Chapter 28 (Epilogue): One Love
Raoul's POV
Eight years later...
" Gabrielle, Gustav!" I called out. "You had better have found superb hiding spots, I'm very good at this game!"
Christine, the children, and I had gone to the park just a few miles down the road from our house. It was springtime, and the morning sun shone kindly down on us, the temperature just right. The twins had somehow convinced me to play hide and go seek with them, and I, unfortunately, had been deemed 'it.'
"They found good spots Raoul," called out Christine. "You might have a hard time finding them."
"I shall do my best," I answered, grinning over at my wife. She sat on the park bench, bending over the baby carriage that contained the newest addition to our family, three month old Meg, aptly named for her godmother.
After we had named our baby girl after Meg, Lucien had demanded to know when we were going to name a child after him. Meg and Lucien had been married for eight years now, and had a child of their own, seven year old Antoinette, named of corse after Madame Giry. Meg and Lucien had gotten married only a few months after Gustav and Gabrielle's birth. I suddenly saw a flash of curly blonde hair rush past me, giggling.
"Aha!" I exclaimed in triumph as I ran after Gabrielle, trying to catch her before she reached the bench where Christine sat, which had been deemed 'base'.
I ran, catching up with her only moments later and picked her up, swinging her around.
"You found me Papa!" she exclaimed, laughing as I tickled her. "But Gustav has a really good hiding spot, no one could find him!"
"Is that so?" I questioned as my daughter nodded, her blonde hair glowing in the sunlight. "Well then I don't suppose you'll tell me where he is?" I chuckled.
"Of course not Papa, that wouldn't be right," she responded, shaking her finger at me.
As I began to look for Gustav, Gabrielle went and sat next to Christine, bending over the baby carriage and talking to Meg in a baby voice. She was very proud to be an older sister. I looked for my son for five solid minutes until I spotted a mop of curly brown hair in a clump of bushes. I pretended not to see him and walked around the bushes.
"Where oh where could Gustav be?" I said in a sing song sort of voice. I heard laughter come from the bushes and swung around in mock surprise. "Ah, well there he is!" I said as he came out from the bushes, convered in leaves and grinning, his blue eyes a reflection of my own. I stood in silence for a moment, still amazed at how much the twins resembled Christine and I. "That was a good hiding spot, son," I said.
"Did you find Gabrielle already?" questioned Gustav, trying to pull a twig from his hair.
"Yes, I did. She tried to run for base and I caught her," I responded. "But I don't think I would have found her if she hadn't run, you two are good at this game."
"I told her not to run, you run too fast papa," he said knowingly. "Will you give me a piggy back ride over to where Maman is?"
I looked at him still trying to catch my breath from running.
"Please?" he pleaded, and I gave in. I bent down and he jumped up onto my shoulders, telling me to giddy up as we made our way back over to Christine, who raised one eyebrow as we approached, a half smile on her face.
"What?" I asked as I sat Gustav down. "Do I look funny?"
At that she couldn't help but chuckle. "You're covered in grass and sweat," she said, eyeing me. "You look like a child yourself."
"I try to keep my inner child alive," I said as I discarded my uneeded jacket and planted a soft kiss on Christine's lips.
I sat there for a few minutes while Christine tried a round of hide and go seek with the twins. I lifted baby Meg from the carriage, cooing softly to her. I watched as Christine chased after Gustav, her dark curls blowing about in the light breeze, and the yellow sundress she wore making her skin glow. Suddenly it dawned on me that we had everything that we had ever wanted; a happy and peaceful life together. We had three beautiful children, Christine had her music at the opera, and we had our friends and family near by. I realized at that moment that my love for my wife grew with each passing day, and that we shared something that no one could ever tear apart.
I looked back up at Christine, and she looked back, feeling my gaze. She flashed me a glowing smile, and I could see the twinkle in her eyes. I smiled back, feeling elated. After a few more minutes I heard footsteps and turned to see the tall figure of my brother walking towards me.
"Hello there Phillipe," I said, putting Meg gentley back into her carriage to greet my brother. "What brings you to the park?"
"I was just taking a walk when I spotted you. Have you been playing with the children?" he asked, grinning as he eyed me grass stained shirt.
I laughed. "They coaxed me into playing hide and go seek. Its not a good look for a Vicomte I know, but I've long since stopped caring about what others think."
Phillipe chuckled as he watched Christine run past, now chasing both of the twins. "Our parents would have been proud of you Raoul," said Phillipe softly. "And I'm proud of you."
I looked over at my brother. He wasn't one to say things like that very often, so I knew he meant it.
"I hope they would be, and you know I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for you," I said sincerely.
"I was worried there for a while," he joked, elbowing me. "But you turned out all right."
We laughed at this, which drew Gustav and Gabrielle over, followed by a weary looking Christine. The twins pounced on Phillipe instantly, pleading for him to play with them. Though hesitant at first, Phillipe adored being and uncle, and so consented. The rest of the morning passed in bliss. A little while after Phillipe arrived, Lucien, Meg, Antionette, and Madame Giry showed up, and we all went to lunch together. Gabrielle was thrilled to see Antionette, and I could already tell that the two of them were forming the kind of friendship that Meg and Christine had.
Later that afternoon however, as the group of us were perusing a few shops, I saw a familiar figure pass by. I glanced at Christine, noticing that she too, has seen him. He didn't say anything to us, but simply nodded and we nodded back. I thought I saw a flash of a smile, but with that, he was gone as quickly as he had come, his black fedora pulled down low and covering his mask. I was surprised to see him in Paris, but I felt no uncertainty about it. Madame Giry had kept in contact with him through letters, and from what she had told us Erik had traveled to London and had begun to work on a few operas which had become quite popular. I was glad that the two had kept up their friendship. As Erik walked away, I felt someone tug on my hand.
"Papa," said Gabrielle, looking up at me with her big brown eyes. "Who was that man in black?"
"Just someone I know, darling, that's all. Your mother and I knew him years ago. He writes operas like the ones maman sings in," I answered. My response seemed to satisfy her, and she turned back to Antionette.
After a few minutes however, my mind traveled to other things and I didn't think about Erik again until later that night when Christine and I were getting ready for bed.
"Christine," I said suddenly. "What do you think Erik was doing in Paris?" I was curious to see what she thought.
"I'm not sure," she said as she climbed into bed beside me. "I was considering asking Madame what she knew. But with Erik you can never really tell."
"No I suppose you can't," I said as I turned out the lights. We were quiet for a few moments, and I felt Christine lay her head down on my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close.
"Christine," I whispered into the darkness. "Tell me; are you happy?"
"Oh Raoul," I heard her say as she stroked my cheek. "There's not a happier woman in the world . Do you remember the night on the rooftop when we sang to each other?"
"Of course," I responded. "That is one night I will never forget."
"Those words we sang to each other have all come true, and we have all that and more. And you will always be the one that I want beside me. We were meant to be together Raoul, of that I have no doubt," she said, her voice brimming with emotion.
"I have no doubts of that either my Little Lotte," I said, kissing her forehead. "You, my love, are the light of my life," I said, stifling a yawn.
A few more minutes passed and I believed Christine to be asleep until she spoke.
"Do you know what I think Raoul?" she said sleeplily. "I think that we are each other's guardian angels."
I smiled, my eyes filling with happy tears. "I think you're right Christine, I really do."
With that we both fell asleep, basking in the warmth of each other's embrace, knowing that we would never have to let go, for we would forever share one love and one lifetime.
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A/N: Thankyou so much to all of my loyal reviewers, it has been you that kept my desire to write alive.Thanks to Mary Anne Talbot, Beauty and Yue, Glitter Queen, IAmTheMaskYouWear, MJMOD, jtbwriter,psychonerd5, ObsessedPhantomPhan, ghettoxxxmexicanxox, and anyone else who reviewed! This story means a lot to me, and is one of my most treasured works. I already have another story in the works, which is of course, Raoul/Christine. It will start just before Raoul and Christine meet and will chronicle their years apart, their renunion and the events of the movie. It will end a bit after the movie. It basically tells the love story of the two and the events that occured and reasons why they belong together. It will be a mix of ALW and Leroux with my own personal bits. It will called 'A Simple Love; The Chronicles of Raoul De Chagny and Christine Daae. I hope you've enjoyed Let Daylight Dry your Tears. Please review, that's All I Ask of You!