I was inspired for this next chapter after watching "The Light Between Oceans." Wonderful movie and I am sure an exceptional book, but I haven't read it yet. To those of you who have read or seen it, I think you can guess what is about to happen next.

Onward!

The next afternoon a policeman came by to speak with both Erik and Christine. Gustave was still asleep and all agreed that it wouldn't serve anyone any good to wake him. They already had more than enough evidence to convict Madame Giry for kidnapping and murder. Meg was going to stand trial for kidnapping charges only. After a few routine questions, the policeman was ready to take his leave.

"Thank you both for allowing me to come by. This should settle things once and for all. I don't see any reason why we would need to bother any of you again."

Erik got up from the couch and squeezed Christine's hand. "It's finally over, love." He then addressed the policeman. "I'll walk you out, Sir."

"Wait!" Christine stood up. "What will happen to them?"

"Ma'am, I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about. Madame Giry has already plead guilty and will stand sentencing. I'd say it will be 40 or so years before she even hopes to get out and with her age, well…..I'll leave it at that."

"What about Meg?" Christine asked in almost a whisper.

"She also plead guilty, Ma'am to kidnaping."

Christine shook her head and looked at Erik. "Angel, Gustave said she saved his life by throwing him over. He was adamant about it. I can't stand thinking about how she'll be wasting her life away and we did nothing to help her."

Erik went over to her. "Please excuse us a moment, officer." He then brought her closer to the window. "Angel, you can't be serious. She did this. Not us. She decided to waste her life away when she leered our son away with lies, trickery and…."

"And she saved him. She let him go. Just like you did all those years ago." She went to touch his face but he moved back. "Don't misunderstand me. I am furious at her, but she was lost and before all this madness, we each said we caused her downfall. You got a well-deserved second chance and look what you did with it? Look who you are now because of it."

"What are you saying? That we forgive and forget?"

"No, we never forget. But we forgive and move on. We grant her a chance to live a new life, away from here, of course. She gets a second chance to live a new life, just as we were granted." This time, when she reached to touch his unmasked cheek, he didn't pull away.

Erik was torn. "What will Gustave think?"

"I'm thinking of our son, Erik. He told me that despite everything, Meg never hurt him. She did the right thing in the end. She is accepting responsibility for her actions, by pleading guilty. She didn't tell anyone that she saved Gustave. She is trying to atone for her sins."

His angel's words affected him but he was still wrestling with all that had transpired. "Christine, you and Gustave are so pure of heart." He grasped her hand. "I can't bear to have any risk linger when it comes to you both…." He then placed his hand on her stomach. "You three."

"I want to be free of her, Erik and this is the only way."

Her look of determination made it clear to Erik that she would not relent. Christine had loved Gustave for longer than he ever even knew of his existence. If she could do this, then who was he to say no? He nodded slowly. "What do you wish to do?"

She kissed his visible cheek and called the policeman over. "Officer, will you please come here?"

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"I wish to speak on behalf of Meg Giry and offer her clemency, with conditions, of course. What would happen to her if I do that?"

"Clemency, Ma'am…?" He was shocked at her question. "I suppose she would still have to serve some jail time. Yet she didn't murder anyone and if you spoke on her behalf, the judge may be lenient."

"Then I will do so. I owe her that much. She saved my son's life in the end. Please tell the judge of my intentions."

"I will." He was obviously still confused. "Do either of you need anything else?"

Officer, I would like one more thing." Christine waited for his acknowledgement.

"What's that, Ma'am?"

"I wish to speak with her."

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Erik had tried half a dozen times to convince Christine to change her mind. In the end, he knew it was pointless. It was his Christine's strong will and heart of gold that brought her back to him. It was only because of her spirit and heart that allowed her to forgive and love him again. It was one of the many reasons why he loved her so. He had offered to go inside with her but she wanted to face Meg alone. He kissed her cheek and told her he would be in the carriage waiting, when she was ready.

Christine sat in the visiting area, waiting for Meg to appear. She was nervous but determined. Truthfully, she had no idea how Meg would take her visit. She could very well refuse to meet with her but a part of her knew that Meg would come. When she heard the door open, she looked up and realized she was right.

Meg sat down directly across from her with only a table separating the two women. So much had changed from the Paris Opera House, all those years ago.

"I never expected to see you again, Christine. I suppose I deserve your lashing. I gave you a pretty good one not very long ago."

"Oh Meg, I didn't come to settle the score."

Meg wiped her eyes. "Why not? You should. It wasn't that long ago that I would have done the same."

"Did they tell you that I am going to speak to the judge on your behalf?"

She nodded but didn't look into Christine's eyes. "Why? Why must you once more rise above me? Why can't you just let me rot in here like any other woman would?"

"Because I refuse to let you have power over me and my family. I did hate you. I am no saint, besides what some people may think. When I think of what could have happened to Gustave or Erik… When I think of what happened to Raoul…"

"I never wanted any of that!" She forced herself to look directly at her. "I didn't even know Raoul was there until it was too late. Mama was out of control. I knew that days before meeting Erik at the dock. I tried to stop it but she wouldn't listen. It wasn't about me. It was about her. Her revenge. It had to end."

"I am not doing this for you. Truthfully, it's for Gustave. I am doing all of this for him. In the end you did save him. He wanted to make sure I knew that. He wanted to make sure I knew you weren't a bad person."

"I don't deserve a thank you. I didn't tell anyone about that. I have no right to use him in anything ever again."

"I am not thanking you and you can bet your life, you will never use my son for anything ever again. You will never even look at him! I am simply offering you a chance to rebuild your life because you did show that when it truly mattered, you chose good. You chose to spare him and admit your wrongdoings."

"I told you Erik and I are a lot alike. Don't show kindness to another freak, Christine. We aren't all worth it." She lowered her head, completely disgusted with herself.

Christine shook her head. "You are nothing like my Erik. He would never mistake my kindness for weakness. He knows my kindness is a strength. What I am doing is not for you. It's for them. My family will grow stronger from this because we will not have you in our thoughts any longer. What you do with your life beyond this moment is on you." She got up and walked towards to door.

"Christine!"

She turned around.

"I'm sorry. I really am sorry for everything. I don't know what happens now and I know our stories are going to go on without the other but for what it's worth, I missed what we once were to one another. You have a great life. It's not so unnatural that others would want it too."

Christine thought for a second that maybe there was a glimmer of the old Meg still inside her. "Go and make your own life, Meg. Make a full life that you won't have time to care what is happening in mine."

She tried to smile. "Tell Gustave, I am sorry?"

Christine knocked on the door, so the guard would let her out. "He already knows. He forgave you long before I did."

Christine walked to the carriage with her head held high. Erik jumped out and took her hand as he helped her inside.

"How are you?"

She placed her hand on her stomach and brought the other up to caress his cheek. "I'm happy and at peace. And you, my love? How are you?"

"I am, as I always am. In awe of you, my angel."

She rested her head on his shoulder, as Erik instructed the driver to take them home.