A/N – Part of living in the Midwest is having state wide tornado drills at the beginning of storm season. Why is it that the sirens remind me of Carlotta? Enjoy everyone! Recap –

Erik looked Fermin square in the face "It was once my shelter, but I have an estate outside of the city. It is now my shelter and my home. The catacombs and cellars will be sealed off. I have no need of them. The access tunnels however, will remain." Fermin nodded his assent "Very well. Now sir, may I have your name?" Erik sighed "I guess it would not do for you to call me the Phantom anymore, seeing as I am now the patron. My name is Erik Khan."

Andre came to, and was confused "What in the name of hell happened? Wait… How in the name of all that is holy are you alive?! You are supposed to be dead! Now you come to kill us? Fermin, we must run!" Andre sprinted for the door, but Erik was in his path in a flash, moving quickly enough that neither Andre nor Fermin saw him move. "I am the new patron of this opera house. I would assume that you will not address me in such a vulgar fashion." He stared at Andre, making sure his point was understood "O-Of course, sir. I am heartily sorry for my reaction, were you never truly dead then?" Erik grinned "Only the dead my return to the living, but do the living return to the dead? I never died, as I was never truly alive until after the fire." Andre didn't understand, but kept his mouth shut anyway. Fermin grabbed his friend's arm "He has plans for the interior of the opera house. His name is Erik Khan. Quit acting like a fool so that we can see what will be done here. The opera house is still ours, but we are not the mangers anymore, and he is the patron. Don't drive him away."

Erik sat both men back down at the desk, and produced the rolls of parchment that held the interior designs of the opera house "Some of these are still blank, as I have not yet fully finalized the artwork that will be in certain panels. However, I do have the painting for the dome in mind, should I find someone qualified to do it. It shall cover the full interior of the dome. It is a mural of the gods giving music to man. True beauty and art are only appreciated by a few, and even fewer can produce music. That is why it is a gift that is not of this world. You remember the voice of Christine no doubt? Her voice is something only the gods could create." Fermin held Erik's gaze, and Andre nodded a little too rapidly. Erik stared at both men "The chandelier that will hang from the dome will be much larger than the one that I wrecked. I do feel bad about that, because the one that fell was quite beautiful. I have already contacted a man to have it made. It will take about a month from what he told me. We will hang that first, then paint the dome so the mural is not ruined." Erik took a breath, and turned the pages to the stage and auditorium "The stage will have gas lighting again, it seems to work better. But there will be shielding in the way so that fire is not as much of a worry. There will be glass separating the flames from the open air, but they will still burn just as bright. Much of the rest of the stage will be left alone, as it was fine to begin with, until I burned it down. After we have completed the auditorium, we shall work on the halls, boxes and dressing rooms." Erik looked at the men quizzically "Incidentally, from what I remember from our correspondence, you promised me a box seat for when we have finished the opera house. May I ask what box that is?" Erik reclined again as Fermin spoke "We have agreed to give you box 5. It seems fitting seeing as you are who you are. When we thought that you knew nothing about the events, we felt that the box of the Phantom was the box to give you, because someone else using it would be another way we could close the book on the events. But, since you are the Phantom himself, the choice is obvious. Box 5 must be yours again."

Erik was pleased "Maybe these two have learned a lesson, or maybe they are still in shock from learning of my continued life. In any case, the fop is dead, and I have his woman and his opera now. May he rot in hell." Erik stood "Gentlemen, we have concluded our business for now. I shall send in the workmen this week to begin on what they are able to do before the lighting issue is taken care of. I must return to my angel; she was worried for me when I left. I shall give her your regards." Erik bowed, and swept from the office. Fermin and Andre looked at each other, still in shock and awed by the man they thought to be nothing less than a murderous freak "He really does care about her, and this place, doesn't he?" Andre asked to Fermin "Maybe this isn't such a bad thing after all."

AT THE ESTATE –

Christine had woken up again, daylight coming through her windows. She didn't hear Erik, and didn't see that the carriage had returned yet. She was still worried for the man she had come to love deeper than she thought was possible. "Why is he not back yet? Those men can't have had the courage to try and capture him themselves. Oh, God, did they call the gendarmes? What has happened to Erik?" Christine rushed downstairs, and found Nadir reading his paper with his strong Turkish coffee "Nadir, where is Erik? Why has he not returned?" Nadir lowered his paper and laughed "If something happened to my boy, we would already know it and be on our way to avenge him. He is fine. I'm sure the managers were in for quite a shock when they found out he is the one they have been talking with all this time. Do not fear my dear girl. Come, eat while you wait on his return." Christine sat and ate like a bird, picking at her food. Nadir looked at her with heavy sympathy in his eyes, knowing that she was worried about her love "She truly has never been far from him, even for a moment. She knew that he could have been walking into danger, and he knew it too. Erik said to care for her should something happen, please Allah do not let that be this day. I couldn't bear it so soon." Nadir said a quick prayer for Erik, when Darius came running into the room in shock "Sir, Master Erik has returned! There is something wrong with the man! He is smiling, and laughed at me when I asked if he was alright after his visit!" Christine and Nadir both went wide, both wondering if he was laughing as a madman or as a human should.

Christine reached the front entry first, throwing herself in Erik's arms when she saw him "I feared the worst my love. What happened? Why were you away for so long?" Erik picked her up, and kissed her cheek "Everything is going per my plan. The managers acquiesced, and Andre ended up on the floor after seeing me. He fainted when I took off my hat and raised my head. At least the other one had the sense to stay conscious so we could make our negotiations. Erik looked at Nadir "My dear Daroga, how would you like to oversee a project of mine, one that I hold dear to my heart? Would you like to have singing and dancing surrounding you? The managers are no longer the managers; I want you to manage the affairs of the opera house on paper. I will handle the day to day practicalities for you, so that you may continue to enjoy your retirement, and the money the shah pays you to keep me away." Nadir laughed "Allah is good indeed. Of course, I will lend my name to your bank drafts, if I do not have to have an office again. I much like being outdoors with Antoinette, and I want to see how this courtship of Meg's endures." Erik beamed, and embraced Nadir "Very good my wise friend. We shall see the success of this opera for many years to come."

Erik then looked at Christine "Come my dear, you have a dressing room to outfit to your exact needs and wants. You alone shall have the say in what is in there, and what is not. It is wholly your choice and your domain. I only make one request, leave the mirror in place over the door. I am keeping the access tunnels but sealing off the underground. There is no need for it anymore." Christine was excited and apprehensive at the same time "I don't know anything about this! I know I hated the way Carlotta had the diva's room decorated, but I don't know how I want it done. Nothing too extravagant, although I am sure Erik would gild it in gold if I asked." Christine looked at Erik with a new purpose "I want to see the damage to the diva's dressing room first, if I may. I want to see if anything needs changed." Erik shook his head, and took her hands in his "It is too dangerous love. The outside is now stable and finished, but the inner parts of the opera house are not. We shall see it together if you wish, after the demolition is done." Christine nodded her assent "Very well my love. How have you decided you will be the patron of the opera house? Everyone knows that the Phantom wore a mask, and was a man. How have you overcome this?" Erik grinned, almost with a touch of evil "The managers know who I am, and have decided to agree to not speak of it to anyone, lest they no longer have their money. As for the rest, no one has seen me since, and they all think me to be dead. I am not worried about the general public. They have enough gossip to make them forget about such things. No one ever knew my name either, and as long as I introduce myself as Erik Khan, they will be none the wiser." Nadir chose that moment to clear his throat "Speaking of names my boy, I have something interesting to tell you regarding that DuPage boy. You both may want to hear this."

Nadir sat down with his notes, making sure that they were all in order before beginning "Anthony is the son of a baron in Calais. Baron DuPage and his late wife had 4 sons, Anthony, Richard, John and the fourth son's name was Erik." Erik drew a breath, and Chrsitine gasped "Please Nadir, continue." Nadir nodded "Anthony is the youngest son, at 21 years. Erik was to be the oldest, and should have been 29 years this year. Richard and John are twins at 25. Erik is said to have died at age three, but no one knows a burial site. He had a small deformity by his ear, but it was usually overlooked because of the size and location. It was thought to have been easily covered by hair." Nadir looked at Erik "You need to ready yourself for the rest of this, because it may sound familiar."