Disclaimer – the characters belong to Gaston Leroux. Susan Kay made them wonderful, and ALW made them sing for me. I own none of the characters, although they have my heart, soul, and they would have my body – if I could find a comfortable shipping box.

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Raoul was moving around. I hurried back into the kitchen. I had been so long in my dreams, memories, worries, that I hadn't started breakfast. I began to work quickly, throwing things into skillets. My cooking was sub par normally, so perhaps Raoul would think nothing was different. I believe it is time again…Erik, I can't visit. No more. I couldn't get the simple lines of his note out of my head. I wished I could. I heard Raoul enter the kitchen behind me. "Remember, my angel. Acting is a lifelong thing. You must always be prepared." I took the advice of my teacher, and put on a smile. "Good morning, Raoul. How did you sleep?"

Raoul kissed me lightly on the cheek, "Quite well." He sat down at the table in the small kitchen, and I placed his plate in front of him. "Do you have any plans for today?" He took a bite of the eggs, and made a face. "Interesting, again, my darling." He would never understand why I didn't want servants to come in and do the household chores for me, so that I could escape, brave the world. again. I had rarely left the house – except for my visits to Erik and Nadir – since the Don Juan fiasco, almost a year ago. I enjoyed taking care of our little apartment, cooking and cleaning.

"No plans. After all, I must wash the bedclothes and clean the rugs." And visit Erik…the thought came unbidden into my mind. Would I? Could I? Raoul would be at work all day, not coming home until at least 6. That would give me time to go to Erik, and explain why I must never see him again. Why the visits and notes must stop. I had a new life, one with Raoul. Life must stay that way.

Seemingly moments later, Raoul was on his way to the office and I was alone in the apartment. I cleaned the rugs and the bedclothes. The tasks I had told Raoul would take all day took only a few hours, leaving me with the entire afternoon to do as I pleased. I had to go. There was nothing else for me to do.

I put my cloak on, and pulled the hood over my head. I exited the apartment and made my way through Paris to the opera house. I entered silently, and worked my way down slowly. I got to the lake and called for Erik. The boat was not on my side of the lake, so perhaps Nadir was visiting as well. That would make it so much easier. I heard movement in the water, and soon the boat appeared, being poled along by Erik. He looked surprised to see me, but helped me into the boat and began the journey back across the lake.

I settled into the boat, making the trip as I had many times before – lost in my thoughts. Erik began to hum a melody I knew too well, and I sang the words quietly under my breath – I have come here, that our passions may fuse and burn – then stopped myself. I couldn't be sucked into his trap again. I wouldn't let myself.

I took a deep breath. "Erik, we need to talk. About the notes, about us." I could feel his eyes on me as I spoke, although it was too dark to see anything. "I care for you Erik. But it must stop. I'm happy with Raoul now. I can't come to visit anymore."

"Hush, child. This will wait until we are off the boat and on the other side." Erik felt a twinge in his heart. She couldn't be leaving him for good, could she? It was all a silly plot, planted in her mind by Monsieur de Chagny. His Christine would never think of this on her own.

The boat ride ended quickly, and Erik helped me out of the boat again. He led me into his sitting room, and everything was still there. The organ, the coffin, and Ayesha. I had been making progress with the beautiful cat, but it seemed to have all been thrown out the window, as if she could tell why I was there. Nadir was sitting in a chair. He nodded as I came in. "Miss Christine, a pleasure." I curtseyed delicately.

Erik motioned me to a chair near the organ. "Angel, finish what you were saying in the boat."

"Erik, you must stop this…madness. You cannot write me more letters, and this must be my last visit. I'm no longer who you think I am. I know you wish to think of me as a child of music. Of your music. But that's not who I am. I've grown up. Erik, we just can't do this anymore." I began to cry. I knew that his heart was breaking with my words, but they needed to come out. I felt a hand on top of my head, and I looked up, shocked Erik would come this close.

"Christine, my angel, why? Why?" Those words. He had spoken them before, that fateful night. I shook my head.

"That's how it must be, Erik. My life with Raoul is getting better all the time. I…I…" I couldn't bring myself to say it. Raoul didn't even know. I wiped my tears away. "Erik, I'm no longer anyone's child. I am my own person, I make my choices. I made one that night. I choose it again. I choose Raoul!" I stood and ran out of the room, fleeing to the entrance to the outside. I unlatched the lock, and slipped out. A hand grabbed my arm. I almost screamed, thinking it was Erik coming to bring me back. It was Nadir.

"Miss Christine, you can't do this. Allow him to write the letters. You need not respond. But if you take away all his lines of communication…" he fell quiet, searching for words. "I fear he is living only for you. For the promise he made you. If you leave him again, there is no telling what he may do to return you to him. Please, receive the letters. Read them. Then destroy them."

Christine looked at him, deep into his dark dark eyes. "I'm moving on. Erik must be out of my life. Raoul is mine now, and I can't let him go. I'm sorry." With that, I turned and fled through the streets, thinking only of home.