SORRY FOR NOT UPDATIGN YESTERDAY! I was on half term from school then realised yesterday I had absolutely nothing ready so had to frantically type essays and get my bags ready too.

Oh wow! Thank you all for your lovely comments on the last chapter, you all seem to like my mixture of fluff and angst. I'm not very good at fluff, I find it quite hard to write, so please bear with me as we have a lot of fluff to come (: I hope I'm sticking to the characters okay and that Erik isn't too soppy...

Newbornphantic Your Erik is rather cheeky! He was singing and telling me stories only moments ago!

I hope you can continue enjoying it, I still have some more ideas left, but I'm sad to say we are nearing the end... :'(

Christine is based on Anna O'Byrne in this story, I hope you got that (:

*No ownership goes to me (sulks)*

Chapter 53-Christine POV

I awoke quickly, pulling my eyes open and wincing slightly, my face ached from Raouls slap. My heart stopped at the thought of Raoul. Was he here? Was he going to try and take me again, would he slap me, or hit me, what if he hurt Erik? Then it hit me. He was dead, oh gosh. He was dead, my heart was racing, I couldn't believe it, I hated him, feared him, but he was now dead, it was a big shock. I looked left and right and realised I was in a dark room, tucked in a large bed. I leapt out of it my heart racing where was I? I looked around the room was beautiful, but very strange all blacks and reds, it was so dark I had to squint my eyes to see anything, I tripped and fell over a chair that I didn't see in the shadows. I scrambled back up. I didn't recall this place at all, it didnt remind me of anywhere I had been. My heart began to race, where was Erik? Where was Madame Giry, Mr Kahn and the strange doctor? I stood for a moment in the dark, my head throbbing, I spun on the spot. Then I heard it, like a beacon in the blackness, the sound of the piano. It was so beautiful, it wasn't a usual sound, it sounded as if the piano itself was weeping, as if it was begging and trying to be understood, each note hung in the air and made itself known, they seemed to dance, to twirl and spin. I stood mesmerized, then I began to smile in relief only one person could get a piano to make such sounds, and that was Erik. I ran to the door and wrenched it open, following the glorious sound, I tippy toed over the mess that was on the floor, then couldn't help but squeal with joy and run as I saw Erik's back hunched over the grand piano, which he had propped up on wood as one of the legs was now missing. I ran to him, my heart bursting with joy, he was okay, he was alive. I got to his side, smiling and panting slightly, but noticed he didn't turn, just continued playing his long, long fingers dancing over the keys, brushing each one lightly, then hovering over the next, the music flowing t seemed from his long digits rather than the piano itself. I smiled sadly; it was heart breakingly beautiful the way he played. I stepped behind him silently, and reaching up I covered his eyes from behind. I felt his whole body jump, he spun quickly, my hand still covering his eyes, I gasped as I aw him shaking, then just like Papa used to do me whispered: 'guess who?' saw Erik's body relax at my voice, and his mask lift slightly in a smile.

'Hmmm, I guess that is the angel of music.' Erik said again his mask lifting,

'No, silly!' I giggled then winced my chest ached from its bruises. 'It's Christine.' I moved my hands from his eyes and gasped at the intense amount of emotion that was in them, they were so beautiful, I stared into the mismatched colours for a moment, my breath leaving me. Then Erik snatched his gaze away.

'How are you feeling?' He looked at my cheek concerned, it must of been bruised it ached terribly.

'I'm very sore, but I will live, is everyone else okay?' I whispered, trying not to think of Raoul's dead body. Erik nodded, then rose, his tall body looking down onto me.

'Christine, it's okay, I know perhaps the death of the boy was not the best way to deal with the situation. But he had gone mad, his brother did what was right before more pain could be inflicted. The boy won't be in pain any longer. He will be resting now.' Erik said softly, tears rolled my cheeks, I wrapped my arms around him, I felt his body tighten as always, but I snuggled my head into his chest. I was terrified of Raoul, but my Maestro was right, he had gone mad, he wasn't the young loving boy I once knew, he was a monster, a brute, now that monster was gone, and I was determined to just remember the sweet Raoul I once knew. I inhaled Erik's scent, the usual smell of parchment, cinnamon and candles; it was such a comforting smell. I felt so very safe with him. I looked at the piano from under his arm, I had always wished to learn, I knew very little but was never much good.

'Maestro?' I looked up at his frozen body, and smiled at his glittering eyes, he nodded, 'well, I don't suppose if, maybe you could teach me how to play the piano?' I watched him pull away from my grip and his mask lifted as he sat at the stool and patted the seat beside him, I beamed at him and rushed to his side.

'Now, we must learn steadily Christine, I will teach you the chords. If you would pass me your hands.' He looked down as he said this, I put my hands in his, jumping at their coolness. I was feeling greatly intimidated by the shining black face of the piano and slightly jealous of all the tie Erik spent with it. I shook my head, I was a silly girl.

'Now, we will play very basic to begin with, you don't tell the instrument Christine, the instrument tells you, it tells you how it wants to be played, if you listen to it I promise it will be beautiful. Too many musicians' abuse instruments bend them to their will and don't play freely. If only they knew to listen' He said rather crossly, I didn't really listen I was mesmerised by how his long hands covered mine entirely, making them disappear. I turned my head quickly, as I noticed Erik moved my hands with his, now touching the soft keys, he ran them up and down them, it made me jump at the coolness as they tickled my fingers. Erik pressed down lightly on my fingers with his own skeletal ones to show me each note and chord. I giggled wildly and smiled at Erik as the first chords began to play. He smiled at me, his eyes warm and loving, melting my heart.

'Now this is very basic, but if you watch me you should learn it.' I watched as Erik played a very basic set of chords, but even that he was able to make sound beautiful. I tapped my foot along to the little beat he created. Then I smiled widely! Yes I knew this beat, my Papa would play it and get me to sing. I rocked from side to side laughing, Erik stopped and looked at me curiously.

'Oh please continue Erik.' I begged, he looked at me strangely then sighed and played the beat again.

I began to sing the song Papa used to sing with me as a little girl, before our poverty struck.

Do, mi, so, do, do so, mi, so,

Every truly cultured music student knows,

You must learn your scales and your arpeggios,

Feel the music running from your chest and not your nose,

When you learn your scales and you arpeggios.

I heard Erik laugh beside me, his deep booming laugh filling the room, making me feel warm and light as I giggled along with him.

'Continue Christine!' he played on, and I smiled and sung on delighted at Erik's laughter that joined it.

If you're faithful to your daily practising,

You will find your progress is encouraging,

Do, mi, so, mi, do, mi, so mi, fa, la, so it goes,

If you learn your scales and your arpeggios.

I finished and watched as Erik continued laughing, I smiled at him, it was so nice to see him like this, it was also very odd, I had never seen him like this before, but it made me smile widely and my tummy go light. Erik looked at me, sighing and reached out a shaking hand to me, I watched his eyes twitch and giggled as I took it, he squeezed my fingers gently.

'You are adorable.' He whispered, looking away from me, my heart melted again, I felt his cold fingers tickle mine slightly. Then his head snapped up, I watched him turn my hand over. I tried to pull it away, but it was too late, he saw the ring he had made for me, but not given me and I closed my eyes as I felt myself go red with embarrassment. I heard him stutter, trying to make reason, trying to find an explanation.

'When Raoul came back from-from hurting you, he gave me this-to-to show me you were dead. I wore it, because I-well-I' I still had my eyes closed and my tummy was doing flips, I didn't want to tell him, I didn't want to say, but I knew I needed to. 'Oh gosh, Erik. I thought you had left me, I wore it because it was the only part of you I had left, I thought if I wore it you would come back, I thought well I thought-'

'What did you think?' Erik whispered, I could see his hand had dropped mine now, his breathing was strangely fast as his eyes burnt into mine.

'Well, I know-I know that I never want to be with any other man, I don't want any person to look at me-I thought if I wore your ring I could be yours forever.' I stammered looking down, tears filling my eyes, I was so embarrassed, and so ashamed he must think I was so silly, oh god, Erik poor Erik.

'Erik, please I don't know what to say, please don't be angry.' I looked up at his eyes, his bottom lip was dropped and he looked in me at wonder.

'Please say something Erik.' I begged, tears rolling down my cheeks, as I looked at his frozen body.

'You-you want to be mine forever?' he whispered, falling back to sit on the stool, he was visibly shaking; I knelt before him taking his hand.

'Yes-yes.' I said looking at my hands, I snivelled taking off the beautiful ring, I didn't want to give it back, it felt so right there. I looked at for a moment and placed it in his long palm.

'Christine, you're saying you would want to spend your life with-with me?' He muttered again looking at me, his eyes so wide I thought they may fall out.

'Yes-Yes that's what I'm saying. I love you.' I whispered, my face blushing, my eyes brimming with tears, didn't he love me back?

'Christine I love you. I'm going to-I'm going to ask you something. You can say no…' He stood now, his eyes wide and shaking. My heart was racing, I looked at the ring in his hand, what was he going to ask.

'Christine Daae, would you-would you-would you become my wife?' My heart stopped, I gasped, and my knees gave way, had he just asked m, no surely he couldn't off asked me!

'Christine-I'm so sorry, I thought, I'm such a fool!' I watched Erik back away slightly, tears running down his masked cheeks.

Yes this is what I wanted, I was so happy! Erik had asked me to marry him! I leapt up smiling, tears of joy running down my face; I threw myself around him, making him fall back to the stool.

'Yes Erik! Yes a thousand times!' I laughed, kissing his cheek again and again; I could taste his salty tears. I turned to look at him.

'You-you said yes?' He stammered, looking shocked.

'Yes! Yes! Yes!' I giggled looking into his eyes, I watched him shake his head.

'Surely I'm dreaming?' He whispered, I kissed his masked nose, covering him kissing.

'This is a dream Erik! It's a dream come true and I never want to wake up!' I laughed; he turned and was smiling at me, melting my heart entirely. He stood again, then I reached up with shaking hands to remove his mask and wig, I watched him stagger back, I took his hand.

'I want to see the face of the man I'm marrying.' I said quickly, he looked at me in wonder for a moment then smiled that beautiful smile his bloated lips lifting and sunken eyes twinkling. He took my hand, his shaking wildly, I watched the twitches going through him, then he slipped the ring onto my finger, I giggled happily, it was so beautiful, even more beautiful now he had given it to me. Tears of happiness ran down my face, I stood on my tippy toes and put my lips to his, for a moment he was frozen like a statue then I felt his hand slip on my back, I smiled into the kiss and let our lips dance.

XXX

Nadir Kahn POV

Everything was set, everything. The boy's body was on the floor, cold and staring up into the roof. His eyes glazed over, his body cold and white, apart from the large red patch the was covering his white shirt and cold waist coat. I gagged slightly at the sight as I felt his cold hand touch mine. But I knew this needed to be done, I waited for the other man, the boys brother to come back down stairs, he had to get something, it was a blessing that is was a Sunday and the servants had their heads bent in prayer so the house was deadly silent. It was a heavy silence as if the surroundings knew this man was dead. I couldn't help but feel slightly bad over the fact that this boy was dead, the death of any young person was a tragedy, but I knew this boy had needed to die, he wasn't a handsome boy anymore but a monster, a monster who knew no bounds, I knew he would of taken Christine by force, he would of shown no mercy and abused her body in the foulest sense. He was resting now, and people who knew him could remember him as the handsome boy he once was. Though to me he would always be a monster. I had seen the extent of Erik's wounds at their worst and knew that only a monster could have hurt another being so badly. I sighed and turned as I heard footsteps, the boys brother stood behind me, his eyes full of fear, of dread of knowing the hell he was about to injure, in his hands he held something, a letter it seemed and a small parcel, he came to me and passed to my hands.

'Here take this it is a letter to Christine. Please make sure she gets it. It's for her eyes only. Now, listen here Nadir, please I want Christine and her lover to have the manor house, I will show you it.' He said his voice cracking, pain evident. I froze, he wanted to leave the house, would he try and run? What about the boy's body? He must have seen my reluctance.

'Please, it will be my last ride, I just want to show you, it's not far.' I nodded, and he dragged himself from the house, I followed after, my mind pinning, what if he was lying? What about the body? Before I could argue, he came around the corner mounted on a giant grey horse, its silver mane blowing in the wind, in his hand he held the reins of a smaller horse, much finer, its face dipped, it was yet black, but its face was nearly all white.

'Come, you will ride with me. This will be the last time. I know Christine likes horses; let her have them, both of them if she wants them.' I mounted the frisky and jumpy black horse that eyed me nervously, it leapt about skittishly, I clung onto the reins for dear life, but before I could try and feel safe, Philippe pushed the grey into a gallop down the drive, the horse leapt into a gallop after, I thought I might fall off backwards, and was going to shout for him to slow, but I realised that this was the man's last time of freedom, soon he would be chained, soon he would be caught. I let him gallop on.

When we finally stopped, it was by a house it was beautiful, I hadn't seen any other houses around it on our travels, just fields and meadows all beautiful and beginning to shed their winter coats for the pretty spring fashion of greens, pinks and reds. The house was very traditional, stone fronted and five windows on its beautiful front surrounding the large navy blue door. Climbing up the face of the house was the beginning of a rose vine. My jaw dropped as Philippe showed me the garden, it was surrounded by beautiful trees, the grass was long and tickled my ankles, I followed him down the path that spilt it down the middle, and saw that it ran down hill slightly, at the bottom of it was a beautiful stream, a large willow tree dipped its fingers into the cool water. I gasped at the little boat that was tied to the tiny platform. I turned to look at Philippe who had tears running down his face, his lips trembling and his eyes wide with fear.

'You don't have to do this. You could run.' I said, looking at his crumbling body.

'No! I must do this. I must.' He sobbed, his face ugly with tears, I nodded I knew in my heart he needed to do this, I knew if he didn't guilt would eat him alive.

He turned away from me and back up the path, where it forked off.

'That leads to the stables, it isn't much, but I hope she can one day find use for it and bring it happy memories again.' He sobbed again, his voice truly heart breaking, I nodded completely over whelmed over the fact that he was leaving this to Christine.

'No one will bother her here, I hope she and her lover can live happily and without the shadow of the monsters we both became.' He mounted his horse, and before I could even cling to the leaping black horse's mane, he galloped back in the direction of the estate.

On the way back, the horse I was mounted on hooves seemed to pound even louder, I watched as we thundered between the perfectly straight trees up the drive Philippe's body collapsed forward onto his horse's neck. I leapt down of the leaping black horse and went to him. He leapt away from my touch sobbing. He scrambled down of the giant grey which he dragged away along with the jumping about black horse away to the stables. He came back shortly, sweat pouring off him, his head shaking, his arms weak, in both his hands he held a gun, I knew it was needed, but I still jumped. He turned to me before entering through the large door.

'Thank you Nadir Kahn, I 'am truly sorry for this whole situation, truly. I hope one day you can forgive me, and forgive my brother, and one day you can forget what happened and one day be free of the memories. I'm sorry Nadir Kahn. It's funny, isn't it? My brother is beautiful, and so is Christine, but he turned so ugly, so damn ugly. Both of us, I' am guilty as he is. Good bye Nadir Kahn, remember to give that letter to Christine.' I heard him walk away through the door. I turned my back and walked away, surely this wasn't right. But I knew it was. My heart was filled with dread, I knew in my head that he wasn't going to just walk away, that he wasn't simply going to be lock away. I knew what he was going to do, that he was not only saying good bye to me, but good bye to the world. Those words he said to me where his last. I had seen the look of a man about to kill himself and Philippe De Chagny's eyes shone with it. I closed my eyes and continued walking resisting the urge to run. I toyed with the letter and parcel I held in my hand.

There was the crack of gun shot. Then silence. But I was sure I could hear the sound of a heavy guilt and conscious leaving his body as it fell to the ground beside his brothers.

XXX

Madame Giry POV

It made the front page:

DE CHAGNY BROTHERS FOUND DEAD

I read the article my heart racing, good god, now it was on paper, now it was official it all seemed so real, it all seemed so disgusting, so brutal. The images flashed in my head of the young Vicomte's dead hand clutching on to Christine's bruised wrist, his brothers smashed in nose, and bloodied face, it all showed me that Raoul, the man I thought was perfect, was not, in fact he was the opposite. Oh god, the pain Christine must have been in, I dread to think what he did to her when she stayed with him, I wanted to cry at the thought, I was to blame. My stupidity and inability to look beyond Erik's deformity and wicked temper had led to this. To two deaths, to pain and unneeded hatred. If I had only not pushed Christine towards the Vicomte maybe, just maybe he wouldn't have become so obsessed with her and so driven on making her his own. Maybe it would have all happened differently. I knew Erik's love for Christine was pure, when I had seen him gently and softly sitting beside her bruised face, her face which bore the slap marks of a monster. But Erik, the man who had a past as red as a blood bath, a past of hatred of misery, he was the one who sat beside her and told her his love. I had watched and wanted to cut out my heart, I had kept these two lovers away from each other, I had done this, why hadn't I seen it? Why hadn't I noticed it? Why hadn't I noticed the love that all but poured from his eyes as he looked upon her, as he took her hand gently and tickled it with one of his long strangling fingers. I knew he adored her, that he would never let her be harmed again, I knew that despite the fact he had never loved, despite the fact he didn't know how to act around a woman, that he would love her until he died. I had watched with wonder in that brief moment when we had thought Erik was dead, how Christine had sobbed, how she had held him, how her eyes had brimmed with love, but I was more than mesmerised by the fact that just with her voice she was able to bring him back to life, to make him fight, that was the same with Christine, Erik had managed to calm her with his voice. It was remarkable, to watch their relationship, a relationship like no other, the way they could love each other entirely through their music, the way they both didn't know how beautiful their love was. They were both so innocent, Christine was so unstained so pure, and so young, but then so was Erik in his own way, yes he wasn't pure, and he wasn't as young, but he was so unused to being loved and loving something that it was obvious he was adoring the feeling.

There was a knock at my office door I jumped, and called 'enter' it opened and there stood Christine, I leapt up and embraced her shutting the door. I looked her up and down; she had changed now and was in a beautiful gown of navy blue, it had long white sleeves and a beautiful cross pattern on the chest. Her hair looked as if it had been tamed and but still her cheek was red with a palm mark and I could see her wrists were bruised heavily. I looked away quickly.

'How are you Christine?' I was so shocked she was here that she had left Erik. I had expected her to stay with him and not return to the upper levels of the Opera Populaire for many days.

'Im well Madame Giry.' She smiled, I noticed her eyes twinkled, I wondered what that was. I saw her catch a glimpse of the paper, she gasped and snatched it up quickly.

'No! No, he can't be dead too! Oh no.' She whispered, obviously realising that it was not only Raoul that had been taken, that his brother had gone now too. I put a hand on her shoulder.

'Christine, he is free from guilt now. He will be able to rest, he was going mad with guilt. I hope you can forgive him a little, I know you never will gully, he killed your Papa, but try and forgive him a little bit.' I told her, she nodded I noticed tears rolled down her cheeks.

'Oh Madame, I do forgive him, not fully. But he was innocent in the end, and now he is dead. He's gone.' She cried clutching the paper.

'Let him rest now Christine, just pretend he is resting, remember him as the man you forgave and Raoul as the boy you once knew.' I gave her a squeeze which she returned; there was a flash of silver on her finger. I caught her hand looking at the stunning ring, it was silver three white crystals glimmered on the front, they weren't large, just small and stunning, in a strange beauty. I gasped and looked up at her, she smiled at me widely wiping away her tears.

'Christine?' I asked, as she began to giggle girlishly.

'I'm engaged Madame! I'm engaged to Erik! Oh Madame it's a dream come true.' She was smiling so widely I thought her mouth may split at the seams, her eyes glittered and all fear was gone now. My heart stopped, did she just say? I couldn't believe it! It was so right, and she had said yes! This was great news, Erik had timed this perfectly, he had saved her with his love from a darkness that was hanging over her and wanting to consume her whole. I began to laugh, tears of happiness rolling down my face.

'Oh Christine! Oh my dear, I'm so happy! Is this what you want though? Are you sure?' I had to ask, just to be sure, but before she had even said I knew she was a hundred and ten per cent sure.

'I've never been so sure of something in all my life. I need him Madame.' She smiled back at me, I pulled her into an embrace. 'I love him so much.' She sighed, I smiled over her head, I knew Erik was here with us, somewhere hiding I knew he would want to leave her alone even if it was with me.

'I think perhaps though my dear you should keep the engagement secret until the news of the Vicomte's death has passed, people will get suspicious otherwise.' I saw her sigh as I said this, but I knew she agreed, she took of the ring and looped it onto her necklace which held the perfect little glass rose, she looked up at me smiling. Then blew a kiss at the wall, I rolled my eyes it was very sweet to see her so in love. I heard Erik's soft chuckle which filled the room.

There was another knock at the door, this time it was the manager Andre, Christine quickly wiped her eyes.

'I understand you have learnt the news Miss Daae, I'm so sorry, I know you were friends. He will be missed. I watched her smile at him sadly.

'He is resting peacefully now and I will always have the memories of him as that loving young boy he was.' She murmured, Andre smiled at her.

'You are very brave Miss Daae we have all missed you, I came to ask Madame Giry, now I know this may seem a little harsh considering the circumstances, but we need you Miss Daae, we need you to sing as our Prima Donna, we have a new score and no one can sing it, perhaps if you tried.' Andre was virtually begging.

'Monsieur she has had a great-' I began surely he couldn't expect her to sing, she couldn't not after what happened, I hadn't seen this score but it was apparently ridiculously hard, the songs in it where strange and full of notes no one could reach.

'Yes, yes I will.' Christine said quietly looking at her hands. I gaped at her. I heard Andre sigh in relief.

'Miss Daae you are a princess, I can't thank you enough. I owe you everything.' Andre was smiling with joy, he passed her the large score, it was bright red and tied with a black ribbon. 'I'll let you in on a secret this was left by the Opera Ghost before he died. This will make us rich! People have booked seats already to see the Phantom's Opera!' He laughed and then left the room.

I turned to Christine, who was smiling slightly. I looked at her, Erik had written an Opera? Why didn't that surprise me? No wonder it was so hard.

'Why so silent Madame?' I heard Erik's voice say from somewhere in the wall cavity, I spun to look for him, but he remained hidden.

'I-I-I, why can't anyone sing these songs Erik?' I whispered, my mind spinning.

'Because they had the wrong cast and the wrong Prima Donna, this is Christine's opera, I wrote it for her voice.'

I turned to Christine, who was flicking through the score, her mouth dropped and her eyes brimming with tears of what I presumed were joy. The door opened again, this time Meg squealed and leapt on Christine, holding her, the two girls embraced and then began talking, they sat completely involved and utterly taken by conversation. Neither of them noticed that I slipped through the slightly open gap in the wall to go and talk to Erik.

He had a fiancé now, I would try and make up for my mistakes and help him in any way he needed. I knew an engagement was hard for any man, let alone a man that had never been loved before.

Ohhh I'm not sure about this chapter.

I really hope you enjoyed it, and please, please, please let me know what you think for the engagement, I'm so worried about it…

Thank you all for your support, you're all so sweet and lovely.

*invite to the engagement party for you all :D*