Author's Note: I apologize for the long wait, just ended a semester at university. This story is coming to an end soon!

It may not have been the wisest decision, not when he found herself on the street once more with nothing but a cloak and a bag of clothes, but it was a decision that left her with her dignity intact. Her pay was all tucked into the bag with her belongings; she only regretted her inability to go down to Erik's music room to find her father's song that he'd written for her. The night fell fast and cool upon her and still she did not question her plan of action. Tired feet carried her before she had fully decided where she was heading.

Blindly, she travelled with a pounding heart and numb lips and fingers. Erik's helpless form was scarred in her memory; she knew what they would do to him. A curious masked man that fit the description of a murdering ghost found lurking around a theatre would be hanged in a day's time, if not sooner. If she had not crossed his path, if she had not seduced him if she had not existed he would be safe. Even her kind heart could not ignore the irony of the situation, for the first time since her father's death she was the one being left. Madame Rouge had been left without a whore, Raoul had allowed himself to be left without a fiancé, and now Christine was being left without the love of her life.

The cobblestone practically raced beneath her feet as she sprinted to her destination. Wind kissed her burning skin as she barreled forward, distantly aware that her life was a cycle of cruel repetition. She kept losing everything, no matter who was left in the end; it was she that was alone. All that she loved vanished from herm it was a thought so powerfully spirit breaking that she found herself breaking into a sprint. It would stop now, by her demand the cycle would be broken. The night was a silk cloak that she was caught in, her gasps for air reverberating through the empty park as she used all of her strength to continue to push forward. To lose Erik would be to lose all hope of ever finding happiness. The chain between them could not break, or she herself would unravel into nothingness. To not save Erik was not to save herself and Christine was never one to forfeit.

"What are you doing here?" She knew she must have looked a right mess, but Raoul did not seem to mind. Instead, at the sight of her continued tears, he gathered the small woman into his arms and rocked her as she sobbed. The study was just as she remembered it, warm and cozy with plush seats and a constantly steaming cup of tea available. It had been her favorite room in the De Chagny household, and she did not doubt that it was even more enjoyable to its occupants now that the Madame of the house had no chance of barging in at any given time.

"They took Erik." Christine's words were met with silence and she could practically feel him thinking over the situation. His red night robe held tear stains but he waved off her whispered apology with a kiss to her forehead, accompanied with his creased brow.

"Is Erik your lover, Christine?" The words were forcibly even, she was scared he would not help her if he knew the truth, but Raoul was her only hope. No matter how much it may hurt him for her to let him know the truth, she must push forward with Erik's safety in mind.

"Yes, and teacher." Raoul remained unthinkably still as Christine's heart rattled on horribly in her chest. Panic began to set in as she allowed Raoul to process her words, if he refused to help her, she would have no alternative plan.

"Who took him?" A glance upwards revealed Raoul's jaw taught with a tension she wished was not there. She did not want a rivalry between her two best friends. Oh if Raoul knew what he stood for in her life, if only she could thank him for setting her free, but he regretted that decision every time he looked at her slim figure and pale skin. Looking down at Christine, Raoul saw the beautiful woman he wrongly pushed from his life, and the many ways that she should be taken care of.

"The police, but Raoul he did nothing wrong. They've jailed him because of me, all because of me!" Her frantic voice was coupled with her shaking fingers as she yanked his large hands into her own much smaller ones. Crystal blue eyes stared at her but remained unreadable, but Christine already knew of the dilemma running through Raoul's head. With Erik gone, could Raoul have her as his own?

"What happened? Christine, I need the full story."

And so Christine told him, everything, from her first conversation with Erik bundled up in his coat out in the park to the last words he spoke to her as he was dragged away. Christine told the whole story in a rush, but taking in Raoul all the same. Looking past his good looks, it was easy to see that the Vicomte was tired. Or was he a Comte now? Christine had not asked, the thought had not even crossed her mind. All she was Philippe was in charge and Raoul was left to do as he pleased, within reason; that it seemed that spending his time at the opera house pleased him. He still loved her, that much was obvious in his clear eyes; love was there above all the worry and anxiety. Bags hung under his eyes, his hair was flatter than normal, crow's feet were cracking around his eyes, Raoul was exhausted and she did not know why. When her story came to an end, Buquet's attack included as well as the passion behind her relationship with Erik and the completeness he brought to her soul, Raoul stared at her with a look of such wonderment that a blush filled her face.

"Christine, who are you?"

"Pardon?" For the first time since she arrived, Raoul's face broke into a smile. It was a grin full of sunlight and glee that erased all the exhaustion from his beaming face.

"A brave little adventurer, surely not the broken Christine I met all that time ago. You are strong, strong with his love and nurturing."

"Yes." She spoke with a certainty that asked him why he was so happy about her life taking such a horrible turn toward hell.

"You truly love him. Oh Christine, what I would do to be the man that gave you everything you ever wanted. What I would do to ensure your eternal happiness!" Pain was etched into his smile and then Christine understood, her Raoul was heartbroken. His smile was one he could not control, yes he wanted her to be happy, but he was stabbed by her love and joy. Every word she had spoken of her happiness had been a sweet kiss of a knife into his heart. They sat in silence for a long moment as Raoul squeezed her palms with his own, and she knew they were suddenly on the same page. For the first time since she had been thrown from the very house she sat warm in now, Raoul and Christine were at an understanding.

"Raoul, you have the chance now. You have the chance to make me the happiest woman in France, you can give me everything I need. I need you to give me happiness, Raoul, will you do it?" There was no mistaking her intentions, they both knew she did this not for herself but for her beloved Erik, but the words soothed wounds Christine had not realized Raoul carried. The blonde did not meet Christine's eyes when he spoke low and serious,

"What then, Christine? Would you disappear? Would you leave me forever?" The thought of it hurt her more than she realized it would. To never see Raoul again would be to never see France again, to never see the opera house again, to never be home.

"I must Raoul, you know that." And then his eyes clamped onto her's viciously, unmoving and unrelenting as he nodded.

"Then yes, I shall help you." It was a stab that carried so many emotions behind it, but relief was the main sweetness that flooded through her and brought her hands to shake once again, this time in excitement.

"You will?"

"If it means you are gone, forever, and I never have to look upon your beautiful face cradled in another man's hands, then yes. I need to move on, Christine, and helping you be with your Erik will ensure that I can do just that." The pain she felt was one she regretted feeling at all, even as she pulled Raoul into a hug, Christine did not want to admit t herself what his words meant. There was no turning back from this, once Erik was free, her past was dead and Erik was all that would exist. Erik was all that she would need, Christine reminded herself with a small smile, Erik would be everything from then on out, and for that she was ready.

Please review! I love to hear feedback!