Whilst Christine and Phillippe were having a very productive day, Monsieur Carriere's day was a whole other story. After his meeting with Inspector Ledoux he returned to his apartment in the city, he tried to sleep but his mind was so occupied with worry over Catherine's safety he only managed to get a few hours rest before dawn broke the next morning. He rose from his bed and dressed in a casual sandy coloured suit with a dark brown tie and brown leather shoes and then left his apartment. He did not return to the Opera House right away, fearing his presents would cause too much suspicion for the police, he decided to take a walk around the city of pass the time and then return to the Opera House after dark. Many hours went by and just before sunset, Monsieur Carriere returned to his apartment and changed into the suit he wore the previous night and in the cover of darkness he returned to the Opera House. He only went as far as the top of the Grand Staircase and was pacing back and forth, contemplating what he was going to do to get Catherine out of Erik's home without being noticed since Erik his warned him not to go back down every again and he dreaded to think what Erik might do to him for disobeying him. His thoughts were then interrupted by the sound of the main entrance door swinging open, abruptly, and when Monsieur Carriere turned to see who entered he was relieved to see it was Christine and Phillippe.
"Ah Phillippe! Mademoiselle Daae! I need to speak with you both" he said as he made his way downstairs towards them.
Phillippe and Christine met him halfway, Phillippe shook his hand to greet him.
"Thank goodness you are here Monsieur Carriere, we hoped you would be" said Christine with a sigh of relief.
All three of them then made their way down the stairs.
"You did? Why?" asked Carriere, confused.
"We received word from Catherine this morning, informing us she is safe and well. She asked that we meet her in the lobby at nine o'clock and for us to bring you along. She mentioned you knew some important information. Do you know what she meant?" said Christine.
Carriere looked back and forth between the young couple and was shocked by what he had heard .
"Yes, yes, I know things. I have seen Catherine" said Carriere.
Christine and Phillippe looked at him with wide eyes expression as both of them walked down the stair on either side of the older gentleman.
"Where!?" they both asked simultaneously.
"But I can't tell you, but as the letter you received stated she is alright. And it seems without my help she will be returned to you very soon" said Carriere.
"What are you talking about?" asked Phillippe as he quickly got in front of the older gentleman, making him stop in his tracks.
Christine came up beside Phillippe and looked up at the older gentleman with pleading eyes.
"I had thought I made a terrible mistake and left her where I shouldn't have and was about to go back and get her. But it would seem she has proven me wrong and has managed to get through to him" explained Carriere.
He gentle pushed his way between the young couple and continued on his way down.
"Him? Do you mean the Phantom?" asked Christine as she turned, watching Carriere walk past her and Phillippe and go down the stairs.
Carriere stopped dead in his tracks, turned around and looked up at the young couple with a wide-eyed expression.
"Catherine explained in her note that he is the one keeping her safe" explained Christine.
She and Phillippe then walked down the steps until they were one step up from the older gentleman.
"Please Gerard, no more secrets. Tell us how it is you know where he lives?" begged Phillippe, no longer wanting he and Christine to be kept in the dark.
"I-I just do" said Carriere, reluctant to say more at this time.
He turned and continued walking down the stairs.
Phillippe and Christine followed behind him.
"Please Monsieur Carriere!" exclaimed Christine, begging him to say more.
"For thirty years I managed this Opera House, and with that came certain privileges, alright?" said Carriere as he continued going down the stairs, until he reached the ground floor.
He turned to face Christine and Phillippe as they came up behind him.
"I promise I will reveal more once we have met with Catherine. What time is it now?" asked Carriere.
By coincidence, the big clock on the balcony overlooking the lobby bonged and when all three looked up it showed it was now nine o'clock. They all then walked further into the main lobby and stopped by the statue of the Egyptian woman and waited for Catherine to make an appearance. It was quiet all around for a moment and then everyone heard the sound of stone scraping across the floor. When they looked further in the room, passed the Egyptian woman statue, they saw the wall was opening inward very slowly. They saw a shadow appear in the opening and the sound of faint footsteps coming towards them and soon a figure was revealed, it was Catherine in her white dress and was now wearing a light blue cloak around her shoulders.
"Cathy!?" exclaimed Christine as she ran around the statue, towards her sister.
Upon seeing her sister Catherine ran towards Christine and the two met each other in the middle and held each other close in a lovingly, sisterly hug.
"Oh Cathy! Thank goodness you are safe I've been so worried about you" said Christine as tears fell from her eyes.
"Oh Christine! I'm so happy to see you again" said Catherine as tears spilled from her eyes too.
Phillippe watched the two sisters reunite and was happy to see Catherine really was safe and well. He approached them slowly, so as to not disturb their moment, but when Catherine opened her eyes and looked over Christine's shoulder she saw him coming towards them and gently released her grip on her sister.
"Phillippe!? You're here too!" she exclaimed as she moved away from her sister and approached him, pulling him into a hug, which he gladly returned.
"Thank God you are safe Catherine. We feared the worst when you disappeared" he said.
The two pulled away from each other after a few moments, looked at each other and smiled. Christine came up beside them both and the three stood in a circle and placed their arms around each other's waists. Catherine looked back and forth between her two loved ones with a beaming smile and then she noticed there was another presence in the room and when she looked over Phillippe's shoulder she saw it was Monsieur Carriere.
"Oh Monsieur Carriere! You have come too? I am glad" she said with a friendly smile.
"Not as glad as I am to see you young Mademoiselle" said Carriere, giving her an equally friendly smile.
"I know you all have questions, and we have a lot to talk about. But before all that I would first like to introduce you all to someone. Someone who has protected and cared for me and has become very dear to me" said Catherine addressing everyone around her.
She moves away from Christine and Phillippe then walked back towards the secret opening in the wall. At the threshold she stopped and held out her right hand. A white gloved hand reached out of the threshold and took hold of Catherine's. She walked backwards slowly, gently pulling the figure out from behind the wall and soon it was revealed to be Erik, now dawned in his black cloak and black fedora. Once Erik was clear from the threshold the secret door closed behind him, Catherine turned and led him towards her sister, Phillippe, and Monsieur Carriere. As they got closer she gave his hand a gentle squeeze for comfort and reassurance. They stopped a few feet away from everyone else and Catherine addressed them.
"You already know who this is, Monsieur Carriere. But Christine, Phillippe, this is Erik. You may know him better as the Phantom of the Opera but to me he is the man I love" she said.
She let go of his hand and moved closer to Erik's left side and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Erik bowed his head to greet them but was too nervous to speak.
There was silence between all five of them until Catherine decided to break the ice.
"We are more than willing to answer whatever questions you have for us. But I fear here isn't quite the appropriate place to talk further. Is there somewhere we can speak more privately?" asked Catherine, feeling slightly weary of their surroundings.
Phillippe cleared his throat and took one step forward.
"Yes, I believe my Château a few miles outside of the city would be private enough for us to talk" he said.
Catherine looked up at Erik. He looked down at her and gave a small smile and shook his head 'yes' agreeing that Phillippe's suggestion was suitable for him. Catherine smiled up at him before turning to look at Phillippe.
"Very well Phillippe, we will go there to converse more" said Catherine.
Phillippe nod his head.
"I'll prepare the carriage and bring it around to the front. I will return shortly" he said before turning around and made his way towards the staircase.
"I will accompany you Phillippe" said Carriere as he followed behind the younger man.
The two made their way up the Grand staircase and disappeared from sight. Christine, Catherine, and Erik watched them go then Christine turned back to look at Catherine and Erik. She looked at how Catherine's arms were around Erik and how Erik's left arm had now found it's way around Catherine's waist and then looked up at her sister with a triumphant smirk. Catherine could tell what she was thinking and felt her cheeks warming up.
"You were right Christine" smiled Catherine.
She turned her head to look up at Erik who was looking down at her with confusion.
"Christine has known of my feelings for you since the night at the Bistro. I wanted to tell you them, but I was afraid in case you didn't feel the same way about me" explained Catherine, her cheeks were now as red as an apple.
Erik looked at her with a loving smile before leaning forward and kissed her forehead.
"And now look at us my love, we are together" he said.
"Forever, my darling" said Catherine, she cuddled a little closer to him.
Christine was in awe and the love that was radiating from both of them.
"I am happy for the both of you and I hope you both have a lifetime of blissful happiness and peace" said Christine with a beaming smile.
Catherine and Erik turned to Christine.
"Thank you Chrissie" said Catherine giving her a beaming smile in return.
"And we wish the same for you and the young Count" said Erik in an almost teasing manner.
His words made Christine blush; she went to speak but before she could the main entrance door swung open which spooked all three of them. They all turned towards the door and were relieved to see it was Monsieur Carriere.
"Phillippe has the carriage waiting outside. Come, we must make haste before someone sees us" he said in an urgent tone before turning around and walked back out the main doors.
Christine, Catherine, and Erik followed behind him and when they got outside they all clambered into the carriage, Carriere sat up front with Phillippe while Christine, Catherine and Erik sat at the back. Phillippe stirred the horses on and soon they were off.