Disclaimer: I do not own POTO or Raoul, Meg, Erik, or Christine. I'm just borrowing the characters.

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! This is the last chapter of this love story. I know this was short, but I wanted something done nice and sweet. I hope I achieved this so enough of my babbling and R & R!

Chapter 3- The Love Denied No More

Time slowed, as the chaste kiss grew a bit passionate. Raoul pulled away and began to whisper sweet nothings in Meg's ears.

The next morning, Meg woke still feeling his kips against hers and his warm breath on her ear. That had to be a dream. No way the Vicomte had kissed her and spoken words of love in her ear. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful dream, she mused.

Meg quickly dressed and headed down to the stage for rehearsals. M. Firmin and Andre still expected to rehearse despite the wedding. Meaning, Christine's honeymoon was cut short until the next opera was finished.

Sure enough when the newly wedded Christine saw her, her face broke out in huge smiles and ran over to her.

"I can't believe you're married," Meg remark. "Doesn't it feel like just the other day that you were once part of the chorus taking lessons from a mysterious tutor?"

Christine nodded. "It does. I still would be if it hadn't been for Erik. Speaking of whom, Erik promised he'd take me to Scandinavia for our wedding trip! I can't wait to see my old home again."

"Christine, you're so lucky. How I envy you."

"Me? My darling Meg, you shouldn't let the green-eyed monster get you. Besides, didn't a certain dashing Vicomte give you a night to remember?"

"You mean the kiss was real? Then it wasn't a dream-?"

Christine giggled. "A dream? Meg, you practically melted in his arms! You can't recall such passion from a kiss?"

Meg's face began to blush at her friend's word usage. "I-I remember. It's that it felt so unreal."

Christine gave her a knowing smile. "I understand Meg. That's how I felt when Erik and I first kissed and when we first made-" She stopped. "You know," she finished quickly, her cheeks rising with heat.

The blonde rolled her eyes. "Oh please Christine I'm not a little girl. I know exactly what you mean, this is the Opera Populaire is it not?"

An image came to Meg's mind of being intimate with Erik and shuddered. "Then again Erik is the Phantom and I don't want to imagine it."

Christine was about to comment when M. Reyer and Mme. Giry came out.

"Time for rehearsals," Meg murmured under her breath.

After the grueling five hours of repeating dance maneuvers, Meg wanted to go to bed and sleep. Erik came to whisk Christine away as soon as she was no longer needed. She knew both were eager to be alone again and Meg wished she could leave as well.

Her feet were sore and with the help of her mother, Meg was now sitting at the foot of her bed, holding ice on top of her blistered toes.

"I love dancing but I hate the pain that comes with it," she muttered.

A crazy thought came to mind. She envisioned Raoul placing gentle kisses on her toes while massaging her feet. Sure impure thoughts girl!

"Meg?"

She lifted her head and smiled as Raoul entered. "Hi," she answered shyly.

"I got this for you." He held out a small box wrapped in blue paper with a silver ribbon.

"Raoul!" she gasped. Her hands went out to take it and at the same time her ice pack fell of her feet. Raoul stared down at them in horror.

"My God Meg! What happened to your feet?" he asked, worried.

"Rehearsals," she replied nonchalant. "It's the price for being prima ballerina."

He bent down to pick up the ice and gently held it in place. Meg looked down in shock as Raoul was doing this. Isn't there some kind of law against this? she thought wildly.

Raoul smirked at her reaction and acted like it was no big deal. "Go on and open it."

Dumbfounded, she carefully untied the bow ( I could always use another ribbon for my hair, she thought) and her jaw dropped as she removed the lid. Wide-eyed, she stared at the gift and then to Raoul.

"Well, do you like it?"

"Raoul, I …" Meg's voice trailed off. She picked up the present so the light could reflect from its splendor.

It was a diamond angel pendant on a golden chain. Meg never saw anything she beautiful before that she couldn't remember when she received a decent looking piece of jewelry.

"I love it," she breathed.

Raoul watched as her blue eyes glistened with wonder and knew he did right. She was an angel to him.

"Good. Then will you be willing to accompany me to dinner tonight?"

Meg beamed. "Yes."

Raoul couldn't help the pleased look on his face. So far everything was going according to plan. He didn't want to take the risk and lose the woman he truly loves. He finally admitted how deep his feelings were for her. And it became noticeable to him when he kissed her the other night. It felt so… right. Raoul couldn't begin to fathom the flooding emotions that coursed through him as he held Meg in his arms. He came to realize it was the feeling of being complete. Something he never felt when he was with Christine.

"Terrific. I'll see you at seven unless if your feet are still sore. I wouldn't dare for you to risk furthering hurting them."

She laughed it off. "I'll be fine. I'm pretty much used to it. Thank you for the necklace Raoul. No one has ever given me something so gorgeous as this before," she told him softly.

"It won't be the last," he promised. He placed a swift kiss on her lips before exiting. Meg squealed happily and clasped the necklace to her breast. "My love," she murmured.

Since Raoul was running late Erik and Christine waited with Meg. Meg had a hard time deciding what to wear and ended up waking Christine for advice.

Thankfully, the prima donna picked out the right outfit for her date. It wasn't too gaudy and not too elegant. It was subtle and brought out the cerulean in her eyes. The dress was a flowing sea blue that adorned petite silk flowers around the skirt. She wore the necklace that was given to her and borrowed Christine's diamond earrings. Lastly, the singer pulled some of her hair up with the silver ribbon that came on the box.

She shifted nervously and looked to her friends. Christine gave her a sympathetic look and told her not to worry.

Erik was beginning to steam a little for the Vicomte's tardiness. He warned him to be careful with her. No way was Erik going to allow Raoul to hurt Meg in any way. He pulled his wife closer to him and relished in her touch. He was thankful that Christine wouldn't have to wait up for him. He would always be there for her no matter the costs.

What felt like an eternity to Meg, he finally appeared. Raoul hopped out the hansom and made his way over to her.

"Sorry I'm late," he apologized quickly. "I was detained for a while."

She let out a small smile and with one last glace towards her friends she followed the Vicomte.

Once situated inside, Raoul right away asked of her feet condition. She was taken aback by the question. No one has ever showed concern before other than her fellow dancers. She told him they were fine and walking was bearable. He relaxed and conversation picked up. They discussed the upcoming production of Faust and Raoul's current business of adding a museum to his patronage. Though, that topic didn't last long. He wanted to know more about her and Meg was more than happy to oblige.

Both were so wrapped up in sharing childhood stories that one of them noticed the carriage stopping. The driver was patient for a while, allowing the lovebirds to continue talking, but bought them back with a stern knock on the door.

"We better leave now for dinner," Raoul said.

Nodding, Meg allowed Raoul to help her down. He led her into the restaurant and was seated right away. The atmosphere of the chic bistro astounded Meg. They were seated specifically to Raoul's requests when he reserved the table. Outside, they were the only couple out on the patio. The table was neatly set up with a red wine tablecloth and silver utensils. On top was a white burning candle and a small vase with two roses- red and white.

Raoul helped Meg with her chair and quickly moved to his side. He appeared to be nervous, why Meg couldn't figure out. The waiter came over with a bottle of champagne and after sampling it, the drink was poured in their wine glasses.

"To us," Raoul toasted as he lift his glass.

"To us," Meg replied doing the same.

They resumed their earlier conversation until the food was brought. While eating, Meg noticed how very little Raoul was eating. She started to become worried.

"Raoul is there something wrong?" she asked.

"Hmm? Oh I'm sorry Meg it's just, lately I had a few things on my mind. Especially about us."

She gulped and set down her fork. An uneasy feeling began to settle in the pit of her stomach. What if he regrets kissing me last night? Oh God please don't let him think I'm unworthy!

"Meg, ever since that night I thought the only woman I could ever loved was Christine. When she chose Erik a part of me died. I thought I lost part of my soul forever. I told myself that no other woman could replace her, but I grew to realize how foolish that notion was. I spent that moment on thinking I could never get over her and so I promised never to fall in love again. But as Fate has it, I realized how wrong I was. I did fall in love. And she is the most wonderful person I had ever met. I can't stop thinking about her. Whenever I'm alone she's there. But I'm thankful she's not singing songs in my head," he paused as Meg chuckled at his statement.

"But the past couple of days made me see clearly. I wasn't in love with Christine as much as I thought I was. No. The feelings I have for this other woman is so much greater than I felt for my friend. And I hate myself for hurting her before. That's the last thing I ever wanted to do to her. And I thank God for giving me a second chance to be with this girl. For some time I thought I lost her after being with Christine and instead she's with me."

Meg's heart stopped beating as Raoul came over and bent down on one knee. Oh my God, she thought.

"Meg Giry, I have been in love with you for so long and I was a fool for denying it for so long. I never told you that when I first came to the Opera Populaire, I saw this lovely blonde-haired angel dancing so wonderfully. I never saw anyone who showed such compassion in her art. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you forever. You gave me my soul back and my heart when I thought I had lost it. It was you my angel, my heart, my very existence who returned me to reality; otherwise I would have still been pining for a love that wasn't meant to be. It was all you, my love. And I want to wake up each day with you at my side. Because without you I'm no one. Meg, I love you with every breath I take."

"Raoul…"

"Will you marry me?"

She didn't think. She knew her answer for so long.

"YES!" she cried. "Raoul, I love you so much."

Tears misted down his face as he took out a small black box to produce the three-diamond ring and slipped it onto her slender finger. He stood up and claimed her lips in a tender kiss.

Pulling back breathlessly, Raoul began quietly singing:

"Say you share with me…"

The End

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