Erik

We make it all the way back to the opera and into Christine's dressing room before she starts sobbing. I wrap my arms around her. "There, my dear, you've had a shock, but it's all over now." I stroke her hair and back. "I'm here. Everything is fine. We're all just fine, even the damnable Vicomte."

Her tears slowly subside and she looks up at me. "I thought you were going to kill him."

"That was my...er...original plan. Madame Giry convinced me to go to the police. She told me to imagine what it would do to you to watch me hang for killing the Vicomte. Quite effective, I must say. We had the handkerchief, but by the time we made it to the police station the chloroform had completely evaporated. I needed the police to see you bound to that chair so that they would know he had taken you against your will."

"But how did you know where to find us?"

"I didn't know for certain, but I thought if he was foolish enough to leave the handkerchief behind, he might be foolish enough to bring you to his house.

Her door flies open and in storm the two flustered managers. They pull up short at the sight of me.

Christine steps forward. "Monsieur Firmin, Monsieur André, this is my husband, Erik."

I can't help but smirk as I shake hands with the two clueless men.

"Miss...er...Madame," Firmin blusters. "It's all over the city that the Vicomte de Chagny has been arrested for abducting you after the performance last night."

"Yes, he did," I growl.

"But, then, how…" Firmin appears at a complete loss.

"I found the chloroform soaked handkerchief he used to knock her unconscious and Madame Giry and I went to the police."

André looks absolutely horrified. "Monsieur, believe us, we had absolutely no idea he was capable of such a thing. We would never have accepted his patronage."

"Oh, we hold no ill will against you, gentlemen. Do we, my dear?"

"No, you couldn't have known."

"And you'll have to testify. How harrowing for you. Take some time off. We can delay rehearsals for the next production. Take as much time as you need," Firmin offers.

I nod, "Thank you, Monsieur. Now, if the two of you would be so kind, my wife needs to rest."

The two men bow and leave.

Christine buries her face in my chest. I examine her wrists and my rage is kindled anew when I see the marks left by the ropes. "Please, Erik, let's go down to our home. I need to be alone with you where we don't have to worry about any further visitors."

I've been considering this decision for days, but the cooperation of the police in finding Christine and arresting the Vicomte has finally given me the confidence to make the offer. "We'll go there tonight, Christine, but what if tomorrow we were to start looking for a flat? You deserve a proper home. We could start out in a flat near the theater and I'll design a home for us. We'll have it built as soon as possible. What do you think?"

I've never seen an expression that holds more joy. Christine's smile is radiant. "Oh, Erik, I would love that."

As we make the journey back to the home on the lake, I think of the two managers and chuckle. "Have there ever been two men as idiotic as Firmin and André. It was all I could do not to burst out laughing as I shook their hands. That was some quick thinking to simply introduce me, my dear."

I'm glad to see Christine is able to laugh after what she's just been through. "If they only knew."

"You were right, of course, Louis will make an excellent lead tenor. I'll write the note tonight, and see that it is delivered in the morning before we go to search for a flat."

"But Erik, how will you continue to run the theater if we're living somewhere else?"

"Oh, that will be no problem at all. There are far too many side entrances, hidden passages, and secret compartments."

Once we finally make it to my home, Christine looks around. "How will you get all of this out of here, Erik?"

"I have my ways. We won't be able to take it all though. I could never leave the organ behind, but I'm afraid we must find a new bed."

She gazes a bit sadly at the swan bed. "Such a shame."

"What would you like to do this evening, my dear? We'll do anything you like. Why, I'll even let you skip your lesson, you've earned it."

"Just hold me, Erik. I feel as if it will take hours in your arms to put last night behind me."

I sit down on the settee and tug her down onto my lap. She nuzzles her face against my neck. "Will I really have to testify against Raoul?"

"I'm sorry, my dear, but I'm afraid you must. We'll have to go down to the station tomorrow for you to give your statement, then when the trial comes, you'll have to testify."

"What will they do to him?" Her voice is tremulous.

"Do you really care? Because I don't," I try to keep any harshness from my voice, but I can't understand why she would be concerned for him after what he put her through.

"I don't want to see him hanged. Even with every horrible thing he said and did. We were friends as children. He was dear to my father. I couldn't bear it."

"He's wealthy and influential. I'm certain it will just be a prison sentence." And probably not nearly long enough, I think to myself.

She sighs heavily. "I suppose the opera has lost its patron."

"Oh, don't worry about that, my love. I'll feed my own money back into it if I must." She still appears troubled. "What can I do to cheer you up?"

"I lied to you, Erik, when I said I was simply nervous about the performance. Please don't be angry. Raoul had threatened me and told me he would go to the police if I didn't agree to leave you and marry him. I had made up my mind to tell you after the performance because I thought you'd know what to do. But then he was waiting for me outside my dressing room. I told him I'd never leave you, and...and he took me."

She's giving me such a pleading look, I couldn't be cross if I tried. "I'm not angry, my love. I'm touched that you told him you'd never leave me, even with his threats hanging over you."

"Of course I'll never leave you, Erik! I love you with all my heart."

"I love you, too, my darling."

She relaxes back against me and I spend the rest of the evening doing everything I can think of to soothe her. My beautiful, brave Christine.

A/N: This is the last full chapter. There is a short epilogue which I will post next week. I hope you have enjoyed this story.