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Disclaimer: I "unfortunately" don't own anything POTO :(

A/N: Sorry I left such a big cliffie last week, but this chapter addresses some questions that I got in your reviews. Such as "will this story continue to be E/C?" The answer is and always be, yes. They 'may' hit some rough patches on the way, but it will forever be E/C all the way. Oh and as to respond to the questions of Erik and Christine's ages, He's about 3 ,4 years older. Christine is 13 going on 14 and Erik's around 16/17. Enjoy the chapter and please review at the end. Thanks -GP

Erik couldn't believe his eyes. They must have been deceiving him, they just had to be. Right now he would have given just about anything in the world to wake up from such a horrifying event. The part that really got to him was the fact that there was nothing he could do about it. Everything happened so suddenly that there was no time to react. Now it was to late. Gustave and Luciana probably lay on the stone streets below dead. Still he had to be sure. There was something inside him that compelled Erik to check. Something deep down that wouldn't let him give up hope of there being the slightest chance that Gustave was still alive.

Running as fast as he could Erik flew past Christine and Giovanni in a flash. He couldn't think right now about Christine and what she thought of this monster before her. This was not the time for that. Now he had a more urgent matter to attend to.

When he reached the street Erik only found Gustave, Luciana wasn't in sight. Then on further inspection he noticed that she was in fact there. Gustave must have landed on top of her, breaking his fall. Erik thought of the irony in the situation. If Luciana was good for anything, this was probably the extent of it. Unexpectedly Gustave opened his eyes. "Erik." He called out to the youth. At once Erik moved closer to hear him better. "I fear my end has finally come, though how exactly I survived the fall in my condition honestly surprises me." Erik did not have the heart to tell him just how it was possible and instead used the time left to listen to the dying man's final request. "I ask you to promise me this one thing."

"Anything Gustave. You have shown me what love and family truly mean, for this I am and forever will be thankful and in your debt. Whatever you so wish, I will personally see it to be accomplished."

"Promise me you'll always look after my darling Christine. Weather you solely remain friendly companions or choose later on in life to marry, though I wish it to be the later, promise me you'll always be there to look after her. Guard her and guide her in life. She is so naive in many ways and I am afraid this world will take advantage and pray on that innocence of hers. Please, do this one thing for me, promise me."

How could he ask such a thing from a gargoyle like myself. I looked away for a moment and noticed a hand sticking out underneath his body. A hand with a mask in it. I pried it from her death grasp and moved to replace it back where it rightly belonged, to hide the face of my accursed ugliness from this unkind world.

"Don't. Let me see you, come closer." This was the reason he landed here in the first place. This face was the cause of such a demise and yet he still wanted to see. How could he honestly stomach and bear it? To see the thing that ultimately caused his death? Tears slipped down silently as Erik closed his eyes and leaned in closer. "Do you know what I see?" Over come by Erik's grief and overwhelming feeling of guilt, he simply kept his eyes tightly shut and nodded my head in the negative. He felt a pair of hand encase both sides of his face. Both! The man he loved like his father chose to touch the hideousness of his face! "I see the same boy who played like any other in a house by the sea. A boy who excels in music and architecture among other things. A boy who's only wish is to be accepted and loved for who he is. A boy who has now grown into a man like all boys do, and who has fallen in love, like all men do. You are a man and an exceptional one at that Erik, but you are still a man just like everyone else. Never forget that."

"What if, as a result, Christine can not see it under this?" He roughly motioned to his face. "What if all she can see is what's there in fount of her eyes? Or just a memory, the cause of her dear father death?" All these thoughts were true and Erik shocked himself by actually admitting them aloud.

"This was not your fault. Never think that Erik, never, and Christine can and will look past all these things just as I have. Do not be mistaken and give her such little credit or it would seem you do not even know her at all. Perhaps it is you who can not look past it. If it is then I fear for you, my son. Don't shut her out because of your own insecurities." Gustave began to cough up blood terribly and Erik knew that it would only be moments now before he was no longer with them. "Before it is too late, promise me what I have asked of you earlier."

Erik to in a deep breath to steady himself. How could he deny Gustave his one last dying wish despite what it meant for himself. If Christine decided that she honestly didn't want anything to do with such a creature, he would still have to watch over and protect her, with or without her knowledge. This was a heavy promise and responsibility, but Erik was willing to make the sacrifice.

"Yes Gustave, I promise to do everything in my power to take care of Christine as best as I can." The words were uttered and now there was no going back.

"Good... good." Gustave patted Erik's hand. "There is one last thing I would like you to do for me. Look in my pocket. There are two letters there. I wrote them a while ago and want you to give the one marked Christine to her now. The other one I want you to read. Then give it to her when the time is right."

"How will I know when to give it?" Erik asked as he retrieved the two letters from Gustave's pocket.

"Read it and you'll know when."

Then the two heard a cry nearby. "Papa." It was Christine. Erik could only hope that what Gustave said was true and she wouldn't associate Erik with her fathers death. Otherwise it would make keeping to his promise that much more difficult to do. Not wanting to disturb her further after such traumatic events that evening, he replaced his mask once more.

This was no dream as much as Christine wished it was. No, it was a waking nightmare. Before tonight she wondered if love could still be there despite Erik's face, but she had never seen him before. Though he did tell her what he looked like, she'd never seen the deformity that caused him to be locked away like a caged animal. The look on Luciana's face made Christine understand why Erik was the way he was. Why he hated crowds and was weary of people. Why he loved the way he could conceal himself in shadows and could escape in a world of music. The way he loved Sasha like a best friend, she was his only friend for a long time. Luciana's reaction repulsed her more than Erik's face. His visage was exactly how he described it and yet seeing it for the first time, she wasn't scared but felt pain. Pain for the years of abuse and pain for the years that he didn't know what love was. At that moment she hated all those people who paid money to laugh and have a cheep thrill on his behalf. Never could she possibly come close to imagining just how Erik felt night after night, people coming and going. It was no wonder why he usually was so guarded about his emotions and only let not even a handful of people into his life.

Luciana ran to the ledge where Christine's papa was and the stonework gave way. Stone by stone it crumbled until the only thing that kept Luciana from falling was her father. Her poor sick papa, who had not the strength to hold both of them up. It didn't matter in the end, the floor beneath him gave way as well until they both began to fall. Erik was fast to reach their side, but not fast enough. He reached out and tried to pull them back from the darkness that threatened to swallow them up forever. Luciana went down into the black night dragging down Christine's papa with her. A voice came from her mouth though she did not recognize it. "Papa!" It sounded so pathetic and useless. She moved to the ledge and tried to look over but something held her stopping her from moving any closer. It was her legs. They refused to move. Christine felt her face twist into the look of horror that was on Luciana's face when she unmasked Erik, though Christine's expression was caused by the sight of her beloved papa falling to his demise.

Seconds after the accident Erik flew past her and ran down the stairs. She knew she should be doing the same but she just couldn't bare to see her papa broken on the cobblestone below. This once strong man who at one time, before Erik entered her world, was her only companion. Her papa who gave her rides on his back and always let her win at games they played. Never could she go to him again for advise to her problems or just simply to talk.

He was supposed to die in a warm bed with family and friends around. Not by Luciana's selfishness. Christine knew he would die soon, but this was time stolen. Time she had to deal with admitting to herself that he would be gone. Time to say goodbye, and now she didn't even have that. If only Luciana wasn't so obstinate in wanting his mask he'd still be here. Then maybe things would have been different. It was to late now to consider the what if's. All Christine could do was go and check on him.

Slowly her mind told her legs to move. One foot then the next till the street below came into view. Looking over the edge, there lay her papa and Erik hunched over him. Her heart broke the instant she saw this once great man lying sprawled out on the street. Everything around her began to spin and she couldn't breath. The world spun and it was getting so hot. Cautiously she backed away from the edge toward the staircase and descended down closer to where the cold, hard and unfeeling cobblestone street claimed her father.

When Christine first saw him laying there she rushed to his side. "Papa!" Again the helpless whine in the voice that didn't belong to her came forth from her mouth. Then something happened that was beyond her belief. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She took him in her arms and cried her heart out into his chest. "Don't leave me papa! I love you, don't go! Please don't go!"

"Christine. Don't cry. I was going to tell you tonight. I only had a few days at best before I..." He took in a labored breath and continued. "Before I'm no longer with you. You won't be alone. Erik will be with you. You have each other now and you need to take care of each other now more that ever."

"Papa I'll miss you."

"Promise me you'll go on to be the best singer you can be and that you'll live a long and happy life."

Her throat almost closed and all she could utter was, "I promise."

"Now give your papa a kiss." As she leaned in closer to kiss him Christine whispered into his ear.

"Goodbye papa. I love you." Then tenderly placed a kiss on his forehead. With a final shaky breath he uttered his last words.

"I love you, Christine." Then his eyes closed and his head tilted slightly to the side. He was gone and Christine knew he was dead but she still stayed there holding on to him anyway. After some time a hand touched her shoulder lightly. It guided her away from her papa and she allowed herself to be taken away. At least she got to say goodbye. That was all she wished for minuets ago on the roof when it looked like there was no chance of that happening, and it seemed that she got her wish.

"Christine, we must leave now." Nothing sounded like a better idea. This house would only drive her crazy if she stayed. "That is if you want to go. If you wish to stay we may, or if only you want to stay, then I will leave."

"Erik, you heard papa. He wants, wanted us to stay together." A pained look came over his face.

"Do you want to stay with me?" Why was he being so difficult? All she wanted more than anything right now was to be taken away from this place.

"Erik, where else would I go? There's no one else I want to be with right now than you. Please, take me from this place. I can't stand it here any longer." He rose and helped her up. She wanted to break down and cry while being held securely in his arms but now was not the time or the place.

"Go to your room and take only what you can carry. I'll have a horse ready in five minuets. Hurry, we must leave immediately."

Christine ran away from the awful sight of her papa's body and went to gather her things. She opened her carpet bag and packed a few dresses and unmentionables along with some things that had sentimental value. Dashing across the hallway to where her papa stayed Christine hesitated with her hand on the door nob, then gathering up as much courage she could, Christine opened the door. Going to his dresser drawer she opened the top one where he kept all the things most precious to him. Right away Christine found what she was looking for. Though her father hadn't worn his wedding band for a long time, he still kept it along with her mother's. She put them both in her pocket and grabbed some other things as well. A handkerchief, pair of cuff links and an old photograph of her parents on their wedding day.

Christine exited the room for the last time. Once outside the horse was there along with Sasha. Erik's bag was packed and placed on his horse next to the violin. Her horse was there as well and he quickly took her bag and packed it then held on tightly to her waste and lifted her high onto the horse. They were about to leave when they heard Giovanni's voice in the distance. "Erik, Christine, you don't have to leave on my behalf." Giovanni approached the two. "I know what happened was not your fault but a most unfortunate accident associated with my daughters stubborn and selfish ways. I should have known something like this would have happened one day. Instead I chose to ignore the warning signs that were always present there. I should have disciplined her better form long ago, but now it is two late."

Erik moved the horse closer to where Giovanni stood. "I'm afraid we still must go. Though it was an accident, the authorities will still come to investigate and we have some shadows of the past that are best left forgotten." This was true. If they came here they would arrest Erik for the murder of Javert though it happened all these years back. No trial would be necessary, one look at his face and the sentience would more than likely be death. Since Christine has no blood relations to anyone, she knew the she would be taken to an orphanage and after that, who knew. Erik was all she had left now. The thought finally hit her like a heavy blow. If they stayed there much longer Christine knew she would just loose it here.

"Erik, we had better leave now." Anywhere, she was willing to travel the world to the furthest corners, just as long as it was far away from here.

"Just you both remember, if you ever need anything, let me know. You both always have a home here. I'll make all the arrangements for Giovanni to have a burial worthy of a king." With that he handed Erik a small sack and waved as the both of them as they rode out into the distance.

The ride together was silent as they rode out of the city. Rome was so large they could have easily gotten lost in it, but Erik wanted to get out further, away from Italy. On a hill just outside the skirts of the great metropolis, Christine paused for a moment, stopping her horse to take one last long look before they left. Years of memories flashed through her mind and brought tears to Christine's eyes that threatened to overflow and never stop. "Christine, we must get further from here soon. We'll stop in a few hours and sleep, but right now I need you to try your best and stay with me here." Erik was right. The time to grieve was later, now they had the task of escaping without getting caught.

After saying one last goodbye to everything that Rome stood for, especially her father, Christine turned her horse around and there stood Erik next to her. He quickly mounted her horse and took the reins. She was so grateful to just feel him behind her, his arms encasing her as they once again rode off. There was so much she wanted to speak about, so much she wanted to say, but she didn't. All Christine did was lean back in his arms and cried.

A/N: Sorry I've been really busy and I hope the next chapter will be longer and not as sad :'( But here was the other surprise... Ha, Gustave landed on top of Luciana! Luciana pancake (I'm bad)! Some wanted her to land on something pointy, but I hope that this is to your liking anyway! Plus because when he landed the major impact was absorbed by Luciana as a cushion, that gave him a few extra minutes to say his goodbyes. Remember everyone, he had to die and would have in a day or two of natural causes, I just wanted to add my own twist to it.

Preview for next week: Their new life together begins and so does their trek to Russia! Please review, I appreciate the support from my reviews I get and always try to reply to each one in my profile page - GP