"What in the world has gotten into that man? First, he loses his mind and tells me he is in love with a girl half his age, who happens to be my daughter. Next, he abandons us during this terrible ordeal and now he takes up residency on your couch?" Annie sighed and sat down, resting her head in her hands. "What is going to happen to us?"

Claude sat beside her and took her hand in his, gently caressing it. "Annie, Nadir was in such pain. I think he is only staying away because he thinks it is the right thing to do."

"Really?" She looked up and shook her head. "Out of all the places he could go, he goes and sees you? Clearly he chose you because he wanted to make sure I knew of his long term suffering. He is trying to get back into my good graces and he is using you in the process. Another behavior of his I cannot condone. Again, what has gotten into that man?"

Claude kissed Annie's hand and then shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps all he can offer in his defense is that he is a man in love and we men have been known to do crazy things once possessed by such a powerful force."

Annie rolled her eyes. "Claude, you can't truly believe that Nadir really feels love for Meg? She is a child…."

"She is a woman, Annie. Yes, she will always be your child but she is fully grown. We have discussed this and while I don't think Nadir wanted to fall in love with her, it happened. Who can control who they fall in love with?"

She looked at him in confusion. "Claude…."

"Take me for instance."

"You?"

"I'm hopelessly in love with you and neither my former position nor yours could sway me."

She blushed. "Claude, we weren't talking about us."

"I think Nadir came to me because he is lost and terribly conflicted. He feels so badly over what he claims he failed to do."

"What was that? Win my approval?"

"Protect his family."

Annie recalled what she said to Nadir and remembered her harsh words. "I can't be blamed for my feelings, no matter how I said them."

"I'm not blaming you but Nadir was love's victim. We all are. For as much as love is wonderful and a gift, its mystery and power can also bring pain, humiliation and even destruction, all in the name of love."

"I don't want Nadir to suffer." She looked away, feeling very conflicted.

"Of course you don't."

"But I can't help but feel he allowed such feelings to occur. We have always been family. Why should he look on and see Meg as even a possibility?"

"Annie, who knows when love begins or what makes it start? Maybe he tried but then couldn't, especially not if the lady in question is in love with him too?"

Before Annie could respond, Meg came in.

"Mama, I need to talk to you about something…"

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Erik continued to gaze into Christine's eyes and it made her very nervous.

God, he knows…. He can see right through me. She smiled weakly, as she mentally cursed herself for making such an error. Her mind was racing for an excuse to offer up and just when she thought she had a plausible answer, she stopped herself. No. No more lies. I can't go on like this. I need to tell him the truth. He'll understand, in time. He has to.

"Erik…."

He then nodded and sat back "Of course! How could I have been so foolish. I know."

Her eyes widened. "You. You know? Then Erik, please allow me to explain. You see…."

"You, the prefect image of goodness and light. You, who see the good in everyone, including an old, broken down, monster like me."

"You are not a monster and you are not old. As far as broken… We all are broken, angel. I ask that you please stop degrading yourself in my presence. I won't stand for it! Not from you or anyone!"

He laughed and kissed her knuckles. "My greatest defender." He shook his head in disbelief and sighed. "Christine, if you can defend me so passionately, why would I not think you could see the good in Raoul de Chagny? Please, forgive me, my angel."

She closed her eyes in panic. God give me the courage to be honest with you, right here and now. "Precious, you have done nothing that merits forgiveness. I am the one who…." She stopped when she saw him fall to his knees at her feet. "Erik, please. Don't do that. Get up off the floor!"

He looked up into her eyes. "I don't deserve you and I know I need to be better. I want to be better for you. I shouldn't speak of my hatred for de Chagny. I need to forgive him. How else can I ever hope to be forgiven for all my sins?"

She shook her head. "Erik, no! How many times must I tell you that you have not committed any sins?" Suddenly her desire to rid her guilt was less important than making sure Erik could see his worth and his goodness.

Erik stood up and put some distance between them.

"I think you will feel all together differently after you hear what I am about to tell you. Persia was not my shiniest moment." He ran his fingers through his hair to smooth it back into place and adjusted his mask.

"Erik, you don't need all that. If you wish to take your mask and wig off, it would suit me just fine. I don't like it when you wear it, especially when it is only us two."

He contemplated her words for a second but then whispered, "No. I can't just yet. It isn't about you. I trust you with my life." He chuckled. "I trust you with my life story and I have no illusions as to what you might do afterwards. I merely hope that you will stay."

"Erik…."

"I trust you to stay but I know that you should run, Christine. You should run and never look back."

"And how would I ever be able to do that?" She started to come towards him, slowly. "I love you. I have loved you my entire life. You are my Angel of Music, a gift sent to me by my father. How could I not love you?"

"Christine, you know I am not the angel your father told you about."

She was close enough to touch him at this point and she reached out to feel his heart. Erik didn't move away.

"Perhaps, not the literal Angel of Music for Little Lotte in a long ago fairytale from the North but you were an angel to me. You saved me from despair and loneliness."

"You do not have to make it up to me by throwing away the rest of your life. You can move on and live. I promised we would get your voice back and we shall. I will see to it that you bring France to its knees with your magnificent instrument and then share it with the world but beyond that…."

"Erik, I'm not here for my voice. I'm here because I love you and I'm not throwing away my life. I am here because you are my life. I want to be with you and I don't care about the past. Yours or mine. I just want us to be in the present and work on a future together."

"You desire a prince."

"I don't want a prince. I want an angel."

"I am not the angel you think…."

"Erik, you're my angel and that's what matters. I don't need to know about Persia. We can just move on right here and now. Together. No more talks or journeys into the past."

He was so tempted to say yes and claim her lips as his own. They could forget and move on and be happy. But something inside of him couldn't let that happen.

"No, to love me…. To really love me you must see that although in your eyes I was an Angel of Music, I was also an Angel of Death to others. You cannot pledge your love to me, without knowing that man. You have to know the darkness as well as the light." He cupped her chin. "Although, I never even saw a glimmer of that light, until you."

"Then tell me. If it will unburden your heart, tell me."

"You better sit down for this then." He smiled and tried to hide his fear.

"Sit beside me, not at my feet and not far away, where I can't touch you."

"Christine, you may not feel the same once I…."

She brought her index finger to his lips. "I want you beside me. I want to hold you as you tell me this part of your life. I want you to feel my love and know that you can tell me anything. It will never change my love for you. Ever."

"My Christine, you are the angel. When I see you before me, I think that maybe God did not abandon me after all."

She pulled him into her arms and he wrapped himself to her frame tightly. After a few moments of perfect silence as their bodies were clinging to one another, Erik broke away slightly to look at her.

"Are you ready, my dear?"

She led them both to the couch and sat down, never taking her hand way from his. "Whenever the story gets too painful for you, just hold me tighter, okay?"

"And if you wish to let me go…."

"That isn't going to happen."

He sat beside her but said it again. "If you wish to let me go, just do it."

"I wish it were that simple." She kissed his lips lovingly and then smiled when she saw his reaction. "I love you."

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"Mama, I need to tell you smething…. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that Monsieur Dejion was here. I'll come back later."

"No, please stay and call me, Claude."

"Meg, of course you can stay. Claude came over to tell me that Nadir has taken residency on his couch."

"Nadir?!" Meg hadn't seen or heard from him in days. "Why? Is he alright?" She didn't understand why she would still be so affected by the man's name. After all, he didn't want her. She just made it easier for him to move on.

Annie came up to Meg. "He feels foolish for something that we quarreled over. Claude was making me see reason."

"Annie, perhaps Meg can help? Does she know what you and Nadir disagreed about?"

Annie gave Claude a look that could kill. He smiled innocently.

"I just think it might do Nadir some good to see so many people who care about him." Claude then adjusted his collar.

Meg turned to Claude. "Is he alright?" She then took Annie's arm. "Mama, let me come with you."

Annie was hard-pressed to not notice Meg's concern and had no choice but to acknowledge Claude's stare.

"Meg, it will be fine. I'll handle it. He and I quarreled. It had nothing to do with you. Besides you have plans this evening, don't you?"

"Mama, Nadir is family and family always comes first. I have…. Missed seeing him these past few days. Why would he feel the need to leave?" She asked hoping Nadir had said something to make her think he did love her enough to fight for her.

Claude came between both women and said, "Perhaps if Meg did come along, then we could…."

"Meg! Meg!"

Meg turned to the door. "Miss Fleck? What's wrong?"

"Your prince has arrived. There's a carriage out front waiting for you. I was asked to bring you these." She handed the lilies to Meg.

Meg looked annoyed as she accepted the flowers. "Please tell the driver to…."

"It's not any old driver. It's Inspector Thompson himself! He's at the gate and apparently drove the carriage to pick you up."

Annie smiled as if in victory over at Claude. "That settles it. You two youngsters enjoy yourselves tonight. Let the old people handle this." She kissed Meg on the cheek. "I promise, we'll have the matter straighten out and you and Nadir can get back to your innocent, family teasing once more." She then looked at the flowers. "They are beautiful, no Meg?"

Claude took Annie by the arm. "We better go then. Meg, if you do wish to come along, we can wait for you to tell Thompson that you have changed your mind." He suppressed the pain he felt when Annie pinched his arm.

Meg turned to the window and clutched the flower stems tightly, as she closed her eyes to try and stop the tears from falling down. "No, Mama is right and as you can see, my prince is waiting."