HEY! sorry for the long wait i had a little writers block and to make up for it you guys get a chapter that is almost 3000 words...and cookies lots of virtual cookies and phish food from Ben and Jerry's

DISCLAIMER: i DONT OWN PHANTOM OF THE OPERA I own me and my phish food


Erik's POV

I woke up stretching. Something was on me. A human shape something. Wait someone! I opened my eyes slowly, and the girl I saw the girl. She was curled up with her head on my chest, an arm draped over my stomach, and one of her legs over my uninjured leg. She was still sleeping. She smiled and snuggled closer. I laid as still as I could not want to wake her up. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. She must have been tired. So tired that she could not think straight. I sighed absent-mindedly stroking her hair. Her eyes opened and she lifted her head looking at me. She blinked and put her head back on my chest falling asleep again. This happened 4 times over the next 3 hours. She finally woke up and laid there. "I know you're awake." I moved her leg off mine and she pouted. "I was comfy." This should not be Natalie this should be Christine here. I sat up pushing her off me. She looked sad and rolled to the other side of the bed and got up. "Now get me some food. You weren't kind enough to get me some last night." She threw a pillow at me. "I did make dinner last night but you were a sleep when I came to bring it to you, and I didn't want to wake you." I looked down. What was this feeling I had when I woke up next to her? It cannot be love I love Christine. Natalie came up beside me and pulled the covers off my injured leg and began taking the old bandages off, and began wrapping it with clean bandages unnecessarily tight. She finished and left the room coming back with a plate off food dropping it on my lap and left again.

Natalie's POV

When I awoke the first time, my face was on Erik's chest, my leg and arm draped over him. My brain was still in a sleepy haze and as usual, I went in and out of conciseness a few times. I finally woke up but my mind was still in a sleepy haze plus I was really comfy. It seemed that where my dream ended reality picked up. That was until he pushed me off him his mood suddenly darkening. He then had to ruin my mood when he snapped at me about food. I went and got him food throwing it onto his lap and re dressing his wound unnecessarily tight. The next few days went by slowly. Neither of us spoke to each other and I avoided him other then when I had to change his bandages. He sulked and brooded, all I did was eat, and I slept as much as I could but only on the couch. I awoke on the bed more then once returning back to the couch. After the 5th day of this it was just getting ridiculous. I went to look for him and found him in the library in his chair facing away from the door. "Erik…. This avoiding each other, not speaking to each other, it's getting a bit ridiculous…." He looked up at me then back at his book. I felt a tear escape my eye. "Erik please it's been five days". He closed his book and stood up facing me. "Ok …Ok… why did you do it?" I was confused by his question at first…. O h he must have thought I was Christine when he first woke up felling someone next to him. I love him but all he wants is stupid Christine how come he cannot just love someone who already loves him back. " Oh umm I didn't mean to get in the bed with you its just I was really tired from walking all the way back from the cemetery and I couldn't think straight… sorry I am rambling." He was staring at me intently. "What about those times when you woke up and looked at me?" I do not remember that. "I always do that I saw you with out actually seeing you my brain just didn't make any sort of connection." He started walking toward me on step at a time pausing in-between. My heart started beating faster with each step he took. "Your leg seems better. You're not limping any more." All of a sudden, he was right in front of me... I want to touch him I cannot be this close to him and not be touching him. "I heal quickly." He raised his hand, tucking my hair behind my ear and I smiled leaning into his touch. What is with the sudden mood swing? This is sort of scary the amount of sexual tension that was forming between us. I looked down and saw a very evident bulge in his trousers. I looked back up and took a step away from him and I saw hurt in his eyes. I do not want him to be thinking of Christine when we where doing it. "I made some tea would you like some?" I looked back at him and he seemed to get that I was not rejecting him and that I was only rejecting his move on me. I walked toward the door and stopped waiting for his answer. He cleared his throught. "Yes…please." I nodded and went to the kitchen as he sat back down opening his book back up. I poured the tea, added four spoons of sugar into each, brought it onto the library, and put the tray on the table between the chairs. I took a sip of tea from mine then went and looked at the books. I could feel his eyes on me the whole time. The sexual tension was building up again. I could scene his movement when he went to take a sip of his tea. "What happens next?" I turned toward him and sat down in the chair next to him. "Well there are twelve more hours till your opera begins." He nodded. "Yes but what happens next?" I thought about telling him then thought well if I do not do anything, he will go do the same path. "Okay so the managers and Raoul have come up with a plan." He looked at me amused. "It can't be that bright of a plan then." He started to laugh. I sat there staring at him with a complete straight face. "Erik this isn't funny." He kept laughing gasping for air. I glared at him sipping my tea the crossing my arms. He immediately stopped laughing. "I'm sorry what is there plan?" I sighed taking another sip of my tea. "Police. The managers and Raoul think that if the perform your opera you will show to watch it. They plan to kill you." He sat there and just stared at me. I sighed and brought the dishes back to the kitchen. When I got back, he was still sitting there in the same position. "Ok I shall plan something else." I left him there to plan. I am not helping with this. I am not helping him get with Christine. Not that it was going to work.

Erik's POV

Huh…? I sat there thinking. I know I will take that fat man's place. What was his name? Panji I believe he is called. I will knock him out and take his place. I need to go and set up the trap door and stuff. I quickly wrote a note to Madame Giry and gave it to Natalie to give it to her. "Get ready and give this to Madame Giry." She went off and got ready and I changed into my costume. " Seal my fate tonight I hate to cut the fun short but the jokes wearing thin let the audience in let my opera begin." I lit my model of the stage on fire and Natalie came out not even glancing at the fire and walked straight to the gondola and sat in it. I pulled on my coat and cape, then followed her into the gondola and pushed and we left the lair… house.

Natalie's POV

Tonight was the night. It was all going down tonight. Erik docked the gondola and Cesar came over. I got on and Erik mounted behind me. "Erik please don't do this." I turned toward him since he was making me ride sidways. He glared at me and brought the horse to a stop. Dismounting he helped me off the horse and headed up the stairs. When we got to the first landing he opened a door in the wall to the right. It must lead back stage. I went to follow but I found myself blocked by an invisible force. It was forcing me back down the stairs. "Natalie are you coming?" He said it as a question but something in his voice made it sound like he was telling me that I was going with him. Erik looked back at me and I started to cry. "I can't I can't go and watch what is about to take place." He grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him. " I got box five for you." I took a few steps forward but the force came back stronger and brought me back to the bottom of the staircase. "JUST GO ERIK." I yelled up to him. "Natalie?" I didn't respond and heard the door close then footsteps coming down the stairs. " I told you to go." He looked at me and sighed. I was sitting on the ground. "You're ruining your dress. Why don't want to go?" He held out his hand and I took it standing up. "There is an invisible force bringing me back to the lair." He looked like he didn't believe me. "What? Do not lie to me." He grabbed my arm again and pulled me up a few stairs and nothing happened. I tried to take another step but the force was stronger again and I went flying down the stairs and into the lake. "I wasn't lying and I am fine Erik just go to the opera, it has started already." I swam back to the lair and quickly changed then laid down on the bed. I could see what was around me, what erik was doing and what Raoul and Christine. I laid there trying to block it out trying to sleep.

Erik's POV

Ok that was beyond weird. Natalie was just thrown down the stairs into the lake by something invisible. I headed up the stairs up to back stage, and climbed the ropes to the rafters. Yes I was just on time. Panji came off stage and I put the mask on. Jumping from the rafters I put a noose around his neck only intending to knock him out. Christine sang her line and I heard my cue to go on. I pushed the curtain aside and stepped on stage, my eyes automatically landing on Christine. The cape covering my mouth. "Passarino go away for the trap has been set and waits for its prey." Lowering the cape, I took a few steps forward. "You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge in pursuit of that wish till now has been silent… silent. I have brought you, that our passions may fuse and merge…" Christine rolled her head back letting the music and my voice consume her. "in your mind you've already succumbed to me dropped all defences …" As I said dropped all defenses she seemed to be less tense. Letting some tension go. "completely succumbed to me, now you are here with me: no second thoughts, you've decided, decided . . . " I flicked my cape. It seemed like I was hypnotizing her and she stood up. MWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! (evil laugh... A/N: come on if you can hypnotize people you kind of need an evil laugh and they can some times be sexy*wispers* only when pertaining to Erik) "Past the point of no return - no backward glances: the games of make believe are at an end . . . " I walked to front center stage and circled Christine. Both of our eyes were glued to the others. Ok what is Natalie talking about the opera is almost over and nothing has happened. There was a voice in the back of my head but there is still time Erik. "Past all thought of "if" or "when" no use resisting: abandon thought, and let the dream descend . . ." I came up behind her placeing a hand on her neck and the other one on her waist. She gasped leaning into me and turning her head into my shoulder. "What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door? What sweet seduction lies before us . . .?" I dragged my hand over her collar bone and down her arm lifting her arm up and wrapping my hands around hers. "Past the point of no return, the final threshold, what warm, unspoken secrets will we learn? Beyond the point of no return . . . "Our eyes were still locked on each others and I took a few steps backward leaning on my back foot I let her hand slide out of mine. She took a few steps back looking out into the audience then… up to box five. I followed her gaze and that insolent boy was sitting there. "You have brought me to that moment where words run dry, to that moment where speech disappears into silence; silence . . . "She shook her head and a rather obvious police officer took his gun out of his cloak. Raoul looked across to the managers and gave them some kind of signal, and the one with the white puffy hair. Andre I think. Scrambled out of his seat and came back with a few police officers. "I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why . . . In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining defenseless and silent - and now I am here with you: no second thoughts, I've decided, decided . . . . "The sleeves of her dress fell down again and she turned toward me and took a few steps forward my mouth opened just a bit as she started toward me. "Past the point of no return no going back now: our passion-play has now, at last, begun . . . "We both headed for the stair on either side of the stage and started up them. "Past all thought of right or wrong - one final question: how long should we two wait, before we're one . . .?" She placed her hand on the column, leaning into it before continuing up the stairs. "When will the blood begin to race the sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames, at last, consume us . . .?" I flicked my cape off over my arm and onto the railing, and then all of a sudden I felt her. Natalie was near. It is strange how I can sense where she is. I have never been able to sense Christine. I glanced up for a split second seeing her up into the rafters above the stagehands. "Past the point of no return the final threshold, the bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn . . ." We placed our hands on the others waist and I spun Christine around pulling her into me. "We've passed the point of no return . . . "I started to sense Natalie's feelings. It was a mixture of sadness, lust and… intense hatred. Who was it that she felt intense hatred for? Or a better question is who is she lusting for. I ignored it after those few seconds of contemplation and started to sing to Christine again caressing her neck and hair. "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime . . . "I stumbled over love and life time to think of Natalie as I continued signing.

"Lead me, save me from my solitude …" Natalie took away the solitude when she arrived… but she was forced to

"Say you want me with you, here beside you . . ." Natalie has implied more then once that… well not really she kissed you more then once. She was just being nice and letting me feel what I kiss felt like.

"Anywhere you go let me go too, " Natalie was forced to stay with me she couldn't get up and leave. Christine turned and faced me.

"Christine that's all I ask of . . . " Before I could finish Christine placed her hand on my cheek and slid her thumb under my mask and ripped it off. In the crowed woman gasped and screamed and I suppose some even fainted. Raoul and the managers rushed from there boxes, and in that moment I saw pity in Christine's eyes… but from above I felt love. Wait love? The only one up there at the moment was … Natalie. I looked up at her our eyes making contact for a split second before she disappeared. I sighed and looked around and kicked a lever that opened the trap door. Christine and I fell threw it and threw the fake fire and we landed on a bunch of mattresses that I had found in the cellars.