The coach stopped, and Christine placed her hand over her heart. Erik touched her knee.

"Don't worry, angel. We will bring our son home tonight. It's going to be fine. Are you sure you wouldn't rather…?"

"I'm coming with you, end of story." She then placed her hand over his. "It's not that I don't trust you to behave. I just need to see Gustave. I…" She started to tear up.

"Sh...Sh." He brought her head to his chest. "I understand and you're right. We both should be there."

"Sir, where would you like us to be?" Gangle asked him, knowing full well where he wanted to station himself and Nadir.

Erik looked at Christine. "Why don't you both wait for us outside? Christine and I will go in alone."

Gangle wanted to object but Erik cut him off.

"You'll be right outside the door. I want to handle things with de Chagny, personally. This needs to end here, tonight. I am through having him be a roadblock in our lives."

Gangle nodded. "Very well, Mr. Y."

Erik looked at Nadir. "Don't you want to say something?"

Nadir took a deep breath. "Be safe and remember your actions tonight will impact all of your futures."

Erik got out of the coach and then helped Christine.

"Ready?"

She nodded.

"Alright. I know the owner. It won't be an issue getting into his room. Let's go."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As soon as they walked into the lobby the man greeted Erik.

"Mr. Y, what a surprise! What can I do for you this evening?"

"You have someone staying in your hotel that I have business with. I need to make sure we speak with him and I don't want our visit to be interrupted or announced."

The man looked at Erik and Christine and then over at Gangle and Nadir and swallowed hard. "Who… Who is this man?"

"de Chagny, Raoul de Chagny. You may have seen him with a 10-year-old boy."

The man looked at his register and then looked up. "Room 515. Mr. Y. would you like a key?" His voice trembled.

"Just in case." Erik took the key and then led Christine to the stairs. He turned around. "Maybe one of you should wait here and the other follow us and wait in the hallway."

Nadir spoke up. "I'll wait here."

Gangle nodded. He started walking towards the stairs. "Remember, I'm right behind both of you."

They got to the third floor and Erik turned to Christine. The stairs were not very stable, and she leaned into him. "Christine are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Now is not the time to hover." She didn't mean to sound so curt. "I'm sorry, I just want him back."

"I know. So, do I." He resumed his steps when she squeezed his hand and gave him a weak smile.

"I'll be careful. I have you, remember?"

They arrived at his door and Erik knocked.

"Who the Hell is in?"

Gangle took his place in the hallway. "Charming, man."

Erik didn't take any chances, he had the key in the lock and opened the door.

"What the Hell is this? You?!" Raoul stood up with a bottle in his hand.

Christine went into the bedroom and bathroom calling Gustave's name, but he wasn't there.

"Where is he?" Erik growled.

"Who? Gustave? I don't know I haven't seen him in months!" He then stopped in his tracks. "Are you saying you don't know where he is? Oh, this is brilliant. Father and Mother of the year. Christine, see what this man's influence has done? You used to never let the boy out of your sight and now with him, you throw him to the wolves. See what's becoming the Phantom's whore has done to you? I can't wait for the courts to hear about this!"

Erik grabbed Raoul by the neck and pushed him up against the wall.

"You insolent maggot! How dare you insult her like that! After all the years of abuse and cruelty you put her through. I should kill you right now."

"Erik, stop!" Christine went to him and touched his heart. "Stay calm. His words don't bother me."

"She is the only thing keeping you alive. Seems like old times, doesn't it?"

Erik lowered Raoul to the floor and let go of his neck. "Where is Gustave?"

"I don't know!"

Erik wanted to hit him. "You are hiding something, I know it! I sense it!"

"Erik, let me talk with Raoul."

He shot her a look as if she were insane. "Are you joking? Leave you alone with this man?"

"Just give us a minute, please." She locked eyes with him and mouthed please to him again.

He backed away. "If you hurt Gustave or lie to Christine, no one will save you from your doom." He looked at Christine. "Five minutes."

When Erik left the room, Raoul sneered. "He's a madman."

"He's worried about Gustave, as am I. Raoul, please just tell me where he is."

"I already told you, I don't have him." He then looked at her and noticed her usual slim stomach had a slight bump. She was hardly showing but Raoul always knew Christine to be so thin. "I haven't seen you since your confession. That was weeks ago. Christ, it really is true." He dropped his head.

"What is?"

"I thought that maybe I still could be the father but look at you... You're pregnant, aren't you? After all this time, maybe it was me who couldn't…

Her hand went to her stomach, proactively. "Raoul, if calling me names makes you feel better, fine but Gustave is missing. We haven't seen him since this morning and…."

"And you thought that I took him?" He looked hurt and sat down on the couch. "I didn't take him, Lott…. Christine. I've been here, getting drunk. Ask the manager, he never sees me leave this place, I have bottles delivered from the store."

"Oh Raoul…."

He looked up at her. "Pitiful, isn't it." He suddenly regretted being drunk. "I want to…. How can I help?"

"Raoul, you are in no condition to help and Erik…."

"He wants to kill me." Raoul couldn't help but laugh. "I know I'm not his father, but I do love him, Christine. Please, if there is anything I can do."

She looked at him for a long time. "You really didn't take him, did you?"

"I swear to you, I didn't."

"Erik!"

Erik rushed in. "What is it? What did he say?"

She shook her head. "Raoul didn't take Gustave. We need to go."

He looked confused. "Are you... Are you sure?"

Christine wiped her tears. "Yes. We need to go."

Erik started to follow Christine to the door when Raoul called his name.

"Erik." Raoul couldn't believe how foreign that sounded to him. "I'm sorry but that sounded weird. I know you think I'm such an incompetent ass and maybe I am but, if there is anything I can do to help find the boy…. Please, let me."

"What do you propose?"

Raoul stared blankly into air, as if he was trying to think of options. "I can see if anyone tried to leave here and board a ship with a child."

"I have means to do that. That's how I knew you never went back to France."

Raoul nodded. "I could help in the search with your men."

Erik stiffened.

"It sounds crazy, I know but…."

"You know what you could do to help us, Vicomte. I have the means and the men to find Gustave but you, you are the only one that can really let us all go free."

Raoul looked away. He knew what Erik was talking about.

"Please, Erik, let's just go." Christine called to him.

"Can I…. Can I at least make inquires? I know you think nothing of me but my name…. My family name still means something."

Erik walked over to Christine and took her by the arm, as he opened the door. "If you find out anything useful, speak to Dr. Gangle." He called Gangle's name.

He came running in. "Mr. Y?"

"Give the Vicomte a means to reach you in case he discovers anything about the boy."

"You mean he didn't take him?"

Erik looked at Christine and then back at Raoul. "No, he didn't do it."

When they were in the hallway, Erik and Christine embraced.

"Erik, what are we going to do?"

Without letting her go, he spoke with conviction. "We'll go back to Phantasma and speak with everyone. Someone must know something. Even the slightest detail can help. With Gangle, Nadir, Squelch and Walker on our side, we will find him."

"Erik, wait." She stopped in her tracks. "I think I may know who took him."

"Who?"

"Well, at least a clue anyway. Remember when Walker told me that some time back there was an elderly couple that didn't look right to him. He said they were late leaving the concert hall. He hadn't seen them since but…."

"Elderly couple?" He thought back and then Erik's eyes widened. "Giry!"

"Good God!" Christine panicked.

"As soon as we get back we are going straight to Meg's. If her mother is involved she will know and so help her when we find her."

He wanted to run down the stairs, but knew it wouldn't be healthy for Christine, and so he picked her up and carried her down.

Nadir looked alarmed when he saw them. What happened?"

"I'll explain later, we haven't a moment to lose. We have to get back to Phantasma now."

A/N: I loved writing this chapter and now the hunt is on.