"I'm sorry Andrew, what did you say?" Raoul said, looking at Christine who had not caught on yet. Andrew took another drink of his champagne and growled.
"That bloody husband of hers. Wears a mask. He's scarred or something." He said and Raoul closed his eyes.
"Oh Roxana..." He said softly, thinking of Justin and sinking to his seat. It couldn't be the same man...there was just no way...Christine stood up, looking at her husband and sensing his thoughts.
"Come on Raoul...you don't honestly think..." She began and he placed his finger to his lips.
"I don't know Chris...but it's scaring the daylights out of me..." He said, looking at Andrew.
"What's going on Chagny?" He asked and Raoul sighed.
"You surely remember the reports of the infamous Opera Ghost at the Opera Populaire..." He said and Andrew nodded.

"Remember? Chagny, I was there Roxana was supposed to meet me, but...dear God It is him isn't it?" He asked and Raoul lost all color in his face. Strangely he felt as if he had just betrayed Christine in the worst way.
"Christine go up to the bedroom..." He instructed and she shook her head defiantly.
"No. You're not going to do anything...damn it Raoul if you do...I will never forgive you..." She said and he scowled a moment.
"I am not going to hurt him damn it Go to bed " He said, raising his voice. She stared at him a moment, her brown eyes blazing and remorse filled him. "Christine..." He said softly, but her tiny hand coming across his cheek silenced him.
"Good night husband." She said, and ran from the room crying. Raoul's sisters Elisabeth and Alana ran after her.
"Christine!"

Antoinette Giry, seeing all of this was stricken. Oh Erik, what have you gotten yourself into?
"Look Westcliff, wait...tonight is my wedding night...I honestly don't think he's going to hurt her if he hasn't by now..." Raoul said, torn between his head and his heart. His head told him over and over again that he should be worried, but seeing Christine's grief over the man killed him. She needed his guidance again, deceitful as it was. Andrew grinned, disregarding Rosaline with indifference. She sighed and walked away, but Andrew hardly noticed. A plan had formed in his mind. Raoul asked his parents to see everyone out and went to make good with his wife. He found her sobbing on the bed still fully dressed.

"My love..." He said softly and she looked up a moment.
"Go away." She said, turning away and pulling her knees to her chin. He sat behind her on the bed and held her shoulders gently.
"Christine...I will not do anything to him. You have my word. If that is what it takes to make you happy, then so be it. I cannot say the same for Andrew. He's obsessed. I think it is best for us to just stay away from the matter and as much as I love Roxana and I know you do, I think we should give them space for a while." Raoul said softly and she turned into his chest.
"It isn't fair...she's the nicest person I've met and the only friend I have right now besides Meg." She said. He pulled her tighter to him.
"I know sweet, I know...we will get through this..." He said, unsure of how, but determined not to think of it.

"I've gone and ruined our wedding night." She sobbed and he shook his head.
"No Christine. No you did not...it was not ruined. See? You still look beautiful and I still love you to pieces...see darling?" He said, kissing her face sweetly, trembling in anticipation. The truth was, twenty-one year old Raoul de Chagny was a virgin and had been secretly dreading this night, for fear of leaving Christine unsatisfied in his own innocence.
"Raoul, are we going to...?" She asked and he touched her cheek, removing his suit coat and setting it aside.
"Only if you want to dearest..." He said, dreading her answer either way. Her finger tips came to touch his silky smooth lips.
"I want to be with you Raoul...I always have." She said, looking into his eyes. "Ever since that first day by the sea...I have loved you Raoul de Chagny." He nodded, trying to not cry.
"Me too." He choked out before kissing her softly.

As he moved to unbutton her gown, he realized there were at least a hundred tiny satin buttons and gave a little yelp.
"This is not fair..." He muttered, fumbling as his trembling hands tried miserably to remove the buttons from their holes. She laughed nervously.
"You know, you don't have to be so careful..." She said and he began to take them faster finally getting the last one undone. They lay down together and soon, the awkwardness melted away. Christine tensed at the end, since it was a bit painful but after a few moments she felt better and sank back into the Heaven she and Raoul had created. Afterwards, they lay in each others arms silently and in wonder at what had just happened between them when Christine began to laugh.

"What?" Raoul asked and she shook her head.
"Nothing..." She said and he became very self conscious.
"What is it? Was it horrible?" He asked and she shook her head.
"No dear not a bit...but I still have the picture of you trying to undo all of those damn buttons in my mind. The look on your face!" She laughed harder, "You were practically broken into a sweat!" He blushed and stuck his tongue out at her.
"Shut up..." He said, chuckling himself. "I've never undressed a woman before." He added and she shrugged.

"You're so funny...I bet you can't even look in the mirror when you're naked for fear of being improper." She said with a giggle. He messed her hair up.
"Well if you aren't the one to talk Miss Chris...when I undressed you practically turned purple!" She laughed.
"I know!"
As they lay back down to sleep, the memories of the events at their wedding came back to her. So she had seen someone at the church, but she couldn't let Andrew Westcliff hurt him or Roxana...tomorrow, she would do something about it. Tomorrow...

"Roxana Please Open the door " Christine cried, knocking on her friend's door. At her constant bugging, Raoul had hesitantly agreed to bring her here to warn them. For Roxana. He for one, was not ready to face that man again, if it was indeed the man they thought it was. About a minute later, the front door opened and a young girl stood before them.
"Can I help you?" She asked and Christine nodded eagerly.
"I need to talk to Lady Destler. It is urgent..." She said and the girl shook her head.
"I'm sorry, they aren't accepting..." Christine shoved the door open and pushed past the girl, running blindly through the house she had never been in.
"Roxana Roxana!" She cried as Raoul walked in, nodding apologetically at the girl.

Erik looked up from the table where he was working with Jamie on the word "hungry" in horror. That voice. That small childlike but sweet voice crying throughout the house. He stood as if the room were on fire, looking for an escape.
"Christine?" Roxana asked, coming down the stairs behind Christine, who was standing in the door to the salon where Erik and Jamie were. Christine ran to the girl as Raoul caught up.
"Roxana...Lord Westcliff is going to do something horrible. He knows who your husband is. I know who your husband is " She cried, pulling the girl toward the salon again. Erik stood in horror, dreading the moment they walked in.
"You know." Roxana said, for the first time fear in her voice. Christine turned, seeing him in the doorway and nodded.
"It is you." She said softly, afraid to move.

He gave her a cold nod, and looked at Roxana.
"So it would seem..." He replied and looked at Raoul who seemed to shrink in his gaze. "Relax child, I won't hurt you...you've done nothing wrong." He said quietly and Raoul breathed. He looked back at Christine who had her head tilted.
"I..." She began and sighed. "I don't know what to call you uh...sir?" Erik winced at the word "sir."
"Erik." He said, looking down at the little boy who was clinging to his pant leg. Christine cleared her throat, determined to remain focused on her purpose here.
"Well, Andrew Westcliff knows that you are...were the Opera Ghost...he was at the last performance and I think he is going to use that as something in his plan to get her." She said as Roxana walked over to Erik.

"Maybe I should run with Jamie...I don't want to drag you into this mess Erik." She said sadly and he shook his head.
"I dragged myself into this mess. I owe it to you...you saved my life girl." He said and she nodded.
"I don't care Erik. This is not your battle to fight...you don't understand. He will do whatever it takes to have his way." She said, picking up her son and hiding her teary eyes in his hair. Raoul stepped forward.
"She's right...I've seen Andrew at his worst." Raoul looked at Christine and sighed, disbelieving what he was about to do.
"M-maybe you should stay with us for a few days...until we know Andrews intentions." He said and Erik looked at him as if he were crazy.

"I won't leave her alone. Or Jamie. Absolutely not." He said and Roxana looked up at him, nearly scaring the hell out of him with her red rimmed eyes.
"Please...Erik. Go...Just for a few days...I couldn't bear it...I just...just go." She said turning away and clutching her son to her. Erik smoothed his hair back, thinking for a moment.
"Fine Roxana...but you are not to be here alone." He said and Raoul nodded.
"I will have my father send a couple of officers here to watch over you." He said and Erik nodded, holding Roxana's shoulder.
"Also, Jamie is coming with me. I will not have him in Andrew's presence." He said and Roxana whirled around.
"No...you can't just order me around, I am his mother " She said and Erik stood his ground.
"Well I am your husband and I am looking out for both of your sakes. What would Justin have you do?" He asked, his voice becoming desperate for her. She turned at looked at him.
"Fine." She said.

"I don't like this Roxana." Erik said and she nodded.
"Well...it doesn't really seem like any of us does, now does it?" She said and set Jamie gently down.
"Love...you're going to go to Raoul's house with Erik." She said and the little boy tilted his head.
"Mama..." He said, looking confused. She sighed.
"No sweet...I can't come. I will come see you soon though...I promise my darling." She said, kissing his pink cheek and handing him to Erik, before trying to turn away again. Erik held her arm.
"No goodbye?" He asked, his eyes hurt. And she leaned up defeated and kissed his cheek.
"Goodbye Erik. Take care of my baby." She said and hugged Christine tightly before leaving the room.
"She doesn't want you two to see her cry." Erik explained, setting Jamie beside Christine and going to pack some of his and Jamie's things.

He found Roxana already packing them.
"Sweetheart, things are going to be alright." He said, trying to comfort her. She was so lost.
"I should have married Andrew." She said burying her face in her hands. Erik was a bit frightened. He'd never seen her like this. She was always calm as a summer night.
"Don't forget his blanket, he can't sleep without it and his bear...Justin bought it for him before he was born..." She rambled. He stopped her and pulled her to his chest.
"Stop." He said, holding her a moment. She was out of her head. Her hands came up and clutched at his lapels. "Everything is going to be fine." He said calmly. "I swear...you know what, if it came down to it, I would turn myself in as long as it meant you were safe. You're very dear to me Roxana. Such a good friend and I don't know what I would have done without you. God knows you should have turned me in long ago." He said, surprising himself. He had grown fond of her stubbornness, her hard exterior.

She looked up at him tearfully.
"Really?" She asked and he nodded, smiling awkwardly at her.
"Sure...who else would put me to bed and listen to my babbling when I am drunk?" He asked and she laughed, hugging him.
"You knew it was me?" She asked and he chuckled.
"Not quite...the next morning I realized the maids were still too afraid of me...and you'd actually changed me and covered me up. You're old for your age Roxana." He said and she nodded.

"I feel old." She said, thinking of how different she'd been when Justin had been alive. Growing up, her philosophy was to live like it was the last day of her life. After he had died, every day felt like it should have ended the day before.
"Alright sweetheart...one more thing." He said, holding her by the shoulders. He picked up her left hand and touched the gold band on her wedding finger. "Give me this to hold onto." He said, sliding it off of her finger. She looked up at him nodding. Putting an arm around her shoulders, he walked her back down to where an enchanted Jamie was examining Christine's rings.

Raoul looked at Roxana sympathetically as she came back in.
"I'm fine..." She said, seeing her old friend's concern. He nodded.
"You will be." He corrected as she ran to give him a hug.
"I'm sorry Roxy...I didn't know how bad Andrew had become since Justin..." He said and she nodded.
"It's too late now..." She said softly looking at Erik.
"Not for you it's not." He said, holding her hand. "James." He said beckoning to the child who forgot Christine when he saw his hero standing there waiting for him. "Say goodbye to Mama." He said handing the child to Roxana.
"You be good for Erik, James...do you hear? I'll see you soon." She said softly as the boy touched her hair.
"Mama..." He said, confused as she kissed him and handed him back to Erik, giving his things to Raoul.

"When he comes here do not tell him anything...but I swear to God, if he threatens you...I don't care. I will turn myself in." Erik said, facing Roxana, before adding. "After I kill him." Christine's mouth dropped open as she looked at her hands in her lap.
"Alright Erik...you'd better go. Who knows how long we have before he shows up." She said and hugged him once more before walking them all to the door. Christine looked up at her friend, frightened for her.
"I wish you could come too." She said and Roxana smiled, shaking her head.
"No, I won't put you and Raoul in danger too." They hugged once more. "Christine." Roxana called as the men got into the Chagny carriage. Christine turned back to her.
"After this is all over...maybe you could come over for tea sometime." She said and Christine nodded, sighing at the thought of the awkward drive ahead.
"I would like that."