Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera, just the very interesting storyline. Which I now share with my lovely co author Ivy. Without whom...well...our Erik would not be as awesome and mysterious as he is!

Opening night arrived almost too quickly.

Lara was sticking pins into her hair, making sure it'd stay in place, standing in front of her mirror. She hummed a bright tune, though her hands were cold as they always were when she got nervous.

"Far from my Far Reaching Gaze..." Erik sang, appearing in the mirror.

Lara smiled. "How long have you been standing there?" She finished putting the pins into place, standing with her hands on her hips.

"Long enough for temptation to take hold, Mon Ange." He smiled mischieviously as he stepped out from the mirror, his hands covering hers on her hips as he kissed her.

"Mmmm...was that a good luck kiss?"

"You could take it that way, I suppose." He murmured into her ear, lips brushing along as he moved his face. "I love you, Mon Ange."

"Then thank you...I'm so nervous...my hands are freezing cold..." She always got talkative when she was nervous...Lara couldn't help it...

He kissed away her words. "Don't be, you'll do wonderfully. But please, do return. I don't want to lose you to that lifestyle!"

"If he does not steal me away..." It was like Frank's name was a bad word, off limits...

He smiled, pulling away. "Mon Ange...I won't let him."

"You will do nothing. I will not let him," she corrected.

He sighed, resigned. "Mon Ange, I am not allowed to protect you?"

"You are. But in this case, I can handle him..." She muttered something about 'the poor fool, he makes me laugh'...

"If I must not do anything...I shall watch from my normal seat in Box Five."

Lara hugged him. "I'm glad to hear it."

"And I expect nothing short of excellence, Mon Cher." Erik embraced her as well, her frame fitting easily into the circle of his arms.

"I'll perform my best, for you..." she assured him. "I'll pour my heart and soul into the performance..."

"Very well spoken, Mon Cher Ange. I love you, you know."

"I do know. And-"

"Lara! C'mon!" Lexi called, knocking at the door.

"Give me a minute, twerp!" Lara called back.

"A minute, then!"

Lara smiled, shaking her head. "I think I'd better go..."

"Yes, I think they need their amazing female lead." Erik kissed her passionately before vanishing from the room.

Lara opened the door, to find Lexi standing there, looking harassed for some reason.

"That was a minute andfive seconds."

"I have a valid excuse, take it up with you know who..."

Lexi stepped back. "No, I'm good."

Erik took his seat, concealing himself as he waited for the performance to begin.

"What I thought..."

"Miss Parker!"

"Miss Parker, over here!"

She obeyed the manager's shouts, following the sound of their voices.

"You look absolutely splendid, Mademoiselle, are you ready for your debut?" asked Firmin.

She bit her lip. "Kind of."

He laughed. "Your nation awaits, Prima Donna..."

Lara bit her lip, and then nodded. "I am ready..."

Chin up, shoulders straight, he's watching, you know...

Lara waited as the managers introduced the opera...and then mentioned her name...

A lone cheer of approval came from a box...Lara scowled. Frank was here, of course he was!

She calmed down, Erik was too, he'd be watching, she couldn't mess up!

Then they stepped offstage, and the curtains rose on the first scene...

It was as if she'd slipped on a mask, Lara was no longer nervous, as she began to sing, and to dance...and, she tried not to laugh, she was rather warm...

She was flawless, Erik saw...his teaching, endless drillings for the past weeks had been worth it! How his angel shone...

The first act passed, and when the curtain fell back to be set for the next act, applause already rang out, for the new prima donna.

Things were certainly looking up for the Opera Populaire...

Erik too clapped happily, approving most fully of her wonderful performance. His angel...oh, his angel...

The ballet girls all told Lara how amazing she was, as she ran to change outfits for the second act...

But the thing that mattered was, Erik...was he happy with that? She did her best...was it enough?

She ran back minutes later, in full costume, ready for the next scene...

The orchestra boomed and up the curtain went, and once again she began to sing.

Her voice! Erik closed his eyes, not needing a visual aide to the beauty of the sound. Her voice...

People seemed to have fallen in love with her voice, all were watching with dreamy looks on their faces, as if they were taken away by her singing to a different world...

Lara simply sang with all her heart, but she wasn't singing for them. She was singing for Erik, she was singing her heart out.

She'll be rewarded, tonight, Erik thought. She would be loved, and he would reward her.

Time seemed to go too quickly before the curtain dropped again, and Lara ran more quickly, Madame Giry at her heels, to change into the big, beautiful dress.

Madame Giry helped her fix her hair, and she seemed to sparkle.

"Go, veet! Make him proud!" the elder woman ordered.

Oh, will I! she thought, running as fast as she could.

The curtain rose, and she sparkled, a circle of light surrounding her, as if she was an angel.

She began to sing, enchanting the whole of the theater, putting them fully under her spell...

"Think of me!

Think of me fondly,

when we've said goodbye!

Remember me,

once in a while, please,

promise me you'll try!

Then you'll find

that once again you long

to take your heart back

and be free.

But if you ever find a moment,

spare a thought for me!"

Erik watched more intently now, taking in every detail of her performance now as he looked at the audience. All were in awe of the power in her voice, the passion in her song as she sang.

"We never said

our love was evergreen,

or as unchanging as the sea,

but if you can still remember,

stop and think of me.

Think of all the things

we've said and seen.

Don't think about the way

things might have been!"

She looked all around the audience, not focusing on one person. They all seemed to be hanging on her every word.

"Think of me,

think of me waking

silent and resigned!

Imagine me,

trying too hard to

put you from my mind!

Recall those days,

look back on all those times,

think of the things we'll never do.

There will never be a day

when I won't think of you!"

The orchestra soared, and Lara loved it...it was amazing...

But a voice caught her attention...

"Can it be? Can it be Lara?" Frank stood in his box, applauding. "Bravo!"

He walked out, still singing to himself...

Frank had begun to sing...Erik looked to Lara, clenched the sides of his seat and resisted the urge to chase after the fop and hang him from the rafters.

"Flowers fade," she continued,

"the fruits of summer fade.

They have their season,

so do we.

But please promise me

that sometimes

you will think-"

The orchestra paused, waiting...the whole of the audience was on the edge of their seats, to say the least.

Lara looked up briefly to box five with a confident smile, and then faced back to the audience, a broad smile on her face...

She would do it...Erik knew well enough by now how wonderful a few simple lessons had made her at the notes. Nevertheless, he crossed his fingers.

Her voice progressed up, down, and back up the scale...and the orchestra soared as did her voice, when it hit that final high note...

"Of me!"

Erik pridefully smiled. It was to be predicted. His love had done well.

Applause thundered through the theater, Lara received a standing ovation. She held back tears of happiness, the pride in herself overwhelming...

Roses, many roses, were thrown to her feet...she caught a few, taking a graceful curtsy.

"Brava! Brava! Bravissima!" was the shout heard throughout the place. Paris had found its new love, and her name was Lara Parker...

Another, more distinct rose fell at her feet. Blood red, with a black ribbon round it.

Lara smiled, picking that one up and gently tugging against the ribbon. She brought it to her nose as she walked backstage, and it had his scent...she briefly lost herself...

"Lara! Mademoiselle Parker, come with me!" Madame Giry ordered, making her wake from her daydream, leading her back to her room.

She shut the door and locked it. "You enchanted them. So much. Is he coming for you?"

Lara made a nod towards the mirror, look questioning.

She nodded.

"Yes."

"I will go, tell them you wish to have no visitors..."

Lara put a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you."

Madame Giry only smiled and bowed her head, walking back outside.

"She always knows exactly what I wish of her..." Erik said finally.

Lara looked around. "She's very sweet, to be sure."

Erik came out from behind the mirror. "A wonderful friend..." But he kissed Lara. "You were marvelous!"

"I felt marvelous...I was warm!" she added, their little joke.

"I could only hope, my Angel..." He held her close.

"But now am even warmer..."

"As well you should be." He kissed her forehead, holding her close. "You were brilliant."

"I sang for you, Erik...I did everything you always taught me to do!" she told him. "They were hanging, hanging on my every word!"

Erik nodded, affirming her observations and smiling. "They adored you, Mon Ange."

"It was amazing...I mean..." Lara looked to the heavens. "My parents, I know they were watching over me...I think I made them proud..."

He nodded again. "I know you did...I know you did."

"I just wish they could have been here..." Lara whispered.

"They saw...and they are proud, Mon Ange."

She closed her eyes. "I know..."

"Then let it be well with you, in your heart." Erik told her, taking her hand in his.

Lara didn't move, mouth moving in a silent prayer. The only words Erik could make out were 'I love you.'

He didn't ask, allowing her to have her moment in whatver way she wished. She earned it.

Finally Lara opened her eyes, feeling better. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, I do that..."

"It's quite alright..You deserve whatever you wish, tonight."

She humbly shook her head. "No...no, I don't..."

"Mon Ange...they stood for you! I can hear the echoes ringing in my ears! You were brilliant, tell me you weren't and I shall turn away!" Erik smiled at her, attempting to convince her of her greatness.

A smile tugged at her own lips. "Would that be considered tempting you, if I did?"

He thought on this for a moment, then sighed. "Yes, yes I think it would. In which case I would have to punish you."

"How?" Lara asked curiously, trying to decide whether or not it was worth it.

"I don't know for certain yet, Mon Cher...but it won't be...awful."

"I wasn't brilliant, then..." Lara boldly defied him.

He snorted. "Mon Ange...do not tempt me."

Lara looked into his eyes, making herself seem serious. "I wasn't brilliant."

Erik easily shouldered her weight and brought her to the lair, where, upon reaching the other shore, he kissed her soundly.

"Do not tempt me.." he whispered in her ear.

"I wasn't brilliant!" Lara insisted, stomping her foot for show.

He kissed her again. "Mon Ange...this will go on for as long as you pretend..."

"I am not pretending!" she exclaimed, but then had to steady herself against a wall for the laughter that burst through her lips.

Erik watched her laugh, smiling himself. She was so adorable, so lovely flushed with laughter like that.

"Okay, so...s-so maybe I am...just, oh please, don't-don't tickle me..."

Then she stood up straight, starting to back away. "Please, no, you wouldn't...oh, you would, wouldn't you?"

He supressed a laugh...yet somehow, it escaped and his face turned mischievious. The Phantom, agile and quick, grabbed her by the waist and bore her to the swan bed, where he lay her down and held her there. "Now...where to start? Wrists? Palms? Ankles?" Erik began teasing the sensitive areas.

"I'll never tell you," she declared, looking extremely defiant, trying to remove his hands...before they got to the sides of her stomach...

"Neck?" Erik suggested. "Ears? Waist?" It took several tries, but at her sides, he struck gold, forcing her to giggle and laugh until both of them were breathless.

Quit, no, please, Erik!" she insisted, but lost control of her voice as she couldn't speak, only laugh..."E-Erik!" But for some reason, Lara didnt regret letting that little secret slip...

He finally relented, having tortured his student enough. "I did warn you," he pointed out, extracting himself from the tangled mess he'd become...opera cape and Erik and Lara.

Lara was still laughing. "I-I know...but I still say I wasn't brilliant..."

"I'll do it again, my dear," he threatened, darting out to the organ to retrieve a sheaf of music.

"I wasn't brilliant!" Lara called after him, somewhat hoping he would.

"Don't tempt me, Mon Ange!" he called back, looking over a piece he was writing before coming back in.

She looked up at him. "I'll say it...don't make me say it..."

"Do not tempt me...what do you want from me?"

"Your love..." Lara thought about it. "And a good time."

He chuckled, going to kneel beside her. He kissed her softly, slowly increasing in passion and prolonging it for some time. "You need rest..." Erik told her finally. "You were wonderful, but Prima Donnas must sleep."

"And their demands must be met..." she reminded him, trying not to smile. Instead, she sang. "Though they were hardly bereft when Carlotta left!"

He smiled. "Rest, Mon Cher. There will be time enough in the morning. I won't leave you."

"All right. I will a'listen to you, for now..." She'd made so many people laugh in her impression of the diva...she couldn't help it, it was funny...

The Opera Ghost shook his head, kneeling by her side. "If you continue that, I shall throw you out like so much waste to the street urchins. I love you, Mon Ange."

"I couldn't help it, that always amused my friends...Lexi still makes me do that...ask her! She'll own up to it!" Lara frowned at the look on his face. "You wouldn't throw me out, would you?"

"I couldn't dream of it, Mon Cher Ange. You know that." He kissed her forehead tenderly. "You know that...and it is entertaining, my cher."

"You're just trying to hide the truth..." Lara pretended to look like she could cry. "You hate me, you're going to leave me all alone, and then he'll find me, and he'll drag me back...and..."

"Yes, of course, Mon Ange. That is how it will go and I won't regret a minute of it." His kiss proved differently as his mouth met hers.

Lara pulled away from him. "And he'll ask me to marry him, and I don't know what I'll do...and..." She bit her lip to make herself stop talking.

Erik patted her left hand comfortingly. "He will not get to you if I have any say, Mon Ange." He kissed her head again, waiting for her to slip into slumber as he did so many nights.

She daringly thought of asking him 'What, are you going to sweep me away first?', but decided the better of it. "If you say so," Lara said with a yawn.

"I do say," he told her, yawning as well and waiting for her to fall asleep, kneeling by the bedside.

Assured she would forever be safe, she drifted to sleep, dreaming that her parents had been there to watch this evening...dreaming that they were so proud of her...

After awhile she fell asleep, and Erik went back to the organ, composing a new work, currently entitled ALAYM...