Disclaimer: I don't own any of this. But it's been forever...
"Meg? My daughter, it cannot be!" Madame Giry called as Meg opened the door to their small shack.
"Yes mother, it's me." Meg confirmed wearily. The last thing she wanted to deal with right now was her mother and her endless questions.
"Where have you been?" Madame Giry rushed over to embrace her.
"It's not important. I'm really tired. Is it alright if I just go to sleep?" Meg asked. She was on the verge of tears. Her mother really had been worried about her.
"You are more than tired dear. I know that right now you don't want to talk about it, but you will have to eventually you know?" Her mother told her.
"Yes, I know," Meg agreed.
"And wait until Jean Claude hears you're here! He'll be so excited. He likes you Meg. He was so very upset when you disappeared." Her mom patted her hand before letting her walk off to her room. That night Meg couldn't stop the tears that rolled off her cheek on onto her pillow, but she vowed that tonight would be the last night she would cry for the Phantom.
Three days later Meg was still unable to pull herself out of bed. She felt like the world was a big black hole waiting to swallow her. There was nothing she could do to make herself feel better. Just thinking about Erik caused her heart to ache.
Jean Claude decided he couldn't stand it any longer. Knocking gently on Meg's door, he called out to her, "Meg? Are you decent? I'm coming in." He announced before opening the door. Meg smiled weakly at him and sat up in bed.
"Hello." She said faintly.
Jean Claude rushed to the side of her bed and sat on the edge next to her.
"Where have you been this whole time? Your mother tells me you refuse to speak of your ordeal. Tell me what he did to you and I will see that he is brought to justice." He spoke passionately. Meg admired his passion and fire because inside she felt nothing. Feeling numb was the only way to keep herself from dying by inches thinking of Erik all the time.
"Who is this "he" person?" Meg asked.
"Oh come on, Meg. I know very well it was the Phantom that held you captive all this time. He can't hurt you any longer. I'll protect you now, so you have no reason to fear him." He told her consolingly, but it didn't console her. Oddly enough, it made her angry.
"I don't fear him because I'm not that ignorant." Meg told him bitterly.
"Ignorant? I think your lack of fear shows just the opposite. He is a dangerous creature and should be feared. Ignorance would be thinking otherwise." Jean Claude told her coldly.
"Because you know him so well?" She asked him with false sweetness.
A muscle in Jean Claude's cheek tensed. She was really making him angry.
"You've been brainwashed. There is no other explanation for it." He said shortly.
"No, I haven't. Now I see the world clearly. People are so quick to judge each other when really they know nothing. It's sad." Meg finished lamely.
Jean Claude looked at her closely. His expression became sad. "What has happened to the girl I used to know? You've changed, Meg." He got up to leave and turned around as he exited. "Feel better, Meg. I need my old familiar Meg to return." He told her and then shut the door.
"Meg?" Meg heard a voice calling out to her gently. The voice was masculine and soothing, but it didn't sound exactly like Jean Claude. "Meg?" The voice called out again, this time a little closer.
She turned in her bed to find Jean Claude staring at her from the doorway. She was mildly surprised and immediately began blushing. It wasn't proper that he see her in the nightgown, nevermind the fact that she had let Erik see much more that that.
"What are you doing here?" She asked primly.
He smiled at her tone, "You're mother asked me to watch over you while she went down to the market. She seemed to be afraid you were going to disappear again."
"Oh, no. I'm not disappearing anytime soon." Meg told her honestly. She didn't want to think about Erik or the opera so she searched her mind for something else to talk about.
"Why are you looking so concerned? If it's because I'm not supposed to see you in this state, it's ok. It'll be our little secret. And, your nightgown isn't exactly the revealing sort, so I think we're safe," Jean Claude joked. He was so natural with her. It was like they'd known each other for a long time. There was no pressure or fear at all. She knew that she should appreciate and like the ease of their relationship, but right now she just felt an ache for Erik.
Erik stood in the shadows just outside Meg's house. He'd been standing there for the better part of an hour. Her mother had left and only Meg and the vile Jean Claude were in the house. He could feel his anger begin to grow. Why was Jean Claude with Meg? There was no reason for it. Hot on the heels of his anger was a wave of pain. He'd never felt so desolate. When Christine abandoned him, it had hurt, but he'd felt more anger than pain. With Meg, the pain was a constant stabbing sense of loss and the overwhelming urge to bring her back to him. He had no one to blame but himself. He'd sent her away, and with good reason. Their lives would never work together. He needed to turn and walk away and forget Meg Giry even existed. Even knowing all this, turning from her house and walking away was the hardest thing he'd ever done.
Hey guys! Sorry it has taken me quite literally forever to update this. But here it is. I hope you like it and will forgive me. But finally i found a storyline in my head to continue with. And thanks for all the reviews they totally kick me in the butt and make me want to hurry up and get this thing going again! So thanks to anyone who reads this and Double thanks to the reviewers! I'll hope to post the next chapter soon. It's already halfway finished by the way!