A/N: Sorry guys for the lateness! I saved this chapter and it seemed like my computer didn't like me, and I couldn't find it! So, I had to start over again. That is my excuse.

Alright, so here is Chapter 11! Thanks a billion to my reviewers out there! You guys define awesome! Also, thanks to the people who put me on story alert!

Now that's out of the way, back to Petals!

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Declaimer: I don't own PotO. (This is turning out to be depressing I must say…I've run out of Kleenex's every time I do the disclaimer..)

Chapter 11: Blissful to Concern?

"If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"

-Chasing Cars, Snow Patrol

--Flashback--

I smiled contently as we both lay on the sand, toes tilted towards the blue sky. A gentle breeze whispered in my ears, and my curls blew softly around me. I looked over to see Raoul, his eyes fixed on the crashing waves beyond us. I smiled at him, and he turned and smiled back.

"Don't you love the sound of the ocean?" I returned my gaze back to the blue water that crashed into the shore, but I could still feel his gaze on me.

"It's beautiful."

"It is." I replied.

"You are." I looked back at him, a silly grin on my face, his face echoing mine.

"You got that out of my book didn't you!" I grabbed at my book laying in the sand between us and turned it over to the back.

"No, I was being completely original." He stated, but the grin was still on his handsome face. His eyes shimmered, and I felt like I could melt right there in his gaze.

"Really?" I chuckled, feeling a blush raise to my cheeks.

"You don't believe me?" His grin broadened and a flicker of amusement passed over his blue eyes. The eyes I found myself lost in. Suddenly suspicious of his actions I started to speak when all of a sudden he grabbed me and pulled me closer to his toned body. Shrieking he started to tickle me as I rolled on the sand, trying to get free of his grasp.

"You don't believe me..?" He taunted, a wide grin on his face as I squealed.

"Ra- Raoul!" I cried out, my laugh interrupting my words.

"Do you?" He started to move his hands faster, causing me to double over again.

"Ra-Raou- Raoul! I-I believe y-you!" I cried out, tears starting to form in my eyes.

"What did you say?" His grin reaching his twinkling eyes with amusement.

"I-I- believ-"

Just then a booming voice came across the beach, and Raoul immediately let go of me.

"Raoul!" Mr. Chagny's voice cut across the seagulls calls and I sat up with a start. Quickly brushing back the tears that had spilled down, I looked up to see Raoul's father briskly cut across the sand.

"Father?" Raoul asked, a serious expression now on his features. I catched a glismpe of him from the cornor of my eye. Gosh he was handsome.

"Raoul," He stopped in front us, hands clasped behind his back, he then turned to me. "Christine." I nodded back at him curtly, but his attention was more so on his son.

"Son, I'm afraid that you'll have to cut your visit with Miss Daae, and return to the house." He stated, his jaw slightly clenched. I looked up at Mr. Chagny bewildered, then stole a look at Raoul. It seemed he was taken off guard as well.

"What? Wait..why? Is something the matter?" Raoul asked, his voice concerned as he stood up to face his father. I followed suit, brushing off sand off of my yellow sun dress.

Mr. Chagny seemed to think about this question for a while before sighing slightly.

"Raoul, we are leaving. We're going to be leaving... for Spain."

"Spain?!" Raoul echoed in shock. I stared at Mr. Chagny trying to digest his words. Raoul, leaving?!

"Yes, we are leaving as soon as possible." He took a swift look at the roaring ocean then back to Raoul. "Something has…come up."

Raoul stood in complete shock, his head shaking slowly. I stood next to him, totally dumbfounded. Surely he couldn't mean..

"We will be coming back…won't we?" Raoul asked, his voice trembling some.

Mr. Chagny didn't answer as he stared at Raoul with his hard gaze, slowly he turned to me and I soon felt it's intensity.

"I'm sorry to leave you like this Christine. Please excuse us, and enjoy the rest of your holidays."

"Oh…well, thank you." I responded feebly, feeling myself give a sad smile. With that he turned back to Raoul.

"Raoul," He gestured him to follow as he began to walk back to their summer house manor. Standing awkwardly for a moment, I couldn't meet Raoul's gaze. I just couldn't face him-

"Christine." I jerked my head up at the sound my name on his lips.

"Yes..?" I answered back, not daring to look in his eyes, for fear I might burst out in tears.

"Christine," He picked up my chin with his tender hands and I was forced to look at his storming blue eyes. "Christine, I promise, I'll come back to you. I promise." His hand caressed my cheek as I felt a tear slide down my cheek. This couldn't be good bye..it just couldn't!

"…Promise?" I looked up at his eyes, hoping, wishing what he said was true. Searching those stormy eyes of blue I felt his gaze run over my face. Then, like a crashing wave hitting the shoreline, his lips collided with mine. I felt a sensation start to bubble through me, overriding the surprise as I wrapped my arms around his neck. Then, as soon as it had came, he left, leaving me in a blissful daze. My head was spinning with emotions I had never touched on before, and I felt my hands softly brush my lips absent-mindedly.

I had never been in love before.

--

Skipping back to the house, I felt like a bird that had finally been let out of it's cage. Blissfully, I sang as I twirled around on the drive way feeling like Cinderella. He kissed me! Raoul kissed me! Hugging my book to my chest I let out a content sigh as I pushed open the heavy oak door leading into our summer house.

Slipping off my sandals, I smiled into the mirror then trotted up the stairs, two at a time. Even Raoul's leaving wasn't going to upset me, he had kissed me! That meant that he would come back!

"Dad! Dad!" I called as I ran down the hallway towards his study, my feet rubbing on the red rug.

"Da-" I stopped short as I burst through, only to find Dad with a grave expression on his face. Jerking his head in my direction, his usually cheerful eyes were hard and distant. Instantly my blissful-love-sick-puppy attitude diminished to a concerned daughter.

"Dad..? Is everything alright?" I cautiously stepped into his study, feeling suddenly very frightened. His eyes pierced through me, and his response was quipped.

"Everything is fine, Christine." He tone was formal and not at all friendly. I felt a lump forming in my throat. Soon I put two and two together. The Chagny's were leaving…and Dad was upset.

"Is…is everything alright with the Chagny's?" I said slowly, hoping I wouldn't upset him by provoking the question.

"Christine. I told you, everything is fine." He gritted out, his tenor tone dangerously low. Scared, I moved to leave, I had never seen him like this. Never.

"Oh..sorry..I-I didn't me-mean..to-" I stuttered, backing up towards the door. I was starting to lose words as I stared into his distant eyes. I felt tears prick at my eyes. "I-I'm sorry.."

His eyes then seemed to snap back to reality and instantly his face softened, back to his usual self. I felt myself relax some as I wiped my eyes quickly.

"Christine…" He said softly as he walked over and enveloped me in a embrace which I returned gratefully. "I'm sorry…it's just…I've heard some..bad news." He whispered, calming me down some. Jerking my head up at the sound of something bad, I searched his eyes.

"Bad news..?" He sighed and he let go of me as I wiped my eyes again, stopping the flow. "What happened?"

"Oh…Christine.." He walked over to the large window overlooking the blue ocean, a frown on his face. "Its..just..business."

"With..the Chagny's?" I questioned. I caught his hands clenching at his sides as he continued to face the window.

"Yes. He..Mr. Chagny missed something…very important.." He spat out. Concerned at seeing Dad like this I walked over and touched his shoulder tenderly.

"Dad…are you sure your alright..? You..you seem…tense." And that was putting it lightly. Gustave sighed as he turned around to face me.

"I'm sorry Christine..if I'm acting…." He rubbed his face with his fingers then ran a hand through his black hair. "I'm just…scared you could say. I'm not good at not having a hand in these situations…" He tried to smile back, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Oh…" I echoed, for I didn't know what else to say. "Is..is that why Raoul left? Because…of.." I trailed off.

"Yes." Dad sighed walking towards the door. "Now..how about some dinner?" He asked, obviously tired of the subject…or worried.

"..Oh..sure." I smiled feebly back. The frown lines on his aging face showed and I knew he was troubled. Though I couldn't figure out why. Dad had always been great business partners with Raoul's Dad. When Dad moved more to the Music Industry, Mr. Chagny had agreed to be a close partner, for reasons of sharing the same business before. I was taken back for sure. What was wrong?!

Watching him leave the study I sighed. This wasn't looking good at all. Looking back out the window, I walked out towards the glass and touched it. Watching the waves again, I felt the same emotions from when Raoul kissed me bubble through me. Even though something wasn't right, I could still tell myself that one thing was true.

I was in love.

--

"…So you mean..?" Meg trailed off, in shock. Elizabeth barely nodded, swirling her second cup of hot chocolate in her mug.

"We believe that this started long ago. When Christine's father and Louis Chagny decided to join businesses."

"But…didn't Christine's father start another career? In music?" Meg asked.

"He did, after he heard that their older business was losing...Well to put it lightly, they both fled from their past you could say."

"Because of him..." Meg looked at Elizabeth, finally sorting it out in her mind. "The same man who you suspect for the kidnapping of Christine."

"We believe so…truthfully we don't know much. We started on this case when got a call one night." Elizabeth stood taking Meg's empty mug with her. "I think that's enough information to hold you out for now. Would you like some more hot chocolate..? Coffee?"

"…Coffee." Meg stated, her mind wrapping around what she had just been told. She still couldn't get over the fact that Elizabeth was so collected after all she knew. Wich didn't seem as much she knew, but still, Meg was becoming uneasy thinking about it. As Elizabeth started walking out towards the kitchen Meg stopped her.

"Elizabeth, then.. who's the.." Meg stopped, unsure of what word to use. ".. victim? I…I don't understand…" Meg's features went into a frown as she waited for her answer. Elizabeth sighed and placed the mugs on the oak cabinet and walked back to Meg. Sitting down, she looked straight into Meg's confused eyes.

"Frankly, I don't know Meg. It always confuses me truthfully. You can sometimes find logic in both their actions. Not to say I agree with his actions, kidnapping is of a serious matter. What they did to him was horrid. Yet the world is cruel, we can't help that. All I know is this has got to stop." Elizabeth sighed as she stood up again.

"And it needs to stop before it gets worse."

--

A/N: Well here you have it! Chapter 11. Hopefully it sheds some light on somethings :D So know we know that someone was mixed into something that Mr. Daae & Mr. Chagny did! Who maybe is looking for revenge? Well, I found this pretty long so I decided since it is March Break for me, that I'll be updating sooner :) R&R!
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