Author's Note: This chapter is a gift to my two beta-readers, John and Jean. I know they will recognize the names of their characters in the names of the horses. It is a little gift in honor of all they have done to make this story better than I could have done on my own.

Summary: Erik discovers what happened to Annalise when he answers Raoul's summons. Twenty-six years after their final encounter, Raoul, Christine and Erik come together. And Raoul gives his wife a gift.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

The ride to the estate south of Paris seemed to take forever in the late morning congestion that was common in large cities. The coach weaved its way through the city streets, the horses carefully guided by the experienced hands of Regine. He went as quickly as the traffic would allow. Yet it still took almost two hours to traverse the city from the northwest corner where the townhouse was located nearby the American embassy to the southern gates that led from the main city into the green avenues where the great houses were located. Regine was grateful that he had taken one of the coaches for it allowed him to remain distant from the man tucked away behind the black coach doors; he had no desire to answer questions for which he did not have answers. Nor did he wish to watch the expressions that crossed that man's face - the intensity of them would cause any man to quake.

Erik was, in fact, aggravated, irritated, cautious and worried in turn. His fingers drummed on the velvet of the seat cushions, now the only outward sign of the emotions that raged within him. The ride from the apartment that Andrew had secured allowed Erik the time to do what he had spent his entire life doing - hiding his emotions within the shadows of his mind. To say that he had been stunned to find Regine waiting in the apartment when he, Tomas and Charles had arrived would have been an understatement. Hearing the command voiced as a gentle request from his old adversary had sent Erik's emotions racing back to a past he had no wish to remember but could not forget. The fact that Regine would say nothing of Annalise or Andrew only added to Erik's growing apprehension. He found he could not even think of Christine for thoughts of her sent his blood racing and his head spinning. It was all too much for Erik, in his tired state, to bear so he sent all the feelings for mother and daughter to the back of his mind and instead concentrated on that foolish little boy and what it was he was planning. Erik found he could not fathom what Raoul wanted and that bothered him.

Whatever thoughts of Raoul were going through Erik's mind were suddenly chased away as the coach slowed. Erik looked out the window and saw two large wrought iron gates, a gilded crest in the middle of each, opening to allows the coach to drive through. He continued to look out the window at the vast expanse of green lawns and gaily colored flower beds with nary a shadow to be found. Erik was tempted to roll his eyes; someone had done their very best to banish all darkness and he knew how futile such an endeavor could be for without darkness there could be no light. The house that loomed in at the end of the drive drew Erik's attention from his thoughts of darkness and light, night and day. He sighed inwardly; at least Christine had been comfortable all these years. Erik wondered if the creature comforts that the boy had given her had also brought her happiness.

"I am thinking too much," Erik said to himself as the coach stopped. He placed a hand inside his pocket, feeling for the small revolver that had been there since he had left for England. Erik was not about to fall prey to any one's plans - especially the plans of that boy. He drew a deep breath and waited until the door opened.

"Come with me, please," Regine said as he stood aside, allowing Erik to exit the coach. Regine walked up the portico stairs trusting that Erik would follow. He opened the door to find the familiar footman waiting in his usual chair. "Monsieur le Vicomte?"

"He is in his study," the footman replied in a quiet tone of voice, no emotion betrayed on his face as he watched the strange man who followed Regine down the hallway.

Erik had noted the footman, his quiet tone and composed features. He had to give the boy credit for his servants were well trained. Yet Erik found something out of place in the grand house into which he had ventured. He pondered upon this as he followed Regine down the hallway and decided that the home was too quiet. There was no sound. No voices could be heard behind the closed doors and they did not echo down the long halls. There were no servants scurrying about on their daily chores. There was no sign of the children and grandchildren he knew existed. There was no sign of Christine. Surely with the return of Annalise, the family would have gathered in joy to support her. The atmosphere of the home, though, was cold and somber, almost as if there had been a death. Erik quickly willed that thought from his mind but found it would not go as easily as he had wished. Perhaps that was the reason Regine was not willing to answer his questions and confined him to the back of that damnable coach. Erik was drawn out of his reverie by a knock on a door and an all too familiar voice.

"Come," Raoul's voice responded to the knock on the door of his study.

Regine opened the door and turned to Erik. "This is where we must part company."

"You know what to do," Raoul's voice came from the study.

"Oui, Monsieur," Regine replied and stepped aside to let Erik enter. He gave Erik a small smile and a brief nod before closing the door behind him.

The two old enemies were left alone behind a closed door.

Erik stood, without his mask, proud, refusing to be vulnerable, waiting for the man who looked out the window to turn around and face him. He was amazed at the sight that met his eyes when Raoul turned.

"Monsieur, I bid you welcome," Raoul said in a soft voice.

Erik raised an eyebrow at the very words he had used to welcome Raoul that night in his lair.

"There are no traps here," Raoul quickly added as he walked from behind his desk to sit in one of the chairs in front of it. "I pray you will forgive my lack of manners but I have not slept much these last two weeks." He waved Erik to the other chair. "Do not stand on formality, monsieur."

Erik waited a moment before sitting to study the man in front of him. He had always thought of Raoul as "that boy" and he was finally forced to admit that Raoul was no longer "that boy". What Erik saw in front of him had not changed greatly over the years, the fine, sharp features were still there; Raoul was still the light to Erik's dark. Yet the sandy blonde hair was now streaked with gray and there was a definite sadness about the bright blue eyes. Erik had to admit to himself that "the boy" was long gone, replaced by a man who could prove to be a formidable opponent. Yet he was concerned about the sadness he saw in Raoul, about the quiet house, the somber mood.

"If you wish to stand, then stand," Raoul said as he leaned forward in his chair and buried his face in his hands. He heard the leather of the chair opposite him give way as Erik sat and Raoul raised his head.

"You commanded my presence, I believe," Erik said as he leaned back in the chair, his legs crossing, his hands folding in his lap.

"I thought you would wish to know about Annalise."

Not "my daughter" but "Annalise". Raoul's words chilled Erik but he kept his emotions under control, not wishing to betray anything in front of this man. "I would very much like to know how Mademoiselle fares."

"You can call her by name," Raoul said, his tone carried a trace of irritation. "I know you befriended her. We found your letter to her when ..." Raoul turned his head for a moment and then looked back. "Annalise is upstairs with her mother and Andrew and hopefully she is finally getting the sleep she so desperately needs."

"I had thought that," Erik began and then changed his mind.

"That she had died?" Raoul interrupted and shook his head. "She almost did." Raoul leaned back in his own chair, blinking away tears. "Two nights ago, Annalise came out of the drug withdrawal but her fever did not break. Our doctor warned us that she could not go on as she had been without something giving way. We had all gathered in her bedroom. She actually said it was too hard and she could not do it. Annalise grew quiet, we could no longer hear her breathing and we thought she was gone." Raoul closed his eyes, chasing away the sights from those early morning hours. "It turned out the fever had broken and Annalise was finally sleeping normally. I never thought it possible for a person to live and die only to live again in a single heartbeat until that moment."

"It is something I have known for a great many years," Erik replied softly. He watched as Raoul's eyes opened and recognized the haunted look in them. Somewhere inside he was amused that they shared something in common besides their love for the two women upstairs. "There are not words to tell you how relieved I am to know that Annalise is back with those that love her and that she is on her way to recovering."

"It is a long road to a full recovery. Her lungs are still congested, she is very weak and she must sleep. Our doctor believes it will be another fortnight before her mind is physically healed. I do not even wish to know how long it will take before her soul is healed." Raoul's gaze was focused on something Erik could not see. "I just wish to have my daughter well and happy once more." He turned his focus back to Erik and there was a decidedly deadly gleam in Raoul's eyes. "What did you do with the bastard who did this to my child?"

It was another surprise to Erik to see that cold willingness to kill in Raoul's eyes. He did not think the boy ... Raoul ... had the capability for such a calculated evil. Perhaps, Erik mused to himself, I do not understand for I am not a parent whose child nearly died. A child, who had died, he corrected himself, remembering the feelings of helplessness and despair he had felt upon finding Annalise on the floor of that place, not breathing; it was something her family did not need to know. It was also something that allowed him to understand the deadly cold look in Raoul's eyes. Erik did love Annalise as a friend and a daughter and he had wanted to kill Michaud. It was another revelation of something he had in common with the Vicomte.

"He is England," Erik replied, "where he will remain for the rest of his life. There is an asylum some distance from Portsmouth and it is there that Deschene will live out his remaining years, drugged and bound. I thought it appropriate punishment for what he had done to Annalise is now being done unto him. Is that not what the church teaches - do unto others?"

Raoul found he could not fault Erik for twisting the teachings of the church for the very words Erik had spoken reflected his own desires. "How will you afford the cost of keeping him there?" Raoul wondered. "I need to know for I do not wish Annalise to ever again fear for her life."

"I assure you that Annalise need never fear from him again and the cost is of no concern to you."

"I beg to differ!" Raoul snapped. It earned him a raised eyebrow from Erik, a cynical reminder of the past. "Just tell me where this place is and I shall bear the cost of keeping that bastard locked away. It will take no more than the swipe of a pen to ensure that funds are transferred to the hospital accounts each month." There was no answer. "Please let me do this."

"Why?" Erik wanted to know.

Raoul sat up straight, drawing in a deep breath. He caught Erik's eye and held it. "Because I owe you a debt I can never hope to repay." His voice grew gentle. "I owe you my daughter's life."

What Erik might or might not have said was forestalled by the sound of a knock on the study door. Erik watched as the color quickly drained from Raoul's face. He also noted how just as quickly the man opposite him composed his features before standing and walking to the door. Erik kept his eyes focused on the world beyond the study's windows, not wishing to intrude but wondering how much longer this interview would go on. He longed to see for himself that Annalise was alive and recovering. He also desperately longed to see Christine but dared not hope that Raoul would grant him that privilege no matter how great the debt Raoul felt was owed. So it was with a startled gasp that Erik rose to his feet at the sound of the voice coming from behind him.

"Raoul, could this not have waited?" Christine asked. "One of us should be with Annalise."

"There is someone you need to see," Raoul said and stepped aside to let his wife enter the study.

"Christine," Erik breathed as he turned around to face her.

Christine froze in her tracks, her lips speaking the name of her teacher in silence. Her eyes flickered up to her husband's face. "Raoul?" she asked.

Raoul took his wife's hand and raised it to his lips; it gave him a precious moment to steel his resolve for what he was about to do. "I love you," he began and his gaze looked at Erik for a brief second. "And I owe this man a debt I can never hope to repay." Raoul returned his eyes to look at his wife's puzzled expression. "I have always known there was a bond between the two of you that I could never hope to understand."

Christine laid a hand on her husband's chest. "Raoul ..." she started.

Raoul covered her hand with one of his own. "Please," he interrupted, "let me finish this before I cannot." He gave Christine a brief smile before continuing. "I knew when we married that there was a part of you, a part of your heart and soul, that I could never have; yet I have been content with what I did have. These past years, being married to you, have been the happiest of my life and you have given me so much. You have been my friend and my counselor. You have been my refuge in times of sorrow and my joy when the sorrows passed." Raoul could feel his heart beating and breaking and chose to ignore it. "You have been my love and comfort through the long nights. You have given me three sons who are intelligent, strong men I am proud will carry on our family's name. You have given me a daughter whom I shall cherish far beyond the day I die." He raised a hand to rest it on Christine's cheek, a finger brushing at a stray tear. "You have given yourself all these years without ever asking for anything in return. Now I wish to repay the favor."

Erik found he could scarcely breath.

Christine was silent, her huge eyes trying desperately to read her husband's expressionless face.

"Christine," Raoul continued, "I want to give you the one thing you have never had; I want to give you the freedom to choose."

"What?" Christine exclaimed.

"What?" Erik echoed.

"That night," Raoul went on, giving a stunned Erik a quick look before returning his gaze to his equally stunned wife. "That night you faced a terrible predicament. You were forced into making a choice and that is something no one should ever be forced into. No one should ever be told to choose between one life and the next when those very lives hang upon that choice." Raoul gave Christine a sad smile. "I am giving you that freedom to choose now." He took his hand from her face so that he could hold both of hers. "I want you to know that whatever you decide, I will honor your decision. If you chose to leave with Erik, I will make it as easy as possible for you both. If you wish a divorce, I will make it as quick and painless as the law will allow me. I do not think that after the strain of these last two weeks any would question a separation between us and I will deny you nothing. You need not fear that you will never see your children and grandchildren again for I could not do such a thing to you. I will give you a settlement and anything else you may ever need. All I would ask is that you leave this home alone so that it may be turned over to Jean-Paul in due time."

"Raoul," Christine whispered with a cry in her voice.

"I would hope that you would stay with me but I will not make you."

"Why?" Christine shook the hands that held her own. "Why?"

Raoul took back one of his hands and placed in gently on Christine's cheek before running it down her neck to rest gently on her shoulder. "Because I love you. Because I have loved you since we were children even if I was too young to realize it at such a tender time in our lives. Because I watched Andrew two nights ago and he was strong enough to be willing to let Annalise go despite the fact that he loves her so very much." He reached his hand to hold Christine's chin. "We are taught by our children and I was taught well in that moment." Raoul turned to look at Erik. "Monsieur, you have my respect for the way in which you saved our daughter and my eternal gratitude for doing so." He turned back to Christine and gave her a gentle kiss. "I will always love you," he breathed softly before leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

"Raoul?" Christine asked the closed door.

"Christine," Erik pleaded, his hands outstretched.

Raoul heard their voices as he closed the door and heaved a deep sigh, not wishing to know what would happen now that he had left. He turned on his heel and strode purposefully down the hallway and out onto the back portico. He moved quickly through the gardens and to the stables. Raoul stopped briefly at the stall of his daughter's horse, running his hand down Marie Cecile's neck. He smiled at the strawberry roan. "Annalise will be with you again. That is a promise." He heard the horse whinny as he walked to the back of the stable, a golden Arabian stallion saddled and waiting for him. The horse tossed his head as Raoul approached. "Thank you," Raoul said as the stable boy handed him the reins.

"Are you sure, Monsieur?" the stable boy asked. "Julian is in an especially spirited mood this day."

"It is just what I need," Raoul assured him, as he mounted Julian and turned the horse's head towards the open gate, spurring him onwards.

Raoul pushed Julian as hard as the horse would allow. They galloped over the fields, Julian strong and sure-footed as Raoul tried to outrun the past. Raoul finally pulled back on Julian's reins when he felt the chest muscles under his knees begin to quiver in a manner that bespoke the horse had been pushed to its limits. Raoul stopped the horse and slide from the saddle. He walked Julian over to a young oak tree and tied his reins to the thin but sturdy trunk before sinking to the ground. Raoul placed his head in his hands and sobbed as he finally granted himself permission to feel the emotions of the last two weeks and the emotions of the last twenty-six years. He would spend hours sitting in that sunny field till the sun began to travel to the west, the shadows lengthening as twilight made its presence known.

When he finally returned home, it would be a darkened, silent house into which Raoul would walk.