Erik was running through the dark alleyways finding the quickest route back to the Vicomte's home. We were due to leave in about an hour and a half. His hand held tightly onto mine. It was the only thing keeping me from falling over. I couldn't see where I was going or what I was stumbling over because my mind was elsewhere. Why did that person have Erik's mother's hairpin? Why was it sent? What did it mean? Perhaps it was only a trick, a trick to gain Erik's trust, only to blindside him later.

I was suddenly engulfed in the bright sun. My eyes adjusted to the light and my mind focused on the grand chaotic house in front of us. Erik pulled me up the stairs and through the halls. He opened a door and scooted me inside, closing it quickly and disappearing behind it. Why did he just leave me? "Oh, Christine, I was wondering when you would be back! We only have a half an hour for you to get dressed." I let myself sink into my surroundings. Meg was already pulling my dress from her closet and tossing it onto her bed.

"I'm sorry, Meg. Things have just gotten a lot more complicated."

"You'll say." She started to unbutton the back my skirt and pull it off. "We must hurry if we want you presentable." I let myself fall into the motions of being the maid of honor. I quickly got dressed and pinned my hair up. My dress was a soft blue that cascaded down my body like a waterfall of fabric. It was beautiful, and yet in comparison to Meg it was nothing but a sack. Meg's gown was a beautiful creamy white gown. It touched her curves perfectly and displayed her ballerina grace. The bodice was corseted down her back and the bottom proofed out in a proper tutu fashion. She fit the description of a ballerina bride. She pulled her hair up in a tight bun out of instinct. I pulled down a few of her small waves to soften her face. I helped her put on her grandmother blue locket and handed her bouquet.

"You look so beautiful, Meg." I could feel the tears threatening to spill.

"I am so happy, Christine. Everything is finally going perfect for me." She pulled me into an embrace. "Thank you, Christine. I don't know what I would have done without you all these years." We were both crying now. There was a soft knock at the door. We let go of each other and wiped away the tears. "Come in." Erik's head popped in from behind the door.

"Are you ready to go ladies? Raoul has just left for the church and your carriage now awaits you." Meg took a deep breath and pulled up the hoop of her dress.

"Here we go." She walked out of the room past Erik.

"Where's Gustave?" I looked him in the eyes and yet he showed no signs of stress. It was as if the events from earlier had never happened.

"Well after sometime of arguing with me, he left with Raoul. He wanted to stay and go with you. But he did ask that I apologize for his cruel words towards you." He took my chin in his hands and lifted my face to his. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. Are you?"

"I do not wish to let such fowl things ruin this day for our friends." He turned on his heel and strode out to the waiting carriage. He helped me up into the carriage and then got inside behind me. Once beside me I grabbed his hand and held it tight. Everything seemed to blurring past me in a dizzy haze of colors. He squeezed my hand and brought me back to clarity. We quickly arrived to the church. Erik snuck out of the back of the carriage while the driver helped me and Meg out of the carriage. The large crowd of people and cameras would be too curious about the masked man. People looked on excitedly, hoping to catch that first glance at Meg's dress. Raoul was not too famous but his money made a lot of people want to be his friends. Interviewers pushed through the crowds trying to get my opinion on being the maid of honor for my ex-husband's wedding. I ignored their questions and pushed through the crowd.

As we entered the church and the doors closed behind us we were engulfed in silence. There was a soft melody floating through the air. "Well there is no time like the present. After you, Christine." I gathered myself together and used my acting skills to plaster on a smile. I opened the doors and began my walk down the aisle. Erik sat at the piano. His fingers slid skillfully across the ivories. He turned his head around and met my gaze. He gave me a brilliant smile before he turned around back to his work. I reached the end of the aisle and turned to see my boy dressed in an elegant tuxedo. He was carefully balancing the rings on a small cream pillow hoping not to drop them. His feet moved perfectly in time with the music. He reached the end and stood behind Raoul. He looked up at me with sorrowful eyes.

The music shifted to the traditional wedding march. Everyone stood and their eyes fell to the back of the church. The double doors opened wide and exposed Meg I looked at Raoul and saw his tear-filled eyes. He was so happy, Meg was blushing but she kept her eyes locked on Raoul. Meg's arm was linked around her mother's and they stayed with the pace of the music, despite Meg's urgency to get to Raoul. When they reached the end of the aisle Madame Giry happily handed her daughter away to Raoul and the ceremony began. I could see Gustave getting sleepy but he stood tall and proud as he guarded the rings with his life. When it was time for him to hand them over, he did so with pride. He looked so much like his father.

I turned to Erik as Meg and Raoul recited their vows. He wiped away a single tear that fell down his cheek. He tore his eyes from them and looked at me. His eyes were full of so much love that it stole my breath away. After the wedding ended and The De Chagnys had finished thanking those who had attended we escaped out of the back of the church before we could be attacked by the news reporters. I squeezed Meg's hand in mine. "The ceremony was beautiful, Meg." She turned toward me I could see the tears in her eyes.

"Thank you Christine. It means so much to me that you came."

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world." Raoul carefully helped her into the carriage that would take them to the docks where they would sail away to their honeymoon destination. Raoul had kept it hid for months now. Only he knew where they would be going. But it was decided they would be back in week for my and Erik's wedding. For the meantime we would be staying at their home with Madame Giry, awaiting their return.

Gustave grabbed my hand and held it tightly in his small one. "I am so sorry my dreadful words, Mama."

"I am sorry you had to see such an awful sight, darling."

"I know that things with Raoul did not work out because you did not love him like, Father. But I know you tolerated him for me. I should not have yelled at you in such a way. I am sorry." His intelligence was astounding.

"Darling!" I pulled him into my arms and held him tight against my chest. Our hearts were beating in sync.

"Gustave?"

"Yes, Father?" Gustave stepped back and looked up at Erik.

"Would you like to see where your mother and I met?" Gustave's smile grew wide.

"Raoul, never let me go any of the opera houses in France. I would love to Father!" Erik patted his head.

"I assumed so." A small black carriage pulled up in front of us and Erik helped Gustave in. Suddenly three familiar heads popped out of the carriage's door.

"Fleck? Gangle? Squelch? What are you all doing here?" I looked up at Erik confused.

"I thought they should be our wedding. They left soon after we did." Erik wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close.

"Thank you, Erik." He kissed my cheek gently and then helped me up into the carriage.