Jen Lennon: Thanks as always for the faithful reviews.

catnipp: Do I detect a little dislike of the poor little Vicomte:)

AngelicFlutist: Thanks so much for the compliments. Glad you're enjoying the story, especially the cliffhangers. :)

stellalorelai: Thanks so much for the new review.

On with the show. There are only 2 more chapters after this one, so if anyone is interested in seeing things rewritten and/or extended, please, please feel free to mention it. This has been a lot of fun to write, but I'm not above rewriting anything if ya'll want to see a different aspect or whatever. Just review with ideas or e-mail me...whatever. Enjoy!

Chapter 23

After everyone had finished dinner, the Despreaux's, decidedly uncomfortable with the evening's events, decided to return to Paris. Michel expressed his thanks to his host, apologized for not being able to resolve their business issues, and expressed his wish that they could continue their negotiations at the Vicomte's earliest convenience. With that, they said good night and made their way to the porch where a servant brought around their horses and carriage.

Monsieur Clary and the de Chagny's went back into the house and returned the library. The door to the library opened, and he entered with the de Chagny's in tow. "Shall we get this over with?" Raoul asked in a defiant tone.

Nicole pulled away from Erik and turned to face Raoul. "Yes, Monsieur, I believe it's time. And I pray that you'll be reasonable," she said as she gestured for everyone to have a seat.

Everyone took a seat, and an uncomfortable silence came over the library. Nicole looked around from Erik to her father, Raoul to Christine. Erik already looked defeated; her father looked inquisitive, wondering what his daughter was up to; Raoul looked angry and ready to fight; Christine looked sad. Finally, when she could bear the silence no more, Nicole cleared her voice, gaining everyone's attention.

"Monsieur le Vicomte, I would like to inquire as to your intentions regarding Erik," she asked pointedly.

"Why, to see that justice is served, of course," he said firmly, glaring at Erik.

"I would like to ask a favor of you. I know my request is quite bold, but I shall make it as an appeal to your gentlemanly sense of what is just and fair," she said, staring at him intently. "You and Erik have both confirmed that he let you and Christine leave to enjoy your life together, giving up the one person he believed could make him happy."

"What of it, Mademoiselle?" he asked impatiently.

"Well, as I understand it, he showed you and the future Madame de Chagny mercy…a mercy unbefitting someone who was a true monster, as you so rudely called him earlier. And I believe, as custom would dictate, you owe him the same courtesy. Wouldn't you say so?" she asked.

"Mademoiselle Clary, if you think that releasing us makes up for the people whose lives he destroyed, you're mad," he said furiously. "He nearly added me to that list of victims, and you have the audacity to ask me to look past it? Well, you can forget about it," he said, getting up from his chair. "Come, Christine. I've heard enough of this nonsense," he said as he extended his hand to her.

"No, Raoul. Nicole is right," she said softly but firmly. "We need to hear her out. Erik did show us mercy that night, and we owe it to him."

Raoul looked at his wife in disbelief. When he realized she was firm in her decision, he turned and stared intently at Nicole.

"Thank you, Madame. Erik and I appreciate your support," she said with a smile.

"You're welcome, Nicole. Please continue," she said as she pulled her husband back into his chair.

"You're right that he could have added you to his list of victims, but he didn't," she snapped at him. "He freed you so that you could take the one person he'd ever loved and build the life with her that he had wanted for himself. And I understand that the mercy he showed the two of you does not make up for the other trouble he caused," she paused as she spared a glance in Erik's direction. He was busy staring at his fidgeting hands, a gesture that seemed odd coming from him. She refocused her attention back on Raoul and continued, "However, the daily remorse he has for his actions is far worse punishment than you could ever possibly inflict, and…"

"How could this monster, this thing, feel any remorse?" Raoul interrupted angrily, pointing his finger at Erik, who looked up almost nonchalantly.

"Monsieur, I would appreciate it if you would stop calling him such childish names. Furthermore, I would like you to…" she paused as she thought about things for a moment. "Yes, I would like you to close your eyes and imagine yourself in Erik's shoes, so to speak."

"Imagine myself to be a horrible, unloved, vile creature? Why should I bother with such a thing?" he asked spitefully. Christine placed her hand on his arm, a look of encouragement on her face. Raoul sighed heavily as he rolled his eyes, and then closed them reluctantly.

Nicole nodded her thanks to Christine once again, and proceeded to give Raoul a mental picture of what it must have been like for Erik growing up, the pain and neglect, fear and hatred from all those around him, all that she imagined he had been forced to endure. After her graphic description, Raoul's look eventually softened a bit as he tried to imagine personally going through all that Nicole described.

As she talked, Erik looked over at her, his eyes starting to tear up as he realized just how well she had come to know him. She smiled tenderly at him and then turned her gaze back on Raoul and Christine.

Christine's eyes were filling with tears as she watched her husband's emotions being tugged by Nicole's words. When she was finished, Raoul's eyes remained closed as he continued to put himself in Erik's place, finally beginning to understand what led up to the madness that ensued at the Opera Populaire.

When he had completed his mental journey, he opened his eyes. The anger was replaced by sorrow and pity. He had to admit that Nicole had a way with words. He had never been given such a vivid mental image that was nearly tangible. Reluctantly, his sympathy went out to the former Phantom, and he found himself understanding how each emotional defeat Erik had experienced over his lifetime, piled one right after the other, led him to a madness that was beyond his control.

He paused for a moment before he looked at Nicole and calmly asked, "So what do you want from me?"

She smiled at him and said, "Very simply put, I just ask that you leave Erik in peace. Don't inform anyone of his whereabouts. Give him a chance to make amends in his own way, and allow him to experience perhaps just a fraction of what you share with Christine."

He paused before asking, "May I have some time to think about your request?"

"By all means, Monsieur. Take your time," she said sweetly. "If you would prefer, we can leave you and Christine so that you may discuss things in private."

"Yes, thank you. I would appreciate that very much," he said with a slight smile.

"Very well," she said. She stood up and extended her hand to Erik, who looked up at her with tears in his eyes. Never before had someone defended him, and the passion with which she had stuck up for him so impressed Erik that he couldn't speak. Finally, he took her hand and stood up. He let out a heavy sigh and walked with her to the door.

"Father, are you coming?" she asked.

"Just a moment, my dear. There's something I wish to say to our dear Vicomte," he said as Nicole and Erik turned and walked out into the hall. "Monsieur, I'm not sure what kind of impact my daughter's words left on you, but I hope you listened hard to what she said and that you'll agree to her requests. Give the man some peace. He's lived a harder life than anyone here can imagine, though I believe Nicole did a fair job of painting a vivid picture of the horrors he's endured. It's about time he had a chance at happiness," he said kindly. He placed his hand on Raoul's shoulder briefly before walking out the door and joining his daughter and Erik.