A/N Ok no more author's notes for now

A/N Ok no more author's notes for now! I have nothing left to say, since I'm working straight through the story! I love you guys!

Chapter Nine: Disaster Avoided, Well Almost

Gwen sat watching the finally rehearsal for Don Juan. She loved this opera, especially now that she was seeing the whole thing. The only part she didn't love was that Piangi had the lead role and Christine played the female role... But Erik will take Piangi's place... then an idea struck her. Dare I? No! If I take Christine's place again, he may very well kill me... I love him so, and I want him to be happy... Yet I know what fate awaits him... Gwen fought back the tears, but found she could not control them... Damn hormones! So she left the rehearsal early, using her widely known pregnancy as an excuse.

"What do I do? Oh god..." Gwen was in the chapel, again, sobbing, again. She didn't know whether to tell Erik what was going to happen or to stay silent or maybe... maybe she should just leave. "Things would have been better if I'd never come here... I miss my Maman..." odd that an American girl addressed her mother in French... "Oh Papa, what do I do? What do I do..." and so Gwen cried herself to sleep in the chapel for the second time...

"I am your angel come to the angel... your part is silent little toad...behold she is singing to bring down the chandelier...Masquerade paper faces on parade...I am your angel...Christine I love you...Say you'll share with me one love, one life time... Poor Fool he makes me laugh... Think of me Think of me fondly... I am your Angel, come to the angel... Flattering child you shall know me... Little Lotte let her mind wonder... Wandering child, so lost so helpless...In sleep he sang to me in dreams he came... You alone can make my song take flight! It's over now the music of the night...Christine...Christine..." She felt as though she was falling as she heard these words and a rush of images flooded her mind. Her mother crying... Erik breaking the mirrors... Christine ripping the mask from his face... Herself jumping from the stage... Her father's body as she'd found it that day...Erik body as she'd dreamed it... Erik holding her own lifeless body and crying for her and their unborn child...

"Christine, Christine..." She heard him sigh again... She screamed as the images rushed past her...falling, falling... She could hear her mother crying...

"My baby... my angel... my precious Gwenivyre... please come back to me...come back..."

"Christine...angel...Christine I love you..." Why did that haunt her? Was there no escape? No never... there was only death... death and falling... "Floating...falling... sweet intoxication..." She screamed...

Gwen woke, gasping for breath... What an odd dream. What did it mean? Was there truly no escape? She had to get away, she had to leave the opera house... but where would she go?

Erik was restless; there would be no sleep for him tonight. Damn that girl Melody... every time he tried to think of Christine's face he saw her... Her hair like spun gold... Those deep green eyes... and the body which held a soul so profound...so... Not even this great composer could find the words to describe her. It was then he made a rash decision... He would ask Melody to marry him...but Christine... Christine does not love you fool! She thinks you are a monster! Take what you can get, you love Melody too, and she's having your baby... Erik smiled a little; it felt unfamiliar to his face. He would find her and ask her to leave Paris with him...

Two hours later Erik was standing on the roof, tears flowing down his currently unmasked face. She was gone, she'd left him. He'd lost the greatest thing to happen him... You are a fool! A hideous monstrous fool! Very well, if Melody no longer wanted him he would take Christine, by force, if it was necessary... Erik let out a cry of rage and turned to plot his revenge...

Gwen turned suddenly to face the opera house... What had she heard? Erik... I am your angel, come to the angel of music... She felt her soul being pulled to him and she looked at the vast unknown that awaited her and then back to the opera house... He needs me... and so she turned and headed back to the opera house, little knowing that disaster had almost been avoided, but was now back on track and all because of her...Top of Form

Bottom of Form