Thank you again for all the great reviews! All new members of the Luca Alighieri fanclub will receive their signed pictures asap...if I can find where he's hidden himself that is...he tends to have taken that talent to disappear from his daddy I'm afraid! Oh well, here's another Luca-filled chappie to make it up to you!

In loving dedication to my baby sis Beth aka DawnStag for being the toughest girl I know and always "Rising from the Ashes" no matter how hard a certain person (whose name we will never utter again) tries to kick her down in it! I wuv you hunnie! -x- Lotte.

Just as the family sat down to dinner on the evening of the seventh day, a letter was brought to Christine which read the following:

Orléans, le 2ieme mai 1895

My dear Monsieur and Madame Alighieri,

I hope to find all your family in excellent health upon reception of this letter. It has been far too long since I have had the opportunity to write you, and it pleases me to have such a happy reason for doing so.

Only three days ago I was visited by my former protégée, your dear daughter Céline, and her husband monsieur DuChamps. They were on their way back to Paris they told me, after a short honeymoon through Europe starting from your home, and decided to pass my humble home here in beautiful Orléans to enquire after my health and happiness. They explained to me how their traveling had left them short on funds for the time being, and inquired if they may be so bold as to reside with me and mine for a few days before continuing their journey. I of course happily agreed and we spent some happy times together, chatting up on all sorts of news.

They seemed very much in love, although weary from traveling but I immagine Céline's demure will improve upon starting her own household and settling down. She told me how sorry she was to be giving up her beloved ballet, but agreed with me that a chorus is certainly no place for a married woman of ranking, and that the anticipation of children will soon fill her life with other joys. Monsieur Roger has every intention of continuing his career at the Opera House and hopes to soon make for soloist, thus increasing his fame and income accordingly.

My dear employers, I wish you joy on such a dear match! It must be a splendid thing indeed to see a beloved daughter so happily settled in life.

With all my love and heartfelt congratulations,

Simone Besson née Lauvet.

Although sweet and heartfelt, the letter came as somewhat of a shock to all of them. As Luca reread the letter his mother had now passed to him and his sister, he could not help but smirk. Their former governess' tidings offered them some very important clues as to Monsieur and Madame DuChamps' living conditions, and he realised their initial pink cloud might already be dissolving. And then what? Would Céline indeed set up a happy household? And would her Roger share it with her as a loyal husband ought? A glance at Aurora taught him she was obviously of the same mind and he gave her a short nod. He would speak to their father about this tonight, one way or the other!

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Erik could no longer remember how long he had been sitting at his piano, pounding away mercilessly on a new piece before ripping it all up and starting again. No melody seemed to be able to capture his mood, which seemed to alter quicker than he had ever experienced before. Demons long locked away had forced their way to the surface again the very moment Céline had spat out her venomous words, and they happily mingled with the angels that had attempted to guard him all these years. Anger, hate, pity, sadness, despair, revenge, and an ultimate longing for peace, flowed through his veins. And so he did what he had always done, he played and played till his body was numb and his thoughts were drowned out by the dramatic tones of his instrument.

"Father…"

The sudden touch of a hand on his shoulder pulled him out of his reverie so suddenly that he flew up and pinned the unexpected visitor to the wall, hand at his throat, ready to strangle the life out of him.

"Father please, it's me…Luca…" As the red haze lifted from his eyes he recognised the now panicking green eyes of his oldest boy, and he quickly withdrew as if burned.

"What are you doing here? Did I not instruct to be left in peace? I had not thought you would be one to disobey me Luca." He cocked a brow, looking from Luca to the door and back again before adding: "And I am quite certain that door was locked from the inside…"

His son copied the gesture, a small smile coming to his face. "Then perhaps you should not have taught me how to pick it." Proudly holding up his instruments he slowly approached his father again, who still seemed very distant and looked very ill indeed.

"And my intention was not to disturb your peace father, rather to ask you to help restore ours. The whole house has been left in quite a state since your…sudden disappearance."

"I know."

"Yes, I immagine you do. Yet I cannot comprehend why you would be so unwilling as to help us through it."

Again he was tossed against the wall, albeit less harsh this time. "Watch your tongue boy, you have no idea what I have had to endure in my days. Do not presume to tell me what I should or should not do."

Luca began to doubt his decision to come here, yet reminded himself of the justness of his cause and was determined not to falter. If he could not get through his father, who could?

"You are right. I do not know what you have had to endure. But from the little mother has told us I would immagine it was plenty. Yet you managed to overcome all that, long ago. You found peace. You gave us your love and your wisdom and your guidance. And none of us are ready to go without those yet. Céline included…"

He half expected another explosion but instead felt his father's grip on him lessen, almost gently brushing his shoulder before turning away and sitting himself in front of the fire.

"What are you standing about for, sit yourself." Though the words were spoken bitterly, he could tell his father would be allowing him to stay and state his business and he was grateful for it.

Slowly lowering himself into the opposite chair, he carefully handed the letter to Erik, who stared at it for a moment before grabbing it and commencing to read. On ending it, his father had a similar smirk on his face as he had had earlier that evening and Luca could tell his mind was already pondering their options, even if he would never admit this to his son.

So, they are married…Indeed I had not immagined him to take the risk of waiting until their return to Paris. Clever boy…"

"As you can see they have already started running out of money…not to mention their abhorrent abuse of Madame Besson's kind hospitality. Who knows what might come next. He must think her to have plenty of money to her name, however mother already confirmed this is not the case. What will he do with her when he realises the same thing father? When she has outlived her usefulness to him?"

"And what is that to me? As you may recall you darling sister made it perfectly clear she required no more assistance on my part, appalled as she seems to be by my control over her life. Well then, let her prove her point. I hope she will be happy in her new self assigned life."

"You don't mean that."

"Since when have you become such an expert on my thoughts and feelings?"

Luca gave him an annoyed look, tired of his father's childlike stubbornness. "I have spent practically every day of my life in your close proximity father. I believe I am well aware of your thoughts and feelings by now. Enough to know you do not suffer a threat to your family lightly. I'm guessing it's tearing you up inside, but your wounded pride forbids you to act upon instinct."

For a moment Erik stared at him, almost amused at his son's careful evaluation of him. "And what, pray, would be my instinct in this matter according to your apparently detailed studies of my character?"

"To kill the boy and get her back."

The silence that followed confirmed his every word. They sat like that for what seemed an eternity, staring at each other defiantly, both wondering who would give in first. Erik suddenly realised how much his son had grown to be like him. He had already noticed it the other day, when he had found the note at his door telling him of his meeting with the building committee. He had forgotten all about it, and the fact that Luca had stoically faced them by himself, and had managed to get their drawings approved and immediately executed filled him with a pride beyond words. The boy was right of course. His family needed him. Had he not promised Christine? Had he not vowed on their wedding day now so long ago to love, to cherish and to care for?

Had he not promised his dear Céline that very first night to always be there to frighten away her monsters? Well there it was, the biggest monster of them all. And instead of taking action he had allowed the monster to work its evil plan.

"So…what do you have in mind then? To pursue them into Paris?"

Luca let out a breath he hadn't even realised he had been holding. "The thought has crossed my mind. I suppose it will not be as easy as going there and bringing her back. She has convinced herself to be in love with him and will never leave his side voluntarily…unless we can find some incriminating evidence against him. Considering what has happened between him and Aurora, I'm assuming Monsieur DuChamps is not the type of man to be taking his marital vows very seriously."

He sighed again, suddenly very tired of all his scheming and planning, feeling far too small for such a great task. "I cannot do this on my own father. I know nothing of this world besides Venice, the Palazzo, my studies. You know of the ways of men, of women, you know Paris…and the Opera House."

Erik rose from his chair, his troubled mind suddenly seeming to clear under Luca's guidance. "Yes, I suppose you're right…" Suddenly he could not help but run an affectionate hand through the boy's hair. "Thank you Luca, for doing what I could not…"

"What father?"

"Running our family, steering them through this madness…"

Luca simply shrug his shoulders. "Aurora would probably say it would be a wonderful preparation for my destined marital life."

Erik groaned: "No more talk of marriage please, I beg you. One more of my children deciding to wed and I shall truly go mad. I would be equally happy should you remain a bachelor for the rest of your life."

Luca smirked: "So would I."

And so they sat once more, planning their journey till both were satisfied with the result. Father and son Alighieri were traveling to Paris, and no mortal force would be stopping them.