Authors note: I'm gonna be honest i'm tired, so there's not much I am going to say. But I do want to shout out to my BFF who has been editing this phanfic so it sounds beautiful.

Disclaimer: See past disclaimers...


Chapter 12: Le début

That night, Christine remained at Erik's side, afraid to leave him alone and to risk an encounter with Raoul. They remained locked in an embrace that would hold even if the world fell down.

As morning broke out, Christine returned to the surface to tie some loose ends. First, to check if Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin were in their office. After a small knock on the door, a shout came from the other side, "come in."

She walked in and could tell that they were shocked to see her. "Ah Ms. Daaé, I am terribly sorry about what happened last night, involving the Vicompte de Chagny. Is your...'friend', angered?" Firmin asked as her stood from his desk chair.

"He was upset for a time, but he has calmed down since," Christine said, noticing Monsieur Andre fiddling nervously with his tie, "you needn't worry, Monsieur. I can assure you, the opera ghost will no longer interfere with the productions." The two managers released a sigh of relief. "In truth, I have come to inform you, that we have decided to leave the opera house," Christine finished.

Wide eyed and speechless, the two men looked at Christine, then to each other, then returned to Christine. Firmin coughed, "Ms. Daaé, if this decision was decided on by last night's events…"

"No, no Monsieur," She interrupted him, "Eri-The phantom and I, wish to begin a new life, together. We kindly ask for our leave, and give our deepest gratitude to the both of you."

They smiled at her, clearly thankful to receive a farewell from Christine rather than the temperamental opera ghost. Before she left, Andre picked up a bag from the table and handed it to her. "His salary," he explained, "I thought it best to give it to you, rather us all end on a good note. Best of luck to the both of you."

"Thank you Monsieur, and I wish you luck with the opera house."

After the departing from their office, Christine headed to her room in the dormitories. She pulled her suitcases out from beneath her bed, dusty from their lack of use. She began packing away her clothes in the larger suitcase and packed other personal items into the smaller one. Her room looked empty now, appearing as it had the day she moved in. Christine took a moment, deciding to pull out a piece of parchment and pen, constructing a letter.

"Dear Raoul, I am sorry to be saying goodbye this way, but after our last encounter, I feel this is the best way to talk. This letter is not for the protective, jealous man you have become, but for the boy who ran into ocean to fetch my scarf. You have been a good friend to me and I know you care, but you have changed, as have I. I am no longer the naive chorus girl who only dreamed and never acted. I have grown, I am perfectly capable in making my own choices, and I choose Erik. He was there when father died, when I felt alone in the world. He saved me, helped me fulfill my potential I never knew existed. He is mine and I am his, all I ask is that you respect my wishes. I shall miss you Raoul and do hope our paths cross again. I wish you the best of luck for your future, you will find someone to love and care for. With Love, Christine, Little Lottie."

She left the note on her desk, labeling it for Raoul. With a final look at what used to be her room, Christine headed to the dressing room. Along the way, she ran into Madame Giry and Meg.

"Are you leaving Christine?" Meg asked, noticing the bags in her hands.

Christine dropped her bags and hugged Meg, holding tightly to her dearest friend. "Erik and I," She said as she released her, "We are starting a new life, a life with each other."

Meg gaze was caught by the ring on Christine's finger. "Oh Christine," she squealed, hugging her again. Tears shedding from her eyes, "promise you will write?"

"I promise," Christine said, wiping Meg's tears, "will you both be there for the ceremony?"

Madame Giry hugged her, "of course my child." As Christine bid farewell to the both of them, Giry called out, "God speed to the both of you."

Christine finally returned to the dressing room, gathering a few small, last minute things, including her ballet shoes. She assumed she would never dance with them again, but nevertheless, she packed them. Sighing, she looked around the room, "It seems only yesterday, the angel of music came to me."

"How time flies by us all," came a murmur. Christine smiled as she heard Erik open the mirrors hidden door. He took her hand and guided her through the path to his lair, one last time.

Their bags sat inside of the boat which was fastened against the shore. Christine's eye caught a violin case that sat along Erik's things. "You play the violin?" She turned to him with shock.

"Not as well as the piano, but I can read the music." He gazed at her as she kept staring at it, entwining his hand with hers. "I heard your father playing one night, the music was beautiful and captivating. I got a violin and began to teach myself. I am afraid I haven't kept up with practicing, but I suppose now I will have more time."

Christine leaned her head against his shoulder, remembering her father's music, how it to enchanted her. "I miss the sound, so gentle yet powerful at the same time. My father said music spoke to him, in a way that could not be explained."

Erik kissed her head, before taking the violin case and opening it, "I warn you, I am nowhere the level your father was." He began to play; he was clearly modest about his skill. Music filled the cavern as the violin sang and Erik began to the play the song he had composed for her. As he played, Erik caught a glimpse of a tear trickling down his angel's cheek. "Christine..." He asked, ceasing to play.

Embarrassed, Christine wiped away the tear, "it's not you Erik, it has been so long since I have heard the violin played so beautifully, since my father…please, keep playing."

He nodded and continued to play for her, the music of the night consuming her as it did so long ago. Erik played with such passion, captivating her with his love for music.

As they continued to fill the boat with luggage, Christine glanced around to make sure Erik was not leaving anything behind. He had packed away his music, compositions and operas he was in the middle of creating, his clothing, along with extra masks. As she turned to leave, she noticed that the music box, the monkey playing the cymbals, had not been moved to the pile of luggage they planned to take. She picked it up and carried it to the boat. "What are you doing with that?" Erik questioned with a cocked eyebrow.

"I want to take it with us." She said simply as she set it atop a suitcase. "To remember my first night here, waking up to its chimes." She shook her head, "It's silly, I know, but I don't want to leave it behind."

He smiled, looking at his music box and then back at his fiancée. Grasping her hand, he suddenly twirled her into his arms, kissing her and wrapping his arms around her waist.

She giggled against his lips and pulled away, "what was that for?"

He tucked some of her hair behind her ear, grinning sheepishly, "how did I get so lucky, to have someone so perfect in my life."

Christine smiled and kissed him again, holding his face in her hands, "I ask myself the same question every day." She watched a lone tear fall from his eye and swept it away with her thumb. She would never stop reminding him. No matter how hard it was for him to understand, she would never stop telling him how beautiful he was.

As night began to cloak over, they retired to their bed to rest. Both were lost in thought, the future so close, it was at their fingertips.

The night would have been perfect, but as Erik slept, he found himself having another nightmare. It was different from the others, not out of memory, but from fear. He was running, a crowd of people chasing after him, threatening to cage him, torture him, kill him. A voice echoed around him, "I never loved you." He stopped, whirling around to find the voice. Then he saw her, Christine, but she was fading away like mist. "How could anyone love you?" She repeated over and over, as she slowly evaporated into thin air.

Then she was gone, his reason for living, was gone. "Christine!" He yelled, collapsing to the ground as the mob surrounded him.

Erik's eyes flew open and threw himself forward. He was greeted by the warm touch of Christine's hand to his chest. "I'm here, I'm right here," she whispered, then waited for him to speak.

"You were gone, you just, disappeared." He was in shock, not over the angry mob who had chased him, but of what Christine had said while she vanished. "You... you said you never... never." He stuttered, couldn't bear to repeat the words.

"I'm not going anywhere." She said as she lightly pressed Erik to lay back down.

He turned his head and stroked her cheek, "you do love me don't you? This is real?"

She had an idea of what he dreamed about, but continued to comfort him. She laid her head on to his chest, "I promise, this is real, my love is real." She kissed him, wrapping her arm around him, twirling his hair with her hand. "We still have a few more hours until we depart, try to sleep again. I will be here when you wake."

Erik sighed and closed his eyes, Christine continued to play with his hair. Singing softly as he drifted off to sleep, "Anywhere you go, let me go too. Love me, that's all I ask of you."


Authors note: I should do what Christine and Erik are doing and sleep. But the curse of a night owl will not let it be that simple. Please do review my lovely readers.