For Me

Quite some time had passed before either couple reemerged from their own magical little worlds, but when they did it was to celebrate the news of Raoul and Meg's engagement. Christine embraced her friend with happy tears, admitting to being hopelessly emotional these days to begin with. Meg was at once passed into the arms of her mother, who pulled her daughter slightly away from the little group. Raoul watched the exchange with some trepidation, even as Christine clasped his hands in her own and congratulated her dear friend

Antoinette Giry was not surprised by her daughter's engagement to le Vicomte; indeed, she had been expecting just such an occurrence for quite some time. But for so long, her little Meg had been hers alone, and their dreams had been shared. The stage…the theater…the dance.

She spoke quietly. "Meg, child, I must ask…are you very certain of your decision in this?"

Meg met her mother's probing gaze without hesitation, a soft smile curving her lips. "Yes, Maman, I am. I know it is not quite what you had imagined for me…"

Antoinette nodded with a misty smile, her usual stern demeanor melting away as she gazed at her daughter with love. "My child, your engagement to le Vicomte is far beyond any imagining I was capable of. I have only ever wanted your happiness, and it has been clear to me for some time now that he makes you so. I…I am so very proud of the woman you have become…"

"Oh, Maman…I am the woman you made me to be." Meg was instantly in her mother's arms, happy tears falling from both of their eyes, secure in the knowledge that this bond between them would never be altered.

Raoul approached the two with a nervous smile, clearing his throat. "Madame Giry, you and I have spoken a little in the past concerning my intentions towards your daughter, and you must know that I hold your opinion in the highest regard. I love Meg very much, and it would make me very happy indeed to know that we have your blessing."

Antoinette composed herself gracefully and gave him a short nod. "You have it, Monsieur le Vicomte."

He smiled fully and bent to place a kiss against Madame Giry's cheek. "I thank you Madame."

Having this serious business settled, Christine and Madame Giry had pulled Meg away to sit and talk of weddings for a while. Raoul began to follow, but was stopped short by Erik, who simply pushed a glass of brandy into his hand and grunted. "Hurt her and I'll hang you."

Despite his intrinsic dislike of the man, Raoul had to admit to a certain fascination with him. And watching him with Christine...well, it had always been obvious they shared some otherworldly connection that Raoul could never have hoped to sever. He was grateful now for seeing them together like this, as it finally allowed him to close the door on that part of his life.

His eyes drifted over to Meg and he smiled. One door closed and another open.

Raoul found himself impatient to step over the threshold. As much as he wanted to find a vicar tomorrow and elope, he knew that Meg was right in her thinking that they should wait. Still, he couldn't help fearing that the longer their engagement was drawn out; the more chances she would have to change her mind.

Raoul's smile turned slightly sardonic. She is not Christine. But still, Raoul was well aware that his father, at least, would not make life pleasant for Meg. And Jean Ranier would likely not make life pleasant for Raoul. Although he imagined there would be a great deal of pleasure in telling the cad that Meg was now officially spoken for.

Retiring to his bedroom alone that evening had been a difficult task. Raoul hadn't wanted the evening to end, nor had he wanted to be parted from Meg. Even more difficult was returning to town in the morning, but he knew his presence was wearing on Erik's patience, and frankly, Raoul really didn't wish to spend any more time in the man's company than necessary.

He had decided that he would not leave England without his fiancée, and Meg, of course, would not be leaving until Christine's baby was born, so he had taken a room at the Gate Inn. He busied himself with exploring the shipping yards that his family had interest in and seeking out other possible investments.

Several more evenings were passed at the Rousseau House without bloodshed, and Raoul had even found some strange truce with Erik. Granted it consisted of them both determinedly ignoring one another as much as possible, but it worked well enough for them.

He saw Meg every day, and they spoke often of their hopes and fears. As they grew closer, it became increasingly difficult for both of them to refrain from acting on their more passionate feelings, but Raoul was determined that they should wait until they were properly married, for Meg's sake, if not his own. Her apprehension about how well she would be received as his wife was great enough without adding to it the worry that she might be seen as a fallen woman. Their wedding night would be all the more beautiful for them both having waited.

Raoul had written to his parents soon after arriving in England to inform them of his engagement. The letter had been very direct and unapologetic. They were in love. They would be married. If he was disowned, then so be it.

A response had come to the inn at the beginning of Raoul's fourth week in Dover. His mother's elegant hand had offered her congratulations and thankfulness that Raoul had not eloped, as she was looking forward to planning a wedding. She had promised to do her best to ensure his father would be duly soothed by Raoul's return to Paris.

Soon on the heels of that encouraging news, Christine and Erik's child had made her appearance into the world.

xXx

The hour had been late when Christine's labor had begun in earnest. She had been complaining of an aching back all day, and even Erik's skilled hands had not been able to ease her discomfort. As the night had grown darker, Christine had been unable to rest adequately and she'd begun fidgeting; laying awhile, sitting, pacing…and generally making Erik very nervous. She'd been in mid-stride on yet another lap around their bedchamber when she'd stopped suddenly with a gasp, one hand flying to her belly. Erik had been at her side in an instant.

"Christine…are you well?"

She drew in a shaky breath. "Y-yes…I…" Then she'd gasped again. "Or perhaps not."

Erik laid a hand over hers. "The child?"

Christine closed her eyes, thinking better of voicing a biting response to the rather obvious question. "I…think it may be time, Erik."

A flash of panic showed clearly in his eyes. "You think? Do you not know?"

She glared at him in annoyance then. "I have never done this before, but if you would prefer we wait until I am certain…" Her words died on another pained gasp, and Erik felt the contraction against his hand.

"I am going to wake Antoinette…"

Christine hissed out a breath. "I think that would be best."

Minutes later, Madame Giry, Meg, and Katie were all hovering around and taking charge. Seeking to give Erik's tension a purpose, Antoinette had quickly sent him to town to fetch the doctor. He'd ridden hard and had nearly dragged the man from his bed, so wrought with fear and helplessness that he was perilously close to slipping into madness again. Doctor Winston had years of experience dealing with men in much the same state and calmly ignored Monsieur Rousseau's outbursts.

The night stretched on and Christine's pains grew more intense. Erik refused to leave her side, offering whatever comfort he could…his own heart twisting violently at the knowledge that he had done this to her. His angel suffered because of him, and he was truly powerless to ease her burden. All he could do was sing to her, as Christine had begged him to.

The earliest rays of the morning sun had long since kissed the horizon when the first lusty cries of a newborn babe finally filled the air. Christine, exhausted but exhilarated, had reached out for her child. Erik, who been focused solely on Christine, found he could not bring himself to look at the baby just yet. Instead, he watched Christine's face, and saw the most beautiful expression of love in his wife's eyes as she gazed on their daughter for the first time.

"Oh…Erik…" Her voice was a reverent whisper. "She is so beautiful."

Only then did Erik look down to see that their child was, indeed, beautiful. Her face was flawless, if a bit red and wrinkled, and a little crown of dark curls already adorned the top of her head. She was truly a heavenly creature…just as her mother was.

He could barely find his voice. "Exquisite." He pressed his lips to Christine's cheek, unable to stop the tears that thickened his voice. "My love…my angel…thank you…"

Meg stood watching the new little family through her own happy tears. Christine was smiling and holding her precious bundle close, and she had never looked more beautiful, even in her exhaustion. Erik sat on the bed, holding his wife and daughter in his arms, looking...well...stunned was perhaps the most fitting description. Almost as though he couldn't quite believe himself to be there.

Thankfully none of the couple's darkest fears had come to pass on this day. Only a most joyful blessing. Angelique Christine Rousseau, as the child was quickly named, was certainly a tiny vision to behold, born of a love quite unlike any other.

A/N: Fluff...fluff and more fluff... Thanks for the reviews...feedback is always a wonderful thing. Just as you all get that gleeful little tingle when you see a chapter update, I get one when I see a review. But I'm not a review junkie...really...I'm not...