A/N: Two things- 1) YEY! I learned how to use html! wOOt! 2) Danku, Danku, Danku! For ze incredible response! YOU ARE ALL BEAUUUUUTIFUL!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters that appear in any of the versions of "The Phantom of the Opera". The lyrics that appear in this fiction are from Jekyll and Hyde, my obvious inspiration for this fiction. They do not belong to me. Though I wish every damn day that I had thought of it first. Really. Anyway, as previously stated in all other chapters... I only own Dawn and the plot idea.

-SOMEONE LIKE YOU-

…You have your work and nothing more…

As Christine was escorting Meg to her room, she remained silent. Her whole body was in shock. Who was this stranger? Somehow, she found that she respected Christine more now. She suddenly looked less like a damsel in distress and more like a heroine.

Christine opened a passage to the hall right outside Meg's room. She opened the door for her. Meg stepped inside and wasn't surprised when Christine didn't follow her. Meg grasped onto the door and turned to Christine, half hidden behind it.

She carefully examined her cheek. "Does it hurt?"

Christine nodded. "But the emotional pain hurts more."

Meg gathered Christine to her again. "You know where to find me… if you need me."

Christine pulled away and smiled at her friend. "I always need you."

Meg smiled back. "Can I meet her?"

Christine was confused at first before she remembered Dawn. Brushing a wisp of Meg's hair behind her ear, she looked at her friend again. "Someday."

Meg smiled. "Good day, Christine. See you at rehearsal tomorrow."

Christine smiled and kissed her dearest friend on the cheek. "See you there."

The door shut. Christine placed her hand on it for a second, unaware that on the other side Meg had mirrored her actions. Simultaneously the girl's turned and went on with their business.

-*-

The sound of the organ came to a complete halt as Erik's voice raised again.

"No Christine, you still aren't getting it right!"

He was slowly loosing his patience with her. Maybe it was because it was this one phrase. Maybe it was because it was the twentieth time she got it wrong. Maybe it was because it was his masterpiece. Whatever the cause, Erik was loosing his temper.

Erik was known to be a very composed tutor. He was calm was he helped Christine through all her flaws, no matter how simple or complex. He never loss face. He was always very collected over all of her errors. Never once had he ever raised his voice. But now, things were changing.

"Erik, I just cannot do this!" Christine snapped.

Christine too was changing. But this had nothing to do with the music. It had everything to do with Dawn. Dawn had helped her take a step that she was convinced would take several years to achieve: growing up.

Christine never hesitated to admit to herself that she was somewhat of a child. She believed in the Angel of Music for pity's sake! She always let people take care of her. She didn't want to see the corruption and the hate and the sorrow. She wanted to let everyone else shield her from it. She hid forever.

But Dawn forced her to grow up. She was a lost child. Although she had a backbone, she was still lost. She had been in this situation before. She and Meg were lost at first and clutched onto each other. They were the only two people who understood each other in the Ballet corps. Then, they settled in.

But now, Christine couldn't be the other lost child. She knew too much now. And although others may hate Dawn for what she has done, Christine didn't. For once, someone told her to reach for strength instead of innocence. And Christine enjoyed being a grown up. It was wonderful to guide someone else through the world. And she couldn't help but love watching Dawn's face light up as she discovered something new. Life was changing. But this change… was definitely good. Christine the child was morphing. And the only person who didn't like it was Raoul.

In fact, Christine hadn't seen much of him since the scene in her dressing room. She still refused to be happy about agreeing with the plan. Although over time, it slipped her mind. Erik's music was so powerful that she just couldn't think about anything else.

However, she just couldn't get this one phrase right.

"Yes, you can, Christine. It's not that difficult," Erik said.

Christine flung her sheet music onto the table. "But Erik, it makes me blush so terribly."

"That is what acting is all about, Christine. You aren't saying this. Aminta is," Erik explained.

"But it is just so lewd, Erik. I-."

Erik turned on her, her eyes flashing. "Are you calling my opera smutty?"

"No!" Christine cried, defending herself. "But who says such things, Erik?!"

"It's not so terrible, Christine. It's only nine simple words."

"Can't you change it? Please? I cannot say such things!" she pleaded.

Now, Christine's innocence was far from gone. It was merely taking a back seat. It was times like this when it came into play.

"How hard is it to say: 'How long should we two wait before we're one?'?"

"Erik… people just don't say such things!" she huffed, stamping her foot. Just by hearing the phrase, her face was tinged pink.

"Christine, you are being childish!"

"You cannot force me to say it!"

Dawn decided to interrupt at this point. She had been listening from the beginning. After all, the allure of both Christine and Erik's voice joined in song was just too strong for anyone. The beauty of it almost made her cry. However, things slowly turned ugly as Christine kept stumbling on 'the' line. Sighing, she stood and said.

"Both of you, please desist!" she yelled above the chaos.

Things quieted.

"Christine, Erik is right. You are playing a character and… this is what the character is feeling. I know it is rather embarrassing to say but you must still try." She paused. "Come now, Christine, surely you can relate. Have you not ever felt that way about a man?"

"No!" Christine denied, turning crimson.

Suddenly, Erik was paying even more apt attention then before. This could get interesting…

"Christine, although you are a virgin, you are also a woman. You cannot deny that no man has never set you on fire. That no man has never made you delve into the pools of lust."

Christine blushed. Only one man… she glanced at Erik quickly before she turned away.

Dawn stepped up to Christine and after one try, took both of her shoulders into her hands. "Now, embody that emotion, Christine. Don't think of the sin, think of the feeling."

Dawn gave Christine's shoulders a squeeze before she returned to her chair. Sitting down she waved to Erik. "Try again."

Erik sat back down at the organ bench and Christine slowly drifted back to his side.

He started from the beginning of that verse. Christine's voice immediately sprung to life.

"Past all thought of right or wrong

One final question:

How long do we two wait before we're one?"

Dawn smiled. Not only had Christine pulled it off without stuttering, she had also made it completely seductive. If Dawn weren't blind, she would have seen the shudder of raw desire go through Erik.

Christine continued. Something was different about her now. Her pose had relaxed into a more sensual stature and her eyes were glazed over. But even so, her gaze was pure fire. Her voice had gone from it's innocent allure to a seductive drawl. Everything about her was now embodied with passion. She WAS Aminta.

"When will the blood begin to race?

The sleeping bud burst into bloom?

When will the flames at last

Consume us…?"

Dawn was never prepared for the next part. She had heard Christine and Erik's voice both separately and together, but this was different. Their voices were so full of lust and desire that Dawn found herself uncomfortable. They drew their audience in and forced them to experience the emotion that they themselves were impassioned by.

"Past the point of no return

The final threshold!

The bridge is crossed

So stand and watch it burn!

We've passed the point of no return!"

After this, there was silence. Dawn had her eyes closed, her lips parted. She felt lust coursing through her veins at high speed. Christine's eyes were so dark that they seemed black. She was panting with the passion. When her eyes met Erik's, she was shocked to find him in the same disheveled shape. At first, his eyes had been closed, but the second she looked at him, they snapped open. They both felt as though their hearts were going to beat out of their chest. Desire was flowing between them, connecting them. This was the first time Erik had ever seen any emotion like this in Christine. And it excited him. It took several minutes for the two to snap back into themselves. However, both of them couldn't deny the scenarios that they had envisioned.

It took a while for Christine to look at Erik again without blushing.

None the less, it was rather obvious the two would have some interesting dreams that night…

-*-

Ooh, STEAMY! That was hot! Sorry, the best part of the chapter was imagining Erik saying smutty. C'mon, that was hysterical! It certainly fulfilled some of my dreams.

ERIK: What is so great about me saying "smutty"?

CHRISTINE and CS: *swoon*

ERIK: *raises his eyebrows* Must experiment on this more later…

CHRISTINE and CS: Experiment on me! No me! ME! ME! ERIK!

ERIK: *smirk*

RAOUL: Smutty…

CHRISTINE and CS: *pauses* Um… no… *continues to glomp Erik*

CARLOTTA: Oh, Raoul! *glomps him*

REVIEW PEOPLE OR ELSE!

-Claire Starling

La Brat