In Friendship

Meg Giry was true to her promise to distract Raoul de Chagny from his continued romantic interests. The Vicomte called on Christine not four days after her reunion with Erik, and Madame Marseille, who ran the boarding house, proudly informed Christine and Meg of his presence. The older woman was clearly happy to have such a respectable man back in her establishment once again.

Christine looked worriedly at Meg. "Is it wrong of me to have hoped he wouldn't call on me again?"

Meg smiled sympathetically, "Do not worry, Christine. All will be well." The blond tucked her tongue in her cheek and added, "As long as you do not accept any more marriage proposals."

Christine huffed, "Really, Meg! You are hardly helping."

Meg laughed a little and gave her friend's hand a quick squeeze. "Then let me go down and keep him company whilst you make yourself less attractive to him."

Christine couldn't help giggling. "Perhaps we should have saved one of La Carlotta's dresses from the Opera."

Meg joined Christine in laughter. "Good riddance to those hideous things."

"Meg, you really should not speak of Carlotta and her dog in such a way."

Meg pressed a hand over her mouth to reign in her laughter. "Christine! Such a wicked woman you've become."

Christine sobered just a little. "You have no idea, Meg."

Meg took a deep calming breath, and nodded to Christine before making her way down the stairs, leaving Christine alone to think about the pain she had caused to poor Raoul. She feared she was about to hurt him even more.

Christine waited several moments before she made her way down to join Meg and Raoul. As she approached the parlor, she heard the sound of laughter echoing into the hall. Her eyes widened in mild surprise and she entered the room to the sight of Raoul and Meg sitting across from one another in obvious enjoyment of some folly or another. For a brief moment, she was able to take in the look of contented relaxation upon Raoul's handsome face, but all too quickly his eyes found her and he seemed to suddenly tense. He straightened and stood to greet her with a slight bow and a kiss on her hand. "Christine, you look radiant."

Christine colored at his compliment, and smiled at him, and then at Meg. "What have you both been speaking of with such enjoyment?"

Meg grinned a little. "Only life upon the wicked stage."

Christine arched an eyebrow, wondering which of Meg's wicked stories she had been telling Raoul. Whatever it had been, he had certainly seemed to be enjoying it. Christine was glad, as that would make her plan to keep Raoul at a polite distance so much easier. "Well, I am glad to see my two dear friends are getting on so well, because I would like for us all to have lunch together today. That is, if you would care to eat with us, Raoul."

A flicker of surprise seemed to pass over Raoul's face, but then he smiled happily. "I can think of nothing that would please me more than dining with two beautiful ladies."

Christine noticed his eyes briefly drift away from her and over to Meg, who was blushing a little. How...odd, she thought.

The three of them sat together for a light lunch from Madame Marseille's kitchen, and Raoul resumed discussion of the wicked stage. "I am actually quite glad to have the opportunity to speak with you both about some news that has come to my attention. It seems that the Opera Populaire is to be renovated and reopened."

Christine gasped, thinking immediately of Erik, and wondering if he knew of this. She noticed Raoul watching her intently, but before she could think of what to say to cover her wayward thoughts, Meg broke the silence. "Have Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin not gone back to their junk business?"

"Scrap metal." Raoul muttered automatically, then grinned along with Meg. Christine smiled as well, so grateful for Meg's quick mind and easy humor. Raoul continued on, "They have indeed washed their hands entirely of the theater. A Monsieur Ranier has purchased the building and plans to rebuild."

Christine wondered, "Is that possible?"

"The engineers seem to believe that the structure is still sound. Of course, the entire stage and auditorium must be replaced, and there is a great deal of fire and water damage to the interior. But Monsieur Ranier feels it is a worthy venture."

He smiled first at Meg, then Christine, though his cheerfulness seemed a little forced on this subject. "Perhaps you shall both be able to reclaim your former positions before long."

Christine felt herself pale slightly, and her hand drifted up to her abdomen. She knew that she would never sing at the Opera Populaire again, for so many reasons, but, oh, how she wished that she could.

Meg, sensing the sudden tension, cleared her throat and addressed Raoul. "And will your family continue as patrons, Monsieur le Vicomte."

Raoul looked pointedly at Meg, a strange little frown on his face. Then he shook his head a little and smiled. "Ranier has already solicited me. Understandably, I am still undecided."

"Understandably." Christine echoed absently, her mind still replaying her memories of the Opera. And thinking of Erik.

The table grew silent until Meg forced the conversation to a more carefree subject. "Tell me, sir. What news have you of the high society? I simply adore good gossip."

Christine's gaze shot to Meg, and she saw the mischievous twinkle in her friend's eyes. Le Vicomte de Chagny could not be used to such behavior from ladies. Indeed, he was staring at Meg in open mouthed shock, and Christine tried and failed to smother a laugh. Then, to Christine's utter amazement, Raoul joined in their laughter before proving himself rather fond of gossip as well.

All in all, the visit had gone very well after the initial awkwardness, thanks greatly to the ease with which Meg and Raoul had seemed to converse, a fact that Christine mentioned after Raoul had taken his leave. "Oh, I cannot thank you enough for this, Meg. Today went better than I had expected, and it is all thanks to you. I cannot believe how well you and Raoul seem to get on."

Meg looked away, smiling a little oddly before meeting Christine's eyes with a sudden intensity. "Christine…I must confess something to you, and I hope that you will not think ill of me. I…had spoken with Raoul on several occasions before today. Only little conversations, really, nothing of consequence…but I fear that it might have been something I said that led him to court you again."

Christine started, frowning slightly at her friend's pleading eyes. "Meg, whatever do you mean? What could you have said?"

Meg looked briefly away in guilt before answering. "I…rather chastised him for not granting you the time you'd asked him for all those weeks ago. I am so sorry, Christine. I only meant to make him see how unfair he had been. I knew your feelings for Erik, though you'd not yet found your way back to one another. I should have kept my mouth shut and let it be."

Christine shook her head, trying to imagine what Raoul must have thought to be scolded by Meg. The image was rather amusing really. Perhaps Erik's strange humor was beginning to rub off on her. She smiled and clasped Meg's hand, seeking to ease her friend's mind. "Raoul's feelings for me, whatever they may be, are not your doing, Meg. He would not have seen me again if he hadn't wished to, and now I must hurt him a second time." Christine paused, feeling the familiar guilt settle over her again. "Perhaps I should simply tell him that I am leaving Paris."

Meg sighed, "You know he will ask you for an explanation, or to know where you are going. If you must lie to him regardless, Christine, perhaps a lie of omission is best."

A lie of omission. How many of those have altered my life thus far?

Christine could only pray that this lie would not come back to haunt her.

A/N: Yes, dear Raoul is still lingering, and poor Meg feels at fault because of her meddling. Those of you who read Little Conversations will recognize the middle of this scene - although told from Christine's perspective here. It kind of tied the stories together for me. You can probably guess that Erik won't be overjoyed to find out Raoul is still a part of Christine's life. He's making progress, but he still has those issues.