Christine sat on the balcony once again, looking to the stars, images and memories dancing in her mind of the Opera Populaire and her time working there. Her mysterious disappearances when she slipped off to see her Phantom and listen to him sing to her.

She sighed and wonder idly if her letter ever got to him. She would be devastated if all those rumors were true. Or maybe he just didn't live beneath the theater any longer. Maybe he was off, living a new life. Maybe he found...another woman.

The thought pained her and a tear slipped from her eye. Maybe he was happy, finally happy with someone other than herself. Maybe, just maybe.

Suddenly, she heard a soft whisper from the ground below. She stifled a sigh and peeked over the edge. With a soft gasp she realized who she was looking at in the darkness of the night.

There stand Madame Giry, her old ballet instructor, and in her hands, she held a note.

A smile spread across her face and she was filled with hope and excitement. She whirled around and pranced carefully across the room not to wake Raoul. She slipped through the door and hurried downstairs, opening the front door.

Madame Giry smiled, and stepped forward, taking Christine into a tight embrace. "Madame! It has been so long! It is a great privilege to see you again!" "Yes, my child, how you've grown!" Christine smiled and sighed. "Yes, but alas. I am not as happy as I thought I might would be." "How so my child?" She looked into the eyes of the wise woman. "Ah, nothing. I don't suppose you appreciate being up so late. What brings you here?" "I have a note for you, Madame." She handed Christine the note, and smiled as the surprised expression spread over Christine's face.

"Is it...from him?" She asked, amazed that her chances were worth the taking. She nodded, a smile of her own spreading over her fragile lips. "Yes, my dear, and may I add, he was very excited to have gotten your letter yesterday evening. I made sure he found it his Box during last nights performance. The managers came to me, expecting me to know what to do with it. And I did."

Christine took her into another warm embrace and beamed with happiness. "Oh thank you Madame! Thank oh so much! I don't know how I could ever repay you!" Madame Giry hushed Christine, and she blushed, remembering her husband just above them, thankfully still sleeping.

"You shan't need to thank me, my dear. Just be sure, that you make the right decision this time." Christine smiled and nodded. "I shall keep your advice at heart, Madame. Thank you again for coming to me tonight!" Madame nodded again and smiled, leaving Christine as she tip-toed back into the house and upstairs, quietly finding her way back out onto the balcony.

She opened the letter carefully and began reading.

A few moments later, tears came to her eyes after reading the note. He missed her! Oh he missed her! Just as much as she missed him, maybe even more! What a triumphant feeling she had!

She ran to her vanity and pulled out her writing tools again, and wrote yet another note.

My Sweet Erik,

I had never imagined that I would regret that night, but as every night goes by, I find myself regretting leaving you more and more. I do forgive you for your mistakes. Oh how I do! I don't understand why, because I would rather figure anyone else would pay no mind to this matter after everything. Maybe I'm a madwoman who knows? I will try my most best to keep this hidden from Raoul. You are right, I made a mistake by wedding him.

It was to my surprise that Madame Giry came to my doorstep tonight. She informed me of your surprise after getting my letter! I must say Monsieur that I am rather excited myself of learning that the rumors of your death are very much false! And very much surprised myself that you still wish to hear from me after my betrayal . Would you ever forgive ME Erik?

I simply cannot wait to hear from you again Monsieur!

With Love and Trust

Christine

She smiled and folded the letter into another envelope, though this time all she wrote on it was Phantom, Right in the middle of the envelope. She sighed and stretched, yawning softly. She slipped the letter into the drawer and decided, maybe, just maybe she would ask Monsieur Erik if she could join him at the Opera sometime. Of course, working around Raoul's plans, so that she could have the evening to herself, as far as he would know.

She suddenly had a feeling of guilt. She was sneaking behind this mans back, contacting another. Well...It honestly didn't matter. She didn't care for this man anymore. She found herself disgusted when she kissed him, or he her. She hated it when he grasped around her hips, or tried to show her affection in any physical way.

She hated hearing him call her 'dear' and 'darling'. She hated it!

And she was tired of it. Tired of his spoiling her, when she didn't need it. Tired of his trying too hard when she needed something.

She sighed and lay back down in the bed next to him, watching him sleep. Watched his chest rise and fall. She wondered if Erik ever planned on killing him. She smiled suddenly at the thought and surprised herself again.

She definetly planned on going back to see her Phantom. Wether it be anytime soon, or a month from now. She had a way to keep her letters from Raoul, and she knew Madame Giry would gladly deliver Erik's back to her. Though she did hate how she would have to interrupt her sleep just to deliver Erik's letters.

Sighing again, she closed her eyes, and wondered if the Phantom had dreamt of her like she did him. She decided she would ask about these things in her next letter.

Oh how excited she was! She was able to communicate with her Erik! She smiled to herself, and felt sleep wash over her mind as she drifted off into more dreams of Erik's fine facial features and amazing angelic voice. His sweet music and the sounds of his pipe organ.