A/N: To my wonderful readers: I meant to update this weekend, really I did, but my family went out of town for the weekend, and I was away from any computer access at all. Please forgive me.

Forgiveness. She had offered him forgiveness. For the first time in his life, someone had given him what he wanted most; to be forgiven for his crimes. And there was only one way he knew how to repay her.

"What do you plan to do now?"

"What?" She was startled by his random comment, and he thought he could detect hurt in her voice. This was for the best, he told himself. She could not stay here in the darkness forever. But...but what if she wanted to? What if she would stay with him? There was only one way to find out.

"Was Paris your final destination when you left Alsace, or were you trying to reach somewhere else? Did you have a plan at all?" He turned to face her, but avoided her wide blue eyes, which were trying to catch his.

"Of course I had a plan! A very good one that was going to work in theory, but got a little mucked up in reality." She looked a little defensive, and he found it frighteningly endearing.

"Well, what was this brilliant plan of yours?"

"Marseille. I have a friend there-"

"The sort of friend you can trust?"

"Oh yes. Monique and I have been friends since childhood. She was a gypsy as well, but she left the clan right before I did, and married a merchant ship sailor. We remained in contact, and when I become a noblewoman, I sent them a belated wedding present; enough money for her husband to buy his own trading ship. From what she writes, they have become quite wealthy, and she has been begging me to visit for ages."

"Very good, I see you thought this through well; but may I ask why you came to Paris?"

"Leon's men were trailing me; I didn't want him to follow me, so I thought I could lose him in Paris. I just didn't foresee that they would catch up to me as quickly as they did."

"Very well. We cannot assume that Leon believes you dead; the man that escaped will probably have told him where you are, and that I am with you. Fortunately, the chances of him finding anyone in Paris who either believes I exist at all or knows how to find me are very slim, so you may not be in danger here. You ought to take advantage of this chance; while they search for a way to find you, you will take the first available train to Marseille."

"You seem anxious to be rid of me; is my presence here so disagreeable?" He was loath to admit it to himself, but her hesitance to agree to his plan filled him with hope.

"My dear Remy, surely you cannot wish to stay here?" His light tone belied the weight he felt was resting on her response.

"Oh, dear God, no!" Her eyes widened at the thought. "No, you are right, it's better that I go, but..."

"What?" If there was any mercy in heaven, she would tell him that she wished to stay, that she was lonely as well, and wanted his company...

"Well, you see, I don't..." Her voice trailed off, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Don't what?" He dared to step closer to her, and placed a bandaged hand under her chin to lift her eyes to his Please, God, if you are listening, let her say she wants to be with him.

"I don't have any money." He quickly removed his hand from her face; once again, he was made a fool by his own desires. Of course she did not want to stay, did not want to be with him. Now all that remained to him was to speed her departure.

"Money is of no concern; you will have all that you need, you need only decide on the day of your departure." He replied briskly, as if he was just a disinterested host seeing an unwanted guest on her way. But, of course, I told myself. After all, that was what he was. Wasn't it? For I could have sworn I saw something like hope in his eyes, something like longing when he touched my face...but I had been mistaken before and surely must be mistaken now. He had been in love with a beautiful opera singer with a voice 'like an angel.' Who was I to compete with her memory?

"I should not wish to accept your charity, when you have already done so much for me..." And even if he did have any kind of feelings for me, what profit would that be? For I could never live here in this eternal darkness; I would die from wanting the sunlight on my face.

"Don't be ridiculous, Mademoiselle Remy; it is the very least I can do. I should have thought of facilitating your leaving sooner, I fear I have delayed you longer than you would wish." Dear Lord, how formal he sounded! He had even returned the mademoiselle to my name. If his blood on my clothes and the bandages on his hands did not prove otherwise, I would have thought that none of that tender, painful moment had even happened. Well, if he had forgotten, so would I. He could be as formal and stuffy as he wanted; two could play at that game, and I had spent years of my life practicing.

"Nonsense, this has been a perfectly pleasant stay. But I do accept your kind offer, with much gratitude. If it is convenient for you, I believe I shall leave tomorrow morning."

"Very well, no need to delay the inevitable." Was I imagining the trace of sorrow in his tone? Or was he truly sorry to see me leave?

"If you like, I could put it off for a few days; perhaps wait until your hands have healed tolerably." If he wanted me to stay, I was giving him the perfect opportunity to say so, without damaging his pride in any great way.

"No, I don't think that will be necessary, I assure you. Besides, the sooner you are on your way, the safer you will be. I assume that Monsieur Leon has no knowledge of your friend in Marseille?"

"None at all. He assumed that my only friends were the aristocrats in our circle. He won't think to look for me so far away. And even if he did, he would not have any real power there, I think." Well, it seemed he did want me gone.

"Well, then. It is settled."

"It is."

"I will go fetch the money you will need."

"Yes, that would be lovely." Lovely? I was beginning not to sound like myself. "I will go...pack. Put my things in order." Oh, that was stupid reason to leave the room; I had nothing more than a few pieces of clothing, how much time could I possibly need?

"Then I will see about finding some dinner."

"Yes, wonderful."

Without another word, we went our separate ways; he to the room behind the organ, and I to the little room I had grown so fond of.

A/N: Sorry, no more fluff for you; not for a few chapters anyway. I know it seems bleak, and our two favorite people are acting like idiots, but they are both a little fragile right now. I do promise a fluffy ending though, so keep reading, and keep reviewing. Reviews make me happy, and I write when I am happy; ergo, more reviews equal faster updates. On a different note,I just got into every college I applied to, so writing might take a backseat to partying for the next few days. Actually, that's a lie. I live a boring life. So I'll be updating soon.