It was so long till I was diverted into the real world. The next few weeks were that of a dream. When I finally awoke I was shocked to see Christine sitting on a chair at the end of my bed. I had believed it had been an illusion of her when Addie lay next to me. I first inferred it was all a sick night mirror caused from all the rum they filled me with to conger my pain.

My wound was now sealing after hours of stitching and hours of pulling out the threads then days of healing. I had requested that they stop filling me with rum. I hate alcohol. I don't like the thought of not being able to control myself. Hell knows what I'd do.

Now I am staring at a woman that had not been an important element in my life. She simply was my life. I wanted to cry. Not because I had no hope with her, not because she was now married to a man I nearly killed, but because I had given pieces of me to her that I wish could be only Addie's. Addie was a pure spotless virgin. She had given me everything. My lips had touched another woman's who's heart belonged to another. This woman had been the center of all my distorted fantasies. I want so badly to take all that back. I want so badly to forget all those times I had stared at Christine getting dressed through the mirror.

"I'm sorry," were the only words I had managed to say to Christine. Before I could intake her reaction Addie entered the curtained area and stood next to Christine. Here were the two women I had ever given a part of me to. I loved both of them at one point, but now I realized the child in her. I had known it since I met her. She had always been a lost child. She wasn't my savior. This woman is now in my past. Addie is my future. We all shot odd stares as silence fell over the room.

"Do you want me to explain Christine?" Addie asked. She was doing much better, but the huge black mound on her temple made me shiver. She had been wearing this huge thing wrapped around her chin and head when I first saw her. She probably had operations seeing as she most likely fractured some bones in her cheek and she can see now. There were thin red lines on the side of her face. Her pupils met mine. Her curls fell gently upon her shoulders and hugged her round face. I could see know that her eyes were lighter then Christine's and so was her hair. Christine's hair was a mess of spirals, but Addie's was wavy. Yes, I do admit Christine did have more of a physical attraction, but Addie's soul was far more precious. Christine could never have made me feel as special as Addie does even if she tried. Addie crowned me as some type of sex god. She made me feel important. This is a feeling I have never tasted till she came into my life. Her bittersweet love drives me mad. I could barely consume her words as she spoke. I wanted to grab her and make love to her. I wanted her to have no doubts that no other man will ever love her as insanely as I do. God I love her!

"I'll explain," Christine replied.

"What happened is," she began. "There was a man that was hired to assassin you both. He was hired by a man that I'm sure you both have met." She said staring at Addie to signal her.

"Do you remember the man who tried to, well the man that you rescued me from at the ball?" Addie asked staring at the ground.

My teeth quenched in fury. I knew I should have killed him when I had the chance.

I nearly smiled remembering what had happened the morning after. That had been the first time I had enjoyed a woman's kiss. The first time there was tears and snot running down my face. Oh how could I forget that pleasure! That odd tingling sensation that surrounds your body. That had been the first time I had been able to satisfy my secret cravings.

"Yes well he had hired a hit man." Addie said diverting her focus from the floor to the wall.

"A dancer had told him of your ware bouts but was frightened when she realized his intentions were to kill you." Christine pointed out. I scooted in closer in anticipation of the rest of the story then realized the pain in my stomach. A moan escaped my lips.

"In a state of shock the dancer shot the man who was beating Addie." She said. I flinched. I had failed to protect her. That man touched my wife. I felt my jaw lock in anger.

"The man is now rotting in prison along with his assistant, and the assassin is now rotting in a coffin." Addie spat. I shook my head at her. I found it ironic that she found this situation humorous.

"Where does she come in?" I stuttered motioning to Christine and raising the white sheets further over my chest to conceal my chest. I know felt so bare. At least they had left my mask on which was most likely covered in blood by now.

"I had come to audition for an opera in London. It seems the opera's auditions have been postponed till next month." She said grinning at me. She knew that I had written it.

Christine sat up and forced Addie to sit in her spot. She refused to let a pregnant lady be left standing. Addie narrowed her eyes reminding her of some secret that they shared. I just opened my mouth in bewilderment.

"Um," I signaled them to explain.

"I, I," Christine began to stutter. Addie cleared her throat on cue.

"I'm pregnant," She said turning away from me. Did she expect me to flinch? I only shrugged. I Guess I'm happy for her. She deserves happiness too. I no longer cared if the child that lay in her stomach belonged to Raoul. I no longer flinched at the thought of his name. Christine is happy and so am I. All we could have shared was darkness.

Everyone's eyes swirled around the room from person to person. This was a rather odd reunion that I never believed I would ever experience. Life never fails to amaze me.