I've done it. I've finally finished this...two years too late, but all the same. I read it through and I fell in love with my characters all over again. I hope you've all enjoyed Charles and Madeleine's journey as much as I have. A prequel to this will be in production shortly.

Thank you thank you thank you to all of you who have so kindly read and reviewed this.

Sydnee

ERIK

Twenty six years

Twenty six years. My God, has it been that long since I saw you? Twenty-six years since I held you in my arms. It wasn't supposed to be you. You were supposed to outlive me. Christine, I never thought I would have to live in a world without you. And yet, here I am…waiting for your second grandchild to be born. You should see him, Christine…he's beautiful. He's like nothing I could have ever dreamed, that son of your…ours. Our son. And then, of course, there is Madeleine…who is such a gift, and deserves every happiness she's achieved since she met Charles. You would be so proud of Raoul, Christine. He raised Charles to be the best man he could be. I wouldn't have done so well…we both know it. Especially without you. I don't know…maybe we would have been all right. It's frightening to see someone who looks so like me. Well, partially anyway…

After you'd left me that final time, I knew I had to leave. I had to make you think I was dead so that you could be happy. It was silly of me, I know. I went to Italy and began my architecture again, and then back to Persia…though I never brought myself to kill again. I was simply a friend to the shah in his final days. So many times, I'd see a girl who had your hair…or your eyes…or smile and it would hurt. It hurt so badly. I didn't know when you died. It never even dawned on me. Surely I should have felt the world go cold when you left it. But perhaps I was so numb in my misery that I felt nothing anyway. But you didn't really die, did you? You live on in your son…in your grandchildren. I see it sometimes when Charles smiles or laughs or shows one of your mannerisms. There is no doubt you are still part of him. And it is strange, since we've barely known each other over a year, but I see me in him. When he speaks, it's my voice that comes out of his mouth. The way he holds himself, his eyes…they're me. It's a bit scary actually. He's a godsend though…and to think I would have never known him if I hadn't come back in the hopes of catching just one glimpse of you.

I love you still…forever.

"Erik?" I looked up from my thoughts to see Raoul standing. I listened intently to the sounds from above and I thought I heard a cry. We glanced at each other and both headed toward the stairs leading up to the room where Madeleine was, at this very moment, birthing her second child. Another cry. Therese emerged from the room, with Charles in tow, looking as if he had just swam the English Channel without stopping.

"Well?" I asked impatiently, ignoring Raoul's smirk. Charles ginned, his face lighting up.

"A girl! It's a girl!" He rushed forward and embraced both of us at the same time. I could not hold back a smile as tears burned my eyes. "She looks exactly like Maddie. At least, I think so…and I don't think even Erik Raoul had so much hair!"

"Can we see her?" Raoul asked. Charles nodded.

"She's through with the afterbirth and they covered her up. She's resting right now, and I think the poor baby is too. She seemed terribly distressed." He laughed.

"I'm sure she was." I said, thinking sympathetically of the child. We followed him into the room where Madeleine was lying on the bed, looking exhausted, but her smile comforted me. She held the baby in her arms.

"Hello." She said weakly.

"How are you, my dear?" I asked her. Yawning in response, she smiled.

"Better, now that she's here." She replied. Raoul sat on the bed beside her, kissing her forehead.

"She looks so like you." He said with a smile. Maddie looked at Charles and giggled.

"Wait until you two see her eyes. You'll die." She said, looking down at her daughter. I met Raoul's eyes in confusion. He shrugged, but Charles was there, always ready to explain.

"Her eyes are blue, Dad." He said, looking at Raoul. "She has your eyes." Raoul looked back down at the baby, and gingerly, took her from her mother. The baby, opened her eyes then, feeling the movement and stared at him.

"Oh my, but you are lovely." He said, the sentimental fool he was, with tears in his eyes.

"Have you decided on a name for her?" I asked quickly, determined to remain stoic. Maddie nodded as Raoul thrust the child into my arms before I could protest.

"Her name is Christine." Charles said, his voice husky.

"We're keeping with the tradition we've begun and her middle name is Chloè." Maddie added, smiling up at her father. Leaning down, he embraced her tightly.

"Thank you." He whispered.

"So," I interrupted dryly, cradling the little angel in my arms, "Can we expect any more issue from you soon?"

"No!" Both Charles and Madeleine cried at the same time. I chuckled, peering into the baby's face. She was still awake, and staring at me in wonder. I was entranced by her full pouting lips and wild, dark curls.

"Christine…" I whispered to her. "I am going to teach you to sing…and you are going to be wonderful."

"Don't you put any crazy ideas in my granddaughter's head you loon." Raoul said with an infuriating smile.

"Don't toy with me Chagny…I still have that noose." I muttered, as the baby yawned. Charles grinned at me, sitting with his arm around Madeleine and I suddenly knew I was at home with these three people. Raoul…his daughter and my son and their two children. They were my family…My dearest wish had come true, late in life yes, but all the same. I truly did believe in Angels at that moment. I looked down at the sweet cherubic face of my granddaughter…and I saw Christine there in her eyes.