Author's Note: To those of you that didn't like the ending of "The Phantom of the Opera 1989" where Christine kills Erik. Well here's an entirely different ending.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Characters from "The Phantom of the Opera 1989".

Chapter One - Confessions

Christine ran her finger over the keys of one of the keyboards which were switched off. Then her attention was caught by some pieces of paper that were on the receiver tray of the printer. She picked them up and the title of the music sheet flashed before her eyes "Don Juan Triumphant". "Oh, my god!" she gasped, how could this music be here. She and Meg had found that old forgotten opera score only yesterday night. How could it be here in Mr. Foster's house? The sheet itself wasn't old and faded like the one she and Meg had found, it was newly printed from a computer. And the notes and lyrics matched the same sheet she'd read through for the audition. She then noticed a floppy disc with the same name written on it "Don Juan Triumphant" but it had the word "Aria" underneath. She curiously slipped it into the drive of the computer and the machine came to life. White letters appeared on the black screen "Don Juan Triumphant, Run sequence" Christine watched it with building interest. Then to her surprise the ringing modernized tune of the song started playing through the speakers round the room and an image of the music sheet appeared on the screen. Christine started to panic because she was sure that Mr. Foster wouldn't forgive her if he caught her fiddling with his things. And he might have heard the music upstairs. Christine frantically searched for a button on the computer keyboard that would stop the music or switch off the computer. "Come on! Come on!" she whispered desperately "Stop! Stop! " Finally she pressed a key that stopped the music and switched off the computer all together. She let out a sigh of relief.

Then a voice behind her made her jump and spin round "So, how do you like it?" Mr. Foster had come round the corner and was now dressed in a dark suit and tie, he also had a black coat draped over his shoulders but didn't have his arms in the arm holes. She took a step back feeling worried "I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" But she didn't get the chance to finish "Oh, I knew we'd find each other." As he said this he approached her slowly coming out from the shadows, then in a voice that sounded so familiar. "Love, music they're forever." When the light lit up his face she saw that he was looking at her so intently.
Hearing that familiar voice speak those last four words, from the way he was now looking at her and why he had the Don Juan Triumphant music sheet in his house. It all made sense now as she looked into those familiar eyes. Christine now knew who this must be, but it was impossible how could he still be alive? She'd shot him herself with Richard's gun and he'd been shot three times by that other man. How could anyone survive that and still be alive so many years later and still look young? "You're him. Aren't you?" she said staring back, her worry turning into fear. He let out a small laugh. "Had you expected someone else? Hmm?" She felt his hands gently hold the sides of her arms. Then his hands which now had black leather gloves on reached up and held her face "You've always been my inspiration Christine" Her heart pounded with fear and she tried to struggle free but his hold was firm. "You made it all possible Christine" When she looked up into his eyes she saw that there was no threat there just love. "You" he whispered. He closed his eyes and leaned in placing a tender kiss on her full lips. When his lips touched hers she stopped her struggling and her eyes closed too relaxing. And she made no attempt to break away as she allowed him to kiss her lips.
As he slowly leaned back he released her face and said in a whisper "Now, it's just a matter of what you choose. Love or music?" she stared at the floor not knowing what to say to him. Looking back to him she reached up and tenderly stroked the flesh of his cheek. He responded deeply to her touch like a lover. She then stroked his other cheek with her fingers of her other hand making him close his eyes in contentment. She so badly wanted to take out all her anger at him, reach up and rip away his mask. (If it was a mask). Then make him feel as much pain as he had given her all those years ago. But she shook off the thought because some little voice inside her head said. "Christine do you really want to hurt someone who has done so much for you. I mean all he has ever done is love you? And he taught you to sing back in that time".

She turned away from him and walked over to the huge window that showed a great view of the beautiful city of New York. She stared at her faded reflection. "You're never going to leave me are you?" She said helplessly still looking at her blurred reflection. She saw him step up behind her but couldn't see his expression "I have waited a very long time for you to come back to me, Christine." He said still in a whisper "Remember the bargain we made. You promised forever." Christine felt tears of shame prickle in her eyes making their reflections even more blurred that she couldn't see either of them. She felt him wrap his right arm round her waist and place his left hand on her left shoulder holding her to him. She then felt his is warm breath tickle her right ear. "Forever" he whispered.
So many thoughts and feelings flashed in Christine's head. Could this really be the murderous monster with the most hideous face? Or could she really love him just like he wanted. But at the same time he'd murdered her fiancé Richard before her very eyes. Worst of all he had tried to rape her which was the scariest thing that ever happened to her. And yet here he was gentle, passionate and loving.

It was too much for Christine to take in that she closed her eyes making the tears fall. She slowly sank down to her knees slipping from his grasp and began to cry hysterically. She knew that she would never escape from him because if she ran away he would just keep following her. And she would remain trapped with him just like before. Fighting him wouldn't help either because she didn't want to hurt him. How could she hurt him when he loved her so much?
As she continued to weep she felt his hand rest on her shoulder again "Christine?" he said. She opened her eyes and saw him kneel down in front of her. His expression was full of worry and concern and he almost looked as if he was going to cry too from just watching her. She blinked making two fresh tears fall down her wet cheeks."Oh, my dear, Christine. Don't cry" he said. Then he gently pulled her to him, hugging her comfortingly, stroking her hair. Despite her loathing towards him she laid her head on his shoulder allowing him to comfort her. After about two minutes she sat back to look at him "How can you still want me?!" She shouted "After I tried to leave you and even after I shot you, you still want me! What kind of a man are you Erik Destler! And how can I love you? After you deceived me, kidnapped me and even tried to rape me. Do you really think I would say yes to either one of those choices after what you did to me?!" Erik didn't seem to be angered from her words. It was probably because of her sad tears that kept him calm.

He handed her his handkerchief which she took and began to dry her eyes. "I do hope that one day my dear Christine you will forgive me for all those things I did to you. But you must understand there are reasons for why they happened." He said rubbing her shoulder and then he turned his head to stare out the window. "The reason I played at being The Angel of Music is because when I first laid eyes on you, I saw a poor lonely girl who needed someone to watch over her. It was mostly because you had just lost your poor father. I could also see that you had the potential to become a star. So I taught you everything I knew but I didn't feel ready to show myself to you straight away since I had always hidden from the world. I had hoped that with time you would start to love me for what I had given you, and then when the time was right you would accept me. My wish was starting to come true when you came to my lair and sang for me the very song that you were my inspiration to help finish it. And when you sang the lyrics I had in my head it was as if you were the angel and not I."
He turned back to face her with a look of pain in his eyes and took hold of her hand holding it tight. "But then after you had given your word to me that you would not see another man not even that Dutton guy, you betrayed me and begged him to take you away. So you see your betrayal made me mad, and I just couldn't stop thinking "Why is she doing this? I have given her everything and she wants to leave me." So you see I didn't want you to go and leave me forever. "Christine could now see a small tear of his own dripping slowly down his cheek but he quickly flicked it away.
"And now my biggest regret is trying to rape you. You must understand by now why it happened, because you had tried to run away from me and it had driven me mad with anger and jealousy. I had decided then that if you wouldn't give me the love I wanted, I would try to bring it out of you on my own. But now I see that my actions towards you have now burned away any love you ever had for me." He dropped his head and he began to weep himself, his hand falling from her shoulder to the floor along with his other hand that held hers. "Oh why did the devil have to condemn me to this? To be loved only for my music. When we made that wretched bargain I never asked him to deform my face so terribly, and make is so no women or anyone would ever love me for myself. Not even you." He turned back to face her and he saw the fear that still filled Christine's eyes. "Oh Christine, I know that beneath this mask I wear I am hideous. But in my heart I can be good like other men if you only loved me."
Christine stayed frozen watching him. He dropped his head again turning away. His sobs became hysterical and he looked as if his heart was breaking within his chest. "Christine, please understand... I have never really been a... wicked man, I'm just a man who... loves you. With... all... that is left of his... withered... heart" He broke off gasping for breath and leaned against the wall. His face was wet with his tears and his eyes were all pink like Christine's.

Christine watched him with mute amazement as he cried. She didn't see the monster he was she now saw a sad lonely man who was heartbroken. She sat up on her knees and saw that all he had said to her was true. Back in that time he had given her everything and had always loved her even when she had hurt him. Loved her so much that he would even commit murder for her, she knew that a love like that was so deep. Richard would never have done that for her he had been just like any normal gentleman. But Erik wasn't normal he had been cursed by the devil. She could only imagine what it would be like to be despised by all even the ones she loved. Well she couldn't really because she was loved by the world. But then she remembered something from that other time, when she had seen that bad review on her debut performance in Faust. She remembered the deep sadness she had felt and had made her believe that she was despised by all. Then going to her father's grave for help and as if her prays were answered, her angel came and took her to his underground lair and cheered her up with his wonderful music. Then she ruined everything by fearing him. If she had just loved him none of the horror would have occurred.

She let fall two tears of shame for this man. She threw away all her despise and loathing and began to feel sorry for him. She quickly dried her tears away and shuffled forward on her knees and placed her hand on his shoulder. He froze then slowly turned his head to look at her. He now looked at her hand upon his shoulder then back to her face which now showed pity. "Poor Erik" She whispered. She then leaned forward and as she closed her eyes she placed a kiss on Erik's forehead. When she leaned back Erik's expression was dumbstruck with disbelief. She took his hand in both of hers "Erik, you said that one day I would forgive you. Well you were right, I forgive you Erik." Erik's lip trembled and two tears of joy fell from his eyes. Christine gently dabbed at his tears with the handkerchief. "Shh, it's ok" she whispered. Christine held her arms out to him "Come here" she said. Without hesitation he wrapped his trembling arms around her. For a long time they stayed like that, holding each other tightly. "There's no point in me dwelling on the past. Bad things may have happened back then but there's nothing we can do to change it. So let's think about right now." She said. She leaned back and so did he but they still held each other's arms. "Oh, Christine do you love me?" he asked his face still filled with surprise. She smiled and placed her palm on his cheek "Yes I do, kiss me Erik." He placed his on hers and they both closed their eyes and leaned towards each other. When their lips met together Christine wrapped her arms round his neck and Erik wrapped his round her waist. The kiss was long and passionate and they had never felt happier. Erik's wish had come true and Christine had never felt this way before for a man. Not even when she had known Richard, because this love was deeper.

When they broke apart she said "I guess I should go and give my face a wash and reapply my makeup" He stared at her in confusion "Why?" he asked and she gave a small laugh "Well I can't appear at the dinner you've arranged with smudged makeup and look like I've been crying." His smile lit up his face and he kissed her cheek then helped her to her feet. "Where's the bathroom, Erik?" She asked. He pointed to a door "Just there" he said. "Thank you, I won't be long." said Christine, picking up her bag. As she stood before the mirror she washed her face then took her makeup purse out of her bag. It didn't take her too long to reapply her makeup. When she was done she stepped out and found Erik waiting for her holding her coat. She could tell that he had freshened himself up as well. When she reached him he helped her on with her coat. "Miss Day" he said offering her his arm. She smiled "Mr. Destler" and she took it. Smiling down at her he said "Now for an evening on the town you will not forget." He said leading her to the front door.

Author's Notes

There you go then, don't you agree that's much better then what happened in the film. It took a lot of thought to write this and I want to know what you think. So don't just read this and move on, leave your reviews and share what you think about this Alternate Ending.