Author's Note: Hello to everyone who is reading this, I'll try to be brief. First off, this story will be a blend of book and musical, the book details will not be as abundant though as I am just using a few things. Also, this is what I feel would be a more 'realistic' alternative ending of Christine staying with the Phantom when given the choice between her life or Raoul's. This means that if you expected a nice, fluffy E/C story you came to the wrong place. Well, I won't keep you any longer, except to request reviews and all of that glorious stuff. I've only written one other fan fiction, and it was a short comic thing about one of the movie's goofs.
Now, on with the story.

PS: I don't own Phantom and for all I know this idea has been done before so I may not be as original as I thought.

'Make your choice!'
It was an order, and Christine had never been able to disobey her angel. No, he was no angel. Erik was a man, a flesh and blood man who had done horrible things. And now he was taking advantage of her again, and of Raoul. It wasn't fair! Christine had never been able to make decisions, and now he was asking her to choose between life with him or the loss of Raoul. He had been right, she couldn't win. Either way she would never see Raoul again. He had rescued her scarf all those years ago without hesitation, and then he had tried so hard to rescue her without a thought to his own safety. It was all her fault! She couldn't let Raoul die because she had been foolish enough to cling to her father's promise of an Angel of Music. She couldn't let him die, she couldn't!

"Erik…" she began, her voice a whisper. She was going to cry, she knew it, but Christine was trying not to.

"Christine, don't do this! You can't remain his prisoner for my sake."
His voice was even worse than hers. Even if it meant using the precious air he was being denied, he was still trying to sacrifice himself.

"I have to. I can't let you die because of me. Raoul…" That was when she started crying, the tears falling in a steady flow. "Erik, let him go. I'll stay here forever if you just let him go."

The Opera Ghost had been standing by silently ever since he had told Christine to make her choice, and now he moved to free his rival. Christine feared momentarily that he would kill Raoul anyway, but he merely loosened the Punjab lasso and let the younger man go. As soon as he was free Christine rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest. It didn't take long for either man to determine she was sobbing, trying to speak but unable to voice coherent words.

"Christine, you shouldn't have done this. It isn't too late to change your mind; I told you I'd do anything for you."

She started shaking her head, and one word was finally clear. "No."

It was repeated over and over again, echoing off the walls of the cavern."Christine."

One word, it was enough to make Christine stop her sobbing and look at the other man, her angel, the opera house's ghost and phantom.

"I think it is time you let the Vicomte take his leave."

Christine's response to this was to cling tighter, like a child to their mother. Part of Christine knew it was useless, that she had to let go of him, but she wasn't able to yet. She had meant she would stay with Erik if Raoul could live, but she wasn't ready to actually let him go.

"I'm not leaving her."

"If you don't leave we'll only end up in the same situation we were in before I let you go. You are not staying here; I will not house my rival so that my bride can cling to him while I stand by and watch. I've had enough of that in the past year."

Raoul was going to speak again, but Christine stopped him.

"He's right. He…he spared your life like he promised." Her voice was hoarse and weak, as pitiful as the tear-stained face that looked up at him. Raoul couldn't leave her here, Christine knew he couldn't. She had to make him leave.

"Please Raoul…he'll kill you if you don't go."

"I don't care."

"But I do. And if you die he may keep me because I already said I'd stay."

Raoul looked over at Erik, who had once again stood silent and unwavering, seemingly patient with the whole thing.

"Are you sure you want to do this Christine?"

She nodded. "I'll be alright, he won't hurt me." The last part was said almost as if she meant it to be a joking reassurance to Raoul, but both of them knew Christine wasn't sure about anything that the man would or wouldn't do. Only months earlier she hadn't thought he would do something like this.

"Christine…I love you."

"I love you too Raoul."

He made a move to kiss her, but Christine turned her head and finally let go of him, walking hesitantly to stand by Erik's side.

"You should be able to find your way out Monsieur le Vicomte, if you take the boat. And I'm sure you know that if any future attempts to reclaim Mademoiselle Daae are performed, whether by you or anyone, Christine's sacrifice for you will be in vain."

"I'm aware of that Monsieur."

"I'm glad we have an understanding on the subject."

Raoul nodded and focused again on Christine, her gaze was averted from both him and Erik.

"Goodbye Christine."

The final words of defeat. He turned and made his way to the boat, trying not to look back even as he heard Erik speak.

"Come Christine, you can't stand here by the lake forever."

Christine took one last look at Raoul's retreating figure and felt her own sense of defeat. Raoul had lived, she had saved him at the cost of her own life in a way far different than the loss he had been prepared to suffer.

She turned her face the other way and looked up into what she could see of Erik's face, which wasn't much. All she could see were his burning eyes and his mouth with its slightly malformed lips that seemed to be twisted into some small sort of smile. Was he happy for what he had done? Was he glad that he had caused so much suffering? The thought that he was pleased brought a new wave of tears. Ever since Christine had known Erik as a teacher she had wanted nothing more than to please him and she had finally done it completely. She had finally made it so he was happy with her, and the very thought that this was so made her feel nearly sick with grief.

It's a bit dramatic (in a sissy way) in my opinion, and I don't know if I'll add anything to it, but bits of a story like this have been floating around in my head the past couple of days so I thought I'd let it out. If you have any opinions, just review. Unless they're just mean ones about how you hated it that don't specify what I could have fixed. You can keep those to yourself.