Thank you to all of my faithful readers and reviewers. A special call out to two Guest reviewers that I was unable to send a personal reply. Thank you all for continuing on this journey with me. So it appears Christine may have said a bit too much, eh? She always seemed to me, as someone who could put her foot in her mouth very well. LOL Let's see what happens.

On a side note, there will not be an update next week. I am having a massage and martini day with a dear friend, so we will pick things back up on Saturday, February 4th.

Until then…. On with the show!

Christine's jaw dropped when she saw Giovanni in front of her. "I didn't realize anyone else was up. I…"

"Yes, I gathered as much." He took his eyes away from Christine and stared at his daughter's portrait. "It does dominate the room, doesn't it? I suppose I thought it would be fitting, as she dominated just as equally when she was alive." He then looked back at Christine. "One good thing that came from my overhearing your words is that I am quite certain of your love for Erik."

His words came as a surprise to her. "Of course, I do. I have never felt about anyone the way I do about him. He's always been a part of my life, ever since I can remember."

Giovanni nodded. "I could sense your closeness. It made me very happy. I'm glad he has found someone to love him, as he deserves. She…. She wasn't able to do that." He chuckled. "Even if she could, it would never have been loud and uninhibited. She would have been reserved in that emotion. She would have preferred to carry it out as a secret. That is, if she could have looked pass his…. features."

"Erik told me what happened that night. You are no more to blame for what happened than he is."

"Aren't I?" He shook his head as is he was trying to forget the memories pressed so deeply in the pages of his mind. "I loved Erik as if he were my own son but I betrayed him that night. I wanted so badly for Luciana to love him. I wanted her to see the man he was inside. Yet she was only able to see a fantasy. She wasn't capable of thinking that maybe, just maybe things aren't always what we wish them to be."

"Giovanni, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to disrespect her to you."

"Never apologize for being truthful. Lies can make one very ugly and quickly too. She was spoiled and closeminded. But I am to blame for that. I catered to her every whim. I failed her as a father. I felt guilty for her having to grow up without a mother and so I tried to make that up to her but I lost my bearings and soon lost my hold over her. I thought boarding school would be good for her but it only made it worse for us to relate to one another. Children need boundaries and limits and I didn't know what to do.

"Drawings, specs and bricks and morter, that I know. That I always understood but the mind of my own daughter…. I saw what she was becoming but I was scared. I didn't want to lose her completely and so I would give in all the time. When she met Erik, I thought finally, someone who can keep her in line and get her to understand the real ways of the world. Maybe even feel compassion. He was different with her. He wasn't mesmerized by her looks or at least didn't show it and it mystified her. She was actually coming to me for advice on how to talk to him." He laughed. "I barely knew how to do that."

"Erik is complicated but he longs to share his thoughts and be understood. You just have to know how to reach him." Christine spoke these words with pride. She knew him and she was grateful he trusted her enough to let her inside.

"I wanted that for him and Luciana. I wanted Erik in the family and I told myself I meant well. Look at what well-meant did? I lost her and him all in one night."

"Giovanni, Erik forgave you. He still speaks of you with such praise."

Giovanni smiled weakly. "My daughter will always haunt me. It is my cross to bear but what did you mean before about still haunting Erik? He still blames himself?"

Christine nodded. "He told me about his past, all of it and I could tell he buried these memories deep inside him. I wanted to know him and prove to him that the past isn't important. It changed nothing between us. Yet being here…. He had nightmares."

Giovanni looked alarmed. "Of her?"

"Of that night."

"Oh No! You must leave at once. I never wanted him to relive that! I don't blame him for that and neither should he. Why would he come back if he…" Giovanni suddenly stopped? "What you said about evidence. Evidence that he wasn't involved in Luciana's death? He needs to prove his innocence? Is he in trouble? Is that why he has returned?"

"Giovanni please, don't listen to the ravings of a jealous female. I misspoke and it's not my place to say anything further on the subject."

His eyes were misty. "I suppose it was foolish to think he'd come back only to see me. I am responsible for his losing a home, security and a profession. I forced him to take off that damn mask. I shouted at him and…"

"Stop! Please! That is not at all what he remembers when he talks of you, I swear it! Giovanni, you must believe me when I tell you that Erik holds beautiful memories of his time here too. It's all because of you. He learned so much from you."

Christine knew nothing she could say would calm Giovanni down. She had been so thoughtless with her words and now it was leading to a complete disaster. Erik is going to…

"What is going on down here? I could hear both of your voices from the bedroom." Erik looked at them both, flabbergasted.

"Erik…." Christine wasn't sure what to say.

"Your lady was making it rather clear to me that you and she are guests and I need to be more hospitable."

The visible part of Erik's face turned pale. "What!"

Christine's eyes budged out. "I never…."

Giovanni came up to Erik and placed both hands on his shoulders. "She's right. I don't want you to feel obligated to wear your mask in this house…. In any room. I don't care what is behind the mask. I know who is inside and what really makes up the whole man."

"Giovanni…."

"Erik, please let me say this. I never wanted you to leave that night. Not a day goes by that I haven't missed you or thought about you. I am so happy that you have found a woman who not only loves you but fights for you." He then looked at Christine. "You are quite a lady, Signorina Daae.

"And another thing, I think that I need to stop caring about ceremony. If you two wish to share quarters, then so be it."

Erik almost choked. "What?!"

"I'm being realistic. A woman like her, could keep any nightmare at bay." He patted Erik on the back. "Good night, you two. I for one need some sleep. Erik, I'd like to show you a few of my company's projects tomorrow and get your opinion. Would you be up to that?"

Erik could only nod.

"Good. Goodnight, Erik. Good night, Christine."

Erik exhaled a deep breath. "What went on between the two of you? Did you tell him about my nightmare?"

"That and he may have overheard me sharing a few choice words with Luciana" She pointed to the portrait.

Erik looked stunned for a moment and then laughed.

"Erik?"

"You really don't give a damn who knows we are in love, do you?"

"I…."

"I can only image you standing about so, facing off to a woman in a painting and giving her a piece of your mind, as to why she should have loved me. Then carefully and maybe not so discreetly telling her she was a fool and that she can't have me now."

"Oh angel, I said all of that and more. I am not ashamed of us but I certainly didn't mean for Giovanni to hear all of that coming from my mouth. I am mortified!"

Erik placed his arms around Christine from behind and kissed her cheek. "I'm in awe of you."

"I thought you would be angry."

"You fought for me. You chose me over comfort or whatever anyone else would say. Time and time again, you love me and boldly refuse to apologize for it."

"I will always fight for you. When you have something worth holding onto. You never let go."

He kissed her in front of Luciana's portrait and his past demons. "You still hungry?"

She shook her head.

"Neither am I."

Next he swooped her up and carried her back upstairs to their room.

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The next morning, Giovanni was up early, working. Mainly he was thinking about what Christine had said and what kind of trouble Erik was in. How he wished Erik would confide in him. Music took him away from his thoughts when he heard angelic voices coming from the parlor.

"Her tutor." He smiled and then rang for his butler.

"Signor?"

"I need to send a letter. Give me a few minutes and then return and be sure it is received today."

"As you wish."

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Later that day, Christine had told Erik she needed a few things and would be back shortly. At first, he wanted to go with her but she encouraged him to stay behind.

"Didn't Giovanni want you to look at some work projects?"

Erik remembered. "Yes, he did. But…"

"Besides, I won't be gone long."

He nodded reluctantly. "You were marvelous this morning."

She smiled. "Erik, I felt so alive when I sang that song. I know the refrain was a little out of breath. I need to think and breathe after two and not three measures. I was just so excited to actually hear the progress."

He chuckled. "You will soon be ready, my dear. You shall see."

"I believe you."

"And?"

She looked puzzled. "And?"

He sighed. "Believe in yourself." He then bent down to kiss her cheek and tilted up her chin. "Enjoy yourself and remember I love you."

"I love you too."

Although he missed Christine, he found talking to Giovanni about his upcoming projects fascinating. He really couldn't believe all the work the company was involved in.

"I can't believe how much the business has grown since I was a boy. Your name is everywhere."

Giovanni laughed. "Not quite but close. So the plans look solid to you? Anything you think I could enhance?"

Erik studied the drawing again. He was still wearing a mask but it was his black one and it was the best one to allow his face the most exposure. He found it easier to read with that mask too. "Well, maybe one or two things around the lake."

"Precisely! The current architect on the project didn't think it would work but I think it can. I just need to charm the client."

"Then it's as good as done."

Then men smiled at one another and then after a minute, Giovanni spoke again.

"Tell me Erik, why are you squandering your time at a fair?"

"Squandering?"

"You have the talent to build Opera Houses, you even worked in one. Why a traveling fair?"

"The park has been my home for years and it isn't only me now. I have many talented people that depend on the park and its livelihood. I build all the time."

"But you have to tear it down, if you are constantly moving about."

"Well, we aren't mobile yet. Soon though."

"But if this park is really where you wish to focus your talents, why not make it more permanent?"

"I'd love to but I can't get the land."

"Is it money?"

Erik shook his head. "No, I have the funds to buy it. The problem is the owner doesn't wish to sell."

"Erik, everyone has a price. What aren't you telling me?"

Erik hesitated. "The reason the land isn't for sale is because the owner will never sell it to me. He and I have been at odds for years."

"Then why do you operate your park next door to his land?"

"Because once upon a time, it used to be mine. All of it. I had it when I was at the Opera House. I never thought I would ever really need it, until I had to leave there. By that point, it was too late."

"Too late? You mean you had sold this man the land?"

Erik looked ashamed. "Not quite. You see the Vicomte de Chagny owns that land now, making it impossible for me to expand and so I need to travel on, if I wish to grow the business. Even so, it's just a wasteland to him and his feeble mind."

"And he is the man who hates you?"

"Indeed."

"But why did you sell it to him?"

"I didn't sell him anything."

"Erik, you're making an old man even more confused."

"This is the last piece of my story that Christine knows nothing about. Forgive me, Giovanni but I can't share it with you and not her."

Giovanni nodded. "Then why not tell it to both of us tonight."

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When Christine returned she had a small wrapped package with her. She had bought Erik a present and was so excited to surprise him later. She placed it under her wrap and then called out to him.

"Angel? Are you here?"

Erik greeted Christine with a kiss and a glass of port. "My lady."

"Such a greeting. I think I shall go away more often." She kissed him back and took the glass.

Erik's face fell. "Please don't."

"I promise you will like the reason why I was away." She took a sip "This is strong."

"I thought so too but Giovanni wanted to try this new vintage. I'll get us some tea instead but let's just nurse this one together."

"My clever Maestro." She saw he appeared anxious. "Are you alright?"

"I am. I'm ready to tell you the final piece, my dear."

"Final piece to what?"

He took both of her hands in his. "I am ready to tell you all about what happened between the Vicomte and me."