Back everyone! After a long wait I proudly present the next two chapters of Destiny, with a solemn promise of more to come. I'm writing like crazy, yet still undecisive whether to continue Destiny or start the next chapters as a seperate sequal as there's gonna be a leap through time...Any ideas on the subject are most welcome! For now: Enjoy, and keep tissues at hand! -x- Lotte.

Their carriage made its way from Rome to Venice, and they were happy to see the weather improve. The problem of planning their honeymoon so early after the new year they both realised, but it was not to be helped. André had business to attend to in Milan and Rome and seeing that the weather was ever so much warmer there as it had been in Paris, it had not been difficult to convince his bride to join him. He looked at her smilingly as she had dosed off in the pale afternoon sun. A bump in the road abruptly awoke her from her slumbers.

"Have we arrived yet?"

He shook his head. "I estimate another hour at least my darling. Are you exited?"

She nodded. "Nervous I suppose. We have not seen each other these last four years at least. So much has happened...I am so happy we had the opportunity of traveling to Venice dearest. It will be such a nice surprise!"

"So tell me again how you met...Christine was it?"

"Christine was orphaned at a very young age. My mother, being once close to hers, offered to bring her to the Opera House to receive a proper education as well as pursuing a career in ballet. I suppose we were like sisters from the first day she arrived..."

"But she left the Opera?"

"She left the corps de ballet first. She had started vocal training in secret, and excelled in it too. Her tutor arranged for her to obtain a soloist soprano position, after which she was noticed by her husband, the Vicomte de Chagny."

"I have heard of this! Wasn't there a great scandal because he was considered to marry below his standard?"

"I suppose...but the tutor was another factor. He was as much in love with her as the Vicomte, and Christine was forced to make a terrible choice between them!"

"Wasn't that around the time the Opera House burned down?"

"It was, that very night. Christine was hushed away by the Vicomte, and he seemed quite determined from that day forth to keep her as far away from the theatre as possible. What became of the tutor, I did not know. Until maman told me. When I told her about our trip, she suddenly showed me Christine's letter, and I learned that after the Vicomte's death she was taken back into the care of her tutor, and their love blossomed once again. They were married last summer and live in a delightful place by the water!"

"All houses are by the water in Venice, dearest."

"Are they really? Oh, I cannot wait to see it!"

And thus it happened one afternoon that Renzo entered Erik's study, announcing the arrival of a Monsieur and Madame Valmont from Paris, wishing to visit la Signora. A distant relative perhaps? On the boy's side? He walked out towards the hall and met a very familiar face, nervously looking up to him. Though her mother had mentioned him often, she had never known him otherwise than the Opera Ghost. And now he stood before her, a normal man save the mask on his face.

"Little Meg Giry...I cannot believe how much you've grown. You are a spitting image of your mother, dear."

She smiled up at him, unsure of how to reply. "It is Valmont now, Monsieur. I am married of late. Please allow me to introduce my husband, Monsieur André Valmont."

Erik vaguely remembered Marie telling him of her daughter's engagement, but in his care for Christine he had completely forgotten. The boy seemed kind enough.

"Erik Alighieri. Pleasure to make your acquaintance sir. I trust your journey has been well? But I forget my manners, please allow me."

He led them to the sitting room, signaling Franca for refreshments. He learned that André Valmont was in trade, buying and selling textiles from the Orient to Paris and back. He had traveled extensively for his young age, and indicated he was looking forward to sharing all these beautiful places with Meg. When he mentioned he had been to Persia briefly, Erik had found a most beloved topic of conversation.

Meg listened in awe, never realising Erik had traveled that much. She had always assumed him to have lived beneath the Opera House all his life, a fact she conveniently "forgot" to mention to André.

"Christine will be very happy to see you Meg."

Her attention was drawn back to his inquisitive eyes. "How is she Monsieur? It...has been too long since met last."

A smile pierced his face. "I expect her down shortly. She's resting at the moment."

When he saw the worry appear in her eyes he quickly proceeded. "She is pregnant Meg."

Meg could not hide her excitement. "That is wonderful news Monsieur! I know how much Christine loves children! You...would not happen to know what became of her firstborn?" She had always assumed the child to have remained in France with the Chagny family.

Upon hearing the noise from the hall, his eyes lit up again. "All your questions seem to be answered at once, dear!"

A little girl bounced in, holding a bouquet of flowers which she lovingly pushed into Erik's hands. "Look papa, are they not pretty? I found them for maman, do you think she will like?"

Erik took the flowers from her, turning her around. "Say hello to our guests first, Céline." Céline duck away, not being accustomed to strangers about the house.

"And since when are you so shy, ma petite? This is your aunt Meg, and her husband Monsieur Valmont, and they have come all the way from Paris to see us!"

Céline knew Paris. "Is that where we lived before, papa? In the big house?"

"It is my sweet. Aunt Meg is your maman's sister, as you will have a little brother or sister soon."

Céline walked closer to Meg, who held out her hand to the little girl. "Hello Céline, how are you? It is very nice to see you, the last time we met you were only a little baby!"

Now Céline smiled, taking Meg's hand. "My maman is having a baby and she has a very big belly!" She giggled and the ice was broken. She hurled herself up the couch in between Meg and André and told them about her trip into town and the flowers she had picked for her maman with Nicole.

"Nicole is getting married, with Renzo and they will live here and have babies also!" She pouted. "And then she has other babies to play with and not with me!"

Erik chuckled at her upset face. "And then you will have a new nanny to play with you, I told you before Céline!"

Céline grew restless as the adults continued their conversation. "Papa!"

"Céline?"

"Can I go see if maman is awake?"

"Only if you are very careful and very quiet. You can tell her we have friends visiting!"

Céline jumped at such an important assignment, running off, coming back, curtsied at the guests, hugging her papa and was off again.

Christine was already up when she heard Céline enter. "Mamaaan!" So much for quiet.

"Yes, my sweet!"

"Papa wanted to know if you were awake and come down and there are people visiting and they are very nice and papa said you should come too and I picked you flowers by the road but now they are downstairs with papa."

Christine had trouble following Céline's ramblings, and wasn't sure which of the surprises were with her papa, the visitors, the flowers or both.

"We have visitors Céline? From where?"

Céline was impatiently jumping from one leg to the other. "Yes and they have come from Paris, from where we used to live in the big house!"

There was only one friend Christine could immagine would travel all the way from Paris to see her. As quick as her condition allowed her she followed Céline down the stairs, where she could already hear animated conversation drifting in from the sitting room. One look was enough to confirm her hopes.

"Meg...it really is you!"

Meg spun around to find her dear friend waiting for her, indeed very far in her pregnancy. "Christine!" The women embraced for a long time, as Erik and André decided to make a tour of the house.

"Maman told me of your letter. She had not told me for a while, only that you had been sick and that you had been taken to Italy by the Ph..I mean, by Monsieur Erik. She never told me before of their correspondence as she knows he values his privacy. But then I was to travel to Italy and maman said I could not pass the opportunity to see you. Oh, how I've missed you Christine, we both have! Maman was so happy to hear from you, seeing you this happy!"

She caressed Christine's full stomach. "And now this...how delighted you must be!."

Christine hugged her once more. "Not as delighted as seeing you here, Meg. So you are married now?"

Time seemed too short to tell all that had passed. Meg, like herself had grown into a beautiful, self-assured woman. After the demise of the Opera House she had worked as a nanny on several locations before arriving at the Valmont residence and meeting André.

"His parents did not object to him marrying the nanny?"

"Not at all! Well, they did in a sense that his older brother was very loath to part from his daughter's favourite nanny, but André lives a very independent life. He does most of the traveling for his brother's company, and I am more than happy to go with him, I'll gladly follow him to the end of the world!"

By that time the gentlemen had returned and Christine could officially be introduced to Meg's husband. After settling that such good friends should be allowed the ease and comfort of first names, they concluded it was time for dinner.

It almost felt awkward having dinner with more then two. They never had many visitors coming by, save Father Domenico. And now the dining room was once again filled with French, and memories of old. Christine was happy to see Erik at ease with her friends and happily engaging in conversation with André. He was a clever and open man, with a charming bravoure surrounding him. She could see why Meg had fallen in love with him.

As the gentlemen retreated for brandy and cigars, an odd ritual that Christine had not witnessed since leaving Chateau de Chagny, the ladies retreated to Christine's sitting room upstairs. Meg was in awe of its beauty.

"Christine, it is so like you!"

Christine nodded. "And it was ready and waiting for me Meg..."

"You mean...after all these years...he has been waiting for you? That is so romantic Christine! You seem really happy together." As statement Christine could only confirm.

"Is it...different, with Erik? Your life, compared to when you were still with Raoul?"

"Very different. I have found my voice again, Meg. Raoul gave me everything he thought I needed, desired, only to find it were his own needs he was fulfilling."

A teasing light appeared in her eyes. "And I mean that in every sense!"

Meg blushed. "Hush, Christine!"

"I'm sorry."

The girls stared at each other, and found themselves back in their dormitories again, whispering in the dark about love and romance. Meg finally had her friend again, sharing with her the delights of her wedding, her fears of their wedding night which turned out to be wholly unfounded.

"André is very sweet and gentle with me, I have nothing to fear from him. I find myself...enjoying our nights together very much! But you...you have the luxury of comparison Christine!"

"You do not think yourself to be content with one man then Meg, that you need my expertise in comparison?" After all these years she still enjoyed making her friend blush.

"Well then, what I deemed my duty with Raoul, I consider a pleasure and constant craving around Erik. I fear I shall loose my mind completely if I spend one night away from his arms. He owns the one important thing Raoul did not. Passion. I must confess that it has also caused us troubles and grief over time, and I need not tell you of his years at the Opera, but his hardships have shaped him into the wonderful man he is. My husband, my tutor, my child's father and the most excellent lover in the world!"

Both of them were still giggling as Franca came to call them for tea. Blushing, they went downstairs, and as she saw Erik raising a brow she quickly made up an excuse of sitting too close to the blazing fire. Their night ended with many promises of future engagements.

"That was a truly delightful evening!"

"I dare say it was. Little Meg has married a fine man indeed."

She looked up at him as he carefully helped her up the stairs. "I'm glad you agree of him."

Not much later they were enjoying a bath together. It was a ritual they had happily accustomed to and a near daily one at that. Sinking back against Erik's strong chest in the hot water amidst a sea of fragrant bubbles, his hands tenderly massaging her back, her neck, her shoulders, her legs, brought great relief to Christine's aching body..

"Only eight more weeks to go..."

"That is two months my love!"

"I know, but eight weeks makes it sound ever so much shorter! I wish to be released from this burden and meet our child..."

He gently stroke her ever growing belly. "So do I my love."

As he murmured her a song his hands stopped abruptly on the top of her belly. "Did you feel that Christine?"

She laughed. "If you did my angel, so did I!"

"Was it.."

"That was your baby saying hello!"

"You mean it's actually moving?"

He knew his question was completely absurd, but he had found that during the entire process so far, Christine had been angelically patient with all his questions and concerns.

She held out her hands before him. "I expect the baby to be about this big by now...it has its heart, and its lungs, and all its limbs, and apparently a strong set of legs!"

He kissed her damp curls. "It is all a big mystery to me, my love. I'm glad you are here to teach me for I fear I would make a hopeless mess of a father otherwise!"

He teasingly landed his hands upon her swollen breasts. "So...what type of fire causes two young women to blush so?" He had noticed where André in his youthful innocence had not.

"That, my love, is a secret between friends I will never reveal to you!"

As she saw the disappointed look on his face she frowned at him. "It is a secret pact Meg and I made since the day we were old enough to share any secret bigger then having stolen an extra scone for breakfast. What passes between us, stays between us! Though I shall ease your mind in disclosing it contained nothing but praise about our dear husbands."

"He plans to take her to India this spring, crossing Persia on their way..." His voice turned thoughtful as he wrapped her in a large towel.

"Would you like to go back there, my love?" She had noticed his passion in talking of the beautiful oriental country.

"Perhaps I will, one day. I would love to show it to you, but I fear we shall have to wait until the children are old enough to endure such travels..."

"I suppose when we are ready to have children, I shall cease my travels and tend to our home."

"But won't you miss him terribly Meg?"

Meg looked down at her hands, showing she had thought of this before. "I suppose I will, but that was the chance I took in marrying André, was it not? Besides, I will have my beautiful children to keep me company, and maman. André has agreed she may come and live with us, if I wish it! What is it like, Christine? To have a child?"

Christine smiled, it was a question Erik had also asked her, many months ago. "It is the most beautiful experience any woman can have Meg. To hold the result of your mutual love so close to your heart, protecting and nurturing it...It feels so much different though, this second time. When I was carrying Céline I was only hoping for a boy, an heir. Our child's gender and title were so important. It felt as if no one would mind me dying in the process, so long as the boy would be healthy. You should have seen Raoul's face upon finding a girl in my arms. How he fought his disappointment, but to no avail. I was still recovering from childbirth, mesmerised at the darling little angel God had bestowed upon me, and he was already discussing the conception of his son!"

She felt tears coming to her eyes. It were emotions she had not shared with anyone since that day, and dared not share with Erik as she knew how her memories of Raoul hurt him. "How I missed you Meg, how I've missed our conversations!"

Meg hushed her. "It's alright Christine, I am here now. Your daughter is well and dearly loved by her new papa, and you have a second child on the way, waiting to be born and loved!"

Christine nodded. "That's what I mean Meg. I have learned now it makes no difference. In this house all God's children are loved and welcomed. Erik confessed to me desiring a hundred daughters, if all of them are as pretty as Céline!"

Meg giggled. "I hope you have called him a fool for that!"

"I warned him that however he despised the Ballet Rats, he will find a hundred daughters worse as they shall all be fighting for his attention!"

Two days later it was time to say goodbye, with every promise of writing and staying in touch. Meg handed Erik a package.

"They were given to me by my mother Monsieur." She still could not bring herself to call him Erik. "I believe it holds a letter for you, and some belongings she retrieved from the Opera House."

"Thank you Meg. Give her my warmest regards. It was good to see you. I know it has done Christine a lot of good!" He embraced her and she found how Christine was ever so right as to enjoy his touch. He was very warm and strong indeed!

"Christine it has been a pleasure to meet with you. I hope your journeys may bring you back to Paris some day?"

"Perhaps..." She knew it to be sheer impossible as it would surely mean her husband's hanging, but she welcomed André's invitation none the less.

"Farewell then, my world-traveling friend!" She hugged Meg, checking once more if she had not lost the paper with Meg's new address on it.

"Stay safe Christine, I shall pray for you and your baby! I believe your husband will gain a daughter, in fact...I am sure of it!" She looked very confident.

Christine looked up at Erik, but he shook his head. "I have remained among the gypsies long enough to learn never to counterset a woman's feel on childbirth. If your words are true Meg, I fear we shall have to crown you a sightseer!"

And with that, their friends left on their long journey back to Paris...