Thank you so much to all of my wonderful reviewers! You totally made my day! I decided to just post this chapter now since I doubt that I'll be able to this week, since it is hell week of JCS.

Disclaimer: Don't own POTO or songs.

"Love heals
When you feel like you can't go on.
Love heals
Hold onto love, it'll keep you strong.
Love heals
When you feel like you can't go on.
Love heals
Hold onto love, it'll bring you home."

-"Love Heals" from RENT.

2. The Healing Process

Raoul groggily opened his eyes. This was certainly not the bedroom of his manor; it wasn't even the alley that he remembered collapsing into. He tried to raise his head, but as soon as he did, the room began to spin.

'What did I do to myself?'

Then everything came back like a fist in the face. Don Juan; the Phantom; the kiss. The fact that Christine was gone came back like a blow to the face. But another thought had entered his mind: who had gotten him out of the gutter?

Raoul's attention shifted to the small figure curling from the chair onto his chest with a mane of wavy blonde hair spread out around her. Holding his head, Raoul managed to slowly sit up, noticing that the covers slid down, revealing his bare chest.

'What the hell really happened to me?'

As soon as he moved, the little figure sleeping on him jumped and awoke instantly. He recognized her immediately; it was Meg Giry, the daughter of the ballet mistress who he had seen by Christine's side countless times.

"Oh, you're awake!" she squeaked. The poor girl looked exhausted. "You shouldn't be sitting up monsieur, you are still very sick."

"Mademoiselle Giry?"

"Yes?"

"What happened last night?"

"Well, I was leaving the Opera and maman found me and then we found you in the streets and took you back here."

"Where are we?"

"The Gateway Inn," Meg replied. "Now Monsieur le Vicomte, you really should lie back down." She laid the back of her hand over his forehead. "You still have a fever. You need to rest." And with that, Meg proceeded in finding something cool to put on Raoul's head and left the room. It was not long before she returned with her mother.

"Good morning Vicomte."

"Good morning, Madame," he replied weakly.

Madame Giry ordered Meg to get some breakfast and turned to the Vicomte.

"Monsieur, what happened down there?"

Raoul felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Remembering had been bad enough, but to repeat and relive every agonizing moment was too much to ask.

"Madame Giry, please."

"Monsieur, I need to know."

With a deep sigh, Raoul started to retell the nightmare that was sadly a reality. "I managed to find her down there, but he noticed me first. The Phantom allowed me to come inside but it was a trap and he caught me in a noose. Chris… she had a choice; marry him and I could live and refuse and send me to my death. She never really chose."

"What do you mean?" Giry asked.

Somehow or other, the bitter words were released, stinging his throat as they passed his lips. "She kissed him," he uttered in a raspy whisper, "she has left with him." Raoul fought to hold himself steady and try not to reveal the weakness that Christine's memory had instilled in him.

"So they are safe then," she sighed to herself. Raoul nodded slightly. "Thank you Vicomte."

Meg opened the door with a small basket in her hands, instantly breaking the conversation.

"I brought some muffins maman. They're in the other room."

Madame Giry left and Meg couldn't help but notice that Raoul looked even wearier than before.

"Monsieur, are you alright?" 'What a stupid question. He's only sick and he lost his fiancée.'

"Depends what you mean by that," Raoul replied glumly.

"I brought you some breakfast," Meg said meekly.

"Mademoiselle?" he asked weakly. "Were you up all night?"

"Well someone had to make sure that you would be okay." 'And how could I leave someone I love to die?'

Raoul smiled slightly at her and looked away as he took a bite of a croissant. It tasted bland to him. Everything in life had lost its flavor. Ever since last night, he felt like his soul had been torn from him. The world, once bright as day, had become a surreal, cold place in which he only existed with an empty heart. "My God, why!" he whispered in a choked voice.

Something dark and dreary had clouded Raoul's gray eyes as he turned his gaze away. Meg was almost sure she knew why as her heart melted from his sad gaze. It was Christine again, it would always be Christine. She watched sadly as his eyes shut in frustration to control himself and still a solitary tear escaped. Others soon followed and Meg sat there, torn apart by her beloved's grief. She silently cursed her friend. Yes, she had some dark joy that Christine was gone, but it hurt to watch the effects that her memory had on Raoul. His cries slowly rose to gentle sobs, each one shaking her to the core. Hesitantly she pulled him into her arms and his quivering body held onto her. His tears were muffled into her shoulder and Raoul found that he didn't care about anything else but the desperate need for the comfort of human contact. A tear of her own fell down Meg's rosy cheek as his sorrows poured into her heart and she began to weep for the man that she embraced and for losing a love that had never been hers to begin with.

Nothing like a good crying scene. I'm sorry these chapters have been so short. I'm trying to make them longer. Tell me what you think!

-Rachel