Raoul agreed to meet me at one of the resting benches in the park in the late morning. I only had to wait a moment before he arrived, and we both sat to talk, kept away from the crowds I was beginning to grow so used to.

"Where is Gustave this morning?" he asked somewhat pleasantly as I straightened out my skirts.

"I left him sleeping...he's been doing so well since we arrived here, you know. I think this place tires him enough. But it's nice to know he's had a full night's worth of rest."

Raoul was silent as he watched a pigeon who bravely wandered closer to us than the rest of its peers to take a crumb. "I have not come here for good news, Christine, have I?" he didn't seem as though he expected me to respond, and smiled as he sighed. "You're distant with me now, but you seem...more content than I'm used to seeing you."

"I hadn't realised how unhappy I'd been this past decade, Raoul." I took his hand in my own and squeezed it comfortingly. "I should not have allowed you to pledge yourself to me when I wasn't faithful in mind from the very beginning. That was a horrible thing to do to you. And I'm sorry you had to suffer alongside me."

"Christine," he took a long breath and closed his eyes, bringing my hand up to press my fingers against his forehead. "I tried so hard not to let myself believe the truth, but that was my mistake. I knew you weren't mine right from the start, but I was too sure of myself to let anyone else win you...I thought I was the best thing for you."

"Oh, Raoul, you were the best thing for me back then. Who knows what my life would have been if things had gone differently? But now...Paris is behind me. Raoul, I cannot go back with you and pretend my life there is a happy one."

He nodded, his face breaking my heart. He couldn't look at me, and we waited for a long time to see what would happen next. I did not know what else to say, and I couldn't think of a single thing Raoul would have to say. But he spoke first, and I was grateful.

"I...I am going to stay to watch your performance. Just to be sure... I can have legal things sorted back in France, so I will be on my way as soon as you're finished."

"I'm so sorry, Raoul." I sobbed, my tears finally escaping and trailing down my cheeks. "I feel terrible...your family was right about me all those years ago. It shouldn't have been me...imagine what will be said about your name after all of this -"

"Christine," he took my face in his hands and made me look at him. His eyes were swimming with unshed tears as well, and his voice was choked, but he acted strong for the both of us. He seemed to be the dashing young man who had stolen my heart when I was just a teenager, and that thought made me upset even more. "I have made more of a mess with the de Changy name in the last few years than you will ever be able to manage. I want you to remember that, all right?"

I sighed and covered his hand with my own. "I don't know what to say, Raoul. I'm going to miss you terribly, I know that. But I'll always feel terrible for leading you in the wrong direction."

"You do not have to say anything, Christine." He promised gently. "Let us just sit and enjoy this, all right? We can pretend nothing is wrong."

It was surprisingly easy, pretending. Our hands stayed joined in between us, nothing more than a comfort for the both of us, and I watched all that was in front of me. My tears stopped after a little while and a fear of what was to come settled in my stomach, but I knew I'd made the right decision. Raoul was completely silent, though I heard him sigh heavily a few times. I did not disturb him, and a couple of hours had passed before either of us stirred.

"I should be heading back to check on Gustave." I murmured as I stood and dusted my hands automatically on my dress.

Raoul also stood and put his hands to his chest formally. "Please, give him my best wishes..." he was thoughtful for a second. "Christine, let me see him before I leave. If only one more time."

"Of course, Raoul. You've been a greater part of his life than you probably know. You have so many influences all around you, but Gustave only ever had a few. Though he's stubborn, it's true he looked up to you a great deal."

Raoul's lips twisted in what was either a glad or grim way, and then he walked me back to where I was staying.

"If I do not see you before, I will be at your performance, Christine," he lifted my hand to his face and kissed it gently, closing his eyes for a stretched moment, then straightened up and gave me a small nod. "You're always in my thoughts."

And then he was gone. I sighed and watched after him, even when he had disappeared into the crowd, then let myself in my newest home, my eyes falling immediately on Gustave and Erik, who were speaking quietly over what looked like cups of tea.

Erik's dark eyes were already watching me when I entered, as silent as ever, but Gustave turned excitedly at the sound of the door closing behind me and smiled brightly. "Mother! We learned two new pieces today."

"Such quick learning," I forced a smile, keeping my eyes from straying to a pair identical to my son's, still watching me closely. "I can only imagine what you two will have accomplished in time."

Gustave's mouth opened, ready to speak, but he paused. "Where did you go off to, mother?"

"I had to speak to your - Raoul, my darling. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you when you woke up. I thought you would be up a lot earlier than you were. But things are sorted now."

His eyes were wary. "Are we staying for the performance?"

"Yes, Gustave, we are."

He nodded once, and then sensed he was to leave, standing gracefully from his seat and leaving the room without having been asked.

I took his seat quietly and looked down at his half-drained tea cup, waiting for Erik to speak.

"You have been crying, Christine. For not to distressing a reason, I hope."

I forced myself to look up at him, finally, and forgot how to look away again. "As I said, I spoke to Raoul."

"And he tried to turn you away from me again? He threatened to return you to Paris whether you agreed or not? He told you things about me you would rather now know - things you never dreamed of, because what could be worse than what you know now?"

"Actually, Erik," I spoke sternly, cutting off the last of his words. "Raoul agreed to everything I had to say without question. He thinks leaving for Paris is what's best, and knows I will be staying here."

Erik looked...surprised. It was an expression I rarely saw on his face, and I doubted many others had been able to provoke such an image. "Christine..."

"I am staying in America, Erik. It is obviously what's best for Gustave and...and I do not think I would be able to return to France and keep up my constant façade while knowing..." I spoke through my eyes for a moment. "Raoul has changed since I left him, I can see that. And while, only weeks ago, I would have been delighted by that fact, there's nothing left now for me to be hopeful with our relationship. We were simply not meant to be together."

"The Vicomte is leaving." Erik repeated. I nodded once. "And you, Christine, are staying...in Phantasma?"

"If you'll have me."

"Oh, Christine," his hands seized mine before I could realise he'd moved, and what almost sounded like a delighted chuckle left his lips. "I must do something for you...let you know what this means to me...show you how good things will be for you now."

"No, Erik, you've already done more for me than I deserve." I offered him a small smile and squeezed what I held of his cold hand tightly. "Just continue to be with Gustave...he is more full of life now than I can ever remember. You're good for him, and I don't expect that to be taken away from him now."

"Of course not, Christine, I - I love him more than I thought I would be able to manage."

I laughed happily, surprising myself and bowed my head. "Thank you for that, if nothing else, Erik. That's all I ask of you now; make him happy. If he is happy, I am happy."

"And if you are both happy, I am happier than I have ever deserved."

"You deserve more than you let yourself believe, Erik." I reminded him.

"And...this house? Are you happy here? Perhaps, you would prefer something different...bigger. Whatever you want, Christine. Say the word and it is done."

"This home is wonderful, Erik. But if you're needing it back, just tell me. There's bound to be somewhere else out there for us to stay. This is your home, after all."

"Your home, Christine. All of it is yours."

It was obviously going to be more difficult than usual to speak to him today.