Rekindling the Music of the Night

By: K.C. Vaillancourt

Disclaimer - You know the drill…I do not own anything associated with The Phantom of the Opera or lyrics of any songs I use.

Author Note – Thank you so much for the reviews, follows, and favorites. You have no idea how much they mean to me. You are my inspiration.

Just as a quick warning I do edit all my work before I post and have people read my work but there still may be some grammar mistakes. I apologize for them in advance.


One Part of Her Journey is Over, Another Begins

Christine stayed with Meg at the opera house for the next two days while Meg got everything ready for her departure. Meg noticed more and more people talking about the search for Christine. She had to be more careful than normal when sneaking around to get in and out of the opera house because more people she didn't recognize were hanging around it.

Christine didn't know how Erik stayed here for all the years he did. She was going stir crazy as she waited for Meg to return and hoped that she would be able to leave today like they had planned.

The day before Meg had returned with new clothes for Christine to wear. The outfits Meg had bought her all looked the same except for varying colors. She was a little weary of the choices Meg made. She hated how masculine the costume in Il Muto made her look and she was afraid what Meg picked would do the same. After trying on one of the outfits she found she liked it a lot more than the dresses she was always made to wear and it still kept her femininity intact.

The undergarments Meg had found at a new boutique were much easier for her to put on than the corsets the maids had to tie her into. When she got up this morning she picked out a white peasant blouse with a black leather riding corset that fastened in the front over it, black riding pants that fit tight to her body, and black leather riding boots that stopped just below her knees.

She looked at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but laugh. "What's so funny?" Meg asked as she walked in.

"I was thinking about what Raoul or the other wives of France's high society would think if they saw the Vicomtess De Chagny dressed like this." Christine said. "Between my hair and clothing I doubt they would recognize me."

"Well that was the idea we were going for." Meg pointed out. "I got the satchels to repack your things in from my boss. It's just after five and most people have gone in for dinner so the streets are pretty quiet right now. I think it's time we get you out of here."

Christine smiled wide and hastily started packing her things. She stopped when she was about to pack the rose feeling nervousness set in. "Meg." She whispered. "Do you think your mother will tell me where Erik is?"

"If you explain things to her the way you did to me I don't see how she will be able to refuse you." She knew her mother thought of Christine like a daughter but she also thought of Erik like a brother and protected him fiercely. Meg didn't even know where he was since she only saw him at their home. She could tell Christine was already nervous and did not want to make it worse by telling her that there was a possibility her mother would turn her away before she got a chance to speak.

Christine packed the last of her things and put on a black cloak. Meg changed into one of Christine's dresses and put on her navy blue cloak. She took Christine's empty suitcase and together they left through the tunnel. Meg looked around and nodded to Christine that it was safe. They pulled their hoods up and made their way to the stables. The sun had just set as they walked in.

It wasn't long before Cesar was saddled up and they made sure Christine's satchels were secure. She turned to Meg and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you for all your help."

"You're welcome." Meg said as they parted and gave Cesar a pat on the head. "He knows the way to the house. It is a few hours ride from here to Gisors. When you get there Maman will take care of him."

Christine climbed onto Cesar's back and looked down at Meg. "If one of Raoul's men approaches you…."

"I will act like a complete stranger." Meg looked behind her when she heard the sound of glass crunching. "Someone's coming."

"How do you know?" Christine asked looking toward the opera house.

"There's no time to explain. You have to go now." Meg insisted.

Christine took up the reins and looked over at Cecile. "Meg you could…"

"I will. Now go."

Christine nodded and gave Cesar a gentle kick. She held back a yell of surprise as he took off at a full gallop. Meg watched until she was out of sight and smiled. She had gotten Christine safely on her way to their house. It would be up to Christine to take it from there. She turned around and walked away from the stables. On her way she saw a broken whisky bottle. That must have been the glass I heard. She thought to herself and continued on her way to the front of the opera house.

Anton emerged from the shadows and smiled when he saw a woman walking away from the opera house. He noticed the suitcase she was carrying and began to follow her.

Meg was quick to catch on to him and pulled her hood closer acting like a woman who was trying to keep out of sight. When she turned into an alley she felt a strong hand on her shoulder turning her around a little too roughly for her liking.

"We knew you would emerge eventually. Time to go home, Vicomtess." Anton said with a smug smile on his face.

Meg looked up to see a tall man with sandy brown hair and matching eyes looking down at her. She pulled down her hood and looked up at him anger clear in her eyes. "Excuse me sir. I believe you are looking for someone else. Kindly remove your hand from my shoulder."

Anton's smile faded and he did as she asked bowing his head. "My apologizes Mademoiselle. I am sure you have heard that the Vicomtess De Chagny is missing."

"And you thought I was she?" Meg asked with mock flattery.

"If you don't mind my asking what is a woman as pretty as you doing walking the streets alone in this part of Paris."

"I only just arrived back from a long trip and was on my home." Meg explained. "I do hope you find the Vicomtess. I am sure the Vicomte is quite worried." Meg tried to hide her contempt for him and act as concerned as she could.

"He is." Anton told her. "If you do see her would you please tell her she is greatly missed and it would be in her best interest to return to her husband."

"Of course monsieur." Meg said bowing her head.

"Merci." Anton turned around but before walking off he turned back towards her. "If you don't mind me asking, what is your name?"

Meg hadn't thought he would ask for a name and she couldn't use her own. She thought quickly and remembered a name Christine had mentioned when they were talking about a party she attended. "My name is Brigitte Dufort."

"My apologizes again Mademoiselle Dufort." Anton walked out of the alley and around the corner to the left.

Raoul had just come from talking to a group of concerned strangers when he saw Anton walking up to him and quickly closed the distance between them. "Anything?"

"I saw a woman walking out from behind the opera house with a suitcase acting like she didn't want to be seen but when I cornered her in an alley it turned out to be a different woman."

"Did you get her name?" Raoul asked.

"Brigitte Dufort." Anton told him.

Raoul took a moment. "Dufort did you say?" Anton nodded. "Whoever that woman was, she was not who she claimed."

"How can you be sure?"

"Christine and I were at a party that the Duforts attended as well. Brigitte told us they were leaving for Liverpool to take a ship to America the next day. Show me where she was perhaps we can still catch up with her." As Raoul followed Anton. He smiled. He knew Christine would make a mistake. They entered the alley and Raoul was not surprised to find it empty.

"She couldn't have gotten far." Anton said ready to go on the hunt.

"Wait. You said she came from behind the opera house?" Anton nodded. Without a word Raoul took off in the direction of the opera house. Raoul felt his anger grow as he got closer. She had come to find him after all. He thought back to all the times she had denied her love for him. He had to give her credit she was a better actress than he thought.

They entered the stables and Raoul stopped when he saw Cecile. "She's here Anton."

"Then who was the woman I encountered?" Anton asked.

"My guess would be Meg Giry."

Anton shook his head. "I met her briefly at your wedding. She was a cute petite long haired blonde. This woman was a brunette with shoulder length…" Anton punched the stable wall so hard it made Cecile jump. "She was a decoy."

Raoul nodded and left the stable. He began to carefully examine the back of the opera house. He knew how tricky the phantom was. There had to be an entrance to his lair somewhere. Then he felt it, a small lever. He pulled it and watched as a stone façade wall slid open. "Come on and keep your guard up." Raoul said glancing at the swords they each carried at their side.

They walked through the tunnel slowly. Raoul remembered the trap he had fallen into trying to rescue Christine and kept his eyes sharp for a sign of anything that could detour them. They came to a curtain and Raoul pushed it aside. He stayed where he stood and starred at the lair of the phantom remembering the last time he was there.


Raoul freed himself from the water trap he had fallen into and approached an iron gate. He stopped when he heard the phantoms voice. "Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest. Sir!"

"Raoul!" Christine screamed. He looked at her and saw she had been made to change into a wedding dress complete with a veil. She looked terrified.

The phantom ignored her and continued. "This is indeed an unparalleled delight. I had rather hoped that you would come and now my wish comes true. You have truly made my night!"

He grabbed Christine by the arm. "Let me go!"

"Free her." Raoul pleaded from behind the gate. "Do what you like, only free her. Have you no pity?"

The phantom looked at Christine. "Your lover makes a passionate plea."

Christine looked at him her eyes pleading with him to leave. "Please, Raoul, it's useless."

"I love her." Raoul declared looking at the phantom. "Does that mean nothing? I love her. Show some compassion."

"The world showed no compassion to me!" The phantom hissed.

Raoul looked back at Christine. "Christine...Let me see her"

The phantom let go of Christine and walked over to a lever opening the gate. "Be my guest, sir..." Raoul entered and the gate lowered behind him as the phantom approached him. "Monsieur, I bid you welcome. Did you think that I would harm her? Why would I make her pay for the sins which are yours?" Before Raoul could react the phantom produced a rope from under the water and tied him to the gate placing a lasso around his neck. "Order your fine horses now. Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes. Nothing can save you now, except perhaps Christine." He turned to look at her. "Start a new life with me. Buy his freedom with your love! Refuse me, and you send your lover to his death!" He yanked on the lasso and Raoul gasped for breath. "This is the choice, this is the point of no return!"

Christine looked at Raoul and then back at the phantom. "The tears I might have shed for your dark fate. Grow cold and turn to tears of hate!"

Raoul looked at Christine. "Christine, forgive me, please forgive me. I did it all for you, and all for nothing..."

Christine starred at the phantom. "Farewell, my fallen idol and false friend. We had such hopes, and now those hopes are shattered."

The phantom looked at Christine. "Too late for turning back, too late for prayers and useless pity."

"Say you love him, and my life is over!" Raoul told her knowing the phantom would never let him live.

"All hope of cries for help, No point in fighting" The phantom gloated.

Raoul and the phantom sang to her together. "For either way you choose, You/He cannot/has to win."

"So do you end your days with me or do you send him to his grave?" The phantom asked yanking the noose even tighter.

"Why make her lie to you to save me?" Raoul tried to reason.

All three of them began to sing together. "Angel of Music..."

"Past the point of no return..."

"Christine say no!"

"Who deserved this?"

"Don't throw your life away for my sake!"

"The final threshold...His life is now the prize which you must earn!"

"Why do you curse mercy?"

"I fought so hard to free you..."

"Angel of Music... you deceived me"

"You've passed the point of no return!"

"I gave you my mind blindly." Christine finished.

A silence fell upon them and the phantom starred at Christine. "You try my patience, Make your choice!"

Christine slowly walked into the water approaching the man who held his life in his hands. "Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you, you are not alone..."

Raoul looked away in disgust as Christine kissed the monster that had tried to kill him not once but twice. To his surprise her kiss made the phantom show mercy and he allowed them to escape.


Raoul's hand clenched into a fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white as the memory faded. Had everything she said down here been an act? He had truly loved her and wanted to save her from him at the time. When she first told him to leave was it because she was afraid for him or because she wanted to be with the phantom? Why else would she come to him if she truly hated him? He had looked away when she first kissed him but he saw the second. He saw the passion and love between them but thought it was an act. Standing here now he realized it was real. She loved that murderous monster. She left with him that night to ensure the phantom's survival.

What about Madame Giry, had she led him the way she did hoping he would be killed in the water trap? He was pulled out of his thoughts by Anton. "What is this place?"

"It is the lair of The Phantom of the Opera." Raoul whispered.

"The Phantom of the Opera." Anton repeated. "He's the man who Christine…"

Raoul nodded his head. He had told Anton the story while they were traveling, well most of it. "He nearly killed me down here. It is a part of the story I would prefer not to tell now. Christine has to be here somewhere. Search everywhere."

"Why would she come to the man who tried to murder her husband?"

"Because she loves him!" Raoul yelled. "That traitorous whore always has. She married me for my wealth, title, and to try to keep him safe but in her haste she has led us right to him."

They began to search the cavern but after a while came to realize he had deserted it a long time ago. Raoul knew if Cecile was here Christine had to be in the area somewhere. Perhaps she was hiding somewhere else in Paris until she decided on how best to proceed.

"Raoul, over here." Anton called.

He walked over to where Anton was standing and kneeled down. On the ground he saw a mix of brunette and blonde hair that had obviously been cut. "Smart play Christine." Raoul whispered to himself as he stood to face Anton. "She came here to find her phantom but I think she found Meg Giry instead. They tried switching places. Go find the other men on the streets and tell them Christine is now a blonde with shoulder length hair. I know it's not a lot to go on but right now it's all we have."

Anton nodded and left the way they came in. Raoul walked into the tunnel and closed the curtain but stayed behind.

Meg opened the door to her room and listened for the voices she had heard. She didn't hear anything and decided it was time leave. She changed out of the dress and into an outfit similar to Christine's except without the corset. She pulled on her cloak and slowly made her way to the exit. She nearly screamed when she pulled back the curtain and came face to face with Raoul. "If it isn't little Meg Giry." He said and smiled at her.

"Bonjour Vicomte." Meg responded bowing her head and showing no fear. When she lifted her head she was nearly overwhelmed by anger as she looked at his smug face. "May I ask what you are doing in my home?"

"Your home?" Raoul asked. "I thought this was the lair of the phantom."

"It may have been at one time but now it is mine. I will ask you again. What are you doing here?"

"You must have heard that Christine is missing." Raoul said acting just as polite as she was.

Meg looked at him with false concern for her friend. "I did hear about it. Are there any leads on her whereabouts?"

Raoul took a few steps forward toward Meg and she backed up. "I was hoping you could tell me."

"I know no more than the people on the street."

Raoul was beginning to lose his patients. "I know you're lying Meg. You used yourself as a decoy to help her get away."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Meg said trying to laugh off the accusation.

"You are certainly a better liar than my wife. If you haven't seen her why is your hair mixed with hers over there?" He asked.

Meg looked back to see what he was talking about. "That's what you're basing your accusation on? I am a woman. I have lived here for six years and as you can see have experimented with new looks."

"Enough of these games!" Raoul exclaimed and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. Meg didn't flinch. "I am not the type of man to harm a woman but…"

"Christine's face told a different story." Meg blurted out her anger getting the better of her.

Raoul smiled. "You have seen her after all."

"I did." Meg said smiling back. "She told me if I saw you to give you a message." She placed her hands on his shoulders and kneed him as hard as she could in the groin. She grabbed the bag she had dropped when she saw him and ran off through the tunnel as he fell to the ground whimpering in pain.

She got to the end of the tunnel and ran to the stables smiling as she quickly mounted Christine's horse who was already saddled up. She pulled on the reins and Cecile galloped away from the Opera house passing a few people as she went. Suddenly she got an idea and circled back as quietly as she could to hide in the shadows near the opera house waiting for the Vicomte to emerge. It proved not to be the easiest thing to do but thankfully Cecile cooperated and she did not have to wait long.

Anton ran toward Raoul as he saw him exiting the tunnel walking gingerly and slightly doubled over. "What happened? Did you find her?"

"Not exactly." Raoul told him trying to ignore the intense pain he felt. "I did find Meg Giry but she is a bit more, feisty than I remember. Did you see where she went?"

"No, but I heard a few people yelling about a woman who recklessly came speeding past them on a horse." Anton told him.

Raoul looked at Anton with a fury he had never seen in his friend before. He had been tricked. By women no less. Meg would certainly pay for her assault on him. He would make sure of that. "Get the word out far and wide. I will give fifty-thousand Francs to anyone with information on where Madame Giry lives and one hundred-thousand if the information leads us to the phantom himself. That should be motivation enough to get people talking. If we find either of them we will find my wife and bring her home where she belongs."

When she was sure they were out of sight Meg turned Cecile around and kicked her hard. She ran at a full gallop out of the city. She had to warn her mother, Christine, and Erik about what she had heard. She knew with that kind of money at stake the vultures would be circling before they knew it.

As Meg made her escape. Christine was riding on the road trying not to think about much and enjoy the ride. Cesar had slowed down a bit and every so often Christine looked behind her to see if she was being followed. With how fast Cesar was still going and the darkness of the night she doubted anyone who tried could keep up. She passed few people on the path Cesar was taking and noticed that houses were becoming further and further apart.

She began to let her mind drift to the other time she had been on this horse. It had only been for a short ride but she could tell he liked her. She knew stallions were challenging horses to ride and he seemed to take to her instantly. She heard the trickle of water coming from a stream up ahead and stopped Cesar so he could get a drink while she gave him some oats. Meg had told her not to stop but with how fast Cesar was going she needed a moment to stretch her legs and thought he could use a well-deserved break as well. She was thankful to be wearing pants. She couldn't imagine what riding him in a dress would have been like.

Once Cesar was finished she got back on him and he took off once more. It wasn't long before he began to slow down as he started down a small dirt path into a dense forest. Christine could barely see anything and cursed herself for not thinking to bring the lantern Marie had given her when she left Dijon. She felt her stomach begin to get that funny feeling she got when she was nervous. She started to wonder if she was doing the right thing. She knew she could never go back to Raoul but was it right for her to go to Erik? Once she saw him again she knew it would open up old wounds. Not only for him but for her as well. Was it fair of her to throw herself back into his life after six years?

She thought about what Meg had told her about how broken he was and what his life before he came to the opera house had been like. Would he even want to see her after what she had done? She shook her head trying to banish the nervous thoughts away. She had begun this journey and she couldn't stop now, not when she was so close.

Cesar slowed down to a trot as they came out of the forest and into a large field lit up by the full moon. Christine looked around. The entire area was surrounded by trees. Not an easy place to find unless you knew where you were going. She thought to herself. She looked ahead and saw Cesar walking toward a stone country house surrounded by a wooden split rail fence. When they were about halfway to the house Christine stopped Cesar and got off him. She took the reins and led him the rest of the way. She tied his reins to the fence and made her way to the front door.

Her hand trembled as she knocked. She knew it had to be at least midnight if not later and hoped she was not waking Madame Giry. She got her answer almost immediately when she heard the door being unlocked and opened. Christine smiled as she saw her former ballet instructor whom she had come to think of as a mother standing in front of her. "Meg, it is so good to see…"

"I'm sorry Madame Giry it's not Meg, its Christine." She said looking up at her careful to keep the hood of her cloak up so the bruise on her cheek was covered.

"Christine!" Madame Giry smiled and immediately wrapped her in a hug which Christine gladly returned. "It is so good to see you my child. Please come in."

Madame Giry led Christine inside and through a hall which led to a sitting room where a fire was roaring. Christine looked around and saw more trinkets she remembered from the opera house decorated the room. She smiled when she saw a poster of Hannibal on the wall. She turned to look at Madame Giry who looked back at her. In the light of the fire she noticed her blonde hair and even though she could tell she was trying to hide it she saw the hint of a yellowish bruise on her face. She motioned for Christine to sit down in the chair opposite hers. "I must say I am surprised to see you. How is it you came to be here, and at this late hour?"

Christine was silent for a moment wondering where to start. She starred into the fire. She was thankful for its warmth as it had been cold outside and helped her to stop trembling a bit from the cold but not from her nerves. "I do apologize for the late hour. There is no easy way to say this." She began looking at Madame Giry. "I left Raoul." She heard Madame Giry gasp but she allowed her to continue. "I travelled to Paris and ran into Meg at the opera house."

"I thought you might have." Madame Giry said knowing that was the only way she could have gotten Cesar to take her here. "Why did you return to the opera house?" Madame Giry thought she already knew the answer but wanted to hear it from Christine.

"I was looking for Erik." Christine admitted in a whisper.

Madame Giry was silent at the mention of his name. Meg must have told her. She thought to herself. "You were looking for Erik but ran into Meg and she agreed to let you use Cesar to come to me in the hopes that I would tell you where he is."

"Yes." Christine answered hoping that she would tell her where he was.

Madame Giry sighed. "I'm sorry Christine but I cannot help you."

Christine felt her hope shatter at her words and tears begin to form in her eyes. Meg had warned her that her mother may be reluctant but she was not expecting her to immediately refuse her. She was not going to give up easily. She thought about the horse outside. Perhaps Cesar knew where he was if she didn't. "You don't know where he is anymore?"

"I do, but I'm not going to tell you where he is." Madame Giry told her with finality in her voice. "I haven't seen you since your wedding day and you haven't laid eyes on him in six years. I know your husband the Vicomte is still looking for him. Meg and a few others keep me as informed as they can. After six years is this the brilliant plan he has come up with to catch him. You use Meg to help you come to me claiming to have left the Vicomte so that I will lead you to Erik. Should I expect him and the Surete to come out the forest as soon as you are successful in getting his location?"

Christine was shocked and hurt that Madame Giry thought she could be so devious and felt herself becoming angry. "I swear to you, no one but Meg knows I'm here. I want nothing to do with Raoul ever again."

"I wish I could believe you. I saw the both of you together at your wedding and before that. I saw the love between you both. I also was the one who saw Erik after you left. Do you know how shattered you left him? How long it took me to get him to move on and believe that his life was worth living?" Madame Giry asked remembering all the time she spent talking and pleading with him to let go of Christine.

"Meg told me how he was when she found him and how she helped him escape. I never wanted to hurt him and leave him so…"

"You unmasked him in front of the entire opera house!" Madame Giry yelled losing her usual stoic calmness. "You were part of the plot to capture and kill him."

"So were you." Christine pointed out trying to keep herself from yelling. "You knew what Raoul and the managers were planning. You didn't do anything to stop it or help me when I was pressured by Raoul and the managers to play the part I did. I was young, naïve, and scared. All I knew was that opera house after my father was gone and then an angel of music that came to me. Only that's not what he was. You knew it was Erik. Why didn't you tell me who he was instead of letting me believe he was an angel sent to me by my father? If I had known the truth things may not have turned out the way they did."

Madame Giry sighed. "Erik made me swear not to tell you. He was afraid of being rejected. I had hoped with time Erik would tell you the truth himself. However once the Vicomte came into the picture Erik was certain he had lost you and felt he had nothing to lose by doing what he did. I tried to talk sense into him back then to let you go." Madame Giry paused. "I'm sorry for my harshness earlier, when it comes to Erik I am relentlessly protective but I know it's not fair to blame you for what happened. You are right, I failed in my duty to protect him, and you by the looks of it."

Christine knew what she was talking about and lowered her hood. Madame Giry held back a gasp as she saw the extent of the large yellow/green bruise on her cheek. "Oh, Christine."

"This is one of many reasons why I would never help Raoul. I don't want to go into details but I have been through worse than this over the years." She let her held in tears fall as she saw a few tears escaping Madame Giry's eyes. She quickly tried to wipe her tears away. "As for the love you saw between Raoul and me whether at the opera house or at our wedding, it was all an act, a role I felt I had no choice but to play."

Christine got up from her chair and kneeled in front of her taking Madame Giry's hands in hers. "There is nothing any of us can do to change the past but I want to make the future better." She took a deep breath. "I love Erik. I made myself deny it and thought I would learn to love Raoul but I can't deny my feelings anymore. I have always loved him. Please, I need to see him and at least tell him how deeply sorry I am for what I did."

Madame Giry placed a hand on her unbruised cheek rubbing it with her thumb as she did when she was a little girl. "I always thought you loved him. When I saw you both on stage during Don Juan I saw the intense love you both shared. I knew then it would last forever even if you were apart. I saw the love in your eyes when you first said his name and I can see it now. I am sorry I did not fight harder for you or him years ago. If you were to see him what will you do if he tells you to go without allowing you to say what you want to say."

"If he asks me to go I will and continue on my path to find a new life as far away from Raoul as I can get." Christine told her.

"Very well." Madame Giry took a breath. "He is closer than you might think. He lives in the forest behind my stables in a log cabin. Walk behind the house passed the stables and you will see a lone red rose bush, beyond it you will see a dirt path that will lead you straight to the cabin."

Christine stood up and Madame Giry led her to the door. "Take Cesar with you. I am sure he would like a visit with his master."

"Thank you Madame Giry." Christine said hugging her one more time.

"I hope for both your sakes things will go the way you hope." Madame Giry said and kissed her forehead before letting her go.

Christine pulled her hood back up and untied Cesar from the fence. She heard the front door close as she made her way toward the back of the house. As she walked by the stables she saw the rose bush. It looked beautiful lit up by the full moon. She walked past it and saw the dirt path that followed.

She felt her heart racing as a lone cedar log cabin began to show itself in the distance. It was bigger than she expected and wondered if he had built it himself. She smiled as she thought of the home he had made for himself at the opera house. She should have expected no different here. She could see the glow of a fire coming from one of the windows.

She walked up to the wrap around porch and tied Cesar's reins to one of the rails. She slowly walked up the step to the front door. She raised her hand to knock but stopped. This is it. She thought to herself. The end of the journey she had started and she didn't know what would happen when she came face to face with him.

She began to wonder again if it would be better if she left. Madame Giry had helped him to live again and move on with his life. What right did she have to expect him to open his life up to her again? She was about to turn and leave but stopped herself. "I have come this far." She whispered and just as she was about to knock she heard a rustling in the bushes next to the cabin.

She turned around and thought her heart might pound out of her chest when she saw him emerge from the bushes and stop when he saw her. She starred into his familiar sea green eyes and immediately knew it was him. She had found her angel.