Chapter Twenty-Six: Returning


Where in the world,
Have you been hiding?

"...et a contagiis mortalitatis exutam, in aeternae salvationis partem restitue. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen."

"Amen." Megan Giry said solemnly and placed a rose on her mother's casket. The last four years had been hard on them, till the woman with a sharp tongue and strict attitude who was a mother to all, finally caught a cold she could not handle.

Meg could still hear her feverish words before leaving her.

"Remember my dear," her mother said as kindly as she could.

"Remember that things are not always what they seem. The Opera Ghost may be dead but he is still alive..." She whispered to Meg leaving her to dismiss the last words as delirious ramblings.

Her mouth pressed into a firm line like the old woman's as people began to walk to her and give their condolences. Politely she nodded her head thanking them for coming with a sad smile. She was surprised to how many people had come to her mother's funeral. Nevertheless it seemed Madame Giry managed to touch the lives of many within the opera house, from the ballerina's to the managers.

The only people not in attendance were Carlotta and her damned new husband Adolpho, the leading tenor in the Opera Populaire.

"Megan, dear, I am so sorry." Firmin said to her quietly as he and Andre approached.

It was then that Andre began his small speech, "We just are thankful that you agreed to take your mother's position as the ballet mistress. As you know, the years your mother worked for us were always efficient and there is no one better then our own prima ballerina and her daughter to..."

Meg was no longer paying attention to them, instead she had gone a pale white and her green eyes and widened in unadulterated suprise. Firmin watched her as she placed her hand on her throat and whispered a familiar name.

Slowly he and his partner turned around and saw a man a few metre's behind him staring at her with an indescribable expression on his face.

"Hello Meg," The man said simply, as though he could not think of what to say to her in such times. It was then that he recognized who he was. It was the young Vicomte de Chagny, Raoul. He was a bit older yes, four years or so, with a moustache and a weathered face, nevertheless he was still a man in his prime.

"Hello Raoul." Came the hoarse reply.



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_/___\_
(*)_*

What new suprises lie in store?

Raoul could sense her surprise as he approached her. What had he been thinking coming to see her after 4 and half years? They had not said goodbye in a very appropriate manner as he drunken, cried on the floor for his dead wife. No, they had not said goodbye at all really, He had just been too cowardly to apologize for his horrible behaviour.

To cowardly to tell her he was leaving for America.

Had she called on him when he was away? He did not leave an address he could be reached at, he didn't leave her anything, and after all she had given him.

He looked at her attire and realized how in her mother's death she still lived on through her daughter. If it were appropriate, he would of smiled at the black saffron dress Meg wore in mourning the death of her mother. Her blonde hair was done up with fine combs and her face was covered with surprise at his presence.

"It is... a surprise to see you," She said trying to regain her composer.

God he had missed her, not as much as he had missed Christine, not as much as he still did, but her friendship was something he did not realize was the only good thing left for him until he severed it severely.

The men in front of her took this opportunity to make their quick exit with a short goodbye, however her sad green eyes never left his for a moment. Slowly he walked towards her, hoping that even if she could not forgive him, he could make peace with her.

"I haven't seen you in..." She started then trailed off.

"Four years..." He finished for her, looking at his feet.

"I... I tried to get in contact with you, but I was told... Well you left so, suddenly."

"For America, I needed time to pull myself together. I needed time to grieve properly." He said quietly and looked her in the eye.

He was surprised that they were filling with tears.

"Listen, Megan, that night..."

"Oh Raoul, There is no need..."

"No there is, I acted like an idiot, I mean you were there to help me..."

"It was merely a misunderstanding..."

"... And I acted like an utter child."

They stopped talking over each other for a moment to smile sadly at the awkward position they were in.

"I missed you Meg." He finally said simply.

He could see her hesitation, but not understand it. Had she not missed him? Most likely not, for the most of the time they spent together he had acted as a child whining to her about Christine and the baby instead of helping her grieve for her departed friend as well.

"... And I you Raoul, I you..." She finally whispered to him.

He couldn't think of what to say, there was so much. His recovery from being an alcoholic, his unendless search to find out the truth about his child and wife's death.

"I don't mean this in anyway offensive, but why are you here Raoul, why now?" She asked looking at him with pleading eyes.

"I... I came back because I received news about Christine and Danielle." He said simply.

"Oh..." She said looking like he had crushed her hope, although it is what she had expected. He had been gone four years, and he still did not understand the young woman in front of him. She was so fickled and secretive about how she truly felt he was always puzzled in her presence. He reminisced on a time when her quirky smile and laughter would fill the room she was in, how her stories and presence always brought a happy feeling to whoever was around her. He wondered if she still had the ability to make others feel that way.

"I only heard of your mothers death through the paper, I would have contacted you sooner, but..."

"I know Raoul." She stated sadly.

"Would you like to go for some dinner Meg? I have so much to tell you," he asked her.

"I would love to... but I can't, Adrienne is waiting in the carriage."

Raoul was taken back then smiled happily, "Adrienne? Is he your betrothed? Are you married my dear?"

"No Raoul, he is my son."





Oh you so did NOT see that did you? please tell me, please tell me if you really saw that?

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