Legal Disclaimer: We own nothing having to do with Phantom. Dammit.

Notes: Ahh, the second story by LadyWillow and AngelofMusic2008. Hurray! This fic starts right at the end of Point of no Return in THE NEW MOVIE. This fic follows the movie, and not the musical. It is also slightly influenced by the novels by Gaston Leroux and Susan Kay.

Chapter One:

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Erik held Christine close, his lips barely brushing her ear, and sang softly. "Say you'll share with me, one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me from my solitude. Say you want me with you, here beside you..." He spun her out, looking at her face with tears in his eyes. "Anywhere you go, let me go too....Christine, that's all I ask of..."

Looking up at Erik with wide eyes, Christine's chest rose and fell rapidly as her mind raced. Oh God... was all she could think. She knew that Raoul was watching, knew that the police were watching, everyone waiting for her to make some kind of sign. Reaching up, she touched his cheek, looking deeply into his eyes. She still didn't know so much about him... his name, anything. But she couldn't deny the emotions running through her. "Yes..." she murmured, her voice barely audible, her lips hardly moving. Leaning up, her lips touched his carefully, and her fingers slipped beneath his mask slightly, feeling his face.

Erik whimpered softly, pulling her close as she kissed him. He pulled away quickly, very nervous with everyone's eyes on him, and drew his sword, cutting the rope which would open the trapdoor. Once they had landed in the cellar, Erik drew away from Christine with wide eyes. "What...?"

Christine stepped back slowly, looking into Erik's eyes and biting her lip. Without his voice and hands touching her, she had to ask herself the same question. What had she been thinking? Wrapping her arms around herself, she looked at him shyly, not able to deny that thinking about his lips on hers had been amazing. Stepping a bit closer, she put her hands on his shoulders and stood on her toes, pressing her lips to his again and trembling.

Erik pulled her close, kissing her back shyly. He was no longer nervous with everyone's eyes on him, and ran a gentle hand through Christine's hair and down her back. "Christine..." he breathed, pulling away and looking at her with awe.

Looking up at Erik with eyes glazed with passion, she rested her cheek on his chest. "You.." her voice was too thick and soft to be heard. Clearing her throat, she tried again. "You have helped me... for so long, since I was so young..." she murmured, closing her eyes. "And you've never asked for anything in return but my honest devotion to music." Trembling, she drew back to look into his eyes, then shyly dropped her gaze. "And when you finally ask something from me..." shaking her head, she let her arms slip around his thin waist and pushed her face into his chest again. "I understand now." she whispered.

Erik pulled away from her, stiffening. "You understand now..." he repeated coldly, abruptly pulling her down the hallway. "You say you understand, Christine, but are you prepared to make a choice?"

Wrenching he hand out of Erik's grasp, she stomped her foot. "You treat me like a child." she said, looking at him with anger in her eyes. "What choice is there for me to make? I told you I understand my mistake now. What more do you want?"

Erik rounded on her, glowering. "I treat you like a child, my dear, because you act like one!" he hissed, taking a step closer to her. "You have passed the point of no return, Christine. Past the point of merely...apologizing," he sneered. "You must choose. Make a clear and legal choice. Me....or your Vicomte," he spat the last word, and continued to pull her to his house.

Clawing at his hand, Christine burst into tears, trying to pull out of his grasp. "And how do you want me to choose you!? As a bribe to save my life, or as a woman coming to you in love?!" she stopped walking, forcing him to drag her as she kept scratching at his hand and arm. "Behave like a man and let me choose you as one!"

Erik hissed out a deep breath, glaring at her. "Behave like a man, Christine?!" he growled, tightening his grip on her arm. "How do you expect me to behave like a man when I have been treated like an animal all my life? If there is ANYTHING I would behave like, I would hate for it to be a blasted, cruel, idiotic, MAN!"

Christine glared up at him for a moment, before falling to her knees, unwilling to move another inch. Her body heaved with the force of her sobs, and she tugged harder, trying to free her arm. "How can you ask me... how can you want me to love you... I won't love an animal..." she felt faint from the force of her sobs, and she pulled and scratched weakly, whimpering. "If you behave as an animal now because you were treated as one before, you've let all those who hurt you win." she whispered, silently crying now. "You've lost, then. And you won't win me, either."

Erik let go of her arm, turning his back on her. "No," he replied quietly. "No, Christine, I lost you that night on the rooftop." He shuddered, his shoulders shaking. "I was there. I saw you with him, Christine. You love him. Why do you lie to me?"

Giving a cry of relief, she brought her released arm to her chest, rubbing her bruised flesh and trembling. Swallowing hard, she looked up at him as tears fell down her cheeks. "How can I know what I feel for you?! You were my angel, and then a man... and a murderer! I don't even know your name.." she whispered, looking down at the cold stone floor. "I don't know what I feel now, but I do know you would have so much more of a chance at winning my love if you.." she sighed. "If you would... if I knew anything about you!"

"My name is Erik," he replied softly, looking at the floor. "I lived in Persia and Italy for a time, and with the gypsies. The first thing my mother gave me was a mask. What else is there to know?"

Giving a soft, shuddering sob Christine lowered her head further. "Why do you love me..?" she gasped out, unable to stop her tears. "Why me?"

"Because you are an Angel sent down from heaven," Erik replied, smiling shyly at her. "When I first heard you sing, Christine, I fell in love with you."


Shaking her head wildly, she wrapped her arms around herself. "No, not me... there are so many other girls... " she whimpered, looking up at him. The adoring look in his eyes broke her heart, and she fell forward, sobbing uncontrollably. "How can you do this? Change from such rage to such love so quickly?! I don't know how to think, how to feel when I'm around you." she cried, letting her cheek rest on the cold stone.

"Hush, child," Erik murmured, shyly moving closer to her. "You need to rest. Come with me," he offered a hand, looking back at her warily. "I will do nothing to you."

Looking up at him, Christine swallowed hard and looked at his hand. Slowly she lifted her hand, putting it in his and examining the ring of dark bruises from his grasp. Slowly standing, she swayed slightly, and took a step forward, then let herself sink against him, needing the comfort of his arms holding her. Trembling, she closed her eyes. "Why does this feel so..different..? When Raoul...and then you.." she didn't understand, and she pushed a bit closer with a soft sigh.

Erik gently placed his arms around her, picking her up easily. "You need to rest," he repeated firmly, carrying her back to his house. He gritted his teeth, admonishing himself mentally. Look what you've done to her already! He glanced at her wrist and sighed. I will do nothing. he thought, trembling. Nothing.

Curling in his arms, she let her head rest against his shoulder and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. Her breathing evened out and she sighed softly, pushing closer and nuzzling her face into his neck. "Erik.." she murmured, as if trying out his name on her lips. "Erik... it suits you." she murmured, half delirious.

Erik carried her to the gondola, placing her in it gently, as if she were a china doll. He smiled shakily at her, then turned and began to pole the boat across the lake with swift, sure strokes.

Christine watched him blankly, as if she were outside herself. Why am I so calm..? He's stolen me away again... I may never see Raoul... She couldn't bring herself to be truly grieved by any of this, and she absently rubbed her wrist as she looked up at Erik.

Erik looked back at her for a moment, shuddering as he noticed her rubbing her wrist. He sighed to himself, tying the boat up at the dock, and offered her a hand out, beckoning with black-gloved fingers.

Christine took his hand without faltering, and stood, then pushed herself against him again. She shuddered as she lifted her head, and pushed her lips to his. "Erik..." she whispered, then kissed him once more.

Erik stared at her, pulling away abruptly as he felt his facade starting to crack. "Come, Christine," he murmured, his cloak swirling as he turned to open the portcullis.

Christine followed after him, trembling and swaying faintly. Reaching his side, she found his hand and with a quick movement, had them both into a very familiar pose, the one of Don Juan and Aminta during the passionate song they had just sung together. Her back to Erik's front, she pulled his arms around her. But this was different. Her hands rested over his, pulling his fingers over her stomach and chest, down her legs, then up to her neck as she panted and leaned heavily against him. "Yes..." she whispered, tilting her head and looking up at him. "Yes, Erik." She hoped he would understand what she was trying to say.

Erik continued to stare at her, rather at a loss for words. Does the child know what she's doing? he thought, very confused. He pulled away from her, sighing, and moved to sit at his organ, bringing his elbows down on the keys with a series of discordant notes. "Please, Christine, just go to your room."

Shaking her head, she moved to him again and wrapped her arms around him from behind, grabbing his hands and making them slide over his chest and down his body. "Erik.." she loved saying his name. "Please, I..." she trembled. "I've made my choice." she murmured, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Would you like to know what I've decided?"

Erik sighed again, moaning softly as she took his hands. He would give anything to take her right there....he turned to look at her, his eyes smoldering. "Please, tell me, Christine."

Pushing her lips to his, she released his hands and moved her own over him, sliding them down his thighs and squeezing gently. "Take me." she whispered, before kissing him again. "Now. Please, Erik.."

"Ohhh...Christine..." he hissed out, shuddering, and turned around to look at her, his eyes trailing down her chest and her pale white skin. He swallowed hard, whimpering softly. "You....you know what you're saying?"

Christine nodded slowly, her eyes wide as she brought her hands over the front of his trousers for a moment. "Oh... yes, I know exactly what I'm saying. Please.."

Erik shuddered again, abruptly pulling her close and trailing kisses down her neck. "You...will be mine?" he growled out, pulling away to look at her with fiery eyes.

She nodded again, trembling. "Yes... I..." falling against him, she pushed her lips against his and kissed him eagerly. "I'm yours." she breathed, grasping his hands and guiding them to her hips. "Please.."

"Mine..." he repeated, eyes still smoldering, and kissed her back roughly. "You are mine. No one else's. Certainly not that bloody Vicomte's..." He started, pulling away from her. "The Vicomte!" He stared up at Christine worriedly. "He will come after you. The stagehands...and others will not be happy about..." he paused. "About the death of Piangi," he finished softly. "I am a monster.'

Christine looked up at him with wide eyes. "We must hide." she insisted, looking around helplessly. "Where can we go?" trembling, she pushed her body to his, reeling from the sensations flooding through her.

"You shouldn't go with me!" he insisted, pulling the covers off of the mirrors. "I am a monster, Christine." He picked up a candelabra, moving to the mirrors again. "Stand back," he added sharply, raising the candelabra and shattering the mirror with it.

Christine shook her head, standing back and watching him. "What on Earth are you doing?" she asked once the painful sounds of glass breaking died and it was once again silent.

Erik turned, smirking at her. "You will find, my dear, that a spider..." he paused, flexing his fingers for a moment. "A spider has many ways leading out of its' lair. Stay where you are." He pulled the covering off of another mirror, and began to break it. The glass fell away to reveal a passageway, which he pulled Christine into, then pulled the cloth back over the mirror.

It was pitch black in the passage and Christine grabbed Erik's arm tightly, her breathing coming in deep shaking gasps. "Erik.." She pressed her body to his and moaned very softly, feeling a rush of desire pulse through her body.

"Not here..." Erik replied hoarsely, kissing her passionately, and ran a hand through her hair. "Later, I swear it. Now come, we haven't much time." He lead her through the labyrinth, pausing to open a small trapdoor at the very end of it, where he pulled out a small, heavy bag, which he stuffed in his pocket. He gazed at Christine for a moment, then cursed. "Damn! We're still in costume..."

Christine looked up at him fearfully, then down at herself. "What will we do?" she asked, biting her lip. "We can't go back.."

"Damn, damn, damn," Erik muttered, running a hand through his hair distractedly. "The police are here, they will be looking for me. And I, suffice to say, am not that inconspicuous." He furrowed his brow in thought, then grinned faintly. "Estelle..." Suddenly, he pulled Christine down a different passageway, kissing her hand briefly. "We're going to Mme. Giry's apartments," he explained quickly. "I need you to ask her to get me a spare suit and mask, you can get a dress. I dare not show my face above ground. And I know she still trusts you..." he sighed, blinking back tears. "She brought me here, many years ago."

Christine nodded, not asking any further questions. Instead she clung tightly to Erik's hand, following him blindly and nearly running to keep up with his long strides.

Erik suddenly stopped, pushing a trapdoor open silently. He beckoned to Christine, hoisting her so she could get into the room. "Hurry," he murmured, grinning up at her.

Christine looked down at Erik, and arched an eyebrow. "Don't look up my skirts." she teased, nervous as she pushed herself out of the trap door and looked around quickly, chewing on her lower lip.

Estelle sat at her desk, her head in her hands. Why, Erik? She sighed, blinking back tears. You have endangered yourself and Christine. Why did you do that? She looked up as she heard a faint noise. "Christine!"

Standing quickly, Christine rushed to Madame Giry and fell to her knees before her, pushing her face into her lap and sobbing softly. "You have to help us... we... he wants you to get us clothing, and a new mask for him... I don't know where we're going, but please.."

"Hush, child," she murmured, absently stroking Christine's hair. "Calm yourself, everything will be all right." She straightened as Christine's words sunk in. "A mask...." she repeated slowly. "You have made your choice, then?"

Nodding quickly, Christine grasped Madame Giry's hands. "Please, we can't go back.." she whispered, trembling. "Tell Raoul..." she lowered her gaze. "Tell him that I'm sorry."

Estelle nodded, squeezing Christine's hands in reassurance. "Come, then, you may have one of Meg's spare dresses." She swallowed hard. "The mob....they went through your dressing room, I dare not take you there." She moved to a small closet, handing a dress to Christine and opening a drawer, where a spare suit was waiting for Erik, along with a mask. She set them on her desk. "Go change, quickly now."

Christine nodded and rushed into another room with the dress, carefully slipping out of her costume, then pulling the fresh gown on. It was a little short on her, but it served just fine for now. Reverently she folded her costume and brought it to Madame Giry.

Estelle took the costume from Christine, then handed her Erik's suit and mask. "Where is he?" she inquired softly. "I'd like to talk to him. Apologize."

Christine moved to the trap door. "Down there." she murmured, before dropping to her knees and peeking over the edge. It was solid darkness beneath, and she trembled. "E-Erik..?" she called, fearful to drop down.

"I am here, child," he replied quietly, stepping into the light. "What is it?"

Christine frowned, looking down at him. "I'm not a child." she stated, hurt. "I have your things, and Madame Giry wishes to talk to you." she said simply, before pushing down the trap door without warning, refusing to ask for his help. Landing hard on the stone below, she grunted, but made no other sound as she picked herself up and straightened her skirts and bodice.

"Are you all right?" he inquired, moving to her worriedly. He sighed, moving to the trapdoor. "I suppose I should speak to her," he replied.

Christine nodded simply, shaking her hands a bit. "I'm fine." she said, pouting slightly. "Yes, she seemed quite anxious to speak with you..." she murmured, leaning against a wall and closing her eyes.

"Don't go anywhere," he warned, a smirk quirking his lips. "I will find you, my dear." And with that, he pushed himself out of the trapdoor, emerging in the Girys' apartment. "Yes, Estelle?" he remarked coolly.

Estelle looked at Erik with wavering eyes, before taking a few steps toward him. "Erik." she said softly in greeting. Handing him the suit and mask that Christine had left on the floor next to the trap door, she looked into his eyes. "I wanted to apologize."

Estelle looked at Erik with wavering eyes, before taking a few steps toward him. "Erik." she said softly in greeting. Handing him the suit and mask that Christine had left on the floor next to the trap door, she looked into his eyes. "I wanted to apologize."

Erik's eyes narrowed. "Well then, apologize away," he replied coldly. He turned away from her and pulled his mask from Don Juan off, replacing it with his usual white half-mask.

Estelle moved toward him, touching his arm lightly. "Erik, I didn't know what to do." she said softly, looking up at him with wide eyes. "You'd taken her away, I cared only for Christine's safety." she insisted. "I didn't know that there was anything between the two of you."

"You didn't know?!" he growled, turning to face her. "How in Hell could you not know, Estelle?!

"You didn't know?!" he growled, turning to face her. "How in Hell could you not know, Estelle?!" He took a deep breath, trying to control himself. "Did you never wonder what Don Juan Triumphant was about? La Carlotta's..." he smirked. "...unfortunate accident?"

Madame Giry glared up at him. "I'm no fool, Erik. I knew about your infatuation with her from the start, what I did not know of was her returned feelings." she stated. "Or maybe they aren't returned at all..? Erik, you aren't forcing her into this, are you?" she demanded, eyes growing hard. "I swore to protect her when she came here, and by God I won't have you hurting her."

Erik stared back at Estelle. "Do you really think that badly of me, Estelle?" he inquired softly. "I am not that much of a monster, even if I look like one. I would never force Christine into anything. She made her own choice."

Estelle nodded. "I'm sorry, you're right." she sighed softly. "Where will you take her?"

"I'm not sure," he replied, moving back to the trapdoor. "Wherever she wants to go. Maybe Italy..or the countryside." He grinned, his eyes far away, and then bowed to Estelle. Straightening, he gazed at her for a moment and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you, Estelle."

She faltered for a moment, before returning the embrace. "Keep in touch... I'd like to check on my 'daughter' now and then... and my friend, as well." she murmured, tears in her eyes.

Erik grinned and kissed her hand, his eyes shining. "I will keep in touch, as often as possible, my friend. Thank you, again. For everything."

Estelle squeezed his fingers gently, smiling. "Be safe."

"I will," he promised, drawing his cape around him and moving to the trapdoor. "Goodbye, Estelle," he murmured, jumping easily through it and landing lightly on his feet.

Madame Giry shut the trap door and covered it with a rug, then went back to her desk and sat down with a smile on her face.

Christine looked at Erik, then gasped as they were once again bathed in darkness. Crying out, she lunged forward, trying to find him, and succeeded only in tripping and hitting the ground yet again. Refusing to move, she trembled and squeaked out Erik's name.

Madame Giry shut the trap door and covered it with a rug, then went back to her desk and sat down with a smile on her face.