A/N: Right… Two chapters to go after this. I hope you like this one.

Pertie: Thank you for your reviews. They always make me smile.

Kaledena: Thanks for the review. Hold that thought…

Nabira: Well done! Oscuridad is Spanish for Darkness. Thank you for your reviews and did you guess that it was the horse in frontof the out house or were you thinking something else?

Captain Oblivious: Thank you for your reviews, they're grea tot receive. I hope you like this chapter. I updated as soon as I could!

Queensarah: Well? This ok for you? Thanks for the review… I hope you like this chapter… it's nearly over but thanks for sticking with me!

Emmakins: You'll just have to wait and see. Thank you for taking the time to review.

Ahomelesspirate: I'm glad you liked chapter 60. Raoul is a good guy and he knows she isn't his… she does love him but she isn't his, is she? Thank you for the reviews!

Angelofmusic: Thank you for the review and I'm glad you liked Raoul's reaction. I think it's good that he's allowing himself to let her go… she has the choice to go back though, doesn't she?

Hicdracones: Thank you for the wonderful (long) review. I appreciate the time you took to leave it for me. I'm glad you liked the interactions in the chapter, I was afraid it might not turn out the way I needed it to. Thanks x

'L'amour est un ange envoyé du ciel pour toucher ceux de l'utilisation

a béni assez pour le savoir.'

-Love is an angel sent from heaven to touch those who are blessed enough to know it.

-Anonymous.

Chapter 61- Lean on Me.

Christine blew warm air onto her hands as she sat on the grass by the side of a small stream. They had needed to stop and water the horses, give them a rest and, if the truth was know, give herself a rest too. She had forgotten over the years how much of a strain on her body riding for such a long time was, particularly when riding so hard. Her eyes drifted over the moonlight soaked ground and up to Henry who was splashing his face with the water of the stream. He was tall and handsome, his eyes were a grey in colour and nearly as intense as Erik. Now, as she looked at him, she could see the resemblance between the two brothers.

Their eyes were similar, in their sharpness and texture, the way the focused on her with curiosity. Both of them had strong, angular jaws and soft lips, they were both tall and broad, both softly spoken but there were many differences. Erik had been born with terrible deformities to the right side of his face, meaning he had had to cover it with a mask for his whole life. Henry had been blessed with beauty all over, from the hairs on his head down to his feet. Christine couldn't see a blemish and above all that, he was
obviously an intelligent and kind man. Christine smiled because she knew that he would make Meg happy.

Erik had been blessed with a golden voice. Although they both spoke softly Erik had a voice that could mesmerise any man or woman... child or animal. When he tried it was powerful and booming, loud and imposing he could command an entire theatre. And then, with Christine, it could be so quiet, so low and calm... so gentle that she almost swayed in its sound. He had been given, in place of his looks, not simply a gift with music but an intelligence unmeasured by anyone else she had ever know. He was an
architect, scholar, musician and physician... knowing the plants and animals... from the tiniest insect on the ground to the largest bird souring in the sky. He could read an average book in less than two hours where it would take others two days, he had an ability to absorb that information, store it and bring it back to amaze those he spoke to.

He didn't speak to many people now, of course, now that he was presumed dead. In fact, in the eyes of the law... of the world... he WAS dead.

She sighed and Henry looked up at her.

'This has all been a lot for you to take,' he said gently and she glanced at him.

'More so for you,' she whispered kindly. 'How are you feeling?'

'I'm fine,' he smiled. 'A little sore... but healing... slowly.'

She returned his smile.

'We should make a move then,' he said and forced himself to his feet.

He reached out and pulled on Oscuridad's reigns, guiding him around so that he was standing by Christine. He scraped the ground with his hoof and dust bellowed around his ankle, he turned and nuzzled Christine with his nose as she reached over and patted him gently. Then Christine pulled herself up into the saddle, hooked the reigns around her hands and pulled him around to stand next to Henry's chestnut mare. Henry climbed onto her before nodding at Christine, nudging the mare with his heel and powering away with Christine right behind him, pushing Oscuridad onwards.

She watched him as he walked across the room to pick up his glass of whisky, he leant against the fireplace and released a sigh. Her eyes drifted over his tall frame as he stood there, his eyes were tired but his face looked more relieved... more... at peace. The lines that had begun to form around his mouth were slowly disappearing, even as she looked at him she could see the weight lifting from his shoulders. Still, it was obvious that he was sad.

'Are you okay?' she asked and he turned to look at her.

'Yes,' he forced a sorrowed smile.

'Are you sure?' she asked, and he shook his head as a tear began to form in his eye. She lifted herself carefully from her seat and she walked to him, wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. At first he resisted the help, resisted the attempt at comfort and then he stopped. His body fell towards her and he squeezed her back, tears dripping from his cheeks onto her elegant dress.

'You'll be okay,' she said. 'I promise you that... you'll be okay.'

'It hurts,' he said, trying to compose himself.

'I know.'

He nodded.

'You did the right thing,' she whispered softly and kissed his hair. He felt her lips and smiled in spite of himself. She felt like his mother and this was a good feeling, a feeling he hadn't had in so long, the comforted he needed.

'I wonder...' he began but she stopped him.

'You did.' her voice was firm but not unkind. 'You really did.'

'I've tried.'

'I know you have... I know,' softness crept through her tone, touched it's usually harsh edged.

'I'll be fine,' he said, coughing away his sobs.

'You will,' she said.

She pushed him so that his muscular frame was standing at arms length, She smiled at him.

'I'll be here for you,' Antoinette said, the smile staying on her lips. 'I'm so, so proud of you... and I love you Raoul, you're my boy... the son I never had and I'm VERY proud of you.'

Christine had never felt so tired before in her life. She was shattered, physically, emotionally... she was drained. Her arms were aching and her bones felt sore... she knew from the slackness of the reigns in her hands that Ocsuridad was tired too and as she looked to her right she realised that Henry was leaning forward, so that his weight was basically resting on the horse. He was barely even holding his body up himself.

She knew it was close to six in the morning as the sun was beginning to show on the horizon and the atmosphere was starting to lighten. Christine knew that it was going to be a beautiful day but her heart was swelling in her chest. They had very few hours left.