*Author's Note*  All the italic thoughts belong to Erik.  Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming!

Chapter Fifteen:  It Will Come To You

"Oh Christine, isn't it awful?  They've told you, haven't they?"  Meg asked, her voice high pitched as she ran into Christine's dressing room about an hour before curtain.

"Yes,"  Christine answered calmly,  "Monsieur Firmin was just in here, and he told me I am to play Marguerite tonight."

"I can't believe it, though.  La Carlotta, and that freakish accident with the carriage.  Thank goodness she's okay, though.  I mean, I may not like the woman, she's a mean bully, but still, she doesn't deserve to be hurt, does she?"

"No, Meg, of course she doesn't, no one does.  And you know, I know she's mean, but perhaps it is merely because she was not cared for as a child, and that would mean she's deserving of our pity, you know."

Meg chuckled,  "La Carlotta, a child?  I can't imagine!"

Christine laughed along with Meg,  "You're right, it does seem a bit contrived, doesn't it."  As the laughter subsided, Christine sighed.

"Are you ready for this then, Christine?"

"Ready?  I believe so, it's not like I've never sang a lead role before, now is it?  Am I nervous?  Of course, I'm always nervous when I go onstage, you know that."

Meg ran up to her friend, and enveloped her in a hug,  "You'll do fine, and besides, since I know it was your teacher you were with when you went away, I know you were likely practicing, weren't you?"

"Yes,"  Christine answered,  "We did a lot of singing while we were away."

"Speaking of your mysterious beau, did you talk with him?"

Once again, Christine sighed,  "Yes, I did, and he was vehement at first about it, but he finally agreed to think on it.  He's worried, Meg, that your Maman will still say you can not come."

"Oh, I'm sure if he's as wonderful as you say he is, Maman will allow it.  I'm certain."

No sooner were the words out of Meg's mouth then the sound of a cane being struck to the ground outside of the door floated through the room.  The two girls jumped back, and the door opened to reveal Madame Giry.

Meg and Christine attempted small smiles, but both lost the battle at the stern look from the ballet mistress.

"You know, Meg, whenever you disappear, I always know to find you right here!"

"Maman, I just wanted to wish Christine luck tonight before curtain!"

Giry's face remained stern for a moment, then finally softened.  Both girls finally breathed when the ballet mistress nodded.  "Very well, then, but you need to get ready as well, Meg, you have to warm up, and so does Christine.  And you need to get into your costume still."

"Yes, Maman."

"I shall expect to see you in the dressing room in five minutes,"  Giry said, a bit more gently than her normal tone, and she turned to the door.  Her hand was on the knob when she paused, and turned back to look on the girls once more.  "Oh, and Christine . . ."

"Yes Madame Giry?"

"Good luck tonight."

Christine smiled, and replied with the only words that would come to her,  "Thank you Madame Giry."

Giry nodded, and then opened the door.

Christine turned to Meg, and chided,  "See, she's not as harsh as we always make her out to be!"

"You don't have to live with her!"  Meg countered.

"Hmmm, true, I don't."

"You know, though,"  Meg continued, changing the subject,  "You can't hide Erik forever, he's going to have to meet me eventually, if I am to be at the wedding."

"Yes, he knows that,"  Christine sighed.  "It's . . . it's difficult for him, though, to trust people.  He's had a hard time of it through his whole life.  There is so much he is either unwilling or unable to share with me about his past, and I know that it's because it's just too painful.  People are not always so kind to him, and it took a long time for us . . . for him to really trust me, even though he loves me.  He's so frightened sometimes, and yet, he's one of the strongest people I know.  I know that doesn't sound possible, or even plausible, but perhaps you'll understand when you meet him."

"If he even allows me to get to know him, Christine.  He does sound wonderful, though."

"Oh, he is.  Oh Meg, I can't wait until Christmas!"

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As the final scene of Faust closed, Erik made his way stealthily through secret panel in the marble column in box five, and down below to one of the secret passages, hoping to make it to Christine's room before she arrived.  And of course, as she had sung the lead that night, he knew she was likely to be besieged by friends and admirers backstage.  He only hoped that boy would not make another appearance!

Finally, he was in place behind the mirror, and just in time, for then Meg and Christine made their way into the dressing room.

"Oh Christine, you were perfect!"

'My thoughts exactly,'  Erik thought from behind the mirror.

Christine blushed at the praise, and set the bouquet of roses into the vase which took up a place of prominence on the small mantle.  "Oh Meg, I would hardly say perfect!"

'No, Christine, I can think of a few other words.  Excellent, marvelous, spectacular.'

"Christine, you still doubt yourself!"

"No, I know I can do it now, I know it's not like it was, but I also know that I can be better."

'Better?  Ahh, so there is still some ambition left there!'

Meg chuckled,  "So, back to the discussion we were having before, do you think he'll make a decision soon on if he will meet with Maman or not?"

Christine rolled her eyes,  "Oh Meg, as soon as he tells me, you will of course be the first to know."

"You know I can not wait to meet him, whatever he decides.  I want to meet the man who has put such a glow back into your eyes.  You know, Christine, I don't think I've ever seen you as happy as you have been the past few days since you returned."

"Hmmm, perhaps it is because I am happy.  Oh Meg, Christmas seems so close and yet so far!"

Meg smiled slyly,  "I'll bet it does!"

"I really don't know how to describe this.  I can only hope one day, you meet someone who can make you feel this way."

"My day will come, Christine, but I am in no hurry, you know that."

"Yes, I know, you want to dance and dance and dance until-"

Meg chorused with Christine to finish the phrase, but interchanging the you with I,  "Until you can't dance any more!"

Meg smiled,  "You know me too well, Christine Daae!"

"As many hours as we used to sit together, Meg Giry, how could I not?  You truly are my best friend, you know that, don't you?"

"Oh Christine, you're going to make me cry!"

Both girls laughed as a knock sounded on the door.  Christine walked over to the door and opened it to reveal Raoul, returned again.

"I didn't mean to bother you, Christine, I didn't realize you had company until I knocked."

Christine dropped her head for a moment, then looked back up into his eyes.  "Hello, Raoul."

'Damn him!  Damn damn damn!  Can't the boy just leave her alone!'

"I just wanted to tell you that you were wonderful tonight, that's all.  And to apologize for the way I acted last night.  It was wrong of me.  Christine, I just don't want to lose your friendship, and I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Oh Raoul, I'm not going to get hurt.  You must believe I know what I am doing."

"I know.  You've grown up, Christine.  And I suppose I have to accept that the dream I had for so long can just never be, but I still want to be your friend.  Please tell me that I can at least have your friendship."

"Raoul, I've known you since I was a little girl.  Nothing is ever going to change that, you should know that."

"I'm still going to look in on you from time to time."

"I wouldn't doubt you would."

Raoul smiled, reached for her hand, and gave it a small squeeze, then leaned over and left a chaste kiss on her cheek.  "Then I shall leave you to your company, then.  Au revior, mon ami."

"Au revior, Raoul,"  Christine echoed as Raoul turned and made his way down the hall.  As soon as he was out of sight, Christine turned around to face Meg.

Meg just stood there, smiling for a moment.

Christine rolled her eyes once more at the look.

"Well, can't say he's not determined,"  Meg finally broke the silence.  "And should I dare to ask what he means by he's afraid of you getting hurt?"

Christine sighed as her mind raced to come up with a suitable response.  She didn't dare tell Meg what she had told Raoul, about Erik's past.  "He's just worried, he seems to believe I'm rushing into this, but really, I'm not.  I've loved Erik for quite some time, even before I was ready to admit it was true."

Meg nodded in understanding,  "I trust that you know what you're doing, Christine.  And after all, you know what they say, love conquers all.  And now, I must get out of this costume.  Will you be at rehearsal tomorrow?"

"Yes, I'll be there."

"I'll see you tomorrow then!"  Meg smiled as she made her way out the door.

Christine smiled to herself, and then groaned softly.  She'd known the minute she'd entered the room that he was waiting behind the mirror, she'd sensed his anger when Raoul turned up on the other side of the door.  But she could tell he was holding it in now, so that she may get changed.  So over to the dressing screen she went, and a few moments later, she heard his voice on the other side of the mirror.

"She certainly is an inquisitive girl, isn't she?"

Christine sighed once more, knowing that the worst was still to come.  "Curious, of course, but I've said so little about you, and she's always wondered."

"I should be angry, you know."

"Yes, I know, but Erik, you know that there is nothing between Raoul and I."

She could hear Erik's sigh of resignation behind the mirror.  "I don't suppose it would do me any good to forbid you to see him, now would it?"

Christine's eyes widened.  This she hadn't expected.  She'd almost been getting used to his rages over Raoul.  "Raoul will always be a friend, Erik.  I can not forget that he is a part of my past.  A part of my childhood."

She heard another sigh, and felt relief when she saw the panel slide and reveal the figure, still in his black dress clothes and the white mask in place.  He stepped into the dressing room and walked up to face her, and both were aware that it was truly the first time they faced each other in a domain that was Christine's.  Most of their time had been spent at the house on the lake, and Christine could barely remember the last time she had been at her flat.

"You knew then, that I was there the whole time?"

"I always know when you are behind the mirror, Erik.  Ever since the first time you sang to me, I always knew when you were there."

"Even when?"

"Yes, although at first I thought I was feeling a spirit around me.  Now I know . . ."

He took her hand gently in his.  She watched as his eyes closed, and his breathing evened out.  "I am sorry for my anger."

Christine smiled, but remained silent.

Erik could see in the smile that he was forgiven, and brought her hand up to his mouth.  Christine stepped into his arms as her hand lowered, and they stood that way for a few moments before the opening of the dressing room door made them jump apart.

Christine turned quickly to see who was there, and her gasp of surprise flew out the same time a similar gasp came from Meg.  Christine watched in silent horror as Meg's eyes widened, and a sort of recognition came over her face.  Christine could see as Meg's eyes noted the still open mirror, and the man in the room.

Another startled gasp came from Meg, and she had the good sense to come into the room and close the door.

Erik released his hold on Christine, and stood stock still as Christine walked over to Meg and tried to repair the damage.

"Meg, I'd like you to meet Erik."

Erik and Meg both stood shock still, neither of them sure of the next step.  Finally, it was Meg who recovered her surprise, and walked forward slowly, giving a small curtsy when she was just before him.  "A pleasure, Monsieur."

Erik stayed stiff for a moment, before the mannerisms that had been drummed into him from earliest childhood took over,  "The pleasure is mine,"  her replied as he made a sweeping bow.

Meg's hand flew to her chest, and the three people in the room stood in a tense silence, and Meg couldn't help but stare at the man before her.

Erik stood silent as he watched Meg's unabashed scrutiny.  He knew she knew about his face, but just what else did she know?

Christine, meanwhile, felt as if the three of them were on a train that was headed for a wall, and fast.  She didn't know how else to break the ice between them.

Finally, Meg spoke again,  "Christine tells me that it is you who have been training her voice."

Erik's eyes widened behind the mask, but he showed no other form of emotion as he answered,  "Yes, and she is a wonderful pupil."

Meg nodded, her eyes once more coming to rest on the open mirror.  Erik watched as they did, still uncomfortable at the silence that had once again settled upon them.

And once more, it was Meg who broke the silence as she looked Erik right in the eyes,  "You have nothing to fear from my mother and I, you know.  Even for all the tales they tell in the ballet salon, I always knew better.  Maman told me many times what you've done for us, you know."

Erik's eyes now narrowed slightly,  "I'm afraid I misunderstand."

Meg sighed, realizing that he wasn't going to give an inch.  She gestured toward the open mirror,  "You know, we always wondered how Christine managed to leave the Opera without being seen.  The Vicomte once told someone that he'd been in the room when she disappeared, and yet he never saw her leave the room.  Maman told me that evening when I asked that it must be the ghost, but that was all she would say.  I knew she never believed that he was really a ghost, even if she would not tell me so.  But you need not worry, I have never betrayed anything Christine has ever told me in confidence, and I won't betray this, either."

Erik took his eyes off Meg's determined face, and looked toward Christine in silent question.  He watched as she shook her head in the negative, and satisfied, he turned back to Meg.  The three figures didn't move, and no one spoke for a long time as everyone adjusted to the obvious change that had taken place.  And finally, it was Erik who whispered,  "Thank you for your discretion, Mademoiselle."

Meg simply smiled up at Erik, and the tension in the room melted away as she stepped away from him and turned to Christine.  She calmly took Christine's hands in hers and squeezed, and the two girls smiled at each other.

"I meant it when I said I trusted you to know what you were doing, Christine.  I hope, that now that I know, you won't hide so much from me?"

"No, Meg, I won't."

Meg nodded her acceptance, and let go of Christine's hands.  Then she was out the door, and Erik and Christine were alone once more.  The silence reigned for a few moments longer, and then Erik held out his hand to Christine, and she went to him without a word and they disappeared through the mirror together.

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