TITLE: The Angel's Second Chance: Chapter 5

AUTHOR: EriksSylvia

DISTRIBUTION: If you want to put this somewhere else email me first.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any characters.

RATING: R

SUMMARY: Erik is sent back in time for one last chance. Can he make Christine fall in love with him?

COUPLES: Erik/Christine (Wouldn't have it any other way.)

Hey, thanks to all of you who have reviewed. You really give me confidence. I'd like to thank Invader Nina for helping me along with Don Juan Triumphant and Sweet-Intoxication for your prodding. Love you all. Here it is. Chapter five. What causes the swordfight in the graveyard.

Chapter 5

The Graveyard and the Swordfight

Mme. Giry watched in horror as Christine fell the stone floor covered in her own blood.

"Christine!"

Meg screamed and ran to her friend. She pulled Christine's head into her lap and began to cry. Mme. Giry swiftly knelt at her daughter's side and looked around at the people just starring.

"Call a doctor you fools! She's dying!"

"Mamma! Who did this to her!"

Mme. Giry looked around wildly for the culprit. If she found that person, she would personally see to it that they were put to death! She caught sight of something she thought impossible. The Viscount de Chagny holding a smoking pistol with a look of terror on his face.

"You! You heartless bastard! You did this to Christine!"

The elder women rose and ran to him, ready to strangle him with her own hands when Andre caught her.

"My dear, we'll see to the bottom of this. There will be no need to harm the Viscount."

The women collapsed to the floor in tears. When she looked over at Christine she suddenly screamed out.

"Call a doctor you fools! She'll die!"

Meg kissed her friend's forehead.

"Please, Christine, wake up. Please…don't leave us."

Erik dropped to the floor and began to walk back towards his lair. Christine had tried to stop him and that notion made him laugh to himself. She wanted her ring back no doubt. Where was Raoul anyway? The Viscount had suddenly disappeared at Erik's arrival.

He took a back way and avoided the lake. He didn't feel much like taking the long route. As he reached his home he sat down at his organ and laid his head in his hands.

"Christine…"

He whispered to himself. Tears came to his eyes but Erik suppressed them. He didn't know how he could possibly love someone this much and hate them at the same moment.

"Damn you…damn you, you little viper."

He tore the skull mask from his face and threw it to the ground. He plunged into his work. Playing a piece from his Don Juan.

Christine opened her eyes and saw nothing but blurry shapes. Her arm was numb and she felt tight bandaging around it. She lay there trying to figure out what had happened. She heard voices, but they sounded far away. She strained herself to listen.

"He could have killed her, Monsieur Firmin!"

It was Mme. Giry. She sounded angry but also very sad.

"I understand that Madam, but without his patronage we would surely be ruined."

She heard, then, a sigh of frustration.

"Fine! If he harms her again, let us pray that God himself takes pity."

There was silence and someone left the room. She felt a hand on her forehead.

"Thank god, Christine. I was afraid you wouldn't wake."

She tried to speak to Mme. Giry but could only make out a few words.

"Where…..is……what?"

She took a deep breath and tried again.

"Erik?"

She heard the older women laugh quietly.

"He does not know what happened, my dear. If he did, I'm afraid you're fiancé would no doubt be killed."

"What happened?"

Christine managed to choke out.

"Monsieur de Chagny made an attempt at Erik's life. He didn't account on you interfering. You were shot by a pistol in the arm."

Christine whimpered. The sudden realization of her pain coming to her.

"Erik…"

"He is fine Christine. He doesn't know."

"Madam Giry, I need to be alone. I want to see no one."

"Christine, what happened? Between you and Erik?"

Christine shook her head.

"Let me alone for a while. I need to think about some things. When I sort it out, I will tell you."

Mme. Giry sighed and stood. She cast one last look down at the confused girl and left the room.

Erik stood, exhausted, and made his way to his bed. A sudden noise made him turn.

"Who dares?"

"It is only me, Erik."

The Phantom smiled and placed his normal white mask over his face.

"Madam Giry, may I be of some service to you?"

The women looked frantic. She'd been crying for sometime, quite obviously. Erik went to her.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Christine, Monsieur. She's been injured."

Erik's mouth dropped open.

"What! How!"

Mme. Giry fought back tears once more.

"The Viscount…when you appeared, at the Masque, Monsieur de Chagny apparently disappeared to retrieve his pistol. He tried to kill you Erik. Christine got in his way."

Erik dropped to his knees. She had tried to stop him, it had nearly gotten her killed.

"Christine…."

Erik buried his face in his hands.

"What have I done?"

He whispered to himself and then slammed his hands to the ground.

"Why? Why, God, must you curse me like this? What did I do that was so horrible? What did Christine do? She didn't deserve that!"

Mme. Giry placed a hand on his shoulder. She had promised Christine she wouldn't say a word. She couldn't break that promise now.

"Erik, do you wish to see her?"

The Phantom slowly stood and looked at his friend.

"I need to….but…."

She took his hand.

"Come, I will take you to her."

As they walked up the stairs Mme. Giry noticed that it was nearly dawn. Surely no one would be awake at this hour. When they reached the door to where Christine lay the older woman knocked softly.

"Mademoiselle Daae?"

She creaked the door open slowly.

"Christine? Are you-"

The room was empty.

"Where is she?"

Erik was in a panic.

"I don't…"

As she turned he was already heading down the stairs.

"Good luck Erik."

"Where to Mamselle?

Christine placed coins in the man's hand.

"The cemetery."

The young girl picked up some flowers out of a vase and went to the carriage. As she climbed in her arm began to ache. It was in a sling but that would not stop the pain.

"To my father's grave please. Ouch…"

She grasped her arm as the carriage began to move, her thoughts drifted to Erik. Raoul would have killed him. That was different. Last time her fiancé brought out his precious rapier, not a pistol! She wondered if her Phantom even knew what had happened. His last words to her rang in her head.

"You belong to me!"

She did. Sometimes she didn't want to, but it was true. Her mind and soul belonged to him. That's why she'd gone to Mme. Giry in the first place. After she married Raoul he had forbidden her to work at the Opera Populaire. It was only then she realized how in love she truly was with the Opera Ghost. He had shown her a love that no one could match. Raoul, somehow, knew this. He knew she loved Erik. He became abusive. She would cry herself to sleep at night, begging God to let Erik sing to her once more.

'In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came. That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name.'

The carriage slowed to a stop outside the gates of the cemetery and the driver helped her out of the car.

"Thank you, Monsieur."

He did not reply. She entered the cemetery and looked around. She missed her father so much and she desperately wished she could talk to him.

"Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. Her father promised her he would send her the Angel of Music. She got her wish, only to have it ripped from her time and time again. Oh Erik…"

'You were once my one companion, you were all that mattered. You were once a friend and father, then my world was shattered.'

She made her familiar path to the Daae tomb, unaware she was being watched.

'Wishing you were somehow here again, wishing you were somehow near. Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed, somehow you would be here.'

She thought of her Phantom. Lost and alone.

'Wishing I could hear your voice again, knowing that I never would. Dreaming of you won't help me to do, all that you dreamed I could!'

There were beautiful statues of Angel's all over the graveyard.

"Poppa."

'Passing bells and sculpted angels, cold and monumental. Seem, for you, the wrong companions, you were warm and gentle.'

As she walked she barely felt the cold. The falling snow seemed to avoid her. Tears welled in her eyes and she wanted her father. She wanted him to hold her and tell her everything would be alright. She wanted Erik, too. She would never have him. He wont change!

'Too many years fighting back tears, why can't the past just die!'

She had spent all that time looking for things to give to Mme. Giry. The old Gypsy had sworn she'd make it alright!

'Wishing you were somehow here again, knowing we must say goodbye! Try to forgive, teach me to live! Give me the strength to try!'

It was all for nothing. Her Angel had not changed. Yet, she needed him so.

'No more memories, no more silent tears! No more gazing across the wasted years! Help me say goodbye... help me say goodbye!'

She was at his grave. She hadn't even realized it, tears were flowing.

Erik knelt upon the 'Daae' tomb. His Christine was crying, her arm in a sling. He wanted to massacre the young Viscount. He knew she'd recognize his voice if he sang to her.

'Wandering child, so lost, so helpless, yearning for my guidance.'

He prayed that this gave her some comfort.

Christine heard Erik's voice and her heart skipped. Did he think she didn't know who he was?

'Angel or father? Friend or phantom? Who is it there, staring?'

She sang to the bodiless voice, though she knew who was there. She knew he'd reply.

'Have you forgotten your Angel?'

'Angel, oh, speak! What endless longings echo in this whisper.'

Erik longed to hold her.

'Too long you've wandered in winter, far from my fathering gaze.'

'Wildly my mind beats against you.'

'You resist…'

'Yet (your) the soul obeys…'

Christine loved singing with him. It gave her the chills. She stood and looked at the roof of the tomb.

'Angel of Music! I denied you, turning from true beauty
Angel of Music! My protector...
Come to me, strange Angel…'

'Angel of Music! You denied me, turning from true beauty
Angel of Music! Do not shun me
Come to your strange Angel…'

Christine held her arm out.

"Erik, come down. Please."

Erik jumped down to face her. He slowly stepped towards her.

'I am your Angel of Music... Come to me; Angel of Music'

To his relief she walked towards him. She seemed relieved by his presence. Erik was slightly dazed by her stare and didn't notice someone coming.

He was there, right in front of her. He looked so worried about her. She wondered if he knew who had hurt her. She wanted to tell him, she wanted to tell him everything. She heard something, then, from behind her. A horse and….

"Oh god, no…"

"No, Christine, wait! Wait!"

"Raoul!"

"Whatever you believe, this man - this thing - is not your father!"

Was he really that thick? Is that what he believed! That she thought Erik was her father? She laughed, it was funny, she couldn't help it!

"I know he's not my father Raoul!"

She turned her head but Erik was gone. Where in the world could he be?

Erik was sick of this. Whenever he got the time alone with Christine that boy interfered. He would finish this. He would not be so foolish this time. He walked back towards the gate of the cemetery when he heard something.

"Afraid to fight me Opera Ghost?"

He whirled around. That little upstart was provoking him on! His hand moved for his rapier but he stopped himself. No. He would not fight him. Erik turned around again.

"Raoul! Stop it!"

He heard Christine's voice, pleading with Raoul to come back. He smiled but someone grabbed his arm and turned him around. He starred Raoul in the eye.

"Get…away…from me."

Erik growled. There was something in the Viscount's eye. A menacing look.

"Come on, old man. Fight for her. Take your precious Angel from me. See if it's as easy taking her back as it was snatching her from you."

Erik snarled and pushed Raoul to the ground. He drew his rapier and put the point to his throat.

"What exactly do you mean by that, Monsieur de Chagny."

Raoul laughed and the sight brought Erik's blood to a boil.

"Do you know how easy it was to draw her from you? It's funny, really, how easily stage hands can be paid off. They'll even commit murder if the price is right."

Realization dawned on the Phantom. Raoul had paid a stage hand to kill Buquet. He had framed Erik.

"You!"

The Viscount laughed again and kicked Erik off his feet, knocking the man to the ground. Raoul jumped up and unsheathed his own rapier.

"Now, fight me Phantom."

Christine watched in horror as Erik fell to the ground. She screamed as the two men began to fight each other.

"No! Raoul! Erik! Please stop!"

She couldn't bare to watch one kill the other. She had to stop them. Christine ran down the stairs but tripped, falling on her already injured arm. She cried out.

Erik turned his head as he heard Christine cry out in pain, she was on the ground. She had fallen on her arm.

"Christine!"

That momentary distraction, however gave Raoul the advantage. He lunged foreword and sliced Erik's chest. The wound was shallow, true, but that did not take away from the pain. The wounded man cried out and fell to his knees. Erik opened his eyes and glared at Raoul. In one swift motion he slid his own rapier across the young Viscount's left bicep.

Christine looked up in time to see Erik fall to the ground. Blood protruding from his chest. She screamed and crawled over to him.

"Erik! Oh god, Erik no!"

As soon as she made her way to him Raoul yanked her to a standing position.

"Christine, get on the horse."

She looked down at her fallen Angel. Raoul had hurt him. This was all so much different.

"No, Raoul, I wont."

"What!"

He spat in disbelief. Clasping her hurt arm she turned to her fiancé.

"I said no, Raoul."

"Christine…"

Erik spoke her name threw a clenched jaw.

"Christine…I love-"

"Shut up you vile creature!"

Raoul let out a yell and withdrew a pistol from his belt.

"Christine. Ms. Daae, get on the horse."

He cocked the gun and pointed it at Erik.

"Now."

Christine clasped her hand over her mouth. She looked at Raoul, pleadingly.

"Raoul, please…no."

"Get….on….the horse, Christine."

"Do….what he says Angel."

Tears were streaming down the young girl's face and she nodded. She turned and went to the horse. Raoul followed, not taking his eyes off the Phantom. He placed her on the horse and climbed up himself. He kicked the animal in it's side and they rode off.

Erik, shaking, got to his feet. He would need to see Mme. Giry about the wound. She would know how to mend it. What had just happened? Christine had wanted to stay here, with him? Raoul had threatened her. He had threatened to kill Erik had she not left with him.

"Christine, my Angel, I will have you back. I do have an idea my love."

He returned to the abandoned carriage and climbed in. He snapped the reigns and the horses began to move. Don Juan opened in two days. He formed his plan in his mind but he would need to contact his Angel well before then. He prayed Mme. Giry wouldn't be apposed to helping.