You see,

I don't love you like you truly deserve.

I've decided to start life anew.

It's the only way. I took Duke and

one outfit. I promise that one day I'll bring

Duke back to you. I'll pay for the outfit as

well. I hope that everything works out for you

in the near future.

-Christine

Raoul threw his glass at the wall. It had been his fifth drink of brandy, and already he was beginning to feel out of order. She had left him, him. He had already searched for her once, brought her home again, and she disappeared again.

"Will I ever know peace?" he asked himself angrily, standing up and punching the wall.

He sat in his office. Well, at least what was left of his office… when he had found that note that morning, he'd gone terrorizing through the house and by chance, landed in his office, where he started to throw every possible thing in sight. All the workers in the house were warned to stay away from their boss while he was in his darkest hour.

He'd been so nice to her before… offering her everything she could ever possibly want, and she chose that... that creature! And then he took her back and she betrayed him again! He was past the point of gratitude and being kind. I'll find her, and when I do, there'll be hell to pay! He was no longer going to waste his time wooing the girl anymore, she was going to come back and they'd wed, simple as that. He didn't care if he resorted to force.

He stared at the wall, beginning to feel his anger subside from his negative thoughts, and have complete, utter misery fill that void. He loved her. He had loved her since the day at the Opera, when he had seen her sing. She was beautiful and sweet and caring. Everything he had ever wanted. But he had competition, and he figured he would. She was quite the catch after all… He just never thought it would be an insane, grotesque man, who lived in the sewers. And just when he thought he had won her over, she chose the other man over him. He never thought she was serious. So he looked for her and he finally did get her back, only to have her run away. His anger and earlier thoughts returned.

"My Lord?" Charles asked, as he peered into the room that the Vicomte had been in for over six hours. He was worried about the young man's health. Although he had to say, he was quite relieved the girl was gone. She wasn't fit to be a vicomtess.

Roaul's head shot up, and he glared at the man who dare intrude on him. "What?" he barked.

"I brought you some food." Charles said timidly, fearing his boss for once. He set the silver platter of food down on his desk.

"Well I don't want it." Raoul argued.

"But my Lord, you must eat!"

"I will do whatever the hell I please!" Raoul yelled back, daring this man to continue this fruitless argument with him.

"You can't just sit in here the rest of your days, and waste your life away!" Charles realized that he was walking on shaky ground here, but he needed this man to realize what he was doing. It was just a girl after all. There would be plenty of girls for him to pick and choose from; after all, he was the Vicomte.

"Oh I can't, can I? Who died and made you king? I am the Vicomte for God's sakes! I will choose to waste my life if I want to!" Raoul yelled.

He realized he sounded like a child at this moment… but he did not care. His anger was taking on a life of its own… and for once, he was giving into it… giving it a chance to spawn.

"But Sir," Charles wanted to argue, but decided he shouldn't. This could be his job at stake here…

"Charles, for the sake of you, and for the sake of the others, you had better leave now." Raoul growled, throwing another glass in the direction of Charles.

xoxo

"How are you feeling dear?" Marguerite asked, as she stood by the bedside of the bed Christine lay in. She had been asleep for several hours now, and Marguerite was worried about the poor girl's condition.

I never thought it would come to be like this… the poor girl is traumatized… and I know exactly how she feels. Marguerite thought, recalling the day her husband had passed away.

"Horrible." she replied succinctly.

Right now, Christine wished she could just dig a hole and be eaten up by the ground… escape the cruel realities of this world. Perhaps even sell her soul to the devil… just for Erik.

So much for being a Catholic. Christine thought dismally.

Marguerite sat down at the end of the bed. "Do you need anything dear?"

"No." Christine mumbled, staring at the ceiling.

Marguerite rubbed the lump that was her feet. "I understand Christine." she said softly. "Sometimes life is like that… when my husband died, I didn't leave my room for at least a week." She sighed. "But you see, I had Meg at the time… and she was only a little girl… I knew I couldn't neglect my duties just because I was suffering." Marguerite explained softly.

No one understands. Christine thought miserably, as she buried her face into the pillow, stifling a sob and begging to God to ease the pain.

"You loved him, didn't you?" Marguerite whispered after a few pauses had gone by, and a few tears had been shed over the mourning of her deceased husband.

Christine looked up and faced Marguerite. "Yes." came her soft reply. Marguerite knew? Am I that blatantly obvious? "How did you know?" Christine asked. But then she realized it must be quite obvious… for if she didn't love him, she wouldn't be this upset.

Marguerite reached forward and cupped Christine's pale face. "It is in your eyes dear." She commented softly. "It reflects the love I once saw in his eyes… for you."

A few tears fell down Marguerite's slightly wrinkled and withered face as she gazed at the girl she considered to be her other daughter. She hoped Meg would one day understand that kind of love. "I know it hurts Christine. And it will hurt for awhile, but you should also be proud of yourself."

"Why? Because of me, he's dead! If I had never shown an interest in Raoul, everything would have been fine! And we could have lived together without Raoul ever having bothering us!" Christine sobbed once more, feeling tremendous guilt for the man's death. We would be creating heaven.

"Christine, you know that's not true. No matter what the circumstances, Raoul probably would have done the same thing. And you should be proud. That man loved you, and you returned it for him. You gave him something most people couldn't. He lived his whole life alone and miserable and you turned it around for him, by showing him the depths of your love. You're truly a wonderful person, and I'm in awe of you." Marguerite explained softly, but adamantly. "Not even his mother could show him how it feels to be wanted or needed… but you did."

Christine felt guilt rack her though… when all those times in the Opera, she had turned from him and ran to Raoul and his comforting arms. She had clearly rejected him before… "I still hurt him Marguerite…" she whispered. "I still hurt him. I rejected him the first time I saw his face and all the other times he simply asked me for my love. And," she choked, "I tore his mask off that night, forcing him upon the world. How can I be proud? I inflicted torment upon his soul! Tell me how I can be proud?!" Christine was practically screaming through her tears now.

Marguerite leaned forward and grabbed Christine in a tight hug as the girl's body began wracking with tormented sobs and began heaving.

Pressing her face into the young girl's hair, she whispered fiercely, "I know Christine… I know. I know the pain of which you speak… I know."

"No, you don't." Christine sighed. "You never turned from your husband and made him feel less than an equal. Never. I wish I could say I didn't… but I did. I made Erik feel like the monster he already thought himself to be. And by the time I finally showed him acceptance… it was too late." Christine sobbed.

"No Christine, it's never too late for anything. It's never to late to show someone you love them… and even Erik knew that he was asking a lot when he asked for your love. He knew it when he pulled all his stunts as well… at least you gave him a chance to know what love is, before he passed on. And that was all he ever wanted in life… to know what love is. You gave it to him, and for that, you are truly a wonderful person."

"Really?" Christine asked softly. Could that even remotely be true? Could I have truly helped the grieving soul?

"Of course," Marguerite insisted, glad she was making headway with Christine. "I'm sure that wherever he is right now, he's watching over you. He is probably with the Angel of Music too, telling him about his wonderful love."

Christine smiled through her tears. That sounded beautiful. "Do you think he's in heaven?" Christine asked.

"I'm almost sure of it. God would have granted him that, he deserved it. He's probably with all the angels. A place where sweet chords of music are played and no masks are ever needed."

"That sounds wonderful." Christine sighed. "I'm glad he no longer needs that mask, he always looked so uncomfortable in it, and without it." Marguerite chuckled at that.

"May I ask you just one question?" Marguerite asked. Christine nodded. "When did you first fall in love with him?"

"Since the day he became my Angel of Music."

xoxo

"My Lord, a few people have said that they have seen a young curly brunette girl, entering the Giry's house, several hours ago." Charles said to Raoul later that evening, who sat in a cleaned up office. He was a bit nervous to be around his boss ever since what happened earlier that day…

"I should have known she'd go there." Raoul muttered angrily to himself.

Gone were the days of patience and understanding. The monster was dead, and in its place, came a new one. A new day had dawned, and Raoul was done fighting with the beast that had already passed away… but still, managed to haunt his life.

Christine is mine… and always has been. There's no where to go anymore Little Lotte…

"My Lord?"

Raoul looked up, anger filling his golden eyes. "Go saddle up a horse for me." he ordered.

"But my Lord-"

"I don't pay you to argue Charles! Go saddle up a God damn horse for me!" Raoul yelled. Charles was out of there, quicker than lightning.

Raoul leaned against the mantle of the fire place and stared into its burning embers, his fingers laced together in thought. He was past the point of sanity. He didn't care anymore. He was taking Christine back, no matter what. He had waited for her to long.

Charles came back after a good twenty minutes. "It's ready, my Lord"

Raoul shoved past Charles.