A/N – So, Nadir is protective of everyone too. Madame has a scathing temper. Raoul is a self-centered… not going there, ha ha. We are going to start this one with Erik and Christine's reactions from Raoul being Raoul, and I will have a break when we start the next day. Recap –

He wasn't sure if that was right, but he didn't remember the day before. Raoul went with what he was told by the courtesans, assuming that he had again drank too much, and that his night was a blur. He did not notice that his sword and dagger were gone. He no longer cared about the opera house, assuming that Erik was dead and that his family would again be the heroes of the workers there when it reopened.

Erik and Christine were incredulous while they were listening to Raoul's temper tantrum. Christine's thoughts quickly turned to how things could have happened with him "Would he have beat me and thrown things at me? He has been drinking again. Why is he so violent now? He really does hate anyone that he thinks won't give him his way." Christine looked at Erik, who was shaking his head as the second glass broke. "He really needs to learn some manners. I thought the aristocracy raised their children better." Christine looked at Erik, and grinned "I guess finishing school didn't work?" Erik and Christine both chuckled, Erik very much relieved that Christine seemed to be no longer drowning in guilt and sorrow. Christine's eyes went wide when Madame started to berate Raoul, reminding him of how he had forced Christine to his will. Christine started to feel the guilt come back, but was pulled closer into Erik's embrace, and began to feel better, knowing that Erik was indeed alive.

Christine and Erik both wanted to race up the stairs and take Raoul down when they heard him threaten Madame, Erik holding Christine back and Christine holding Erik back. Both stood still before settling back down in each other's arms on the stairs, Christine on a lower step, leaning on Erik who was one step above her. Both beamed when Madame called Christine one of her daughters, Erik reminding his angel "Madame has looked after you since childhood, and I followed in your teen years and to now. You have always had someone at the ready to avenge you, all you had to do was ask. Even now, after having sworn to Nadir to not kill again, I would willingly kill the man that cased you pain, regardless of any vow I have made. You are worth everything in this world to me." Erik pulled her closer, and kissed the top of her head "I will always do anything within my power and ability to make sure you are safe, happy, provided for and free from all feelings of guilt and remorse." Christine looked at Erik "What have I done to deserve all of this that you want to give me? I nearly had you killed because I was blinded. You owe me nothing, I deserve nothing of this magnitude from you." Erik took her hands into his, kissing both of them "Christine, you erased all of that when you did one thing, you came back for me. You left with me to come here. You stayed. You saved me. You are worthy of everything that I can give you."

Erik listened a little more intently when he heard Nadir speak "He just pulled his scimitar, I need to see what is going on. Stay here for a moment." Erik moved up a step, and slid a small over from the vent. "We can see what is going on now. DO you want to look? There is something you may not want to see." Christine didn't care. "I want to see Erik, whatever it is." Christine came up beside Erik, and they both saw Nadir put the scimitar to Raoul's throat. Erik whispered "That old man used to do that many times a day interrogating people by force, Daroga was very good at what he did" Christine looked puzzled "Why do you all him Daroga, I thought his name was Nadir?" Erik smiled "Daroga was his title in Persia. It is like a Chief of Police, but a little more in depth than that. He did questioning and went after suspects too. He was sent to kill me by the Shah, and while he did find me, he did not end my life as you can see. We have developed a sort of friendship over the years." Christine was amazed by the story "Is this more of your past that you are not comfortable with speaking of yet?" Erik nodded, and resumed watching. "Darius has given Raoul the draught I requested, he won't be bothering us anymore tonight, and hopefully never again."

THE NEXT DAY

Raoul was disheveled when he walked into the office of the opera house managers, but he didn't care. He was finding it hard to care about much of anything after the previous night, and that was fine with him "MY engagement has been called off, which is good because I need someone of my stature anyway. Here's the money to start on reconstruction. You can thank me anytime." Raoul was speaking with an arrogant tone, looking down on the managers as they were seated behind the desk, and Raoul made it a point to stand. "This is 150,000 francs! This will nearly cover everything that needs to be done inside.! We are saved by the Vicomte!" Raoul also reminded them "I am making contact with the suggested architect today, and I'm sure he will be more than happy to come out to the site and make sure that everything is in order before he starts. He will restore the outside first, because there is no sense in rebuilding the interior when the roof is not intact." The managers looked at each other "Should we not find the architect?" Fermin asked "We know someone who specializes in places for music and performances." Raoul glared at the man "I was suggested a person by a friend of my father, and that is the person we are going to use! I control this venture or there is no venture!" Both Andre and Fermin nodded their understanding. Raoul turned and left the opera house, wanting to go home so he could bathe and get rid of the pounding in his head.

AT THE ESTATE

Christine and Erik were speaking with Nadir and Madame at breakfast, going over the plans for the next couple of weeks. "I have two drafts that are going to need to go into the post today" Erik said. "Can Darius be trusted to run these errands quickly and without distraction?" Nadir put down his tea "Erik, he would not still be in my employ if it were otherwise. He shall take the drafts as soon as they are ready. He will be going to the market today as well, is there anything that you require?" Erik thought "I need more parchment, and some candles. Christine is in need of everything, and I will send funds and instructions will Darius to make sure that everything is procured that she requires." Christine looked at Erik in shock "Erik, I can accompany Darius today, it will not be trouble." Erik regarded her quickly, but would not be moved "No, Christine. The draught that I told you about yesterday that was given to Raoul has a way of changing many people's demeanors. I do not want you to be at risk of running into the Vicomte and you or Darius being injured. I have to have you safe. Darius has been doing this for years, and he will make sure everything is just so." Erik held her hand, kissed it, and implored with his eyes for Christine to allow this to happen his way "Very well Erik. I would like to get some fresh air today; will you go with me to the gardens?" Erik's face lit up, knowing Christine had yet to see the roses that he had put upstairs for her. "Of course! Make sure you are dressed for the weather; I do not want you to get ill." "Of course he is lecturing me on my attire. But I have nearly nothing! Erik is going to have to let me out sooner or later so I can get some clothes." Christine kept this thought in her head, because she knew Erik was only looking out for her.

When Darius returned from the market district, there were so many boxes that came with him, that Nadir and Erik both had to make sure it all made it inside. All of Christine's boxes had the ribbons tied on them, red and black, and were put on display in the main room downstairs. Erik looked at Darius as the last few boxes came in "Did you make sure that everything on the list was picked up, and everything done to exact measurements?" Darius put his last load down "A couple of the things that Mademoiselle needed were difficult to find, most especially the oil for her hair. I did find it, at the store of an herbalist. I also procured more supplies in case we need to make more draught." Erik approved of this "I will give you more funds should you need it for the supplies." Darius shook his head "There was more than enough. I also have something for you that was in the post. It has no return, but it is about the opera house." Erik stiffened instinctively, not knowing what this was going to bring. He opened the letter, and saw that it was a request for a draft for the rebuilding of the opera house. It had the manager's names on it, but the seal of the de Chagny family, meaning the Vicomte was also involved, but silently. "This brings a new sense of irony, the man who is blamed for destroying the opera house is now being asked to rebuild it." Christine heard this, and didn't know what it meant "What do you mean asked to rebuild, what does this mean?" Erik looked at her, knowing he needed to clear some of his history up for her "Christine, my time in Persia was spend building for the Shah. I not only made palaces, but also some torture chambers. At the time, I didn't care what I was building and designing, I was getting gold and jewels for it all. Looking back now, I created new ways of death that could be used at any time, and I regret that. I know buildings, and have built houses for many people here, including the one you are standing in. I also made many adjustments to this home, to make it perfect. Many aristocratic families have used my talents, and paid me very well for them. I am being asked by the opera house managers to draft a plan for the rebuilding of the opera, with the Vicomte's money." Christine now understood why he felt the way he did about this change in events, and couldn't hold back "So Erik, will you do it? Are you going to bring back the beauty of the place that was brought down in anger?" Erik smirked at Christine, "Of course I am. I will be paid well for the rebuild, and it will be done right this time. The original had horrid acoustics! And you, you will have a room built however you want. You will return as the diva, and the managers can sod off if they think otherwise. I will not come back as the opera ghost, but perhaps a patron of the arts when the rebuild is complete." Erik's mind was going in many different directions, but they all ended with Christine singing on the state again "But of course my angel, that is only if you want to."