Me: MADAME GIRY

Madame Giry *seating in the leaving room and jumpin with fright*: What, what, what?!

Me: I need help.

Madame: What for?

Me: I need you to teach me everything you know about dancing.

This is going to be one crazy week so probably I won't be able to post another chapter so soon. I'm going to register into colege and then holidays. If I'm able to post next week of the one after that... GREAT. otherwise this may be the last chapter you are going to have to the end of the month. I hope you enjoy and as always I only own the Creative spirit to write this.

Christine couldn't stop her mind from going around and around the image of those people behind bars because no one would give them a chance to prove themselves more than just the freaks everyone else judge them to be. The only other thing she could think about was Erik's vision of this magic world where those like him could have this safe haven here she was selfishly asking him to give up the life he had built for himself only to have him by her side.

She looked at Erik who was cooking dinner for both of them and her heart ached. Here at Coney Island people knew him. She recalled some of the people that had recognized Erik on the street and had smiled at him with kindness. Surely he had gained respect during his time here and if he went with her to Manhattan if he was respected it would mainly be because of her.

"What troubles you?" She Erik's voice ask.

"The fact that I've not changed at all." Christine sighed drumming the table with her fingers. Erik looked at her knowing exactly what she meant but before he could say anything they heard a urgent knock on the door.

Erik cleaned his hands to a kitchen cloth and placed on his shoulder as he walked to the door. On his way he grabbed his mask and placed it right above his distorted cheek. Behind the door there was a very tall hooded man that Erik invited in, locking the door behind them both.

The tall man removed his hood with his furry hands and his nails where so thick that one could call it claws. Beneath the dark hood there was a golden mane and too amazingly intense black eyes that hid behind a lion's brow. Yes the man had the face of a lion and Christine just knew who he was. Erik had just introduced this man as being just a kind hearted man who loved books. He's name was Vincent.

"I need to tell you something important." Vincent said with his low rumbling voice. "In private." Erik looked over to Christine with sad concerned eyes. He could feel t in his guts that whatever this was it had to do with that hell hole and the weasel that ruled over it. If he only had listen to her and stayed home…

"Christine I seem to be lacking pasta for our dinner. Could you go my sister's house and ask her for some." Erik asked in a low shy voice. He hated to do this, but if her life was in danger because of his stupidity… how could he ever forgive himself.

"I can take the hint." Christine said getting up. "I can tell when I not wanted." That hit Erik like a dagger to his heart. He could see it in her eyes that she was disappointed with him for tell her to leave. And she was right to be angry with him, that apartment was her house, her home too after all. She had been feeling bad most of the day, because of his stubbornness and now he had given her the last blow and she had strike him right back when she banged the door behind her.

Christine knew she was behaving rashly when she stormed out of the apartment and banged the door on her way out but somehow it just felt like he didn't trusted her. Vincent she understood that he wouldn't trust her, but Erik? He knew her better than anyone else and the least thing he could do was look at Vincent and tell him that she would stay because he trusted her, but he did no such thing. He had to add insult to injury by outright lying to her.

Christine sat on the stairs and leaned her head against the cold wall of the corridor. Something had to be terribly wrong. No one in their right mind would call upon a couple at such a late hour and the concerned look in Erik's eyes. 'Damn him!' Christine cursed inwardly. 'If he thinks himself so high and mighty then let him solve this mess whatever this is. I'll be there for him if he falls, but I sure as hell will not let him think that this distrust will go unpunished.'

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"What?!" Erik growled getting up from his seat.

"It is as I tell you, Erik. Logan betrayed us and told Moore about the girl." Vincent explained looking Erik right in the eyes. "You have to take her away from here. If he finds out what your plans are for him and for Gargolia, the girl will suffer. You know that, as well as I do."

"I knew that was a bad idea. I knew that taking her to Gargolia was a bad idea and I did it regardless." Erik barked running his fingers through his hair. "And Logan of all people! That rat! I should kill him with my own hands!" He paced a little along the room doing the best he could to calm himself. Erik wanted to rip him limb from limb, the few he had. He wanted to see him torn apart by furious horses and then he would feed him to dogs. No. Logan was not to blame. The man had a weak mind far too torn and twisted to ever be able to think for himself and his bitterness would serve him good advice if he had been able.

"I already didn't trust that snake from the very beginning." Erik confessed to the other man in the room and for a moment he stood silent and with his eyes closed. Then he looked right into Vincent's eyes. "I need you to tell what happened to Gangle and Squelch and I need the three of you to keep an open eye and pay close attention to Moore's every move. I'm going with Christine to Manhattan in two days' time. As soon as I settle I'll let you know how you can reach me."

"Good. We'll let you know if anything happens." Vincent said getting up the seat Erik had offered him once Christine had left the house. He put his hood back on and left the house leaving behind a pretty shaken ghost of what Erik used to be.

It was easy for Vincent to walk in the dark but when he stumbled in something he recognized a very upset Christine on the opposite corner of the stairwell. Erik was right. Christine was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, but her eyes were now red and her cheeks were stained with dry tears.

"Are you leaving?" He heard her shaky voice ask.

"I am." Vincent was surprised that she could sense him so easily. Surely coexistence and familiarity would allow some new instincts to kick in, but this was just ridiculous. He had made no noise, the wooden stairs had made none of their usual sound. Perhaps his clothes…

"Are you all done with Erik?" Christine asked getting up and swiping the dust from her dress. She was hurt. He could tell through her wavering voice, her heavy breathing as she tried her best not to cry, her fists tightly closed at her side and the sad revolted look in her eyes.

"Don't be crossed with him." Vincent pleaded with her looking right into her eyes even if because of the hood she couldn't see his own. "He loves you very much. You should hear him talk about you."

"If he loves me so much why did he not make any protestations against me leaving home?" Christine shouted in frustration as she glared at him, but she gave him no chance to answer her and ran upstairs knocking at the door. When she saw the door open she stormed in ignoring Erik and ignoring supper and just went to bed fully clothed.

"Christine we need to talk." Erik said leaning against the wall.

"Now I'm trustworthy?" She asked looking over the shoulder.

"What brought this on?" He asked crossing his arms.

"You know very well what brought this on. Now if you don't mind and since I'm not trustworthy I would very much like to sleep." Christine protested. Erik glared at her as her words hit him like sharp knives. He clenched his teeth and closed his hand tightly hoping that he would be able to control himself.

"Christine, you are being unfair and you know it." He told her in a steady calming voice.

"Oh! I'm the one being unfair! What about you, monsieur Le Phantom?" she asked seating on the bed. "You say you love me and I do my very best to show you every day how much I truly love you and the moment some… Egyptian god enters into your house and tells you that he has something to tell in private you don't think twice and use some poor excuse to get me out of the house, and I'm being unfair."

"Once again I was just trying to protect the woman I love. I had previously decided to go with you to Manhattan and now I find out that Moore knows about you and what do I do? I try my very best to protect you. If that makes me selfish, heartless and, as you 'rightly' put it, unfair then that is what I am." Erik said turning his back to her. "Good night Christine."

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Pietro was calmly in the study, seating in an armchair with a book on his lap and a glass of cognac in his hand, his black hair slicked back and his brown eyes peering the tiny letters. Fabio just couldn't shake off the rage that had filled him when he saw Pietro kissing Meg's hand. Of all man, his brother, this husky voiced baritone, this womanizer had to be trying to sweep Meg of her feet. It was bad enough that Hector, that wimp was after this wonderful, beautiful and amazing dancer. This man had no interest in the any of the women at the opera house so it clearly was lunacy, but Pietro was a womanizer with a flit of women at his feet. This was just maddening, especially when Meg so willingly entered Pietro's game and started laughing that melodic laughter at every joke the idiot cracked.

"Back the fuck off!" Fabio told Pietro storming into the study.

"What? What are you talking about?" Pietro asked putting don't his book and cognac. He was completely clueless as his brother stood before him with a look that could kill in his eyes.

"Meg is not one of your floozy friends back at the opera Pietro. Leave her alone!" Fabio demanded glaring at him. Meg! So that was his brother's problem. The girl was interesting, young and most certainly energetic. Pietro couldn't help but feel interested.

"Oh! Her." Pietro understood with a cheap smile on his face. Fabio wanted to punch him off his pride an off the armchair he was seating on, but he did nothing just pulled a chair and took a seat facing Pietro straight one.

"Do you even know how old she is?" Fabio asked sitting before his brother. He saw his brother shrug his shoulders and keeping his cheap annoying smile. "Of course you would not know. As long as it wears a skirt and is pretty enough you wouldn't think twice about adding her to the long list of women whose hearts you have broken. If Christine was here you would probably try wooing the two of them."

"I don't know who this Christine is but I would most certainly like to meet her." Pietro confessed returning to his reading.

"And here you go again! You know what you are? You, sir, are an idiot." Fabio screamed in desperation. "A complete buffoon, a moron. You see a girl you know nothing about and you set yourself to win her over." He continued accusing. On the other side of the door Meg could easily hear what the two man where saying and she knew the way some of the ballerinas looked at Pietro as he walked by the halls of the opera house. She couldn't help but think poor girls.

"Do you even know what Meg wants?" the younger man asked resting his forearms on his legs and leaning forward. "Sure you make her laugh make what about what she wants?"

"Well maybe she wants an older man with experience to teach her a trick or two. Maybe she is sick and tired of crying babies." Pietro said looking to his brother over the book. Meg saw red. How could he presume… That man was just impossible. An older experienced man to teach her a trick or two? Christ! Who did he think she was? And how could he call his own brother a crying baby? It was like he didn't knew Fabio at all. He was a brave man, handsome, caring and some girls whole just sigh as he walked pass, driving her insane in the process.

"No you half-wit! She is sixteen. She is a young vibrant woman who loves dancing, her family and is there for them fearing every time that nobody will be there for her. She just wants to be heard and have control over her life for once." Fabio said smiling and looking right into Pietro's eyes. "Behind her naivety and innocence hides a strong smart woman and if she falls for your game and you break her heart I will forget that you are my brother and I will hunt you to the end of the earth. Do you understand?" Hearing that, Meg couldn't help but grin. The way he talked about her, the tenderness in his voice, the adoration, the love. No other person had talked about her like this, no man at least. For the first time in a long time Meg felt wanted and admired. Somehow this man's approval felt better and meant more than any ovation ever could and he was being honest about what he was saying. Fabio had no idea that she was listening in to their conversation. Meg felt butterflies inside her stomach. Did Christine feel like this when Erik praised her? No! Why was she event thinking like this? Meg had promised herself that she wouldn't fall in love no matter what happened.

"Fine! Have the girl if that's what you want." Pietro said shrugging his shoulders.

"Have at the very least some respect. She's a lady. She's not an object to be given away like trash." Fabio argued.

"As you wish. I'm still curious about that Christine you talked about though." Pietro continued casually.

"My sister is unavailable and her boyfriend isn't one to be trifle with." Meg said finally coming into the room. "Fabio I need to talk with you." Fabio smiled at her that smile that made her melt and got up straightening his jacket, putting the chair back behind the desk.

"Before you two lovebirds storm off. Meg, any advise as to how avoid problems troubles with your sister's boyfriend." Pietro asked with a smirk as he saw his brother cringe at the word lovebirds.

"If you praise your life just be out of his way. Erik is a very possessive jealous man and he would kill for Christine. That's how much he loves her and she loves him right back." Meg told him looking intently right into his eyes hopping this would make the message clear. "If you don't praise your life you can always try wooing her, but better men have tried and failed. The first option would prove to be the wisest." Without more words Meg came out of the room being followed by an utterly stunned Fabio and leaving behind an utterly confused Pietro.

Fabio walked passed Meg and grabbed her hand dragging her to the house's large balcony closing the French doors behind them. Surely there no one would be able to listen to what they would say. As he looked behind he saw a moonbeam caress Meg's ivory skin giving it a silvery tone. He couldn't help but stare at her taking in her beauty. Meg started to feel unease with the silence but she did not dare to break it.

"I'm sorry." Fabio said rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't mean to stare, but the way the moon lights up your face… It's hypnotising, so beautiful. You're beautiful." Meg blushed deeply as she hide her eyes from his sight.

"Thank you… for protecting me back there." Meg said shyly.

"What did you hear?" Fabio asked his voice going on in a higher pitch because of the panic.

"Everything." Meg went on her tip toes and kissed his cheek making Fabio blush.

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Tossing and turning on the bed Christine simply could not sleep as her mind and her heart plagued her with guilt. What was going on with her? What was it with the mood swings? She wasn't at all like that. Sure she was emotional but then again she never remembered a day when she had been cold, so no surprise there, but still whatever this was, and she was sure this wasn't that idiotic time of the month every woman had to go through, it was maddening.

Poor Erik. He was also on edge but he was trying to protect her from the consequences that their visit to Gargolia might have had. He was such a good man. He could have send her alone to Manhattan after this argument and her ungratefulness, and she would definitely deserve that kind of punishment, but he was willing to go with her and make sure that she was fine and safe and here she was behaving like the spoiled brat she was. True. She loved him, Erik loved her back and she didn't deserve him but she had to try her chances and ask for Erik's forgiveness.

Christine got up and groaned when the tension of her corset hit her. She had to get rid of that thing or she would go insane and surely it would do no harm to provide that Erik's complete focus was on her. She went for the wardrobe and removed one of Erik's shirts. Oh it smelled like him. It smelled of candles, parchment, spices and roses. Christine let her hair down, removed her clothes and her corset and put on Erik's shirt. She looked over the wooden screen to see Erik sitting on the coach with a miserable look on his face.

Erik couldn't believe what had happened a few hours ago. That behaviour, that archness, that coldness it wasn't like Christine at all, at least not the Christine he fell in love with anyway. She had lashed at him and he knew that what he had done, send her off like that, had been reason enough, but it hurt. Surely that had to be the way she felt when he used to lash at her when he lost his temper. He got up and went to get his pillow and a cover and he saw, at least he thought he saw, Christine's sleeping form on top of the bed with his shirt on, looking so very tiny in it. The shirt finished just above her knees. She was uncovered and the night was starting to get cold so he just picked up the sheet and covered her, tucking her in. He kissed her forehead gently as to not wake her up.

"I love you" Erik told her not really expecting her to listen to him and as turned his back to sleep on the coach, Christine allowed a silent tear to run down he cheek and she knew she had once again to grow some backbone and ask him for forgiveness. She just didn't know how to do it. 'Papa, give me strength.' She pleaded looking up that the ceiling and holding her father's golden cross as tears rolled down her cheeks.