PhantomSerenity: It's about time I figured!

Trmo77: Everything will wrap up nicely. Her boyfriend was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

PhantomFan01: It took her long enough to decide!

Shadow of the red rose: This was going to be the last chapter, but I think, two more now.

Chapter thirty-six

Meg's heart pounded as her husband pushed the door open to their home. The moment she'd accepted, they made plans to marry after their picnic. They wanted a simple private one, considering all that had happened. Meg hadn't thought it possible for her love for Raoul to grow, but when they were announced husband and wife, she was sure her heart would burst.

Raoul lifted her up and over the threshold. "Sorry I can't carry you."

Meg shook her head, "don't be."

Raoul set her down and closed the door. Meg smiled as he locked the door. He looked down at her pressed against it. Raoul leaned forward and kissed her cheek. She arched towards him as he inched closer to her. She tilted her head forward and loosened his tie. Raoul yanked her against him and kissed her. Meg moaned as his hand moved to the buttons on her collar.

"Meg?" she groaned and dug her finger's slightly into Raoul's shoulder as her mother came into the room. Raoul turned slightly and she saw her mother's disapproving eyes. "So," she said crossing her arms. "You're continuing this life style with him? At least with the prince you'd get paid better!"

"Raoul paid me," Meg said gripping Raoul's hand and moving towards her. "And it's far more valuable than anything the prince could give me."

Raoul extended her hand and ran a thumb over her wedding ring. "We're married Madame."

Her mother's face stiffened. She turned to Meg, "you knew how I felt about him seeing you! Now you marry him? without my permission?"

"mother, I love him. you told me to choose!"

"I didn't say to marry him! Meg, you'll wake up and find he's turned to some rich heiress! You're a ballerina."

"who's captured my heart." Raoul said.

"so you say know. But what about when people start to gossip and say coarse things about you two? You'll leave her."

"I'm not like my grandfather. I'd seen he'd never loved grandmother and I've seen that love with my parents. Meg is my wife in every sense Madame, there's nothing you can do about it."

"then we have nothing more to say to each other." Her mother said. "I don't know either of you!"

"mother, please."

"no Meg." Raoul said quietly. "there's nothing you can do. She has to forgive grandfather, us, for acting the way we have, but most importantly, she has to forgive herself. I know you say such things out of pain, but Madame, those things had nothing to do with Meg and i. All we share, is a name."

Madame's eyes flashed as she turned and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind her. Meg sighed, "give her time. She'll come around."

Raoul exhaled and began to lead her up the stairs. "I hope so. I wonder where my guests are?"

They came up to the stairs and Meg could clearly hear…sounds from the guestroom. They paused outside the door, Raoul's hand rose to knock.

"Erikkk! Oh!"

Meg jumped as Erik let out a loud roar and Christine cried out. She blushed and looked at Raoul who was grinning widely.

Raoul smirked and quickened his pace to lead her past the door. "that answers that question."

"goodness gracious." Meg said.

He pushed the door open and led her in. "you begin to undress."

Meg nodded and her hands trembled as she began to remove her stockings, shoes and dress. Meg paused at her chemise and watched as Raoul began to remove his shirt. It was difficult for him, she could tell. She walked up and began to undo his buttons.

"thank you." He said removing his shirt.

"you're welcome." Meg held her breath as Raoul's eyes studied her form.

Slowly, he reached out and touched her face. "I love you so much Meg. Without you, I feel…incomplete."

"Shh," Meg said as she leaned close. "make me yours Raoul. Possess me."

Raoul kissed her, and that crazy feeling welled up inside her and she deepened the kiss. suddenly, Raoul pushed her against the wall. Meg gasped and clutched Raoul as his hand gripped the chemise and ripped it. Meg trembled as his lips began to devour her, his hand removing the ripped garments from her. Meg shuddered as his lips grew insistent and her body screamed for him.

"Raoul!"

he nipped her shoulder and Meg whimpered as he moved her towards the bed. Meg's leg's almost buckled, but she made it to the bed before her legs gave out. The moment her back hit the bed, Raoul entered her. Meg gasped and gripped the covers as he thrust in and out of her. She held up her arm, cupping Raoul's shoulder and providing balance for him.

Meg gasped and arched her back as Raoul's thrusts were hard inside her. She kept him supported as they reached their climax together. Meg gasped as Raoul slowly withdrew and kissed her. "you're mine Meg. You'll always be mine."

"yes Raoul." She gasped as his lips moved downwards. "always."

"we'll prove all of society wrong." He declared as he arched against her. She gasped. "this will last, and this paradise will always be ours together. Forever."

"excuse me?" Madame Giry spun around at the sight of a man close to her age standing right behind her. He cleared his throat. "forgive me, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." She said wiping an eye. She'd been out here for two hours thinking to herself and she didn't want company. "your concern is unnecessary."

"it's early for a fine lady like you to be out here all alone."

"I said I was fine!" she snapped.

"suit yourself." He sat down beside her with a sketchbook.

Madame Giry stood up and he stood up. She walked towards the Chagney's house and he followed her. She went up and tried the door, finding it locked. She groaned and stomped her foot.

"do you know Raoul de Chagney?" the man asked.

"unfortunately, he's my son-in-law."

The man grinned, "I didn't know. You must be so proud of him."

"very. Now, excuse me!"

"Oh well, I happen to know where he keeps the key to open the door." He reached under a pot and pulled out a key.

"thank you." She reached for it, but he pulled it out of her reach. "give me that key."

"when you tell me a few things about yourself."

She stared at him, "how dare you!"

"now Madame, just simple things, like, are you married?"

"I am a widow!"

"I'm sorry. Been a widow long?"

"Now give me that key."

"one more question." He said. "Your name."

"that's not your concern."

"mine's Raymond Webber." He said with a smile. "now, what's your name?"

"Antoinette Giry." She snapped as she snatched the key. "And I'll be sure to report this to Mr. Chagney at once!"

he grinned. "I'm honored to have made your acquaintance."

Madame Giry unlocked the door, slammed it and re-locked it. She inhaled and moved to the couch to sit and relax. It figures, only Raoul de Chagney would have friends like that around!

Meg smoothed the green dress and looked to see Raoul staring at her. "what?" she said.

He shook his head, "nothing. You're just, so graceful Meg."

"Thank you." She walked up and reached for his vest.

Raoul pushed it away, "not today, we're going very casual today Meg."

"all right." She said taking his hand and walking down the stairs. They walked past Erik and Christine's room as the door opened.

Erik had his mask off and Meg smiled. His face wasn't that bad, once you got used to it. From the look in Christine's eyes, she probably never really noticed it. "good morning."

"good morning." Christine said. "I thought Erik and I were late for breakfast. I hope were aren't."

"my dear," Erik said. "cease all talk of breakfast and congratulate the newlyweds."

Christine blinked, then squealed, hugging Meg. "oh, congratulations!"

Meg laughed, "thank you."

"oh! Raoul." She hugged Raoul. "congratulations. Meg's a wonderful girl."

"I know." He nodded. "I know what you meant now Christine." Someone knocked on the door. "excuse me. that's probably Raymond."

"Raymond?" Erik frowned.

"oh, don't worry Erik." Meg assured him. "he's an old friend of Raoul's, a very nice older man. He was the witness and the best man at our wedding."

Meg went down the stairs with Erik and Christine following timidly behind them. "there you are!" her mother said coming around the corner in an apron and a rolling pin in hand. "don't you know what time it is? It's more appropriate for lunch than breakfast!"

"mama." Meg said. "we have company and….you're cooking?"

"of course I'm cooking." Her mother's eyes bulged and she pointed at Raymond. "what's he doing here?"

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