Hi, HAPPY NEW YEAR! ENJOY!

Christine practically screamed in excitement when she saw Meg rowing towards the pair.

"Meg! What on earth are you doing here?"

Meg grinned as she stopped the boat and hopped on to solid ground again. She and Christine quickly embraced before Meg pulled back. "Well, Mother said that I could come and see how you are since she is incredibly busy right now. I did not know why you would actually be in the caverns, but Mother said that it was about time that I knew what was going on, but that you were the one who should tell me, so, here I am. So, what is going on with you down in a secret almost palace in the caverns?"

Christine bit her lip before answering. "Well, Meg, I must apologize, I have not been completely honest with you for the past few years now. First off, I want you to meet my husband of five years, Erik."

Meg's eyes widened in fear once she saw Erik, with the infamous white mask upon his face. She looked at Christine. "You, you, him, he, what, YOU ARE MARRIED TO THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA?!" Erik flinched a little at the yelling, but Christine nodded.

"Yes, I am. But he is not like they make him out to be. All the rumors about him raping poor ballet rats and about burning down opera houses(a/n a little nod to the movie here) are not true."

"But, but he sends threatening letters to the managers, and he murdered that innocent man!"

"I did NOT murder anyone, Miss Meg, someone framed me." Meg cowered under Erik's glare, while Christine frowned at Erik, shaking her head. She turned Meg back to face her.

"He really did not murder anyone, and as for those letters, well, he likes to intimidate people for amusement."

Meg cocked her head. "He finds threatening people amusing? But alright, I guess it is too late now, you are married to him now, and for five years! Why did you not tell me?"

Christine wrung her hands. "Well, it is just that Erik promised me to secrecy and..."

"Erik?"

Christine nodded. "Yes, that is his real name, Erik Destler. Anyway, he made me keep the fact that I was married to him a secret for so long, with the one exception of your mother, that I never knew how to approach you about it. I am sorry Meg, but I hope that you will forgive me."

Meg thought for a moment and then nodded. "I guess you do have a point. If I was married to the Phan, I mean, Erik, I would keep my marriage a secret forever. But, I am happy for you, you know that. Every girl is thrilled when their best friend finds true love and happiness, I just wish I had known sooner. But now, tell me EVERYTHING. Now that the cat is out of the bag, I think that I am owed an explanation."

Christine smiled, relived, but then Erik gave a short cough and the girls turned to him. "I think that I should go and, um, check on any of my machines around here so make sure that they all work perfectly. I will be back soon." And with that, Erik quickly stepped in the boat and rowed off.

Christine watched him go and then grabbed Meg's hand and led her back to the parlor area to talk.

Christine explained everything to Meg, from the first rose from Erik, to the marriage ceremony, to the whole drama with Raoul, any good points from the past five years, and finally to her pregnancy.

Meg was completely ecstatic over the new baby and asked for every tidbit she could get on it, even learned about the small battle between Erik and Christine over if the baby was a girl or a boy.

"Well, I personally think that it should be a girl."

"Why?" Asked Christine.

"Because then she would have your slight temper and be able to drive everyone crazy on a day to day basis like you do." Meg replied frankly, laughing when Christine rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at Meg

"Oh, alright, I suppose we will all have to wait and see what happens. But what did your mother send you down here to tell me?"

Meg frowned but then brightened up. "Oh Christine, I have wonderful news. The other day I met a terrific man and after having lunch and talking over dinner with mother, we got married yesterday evening! Is that not great!"

Christine almost felt her jaw hit the floor. "You, you got married! Without telling me!"

Meg stared at the floor, fidgeting a little. "Well, yes, but Mother said that I should not tell you until everything about this murder was straightened out or you would not be able to notice my marriage or be happy. But then I told her that I just had to tell you today, so she gave in and told me where you were. But, you are happy about me being married, right Christine?"

Christine could not help it as a smile grew over her have. "Of course I am happy, more then happy, thrilled! But you have to let me meet him soon."

Meg smiled, relieved. "Oh, good, because you can actually meet him tonight after the show because he is coming to see it."

"I look forward to it. But can you tell me one thing? Who is he?"

Meg bit her lip a little, worried. "Well, I know that this may be awkward when you see him, but I am now Mrs, er, Countess Raoul DeChangy."

Oh no, RAOUL'S BACK!!!!! Man, you can never get rid of that guy. What new drama will this hold for Christine? Will Meg actually be happy married to him, or will he turn out to be a crazy alcoholic? What about Erik? He is the one who threatened to kill Raoul if he ever came back, how will he take it that his wife's best friend is now married to him? Will Madame Giry be able to live with being in the middle of this crazy, soap opera drama(kind of like Wuthering Heights)? Will Mr. Squeaky ever be allowed to try out for the lead part!? Okay, maybe Mr. Squeaky does not exist (or does he?)but I do hope that you guys like this chapter, so PLEASE REVIEW! Thank you, and I hope that you all have another year filled with more fan fiction stories! Until next chapter, Li Li