Disclaimer: No, sadly I don't own the Phantom of the Opera or anything to do with it, it belongs to a bunch of other lucky people not fair! :P

A/N: Christine finally comes to her senses… no one likes Raoul anyhow! Read on to find out more………

Fear is to Hate as Love is to…

Christine looked down at her wedding ring, twisting it gently around her small finger. Silence was her only company now whilst Raoul was away on business. He was due back any day now and although a part of her was glad he was coming home soon, the other half of her, her soul, her heart were begging that he stayed away just a little bit longer. She paced towards the window and looked outside to a paled sky awash with sapphire regret and midnight sorrow. Something would not let her linger or dare to dream upon the obvious beauty. She turned to face her room it was large and beautifully furnished, Lavishly decorated and yet humble.

A voice inside her mind kept asking her, what did she know about beauty? What was it anyway? Christine walked towards her vanity, picked up her brush and dragged it through her dark locks.

How could she! Ever since that fateful night at the Opera Populaire she couldn't help but mentally beat herself up. When her heart panged with fear and anxiety she would lap up the pain and enjoy every minute of it, this was her punishment for…..Christine stared at her brush as her hair collected upon its bristles. Was it the right thing to do, in choosing Raoul? Did she mistake a strong friendship for love? Just because he loved her it didn't mean she loved him, she didn't have to return Raoul's love she didn't have to do anything. And yet she felt obligated to do so but then what about Erik? All he had ever done was love her, care for her and yet her childish ignorance had got the better of her. Raoul had been a child hood friend, which meant he loved her more than Erik did right? He knew her longer. The Phantom wasn't in love with her, he just wanted to break a young heart – he was evil and that's all he wanted to inflict on others this madness, which he disguised as love. He wanted to make others suffer in pain. This was the story wasn't it? This was the truth she had known for so long right? She loved Raoul and Hated Erik, yes hated him for being so bloody selfish. She knew it all now…didn't she? It had been so clear a year ago but now in that time she had matured so much, nothing was clear to her any more.

Erik…

Suddenly there was a knock upon her bedroom door. Raoul was home, she had been so deep in thought she hadn't heard the front door go. Christine clasped her hands together in a silent prayer

"Give me strength oh lord! Please! Give me strength to find my answers! With that she walked towards the door.

"Christine? Darling are you in there?" she spun round. She had once again become wrapped within her memories, no longer could she suppress them.

"Yes Raoul, I am in here, please come in"

"Christine! Lord how I have missed you!

Yes he was handsome she thought, terribly handsome but still her thoughts, the emotions she had tried for too long to rid herself, had finally got the better of her.

"Raoul I have missed you too".

"I have a present for you", he handed her a small box, rounded at its edges. The young lady glanced up at his face.

"Open it love", Christine pinched the clasp and it opened revealing a stunning emerald surrounded by four opals one in each corner, it was lovely she had to admit.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it!" Raoul placed the ring on his beloved's finger. For a moment she was mesmerized by the capturing shine.

Raoul stepped forward and embraced his wife tightly, then his lips met hers and she returned his kiss. How could there be passion in a kiss given to the wrong person? What the Hell was happening to her?! Every thing with in her fleshed prison screamed out 'Leave this love struck idiot! It's your life, don't stay for him and destroy two lives! Return to your true lover and feel that joy you haven't felt for so long! Return to your Phantom, passion, return to your angel of music! A slight smile crept upon Christine's lips then suddenly vanished as she continued to stare up at Raoul. He was not for her. She knew that now. There was someone else out there, someone who would truly love him, and him alone. Someone who would feel true feelings of love for him, a love that only lovers can feel for one another. She pulled away from his arms and sat on the bed.

"Raoul, I- I cannot lie to you like this you have given me so much and been so loyally true. But for the life of me Raoul I am so sorry, I cannot do this! No longer can I hide behind this mask!" a mask! She remembered his mask and smiled.

"Christine my love what do you mean? I don't understand…I thou…"

"Raoul I – I, I don't love you!" she'd said it! Those words, which she had wanted to say for so long, not in spite but in the reality of truth, it would be crueller for him to not know the truth… Raoul fell to his knees. Christine walked to her husband, and kissed his forehead. He pushed her away. His breathing had grown quicker.

"Its him isn't it?" Christine knew she was breaking Raoul's heart, but he had broken hers for too long.

"I- I…"

"Christine think straight! Think rationally! Listen to yourself, all this time and still his spell imprisons you! You don't love him…" She was, to be frank, pissed off now.

"How dare you! How dare you tell me who I can and cannot love!"

Christine, as your husband, as someone who loves you so much, who would die for you, I am merely trying to make you see sense."

"Die for me?! Ha! Its all bullshit..."

"Chri…!"

She wasn't about to be stopped now.

"You idiot! And as for seeing sense, this is the first time for a year that I am! I LOVE ERIK!!"

She had never spoke to Raoul like this before, to anyone like it. It simply was not her and yet some part of her liked it. 'Give the bastard what he had coming!' Yes! She thought, 'he would not die of physical harm, but instead a broken heart'

Christine looked at him, his face in his hands, a tear slipped down her fare skin. No, That was too cruel. Even in the state she was in she realised this as she fled from the room leaving Raoul in shock. Escaping before he could comprehend just what had happened. Christine tasted bitter tears, but they were not of sadness but joy! She felt her heart free its pain. She had been carrying such a heavy burden before but now it had been lifted. No longer was she afraid of those three words that had tortured her soul. No, now they were nothing but pleasure!

"I love Erik," she whispered softly as her body fell into the mercy of the outside cold…

A/N: Will Christine find Erik in time? Does he still love her? What will that (cough)idiot(cough) Raoul do now? Is it too late for love?

Well find out in the next chapter! But only if you R & R!!

Gets down on her knees…. Review!… pleeeeeeeease!