A/N: Not really sure how I became a softy for Hadley's Raoul. It might be because I was softened when I saw Tim Walton (a swing) as Raoul back about 14 weeks ago in LND and then seeing the same actor play the Phantom the second day. Long story short he was better than David Thaxton as Raoul and could make Ramin question his Phantom. He was fab.

~o~

Raoul had been gone for one week and Christine suffered alone with her morning sickness each morning. She knew that he had told her to call for Reinette's assistance but she didn't feel comfortable with the righteous blonde. She knew that she was better than Christine and would only trouble her more. She was uncomfortable alone in the manor without Raoul to be near her side when she needed him.

No matter how hard she wished for this child that was forming in her womb, she knew who the father truly was and the thought killed her. The Phantom had left her and Raoul had stood by. If Raoul discovered the truth, he would leave her too. Then where would she be? The Phantom had died.

She didn't believe it at all, but there was no way she could prove it otherwise. He had left the lair and then he had vanished from her side, presumably to return to his crumbling home. Christine didn't feel as though he was gone, no she felt the same as she had when he first filled her with such sweet intoxication. Perhaps it was merely the memory of him and not a true sign of his existence.

The curtain had fallen on that part of her life for good now. She had to let the past stay in the past. There was no point of wondering where her strange angel was now. He had left her and she ought to resent him for it. He had asked for no pity and she should oblige to it.

~o~

"You degrade yourself as a mere freak," Madame Giry chastised as Mr. Y entered the small, two bedroom, flat that they had managed to rent. It was small and dingy and nothing compared to the elegance of the Populaire that all three parties were used to. "We live in a shack."

"I have purchased the side show." Erik retorted, glaring up from the newspaper he was scanning. "I no longer have to reveal myself before horrified on lookers. No, instead I command the freaks as I wish."

"What do you hope to gain from this?"

"Coney Island draws in tourists from up and down the coast of the United States. What's to say that they won't want something a little more morbid to set their eyes upon."

"A freak show? At Coney?"

"It won't happen anytime soon. No. I need those like-minded individuals who will help my empire grow."

"You're talking like a mad man."

Erik only grinned in response.

~o~

"What a pretty little doll. What are you doing here all alone?" The stranger questioned Meg, settling up at the counter beside her. "We don't see many dolls alone here."

"Oh?" Meg asked, giving an innocent and slightly worried smile. "Well I only came here for a cup of tea, but then I found that coffees a more favorable drink here."

"French?"

"Oui."

"Name's Doctor Jack Brandon."

"Meg Giry." She smiled politely, "A medical doctor?"

"Yes. And what do you do?"

"I'm a dancer from Paris. I've come here to sing and dance."

"Well, doll, you've come to the right place. Can I buy you your cup of joe?"

"Cup of jo-"

"Coffee." Jack smiled, giving her a playful wink. "You've got to learn the American lingo."

"Yes, I do." Meg laughed, nodding her head. "If you'd like to." He wasn't a bad looking man to be talking with, quite the contrary actually. He had sinfully beautiful blue eyes, sleek black hair, and a smugish grin to die for.

~o~

Christine sat at the piano, playing a song that she had been taught by the Phantom. Though it was not as perfect as it could have been, if his skilled fingers had been playing, it seemed to calm her aching stomach and her frayed nerves.

Reinette was a spiteful sister-in-law, she had chastised Christine when she'd finally made it down to the breakfast room, only to find that breakfast was well over.

"You should attempt to be more prompt. You would think that a performer should know to be on time for things."

"Oh!" Christine had gasped, feeling her heart sink as the woman laughed at her. "I was not feeling well this morning, I didn't mean to be late."

"I don't know why my brother married you. You've been ill since before he married you. If I had been him I would have got out when I had the chance. To be stuck with such a troubled woman until death…"

"I'm not troubled!" Christine protested, crossing her arms across her chest in an act of strength only to have her shoulder sink.

"You spent the night before your wedding locked up in the attic. Perhaps a foreshadow of an event much like Mr. Rochester's deranged wife."

"What?"

"You do read don't you?" Reinette teased cruelly, "Or did he marry a stupid and crazed little girl?"

"I do know how to read." Christine bit her lip, feeling it tremble beneath her teeth. "You mean Jane Eyre." Her father had read that book to her. She remembered that much, but she didn't understand how she could be compared to Mr. Rochester's first wife.

"Don't play naïve, I know that you had something to do with the strange occurrences at the Opera House. And to think, blame was cast on my brother, for being the reason you so quickly grew in fame. But, no. It was that hideous beast that you revealed before the audience."

"Please don't…"

"How could you have let that monster touch you in such a fashion, even if for the sake of theatre."

Christine turned away, Raoul had told her to ignore Reinette if she made her feel uncomfortable. Without a word she started to walk away.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To forget about everything." Christine replied as she rushed down the corridor towards the west wing of the house. Her desire to drown herself in melody was the reason why she sat now, playing her heart on soul out at the piano.

Her voice crisply moved around the room, filling her mind pleasantly with thoughts of days gone by.

Suddenly, with no warning, she felt arms wrap around her. She shrieked, fighting the hold. Christine twisted and squirmed, reaching behind her to push away the man who held her tightly.

"Christine! It's me!" Raoul chuckled, pressing calming kisses to her cheeks.

Christine turned in his arms, rising to her feet and wrapping her arms around him in a loving embrace. "You frightened me!"

"I didn't mean to." Raoul continued to laugh, amused at her fearful behavior. "You sounded incredible."

"How are you back? You were meant to be gone for half a month!" Christine kissed him passionately, relieved to have him back again to protect her from his cruel siblings.

"Would you like me to leave again?"

"No!" Christine laughed, holding his face between her hands. "I don't want you to leave again! Not so soon at least."

"Did you fare well without me?"

Did she tell him how cruel his sister had been? Christine responded with a shrug.

"Phillipe or Reinette?"

"Reinette. She believes that you have married a crazy woman. Oh Raoul, I don't think I'm crazy. Do you? I mean… If she understood the depth of what I've been through. If she had been in my place."

Raoul kissed her, calming her trembling form with such a sweet and simple touch. "I think you are perfect. Exactly the way you are."

Christine beamed, it didn't matter what Rienette thought as long as she knew what Raoul thought.

"I chose you to be my wife. I could have chosen anyone else, but I chose you."

"I love you Raoul."

"And I love you Christine." Raoul turned her slowly in his arms, so her back was against his chest. His hands ran down her sides, stopping at her stomach. "And I love this child that may be forming with in you." His warm palm ghosted across her stomach, before sliding back up her body.

"Raoul!" Christine giggled as his hands found her bosom, "Anyone could walk in. What if they were to see you acting so bold outside of our bed chamber? Surely your sister would suggest that I was bewitching you." She playfully swatted his hands to no success.

"You have bewitched me. When I first saw you upon the stage. Your hair," He brushed her hair aside, brushing his lips along the curve of her neck. "shining in the light. Your voice." He ran his hand along her throat, then back down along her collarbone. "Piercing through my heart."

"Raoul."

"Your body so unlike the young girl that haunted my memories." His hands made their way back down her body, keeping her tightly pressed against him. Christine attempted to turn, but his hold was too tight. Instead she craned her neck around, pursing her lips in a silent plea for him to kiss her. He readily obliged, melding their lips together in a searing hot kiss.

There was passion between them after all.