A/N: Thanks for all the reviews!

Christine and Raoul ate in the dining hall and sat by the fire until the storm passed over within an hour's time. Then they were back on the road. But they traveled much faster than Erik and she had, and they soon reached another village just as the sky was growing dark.

"It's night time, Raoul. It's awfully dark. Could we get a room for tonight? I promise I wont be a burden one more time until Paris if you just allow this." Christine asked in her sweetest voice. Raoul didn't try to argue with her. Nodding, he called to tell the driver to pull into the village.

That night, when Raoul was sleeping in his bed and she was supposed to be, she snuck out and ran through the town, trying to find the right house. She found it in time, then knocked hard on the door.

"Nadir! Nadir, open the door!" She called desperately when he didn't answer.

The door did fly open after that, to see a bewildered Nadir standing before her. "Christine? What are you doing here?"

Her arms automatically flew around his neck, needing someone to understand her. "They took him, Nadir! They captured Erik! They'll kill him when they get him to Paris, if not before! You must do something!" Christine begged after he had shut the door.

"I do know about what happened. But what am I to do? I have no say in it."

"You're a daroga! Surely-"

"Was. I was a daroga, as you kindly pointed out last time you were here."

"But you believed Erik! You know he didn't do this! I am sworn under secrecy not to tell anyone that I went willingly with Erik. Therefore I can not stand up for him. I would, really I would. I don't care what they'd do to me, if it would save him. But it wouldn't, and he made me swear not to. Is there not anything you can do for him?"

"What would you have me do? I ruined my reputation for Erik once already. Therefore, they will not listen to me. They know I'm on his side."

"But there must be something! They'll murder him! Murder, Nadir - for this is not an execution. He did not do this crime! It will be unjust murder, what they do. And you know they wont just kill him; they'll torture him like a defenseless animal! They'll shame him, they'll put him where all can see and say horrible things - and he'll let them! He told me if they took me, he'd-"

"Please, Christine, do not make this more dramatic then it must be."

"This is no opera - I am not trying to be dramtic - but it is so! You lost your wife. You had an emptiness from that which you still have not been able to fill. I know that feeling now, and Erik is feeling it for the last time. He told me before that he will not fight. He has lost faith; I saw it in his eyes. He thinks there is no hope; which could very well be right, but still...oh Nadir, something must be done!"

He nodded. "I do not know what I shall do, but I will be in Paris late tomorrow afternoon. I will talk with the chiefs of police, and the judge. I'll try to make sure Erik at least gets a proper trial. Does that ease your worries at all?"

She nodded. "Knowing he has more than just one person on his side does, yes."

"May I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"How is it that the Vicomte allowed you to come here?"

"Oh, he didn't. He's asleep, and thinks I am too."

"He's not guarding you all too well, is he?"

"I assured him I wanted no one to guard me. I just want to be left completely alone."

"You are wise to add to your wit. But you best get back before he catches you."

Christine nodded. She started to walk away when she turned to him. "Thank you...so much."

Nadir nodded. "Anything. Go now."

With that, Christine left.

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When Christine awoke come morning, she found Raoul missing from his room. She hurried down to the lobby, where she saw him talking with a man.

"Raoul?" She asked, wondering what he was doing. It was only dawn, afterall, and she had never known Raoul to be much of a morning person.

"Christine, you are awake early this morning."

"A habit." She said simply, turning her head from his angry face. Anything that she said that could refer to Erik, he immediately grew angry about.

"What are you doing?" She asked instead.

"My wound is not completely healed yet. This good sir is checking it."

"I see." Was her simple reply.

"Christine...perhaps you can enlighten me. The night this hotel was searched, a sword from the mantelpiece went missing. We found that a couple traveling together that matched your description, as well as that Phantom were said to stay here the same night. Did he take the sword?"

Christine panicked, knowing that Erik had indeed stolen it. But to say he had would make the death of the farmer that attacked them seem too likely that it was by Erik's hand.

"Not...not that I know of. I never saw a sword on him."

"What made you stay with him if there was never a weapon?"

"I stayed because he was always watching me. Never did I see him sleep. Besides that, he knows how to make punjab lassos, and there was plenty of rope around. Also, we were rarely near towns. I was lost; I didn't know where to go. I was too afraid to try to wander away by myself."

"Well...there was a strange accident of a farmer not far from here. Did the Phantom have anything to do with that?"

"Raoul, not everything that happens is Erik's fault! That's not fair; you're just like every other person." She said, losing her patience.

"Christine...you dont...have feelings for him anymore, do you? Surely after this you do not believe still in your Angel of Music imposter, am I right?"

"I know what happened better then you do; you need not remind me. And yes, I can not help but feel for him."

"To feel for him? You mean pity and compassion?" He asked, seemingly unbelieving that she could possibly be saying what she was.

"Yes, of course. Any person would if they knew him for more than a Phantom. And he is more than that, Raoul."

"God, Christine...do you love him?" Raoul asked, his face registering in shock.

"Raoul! How dare you say such a thing for me. To ask if I am compassionate to him is one thing, but to say that I love him? Here? Right after everything happened? You have went too far;completely overstepped your boundaries. I am disappointed in you."

Raoul bowed his head and took her hand. "Forgive me, I got carried away. I did not mean to sound so forceful .You don't deserve such, especially after all you've been through. I am sorry."

Christine nodded, taking her hand back. "When shall we leave?"

"Within a few minutes. Get your things ready."

That wasn't hard. She had yet to open the carpet bag, which was the only thing that she had to get.

Running upstairs, she tucked the pale pink carpet bag in her arms and ran down, eager to keep up with the wagon carrying Erik home.

Traveling with Raoul was much different than traveling with Erik. It was rare that a few minutes passed together in silence. Raoul seemed to enjoy saying how he got all of Paris rivaled up to find her. And how sleep was scarce to him while she was missing. Christine would nod and smile, but inside she was dying; her heart sinking lower. If Raoul wanted Erik dead, she was sure now that dead he would be.

"How is your wife?" Christine asked, anxious to get off the subject of Paris, hunts, and her Phantom.

"Oh, Amelia is wonderful. Recently we found out that she was with child."

"Really? You must be excited." Christine replied, yet her words were dull sounding.

"We are, especially little Katie. She wants a sister, but I would love to have a boy next. One to carry on after me, you know."

"Well, if it turns out to be a boy, he shall be very handsome indeed, if his traits are from his father."

Raoul smiled proudly. "Thank you. Christine...do you want to marry one day?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't think so. I gave that up a while ago." True, a whole day and a half ago when Raoul came through the door to her new house.

An eternity to her, really.

"But why? You'd make the best mother. And you would have such beautiful children, Christine. You could marry the ugliest man in the world, yet your great beauty would reign. If the world was to lose you one day and not have a gorgeous heir of yours to go on by, it would be a very great loss indeed. You're still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on."

Christine looked at him straight into his eyes. "Wouldn't the most beautiful woman you ever laid eyes on be your loving wife?" She responded quickly without the slightest blush or flattery taken.

Raoul chuckled and patted her hand, then looked out the window and was silent. Finally, she had succeeded in gaining a little peace. She turned from him to stare out the window and watch for the sight of a wagon with bars over it's windows.

"Did he make you wear that?" Raoul asked, shattering the silence. Christine sighed and looked over at him.

"What?"

"That dress. Did he make you wear that as a sick, twisted joke? As if he was Don Juan Triumphant? Or at least...was. He wont look very triumphant behind bars."

Christine looked down. She hadn't even noticed that she was still wearing that dress. She looked down, then to him. Shaking her head lightly in a 'I don't want to talk about it' fashion, she looked back to the window.

Tears formed in her eyes even as she shut them to rid her sight from the world.

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