A/N: Thank you again for everyone reading, following, and reviewing these prompts! Good news is that school is out for me this Friday and while I'm job hunting… I also have time to get some more writing in. However, I will be dividing my time up between this fandom and Phantom as well as finishing in revising some originals for publication. If you like horror, then you will like what I have in store! Please keep your prompt ideas coming! I have a few on my list to do and I'll start working on them when I can.

Now…

For this series, I'm using my absolute favorite musical of all time and I won't say which… not until you read it and figure it out. ;) As a disclaimer, I don't own the lyrics to this show but I do own the soundtracks and the live rendition on stage. Seriously… check it out if you haven't.

Guest: I wonder if you were reading my mind or something… Hope you like!

Broadway

Prompt: Gold makes a decision on stage. (Rated T)

Panting heavily, a man stares at the love of his life—shock, disbelief, and desperation warring within his countenance, but mostly disbelief that she kissed him—him—of her own volition. For a minute the world ceased moving as it was just the two of them standing there with only the sounds of their harsh breathing intermingling in the empty air.

Then a raspy gasp reminding him that they weren't alone, and as the steady beat of drums echoed in his ears, he knew this dream of his could only have one possible outcome. He didn't deserve her—never did—and the reality of it crushed his heart and soul. He couldn't condemn her to this life in the darkness where threats and ultimatums were his tools of manipulation to gain what he wanted.

Moving away from her, his eyes never once strayed from her blue ones or her parted lips that only had caressed his in a sweet and promising kiss of redemption. She looked so hopeful and was there a smidgen of happiness glowing in those sparkling orbs? He couldn't tell but he knew if it was… it could not be directed at him.

Grasping the candlestick, the tempo of the drums started to quicken and he glanced now at the intruder and his staccato breathing—the hero of this tragic story. The young man's expression was full of spite and hatred as well as revulsion. At least he was handsome compared to this loathsome monster that held his life in the balance. There was no denying his constant heroism to the bitter end and being so much worthy of the dream beauty clad in silken white.

He lunged, releasing the pent up scream rising in his chest, as the flame of the candle cut through the noose, freeing the Vicomte from certain death. Pointing a quivering finger at her direction, he bid:

"Take her, forget me, forget all of this."

As the rest of the scene played out, the Phantom aka Raphael Gold felt the tug of melancholy that overcame him during the final performance of every show he ever starred in. However, this one was bittersweet as it was the last time he would take the stage and sing alongside the beautifully talented Belle French.

His voice carried the anguished emotions that his character felt for the past several months, but he ejected more into the lyrics—something he never done before and something that could be felt in the audience as if, they too, realized the heavy weight of this moment. When Christine came back for the last farewell, Gold fought back the personal attachment as he sang "I love you" to Belle. This wasn't him and it wasn't her, but Gold hoped to God it could be, and to his astonishment, he thought he seen the same sadness flickering in her features.

Now came the torturous part…

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime…"

Instead of turning to stage right, Belle was looking directly at him as her melodic soprano voice washed over him.

This was wrong! Christine wasn't supposed to sing to the Phantom! She was singing to Raoul, her true love, and yet, she stood there as if silently imploring or waiting for him to finish the duet.

His mouth opened to respond but the irritating rubbernecker Garrett beat him to the punch, reaching and turning Belle around to face him to finish the love song.

But it was that moment of improv that caused Gold's heart to thump harder. Did she feel the same for him as he did for her? Or was it an extension of her character's feelings since Belle had always been vocal in insisting that Christine loved her Phantom? It could explain why she might have picked tonight for the rebellion in blocking, but Gold couldn't shake away the memory of the emotion in her visage or her voice.

That wasn't Christine, just like it wasn't the Phantom.

When the rest of the cast gathered on stage for the finale and bows, Gold felt his face burning as Belle grabbed his hand and squeezed it affectionately. She flashed him a dazzling smile and mouthed, "We did it!"

They shared a glance and right then Gold made a decision. The run of The Phantom of the Opera might have been over, but it didn't mean it had to for them. Tonight at the after party or better yet… in the dressing room (why prolonged the wait?) he was going to tell her.

The Phantom might have been afraid to be confident in his heart for Christine, but Raphael Gold wasn't a coward. He was going to confess to Belle that he loved her, and maybe later…much later, they could share that one love, one lifetime together.

I know in the 25th Anniversary production, Sierra Boggess does in fact pause and sings as if she was directing the lyrics to the Phantom before Raoul comes in and takes her away. You can see the regret in her face for leaving him but at the last moment… she loses her courage and goes with her childhood sweetheart. I have seen this musical on stage three times and I have never seen Christine do this before. I loved it because I do feel she loves him and she's not sure how to express it since everyone around her is saying he's a monster and such. So thank you Sierra for doing that for all of us EC fans!