Meg woke with her shawl wrapped around her arms, she held it to her chest. Her eyes were heavy and she wanted nothing but to sleep all day. She wanted to tell them all she was indisposed and that was it. But lying all day would do her more harm and she knew it. Today marked just three shows to closing, it made her sad, but she wouldn't miss these three shows for anything. Meg felt, for lack of better term, like death herself. She, somehow, got through her day until she laid waiting for Christine to return to their dressing room.

She weeped silently for no reason in particular, her emotions were running high. Everything made her melancholy somehow, she did catch a break during her morning class. Meg thought of nothing but her lyrics for Cosi. The costume department had just finalized both hers and Christine's dresses. Meg was so excited but there was still a string of exhaustion running through her. Christine could sense it. Romeo et Juliette came and went before Meg could realize. When Meg was left alone in the dressing gown, she felt a sense of relief. She was alone, until she felt his undeniable presence behind her. She hadn't noticed him enter, she wouldn't have noticed anyone in her state.

"Hello." She whispered, her voice was always soft to him. She didn't look at him, not yet. Meg jumped at his hand on her shoulder, then melted back down in relief. She didn't expect him to touch her, it was shock indeed. Erik did say hello to her, then he walked her arm-in-arm to his home. She felt odd, time slowed as he held her arm, then when he left it speed back up again. After what felt like no time to her, she realized she sat at his dining table, sipping his wine. When she came to her senses she caught the end of a question.

"Alright?" Meg looked at him, she was clearly shocked.

"I'm sorry?" She felt odd, and she didn't know how to shake it.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes! Now I am. I didn't feel alright for awhile, I don't know why. I am better now." She came to, thankfully she didn't weaver again that night. He read to her once again, only this time she didn't ask him to take off his mask, this time she fell asleep. She woke, yet again, in her bed soundly.

Meg made her way through the next days soundly. The morning of the Romeo et Juliette's closing Meg left after class to pick up the cloak from that lovely seamstress. When she entered the shop the woman didn't recognize her until she looked at the order on the receipt. The woman, Madame Lully, started to fawn over her and her love.

"Wait right there." She said with a beaming, knowing smile. Meg waited while she ran her fingers over the smooth silk samples. Lully came out with a big white box. She opened the top to reveal the cloak settled beautifully inside. "Give me your hand love." She lifted her hand for her, Lully led her hand to the soft velvet and touch the braided cord accenting the collar.

"May I see it?" Lully lifted the cloak right out and held it above her head so the fabric would billow out. Meg gasped at the full piece. The green poking through matched the shawl draped over her arm perfectly. The weather was cooling quickly in Paris so she needed it, but a cloak was too much just yet. Lully came around the counter to let her touch it. She looked at it as lovingly as she did Erik. The woman knew just the look Meg gave.

"All is well, with your beau I mean." Meg looked solemn as she thought on the notion. She eventually spoke as she now held the cloak in her arms.

"Yes… very well Madame." She kept looking at it longingly. "Is it odd I want to wear it?"

"Why not? he's not here is he?" Meg put it around her and twirled in girly delight. This is what she loved. It was him, just a touch, and it delighted her so. Madame Lully packaged the gift especially, spectacularly well just for, in the Madames words for her "Dear Meg" Meg made it to her room before she could be asked about the large box. She hid it under her bed until the fateful day of his birth.

Now, on September 24, Cosi Fan Tutte was set to debut. Meg felt the buzz of opening night. Her and Christine would enter the stage as equals and leave just the same that night. This was just as much her opening as Christine's. Christine's name only goes first on the program because the letter D comes before G. Meg and Christine waited in the wings for their "Lovers" to finish singing.

"Are you ready?" Christine hung on Meg, while Meg stared out to the audience. From the stage left wing you could see The De Chagny box with both brothers and La Sorelli inside.

"Yes, look." Meg pointed to the box, Christine hadn't even thought about them yet. Christine smiles lovingly at her boy. Soon it came time for them to appear on stage. Settling into their spots they mouthed well wished to each other, and then a curtain scene rose to unveil them. They wore the same dress only, Christine was in a baby blue and Meg in a soft pink. Christines hair was wrangled into a sophisticated updo, while Meg's was down. Both wore pretty hats of the opposites color.

The show ended with all seven main characters singing of forgiveness and at the end of the piece they all bowed together. The chorus filled in around them and they took their bow. After them, Meg and Christine separated from the crowd, to show each other off and blow kisses to their actual lovers boxes. When the curtain did actually close, Christine tackled Meg to the ground as usual.

"Will you dine with us? La Sorelli and Philippe will be there."

"No. You couples have fun."

"Couples? Is that what it's about?" Meg rolled her eyes.

"No it is not. I am tired, I've done a lot today, and to be ready for another full day tomorrow, I must sleep." Christine knew to stop it there. Eventually Meg was finally left alone. He came to her after a few minutes of her solitude.

"Congratulations, you have truly outshone yourself, my dear." He grabbed her hand and kissed it in the manner one of the De Chagny brothers would, then handed her a bouquet of roses outweighing the one Raoul had given her, and the one Raoul had given Christine. She smelled the pink roses and baby's breath as he sat on the fainting couch. A marigold ribbon that matched the dressing gown she wore tied the flowers together. She smiled at the ribbon with extra long tassels.

"I kept it long. I know you like to wear them in your hair." Meg blushed and looked up from the bouquet and said a soft thank you. Once again, she was fit for a renaissance painting of a sylph. Her hair was fully down and bushy from it being toiled with all day. Various candles and low gas lamps cast a lovely yellow halo around her. She held the flowers like a lover, she set them crooked on her arm.

"They are so lovely. As always" She added the last bit as she looked him in the eye. He felt the shock of her striking eyes, then his eyes slid to her mouth by accident. Sadly she didn't notice as he watched her add. "My dear." Even softer than her other light words. Saying "Dear" started as a joke, now they continued to use it under the guise of a running joke. Both wouldn't admit it, but they enjoyed it so. To Meg it fit so nicely on her tongue, it didn't shock her to say it. When he said it, she melted at the idea of actual closeness with him.

"I'm afraid I must leave you now. I must sleep." They both stood.

"Of course." She put her bag on her shoulder and kept the flowers on her arm, the key to the dressing room and her room in the same hand. Then she stuck out her free hand for him to kiss.

"Thank you for your congratulations, good night dear." She then waltzed out the door and locked it, leaving him without another word or reply. She did that to patrons, always left them wanting more, like it was hard to get him to want more.

"Goodnight… Dear."