Raoul was sure that he must have been mistaken. She couldn't seriously be asking him to take in the man who had almost destroyed their lives, the man who had killed his brother and had tried to kill him, the man who was violently obsessed with her. No, she couldn't possibly.

Christine kept her eyes down, unable to look at Raoul. "He has nowhere else to go," she repeated.

She could tell from his breathing that he was fighting hard not to scream. "This can not be happening," he said with difficulty.

"Raoul believe me, I wish I could spare you any further pain, but I swore that I would help him," she said softly.

"And what of the promise you made to me when we were married? We promised to love and cherish each other above all others. Did that mean nothing to you?" He was standing now, looking down at the wife he hardly recognized anymore.

"Of course not! Please don't speak that way, don't even think it," Christine looked up at him, her heart breaking.

"Do you realize the police already suspect your involvement in his escape?" he was practically shouting.

"What?" How could they have known?

"I lied for you, to protect you. I can only imagine what would happen to you if he was discovered here." Raoul turned his back to her and spoke quietly. "And the very thought of it is killing me." He sighed in exasperation. "Christine, you know I would do anything for you, but I truly believe that you are making the wrong decision."

"I know you think me a foolish girl," she began.

"I don't think-"

"But I know what I am doing and it is the right thing to do. He let us go- we owe him this," she stood and turned Raoul to face her.

"I will not have that monster living under the same roof as my wife and son. I won't stand for it, Christine," he said decisively.

"He is with the carriage in the old stables. I'm sure he will be content to stay there with some food and a blanket-"

"HE IS ALREADY HERE?" Raoul thundered.

Christine heard Henriette's voice outside the door. "I believe that the master and his wife wish to remain undisturbed."

"Oh nonsense. They are expecting me," Nicole called back.

So that horrible woman has returned. Christine dreaded having to see her again. She felt very ill at ease when Nicole was around, despite Raoul's assurance that there was nothing to worry over.

"We will finish this later," Raoul said, his voice cold.

"Where is my son?" Christine asked, drying the tears from her eyes.

"He is upstairs, sleeping. I will have Henriette bring him down to you."

The next moment, Nicole had pushed past Henriette into the room. She noticed Christine turn away, still wiping at her eyes. Raoul stood in the middle of the room, his hands on his hips. "I hope I have not interrupted something of importance," she said, feigning concern.

"Not at all. Christine tends to be very emotional when she returns home from a long trip." Raoul placed a hand on the small of Christine's back. "Chéri, you will join us in the dining room?"

"I will be in shortly," she sniffed.

The puffiness of her eyes hand begun to vanish when Henriette returned to the room, Christophe in her arms. The child wriggled until he was placed on the floor. He ran quickly over to his mother who pulled him up into her lap.

"Oh Henriette, I can't believe he is almost two already. Where does the time go?" she said wistfully.

Henriette slowly lowered herself to the seat beside Christine. "He has shown no interest in her."

"I beg your pardon?" Christine replied.

"He has been so depressed since you left. He tried to hide it from us, but I could see how much he missed you," Henriette said consolingly. "And if I am not being too forward, I must say that I am relieved that you have returned. I can't stand that woman!"

Christine giggled, squeezing Henriette's hand. "Thank you, Henriette. I truly needed to hear that."

Henriette smiled comfortingly, then stood to go serve the meal. Christine sat for a moment with her son, smoothing back his hair and humming softly into his ear.

"Mama is home now, dearest. Everything is going to be alright," she whispered soothingly.

Raoul watched his wife and son from outside the door. He had to do something. He was not going to lose her again. But what she asked of him…it was too much. He ran his hands through his hair, his head aching. With great effort, he pushed the worries from his mind. Christine was right- everything was going to be fine. She had returned to him, carrying another child. He was not going to let Erik bring his spirits down, not when he had so much to be thankful for. And perhaps she was right about Erik as well. He had let them go; there must have been some humanity in him. What harm would it do him if Erik stayed in the old stables? It wasn't as though they would have to face each other.

Raoul bounded up the staircase, happily leaping over every other step. He went into their room and fetched the present he had been saving for her return. A violin, almost identical to the one her father used to play. While he was by no means a prodigy, Raoul had taken several lessons from Gustave Daae and was in fact quite good. He ran his hands along the polished wood. He could play for her while she sang. He thought for a moment and placed the violin back into its case. He would save the surprise until after Nicole had left.

Raoul turned from the room and was almost to the stairs, when a hand grabbed his arm and turned him about. Nicole stood before him, a seductive smile on her face.

"We were interrupted this afternoon, before we could finish our conversation," she said, her finger trailing down Raoul's chest.

He grabbed her hand and placed it back at her side. "There is nothing more to be said, Nicole. You know that I love my wife. I could never betray her."

"I am not a simpleton, Raoul. I know you were in the middle of a fight when I arrived," she said, laughter dancing in her throat.

"Yes, we were fighting. But that changes nothing. I will never feel for you what I feel for her. Now I beg you, leave us be," he said sternly.

Raoul waited for her to respond, to acknowledge the finality of their situation. She smiled wickedly as she glanced over his shoulder at something behind him, but as he turned to look she pulled him into a passionate kiss. Raoul whirled around when he heard a sickening thud and rushed to the bottom of the stairs, where Christine lay crumpled and unconscious.