(A/N: I am loving the response I'm receiving for this story. I have so many faithful followers and oh mah gawsh! I'm just too excited! I'll just get on with the story. :D)

Chris looked at the Vicomtess de Chagny again. A smile grew on her face, and her eyes lit up as her dear old friend finally recognized her. Erika's heart sank deeper as the Vicomtess's smile grew wider. Raoula... Erika mentally spat the name.

"Good Lord, Raoula! I'm so sorry I didn't realize it was you!" Chris impulsively embraced her, but quickly released her, red spreading on his cheeks.

"Oh, Chris," Raoula de Chagny smiled up at him. Erika already hated the way she breathed his name. "I'm upset that you didn't know me right away. But I suppose I shouldn't be too angry. I didn't realize it was you that day in the office till Monsieur Debierne came back in muttering under his breath about 'notes' and 'stagehands' and 'the imbecile Daáe.'" She laughed, a dainty tinkling sound that made Chris break out in a wide smile. Erika simply curled her lip as Raoula laughed. That's not what happened. She practically attacked Debierne in order to find out who it was.

"I can't believe it's you!" Chris excitedly grabbed her hands. "After all these years! You look so different!" His wide grin turned into a sheepish one. "I mean... not in a bad way. It's just you..." Chris let go of her hands and waved his own around trying to find the right words to say. "You grew up." He let his hands fall to his sides, unable to find anything better say.

Raoula smiled at Chris. "You've grown up too, Little Chrissie." Both Erika and Christian winced at the demeaning nickname. "I hope you still have that red scarf I gave you." She gave him a firm poke on his arm. During that summer they spent together, Raoula had knitted a long scarf for Chris to take with him and wear. It was extra-long and a very bright red, but when he received it, Chris promised to wear it every winter. And he had kept his promise.

"I do," Chris turned to his dresser and rummaged through one of the drawers until he pulled out a ratty, worn red scarf. Erika couldn't take the pain building in her chest, just where she couldn't reach it. Quickly, she escaped a little farther down the tunnel, before Christian's interactions with Raoula could hurt her more. "I wore it every winter, as I promised." Chris walked back over to Raoula, who had covered her mouth with her hands in surprise. "Every time I walked the cold streets, whether it was Paris or not, I wore this painfully bright red scarf, hoping I would be seen." Chris smiled down at Raoula, who had grabbed and was stroking the old scarf.

"Oh, Christian," her voice was quiet again. Raoula looked up from the present she had given him all those years ago, her eyes shining. "Who did you want to see you?" She asked, thinking she already knew the answer.

Chris's eyes were on his feet again, red creeping onto his face and neck. He rubbed the back of his neck as he mumbled, "I was hoping... You would see me..." Chris looked back up at Raoula. He found that while his head was down, she had moved closer. She was so close that Chris could see the few freckles that still rode over the bridge of her nose. Chris hurriedly looked down and took a step back.

Raoula took another step forward, her arm stretched out, and offered the scarf back to him. "Well you caught my attention, without the scarf," she said quietly, the smile evident in her voice. "You were magnificent, Christian." Chris's head jerked up, surprise apparent on his face. "I'm so happy that you were able to achieve your dream. You sang your heart out and the audience took it willingly. You have a great career ahead of you."

Raoula's words made Chris blush deeper. "I-I had some help. I couldn't have done this on my own..." His voice trailed off. Should I tell her? Chris pondered, kicking the wooden floor with his shoe. He glanced up at Raoula, seeing her eyes trained on him intently.

"From whom?" Raoula's question echoed Andre's those many days ago, but this time Chris had a proper answer. Rushing back to the mirror, Erika saw Christian internally fight with himself before speaking.

"Do you remember those stories that my mother told us?" Raoula nodded. "Do you remember the story about the Angel of Music?" Another nod. Erika's heart sank lower. "My mother told me, 'When I'm in heaven child, I will send you the Angel of Music.'" Chris swallowed. It was still hard to remember his mother. "Well, she is in heaven," he turned to look at Raoula again, "and I have been visited by the Angel of Music." There. It was out in the open.

Erika waited with bated breath as the silence stretched out. Raoula was silent for a moment, but then she smiled. "No doubt about it," she said and patted his shoulder. "And now, you will join me for supper." Raoula's smile grew wider while Christian's face fell. Seeing his hesitation, she tried to urge him to get ready. "You can change into something nice while I go get us a carriage."

Chris still didn't move, but he opened his mouth in protest. "Raoula! I can't!" She stopped at the doorway, hand on the handle, and looked back at him in surprise. "The Angel of Music is very strict. I-"

"I shan't keep you out too late," Raoula smiled again, still thinking it was a joke. "You will be fine." She stepped into the hallway, almost closing the door entirely behind her. "Three minutes!" Raoula popped her head back in and finally closed the door with a smile.

"Raoula..." Christian whispered as he sat on his bed. He lowered his head into his hands. "Raoula..." Why don't you understand? Chris lamented silently. Why can't you see that my Angel is more important to me than supper? He released a heavy sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Erika felt a sharp pain in her chest and a burning anger in her stomach.

~*~*~*~

Standing in silence, Erika felt a war wage within herself until anger won out. "INSOLENT GIRL! That slave of passion, BASKING in YOUR glory!" Angrier than she'd ever been in Christian's presence, Erika's voice was bitter with pure hatred. "IGNORANT FOOL! This brave young suitor, sharing in my triumph!" Breathing heavily, Erika waited for the anger to burn away.

Chris had heard his angel scold him many times during his lessons, but such anger had never been as prominent as now. Despite his best wishes, Chris found himself frightened by this cold side to his Angel.

Desperate to calm his tutor, and dear friend, Chris called out, "Angel, I hear you. Speak, I listen." He closed his eyes, willing for her to listen to his pleas. "Stay by my side and guide me. Angel my soul was weak, forgive me. Enter at last, Maestro!" Although she was female, Chris felt that the word 'Mistress' was slandered and, therefore, unworthy of his Angel. His words hit home and Erika's rage dissipated.

"Flattering child, you shall know me." Erika quickly softened her voice, reigning in her anger. "You shall see why in shadows I hide. Look at your face in the mirror, I am there inside." Chris was puzzled by that last message, but did as he was bid. Standing, he walked over to the mirror, getting closer than he ever did during those precious lessons.

As he drew closer, Chris began to see a face in the mirror, one that wasn't his own. Although the right half of the face was obscured in darkness, Chris saw that the face was long and ended with a thin chin. The nose was slender and straight, and the mouth had a thin top lip but a full bottom one. As he continued to observe the face, Chris found himself staring into those golden eyes that he had dreamed about since that chance meeting in the alley way.

Erika felt his eyes search every inch of her visible face. Eyes still guarded, Erika chanced a look at Christian. Relief flooded though her as she saw a smile break Christian's face. Chris smiled, warmth filling him. My Angel. Mine. Overwhelmed with happiness, Chris cried out, "Come to me, strange angel!" Chris spread his arms wide, awaiting her response with his eyes trained on the mirror.

Slowly, and almost impossibly, the mirror began to spin and multiply. Chris almost backed away until he heard her voice, calling to him. "I am your Angel of Music." He took a step forward. "Come to your Angel of Music." Under the spell of her entrancing voice, Chris had no choice but move forward and go towards the dark end of the tunnel of swirling mirrors, leaving no trace in his room. Erika drifted back before Christian could see her in the light, still singing, until the mirror closed behind them.

Raoula opened the door after knocking a couple of times to find it empty. Where is Christian? she asked herself. She stepped inside and looked around. Completely confused, Raoula called, "Christian!"

(A/N: You see that? That little review box? It's calling you. It's saying, "Type something. Write a review. You know you want to..." Listen to it. Gimmie a review. :3)