A/N: sorry it took quite awhile to update, I've been busy with so many events happening right now, I haven't had the time to sit down and write. Plus there's been that error thing and I couldn't upload anything for awhile! Major Grr. But here it is. AT LAST.

Thank you for the reviews.

Last chapter's preview was the worst ever so I decided to not go with it…well I will just extend it a little more. But I'm changing the chapter's title.

Read and REVIEW please.

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Brokenly lying face down on the cold floor with tangles of endless hair obscuring her face and tears unendingly flowing, enough to flood the entire room. An angel with no more wings simply lay limp there, silent and unmoving as if dead. The darkness of the room, no matter how stretched did not cover the whiteness of her wardrobe, already stained with dirt from the floor and much tears. Her arms were at each of her sides but in level with her grief stricken face, the one hand that faced her holding shakily a rose of crimson red. How she had attained the rose, it was not known but her watery brown orbs never left its structure, as if all her life depended on that one single rose. In a way, it did. And only she knew, that she was about to let that rose go.

This was the scene on to which Vader found his daughter alarmingly drowning into.

She had not been seen for hours and Vader had begun to get worried and so his search for her began. The search did not, however, last that long. He had felt her presence through the Force and immediately found himself upon this dark chamber.

After several moments of starring at his daughter, shocked beyond his measures, common sense and alarm began to flood the Dark Lord and he immediately paced to where his daughter lay, broken and shattered, and carried her out of the room. As he walked, she did not stir nor did she protest, she merely limped there in his mechanical arms, her eyes still fixed on the rose that was clutched tightly in her hand.

When at last, he had reached his own quarters; he carefully set her down on the nearest couch and waited for her to return to her senses. When he realized that she was not coming to and the tears still fell from her most sorrowful eyes, his worry increased tenfold.

"Leia?"

The deep voice omitted from the voice box finally uttered, its depths filled with the concern he had neglected to show most of the time they were together. Normally, when this rare act of softness would show from one of the greatest monsters in the galaxy, Leia's eyes would meet his masked ones, going in deeper and at last finding his soul.

But this time, Leia's eyes did not meet his. This time, Leia's piercing eyes filled with fire and wisdom did not present themselves to his lordship. They continued to remain lifeless. Yet it still stared most intently on the rose in her hands. The most precious rose in her life.

Vader's mind was spinning as he watched this. She was fading, once more. He could feel it. And she was fading fast. He had to do something to stop it. He would not let her die before him again.

He held onto her hand, the one which was carrying the precious rose and shook her. "Leia? Please. Do not do this to me once again."

He shook her again and again, each time using the Force to envelop into her, making it known within her that he was calling her. Again and again and Vader thought he would shake her forever until finally…her eyes departed from the rose and finally met his, as if it was the first time she was ever seeing him.

"Father?" A whisper. It was hardly, almost enough for Vader not to hear it. But he heard her. He had learned the lesson the hard way and so, when she would call for him, he would hear her.

"Leia, my daughter, what troubles you so? You have been missing for hours now." Had he ever expressed such concern towards another during this time of his as a Sith? Hardly. Never, even. But his daughter needed him now. He had never seen her like this and it frightened him. Can you believe it? Something frightened the Dark Lord of the Sith now. It was like watching Padme die, only this was different from his dreams years ago. This time she was not screaming in pain or for him, she was silent and numb, making it difficult to tell if she was even still alive or not.

It was a frightening thought that Vader desperately wanted to eradicate from his mind.

"Father…" A breath now. It seemed she needed Vader's life support suit more than he. The black humour that his mind created did not amuse him one bit.

"Leia. Tell me what it is that bothers you so."

Her eyes did not meet his. But she spoke, softly like none other before. Distant and faraway from him. "He came to me."

'He' could only mean one person. Palpatine. His mind hissed with venom. What had Palpatine done to his daughter now? He had known that his Master had mysteriously boarded his Star Destroyer and when he inquired questions, he was instantly shut off, making him understand that his main purpose was not a confrontation with Vader yet. But instead, someone else…

Vader cursed himself inwardly for not having the common sense to realize that it was Leia his Master would claw at. He could not protect at that time and now, all he could do was wonder what his damnable Master had done to his daughter this time around.

"What did he do?" How he wanted to kill Palpatine with his own hands as he saw the look of terror that washed his daughter's face.

"He told me…" Her breath hitched and she gave out a sob before she continued. "He told me to hurt him. Erik. Break his heart and marry Xizor or you'll die. So will he. So will Luke. So will everyone else…He…He'll kill you all…One by one…"

WHAT?! That son of bitch. That heartless beast. How dare he threaten his daughter in this way? How dare he… But Vader could no longer continue. He had been place in such a situation 20 years ago, a few modifications made.

Know the power of the dark side. The power to save Padme.

It was always like that. It was the same then, it was the same now. Palpatine would always use their loved ones against them to get exactly what he wanted. And he wanted to win this game. He wanted Leia to marry Xizor and forever be chained in darkness like Vader, her very own father.

Leia suddenly sat up and turned to him, a new fresh of tears clouding her vision. To see her in such pain, Vader's heart could not stand it. Yet he knelt by her side, ready to be her guiding rock in this tangled web of dilemmas and dark choices they had been forced onto. Either way, Palpatine would win. He always did. And nothing could be done. Vader knew this all too well from his own experiences.

"I try, Father. I try to let go of this rose." And she held it up desperately, wanting to get it into his mind, wanting him to understand. "I try to…but I can't. I have realized long ago that I cannot live without this rose. I will die just as mother did. I will die before my time. I will die knowing that there had been no chance at all. I will die and not reach the serenity of heaven but instead fall into the fiery flames of hell."

Leia was trembling, shaking. She was having difficulty breathing and Vader held her arms to keep her balanced and with him. She was fading fast. He knew that every word she said was meant.

"I will lose my will to live." And then finally, completely tired out, her voice dropped back into a whisper. "I have lost the will to live."

"No." Vader immediately responded firmly and with great alarm. He shook her once more and made her to look upon the black abyss of his mask. "You do not have to do this. You do not have to follow him as I do. You are far stronger than that, Leia."

She shook her head morosely. Once, his words would've convinced her instantly. But now, she no longer could find the will to heed them.

"You'll die." And the guilt instantly plagued Vader. For him. She was sacrificing her heart and one true love for him. It was not worth it. He did not deserve this kind of sacrifice from her. He had done nothing right to her in the time they had spent together. Their situations presented themselves differently. He had sworn himself to the Dark Side to keep his love and in the end, losing her forever. And now his present daughter was only doing what she thought was right but had to push away her love. How the ending would go, he did not know yet.

"No, Leia. You do not have to do this. I…I am not worth this. Do not forsake your heart for me."

"I have forsaken my heart a long time ago." Leia responded brokenly.

"That is not true."

"You don't know, Father. You weren't there."

"That's right; I was not there when I should have been. And that is why you cannot make this sacrifice for me. I do not deserve this from you." Vader said the guilt very evident in his voice. And despite it all, Leia heard it and her eyes began to water once more. She didn't have the chance to be with Erik, neither did she have the chance to be with her father. But if she did this, she would have at least once chance with one of the other and everybody would still be alive and well. It was just compliance. Just give Palpatine all he wanted and her loved ones would be safe.

"It is not just you father. Erik will die as well. Luke, everyone that meant the world to me. You know he will do it. You know he can. And Erik is not like us. He does not have the Force to protect and guide him. He has only himself and a mask. To break his heart and hurt him, it is the only way I can protect all of you from harm's way."

Vader's heart swelled with raw emotion and held onto Leia's arms tighter, now with the purpose of balancing him own heavy built. Tears threatened to take hold of him as well.

What child! Was she truly his? Was he really the father of such a compassionate and selfless child? Surely he was not. He did recall ever making such a decision such as this, even in his years as a Jedi. He had always been selfish. And now, his child was ready to selflessly let go of her heart, her rose, all just for the chance they would all live to wake up the next day.

Damn Palpatine for putting her in such a situation. Damn her for being so good.

"Father…" She could feel his crying beneath the mask, could feel his guilt through the Force. And she released her arms from his clasped grip and wrapped them tightly around his heavy neck, sobbing with all her might on his mechanical chest.

Vader had never held his daughter like this. Unfortunately, this had to be done under such forlorn times. But he held on to her as she held on to him. And they just wept and sobbed together, all their sorrows and all their pains. The regrets of what could have been and what should have been. They cried for what was about to come.

And at last, they cried for the knowledge that they were both trapped by the darkness unable to break free. There was no light anymore. They were too swallowed up in the depths of the darkness for the light to push through anymore. Heaven was but a dream now. And dreams were figments of the mind that were never meant to come true.

There was no way to get out. And all they could do was completely submit. There was no other way.

This was the true power of the Dark Side.

This was the cruelty of Palpatine.

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"I really don't think this is a good idea."

The surfaces of Coruscant were just beyond them, so close yet so far out of reach, especially when Star Destroyers seemed to be suddenly swarming all over them. Not for a bad reason, they were just there, awaiting their next commands from their Main Control. But still their deflector shields were still high up and without them being deactivated, they could not pass through to get to Coruscant. And Luke Skywalker just didn't think that stealing an Imperial ship, getting on it and then simply flying through the Empire as if no differences were set between a Rebel and an Imperial was a very good idea. In fact, it was a bit risky and reckless and if his old Master Yoda were to ever catch him participating in such an uncalculated mission, the whacks on the stick he'd receive would increase tenfold.

"Relax your Jedi muscles kid." Han replied with over enthusiasm, as if trying to convince himself more than Luke. "No need to get all jittery and stuff…This is a full proof plan." He faced Chewie. "If this doesn't work, we're gonna have to run for it, fast."

Chewie growled back in agreement. And Erik could only watch in bewilderment as he sat beside the blonde Jedi. But he kept in silence. This was something he was not used to doing and therefore, his interference might affect their plans to help out Christine.

Meanwhile, Luke turned away and simply muttered sarcastically, "Fast. Ya think?" to Han's very unplanned…plan B. If Han ever heard it, he simply ignored it.

Since when had he become so organized? He was always known to take things like a breeze and simply barge through doors without even thinking about it. Oh, he still was at times. But recent events had taught him to mellow down and to think like a Jedi, with patience and serenity. Bespin really had an effect on him. And now, of all times, when he was about to jump back into Imperial waters once more, he did not want to go in without any foolproof plans. It could cost Leia.

The radio buzzed, signaling to everyone on board that the Imperials were getting their radar and that the questions were about to come up.

"We have you on our screen now." The controller announced formally. "Please identity."

"Shuttle Lithium requesting deactivation of the deflector shields." Han punched in formally as well. Everybody seemed to be holding their breaths at that moment.

"Shuttle Lithium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage."

"Transmission commencing."

And they all listened painstakingly as the sound of the high speed transmission echoed throughout the cockpit. The tension in the air was as high as those deflector shields.

"I really do hope that code was worth the price." Erik pronounced quietly in his seat.

"It'll work. It'll work." Han defensively tried to convince, both the masked man and himself.

And suddenly, Luke's mind was not in that cockpit anymore. No. The Star Destroyer looming before them, growing ever larger in his mind's eye caught his full attention. There was no way…But he could feel it, as he could feel the Evenstar shining brightly around his neck. He could feel the presence, as dark and foreboding as he had first felt it, as dark and foreboding as it would always be. No. That's not true. A part of him protested. But right now, the panic was rising within him. Oh Force.

He knew this wasn't a good idea. And he knew exactly whose presence he felt in that Star Destroyer –

"Vader's on that ship."

Erik turned to the boy, whose eyes never left the looming ship before them, whose eyes filled with such mystery and horror and panic…Despite his words of goodness in his dark father. He was not thinking of that, no. He was thinking of his sister and everyone else in this stolen ship and how his very own father might be the one to ruin their cover.

"Now, don't get all jittery, Luke." Han nervously tried to ease out. "There are a lot of command ships…" He quickly turned to Chewie. "Keep your distance Chewie…But don't look like you're trying to keep your distance."

The Wookiee growled his confusions.

"I don't know!" Han jumped, completely tensed. "Fly casual."

"I'm endangering the mission." Luke spoke up, panic now evident in his voice. "I shouldn't have come."

"It's your imagination, kid." Han quirked up instantly, calming Luke was first priority now. "Come on. Let's keep some optimism here. Just remember that we're doing this for Leia."

There was a long pause before the Jedi finally replied.

"That's exactly what I was thinking of."

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Lord Vader stood as he always did; staring upon the massive window that now had Coruscant in his view. His emotional scene with his daughter only hours ago was quite from the now, yet still lingering in his mind. The only comfort he could give her was the comfort of sleep to take hold of the poor and weary child. He had summoned the Force to him and made it flow through her, making her, at last, close her watery, red-tired eyes to a fitful sleep. Nightmares and dreams would not awaken her; Vader had made sure of that. Leia had not been sleeping well and she deserved that kind of comfort. She would need it for the endeavors she would have to face soon.

But a jolt in the Force made him pause his thoughts of grave concern for his daughter. It was something familiar…Someone, really. And that someone was fast approaching him.

After a moment of dwelling in stillness, he turned, passed by a row of controllers until at last, he had reached the Admiral Piett, leaning over the tracking screen of the controller of an outside shuttle.

Piett immediately straightened himself as Vader approached.

"Where is that shuttle going?" Vader inquired.

Admiral Piett pressed into the comlink. "Shuttle Lithium, what is your cargo and destination?"

The pilot's voice came through, though Vader could not identify it immediately because the sound systems were filtered. "Parts and technical crew heading for Coruscant."

Piett looked up to his Lord for any reaction.

"Do they have code clearance?" Vader asked carefully.

"It's an older code, sir, but it checks out." A beat. "I was about to clear them."

Vader looked upward and all around, blinking and almost thinking this wasn't real. His son was in that shuttle. And they had come for Leia. What crazy plan they had thought of, the Dark Lord could not really tell. This daring move on his son's part was something completely unexpected. Luke was risking a lot at this first step. What about in the next steps to come?

"Shall I hold them?" The Admiral asked almost quietly.

Vader turned to him, in a thoughtful mode and silently hoping he was doing the right thing. He thought of Leia's earlier distress and that did it.

"No." He finally replied. "Leave them to me. I will deal with them myself."

On the Admiral's part, he was quite surprised at this show of leniency. Perhaps the new events concerning his daughter were finally taking a hold over his Commander. But nevertheless, it was not in his place to question his Lord's motives, so –

"As you wish, my Lord." And to the controller he said, "Carry on."

Vader turned back and stood once again at his earlier position, as if nothing bizarre had just taken place.

I am only his first step. Pray Luke that the Emperor does not detect you.

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"They're not going for it." Han finally admitted, worry and panic etched in his voice.

And Luke continued to stare on at the Star Destroyer ahead, where he knew his father was. What would the dark father decide? The rapid beatings of his heart thundered unceasingly within him.

"Shuttle Lithium, deactivation of the shield will commence immediately." The words seemed to boom within all their heads, it's meaning still processing within each minds. "Follow your present course."

And everyone finally breathed out the breath they had all been holding, their relief's evident in their sighs. All except Luke, who look both surprised and worried. The million questions beginning to plunge the recesses of his already troubled mind.

What exactly did Vader want to happen?

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The never-dying lights of Coruscant filled her innocently wide eyes, letting the busy roaring of the night breeze within her ears, calming her for only but a moment. She was back to where she started. Back to that same building in which she was first held captured in, her room still held intact. It like she had never left. She had only been gone for a few weeks yet it felt as if forever was in between now and then.

Nights in the Heart of the Galaxy were always so wondrously beautiful. All colors of lights everywhere. All sorts of sounds echoed throughout the buildings. At night, the city was more alive than it was during the day and Leia let herself linger in its beauty.

No matter how screwed up the galaxy was or no matter how many people were dying, the lights never dimmed. It went on shining with the mock beauty it represented to everyone. It went on. Nothing stopped for Coruscant.

Leia both loved and hated this city. Loved it for nightlife beauty, its urban feeling, its unchanging perplexities moving all throughout her and everyone. And she hated it from just that. The fact that it would never stop to mourn a loss or pause to feel a painful tremor in the Force. Coruscant was one big mask, enough to conceal the dying cries of suffering echoed by the people dwelling within it.

And Leia was one of those people now.

Her heart would not slow down. It would not still. She knew. She could feel it. She always did.

He was here.

And she dreaded it. Forget the fact that she could not – did not – even sense her own brother's presence, the one whom she would die with given another chance, the other one whom she could not live with anymore. No. Tonight the air was different as Coruscant remained the same.

She could only feel Erik and could only sweat out her difficulties in how to go on about with…what she about to do. Could she really do this? Could she hurt him again? Could her heart survive that?

Hurt Erik. Hurt him to save him and your father and everyone else that matters to you…

He'd kill them all, she knew. One by one, starting with Erik. Then her father. Maybe Palpatine wouldn't kill Luke, no, he'd have bigger plans. With Vader gone, Luke would be the one to take his place and that was something Leia had also been fighting. Her friends would be slaughtered before her and the Rebel Alliance, at last, destroyed.

And all she had to do was hurt Erik. Cooperate and play Palpatine's game. Either way, he would win. She could spare Erik's life and everyone else's and let them prepare for Palpatine's next strike, for she knew that he would always figure out ways to get to Luke later on. But it had to be later on, Leia had to give everyone that. A minute on their part could change everything.

So the choice really was, her heart or theirs?

And she had already made her choice. She was just trying to control her bursting emotions before she set to her task. Her breaking down with father helped let some of it out but even that was not enough. She was only grateful that he was the one there for her. At last, her father by her side, wasn't that what she always dreamed of? And here, a chance to spare his life…

She heard his heavy footsteps before feeling his presence. The mechanical breathing echoing in the silent walls surrounding them. There was a comfort to them after a very long while. No longer did it hold the terror that it once gave her. No. He was no longer that monster to her. He was the father that she had finally grown to love and accept in her time of capture. Her only companion in her prison.

"Leia, it is time." Vader announced, trying to let the comfort show through the Force, since he could not no longer through his metal voice. "The ships are now leaving for the Outer-rim. Go now…before it is too late."

There was sadness that lingered in the monster's voice. Sometime earlier when she had at last awoken from her slumber, Vader had devised a plan that she could leave with the ships, run and hide, never known to anyone anymore and most importantly, to the Emperor.

It was crazy, really, for Vader to even suggest that. But he was not sure of Luke and his Rebel friend's had planned for. Oh, he trusted his son completely but he was not usually the one to sit back and wait for something to happen. And this was the only thing he could arrange for his daughter. Her soothing and constant presence would surely be missed but this was for her own good. Her tears and almost delusion brought him to consider to let her go, a trait he could never had exuded in the past. He didn't want her to remain in this prison hell anymore.

But Leia did not see his view. If she left, they would still die for spite. Palpatine would do anything to get his end of the deal and he'd still kill them all in anger and fury and there would be no escape.

"I have made my choice."

The finality in her tone crushed Vader inwardly. The actual chance to finally save her was lost.

"You cannot sacrifice yourself like this." Vader admonished, for he knew not what else to do. "Why do you linger when there is no hope?"

"I linger for all of you."

"Leia…" Surely…there must be some other way. This would kill her. He could never push through with such an order, even if it was from both the Sith and Jedi. He would never hurt Padme in this way… But then, that was exactly what was different between him and his very own daughter. She cared only about others but never about herself.

"Father, please." And she held his arm in support. "I need your support in this. Tell me that what I'm doing is right. Tell me that I can do this."

Her pleading eyes hurt him. It was exactly the way Padme's eyes were the last time he saw her.

Come away with me. Help me raise our child. Leave everything else behind while we still can.

He did not offer her the comforting words back then when only fires washed over their love. And now, 20 years later, his daughter was pleading to him for comfort, if only temporary. The lie would pierce the both of them. But remembered Padme and the truth he had shown her. Her horrified and disbelieving face, forever etched in his black heart. He could not – would not – do the same the second time around.

He had to lie.

And at last, he could finally understand his former Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi a little bit more, from the lies and silence and the lectures. Another person would lament over later on.

"You can do this, Leia. You are doing the right thing."

She had nodded in gratitude and left without another word.

Vader then turned to the city with its lights forever bright and shining. It remained unchanging even when he was, years ago. The lights were still shining in those last dire moment when he held his frightened love in his arms and kissed her for the last time. Nothing changed in Coruscant, not then, not now. It went on.

And he hated it.

But much more so than ever, he hated lying to the ones he loved, even if they so desperately wished for him to do so.

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Leia had never been within the very depths of Coruscant before. She was always above looking down, always on the surface and looking out onto the bright lights but never going any deeper, never going down to the very pit of the city.

For there were no lights here, no. The once vigorous lights could be seen only when looked above. And the distinct roaring and buzzing in the night, the familiarity of that which was Coruscant grew distant in her ear. It seemed all so far away from her now. And she was almost tempted to turn back and run into the arms of her father, finally agreeing to his one last chance to escape.

But reason won over fantasy. That would never happen, she knew. She wouldn't allow it. She wouldn't allow her logic be ruled over false hopes.

She had finished with that kind of dreaming a long time ago. She was done being afraid all the time. She walked on.

How her brother and friends had managed to find a decent place to stay in the environment she now walked upon, she wasn't sure she wanted to know. But she could only guess that the place they stayed in now was only due to Han's many sources acquired during his time as a smuggler.

Han was always clever and resourceful…

She was drawing nearer to their hideaway. She knew it. She felt it. With each step she took, the growing dread within her thundered only to be matched by her weakening and horrified heart.

After several more minutes, at last, the dark house loomed before her eyes. There was no difference in the structure as the rest of the tenant houses she'd passed by, this building was the same as the rest. Dark, dirty and frightening in the child's eye. The only difference she noted was that her rose lay within that house and no others. This was it.

He was here. She had found him.

Despite her strong front, she had hoped she wouldn't, that somehow the Force would mislead her at one point in time during her journey here. Because despite the fact that she had made her decision, she didn't want to do what she was about to do.

Her stealthy footsteps served her well in the dead of the night. The streets of Coruscant had never been so silent even in the latest hour. A part of her though, hoped desperately that some crazy madman who step in her path, mug her and take her away…Anything just to postpone this dreadful meeting. She would've welcomed anything the night had to offer but none came. Destiny would not even allow that. No one stepped in her way, everything remained hushed and still. Perhaps it knew the task she was about to perform that night.

She walked closer and closer to his new and dark abode, her footsteps heavy, so heavy that they could even be compared with Vader's, with her heart trembling like an earthquake as she neared her final destination.

Finally...Reluctantly. She was there. The door smacked right into her porcelain face, mocking her, taunting her with its colour and significance, daring her to actually knock and face her worst fears.

After staring at that jeering door for a full five minutes, her arm brought itself up, her fist clenched tightly in anticipation and then, she tapped ever so lightly. But to her ears, her light tapping was that of an earsplitting booming.

And she knocked three times before the door was finally opened...

...and she came face to face with a very astonished masked man.

"Christine...What...?" He was at a loss for words. Who wouldn't be? "What are you doing here?"

Fight the tears, Little Lotte. You must not shed a tear tonight.

And with the greatest of all strengths she could muster, she smiled and let herself in.

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The inner dwellings of their hideout was, so to speak, in shambles. The very evidence that men, who seemed very frustrated in Leia's mind, had occupied this small quarters. A lit fireplace stood in the very center of the room and from the distance between the door and the fireplace; sheets of blankets were here and there on the floor, pillows at one point or another, masses of paper and other litter that came from their food. Seriously did Luke even join this mission? He was always known for keeping things clean and tidy, no matter what alienated planet they had dropped into.

And speaking of Luke, where was he? Where was Han and Chewie and the droids? Despite her growing love to stay with her father, she had missed them and wished to see them during this one visit, another assurance that what she was about to do was the right thing.

But fate would not have that either as Erik answered the question in her eyes.

"They are have gone out." He simply said.

Christine astonished, "All of them?" Erik simply tilted his head into a nod.

Why did the very notion of being all alone with the man before her sent her shivers in her spine and knots in her stomach? It was shameful excitement and gnawing fear at the same time.

Several moments have passed with them never uttering a word yet both breathless and staring deeply into the fires of each other's soul. It had been so long since their last meeting and that was with him almost leaving and now, here they were again, face to face, with nothing but a cozy fireplace and wooden floors with bed sheets scattered all over.

Leia had come here for a purpose and that purpose was nearly forgotten when she let the ambiance dwell in her. It had been so long…And all she wanted to do was take him in her arms and hold on for dear life because she knew, in his arms, security and safety would be found and he would whisper in her ear that everything would be alright.

"Erik…"

Her voice felt hoarse and breathless, her mouth had gone dry. She felt lost as to what to do now, more than ever. How was she to go on about this?

"I wasn't sure if this is real."

Leia could only give him a sad, mysterious smile. She was far from alright but her body and face did not give away her inner turmoil and she silently thanked God and the Force for that blessing.

"It is very real, Erik. I'm really here." And I don't want to be…Her weakening heart resigned mournfully.

Erik contemplated her, not sure as to what to say next. She had changed so much over their time apart, no longer was she cowering in a corner in tears, now she stood with great conviction and strength, ready to take on whatever fate would throw at her. Yet he noticed her eyes. No longer did they remain innocent, that was out and a mystery now occupied her dark eyes, it frightened Erik to his very core.

She continued to watch him, catlike and unlike the Christine he knew; now he was the one who was being scrutinized. Erik toyed with his hands, feeling quite foolish not knowing what to do. She was the only one who could make him feel this way.

"You look well." He offered at length.

For man so verbose such as him, that was the only thing he could conjure up to say. He understood that Christine's unexpected visit had a purpose and what they were doing now was a waste of precious time, but with her, he almost wanted to waste it. He always did. To lengthen the minutes in her presence, he felt he could have squandered all the time in the world. And perhaps that was what led to the agonizing minutes of small talk which followed. Even agony, when you had someone to share it with, was preferable to loneliness.

There a faint music in the background, melancholy and slow, one which did not belong in this house but could still be heard in even from afar. Both heads looked up. And Erik suddenly overpowered by the emotions he felt with the mere presence of the most beautiful woman before him, uttered the craziest question he had ever asked her, without even considering the consequences at his daring move.

"May I ask you to dance?" And he held out his hand out for her, just like how he did the first time, through the mirror. His confident charisma returned and she became the awe-eyed Christine once more.

"Now?" Christine asked for confirmation. "But there is no music!"

Erik smirked. "My dear, I think you can hear the music as clearly as I do."

As Christine's jaw rolled to the floor at the very unexpected request of his. But at last, she settled her own smaller hand in his and she let him pull her closer to him, far closer than they had ever been before and began to sway to the distant music they could hear, the fires warming up their bodies.

They only stared at each other's eyes, hearts beating at a heightening rate. They had never danced before; they were never given the chance to do so. Never in their wildest dreams had they pictured anything like this to happen in reality. They could even hear the lamenting voice of the music they were dancing to.

Now you say you're lonely…

You cried a whole night through

Well, you can cry me a river…

Cry me a river…

I cried a river over you…

Fate was cruel. Wasn't this meeting already depressing enough as it was?

It was Erik who first broke the silence. "You've been busy. I heard about your galaxy-wide engagement to that Prince."

At this, Christine finally lowered her eyes. When she looked back up at his, guilt and pain reflected in her orbs. How she wished he did not have to bring that up at such a beautiful moment such as this.

She nodded, her heart only growing heavier. "I don't want to marry him. But I have no choice."

"You always have a choice, Christine."

The depth of his words and his piercing stare only shattered her dying heart even more.

"I wish I had your mask instead." Christine breathed out longingly, heavy regret in her tone. "I wish I could hide everything away…"

Erik only shook his head gently and pulled her a little more closer to him. "'Conceal me what I am and be my aid for such disguise as haply shall become the form of my intent.'"

"Twelfth Night." She responded with a smile on her face. She had missed this. How long had it been since she had heard him quoting Shakespeare and she guessing what play he would be quoting? It was little game they had both come to enjoy when they would not be singing or discussing music. And this small walk down memory lane gave her both comfort and dread.

"Viola." Erik confirmed. She had always loved Viola from the Twelfth Night and he knew that fact very well just as he knew a lot of other things about her.

The distant song was ending and they both could feel it. And Leia regretted that after this, there would be no dances or songs or quotes between the two of them anymore. It is for him. You're doing it for him too. She tried to comfort herself, but her heart could not take it in completely.

"It's almost over." She whispered quietly. And just as she had said it, the music had stopped. The moment was over. But Erik still held her to himself for a bit longer. Leia wondered if he would ever let her go again.

It was Christine who first pushed him away, gently as always. It was always like that.

"Erik…this…we can never be…" It had began. It, for the monster who was now speaking was not her.

Erik felt his heart tense. He'd always seen this in his nightmares, he knew exactly where this was going but never had he thought it would be happening in reality.

"Christine…?" And his now desperate and pleading look silently begged her to take back her words. Where had that beautiful moment gone? Died. Along with the song.

"I can't." And she finally separated herself from him, the distance from her earlier now resumed with her back to the door. "I have to stay with the Prince Xizor." And then, the monster started sprouting out lies that she barely imagined herself to be saying. "He offered me everything, Erik. Everything I've ever dreamed of. He has one condition though: I must never see you again. And that is my true purpose of coming here tonight. I'm sorry."

Stop it! Stop it! She commanded her lying mouth. This…was not how she wanted it to happen. That beautiful moment…where was it? But the monster was winning over Little Lotte and there was nothing that could be done. The words had been said.

And Erik, not comprehending this sudden change of heart, so swift, was made to act like a fool once more. "What are you talking about? What are you saying? What about that moment we just had?" He was getting dizzy. What was happening?

"There was no moment!" She exclaimed among the fires. Everything fell silent at that. Oh God. What have I done? But the monster just kept going on and on. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"No. I understand very well." The Phantom now spoke with quiet venom. The anger finally evaded his soul, the knowledge that she had just toyed with him very clear to him now. How dare she? Did she take pleasure in seeing him bleed and cry for her? Well, like her, he had changed and no longer would he cry before her eyes. He had cried her a river many a night years ago. He would not cry now.

He suddenly grabbed her, harshly with an iron grip, just like that night when he dragged her down to his lair after she pulled out his mask for the whole world to see.

"Tell me Christine. Tell me the truth."

She gasped in pain and struggled to contain her tears and true emotions. At last, the monster spoke. "The truth? The truth is Erik that I can't love you! The truth is that I am the princess in the fairy tale and I choose the prince!" Oh God! Who was this monster in her place now?! Stop it! Stop it! Little Lotte cried out within herself.

From a distance, thunder began to crash in the skies. How fitting.

Leia finally released herself from Erik's grip, no matter what mask he put on, the hurt could not be concealed from his eyes at her harsh words. What have I done? She kept repeating to herself. She had to get out before the waters would finally spill and he would know it was all just a lie, a mask…

"And that's how the story really ends."

With that, she bolted out as fast as she could and ran back to her own palace, her cage. Oh my God, what have I done? She was truly going to burn in hell now.

Meanwhile, Erik remained frozen to the spot, all his nerves numb with cold pain. This was even worse than the first time she had denied him. This time she had waltzed in here, danced with him, holding promises of love and light, all in the end to finally destroy him completely, confirming all his insecurities with her venomous words.

He collapsed on his knees and wept once more, his fragile heart forever shattering never to be mended again. How could she hurt him like this again? Did she not care? How can she be so cruel?

He hated her. He loved her. He wanted to rip her hair apart. He wanted to hold her in his arms forever, wanted to find out what was happening to her.

But she had denied him. Again.

And all he could do was weep alone with nothing but the fires for company. It was always meant to be this way. He was a monster. And love was not in the language for monsters like him. And monsters like him were never meant to be loved back in return.

Only scorned. And be nothing more.

He wept, cried, and lamented all of it. No longer could he rage around killing people as he pleased. He was too tired. And all poor Erik could do was let the tears fall. The mask was gone now and he made no attempt to get hold of it nor get up. He was just there, kneeling and weeping for all the Gods to see.

Come on and cry me a river…

Cry me a river…

I cried a river over you….

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My goodness! at last I updated !!! The super sad song I inserted here is "Cry Me a River" - by Julie London. got it from the V for Vendetta soundtrack. listen to it. it seriously is so sad. totally perfect for Erik and Christine. I'm going to not put a preview this time so just anticipate the next chapter very soon. Read and Review thanks mucho!