Christine walked in and Raoul closed the door.

"This is nice." He looked around and debated whether to sit or stand. He finally just stood still and looked at her. "Looks like you're doing well."

She just stared at his tattered appearance. Raoul saw her expression and replied for her.

"And I am obviously not…. You got anything to drink? It's been a long journey."

"Raoul…."

"Never mind, I came prepared." He pulled out a small flask from his inside jacket pocket.

"Do you have to drink now?"

"You can't expect me to give you up and drinking all in one day." He took a sip and the closed it. "Unless there's a chance that maybe, just maybe you might want to give us another chance?"

Christine didn't know what to say. A part of her wanted to lash out at him for leaving her like that and cheating on her with a woman that was once her best friend. And yet, the other part saw the sad remains of the boy who came to her dressing room after her debut performance, speaking of summers by the sea and stories of the dark. She had to smile when she thought of the irony. Her father telling her and Raoul stories of the dark and years later, she would become enchanted by Erik's world of night.

"That chance was thrown away when you left with Meg, Raoul."

He smirked. "So, I am to accept all the blame, as usual?"

"No, Raoul. I know I am to blame just as much as you are for all that went wrong in our marriage…. Maybe even more."

He took another sip. "Did you ever love me, Christine? Did you ever love the hero?"

"Oh Raoul, there was never a hero or a villain. I was never the damsel in distress either. You chose to see me that way, and I didn't stop to correct you. It was all my fault." She sat down, and Raoul joined her.

"You loved him all those years ago."

"I…."

"It wasn't a question. I knew it. I knew it and I did all I could to get you away from him. But it didn't matter. He was always with us. Even before that final night."

"We both made choices and didn't think about the consequences. Raoul, I know I have hurt you and I am truly sorry. You tried…. I tried but it…."

"Wasn't enough." He reached for her hand and she let him take it.

"I wish we would have talked like this before."

"Me too."

"Maybe if we had been honest early on, we could have had a chance." He kissed her hand. "I know I've lost you but I'm not ready to say goodbye."

She started to cry. "I do love you, Raoul. I always will."

He reached for her and they embraced. After a few minutes, he let go and wiped his eyes with his hand. He then stood up.

"Would you…. Would you like an annulment?"

"What?"

"I know how getting a divorce would put you at odds with God and the church. I am offering it because I have not been the husband or man you needed. We have grounds…. I knew you loved someone else. We entered into the marriage under false pretenses."

An annulment. The answer I never even dreamed to receive from Raoul, let alone to have it be offered to me. A complete fresh start…. What woman would refuse this chance? She then looked at him. She would be fine either way. She had Erik and the wisdom to never deny her love for him again. What does Raoul have? He had no money, no real friends or love and soon no family. No family…. Gustave. The very reason I could never agree to his offer. I must atone for my lies. What kind of woman would I be if I said yes?

"Raoul, I can't ask that of you. I am prepared to answer for my sins before God. I have made peace with that."

"Then I will allow you to file for divorce. Everyone knows you have grounds. I'll accept the blame publicly. No honorable woman should bare that shame." He then sighed. "You are honorable, Christine. You could have left me years ago."

"We both deserve a chance at happiness, Raoul. If you stopped drinking and…. It's not my place anymore, but if you stopped drinking, you can still find the love you deserve."

"Thank you." He then thought for a moment. "What should we do about Gustave?"

Suddenly, Christine tensed up. "What do you mean?"

"Are you really going to live in America? Wait, your freak is still a wanted murderer in France, is he not?"

"Raoul don't call him that. His name is Erik."

I don't give a damn what his name is! Christ, Christine! The Devil takes my wife, I'll be damned if I'm going to let him take my son away from me."

"What do you propose we do?" She cursed herself for thinking this conversation would be easy.

"He's my son. I expect him with me half the time."

"Half the time!" She stood up in protest.

"Christine, you know damn well I could fight for sole custody and win. You are divorcing me, remember?"

"Is that why you wanted me to file the papers and not you?" She couldn't believe how she fell for his lies again. "Did you mean anything you said to me? All this was a ploy to punish me by using Gustave. You Bastard!"

"What? I am prepared to stop being your husband, but I am not giving up my son to be raised by a mad man and his freak show! Besides, this is about Gustave. You are forcing him to leave his birthright. I need him in France, he'll be a Vicomte."

"Raoul, it's a meaningless title. What would he need to do as a Vicomte? Attend coronations? I am his mother. He needs me."

"And now that he is getting older, he is going to need his father. It's time he learns important things and not waste time on music. He is to be groomed for service."

"He's 10 years old!"

"I was taught around his age. Christine, you will see I am being more than fair."

"I am not going to let you take my son away from me. No, never, I tell you. Never! You don't know the first thing about him!"

"Hence I start to learn. Now be reasonable, Lottie."

"Don't you ever call me that! Don't you dare try and take my son away from me and have the audacity to call me by a name that reminds me of my late father."

"Calm down. I know once you have had some time to think on it, you'll see that this is the best choice for everyone."

"It's not the best choice for Gustave!"

"Really? And you are the only one who knows what is best for him? You are going to subject him to live with those monsters and be in the present of a foul as sin, hideous beast! The child will have nightmares for years. On second thought, I may just go ahead and to fight for full custody. What judge in his right mind would ever subject a child to that kind of life?"

"The only monster ever on Coney Island was you, and as far as hideous beasts are concerned, Gustave knows what real beauty is and where you find it. You do this, Raoul and I will never forgive you. I will hate you and I promise you, Erik and I will fight you until our last breath. You will not take my son away from me!" She was practically hysterical. All she could think about was doing anything and everything to keep her family with her. She knew Erik would agree. Gustave and Erik were her lifelines. She couldn't breathe without them, not now, not ever."

"He's my son too!"

"No, he is not!"

"Christine, I told you I am going to be a better father, now that he is older and…."

"No Raoul! You are not listening to me. You are not his father! You never were. Erik is his father. The night before our wedding…. I went to see Erik." There is no going back from this. I was with Erik the night before we wed."

Raoul looked at her as if she were insane. "You lie."

She laughed. "You conceited, vicious, Bastard! Have you really looked at him? Does he look like you? Have you ever stopped to really see? He's different. He's musical. He's more intelligent than you or I will ever be. He is creative and adventurous. He sings, not just like me but his voice resembles the voice of an angel." She knew she went too far but she didn't regret it. She would protect Gustave with everything she had. She had past the point of no return.

"You wouldn't have."

"Maybe now it makes sense that we never had another child. You were so quick to assume it was my fault, but how could that be? I had a beautiful, healthy, baby boy. A son. Something you weren't able to do."

"To think I thought I didn't deserve you… Despite everything, you were never cruel, Christine. You and that Devil are a match made in hell, after all." He shook his head in disgust. "I can't stomach the sight of you any longer."

Raoul slammed the door shut and Christine covered her mouth, suppressing her cries. She couldn't believe what possessed her to tell Raoul the truth in such a way. What was going to happen now? What if Raoul went back to Coney Island? Good God, she hoped no one would let the boy out of their sight until she got there. They know how Erik felt about Raoul and yet what if Gustave wanted to see him or talk to him? She had to leave and find Erik at once.

She ran to the door, but it would not open. She yanked and pulled on the knob, but it would not turn. She was locked inside.

A/N: I wrestled with just the right moment when it would turn ugly between them. Gustave was the trigging point.