Hello everyone!! yes it I the elusive writer whom many(I'm sure by now) hate, and adore! YEAH!!

Anyway, finales are coming, so this may be my last update(for this story) untill summer, that I don't have a computer! Regaurdless I hope you all enjoy the chapter and review!!

Think OF Me Alone

Performers buzzed about back stage, actors touched up their makeup, dancers powdered their feet, and singers practiced drills. All in preparation for the rehearsal of Hannibal.

This was the scene upon which Monsieur Firmin and Andre, lead by Monsieur Lefevre, entered in upon. It was also the scene upon which Erik watched, his keen eyes rooting out Firmin and Andre like an eagle seeking its prey.

Meip stood amid the other ballet rats, as they began their warm up exercises. Madame Giry walked among them. Her expert eyes correcting every error.

Carlotta strutted past them, her party in tow, an arrogant sway to her step, and a disdainful curl of her lip. Meip quickly restrained the urge to let her foot slide further out than necessary.

With a smile as fake as the costume jewelry she was wearing, Carlotta strode up to Monsieur Firmin and Andre. Bowing gracefully and delighting in their complements, as she introduced herself to their patron. The Viscount de Chancy.

'So these are the two new mangers?' Meip thought as she continued to dance.

'Those two fools are replacing Lefevre?' Erik thought, 'They seem completely witless.'

As Erik and Meip unknowingly exchanged similar thoughts, chaos was breaking lose on stage. Carlotta had noticed that all eyes were not on her. Enraged she virtually screamed out the last lyric of the song, watching as Firmin and Andre drooled over the Ballet rats.

"A dancers!" She yelled, her voice heavy with a Spanish accent.

"Well, we expect a good turnout tonight." Firmin said to Andre, both ignorant of their star diva's rage.

"Oh wait, wait." Carlotta said, having overheard Firmin. Both managers turned their heads toward her. Carlotta's smile was as false as makeup.

"I hope they are all as exited about dancing girls, as you are! Because I will not be singing!" Carlotta swung around and began shouting off orders for her servants to begin packing.

Meip could not help a slight smirk at the prospect of finally being rid of the spoiled diva. Nor could Erik.

It took Firmin and Andre three seconds to realize what was happening before they began sputtering pleas for advice.

"W-what do we do?" Andre stammered.

"Grovel." Lefevre replied calmly. They needed no second bidding. Andre and Firmin shot off, doing everything but fall on their knees before Carlotta, begging her to stay.

"Bella beauty!" Andre shouted, causing Carlotta to pause for a moment.

"A no!" Carlotta turned away.

"Goddess of song!" Firmin offered. Carlotta glared at him, and then broke into tears. Flattery, it seemed, would not work.

"Monsieur Reyer, I recall a rather marvelous aria for Elis in act three." If flattery of beauty would not work, then perhaps flattery of talent would?

"I wonder if perhaps madame would delight us with a private rendition?" Carlotta stopped mid sob. A vain smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Your voice is beyond that of mere excellence." Firmin chimed in, guiding Carlotta back toward center stage.

"If my managers command." Carlotta spoke softly, trying to feign humbleness.

Ever on the lookout for a chance to gain more praise from anybody, Carlotta positioned herself, shouting at everyone present to be silent. Her fake smile in place, Carlotta launched into the aria.

It was almost painful to listen as Carlotta destroyed what had once been a beautiful aria. Her voice rose to heights unbefitting the tolerance of ears, waving back and forth between ridiculous lows and earsplitting highs.

There was a hiss of rope, and then a rush of air before a stage background collapsed behind Carlotta. The spoiled diva wailed on the floor, throwing a tantrum pretending to be more hurt then she really was.

Firmin an Andre hurried to her side, as did most of the cast. Except Meip and Madame Giry.

"Madame, these things do happen." Andre chuckled nervously, hoping to appease Carlotta's fury.

"These things happen!?" Carlotta screamed. "For the past three years these things happen, do you stop them from happening? No!" Carlotta fumed, waving her arms about. "Until you stop these things from happening, this thing does not happen!" Carlotta stormed out of the opera, this time not stopping for anything.

"Gentlemen, if you need me I shall be in Australia." Lefevre said, his hast leaving many to wonder if he thought Firmin and Andre might retract their offer.



"M-monsieur Reyer, s-she will be c-coming back w-won't she?" Reyer threw his hands up, not knowing the answer.

"Think so monsieur?" Madame Giry walked calmly up to Andre, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips, as she held up a letter.

"I have a letter from the opera ghost,"

"Oh God in heaven." Firmin mumbled.

"He welcomes you to his opera house," Giry continued as if not hearing him. "and requests that you continue to leave box five open for his use, and reminds you that his salary is due."

"His salary!" Firmin shouted, becoming quiet indignant at such a suggestion. Madame Giry shrugged.

"Monsieur Leferve used to pay him twenty thousand francs a month."

"Twenty thousand!" Firmin sputtered, completely furious.

"Perhaps you can afford more, with the Viscount as your patron." Firmin narrowed his eyes at Madame Giry before speaking.

"We had hoped to make that announcement public tonight at the gala, but it appears we shall have to cancel to the gala, as it appears we have lost our star!" Firmin tore the letter apart as her spoke, throwing into the air as he finished.

"What are we going to do?" Andre asked no one in particular.

"A full house! We shall have to refund a full house!" Firmin buried his head in his hands.

"Christine Daae could sing it sir." Madame Giry spoke out, causing Firmin and Andre to cease their woe bidden sobs, and turn toward the girl in question.

Meip quietly slipped away.

'It is always Christine Madame Giry mentions.' She thought, already knowing that she would perform that night.

Erik left as well, satisfied that his star pupil would be recognized.

8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8

The decorations adorning the opera house for the Gala were a stunning sight to see. Gold colored cloth was draped over banisters and stretched from chandelier to stair. Ivory and red colored stones glistened in the light of the candles. Floods of people arrived in their finery, making it appear like was waves of gold, silver, amethyst, and auburn. Truly stunning sight to see.

Erik merely glanced at the finery being displayed in the foyer. He preferred to be backstage, watching the performers as they prepared themselves for the stage. One performer in particular had captured his attention.

Christine smiled as she was fitted into her costume, a childlike excitement running through her veins as she dressed.

Erik smiled softly. At last, his protégé was to be recognized. He had trained her well, taken her under his wing and taught her how to sing like an angel. His angel. Or so she would soon be. Erik smiled a little wider at that thought.

Erik watched Christine make her way to the stage, completely unaware of the eyes watching her.

8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8:8

Meip was backstage. Hidden behind the sets and props, far away from the eyes and ears of the audience and performers. She walked slowly, pausing to stare at the scenery of the Italian countryside, and the vast green cliffs of Ireland. She sighed.

Would she ever be free to see these places with her own two eyes, be able to walk upon the grassy cliffs in Ireland, or on the sandy shores of Italy. Or would she have to content herself with these drawings and nothing more?

Meip's dream came softly to her. Perhaps He would take her to these places. Miep smiled as she ran her finger across the smooth canvas. Closing her eyes, Miep began to dance. Remembering the sound of his voice, she let it guide her movements. Before long, she was singing.

"Think of me, think of me alone.

When we must say good-bye."

Erik was on his way to Christine's dressing room, when the voice from his dreams stopped him cold.

"That voice," He whispered, not realizing he had.

"The voice from my dream. Who is she?"

"Remember me as you travel far.

Please promise to think of none but me.

When you find that once again the time is too long, the distance too wide, hurry back to me and my arms."

As if he was within a dream, Erik moved forward, toward her voice. Driven by the need the see her, know her. He raced silently across the scaffolds, intent in his search, his focus solely on her.

"Our love is evergreen, as unchanging as the seas,

Please say you think of me alone, as I think of you.

Think of all the things we've shared and see.

Think about the way things shall be.

Think of me, waking silent, and happy.

Imagine me, finding it hard to keep you from my mind."

Meip's words were more true than either she or Erik could ever have imagined. Wood flew by him in a blur of brown as he ran, afraid to stop, afraid to reach her to late, afraid he would wake up.

"Recall those days, the paths on all those times,

Think of the things we've yet to do.

There will never be a day where I won't think of you."

Erik stopped. There below him, was Her. The woman from his dreams. Erik watched entranced as Meip danced, a thin beam of moonlight landing on her body, making it glimmer in the dark. Erik found he could not look away. Before he realized what he was doing, Erik found himself descending down the scaffold.

"The night sky, the coming of the dawn,

they are eternal as is our love, please

say you think of me alone."

Meip stopped just as Erik reached the bottom. She had her back to him, her eyes were closed, yet she knew he was there. Silence hung thick in the air, as Erik tried to think of what to do. Tried to retreat into the shadows, tried to make himself do anything except continue to stare at her.

"Who are you?"

Sooo, what did you guys think? I must have rewritten this chapter a million time over simply because I wasn't happy with it, then i wasn't satisfied, then I thought the general idea of the chapter was wrong, and then i wondered if it even captured the phantomness I was going for. In the ned this verion is the one I'm happest with so i posted it!

I hope you all liked it!! Pleaser review leavesome feedback!