A/N: Happy New Year everyone! I hope this year will be filled with plenty of writings and good cheer :)

Thanks for reviewing everyone, and please continue to do so.

-EFH

xoxo

Chapter 26. Unexpected Guest and Secrets.

"Marc… what, what are you doing here?" Coreena whispered, horrified.

She stood frozen in the doorway, staring at the man she had once thought she was in love with. It seemed like an eternity ago, she had seen him. He looked much older now, with a few visible strands of grey hair and lines marked around his much older face.

"You asked me to come." He said softly, his eyes furrowing in confusion, as he took in the beautiful Coreena.

Even after all these years… time had been kind to her. She still had her long gleaming hair, hanging around her soft face. Her brow eyes looked upon the world like that of a lost puppy. And her figure was still rather desirable; small and petite, with obvious curves.

He still recalled the day Raoul had come to him… along with Gabriel. He had always known that the Portuguese man showed more than just a friendship interest in Coreena…

"You sent it?" Coreena asked, turning to Janine.

"I never sent it." Janine said quickly, looking from her daughter to Marc in horror.

"Well if you didn't… then who did?" Coreena asked angrily.

Janine looked about the vast entrance hall. She recalled Coreena writing the note and leaving it on the table. She had told her daughter that it was not a good idea to invite him… not with everything going on. She was a young woman who had just left her husband with her two children… and she wanted to find her ex?

"Here, come in." Janine smiled falsely, waving him inwards. She knew that she couldn't be rude just because of Coreena's mood swings and panicking. It still didn't change the fact that she did not agree with Coreena seeing Marc; she was married, and couldn't do that to Gabriel just because of a few mistakes he had made. Everyone makes mistakes… that was natural human behaviour. But to forgive, was one thing that was ultimate.

Janine led her daughter and Marc to the guest room, and setting them down she asked, "Would you like anything to drink?"

He nodded his head. "Just a glass of water would be fine Janine."

Janine nodded and got up to leave. She saw her daughter give her a look, but she looked back at her daughter beseechingly.

"Why are you here?" Coreena asked as soon as her mother had disappeared outside the doors. Yes it was awkward, but she demanded answers.

"Because you invited me," He responded oddly. "It surprised me a lot, yes…"

"Why? Because you thought that after you left without telling me all those years ago, I wouldn't want to see you?" she snapped, feeling stressed. She placed her hands on her face and felt a sudden headache coming on.

He felt speechless for a second. "It took you this many years to finally ask?" he commented softly.

She looked at him sharply. "You act like you did nothing wrong…" she spit.

He was quiet. "If it means anything… I did love you."

"Obviously not or you wouldn't have just left like that! "Was I so horrible, you had to leave?"

He shook his head. "Of course not Coreena…"

"Then why did you do that? How could you not even say goodbye? It hurt so much you know… I thought you cared." She cried.

"Because I was ashamed," He whispered. Coreena looked at him suspiciously. "I didn't just leave... I was paid to…" he admitted.

Coreena looked at him in horror. "You… you took money over me?" she looked downwards. "You sick, horrible man!"

Janine listened from outside the door, covering her mouth in attempts to contain her gasp. Paid? Oh, her poor daughter!

But who could have paid Marc to leave? It couldn't have been Gabriel… for they had just discovered he wasn't exactly the wealthy man from Portugal…

She froze. Could it have been Raoul?

xoxo

The following morning came quickly, leaving Christine staring out the window in deep thought. How was she going to tell them?

She listened for sounds of life above, and didn't hear it till the sun was just beginning to rise up on the horizon. She assumed it was Marguerite…

… And she assumed correct. The older woman came down the staircase, looking tired and exhausted. She smiled at Christine anyways though.

"How are you doing Christine?" she asked softly, coming and sitting down next to the young woman. She pinched her cheek slightly, adding colour and gave a sad smile. "Did you rest well?"

"I rested just fine Marguerite." Christine lied, squeezing Marguerite's hands. She had been up all night tossing and turning, wondering just where her future lay. How exactly did she explain her case to everyone? It wasn't as if it would do her any better… after all, it wasn't like they could do anything, much to her dismay.

Marguerite swept a few stray curls from Christine's pale face. "I'm worried about you Christine. I know you've always been a strong girl who always managed to stand back up when the world had pushed you down… but I fear that may not always be the case."

Christine stared at the dark floor. The room was still dark, but there were signs of the sun as its glow began to hit the windows of the living room.

Her resolve finally snapped.

She didn't care if it didn't do her any better. She just wanted someone to talk to. Someone to comfort her. For she wasn't so sure about anything anymore.

"I don't want to marry him Marguerite." Christine cried. She clamped her hands to her face in agony, not wanting to look at Marguerite's face. She recalled the older woman not being too fond of Raoul even back in the Opera.

Marguerite embraced Christine tightly and kissed the top of her head. "I know sweetie, I know." She said nothing, waiting for Christine to continue.

"Everything is going horribly wrong! I… I should be with Erik right now! But, that horrible monster stole that from me."

"Oh honey…" she sighed. "He's in a better place."

Christine cried harder. "No he's not! He should be here… with me! With his child!" and she finally said it.

Marguerite's mouth opened. Had she heard correctly? Child? Was… was Christine with child? With Erik's child?

"Six weeks along I think." Christine admitted, finally looking up and into Marguerite's thoughtful, yet shocked, eyes.

"Oh Christine…" she finally said. "And you're certain?"

Christine nodded.

"Does… does he know?" Marguerite asked, feeling suddenly quite sick. Christine knew whom she was referring to though.

"No," she whispered. "I don't know how to – I can't."

Marguerite felt perhaps even more confused than she had before Christine started talking. Why was she marrying Raoul then?

"Why Christine?" she asked. "Why are you marrying that despicable man? Are you afraid you won't be able to support your child? I don't want you to give away your life because of your baby Christine. You deserve better."

"No Marguerite…"

"You'll always have a home here, you know that. I will support you through anything."

"I wish it were as simple as that… I really do." Christine replied, wondering if she could truly say why it was that she was being forced to marry this man.

Oh boy did she wish her father was here right now. He would know what to do. He would know what to say. He always had the right answers.

"Please tell me Christine." Marguerite said quietly, looking up the staircase, wondering if Meg would be joining them soon.

She was beginning to wonder about Meg. Meg had been awfully quiet and distant as of late, not pertaining to her normal bubbly and charismatic character. She also seemed to always be leaving to go and buy bread… and from the overflowing bread box, she knew they were not lacking.

"How do I speak of something so awful Marguerite?" Christine asked. "I don't want to marry that horrible man… but I have no other choice."

They both looked upwards when they heard the distinct sounds of footsteps above; Meg.

Christine looked back at Marguerite again, and wiped away her tears. "If I don't, I'll be ruining two other people's lives… what would you do?"

Marguerite thought about it for a second. If she were in Christine's shoes, she knew that she would probably sacrifice herself and marry the man for not only the sake of the baby's, but of the two other people. But who were the two other people?

"That's a tough decision…" she replied honestly. "I suppose I would marry him…"

Christine smiled sadly. "That was the answer I was waiting for… and dreading." She retorted gloomily.

"But Christine… who are the two people?"

They looked up when Meg came down the stairs, all dressed, but looking tired, as black circles hung warily around her eyes.

"You and Meg." Christine admitted.

"What do you mean our lives would be ruined?" Marguerite asked quickly, looking alarmingly at her daughter, then Christine.

"Look Marguerite, I wish I could say… but I have to leave." Christine said hurriedly, standing up. She saw Jonathon outside the window. "Please do not ask, just know that it's horrible and I do this for you two." She placed a kiss on both of their cheeks.

"Please Christine, explain…" Marguerite begged, following Christine to the door.

"Please tell Meg everything… and thank you once again for letting me stay. It means a lot more to me than you'll ever know." Christine smiled.

"Christine –" Meg started, seeing her mother's shocked expression.

"Good bye Meg." She smiled, opening the door to Jonathon, causing her smile to fade away.

He nodded at the two other women, who greeted him warily.

xoxo

Derik sat up on the bench at the first feel of rain drops. He looked up at the grey and luminous skies. Black clouds hung overhead, threatening to thrust upon the world, their drops of discontent.

"Where are we Derik?" Ana asked, coughing.

She sat up and looked around. From the looks of it, they were in a park. Trees were scattered about, nearby a pond where a few ducks swam, catching their meal for the day. Only a few people were there, but they were quickly dispersing as they took notice of the raindrops that were growing stronger along with the wind. She watched as they hit the water, creating tiny little circles.

To be quite frank, Derik had not the faintest idea where they were. He had stopped to rest only because he knew Ana was a lot younger than him, and needed a break. She also needs to eat. His thoughts nagged. He was suddenly reminded of the simple fact that he had no money and no means of receiving such. How was he to feed her or let alone even take care of her? You promised you would take care of her.

"Don't worry Ana, we're just resting. We should be in town soon." He lied, not wanting to worry her.

She smiled, completely oblivious to his lies. "That is good. I'm starting to get hungry Derik."

He forced a smile, holding down the look of worry that wanted to etch itself unto his face. "We will eat soon." He hugged her.

Deep down though, he wondered if what they were doing was correct… yes, he had wanted to get himself and his sister away from their mother… but at the risk of his sister's life? Could he bear to handle such a horrid thought?

Ana coughed, bringing back his mind from its dark recesses.

His brow furrowed in worry. He had noticed she had been coughing lately. He passed it as a simple common cold… but he was more afraid that it may develop into something more… her being so young and having a more undeveloped immune system… and being out in this weather at this time of year, could not be doing her any better.

If worse comes to worse, I will take her to a doctor. He thought, looking at her, watching her hug Mr. Thomason. I will beg and plead if I have to, but I will not let anything happen to her.

"Come Ana, we should probably keep going and search for cover, before the weather become much worse." He beckoned with his hand.

Ana hopped to her feet, following her older brother, whom was leading them to walk down a dirt road. She looked across a corn field to a wind mill that stood against the grey skies.

"Look Derik!" she called from her few paces behind.

He turned and looked. "Yes Ana, it's a wind mill. It's used to power engine…"

"No Derik," she shook her head irritable. "There's a barn not to far off… should we go there for cover?"

He stared at her for a second. "Ana, you're brilliant!" he smiled, wondering why he hadn't thought of that before. He knew it would be quite some time before they reached town… and in this weather, he would much rather be indoors, sleeping with the pigs. Not to mention, should anyone come looking for them, they wouldn't think to stop and look there… especially if they were to go into the hay loft and stay there and rest till the weather resolved its matter.

Ana smiled, feeling intelligent. Truth be told, that wasn't quite why she had suggested that, or pointed it out… she just really wanted to see the horses and the other animals she thought that were bound to be in there.

"Come, let's go." He spoke eagerly, just wanting to get out of the rain as it started to pour from the skies in thick sheets, each raindrop stinging his bear cold skin.

The two of them made a break for it, as they pushed their way through the resting crops of corn, towards the weather boarded barn. He placed his arm around her, pushing her onwards, till they reached it.

"You have to be quiet." He whispered, pulling at the handles on the barn doors, till they opened. At first he peered in, seeing a few wide eyes from the animals.

"Do you think the owners will mind?" she whispered back, stepping fully in when he pressed his hand on the small of her back in a nudging way.

He looked out as he closed the doors, seeing a small house only a field away with a few lights flickering in their windows. "I do not think so." He replied back softly. "No one is crazy enough to come out in this weather." At least he hoped so. "So I don't think they'll ever need to know."

Ana smiled as she saw a horse and filly standing in one stall, the filly suckling on the mother for milk. "Look Derik!" she exclaimed, pointing into the stall.

"Shh!" he said immediately, looking about. He moved towards her and glanced inwards. "Yes, it's very cute Ana."

"Can we look at all the other animals too?" she asked, turning and looking at him.

"Not right now." He grabbed a hold of her free hand and led her to a latter. "We need to rest for now." He really meant hide.

"But didn't we already rest…?" she asked, starting to cough.

Derik knelt down on his knee till he was at her height. "We have… but this time it is very important. We also need to hide so we are not discovered. Do you understand?" he asked gently.

Ana nodded slowly, thinking she pretty much got the gist of it.

"Good," he smiled, standing back up to his full height. "Now let's get climbing." He helped hoist her onto the latter, and climbed up behind her, making sure she didn't fall.

They reached the top, and she smiled, looking about at all the bales of hay. "Wow!" she exclaimed quietly this time. She threw herself on a bale of hay. "We get to sleep here?"

He nodded, smiling at her eagerness. He wished he could be young like her once again, when it was so easy to be happy and carefree, even in times of misery and discontent; when happiness was much easier to obtain.

He laid down on some of the hay in a corner. "Ana," he called to her. She came and laid down next to him, to which he put his arm around her, in attempts to keep her warm. "Just rest little one…"

She nodded against him.

He made sure he was still awake until he felt her breathing even out and her tiny body, curl a bit, signaling that she had dozed off.

Doubt still clouded his mind, along with worries that ate away at him. What if he couldn't take care of her properly till they found Gabriel? What if she became deathly ill or starved to death?

"Thisis the winter of our discontent." He murmured.

xoxo

"What did you tell them?" Raoul demanded.

Christine looked over at him, glaring. "Nothing." She snapped, walking past him and striding in her deep steps, up the staircase.

"Jonathon said you were alone with them. If you said anything, I will find out." He threatened, stepping onto the first step after her.

She looked back at him, shaking her head. "You think you know everything… but you don't, you really don't." and she turned and fled up the staircase.

He watched her, about to follow after, when Paul came marching into the main hall with an elderly man following behind him.

"I found this in one of your closets." He pushed Henry forwards.