With the large room brightly lit, Erik frowned as he found Christine fast asleep on the couch. 'She should be sleeping in bed.' He thought to himself. The book which she had been reading had fallen on the wooden floor. Walking up to the couch, he bent down and picked up the book and gently tossed it onto the end of the couch. Gently picking up her small body, Erik left the room and headed to their bedroom as quiet as he could.

"You're back." That was the first thing she say the moment she woken up.

Erik sat at edge of the bed, carefully brushing the stray locks of hair from her face. "I found you in the study, I moved you here."

She was surprised to find herself in bed but quickly dismissed her thoughts. "How is the program coming along?"

"Slow." He lied; in truth the whole production of Swan Lake was almost done.

"How about you get dressed and we have some breakfast out in the garden?"

"I'd love it."

Placing a kiss on her forehead, Erik quietly left the bedroom to allow her to get ready. Down stairs in the kitchen the servants were already up and doing their business and prepare for the day. Seeing Erik enter, they greeted him and quickly stepped out of his way. This annoyed Erik, he had been living with Christine for almost three years yet they still seemed to be nervous around him.

His mask scared them.

Up stairs, Christine was already changed into a light cotton dress and was now trying to find a way to fix her hair. She had thought about cutting her hair many times of course, Erik would not allow it.

It will ruin your beauty, my love.

Erik, do love me just for my beauty?

No of course not. I love you for who you are.

By the time Christine finally got out of the bedroom and made her way out into the garden, Erik was already sitting down waiting for her. Seeing her approach the table, he stood up and helped her sit down.

"Could you not sleep well last night?" He asked, trying to bring up the incident of finding her on the couch inside library.

"No," She simply answered. "I was just waiting for you." A maid placed a plate of fruits in front of Christine. Something she always eats for breakfast.

They eat in silence but Christine wanted him to talk to her, ask her what she did yesterday afternoon at least. But not a single word left his mouth as he continued to eat his egg and toast.

"Sir, this just came for you." The maid quietly left and headed back inside.

The moment he was handed the telegram, Erik broke the seal and read the letter. In an instant he excused himself and went inside the house. She sat there for a moment wondering what could be so important that he had to excuse himself. Making up her mind, Christine quietly followed him.

Erik stood with his back facing the large window in the sitting room. The telephone pressed against his ear as he dialed the number that was scribbled on the telegram along with a brief note.

"Hey, I thought you wouldn't call."

"You thought wrong."

Though he couldn't see it, but on the other side of the line, the woman grinned. "I had fun with you last night."

"Yeah…me too..."

"Will you come like you promise?"

"I'll be there at seven."

"Good. I'll be waiting for you."

"Alright," He replied. "Bye."

Hanging up, Erik faced the window watching the cars pass by his street. Smiling to himself he thought of Emily and how he will be meeting her. Unknown to him, Christine had hidden herself behind the entrance door quietly pressed against the wall she had heard his short conversation with the mysterious caller.

"Is Miss Daaé here?"

The house keeper smiled and asked who had come to call on Christine. The young man pulled out a card from his pocket and handed it to the older woman. "Please tell her it is an old friend."

Watching the woman disappear, Raoul stepped away from the door, looking at the front yard which was beautifully decorated with flowers. Quickly he readjusted his tie and brushed off his suit as if there were stray lint on it.

It had been nearly four years since Raoul had seen his best friend. The last time he had seen her was on the train station in Paris where they had said their goodbye after she had visited him for the summer.

A rustling of fabric and light footsteps crossing the sitting room interrupted his thoughts. The moment he turned his attention back to the door, he found Christine standing not too far at the end of the entrance hallway.

"Raoul."

Like two friends who had not seen each other in ages, she approached him and gave him a warm hug.

"I told you I'd make in to New York one day."

"Well, I'm g lad you made it." Happily she let him inside. "Come on, I'll have someone bring us some tea."

Together they sat across from each other in the back yard porch. Christine was so excited that her best friend had finally paid a visit to America. "So how long will you be staying?"

"I don't know." He answered "I'm actually thinking of buying some land around here and have a home built."

"What does Philippe have to say?"

"Nothing. I didn't tell him."

A laugh escaped her lips as she placed the cup of tea back onto the saucer. "You little devil, you know how angry he'll get for not telling him Raoul de Chagny?"

Shrugging his shoulders he smiled evilly. "He won't have to know. Besides, I need to get away from the family anyway."

For a moment Raoul simply studied her without realizing it. Her dark eyes were cast off starring at the rose bushes yet as the light breezed passed by and strands of her long hair blew in to her face, Christine continued to stare at the roses. "Christine?"

Turning her attention back to Raoul, Christine noticed how concerned he looked at her. "What is it?"

"I've written to you a dozen times," he started. "But you've never answered them."

"I'm sorry," quickly she apologized. An idea came to her and quickly she proposed that it was a good day to take him around the city. "Let me get my coat and get the driver."

How he missed her laughter and everything about her. Christine pointed out the various buildings surrounding the grand city. "The production of the Swan Lake is supposed to be coming out soon; we should go and watch it." She suggested.

"Alright we'll go."

Leaning forward Christine tapped the chauffeur on the shoulder and explained to him to drop them off by the park where they will walk from there. "Are you sure Miss Daaé?"

"Yes," she replied. "Mr. de Chagny and I will just walk from here."

"Walk Christine?" he asked in disbelief. "What happens if we get lost?"

Laughing she patted his gloved hands before answering his ridiculous question. "In case you have forgotten we can't get lost because there are thousands of people out there who will surely help and give us some directions."

A young blonde haired girl walked down the streets accompanied by her mother. "Mum look!" Meg Giry pointed to a two figures walking underneath shady trees. "It's Christine. Christine!" Happily she waved to her hand in the air trying to get her friends attention.

"Meg, please calm down…" It was too late, the young girl had quickly left her mothers side running off to her friend.

"Meg! What a surprised!" Giving her friend a hug, Christine introduced Meg to her best friend. "This is my best friend, Raoul de Chagny. Raoul this is Meg Giry."

"How do you Miss Giry." Like a gentleman, Raoul took her hand a lightly kissed it.

"How do you do Mr. de Chagny?" Turning to her friend, Meg whispered into her ear. "Why didn't you tell me you had such a handsome friend?"

"Meg!" Quickly she nudged Meg in the arm from embarrassment. "Excuse my friend."

At that moment Mrs. Giry approached them with a stern look in the face. "Meg I do not like it when you run off like that."

"Aw but Mum, it's been so long since I've seen Christine. I'm always at dance practice-"

"Like you should be at right now?"

Interrupting the mother and daughter argument, Christine introduced Raoul to her friends mother. "Mrs. Giry this is my friend Raoul de Chagny. He is visiting me from Paris."

The familiar name caught the woman's attentions. "Ah, you are Philippe's brother I assume?"

"Yes, Mrs. Giry."

"I had the privilege of meeting your brother once at a party, a very nice young man."

"Yes, well, I shall have to tell him of me meeting you."

Before Meg could say another word to her friend, her mother quickly took her hand and turned to leave. "A pleasure Christine, Mr. de Chagny. Meg, let us get going."

"Alright Mum." Gloomily, the blonde bid her Christine goodbye and followed her mother.

"Your friend is very nice but her mother-"

"Oh come on Raoul, Mrs. Giry may seem "evil" but she is really nice." Wrapping her arm around his, they continued their walk around the park.

On the other side of the street stood Erik with his business partner, Thomas, together both men were on their way to have lunch Erik came to a halt as a he saw Christine walking arm in arm with another man. "What is it Erik?" Thomas asked wondering why Erik had stopped walking so suddenly.

"Nothing let us go get our lunch." Finally continuing their way to the small café at the corner of the street, Erik could still not help but wonder who was the young man accompanying Christine. 'I will have to talk to her later.'