Author's notes: I have nothing to excuse this time, because the chapter's up when I want it to, so I'm going to do something I haven't done ina while. Thank my lovely reviewers. It really warms my author's heart when I read what you've written to me, and you really keep me going. I'm just sorry to have to disappoint some of you. There isn't going to be any Erik or Christine in this. Of course they're mentioned every now and then, because Raoul is still living in the past, but I haven't planned for them to be in in person. Sorry, but please keep reading lol

Disclaimer: Thought it might be time for one of these. I don't own Raoul, Meg, the Managers or anyone else who's in the story from the beginning, but I own my ideas, and Raoul's family.

Part V

Raoul was woken the next morning by the sun shining in his eyes. It must be early, he thought and turned his head away from the sunbeam. Without opening his eyes he tried to analyse the situation, tried to make his confused head work.

He was lying in a bed, but it wasn't his own, and he couldn't remember how he got there. In fact, he couldn't remember anything at all. All he was aware of was how warm and relaxed he felt, and that he had another body pressed against him. A small and slender woman's body.

He pulled her closer to him and buried his face in her hair, breathing in her sweet scent and placing a kiss on her neck. He thought he might have said something, but it could have been his imagination.

Meg had been awake for a while, since the sun had started shining in through her one window, but she'd felt so comfortable she hadn't wanted to move. The moment she'd woken up, she'd felt Raoul's arms around her, and his body pressed against her back. But to her surprise, she hadn't felt neither guilt nor shame. She'd just felt unnaturally relaxed, and...loved, for some unexplainable reason. So instead of wakening Raoul up and ask him to leave before the rest of the Opera woke up, she'd just lain there, enjoying a moment that would probably never come again.

Meg listened to Raoul's breathing, and she heared him wake up. That was it, she thought. Now he will have to leave. She prepared herself to get out of bed, but then Raoul pulled her closer to him and buried his face in her hair. He is dreaming, Meg thought. He must be dreaming, or else he would not be doing this. But she hoped he was awake, oh, how she hoped he was.

She felt him place a kiss on her neck.It sent shivers down her spine, andshe was suddenly sized by a mad desire to turn around and press her lips against his.

"Christine." The whisper was so silent and so soft she could have dreamed it.

When Raoul woke up again he felt rested, and the horrors of last night were miles away. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Meg's hair. He was lying with his back pressed against the wall, and Meg's small form gathered tightly against his chest. She was still sleeping, her hand holding his shirt. It surprised him, because he couldn't recall when she'd lain down next to him. But it was none the less pleasant to wake up in this position.

Raoul threw a glance at the clock on Meg's nightstand. It was nine. Not too late, Raoul thought. But he would still have to leave soon. It would be very embarrassing for both of them if he was seen.

He looked down at Meg. She looked so young, much younger than she was. He couldn't possibly wake her up. Silently he climbed out of bed. He went to her dresser, found paper and a pen and wrote her a letter. Then he took his cloak from the hook on the wall and went over to Meg on the bed. He placed the letter on her nightstand and then he he looked down at the woman on the bed.

She was still sleeping, her blonde curls like a halo around her head on the pillow, her chest rising and falling along with her calm breathing. Like an angel, Raoul thought and bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead. Then he left the room, silently closing the door behind him.

Meg was woken by the closing of a door. She opened her eyes and sat up. The bed was empty, as were the room. Raoul was gone. But he'd left a note, she saw. She reached out and took it from the nightstand, where he'd lent it against a vase with roses.

My dearest Meg,

I am so sorry to leave without wakening you, but it is still early, and I have to go.

Thank you for last night! Your wonderful company was just what I needed, and I would like to repay you in one of the few was I know how to. My parents are hosting a dinnerparty on Friday this week, and I would be very honoured to have you as my lady.

I fully understand if you say no, but I hope you will accept. I quite enjoy spending time with you, Meg. But if I have not heared from you tomorrow evening, I take it you will accompany me, and I will wait for you in the Opera's foyer at five o'clock on Friday evening.

Untill then, my dear friend,

Raoul

P.S/ The party is in my parents house outside of town, so bring a bag for the night.

All the way back to his townhouse, Raoul wondered if he'd done the right thing. Was it a wise move to invite Meg to dinner? What if she thought he intentions were other than honourable, and said no? Or what if she said yes? Raoul felt cold shivers run down his spine at that thought. If she accepted, he would acctually have to go through with this, or else he would lose his face. A gentleman never went back on his word!

But having her as his lady would surely bring up questions. Out loud, people would ask who she was, how they'd met, and silently, in whispering voices behind his back, they'd wonder if she was his mistress, or if she could perhaps be Christine's replacement.

Raoul tried to tell himself that he worried about these things for Meg's sake, but, truth to be told, he worried about what people would say about himself. He was so tired of being the one everybody talked about, but he doubted that bringing along a new girl would change that. But on the other hand, being alone brought up questions as well.

Raoul sighed and looked out through the carriage-window. It seemed as if everything he did made people talk. And when he thought about it, he really wanted Meg to come with him. He liked her.

The carriage came to a halt in front of his house, and Raoul climbed out before the drvier opened the door. He started walking towards the front door, but then he remembered that the carriage was hired, and went back and payed the driver.

When he was standing in his livingroom an hour later, wearing clean clothes, he suddenly felt very lonely, and his house felt very big and empty. He sighed and sat down in a armchair in front of the fire. His eyes caught sight of a photograph on the mantlepiece. The picture showed Christine on stage on the openingnight of Hannibal. Raoul rose from the chair and took down the picture. My Christine, he thought, and felt a lump in his throat. My beautiful girl. He heavily sat down in the chair again, and caressed the picture with his fingertips. A single tear fell from his eyes and spread across the glass on the picture of Christine.

Author's notes: If anyone wonders, when Raoul wakes up the second time, he doesn't remember the first time, when he kissed Meg. He was half sleeping, and thought she was Christine, if you didn't get that lol

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