A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad I'm not the only one who hates Raoul! Lol.

Athena: Good idea, but I have other plans for how Christine sees Erik again. You'll find out what next chapter!

Phantom-lover72: My thoughts exactly!

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Christine woke at dawn, sweating. She had had a nightmare again. She had been having one every night since Raoul had died. It was always the different, but she was always running from an unknown fear.

It had been a week since Raoul's funeral. It had been a small, with only his closest friends. His parents came too, but only arriving the day before, and leaving immediately after. They had never liked her, and thought Raoul had married beneath himself. She did not see them at all, until the funeral, where they were cold, and distant. She knew that unless her baby was a boy, that she was of no use to them, and prayed, that it was indeed a boy.

For the past week, she had been very lonely. She had never bonded with any of the wife's of Raoul's friends, and no one visited her. She was alone in her sorrow, and she felt alone in the world.

Turning over she tried to fall back to sleep, which proved impossible. After about two hours of tossing and turning, she got up to find some breakfast.

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It was almost 3:00, and she was almost asleep when her maid knocked on her door. "Come in," she said groggily. She had gone back to bed to try to make up for the lack of sleep she had been getting at night, but it was no use. It seemed her whole life had been haunted by dreams. First Erik's, now these. Inwardly, she sighed. Was she ever going to be free of them?

The maid entered, and curtsied. "Sorry to bother you Madame, but there are people at the door to see you."

Christine sat up interested. Who had come to see her? "Who?" She inquired of her maid.

"They did not tell me their names Madame," the maid said looking at her feet. "Would you like help getting dressed?"

Christine sighed. "Yes please." She let her maid pick out a dress, and do her hair however she liked. It didn't matter to her which dress she wore, or how her hair was done. All her dresses were black now, and she didn't care how she looked anymore as long as she looked acceptable. Over all it took her half an hour to get down stairs, by which time she had been informed her guests were in the sitting room having tea.

Straitening her dress, she opened the door and caught a glimpse of Madame Giry and Meg Giry, before her friend hurled herself at her.

"Meg!" Madame Giry exclaimed, shocked.

"I've missed you so much!" Meg's voice came, a little muffled.

Christine hugged her fiercely back. "Me too Meg, but your kind of cutting of my air supply," she joked.

Meg blushed. "Sorry," she said releasing her friend. Together they went and sat on the couch next to each other, across from Madame Giry. "How are you doing? We heard about Raoul."

Christine's eyes glistened, but no tears fell. She had cried all the tears she ever would for Raoul. "As good as I could be. I've been lonely though. I'm so glad you're here."

Meg compassionately stroked her friend's hand. "At least you have the baby to remember Raoul by."

"How long till the baby comes?" Madame Giry asked.

"Three months. I think I'm going to go out of my mind by then with boredom. How long are you staying?"

"Just for the evening," replied Madame Giry. "Meg has rehearsal tomorrow."

Christine's face fell a little, but she quickly smiled. "You'll come back, and visit won't you?"

Madame Giry smiled kindly. "Of course my dear."

The two younger girls were soon talking non-stop. They had seen each other a few times since Christine's wedding, but not often. Meg was always busy with rehearsals, and Christine was busy being a wife. They had only been able to catch a few days together in the past two and a half years.

Madame Giry watched the girls smiling. Christine looked awful though. It looked like she hadn't slept in days. There were bruises under her eyes, and her skin was deathly pale. Guests would do her some good. She wished Christine would take care of her self, if to for herself, then for the baby.

After about two hours a servant knocked on the door surprising them all.

"Dinner is ready Madame."

Christine looked up shocked. How the time had flown by. "Is it that time already?" She said standing up. "Thank You," she said dismissing the servant. As Meg and Madame Giry stood up, she led them to an adjoining room. "This way."

Madame Giry stopped in the doorway. "Christine, may I speak to you a moment alone?"

Christine gave Meg a questioning look, who shrugged. "Of course," she replied. "You can have a seat Meg," she told her friend as she walked make into the other room, and shut the door. Meg, of course, rushed to the door, and pressed her ear against it hoping to catch what they were saying.

"Is something the matter Madame Giry?" Christine asked.

Madame Giry looked at her hard. "I just thought I'd let you know Erik is gone."

Christine felt a little faint. She couldn't bear the thought of losing her teacher so soon after losing Raoul. "He's not dead is he?" She chocked out in a whisper.

"Of course not," Madame Giry said waving her hand to dismiss the thought. "He's just left the Opera House."

"How do you know?" Christine asked relived. "I thought you said your not allowed to visit his home."

"I'm not." Madame Giry's tone became hard again. "He left me this note." Reaching into a pocket in her skirt, she pulled out an envelope. Its seal was red, in the shape of a skull, and on it was written Madame Giry in red ink. "Here," Madame Giry said as she handed the envelope to Christine.

Slowly, Christine opened the envelope, and took out the note inside.

Dear Madame Giry,

I would like to thank you for all your help over the years. Your services are no longer needed. I have acquired a home outside Paris that suites my needs. I no longer feel at rest in the Opera House, and wish to escape thememories it holds for me. Here is some money for all your troubles over the years. Once again I thank you.

O.G.

Christine shakily took a seat. She had driven him out. Made his soothing darkness into hell. She had driven him into the light, into the world of men, where he had been so cruelly received. Her eyes filled with tears. How could she have done this to her angel? "I've driven him out," she said shakily. "He couldn't bear the memories of me. Of the thought of me having Raoul's baby." She desperately tried to hold her tears in, as guilt overwhelmed her.

Madame Giry watched her carefully. "I thought I'd let you know in case you were planning to visit him."

Christine flushed. How did Madame Giry know that was the first place she planned to go after she had the baby?

Madame Giry saw her face redden and said quietly, "Please don't go looking for him. He has been hurt enough."

Christine looked up letting a few tears fall. "I don't want to hurt him."

"Then leave him be. When you left him it almost killed him. You can't do that to him again," Madame Giry interrupted her.

"I know," Christine said quietly. "But he haunts me. There isn't a night he doesn't visit my dreams, or a day I don't think of him. Raoul was right, I will never escape him."

Madame Giry looked at her for a moment, and then asked gently, "Do you love him?"

"No!" Christine said quickly. "He's a murder, yet he's my friend." She said in a calmer voice. "And I want him to stay that way. He was there when I needed someone the most. When I missed my father, or when Carlotta made fun of me. His voice was always there comforting me. That night I never wanted to abandon him, I mean I didn't want to stay with him, but… I still want him in my life."

"My dear, Erik doesn't want your friendship. He wants your love, and if you can't give him that I suggest you stay away from him."

Meg hurried to sit down as the door opened, just barely making it. Her mother was not fooled, and raised an eyebrow at her. Meg knew they would be talking at home. Christine, fortunately was too upset to notice anything, sat down and was quiet for most of the meal.

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A/N: I hope I kept everyone in character here, but tell me if I didn't. As always read and review please!