A/N: Thanks to Kagome1514 and ahomelesspirate for their help with my French. I don't speak a word and apparently my spell check isn't doing much good. I went back and fixed the last chapter.

The night air was hot and stagnant as Christine made her way once more into the city. This time she was crying uncontrollably, mourning what she was giving up, fearing what lie ahead her. She was no longer a foolish girl who could follow her every whim; she was a wife and mother, a woman who had obligations that must be fulfilled. Yet she was throwing them all to the wind for a man who had caused her so much pain. But, she reminded herself, he had also given her much of the joy in her life. Was she not also obligated to repay him? For the thousandth time she considered abandoning her plan. How easy it would be for her to climb back in her bed, wake up the next morning, and pretend as though none of this had happened. It was too late for that, though. Now she was standing in front of the jail, the tears wiped clean from her face. The night guard was there, a man who would not know her. He had been half-asleep, but he became suddenly alert when Christine approached him, the gun she had taken from Erik's lair in her hand.

"Open the cell," she commanded with a confidence she didn't know she could possess at a moment like this.

"Put the gun down, Mademoiselle," he said defensively, slowly motioning with his hands.

"Do it now," she ordered once more.

The sound of jangling keys and the opening cell door roused Erik from his sleep.

"What is going on?" he asked, his eyes moving from the guard to Christine.

"We're leaving. You don't deserve to be here," Christine answered his question, her gaze still locked on the guard. "Take this," she threw a cloak into the cell.

Erik stood and wrapped it around himself. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Please, be reasonable," the guard pleaded.

"When you are asked, say that you left for a moment because you heard suspicious sounds outside, and when you returned he was gone. You went inside the cell to look around, and the door closed behind you," Christine's voice was beginning to falter as she forced the guard inside the cell. "I'm very sorry to inconvenience you. Take this for your trouble." She threw a purse full of coins to his feet before locking the door.

Erik was at her side speaking in a low voice, "This is foolish. You shouldn't be risking everything for me."

"This way," Christine directed him out of the jail and down the road where two horses awaited them.

"How long have you been preparing for this?" Erik asked in surprise.

"Not long enough. I'm sorry to say that I don't know what we will do after we've mounted the horses. I only knew that I couldn't leave you there any longer," she said sadly, tightening her grip on his arm.

Erik helped her onto her horse, although it wasn't necessary. As they began to leave he noted what a skilled rider she was. No doubt the Vicomte had taught her. For a brief moment Erik had forgotten that his Christine had a husband to return to.

"I suppose this is where we part. Thank you…for everything," Erik spoke as he turned his horse from hers.

"Don't be ridiculous. I promised to help you and intend to keep my word. You wouldn't make a liar of me, would you?" she answered playfully.

"But what of your husband? You must realize that you are risking your marriage by coming with me," he said seriously.

Christine stopped smiling, the tears she had been crying before returning to her eyes. "If Raoul loves me as much as I love him, he will find a way to forgive me."

"And your son? How long can his mother stay away from him?"

"Why are you trying to make this harder for me?" she turned on him angrily.

"I am only making sure you understand the gravity of your actions, Christine," he answered calmly.

"I know what would have happened to you if I hadn't acted, and that frightened me more than anything. Raoul did all he could, but it just wasn't enough," she replied, shrugging her shoulders.

"I'm sure he worked fervently for my release," Erik's tone was sarcastic.

"Do not speak that way of what you do not know. He would do anything to keep me from harm, and your imprisonment was torture for me. He wanted to help you, if only for my sake," she replied, the anger in her voice rising once more.

Erik decided not to press the matter, though he still had reservations about the effort the Vicomte had placed into his liberation. He didn't think Raoul the hero Christine believed him to be.

"Is there anywhere you can think to go, somewhere that you'll be safe?" Christine's voice broke into his seething thoughts.

"The only place I have ever felt truly safe was the Opera Populaire, but I suspect that is out of the question," Erik answered.

"We can find an inn to stay in temporarily, but I wish to get farther from the city before we stop," she tried to conceal the pity in her voice.

Christine suddenly noticed that Erik was no longer riding beside her. She turned to look back; his horse had stopped in the middle of the road. Erik's whole body seemed to have gone stiff.

She approached him cautiously, "What is it?"

"Gypsies," he answered, his voice on the verge of breaking.

Christine noticed the torches which stood to the left of them. Signs for different attractions surrounded a man who beckoned all passersby inside.

"That's all in the past. Let's ride on," she said gently, pulling at his arm.

They passed city after city, but Christine's caution kept pushing them forward. "Not here, it doesn't feel safe." Finally exhaustion forced them into submission and they found a quiet inn, a small brick building that they practically had to themselves. They paid for their room and went straight to bed, Erik with a pillow and blanket on the floor. "I have experienced worse accommodations," he said as he refused Christine's offer to have the bed. As the dim light of the candle began to flicker out, Erik questioned her.

"Why did you come for me?"

"I consider you a dear friend. I couldn't leave you there to die," she replied, surprised by his question.

"I am merely your friend?"

"Please, Erik, don't do this. We mustn't talk this way. I'm married now," she tried to appear calm, but the tremble in her voice did not go unnoticed.

"Yet you are here with me while your husband's bed remains empty," his voice was almost whimsical as he spoke.

"You needed me more," she answered simply.

"I needed you more then as well. I shall always need you, Christine," he said sincerely.

"I love him," she spoke softly, and it seemed to Erik that she was speaking more to herself than to him.

"I believe that you did once. But as you lie here with me, does you heart long to be there with him? Perhaps you are holding to a love that has faded away, afraid to let in a kind of love you have never known."

Erik turned on his side and fell asleep, leaving Christine to ponder what he had said.