Wow, I can't believe all the reviews I'm getting for this story. I'm so touched that all of you like it.

I JUST SAW THE MOVIE AGAIN SUNDAY!!! I took most of my friends to go see it, and they all liked it. Not as much as I do, but whatever. I GOT TO SEE IT AGAIN!!! YAY!!!

Anyway I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I might consider continuing the story to a 'life afterward' addition if enough people want me to.

Who sings what:

Erik- bold

Christine- italicized

Raoul- underlined

Disclaimer: (stares at screen stupidly. Starts crying.) I don't own the Phantom characters. But they are still in my closet. (Muffled shouting) Let us out!

Chapter 3

Raoul ran from his box when Christine and Erik disappeared, desperate to find the one person who might know where they are. (Yes ladies I know we're not overly fond of Raoul, but this part is rather important, so just bear with me here.)

"Madam Giry!" he shouted. "Madam Giry!" He finally spotted her in the crowded hallway. He fought his way through the sea of people and grabbed her arm. "Where are they?" he demanded wildly.

Madam Giry stared at him wide-eyed for a moment, then took his arm and pulled him through the hallway. "I'll take you to them monsieur," she said, leading him though the twisted hallways. She had seen the two up on the bridge and knew without a doubt the feelings that Erik and Christine had for each other. But the desperate man she led would never believe it, not unless Christine herself convinced him. And he would cause no end of trouble for the two if he wasn't brought to understand, so she led him on. This was best resolved tonight.

Raoul followed along swiftly, mentally beating himself around the head. He should never have put Christine on the stage tonight, he should have listened when she begged his to spare her. But he had convinced her to do this anyway and now she was once again in the hands of that murderer, who had once again taken hold of her mind, was once again controlling her. There was another suggestion for Christine's actions tonight, one that Raoul didn't want to think about. He didn't even want to consider the possibility that she might love Erik more than she did him. So he had to chase them down. He had to get her back.

Erik and Christine, meanwhile, had been making their desperate flight to the Opera cellars. Christine was sitting as close to Erik as she could get without actually leaning against him and upsetting his balance. When they docked Erik stepped out and assisted Christine out of the boat. Christine noticed that he was still treating her like a glass doll, afraid that she might brake at any given time.

Smiling slightly Christine kissed him on the cheek. Erik ducked his head.

"Perhaps you would like to change," he suggested awkwardly. Christine sighed. Yes she wanted to change out of her stage costume. No, not right now. But she quietly agreed and wandered into the bedroom, figuring she could find something. The first thing she saw was the wedding dress, carefully laid out across the bed. She smiled again, so Erik had been planning for her arrival all along, but her actions on stage must have sent his earlier plans into disarray. He must have forgotten he had left this here. Well she saw no reason not to go along with this plan, and it certainly saved her the trouble of hunting for another dress. So it was the wedding dress she put on, taking the time to pamper herself. She looked around a little hopelessly, there were no mirrors in this room. So with a sigh she walked out into the main room.

Erik turned around when he heard her walk out, then almost began to choke, he had completely forgotten that he had left the dress out in the rush to get back down here. He had completely forgotten his initial plans, but now they all came flooding back full force. He shuddered at the memory, and stepped forward to meet Christine. As he met her outstretched arms with his own his nearly froze to see tears in her eyes. Then she took a shuddering breath.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry for everything. I didn't mean to hurt you." She seemed unable to say anything else, and Erik pulled her close.

"It was entirely my fault my dear Christine," he whispered into her hair as she quietly cried into his shoulder. They stood together, each reluctant to separate from that tenuous embrace, neither willing let the other go.

About the time Erik and Christine reached the lair, Madam Giry and Raoul reached the stairs that led below the theatre.

"This is as far as I dare go" Madam Giry said quietly. "Good luck monsieur." She turned and left as quickly as she could go without actually running. Raoul leaned over the side of the winding staircase, eyeing the dizzying drop, then with a shudder turned and began to race down the stairs. He didn't go far before a trap door opened under his feet and he was dropped a ways into a deep pool of water. He floundered for a moment before he broke the surface, choking on water. A clanking sound caused him to look up, then let out an exclamation of horror. A metal grille was slowly heading down towards him and would hold him under the water when it reached him. He'd drown!

Frantically he searched for a way out and spotted the wheel that hopefully controlled the mechanism under the water. He filled his lungs and dove down to it, struggling to make it turn. But the wheel was old and obviously hadn't been used in a while, so he was having trouble moving it. He surfaced again, the grille bare inches above the water now, and filled his lungs again. Frantically he dove down to the wheel and tried to turn it. Finally, a little at a time, he did manage to get it to turn. With relief he saw the grille move back up and he surfaced to choke air into his lungs gratefully. Apparently the wheel was also the release for a trap door in the side of the wall. Raoul climbed up through it, soaked to the skin and shivering. With some amount of trepidation he made his way through the tunnel.

Erik and Christine were still locked in their embrace when the loud sloshing of water finally brought them back to reality. They released each other and stood back as Raoul wading into view, greatly resembling a drowned rat.

"Look my dear, I think we have a guest," Erik said, his tone highly amused. He was rather surprised that Raoul had managed to find his way down though, and he was hiding it well but he was worried about what complications the young man might cause.

"Free her!" Raoul demanded passionately, clinging to the bars of the portcullis.

"Do what you like only free her! Have you no pity?"

"Your lover makes a passionate plea," Erik observed rather dryly to Christine. If the situation hadn't suddenly become so serious Christine would have been tempted to laugh.

"I love her!" Raoul shouted. "Does that mean nothing? I love her!" He turned his gaze to Christine, calling her name a few times, before turning back to Erik with a demand. "Let me see her!" Christine had her hands pressed to her mouth. This was definitely not how she had envisioned events.

"Be my guest sir," Erik told Raoul nonchalantly, pulling the lever to raise the portcullis enough for Raoul to slip underneath, and lowering it again when Raoul was on their side. Raoul was hurrying through the water to Christine, who wavering on the shore, debating whether or not to meet him halfway but deciding upon reflection that she didn't really want to get wet. So she waited for Raoul to come to her.

"Christine, are you alright? Has he hurt you?" Raoul seized her arms, carefully looking her over. Christine shook her head.

"No, I'm fine. Raoul we need to talk."

"We will," he assured her. "We'll talk as soon as I get you out of here."

"No, that's just it Raoul," Christine said, tugging against his hold on her arms and resisting his urgings to lead her away. "I'm staying here, I can't leave with you."

Raoul looked at her like she was crazy. "Christine don't you see? He has you under his control again! You need to break out of it!"

Christine sighed. How could she possibly convince Raoul that she was sincere, that she really meant it when she said that she wanted to stay? For that matter how could she truly convince Erik? She knew that he was not used to the idea of someone loving him, and probably thought with some part of his mind that she was trying to save Raoul's life by staying.

Christine was jerked from her thoughts when Raoul made a violent motion, tugging something from the inside of his jacket. What he pulled out revealed itself to be a revolver, which he aimed at Erik. Erik merely folded his arms and quirked an eyebrow. He had doubts that the boy could aim properly while shivering as he was. But Christine went pale as a ghost and dove for his arm.

"Raoul, No! Don't!" Raoul ignored her plea. He'd finish it this time, not like the day in the cemetery. He should never have let Erik go! When Christine grabbed at his arm he merely shoved her out of the way, but that proved to be a mistake. Up until then Erik had just watched, but when Raoul shoved Christine he leaped forward with an angry snarl. Startled, Raoul fired the gun, but the shot went wide and Erik had seized his arm before he could fire another shot. Erik knocked Raoul's feet from under him, then grabbed the back of his shirt collar and dragged him through the water to the portcullis. Reaching into the water he picked up a length of rope and skillfully lashed the young man to the portcullis. Another length of rope was produced, seemingly from midair, with a noose at the end that was tossed around Raoul's neck. Erik threaded the rope through one of the top bars, kept a hold of the end and began walking back toward shore.

"Erik don't!" Christine shouted from shore. She was once again teetering at the edge of the shore, her frantic gaze going from Raoul to Erik and back again. But as before she seem reluctant to enter the water.

"Monster," hissed Raoul through the tight rope around his neck. "She'll never choose you." Though he didn't show it, Raoul's words sent a dagger straight to Erik's heart, all his doubts coming to the surface.

"Why don't we let her choose?" Erik hissed back. "Well Christine?" he called over to the frantic girl on shore.

This is the choice! This is the point of no return!

Raoul began to speak, but he went pretty much ignored by Christine and Erik, except for the occasional tug on the rope around his neck.

Christine forgive me, please forgive me.

I did it all for you,

And all for nothing.

Christine at the same time was speaking to Erik, trying to talk him out of this act. He did not need another sin to his name, and she did not want him to kill her childhood friend.

Please don't fall my idol,

Don't be a false friend.

We have such hope,

Don't let it shatter.

Say you love him and my life is over.

Either way you choose he has to win/

Either way you choose you cannot win.

Christine began to speak again, entreating.

Angel of music, why this torment?

Why do you scorn mercy?

For pity's sake, Christine, say no

Don't throw your life away for my sake!

His life is now the prize which you must earn! Erik sang over him.

You've past the point of no return.

Angel of music, you deceived me,

Did I give you my mind blindly? Christine called out in sheer desperation.

You try my patience, make your choice, Erik hissed.

Christine lowered her head, at a loss for what to do. Then the answer came, so obvious that it all but slapped her in the face. She then did for Erik what she hadn't done for Raoul, she waded out into the water to meet him where he was standing.

Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known?

God give me courage to show you, you are not alone.

She had reached Erik by the end of her brief song. Standing before him, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and for the second time that night met his lips with hers. And for the second time Erik started in surprise before responding, tentatively wrapping his arms around her, the rope falling forgotten into the water. Ever after none of the three there could tell how long the two stood locked in each other's embrace, clinging to each other like lifelines. Erik finally stopped holding Christine like glass, all but crushing her slight frame to him as his shoulders shook with quiet sobs.

Finally he released her, pushing her in Raoul's direction. "Go," he said in a strangled whisper. Christine obeyed, wading over to Raoul and beginning to untie him. As she did Erik addressed the two of them in a strangled voice, which caused Christine to whip around in horror.

Leave me. Forget me, forget all of this.

Leave me here and forget all you've seen.

Go now and promise never to tell,

All the secrets you know of the angel in hell.

"Erik!" Christine protested.

Go now! Go now and leave me.

With some surprise Christine felt Raoul grip her arm and drag her stunned and unresisting form with him. She couldn't believe Erik thought she would want to go! That's not what she had meant at all! She finally dug her heels into the floor and tugged her arm from Raoul's hold.

"Christine?" Raoul addressed her, but he no longer sounded desperate, he sounded weary and resigned.

"I can't go," Christine replied, firmly putting her hands behind her back. "I can't go. I won't go. I'm sorry."

Raoul merely hung his head in defeat, running his fingers through his hair sadly. He had come to realize a few things after watching the kiss that Erik and Christine had shared.

"I never really stood a chance against him, did I?" he asked in weary defeat. Christine hung her head, her eyes pricked with tears. She hadn't meant to hurt either one of them, she certainly didn't want her childhood friend's heart broken. But that's all he was to her, a friend. So she sadly shook her head. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

To her surprise Raoul wrapped his arms around her and held her close for a moment. "If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask, alright? I will always be your friend, if nothing else."

"Thank you Raoul," Christine whispered. He released her, smiled tremulously one last time, then turned and walked away. Christine watched him for a second, then turned and all but ran back. Erik wasn't in the main room but she knew where he would be, and she was right. Christine found him sitting in the bedchamber, his back to her, listening to the little monkey music box and singing brokenly.

Masquerade, paper faces on parade.

Masquerade, hide your face so the world will never find you.

He sensed Christine's presence them, and turned around, tears streaking unheeded down his cheeks. He rose to his feet as Christine approached, then took a startled step back as she threw her arms around his neck, her face buried in his shoulder.

"I chose you," Christine whispered. "I love you. Why did you think I would want to leave?"

Erik tenderly wrapped his arms around Christine's shoulders wonderingly. She had come back. Despite his face, despite what he had done she had come back.

"Christine I love you," he whispered into her soft hair. She held him tighter, trying to burrow even further into his arms. They stood together until the sounds of the distant mob reached their ears. Erik raised his head, realizing what danger they were in.

He brought Christine back into the main room, tugging a concealing cloth off a tall mirror. His fingers unerringly brushed against the switch that opened the mirror's surface, revealing a hidden door much like the one in Christine's dressing room. He held out his hand for Christine and she took it with a smile. Wherever he went, she would follow. Wherever they went she didn't' care, as long as she was at his side.

When the confused mob reached the lair, they couldn't find a trace of the Phantom. Only Meg noticed the mirror, so like the trick mirror in her friend's dressing room, and turned from it with a smile. Wherever her friend went, she wished her luck, knowing that she would return soon. After all, nothing could keep Christine from the stage, or the Phantom from his Opera House for long. And nothing could ever tear the two apart.

Well, wasn't that sweet? At least I hope it wasn't corny. Let me know if you want me to write a follow up after midterm week, I'm starting to want to. And I really don't want to let them all out of my closet anyway, it's rather nice having them in the house. Hehe. Anyway, review! And thanks a bunch to all of you do, its really meant a lot to me!