PhantomSerenity: Not, it's not! But fortunately, Erik's there!

PhantomFan01: It's a very long chapter, but another mean cliffhanger at the end.

QueenMaria: Funny you should ask that, for I was halfway through this chapter, answering the question, when I read your review! Odd!

Trmo77: Very sticky! Things get twisted every way in this chapter!

Chapter twenty

Erik stood and began to gather the empty dishes. Christine stood and began to gather them as well.

"Thank you for dinner." She said cordially.

"I'll do the dishes." He said moving to take them from her.

"No Erik, I'll wash. You sit back and smoke a pipe or something."

Erik laughed shortly, "I don't smoke."

"I know, I was teasing. How about this, I wash and you dry? You cooked, the least you could do is let me do the dishes."

Erik exhaled and gave in. she walked up to the sink and rolled up her sleeves. Erik glanced at her arm and took it, examining the scars. "I wish I'd been there."

Christine shook her head; "I'm glad you weren't."

He frowned, "why?"

"Because, I know you Erik. The man's head would have been off his shoulders in two minutes!"

Erik shook his head, "it would not! He deserved a slow and painful death. Preferable a slow working painful poison, with no cure."

She shook her head, "Erik, you're hopeless."

"indeed." Erik handed her the dishes and reached under a counter and pulled out an apron. "here. I had Madame Giry purchase this for you, on the off chance you insisted on doing dishes."

She smiled, "thank you."

Erik tied it around her waist. She could feel his inward struggle, she knew his hands wanted to roam and his lips wanted to brush her neck. She cleared her throat and stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly. Erik had been right, she was going to fall in love with him and she rather thought now that she had. Her feelings for him, were deeper and stronger than any she felt for Raoul. She was waiting for him to make a declaration, but he never did. He always changed the subject.

Erik cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"Mr. and Mrs. West said they found a nice farm. Mr. west said to thank you for the money you lent them. He said he'll pay you back every single franc."

"that's not necessary."

"I told him that, but he's a proud man."

"I noticed. I also couldn't help but notice, Mr. and Mrs. West," he cleared his throat nervously. "they were very quick to point out your race to me. I thought they didn't care."

"they don't Erik." She said. "they're just concerned for me."

He frowned, "I fail to see how that concerns you."

"well, they would like to save my heart from any heartbreak. They were tough even with Raoul. You know, it would be easier if I did marry a black man, but I don't think he'd accept me. I don't think that his family could accept me either."

Erik nodded, "so, they want your past open so the man knows exactly what he's getting into with you and if his intentions are real they'll be undeterred?"

"yes. That's it Erik. I also believe they're reluctant to let me go."

"well who wouldn't be?" Erik said brushing a curl out of her face. "I'd be reluctant to let you go myself, if you were mine."

Christine smiled sadly, "Erik, you may hold onto more of me than you realize."

Erik dropped the dish he was carrying and turned towards her just as an alarm went off. He growled, "don't move an inch!"

She followed him anyway and she saw Madame Giry coming down the stairs. "Erik, we've got trouble. A Mr. and Mrs. Chagney are talking to the managers, they've summoned Christine. It's not good. They recognize her and they're spewing her past in a horrible fashion."

Christine gasped and Erik glanced her. Her face had gone pale white. "oh no!"

Erik frowned as he went into his room and grabbed something "Christine, you're going to have to strip down to your underthings."

She gasped and Madame Giry shrieked. "Erik!"

"Madame, get Christine a dress with short sleeves! At once!" Madame Giry stammered but ran up to do as he asked. Erik spun her around and began undoing the dress frantically. "get mad at me later Christine. I know what I'm doing."

Christine stepped out of the mirror and followed Madame Giry to the stage. Erik had put on a special makeup that he'd invented himself, on her scars that blended into the skin and wouldn't be removed unless Erik used a special cleaner. It made her skin look natural, no signs of her scars. Erik was a genius; she didn't know what his plan was, but he said he'd be up after her soon.

She smiled at the managers when she saw them. "hello." She said. "you needed me for something? Is it something wrong with the arrangements?"

"that's her!" Mr. Chagney bellowed! "that's the Negress!"

Christine jumped and stepped back. "Sir! Don't bellow at me. I don't even know you."

"that's the slut!" Mrs. Chagney said. "that's the black whore who turned our son against us!"

"Christine," monsieur Andre said. "these are your deceased fiancée's parents. They have some…serious accusations against you."

"imagine our surprise," Mr. Chagney said. "visiting my brother to find he'd passed away and he'd left his fortune to our deceased son and his mysterious fiancée."

"please identify yourself." Christine was getting nervous, but she had to stick to the story. "my name is Christine Daae. You have never introduced yourself to me."

By now the whole ensemble was watching. Christine had to tell the truth; and not give herself away. The manager's appeared to be total cowards, nervously ringing their hands.

Mr. Chagney grabbed her shoulders and shook her, "You won't get away with this!"

He shoved her forward and Christine lost her balance. Christine shrieked as she hit the wooden stage. An angry roar from up above caused everyone to jump. She looked up as Erik swooped down from above, his black cloak billowing around him made him look like an angry black bird. Erik immediately knelt and picked her up from the ground.

"Are you all right?" he asked. "did he hurt you?"

she shook her head, "I'm fine."

Erik gave her a hug and whispered in her ear, "now, just follow my lead." She nodded and let him kiss her cheek. Erik turned and rounded angrily upon the Chagney's. "how dare you!" he shouted grabbing Mr. Chagney and shaking him. "how dare you strike Christine Daae? Don't you know she's the leading soprano of this century?"

"she's a filthy Negro!" Mr. Chagney shook free of Erik's grasp. "my son was infatuated with her."

"your son's name wouldn't be Raoul de Chagney by any chance?"

"indeed! What do you know of this?"

"I know a lot." Erik said growling. "I know that he met Miss Daae when he got off the boat to France. His previous fiancée, Christine West, died within hours of stepping onto French soil."

Christine's heart jumped. Erik was lying and telling the truth so easily. The person she was then was not really the person she was now.

"I don't believe you." Mr. Chagney said. "you're lying."

Erik reached into his pocket. "I thought you'd say that when I heard you say such things. Examine these."

Christine stood up and gripped Erik's arm as she glanced at the papers. She saw a birth certificate, a passport and other things that identified her. How did Erik come by these papers? Had he known somehow that this would happen and have them forged? She held her breath as Mr. Chagney's face grew pale.

"Are these real?" he demanded looking at her.

Erik interrupted, "if you're from the states, then she'd be a slave." He held out her arm. "I don't see any scars that would indicate she was ever beaten."

"that's true henry."

Mr. Chagney's face looked sick as he asked, "Are you really Christine Daae?"

she didn't hesitate to nod, "I am Christine Daae."

"my apologies." Mr. Chagney said extending his hand. "I'm sorry. Our son's death hit us hard."

Erik grabbed his wrist, before she could shake his hand. "touch her, and I'll hit you hard enough to join him!"

"who's this?" Mr. Chagney demanded. "who do you think you are?"

Christine wrapped an arm around Erik's waist and spoke for him, the first words that entered into her mind were also the words that her heart told her were the ones to speak. And it was also the right time.

"this is Erik, my fiancée."

Erik played along with Christine. A good distraction to be sure. She was going to have the opera house talking for months with this one.

"he's also my bodyguard and he's very protective of me."

Mr. Chagney stammered, "understandably. We…shall not bother you again."

Christine nodded, "I forgive you. I understand your grief as well. I did love your son."

"How long did you know our son?" Mrs. Chagney asked.

Erik held his breath as she spoke. "about five months."

"and did you start courting…him," Mr. Chagney spat. "the minute you found out our son was dead? Or did you wait a day in honor of the dead?"

Erik's temper snapped and were it not for Christine's arm on his, he would have ripped the horrid man to shreds. "get out of my opera house!" he bellowed. "now! And never come back again!"

The manager's quickly ushered the Chagney's out. Erik waited until the door's shut before whirling around and spitting out. "and Miss Daae and I are not engaged! It was a gesture of kindness, so no one is to start spreading rumors! Understood!" Everyone nodded anxiously. "Miss Daae will be up as soon as she brings up more music arrangements. Now, back to work!"

Christine followed Erik back to her dressing room, through the mirror, and through the hall of paintings. "at least," Christine said quietly behind him. "they can be silent until you propose to me. but I don't think that will be very long, will it?"

Erik turned slowly and frowned. His heart rate sped up in chest. "Christine? What are you saying?"

She swiped a tear under her eye and smiled, "ask me…and find out."

"ask what?"

she laughed, "Erik, the question." He frowned and she leaned forward with a smile. "every man asks a woman he's in love with."

Erik stared at her, hanging onto the gentle words that were so full of promise. He gripped Christine's shoulders. "Christine, are you sure?"

She nodded and her hands gripped his shoulders firmly. "I'm certain Erik. But that's not the question. That's typically the one he asks when she announces that she's pregnant."

Erik gazed into her dark eyes and he saw unconditional love reflecting in her eyes. Erik knelt on one knee, holding her hand. Christine smiled through her tears an he hoped that she wouldn't reject him. "Christine, I've loved you from the moment I met you. You've been my dearest friend, but my feelings are much stronger that friendship. I want to build a new life with you, protect you and raise a family together." he inhaled and asked the question he wanted to ask her the moment he met her. "Christine Daae, will you marry me?"

Christine nodded her head and whispered gently. "yes."

Erik stood up, his ears ringing. "you'll marry me?"

Christine nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. "yes Erik, I will!"

Erik spun her around in the air as his heart exploded with joy. Christine laughed as his lips devoured her neck. She removed his mask and it fell to the floor with a clatter. Erik didn't notice as she kissed his lips, her hands cupping his deformity. Erik groaned and he backed her against the wall. Her body felt so small and fragile against his.

after a moment, finding some restraint, Erik pulled away, his body heaving. "we… better marry soon."

Christine nodded, her dark eyes wide and sparkling. "indeed Erik, we should."

Erik kissed her lips one last time and pushed away. "all right, miss Daae. To the music."

"wait a minute!" she said gripping his shoulder. "what's your last name?"

Erik made a face. "Ormanni."

She smiled, "Erik Ormanni. I like it."

"I don't."

"How do you like the sound of…Christine Ormanni?"

Erik tilted his head and nodded, "very much." Erik kissed her again and drew back reluctantly. "now, to that music, my dear."

Christine smiled and took his hand; now, Erik felt like he finally belonged. He was whole, he was complete.

Nadir shook his head. This boy had such determined strength. The day they docked at Paris he'd recovered almost all of his strength. He wasn't conscious about his arm, at least that nadir could tell.

As they were exiting customs, a woman's scream caused them to jump. He turned to see a woman running madly towards them.

"mother?" Raoul said as he ran towards her.

Nadir shook his head as he watched him embrace the woman and an older man who resembled him. he stood there with their luggage watching their reunion. Tears, explanations and happiness. Typical of family reunions, the strain between their relationships forgotten for the time being. After a moment, they noticed his existence and their faces curled in disgust.

"what's this?" the man demanded.

"the man who's life I am indebted to. Nadir Kahn, my parents."

He nodded and extended his hand, "An honor."

They avoided his hand. "Raoul, we thought you were dead."

"I was basically dead."

"well, your fiancée didn't wait long."

He frowned, "Christine?"

"she's engaged."

nadir watched as the blood drained away from the boy's face. "you're lying."

"no!"

"this is some plot to get me back home! I'm not going back. my home is here. Excuse me! I've been without my fiancée for almost six months. I need to see."

"you'll see!" the mother shouted. "she's engaged to some masked creature named Erik."

Raoul didn't listen, he probably didn't hear in his urgency to flag down a carriage. But nadir did, and he now wondered if he should have informed Erik beforehand. He hoped, that Erik and this man were not engaged to the same woman.

Ahh, the suspense is terrible! Don't forget to review!