Nadir

When I went back into my front room nearly an hour later, Erik and Christine were both gone. A note sat on the table that Erik had once thrown at me.

Thank you Nadir, for everything. There is nothing more to be said. Erik is thankful too, although he specifically told me to write that he was glad to be rid of you. I think that's his way of saying thanks. He's going to be staying with me at my flat. You're free to visit us whenever.

Christine

I put the note down. A strange sense of peace was overcoming my very essence, a sort of contentness I had not felt since Rookheeya had died. Indeed, something about Christine had always vaguely reminded me of my late wife. How I missed her. Rookheeya had never managed the happy ending that she had deserved with me. Somehow, achieving this for Christine and Erik had released an odd source of stress that I had never fully even understood.

Raoul de Chagny stood at my doorstep, looking half crazed.

"He's here! He came into my room! He's looking for Christine!"

"He found her," I announced pleasantly. "You may put your worries to rest."

His breathing slowed and he stared at me curiously. "She's with him? Here?"

"No, I assume they are back at her flat now."

His eyes narrowed. "Why is he at her place?"

I sighed. "Christine is lonely. I am sure she would appreciate the company of her husband."

Raoul took a step back from me in disgust. "You still truly believe that?"

"With all that has happened?" I asked. "There is not much I would find unbelievable at this point."

"You expect me to put my worries to rest after telling me this? This causes me more worries than ever before!"

"This was always out of your hands," I said very seriously. "This was a situation we could not rebel against. You ought to have peace on her being settled with Erik. He will take good care of her. It is what she wants."

Raoul threw up his hands. "So that's it then? It's all over? After everything he's done to her, all you can say is, he will take good care of her?"

"Leave them alone, boy," I said quietly. "Put it to rest."

"How am I supposed to rest knowing that the woman who was supposed to be my wife..." He trailed off, seemingly losing his voice. I did feel sorry for him. I considered inviting him inside, but I was feeling much too good to allow any damper on my spirits.

Raoul stood silent. Finally, he shook his head and backed away.

"This has been nothing but insanity. I should be glad to see the end of it."

Admittedly, I should have kept talking to him. Perhaps I really should have invited him inside.

But I shut the door on him and went to sleep.

Christine

I showed Erik around. "This is where I keep all my music!" I declared happily, knowing he would be proud that I had them so nice and neat. I had shown him every last detail, but mostly he just stared at me. There was a misty and unbelievable expression in them.

"You're not even looking," I said, pretending to pout, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Never had I felt so elated, so passionate about life! All of my fears and anxiety had melted away, and it seemed hard to believe that I had ever experienced sadness at any point in my life.

"I find you much more interesting," he replied softly.

His voice captivated me, and I suddenly felt like a little girl. I would have once shrunk away from him and locked up all my emotions inside. But now I approached him tenderly, and put my arms around his neck.

"This is all so hysterical," I murmured into his shoulder. "I feel like I'm in a dream."

"I cannot believe this is happening," he whispered. "That's how I feel."

We had talked for ages at Nadir's, but there was so much to be said. I clung to him a little tighter and said, "I really thought you were dead! I never would have left if I knew you were—"

"I know," he interrupted. "Please, Christine - there is no need to justify your actions to me."

"Your actions were silly," I mumbled into the fabric of his shirt. "I understand why you did it - I still think it was silly."

"Very silly," he agreed, and I could feel his slight smile at my word choice.

"I shall be angry with you tomorrow," I announced suddenly, pulling away. "But I have no room for anger inside of me right now."

"Go to sleep," he crooned perfectly, his angelic voice creating a hazy vision in my mind. "It is so late. We will have hours in which to talk tomorrow. This has been undoubtedly a long day for you."

"Nonsense," I protested. I could not waste a single second of sleep with him here. "I don't want to leave you." I protested, reaching up and seizing his neck. He bent down and shifted, so I was curled comfortably on his lap.

"You're so soft," he whispered, and I felt his tense muscles and realized he was still not used to touching me.. It seemed strange that the last time we had been together had been such a different time. I have been so petrified... and he had been so patient...

"I will be right here, while you sleep," he promised faithfully. But something about him seemed a little off to me. For two months, I had been imagining him as if we had continued where we had left off, as true husband and wife, and what that would have entailed for us. Now, his tone was more paternal than anything, and I did not want to be curled upon his lap like a child.

I sat up and pulled away from him, and he recoiled instantly, his fingers tightening into fists that he clung into himself. "I have a bedroom," I stated. "I want to sleep in there. Come with me."

Every bit of his hesitation was obvious. "To... sleep next to you?" he asked blankly.

"Yes," I said, undeterred. "We have before, have we not?"

"Yes, but..." His voice was swift, but unsure. "That was vastly different circumstances, my dear."

"But you are still my husband, and I would like you to sleep next to me," I pressed.

He stared at me for a long time, and I was proud that my voice did not display my embarrassment I did not know how to handle these things - I did not know what to do! As a witness before God, Nadir had been there to see us married, and at the time, I had been nothing but certain that it was official. Now, however, my heart fluttered uneasily. To share a bed with another, unwed, was a sin... Yes somehow, I could not imagine how something that would bring me such peace could be a sin.

Erik looked at me, as if reading what I was really thinking. I did not want to feel insignificant under his gaze anymore. I wanted to feel equal.

"Of course," he said.

I held out my arms to him, and he followed me in.

.

The next afternoon, I went into town. Erik was in shock that I had no food in the home at all. I did not want to leave him, but he finally settled on waiting for me while I relented and made my way as quickly as I could to pick up necessary items. I felt better, thinking of Erik at home—our home—where he would be waiting for me. This was not some dream; he was really here, alive with me, and we were together. My mistakes had not cost me love as I had thought.

It was while I was purchasing my fruit that I saw him: the dirty man from the place where I had found Erik; the man who told me he was in Russia. Erik had explained that he had simply hired him to do things so Erik could keep busy and not dwell on me, which caused him pain. I did not think on him much, and I turned away, forgetting about him. He was no use to me now.

But he saw me.

He approached me quickly and grabbed my arm. I gave a little gasp in shock, and nearly dropped my apples.

"He's gone. He's gone! He owed me over a thousand francs and then he just left!" he hissed at me. "He left because of you, I know it! Well guess what, little pretty! I know who he is! I know he's wanted, and I won't even begin to explain how much I'd get from the police if I informed them of his whereabouts! Wanted for murder, is he not? The crashing of the chandelier? And they all think he's dead!"

I fumbled to get away from him. "Don't touch me!"

The landlord turned and went to the nearest group of people, all very nicely dressed. "Ever heard of the Opera Ghost? She has!"

I laughed aloud at that feeble attempt, but I still grew uncomfortable with this situation. What was going on? Everything seemed so confusing in a matter of seconds. Why could I not handle these situations?

"You are speaking nonsense," I said loudly, feigning a calm I did not feel. "No one is listening to you!"

"I was paid for silence," he said angrily. "And now I am not being paid - so what is there to keep my silence?"

I laughed again, but there was no humor in it.

I suddenly felt a hand grip the back of my arm, and I spun on the spot, horrific visions filling my head, but behind me, stood no one other than Raoul de Chagny.

Dear, precious Raoul! How he must hate me!

"Christine?" he said, and he raked his eyes over me. "I did not dream of running into you here. Are you well?"

I tried to gasp hello, but before I could, Raoul looked up and spotted Gregoire. "You?" he said, with a small frown. "How odd to see you again, Gregoire. I would assume you have found other work, but... well, your clothes do not suggest that."

Gregoire looked furious. "You," he spat. "I'll have you know I have never been more successful than I am now."

"I can see that, obviously," Raoul said with a frown. "How do you know Christine?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but Gregoire spoke first. "She doesn't know me. But we have a mutual friend. A mutual friend who could have helped me work my way to success, if he hadn't abandoned me after seeing the likes of her!"

I could see Raoul trying to put it together. "He wants Erik," I said miserably.

"Erik was the key to your success?" Raoul asked.

"He owes me a lot of money!"

Raoul looked from my face, to Gregoire. "And your idea is blackmail? That has to be the dumbest thing I ever heard."

"Damned fool!" Gregoire cried. "I swear, he owes me money! The Phantom still lives!" he bellowed. "We can track him down! We can—"

"Oh, be quiet," Raoul said heavily. "I will double whatever he owes you if you hush."

Gregoire silenced himself completely. "Is that a promise?" he asked swiftly, his tone completely changed. "Or a re-hire?"

"A promise," Raoul said, looking disgusted. "But also one to be settled another time. If you would like to come by some time this week, we can discuss it in further detail."

Gregoire gave him one more scrutinizing look. "Sure," he said in a temperamental voice, and he looked me up and down one more time before he shrugged and marched away.

I was quite sure I had held my breath the entire time.

Raoul turned to me as soon as he walked away. "Never liked him. Used to work for us, until he was dismissed for being drunk all the time." He looked down at me. "He always called me names. But start over. How did you come across him again?"

"It's a very long story," I said queasily. "But I don't know how I can thank you for getting rid of him."

"It was nothing," he said breezily. There was an awkward pause as we both stood there, in the middle of the plaza, surrounded by people. I clutched my basket closer to me and tried to gain the courage to look at him in his eyes.

"Raoul-"

"Don't. I've heard enough from Nadir. I just don't need to hear any more from you." He gave a great sigh. "I thought we were done with all of this quite a while ago, but I was wrong. I only hope this time, things have truly settled down for us."

"You have always been a great friend," I said pleadingly. "I wish I could explain this to you. I wish you could understand. But Raoul... know that I am sorry."

Raoul nodded, his expression blank. "I won't lie, I am very happy to be done with the whole situation. And it was exhausting to have you moping all of the time. So don't feel too sorry for me, Christine."

I smiled at him, and reached out to hug him. He allowed it, but he looked over my shoulder pointedly. I embraced him, putting all of my goodbyes in one last touch.

"Farewell, Christine," he said, pulling away. "Have a good life."

I could only stare at his retreating back, thanking God, and filled with a sudden longing for Erik.

.

He was lingering at the door when I came home, and he instantly pulled me into his arms, brushing the top of my head with his lips. "We will have to talk in the future about how long you are allowed to be gone."

Without hesitating, I think for the first time in my life, I learned up and I kissed him on the lips. I felt him stiffen a bit, but he did not pull away.

"Let's go sing," I said finally, releasing him and pulling off his mask. He blinked down a few times at me. "And then tell me a story tonight. And then we'll go to bed. You and I."

Erik looked a little bewildered. "Is everything alright, Christine?"

Feeling him near to me had given me the feeling that there was little that could not be right in this world right now. The creator of such turmoil of emotions simply stood in front of me, his body poised for confusion, his face studying me carefully. I could only smile at him - and after a few moments, he smiled back too.