A/N: I want to thank everyone who has been reading this for your wonderful reviews. You've all been so encouraging and it's been a great ride! Thank you all. This is, alas, my last chapter. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 26

Christine studied Erik as the sun made its way across his sleeping countenance. She never thought to see his face so relaxed. The evening before he had thrown the shutters open to the night and they had spent it learning everything they could about the other, making love several times. Each time he touched her with a tenderness that made her heart swell with passion for him. He had been attentive to her every desire and with the moon as their only light, she had learned everything that pleased him. She did not wish to wake him but the urge to touch his face overwhelmed her. Laying her fingers on his marred cheek, she ran them down, along his jaw. She gazed at his eyes as they opened and a smile played across his lips.

"Christine—"

Her eyes lit at his smile. "Bon matin, my husband." She continued to caress his cheek as she searched his face. "You slept well."

"I had a reason to— wife."

His answer brought forth her own smile. If she had any doubts before, last night had erased them all. Now, she basked in the certainty of his love for her, knowing this was where she had always belonged. "I love the sound of that. Please, say it again."

"You are my wife, Christine, my soul, my music. I love you. I vow to cherish and protect you always."

Leaning forward, she kissed his chin, his throat, the hollow of his neck. She felt him shiver and smiled through her kisses.

"Christine, this is not— we have another day's journey. Perhaps two. We should collect our things and prepare to leave."

"Shhh, Erik. Just kiss me." She pulled him to her, kissing his lips. He moved over her, caressing her breast as he did. Finding her more than ready, he began to express his love for her and together, they welcomed the morning sun.

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Antoinette had finished packing her bag and she now sat on the edge of the bed. She'd spent a restless night, thoughts of what lay ahead of her, exciting and new keeping her from sleep. And yet, her heart was saddened. Though she knew it was futile, she had hoped for more time with Raoul. She had hoped for the time to explore the many intricacies of her feelings for him. She found him charming, thoughtful and— kind. Nothing she had ever seen before in her limited brush with the nobility had given her the faintest thought that he might have more to him than an interest only in himself and disdain for commoners. If it wasn't for his title and bearing— well, no matter now. He might be just like her inside, just a person, not a nobleman but to society, he would always be Raoul, Vicomte DeChagny. Sighing, she reached for her bag as a knock sounded on her door. Thinking it her father, she opened the door, only to be swept into Raoul's arms and soundly kissed. So much so that her knees went weak and she wrapped her arms around him for support. When he finally broke their kiss, he gazed intently at her, a serious expression on his face as though he could read her feelings in her eyes.

"Please, Antoinette, may I come in for a moment? I would speak with you."

On shaking legs, she backed away to allow him room to pass but he kept one arm around her and lead her to the bed where he bade her to sit. He smiled at her, then turned and began to pace in front of her. She knew he had come to say good-bye. That their time together had been a diversion but nothing more. Wishing to help him save face, she decided she would say good-bye instead.

"Raoul?" He stopped his pacing and looked to her. With tears in her eyes, she said, "I appreciate what you did for Christine and Erik, for all of us really. But I know it was just an illusion to see us safe away from the city. So," she stood to show him out. "I will say good-bye to you, and thank you for your kindness." Raoul looked at her as if she had slapped him and her heart turned over.

"Antoinette, you— you're saying— what are you saying? You don't—"

"I am saying that I enjoyed our time together. But I also know it could never be more and so—" She had to turn away from him, unable to face him as she spoke. He grasped her arms hard enough to hurt her and turned her to him.

"I didn't come to say good-bye." He searched her face; she saw confusion and something else play across his. "I came because—"

"Why did you come if not to say goodbye? There is only one thing that could come of a relationship between the two of us. Did you come to ask me to be your mistress? You know it's the only thing your society would accept and that, Vicomte, I will never do. When I bed a man, it will be as a wife, married in love, not to satisfy his urges. And you couldn't possibly love me. I'm only an innkeeper's daughter, after all." She was angry at the chasm of their stations that would permit her use as a mistress and nothing more. Raoul still held her arms as she shook with emotion and she saw the shocked expression on his face.

"Mistress? Look here, Antoinette. I don't know what has happened to me. I spent most of the night sorting out my feelings. I thought at one time, that I was desperately in love with Christine. What I was in love with were the memories of a child, the fun, the happiness, the sweetness of youth. I was in love with Christine only as a part of those memories. I see that now. I watched her with Erik, the way they are together. We would never have shared that, she and I. I saw that all so clearly when they married.

"But I saw something else as well, though it's taken me several days and most of last night to sort out. I may have a title, Antoinette, but inside, I feel just as you do, I ache just as you do and I…" He released her as he stopped talking and she realized she had been holding her breath. What was he trying to tell her? He returned to his pacing as he ran his hand through his hair. She heard nothing save his steps as she waited for him to continue. "What I'm trying to say is," He came back to her and pulled her into his arms. "I don't quite know what I feel for you, but a mistress? Never. I could never hurt you that way. I just know I don't want you to leave." Her heart skipped a beat.

"Raoul, I must go. You cannot—" How could she tell him how she really felt, without opening herself to the pain she knew would follow?

"Then, I shall go with you." Once again, she tried to protest, but he placed his thumb on her lower lip, running it lightly from one corner to the other. "Don't. Please, just let me— let us take whatever direction is meant to be. I need to know. I will not use you, nor will I hurt you. Just let me know you." His thumb still rested on her lip and she kissed it. He ran it down her chin, lifting her face to his. Leaning in to her, he kissed her, lightly at first, then with depth and longing. She knew, no matter the outcome, she had to make the journey with him.

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Jacques and Erik loaded the valises onto the carriages and made final preparations to leave Le Raincy. Erik took a moment to check on Dupree before they left. The man had gone against his training to help Erik and he could not let that pass. When he entered the room he saw Dupree sitting up in bed. Jacques left with more luggage and it afforded a moment for Erik and Dupree alone. Erik saw the look in Dupree's eyes as he stood in front of the man, and wondered what he really saw. With Christine's urgings, he had not donned the mask yet that morning. But Dupree's eyes gave away nothing. "They tell me your name is Dupree."

"Oui, Monsieur, Alain Dupree. I would say officer, but it seems I may have dissolved my commission last night. Time will tell."

A wistful smile touch one side of Dupree's face. Erik moved forward and lifted the bandage around Dupree's head, noticing the man never flinched but sat calmly. "Antoinette did an excellent bit of care on your wound. But I think rest for another day or so is in order. After that, you can resume your duties. What will you do, Dupree, when you return to the city? Will the other officers give you any trouble?"

"Non, Monsieur, they will not. They saw what the commander had become over the last several days. Besides, there have been reports of robbers about, attacking travelers. I think I will not need to mention the Vicomte either. If my superiors accept the explanation, I will still be an officer. If not— ah, well…"

Understanding passed between the two men. "The other officers have left for Paris already, with the commander's body. Jacques will remain as well as the last carriage and you will both leave for the city tomorrow." Erik turned to go but thought better of it and looked to Dupree once more. "I— thank you."

"Monsieur, I do not know what you did or did not do. I only know that no man deserves to die like that. I could not have lived with myself had I not tried to stop him. It is better this way."

Erik watched Dupree a moment more, nodded at him and left the room.

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At last they finished their final preparations. The hitched the horses, loaded the carriages and the only thing left was to say goodbye. Jacques had come to see them off, and receive from Claude the paperwork necessary for the disposition of the inn. When enough time had elapsed, Jacques would handle the sale, forwarding the monies and final paperwork. He shook Claude's hand then turned toward Erik, standing with Christine at their Brougham. "I wish to thank you, Monsieur Erik."

"Thank me, Jacques? It is all of us who should be thanking you. You had no vested interest in anything here, yet you offered your unconditional assistance." Jacques had walked toward Erik and now took his hand in both of his.

"No, I must thank you, Monsieur, for giving an old man the opportunity to feel alive and worthwhile again." He turned to take Christine's hand, but she reached out, giving him a quick hug.

"Yes, well—" Erik still looked somewhat startled by Jacques' statement but his voice carried its usual timbre. "We will send word as soon as we are settled. You may then forward those things we left behind."

Erik handed Christine into the carriage, climbing in behind her. He glanced back at Raoul who sat with Antoinette in the Victoria, his arm across her shoulders, a look of contentment on his face. Erik had been taken aback, expecting Raoul to take his leave of them all as quickly as possible but Christine simply smiled when Raoul insisted he continue with them. He saw Claude's surprise when Antoinette told her father that Raoul would be continuing the journey, but he said nothing at her announcement and Erik wondered what was going through the man's mind. The boy was a Vicomte after all. But he knew Antoinette, knew she would be able to handle anything this mere mortal may hold in store for her.

As the group left Le Raincy, Erik told Christine of his plans once they reached Meaux. He would purchase a big house far enough from the city to be private, but not so far as to cause a great inconvenience. He would plant a large garden with only blood red roses, just for her. They would keep a music room in which they could always bare their souls to one another, a place of their own, where they would be free to love each other. Christine snuggled close to him listening, her head on his shoulder, her arm entwined through his. When she first entered the carriage she had moved something from the seat, and now held it on her lap, her hand resting on it, Erik's over hers; his white leather mask. He glanced down as her fingers moved over its surface, his last barrier against the world. With Christine by his side, he knew the barrier was no more. Now the mask served only as a reminder of their past. Their strength lay in their love for one another. Together, he knew they would face their future unafraid. He would have no need of a barrier again. He rested his chin atop Christine's head and closed his eyes.

Et quand ma vie est faite, Christine, je vous aimerai toujours et toujours.

And when my life is done, Christine, I'll love you still and always.

finis