DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. JUST CATHERINE AND EDWARD WHO ARE MY CHARACTERS.

Chapter 17: Make Your Choice

Catherine and Edward are outside playing in the yard when Raoul walks up. He laid out a blanket under a tree and motioned for the kids to come sit down.

"Edward, Catherine, I want to say sorry," Raoul begins. "I shouldn't have kidnapped you. I hurt Christine worse by doing this. I never wanted to hurt her. I love her. I guess I'm jealous of your father. He has what I want…Christine. He also has you two. You guys are really two amazing kids."

"Our mother is not a trophy or item that you can just win!" Edward retorts hotly.

"And neither are we," Catherine adds.

"Can you guys ever forgive me?" Raoul asked.

"Are you going to take us home?" Edward shoots.

"Yes, Edward, you are free to go home. I'll be escorting you back myself."

"…Oh, Ok." Catherine shrugs.

Before Raoul could say anything, Aunt Macy yelled "RAOUL, GET IN HERE! THE POLICE ARE HERE!"

Raoul ran in leaving the kids outside. Entering into his study, he is greeted by an officer.

"Monsieur De Changy, we have been informed of a kidnapping. I'm hoping this is not true."

Raoul locks th door before his aunt could enter. "I'm gonna tell you everything."

"All confidential of course," The officer adds. He was a family friend of the De Changy's and Daee's. "You and the Daee girl were friends at one point. What happened?"

"Christine and I are friends…well we were before this. You know how crazy things get when Aunt Macy sticks her nose in people's business." The officer nods prompting Raoul to continue, "Everyone knew six years ago that Christin and I were engaged and then we weren't. What none other than myself, Christine, her husband, my brother, and Meg knew was that she left me for her vocal maestro. I'm not going to lie, I was jealous, but I cannot hurt her anymore. I'm returning her kids tonight."

"Good. Take them home. However, I told you once and I'll tell you again, stop listening to your aunt. I know Phillip tells you that a lot and Christine used to. You should listen." The officer patted Raoul on the shoulder, "Try being friends. You miss her and she misses you. But don't force her to choose. I'll let you go with this warning, but one false move and you might not like the consequences."

His aunt stormed in as the officer walked out. "WHAT IS THIS?! YOU'RE TAKING THEM BACK?! DO YOU NOT WANT CHRISTINE BACK?!"

"Aunt Macy, she's happy with him. I'm not going to interfere. I've screwed up royally. I'm hoping she can find it in her heart to forgive me."

"B-B-BUT RAOUL, YOU LOVE HER!"

"Phillip is right. If I love her, then I'll let her be happy with him. So I am."

"Raoul, can we go home now?" Catherine asks timidly from the door eyeing Macy.

"Yes. Yes you can."

"Ok," Catherine flashes a small smile before leaving.

Watching her leave, Raoul tells his aunt, "See, I can't do it. I'm taking them home. He loves them and they love him." Raoul leaves out of his office.