A/N: Thank you for all the kind reviews. They really mean a lot to me and make me want to write this story. So here's chapter 4…I hope you enjoy it. The storyline will pick up soon and Erik will make another appearance in the near future.

Enjoy and Review!

"OH MY GOD!" screeched Meg from the other end of the phone line.

Christine smiled to herself as she heard her friend launch into hysterics. She had just told her about her plans to marry Raoul. Truthfully, she wasn't sure what her friends' reaction was going to be after the shock of it all sank in. For even she hadn't straightened it all out.

She was happy, dreadfully so. Raoul was most definitely the one that she should be with for the rest of her life. But the thought of such a commitment scared her beyond reason. For she was almost positive that sooner or later Raoul would indefinatley get bored with her and want to move on. Then what would she be left with? No money, no marriage…her whole life would be in a state of ruin.

"I'm coming over," Meg's voice on the other end of the line jarred her from her thoughts "I'm coming over right now! Oh Christine this is so exciting!"

Christine didn't have to time to tell Meg that she didn't need to come to her house. The phone line clicked off and Christine sighed.

Her eyes flickered over the empty house. Its eerie calm unsettled her for some reason. Usually she could busy herself with many tasks so she would not let that eerie feeling overwhelm her. The eerie feeling of being alone in a large home.

Christine drummed her fingers on the kitchen counter absently, trying to fill the large space of time that it would take for Meg to arrive.

The time passed slowly. The ticking of the clock forever bearing into Christine's mind. She jumped as a loud bang at the door echoed throughout the household.

Christine walked to the doorway and opened the door. Quite relived that her friend had indeed decided to visit her. Christine gasped as she felt her friends' body being launched upon herself in an enthusiastic hug.

Meg let out a shrill laugh and walked into the house. Reluctantly letting go of her friend and slamming the door behind her.

"So?" she asked smiling.

"So what?" asked Christine walking over to the refrigerator.

Meg let out an exasperated groan "You're going to tell me how he proposed even if you don't want to."

"It wasn't really…."

"Did he get down on one knee?" Meg asked her eyes wide with excitement.

"Yes…Yes he did."

Meg let out a small giggle of laughter. "Oh Christine! That's so romantic! What did he say?"

Christine closed her eyes. Truth be told she couldn't remember what exactly he had said.

"It's none of your business Meg."

Meg raised an eyebrow "Christine, I'm your best friend. Of course, this is my business."

Christine couldn't help but smile.

"So when is the wedding going to be?"

Christine shrugged.

"I don't know. I don't think it will be happening too soon. I need time to plan it."

Meg nodded and let a huge grin spread over her face as she watched her friend. It was hard to believe that her Christine was getting married. She knew that there was something special about that Raoul fellow. Not many people could break through all of the walls that Christine had built around her. But he had, and Meg couldn't have been happier to know that he was the one that she wanted to be with.


"I'm so nervous," remarked Christine as she stood outside of Raoul's parent's house.

"Don't be," he said softly, giving a kiss on her forehead "I think they are expecting it anyway."

"But why couldn't you have told them that you were going to propose? Now I have to stand there all awkwardly and tell them we are getting married. Why can't you just do it?"

"Because Christine, they would appreciate it if you where there."

Christine gave a small nod and allowed Raoul to give her a quick embrace. They were standing outside of the stony household in which Raoul's parents resided. Christine's insides were squirming with a million butterflies. She knew that Raoul's parents didn't think very highly of her.

Raoul however, seemed oblivious to the fact.

Christine knew that the reason why they felt so cold towards her was her aloof manner. She hadn't told them anything about herself really, except for what school she went to and that her father had passed away years prior. Christine didn't like to share too many details about her life. They had no right to such personal information. But Raoul's parents, were too nosy for their own good and resented the fact that Christine felt she couldn't be open with them.

She knew that they were just waiting for Raoul and her relationship to fail.

"Are you ready Christine?" asked Raoul softly, one hand already lay upon the doorknob.

Christine took a deep breath and nodded.

Warm flooded through her boy as the door creaked open to reveal the modest household. The walls were painted white with flowery trimming around the corners of the walls. Christine had always liked how Raoul's home looked. Not just beautifully decorated but it held paintings that Raoul had crafted when he was young. There were family pictures and portraits and it looked…lived in. It wasn't just a house, it was a home. It was Raoul's home.

"Mom, Dad?" Raoul called out to the household.

Christine tightened her grip around Raoul's hand in spite of herself. She heard the low murmuring of Raoul's parent's voices and the soft banging of their feet descending from the staircase. Christine could see there legs now. Her heart beat quickened.

"Raoul darling!" came his mother's voice from the staircase. "It's so nice to see you…"

His mother froze for a moment and let her eyes flicker from Raoul to Christine and back again. Her friendly smile disappeared in an instant and she tried to replace it only to achieve a very obviously forced smile.

"Oh, I see you've brought your girlfriend with you."

"Yes, I have."

"Hello Mrs. Changy."

"Hello," she managed out. Her upper lip began to twitch from the effort of keeping the forced smile plastered on her face.

Raoul's father watched expressionless from behind his mother and Christine offered him a small smile.

Raoul beamed at his parents and then said,

"Mom, Dad. I have some great news to tell you."

"Oh, really?" asked his father in mild interest.

"Yes," Raoul opened his mouth to spill the information that he was so anxious to announce "But why don't we go into the living room."

They all filed into the living room and Raoul's parents sat opposite Christine and Raoul. Christine began to nervously play with the seams of the sofa.

"What is this news then Raoul?"

Raoul glanced at Christine's apprehensive figure and gave her hand a small squeeze.

"Mom, Dad…Christine and I are to be married."

You could've heard a pin drop in the room. Raoul's mother had an expression of utter bafflement, Raoul's fathers face bore a small smile as if they would admit at any moment that they were just joking. Raoul waited expectantly for their happy reactions and was only a little taken aback that their responses were so delayed. Christine closed her eyes and prayed that she could somehow magically be transported away from the living room.

"M…Marriage?" Raoul's mother stuttered out at last.

"Yes…"

"Don't you think it's a little soon for that dear? You're so young…"

Raoul raised his eyebrows "Too young? I'm 27!"

"Yes...well..."

"Raoul," broke in his father "Your mother and I are…very happy for the both of you."

"What?" asked his mother quietly. His father gave his wife a small nudge and she turned back to them with the same fake smile on her face.

"Yes dear, we must help with the wedding preparations." His mother said sweetly.

Raoul's face broke out into a large grin and nodded. "Thank you. I'm sure Christine would love some help with the planning."

Christine managed a small nod.

The rest of the visit didn't last very long. They had only been making small talk for about 10 minutes when Raoul's parents had muttered some excuse about having to go to a yoga class. Even after Raoul pointed out that he had never heard they were both attending yoga classes, not to mention it would be murder on his father's knee. They still hung fast causing Christine and Raoul to basically be forced out of the doorway.

The stood in the night air for a few moments in silence before walking back to the car.

"I didn't know that they were both into yoga," remarked Raoul softly.

Christine looked out the window and said nothing.

"Raoul," she said finally "I don't think they did have to go to yoga."

Raoul let out a small laugh "Whatever do you mean? Why else would they tell us that then?"

Christine was silenced immediately. Raoul glanced at her sideways, keeping one eye on the road. Christine's face was far away and distant and Raoul didn't like it at all.

"What is it Christine?"

Christine remained silent.

"Christine, whatever is bothering you…I want to know. What is it?"

Christine took a long deep breath and closed her eyes. Before she could stop herself words began to spill out that she had not intended ever to mention to Raoul. She spoke of her fears that his parents would be the death of her, she spoke of the fact of the contempt that they felt for her and she to them. She told him all these things and no matter how hard she tried to stop the endless flow of hurtful words she could not.

Christine finally silenced herself and no one spoke. Raoul gazed out the window blankly without making any move to say anything.

"Please say something…" pleaded Christine softly.

"I…I don't know what to say…"

"I'm sorry," she began "I'm so sorry Raoul."

"My parents don't hate you."

Christine was quiet once more.

"They don't Christine. They are just…just a little protective of me. I didn't know that you felt that you…."

Raoul took a deep breath and tried to organize his thoughts.

"Raoul, I love you. But your parents they…look down on me. I know they want to see us apart."

"How can you say such things?" Raoul's voice was etched with an edge that Christine was not familiar with his using.

"I….I…"

"I can't speak to you right now Christine. Here, you're home. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Christine looked at her fiancée sadly and made a move to touch his arm.

"Raoul I…"

He moved his arm away sharply. "Just go."

Christine stared at him for a moment before opening the door and leaving the car. She turned as her heard the engine rev and watched with tear speckled eyes as Raoul drove out of sight.

What had she done?