Homecoming

By: KaitlynRose

Author's Note: I just wanted to say thank you for all the feedback that has been left. It is nice to know that there are other Raoul fans out there. I don't really understand why people pick on him so ruthlessly since technically he's the good guy, but to each there own I guess. :-) As for all this fop stuff, I happen to be a big fan of metrosexuals. So I guess Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Tom Cruise are all fops. Ohh goodie!

Disclaimer: Don't own them.

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Christine moaned as she slowly opened her eyes. Her throat burned and she panicked when she realized she didn't know where she was. She sat up quickly which disturbed Raoul from his own rest.

"Christine?"

"Raoul? What happened? Where are we going? The fire?"

"Shh, calm down, love. We're safe now. We're on our way to my estate." He caressed her cheek with his fingers. "You fainted in the stables. I carried you out and took you to the doctor. He said we'll both be fine, we just need to rest and recover. This is Pierre."

"Hello mademoiselle," Pierre glanced back with a nod of his head. "We only have about ten more minutes before we arrive."

"Thank you," Raoul said again.

"What happened to the Opera House? Were they able to put the fire out?"

"Darling, the Opera House is ruined from what I was able to see," he told her.

Fresh tears fell. Her home was gone. The only home she really remembered. Raoul gathered her in his arms and held her. No words were spoken. No words were needed. Raoul understood her new heartbreak over the loss of the Opera House. She had lived there and no where else since the age of seven.

They rode in silence for the remainder of the way to Raoul's home. The wagon pulled up to the front door and the butler opened the door. He was shocked at the sight before him.

"Master Raoul? Are you all right?"

Raoul climbed out of the wagon and offered Christine a hand before answering.

"Linus, please have Odette arrange for a bath for Mlle Daae. I want her put in to the room next to mine and she will need a fresh change of clothes."

"Of course sir. I take it you will need a bath as well?"

"Yes but I can wait until after Mlle Daae is done," Raoul told him. "Is my father home?"

"Yes sir," Linus told him.

Raoul turned to Christine. "Darling, Linus is going to take you to your room. Odette will be with you shortly to help you undress and clean up."

"Will I see you again tonight?" she asked. Christine felt nervous being in a strange place, plus she had never been to a noble house before. She knew she must have looked frightful.

"I promise to visit you before you retire for the evening. Everything is going to be all right," he told her. He held her close for a moment, trying to ease her fears. "Now go and I will join you soon."

He watched as she entered the house behind Linus before walking over to Pierre. He pulled his coin purse from his pocket and offered him two gold coins. Pierre was obviously delighted with his compensation.

"Thank you, Vicomte. Thank you. If you ever need help ever again sir, please feel free to ask for me."

"I will do that," Raoul told him. "You are welcome to stay the night in the carriage house and return home in the morning. Mr. Aramis will be able to provide you with a hot meal and a bed, as well as tend to your horses."

"Thank you kindly, sir."

"Drive your rig around back past the garden shed to the carriage house and tell Aramis that I have sent you there."

"Yes sir."

Raoul gave a wave to the man as he drove off and then entered the house. He knew where his father would be at this time of night. He followed the west wing to the library. Sure enough, there was Comte Philip de Changy with his book, his brandy, and his nightly cigar which his mother had frowned upon until her death three years ago.

When the comte looked up his smiled happily. "My son, what a happy occasion." He stood up and hurried over to Raoul to embrace his boy but stopped short when he saw the retched condition Raoul was in.

"Good evening father."

"Raoul, what has happened? Are you all right?"

"The doctor said I have a bit of smoke in my lungs but that I should be fine. The Opera House caught on fire tonight." Raoul sat down wearily on the leather couch in front of the fireplace.

"Heavens sake. Was anyone hurt?"

"Several are dead."

"How did such an accident happen?" Comte Philip asked.

"It was no accident. The Phantom rigged the chandelier to fall, crushing several patrons, and then igniting the entire place on fire."

Comte Philip poured Raoul a brandy and handed it to him. "I thought this Phantom was merely a myth."

"I can assure you he is quite real. He kidnapped Christine and almost murdered me when I attempted to rescue her tonight. He is no ghost though. He is a flesh and blood man with a hideous face that he hides behind a mask." Raoul took a long drink from the glass in his hand.

"Christine? Is that that opera girl you wrote to me about? Really Raoul, I do hope you have not grown to attached to her. You know it can never be, son. And what is this about a rescue and a murder?"

"What do you mean it can never be?" Raoul asked.

"Simply that a vicomte does not marry an opera singer." Philip said this as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

Raoul jumped from his seat and began to pace the room. "Father, I do not need this right now. You have no idea what I have been through tonight! I almost lost my life for her tonight three or four times to escape the hell that madman had put us through, and the moment we get here, finally safe from all danger, you tell me I can't be with her. I love her, father, and the rules of society be damned."

"I am your father and you will not speak to me that way. Now start at the beginning and tell me what this is all about. You aren't making a great deal of sense to me right now."

Raoul sat back down and slowly explained all to his father. Seeing Christine again, falling in love, the murders, Don Jaun Triumphant, their secret engagement, the kidnapping, the torture room, being tied to a gate and nearly strangled, and then finally their escape from a burning building. Raoul saw that his father's face became graver with every near death experience he told.

"My god, it is a miracle you are still alive," Philip declared.

"I know," Raoul agreed and hung his head in his hands. Just telling the story was exhausting. It was hard to fathom that he had really just gone through all of that.

"You brought Mlle Daae here?"

"Yes, she is upstairs bathing. Odette is tending to her."

Now Philip stood up and began to walk back and forth. Raoul grew nervous by this reaction.

"Son, I know you think you are in love, but this match you have made is no good. Marquis de Montague was just here last week, most anxious to introduce her daughter to you. Jolie has grown into a fine woman and has just returned from her travels."

"Father, with all due respect, I don't care how fine Jolie has grown. I love Christine and she has agreed to be my wife."

"But I have not agreed to this match. You should have come to me before making an offer of marriage. Who is this girl? Who is her family? Where was she educated? Does she have any money? Raoul, do not cross me on this. I forbid this union. If you want your inheritance you will do as I say."

Raoul was furious. "You can burn my inheritance. Do you think I would give her up for money? I offered my life in exchange for her freedom tonight to a monster? If I am willing to die for her then I am willing to be poor for her. I have an education. I can get employment. You will not deter me from this, father. Mother is gone, as is my brother. Do you really want to lose me too? If you force me to choose, you will not be happy with the outcome. She is my life. I would die without her. Without her there is just no reason to go on."

Comte Philip looked at Raoul but remained silent. His son was obviously upset. He had had a horrendous night and was exhausted, which was putting him in a foul temper. Raoul's words had struck home, however. Raoul was the only family he had left besides Philip's last surviving sister. He wouldn't risk losing his boy, especially over something as trivial as a woman.

"Son, you are exhausted beyond words. You look as if you will collapse at any moment. Go have a hot bath and turn it for the night. We will talk more in the morning when you are rested and calmer heads prevail. Where is Mlle Christine?"

"I had Linus put her in the room next to mine," Raoul answered.

"I don't think that was wise. If people found out there would be a scandal."

"I assure you there will not be any inappropriate behavior. I would not dishonor you in such a way under your own roof. Christine has also been through a terrible ordeal, far worse than mine. She has lost her home. I don't want her to feel abandoned in some strange place." Raoul ran a tired hand through his hair.

"Very well. I will trust your judgment on this. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, father."