Author´s note: This is just a little outlook into what life has in store for our two couples. I hope you enjoy it. I had lots of fun writing this story, which has accompanied me for almost half a year. It´sa pity that it´s over, but I´m already planning my next phic. Maybe we´ll see each other... Yours, Jenny Wren

Epilogue: Wonderland

"They´re coming! They´re coming!", Antoine called, bouncing up and down at the window excitedly. "May I go out into the street and meet them, maman?", he asked. He turned around to face his mother, yet his gaze kept wandering to the door. Christine smiled about her curious little boy. "Of course you can.", she replied with a gentle smile. "But be careful!"

He didn´t even hear her warning. As soon as Antoine had got the permission to go he did so. He flung open the door and ran out into the garden. When Christine looked out of the window again he was just climbing over the fence. She didn´t want to admit it to herself, but in fact she was just as excited about their visitors as her son. Yet since it wouldn´t have been very dignified to run after him, she merely went to the door to greet them as soon as they arrived.

Meanwhile a coach was approaching the little house. "How will we know which one is right?", Meg asked a bit helplessly. "At home I thought Christine´s description quite accurate, but now… Those houses all look the same." She heard a chuckle from the coach box. "That´s not entirely correct, my princess.", Erik remarked. "In my opinion the boy jumping up and down in front of that house a little apart from the others on the left-hand side in a very good sign."

Pulling the reigns a bit he indicated the horse where to go and raised his whip. Antoine waved enthusiastically. A minute later the coach came to a halt. "Aunt Meg! Uncle Erik!", the boy called in a delighted voice. Meg got off as quickly as it was still possible in her state. "You´ve become as round as a ball.", Antoine observed as he hugged her. And it was true – he could no longer put his arms around her whole body.

Leaving the coach as well, but keeping the reigns in his hand Erik muttered: "It seems that his father´s charm is finally breaking through.". This remark earned him a playful nudge in the ribs from Meg. "You´re right, Antoine.", she told him. "I´m that round because Erik and I will soon have a little baby. Isn´t that nice? Wouldn´t you like to have a brother or sister as well someday?" Antoine shook his head, making the sandy blond strands fly. "I´d rather have a dog.", he replied. "Papa promised to buy one for my next birthday."

The two adults chuckled. "Tell me, young man, how old will you be then?", Erik asked. The boy held up his right hand, spreading all fingers. "Five!", he declared proudly. "When we return to Paris in autumn I´ll get a private teacher." "In this case you can surely show me the way to the stable.", Erik said. "Our coach is standing in the middle of the street. Besides, the horse is thirsty." "Of course I can do that.", Antoine said. He walked over to the horse and reached up to stroke its nostrils. The animal snorted softly, making the boy giggle. "I like him.", he commented. "What´s his name?" "He´s called César.", Erik answered. As they made their way to the stable he murmured: "Like mother, like son.".

By now Christine had left the house and went to greet Meg. The two women shared a warm embrace. "I´m so glad that you´ve come at last.", the dark-haired woman said. "I hope you´ll like the village. Raoul and I need a few days to get used to the people´s stony faces every time we return, but they´ve become a little friendlier over the last five years." "Well, you have to admit that you´re a bit strange.", Meg told her with a little laugh. "A singer and a businessman who can only live here during the summer months because the opera is closed then…"

Christine nodded. "They´ll never understand that a woman can be married and work at the same time… even though I´ve only started performing on stage again two years after Antoine´s birth. But let´s go inside now.", she suggested. "Cake and tea are standing on the table, and Raoul will be with us any minute as well." "All right.", Meg said, and they went into the house. As they sat down at the table in the living room she took a deep breath. "I would have never believed that such a short walk could be that exhausting.", she remarked, putting a hand on her belly. "The last four weeks were the worst for me, too.", Christine tried to comfort her, pouring tea into two cups. "It was a good decision to give birth to your child here. We have a very talented midwife, and you´ll enjoy the quiet atmosphere. It´s so different from Paris."

"Indeed.", Erik agreed. He was just entering the room with Antoine and Raoul, whom they had met in the stable. The two men were carrying heavy leather suitcases while the boy held open the door for them. "Simply drop those next to the sofa and come here!", Christine advised them. "The tea is nice and hot now, and we can bring them upstairs later." They followed her instructions readily, and just a moment later everyone had taken a seat. "I´m grateful that you offered us to stay with you for a few weeks." Erik addressed Christine and Raoul. "My house isn´t the right place for giving birth. A baby shouldn´t be born underground." "You live underground?", Antoine interjected, his mouth full of cake. "Like a mole?"

His parents froze, but Erik merely smiled. He knew that he´d hear many more questions like that from his own child one day. "Not exactly like a mole.", he told the boy. "I do go out sometimes. I just… like living underground. The next time you come to the opera I´ll show you where Meg and I live, all right?" The boy nodded eagerly. "Why don´t you go to your room now and look at the present I gave you?", Erik went on. Antoine stood up and vanished quickly. "A present?", Raoul repeated with a questioning undertone. "I´ve made picture books with different fairy tales, one for him and one for out future son.", Erik explained. "Daughter!", Meg corrected him. "Whatever…", he muttered.

There was a little pause while everyone took a sip of tea or re-filled their cups. Then Christine wanted to know: "Couldn´t you imagine living above ground all the time, Erik? I mean, you did agree to living here with us till the baby is old enough to travel back to Paris.". He shook his head. "The lair has been my home for many years, and now it is my wife´s home as well. The baby will grow up there and it´ll get used to it, just like Meg did. It is the price one has to pay for living with me." "It´s not that bad.", the blond woman assured them, giving him a kiss on his masked cheek. "I´m up in the main part of the opera most of the day. As long as I can´t dance myself my mother lets me assist her with the ballet lessons."

This piece of information was strangely comforting for Christine. She had been a little worried that her friend might sit alone in the dark while her husband composed his latest opera. To improve the atmosphere, that had become very serious during the last minutes, she asked: "How is our dear friend Pierre? Have you met him lately?". The couple in front of her seemed to find this question very funny. "It seems that Pierre has made a little mistake.", Meg said, trying to suppress a laugh. "He took Marie to dinner a few times, then left her, probably because she refused to do everything he wanted. There must have been an ugly scene in which he called her some very unpleasant names. Unfortunately he was overheard by her older brothers…" "Those huge twins who work as stage hands?", Christine whispered with a giggle. "Exactly! They had a long conversation with him in which they´ve made it clear that he should never come to the opera again. Nobody misses him."

After the tea was finished Meg had to lie down for a while, and Raoul carried the suitcases into the guestroom. Only Christine and Erik stayed at the table. A few moments passed in silence before Erik said: "I wanted to thank you, Christine. Without your encouragement and support Meg and I might have never got together. And you did all that, even though you were in love with me yourself.".

He gazed at her intently, noticing the slight blush on her cheeks. "You´re not… still in love with me, are you?" "I don´t think so.", she assured him, placing a hand on top of his. "I have to thank you, by the way. Maybe I´d have never realised how much love Raoul without you." Again they were silent, simply looking at each other. Both of them were glad about having such a good friend. Things would have been very different if they had never known each other.

Author´s note: Isn´t it great? I´ve finally managed to include the story title. In case you were asking yourself where some of the other titles came from, here they are:

If I never knew you, I can see the truth so clear in your eyes: If I never knew you (Pocahontas)

Want something new: A guy like you ( The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Wait and see, A bit alarming, Something in him that I simply didn´t see: Something there (Beauty and the Beast)

I dare to dream that she might even care for me, Though I might wish with all my might, This fire in my skin, Have mercy on her, Heaven´s light: Heaven´s light/ Hellfire (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Look out! Look out, Really too much for me: Pink elephants on parade (Dumbo)

Free to do it all my way: I just can´t wait to be king (The Lion King)

And for once it would be grand, To have someone understand, Adventure in the great wide somewhere: Belle – Reprise ( Beauty and the Beast)

Be prepared, Without me: Be prepared (The Lion King)

This growing need to be beside her, Tell me more… please show me: Strangers like me (Tarzan)

Friend like me: Friend like me (Aladdin)

Once upon a dream: Once upon a dream (Sleeping Beauty)

I will protect you, They just don´t trust, What they can´t explain: You´ll be in my heart (Tarzan)

Treasure every instant: Out there (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

I will find my way, somehow I´ll be strong: Go the distance (Hercules)

A simple life, Trust your heart, Let fate decide, To guide these lives we see: Two worlds (Tarzan)

You must try to be brave: Someone´s waiting for you (The Rescuers)

A dazzling place I never knew, When did you last let your heart decide: A whole new world (Aladdin)

Wandering free: Part of your world (The little Mermaid)

You keep on denying, Who you are and how you´re feeling, He´s the earth and heaven to you: I won´t say (Hercules)

The power to be strong, Son of man, On this journey that you´re making, There´ll be answers that you seek: Son of man (Tarzan)

Topsy turvy: Topsy turvy (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Always changing, always flowing, Or do you still wait for me: Just around the river bend (Pocahontas)

Time to follow me, Say a prayer, then we´re there, Who´s with me: The mob song (Beauty and the Beast)

This will be the day, This will be the morning: Savages part II (Pocahontas)

Faith and love, Despair and hope, Till we find our place: Circle of life (The Lion King)

Can you feel the love tonight: Can you feel the love tonight? (The Lion King)

Wonderland: Alice in Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland)