Twelve

Raoul's Departure

"Philippe, please, you have to help me!"

The comte shook his head at his younger brother. "No Raoul, I don't have to do anything. I'm not going to aid you in ripping a young, pregnant woman from her husband."

"That is twice her age and raving mad!" Raoul cried, perspiration filming his forehead.

Philippe shrugged. "It's not our business, there are a lot of women in Paris, Raoul, some better than Christine Daaé." with that he left the room, stiff shouldered and angry.

Raoul shook his head and followed. "I love her, brother! Perhaps you don't understand that feeling!"

"Quite the contrary, but I also know that messing with a married woman is... Dangerous. Just give it up, Raoul. You haven't got a chance, especially with them having a child. There are lots of nice opera girls, and I may recommend a ballet rat, but please, for your sake, stay away from Christine."

"Dammit! Hear me out!"

"I have! And I am sick of you wallowing in self pity! For God's sake if she wanted you I'm sure she would have let you know! You are the Vicomte de Chagny, high class, many women would pay just to be with you! Why do you shove them to your feet and go so low as to stalk a married woman! My dear brother whom I love please listen to me for once, if never again!"

Overwhelmed Raoul was silent, and a warm tear slipped from his cheek. He turned away from Philippe's furious face and staggered up the stairs. Once in his room, he went to his desk and picked up his pen, pressed it to the paper supplied and poured his heart out.

My dear Christine,

I am writing to inform you I have given up, on you, on Paris, my family. I am nothing without you and I realize there is no chance of you leaving Erik now that your child is on the way, so I wish you and your family the best of luck.

As for me, I plan to go somewhere far from here, perhaps Hungary or Portrugal, somewhere I wont see your pretty face laughing to another man's joke. I am deeply sorry if you feel hurt or guilty over this, it is more my fault than yours.

Just remember my Little Lotte, I love you and perhaps one day I can face up to being your friend.

Take care of yourself, especially now.

Love forever

Raoul de Chagny.

Christine stared at his short letter, her face red with embarrassment and her heartbeat quickened. Her free hand rested on her bulk, but soon moved to her fan, which helped cool her face. Raoul had left, he had given up hope? This was very much unlike her friend, but she wasn't one to fight with a letter. Writing frees the soul...

She set it down and sighed, sitting and beginning a reply.

Raoul,

I must admit, I was upset by your letter, it is very unlike you. I don't know if you'll be there to receive this, but I also know someone will be there that knows where you are. And I hope that someone will be so kind as to forward this to you.

Please accept my apologies for hurting you at all, my romance with Erik was quite unexpected, and to be truthful, sometimes I am still not sure how I feel about him. I know that I indeed do love him, and deeply, but I still don't know just how deeply, and this child frightens me all the more.

Oh God please don't use my letter against him either, I've always been able to trust you and hope that now it will be no different. I do love you Raoul, and hope one day you will be able to be my friend again, and I will not rush you to that.

You need not apologize for anything, just take care of yourself, and come back safe to tell me how your trip went. I am all ears and eager.

With love

Christine

She sighed and folded it up, postmarked it, and immediately took it upstairs to the mailbox outside the opera where it could be delivered first thing tomorrow, she then returned to her home to await her husband's return from his errands.

Meh, I owe you guys a lot. It is late and short but I really could not help it. My health has been declining and work is killing me.

Please review though.

CD