A/N: I'm so excited about all the reviews, really I am, but I felt the need to warn some of you. You seem to be holding out for some sort of E/C happy ending…that's not where this story is going. I put in the summary that it's R/C. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that you're reading. But if you get to the end and decide that you want to hurt me, well that's just not good for anybody. So if you think you can handle it, read on. If R/C is gonna leave you pulling your hair out and sending me threatening messages, maybe you should just give up here.
As Christine stood in Maurice's tiny kitchen washing the dishes from that evening's dinner, her mind wandered back over the events of the past two months. Maurice wasn't merely being modest about his home; it really wasn't very well kept-up. Christine attributed that to the fact that Maurice was a man living alone. Despite the small space available to them, Maurice had done everything possible to make Raoul and Christine comfortable. He gave his bedroom to them, opting to sleep on the couch. They had tried to refuse, but Maurice couldn't be persuaded. For the first few weeks he prepared all their meals for them. He was a terrible cook, often burning whatever he attempted to make, but Raoul and Christine were appreciative of the gesture.
Christine had acted as a nurse to Raoul, tending to his wounded side. She had the most difficulty just trying to get him to rest and allow himself to heal. For the first few nights Raoul wouldn't sleep; he stayed awake protectively watching over her. He was terrified that she would somehow be gone when he opened his eyes again. Maurice finally convinced him that he would be of no use to Christine if he didn't get better. If not for Maurice, Christine didn't know how they would have survived.
For the first week or so, they spent most of their time in a tense state of wariness, like sailors waiting for a terrible storm. But as time passed, a comfortable sense of safety returned to them and they were able to return somewhat to leading normal lives. They spent many nights sitting around the table and talking long after dinner was over. Sometimes they would talk about nothing in particular, enjoying the idle chatter of good friends. But there were times when they leaned on each other to talk about more difficult subjects. Christine remembered the night she decided to tell Raoul and Maurice what had happened to her. That night she finally broke down the wall that she had built to protect herself from the dangers of her own memory. For the longest time, she hadn't spoken a word about her time with Erik in the cottage; she dared not even think about. Each night she prayed that as she slept, the memories wouldn't invade her dreams. Raoul and Maurice had been patient, waiting until she was ready to tell the story from her perspective. Her voice broke with emotion as she recounted the details of her imprisonment and escape. Raoul supportively rubbed her shoulders, every so often planting light kisses on her temple; Maurice placed a hand on top of hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. After a few moments of silence, Christine raised her head, smiling through her tears. She was thankful for the two good men she now had in her life. They had formed a close, if not strange, family.
Christine put the last plate away in the cupboard and walked into the living room where Maurice was reading the paper. "Maurice, what are you still doing up?"
"I was just catching up on the news."
"Don't think I don't know what you're doing," Christine said, sitting on the arm of his chair.
"What is that, chéri?" he asked absentmindedly.
"You're looking to see if there was any mention of him."
"Any mention of whom?" Maurice questioned, not looking up from the newspaper.
"Please don't put on an act, Maurice," Christine responded, looking down at her hands in her lap.
"I only wish to ensure your safety, Mademoiselle," Maurice said, lowering his paper to look in her eyes.
"I appreciate your concern, Maurice. But you really needn't bother. Erik is much too intelligent to allow himself to be found like that. All we can do is try to be prepared for when he reveals himself. Besides, he might not even return for me," she added, trying mostly to convince herself.
"Just trying to be cautious," he replied, returning to his reading.
"I'm going to bed now. Goodnight Maurice," Christine said, leaning down and planting a kiss on his cheek.
She walked down the short hallway to the room that she shared with Raoul. He was sitting in the bed reading a musty old book, one of the few that Maurice owned.
"Doesn't anyone sleep around here?" Christine asked, feigning exasperation.
Raoul smiled at her, "I was waiting for you. You know I can't sleep when you're not beside me."
"You'll never have to worry about that again," Christine said, pulling back the sheets and joining him. Raoul closed the book and set it down on the night stand beside him. He leaned over and blew out the candle, then scooted alongside Christine, draping his arm over her waist.
"Raoul," Christine asked quietly, "When are we going to get married?"
Raoul sighed, "Do you really think it's a good idea to get married with him still looking for us?"
Christine closed her eyes. She understood Raoul's pain, but she still couldn't bear the resentment in his voice when he said "him". "Well, I've been thinking," Christine began, "Maybe if we get married, he'll stop looking for us. He'll know that I chose you and that he can't separate us… I just want to find a way out of this without anyone getting hurt."
"Perhaps you're right." Raoul lifted himself on his arms, looking down at Christine. She had changed so much since he had last seen her. The naïve girl he had asked to marry him was now a strong, assertive woman. He knew that he was different as well; he had matured just as she had. It wasn't a bad change, he simply wished it could have come about under different circumstances. Raoul looked into her pleading eyes. Despite his doubts about her idea, he knew that he couldn't deny her. "Alright then, it's settled. When does my lovely fiancée want to get married?"
Christine's eyes grew wide with excitement. "Let's get married next week, the beginning of spring. I think it's a rather lovely thought, starting our lives together in the season of new beginnings. I'd simply adore an outdoor wedding, and I know the perfect place. There's this little spot beside a river, surrounded by trees and flowers. It will be so romantic!"
"Christine, it sounds wonderful," Raoul agreed, caressing her face. "Now, we'll need to find a priest to perform the ceremony."
"I'll ask Maurice to go to the nearby church in the morning." After a moment's pause, she added, "Perhaps I'll also ask him to go to the Opera Populaire, to tell Meg and Madame Giry about the wedding. I'd so love for them to go! Of course I'll need to buy a dress. Something simple," Christine titled her head to the side, envisioning in her mind what she wanted her wedding gown to look like.
"You'll look perfect, whatever you wear," Raoul told her, wrapping her fingers in his.
"You're too sweet to me," Christine said, giving Raoul a quick kiss. "I'm so excited now! I don't know how I'll ever get to sleep." Christine leaned her faced in towards Raoul's and asked him to sing to her.
Christine lay her head down on her pillow and let Raoul's melodic voice lull her into a deep sleep.
Say you need me with you, here beside you. Anywhere you go, let me go too. Christine, that's all I ask of you…
Christine awoke early the next morning. She sat up in bed and stretched out her arms. For a moment she simply sat there and let the sun shine on her face. Her favorite time was just at dawn, when Raoul lay beside her still asleep. She loved listening to the sound of him breathing in the silence of daybreak. Christine took a deep breath and placed her feet on the wooden floor. She put on a light robe and pulled back her thick curls with a jeweled clip.
Maurice and Raoul awoke to the aroma of breakfast that wafted through the house. They went into the kitchen where Christine had set three places at the table. In the center was a crystal vase with fresh-picked purple lilies.
"Good morning, monsieurs. I hope you're both hungry," Christine said cheerily, filling the plates with food.
"Christine, this looks delicious. What am I going to eat when you two leave here?" Maurice said, shaking out his napkin and laying it in his lap.
"Well mon amie, you'll just have to visit us as often as possible," Raoul responded.
"You better be careful what you say. You may never be able to get rid of me," Maurice said with a chuckle.
"Oh Maurice, I almost forgot," Christine said, joining them at the table, "I was wondering if you could find a priest who will marry us. Raoul and I decided that we're going to have an outdoor wedding next week, so he'll have to be willing to meet us somewhere."
"I knew a priest some time ago," Maurice said quietly, looking down at his plate. He cleared his throat and spoke up, "I'm sure I could find him and convince him to perform the ceremony."
"Thank you so much Maurice. Would it also be possible for you to go to my friends at the Opera Populaire, Meg and Madame Giry, and invite them to come? I've missed them so much. I'm sure they would be terribly offended if I didn't ask them to attend."
"Of course mademoiselle."
"While you're gone I can take Christine to look at wedding gowns."
Christine looked at Raoul indignantly, "You most certainly will not! It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding gown before the ceremony. And the last thing we need is more bad luck."
"Alright, but let me find someone to accompany you," Raoul conceded. He hated the idea of Christine leaving the house without him, but he knew how strong-willed she was. If she wanted to find a dress without him, she would do it one way or another.
"The man who lives next door used to be a detective. We're old friends. I'm sure he'd be more than willing to help a beautiful lady. I'll speak to him before I leave."
"Thank you, Maurice," Raoul said gratefully.
Maurice wiped his mouth with the napkin and stood up from his chair. "Well, I'm off. I shall return shortly. Good luck with your search chèri," Maurice said, kissing the top of Christine's head.
After Maurice left, Christine stood and put all the dirty dishes in the sink. She walked over to Raoul and put her arms around his neck.
"I'll be back soon. Try not to worry."
"Just promise me that you'll be careful. I don't know how I'd survive if I lost you again," Raoul said, overwhelming sadness in his voice.
Christine took Raoul's face in her hands and gave him a long kiss. For a moment they just stood in the middle of the room and looked in each other's eyes. Finally Christine released Raoul and walked to the door.
"Try not to get into trouble while I'm gone," she called back playfully. She went to out to her horse where her escort was waiting. Christine waved to Raoul one last time before riding off to find the perfect dress.
Elsewhere Maurice was walking up the steps of the Opera Populaire. He was amazed at the elegance of the building; he had never seen anything like it. A member of the chorus led him to Madame Giry's room. He introduced himself as a friend of the Vicomte and his fiancée. Madame Giry invited him inside and sent someone to get Meg. Madame Giry offered him a seat and frantically began to ask questions about Christine. Maurice assured her that she was safe and healthy. Once Meg arrived Maurice relayed Christine's message. He told them that she and Raoul were to marry the next week. He would send someone on the morning of the wedding to lead them to the ceremony.
In the dark shadows where demons lurk, something stirred at the sound of Christine's name. Maurice looked in the direction of the rustle, but saw nothing. As he left the Opera house he couldn't shake the chill that invaded his body, the feeling that something had been watching him.
