a/n: this is chapter two! yay! I hope you like it!

still Christine POV

PG-13 for innuendo and language

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He accepts my answer and then wraps me in his arms. I feel protected and secure when he does this, but is that me loving his, or me desiring him? I did love him, before, but that was so long ago. Can those feelings still be alive, or do I simply desire the life he leads over the Phantom's.

"Oh, Chirstine," is he crying?

Yes, I can feel my shoulder get slightly wet, as it did not so long ago, but that was the Phantom, and this is Raoul.

I hold him tighter, "I'm here now, nothing happened, I'm alright, and so are you."

He pulls back, keeping his hands behind my back, looking into my eyes, "What if something had happened to you?"

"He wouldn't hurt me," I know this.

"But what if—" he tries.

"He already knows, Raoul, and he still didn't hurt me," Raoul looks at me in shock.

"Oh Christine," he kisses me long and full on the lips, and I give in, kissing back.

All of a sudden I feel like I'm back in the dank underground prison where the Phantom resides, and it's almost as if I'm kissing him and not Raoul. Is that where my heart is pointing me? Is that who I really love?

But it can't be, he's a monster… he's an angel… whatever he is he can't be the one I love, he just can't be!

But I pull away from Raoul; regardless of if I really love him.

He looks at me, confused.

"I can't do this Raoul," I look at him and see that I've hurt him.

"But, Christine," he moves his hands to my arms, gently holding them, "don't you love me?"

I start to feel my own tears being shed, "I don't know."

Raoul turns his face away from me and drops his arms to his sides, defeated. But then his hands ball into fists.

"I knew that man was nothing but trouble!" he's growling his words, and I back away. I've never seen him like this.

"Raoul?" I look at him and he turns to me, rage burning in his eyes.

"I will kill him! You and I will never have to worry about his influence anymore," his hand has moved to the hilt of his sword.

"No, Raoul!" I grab his arm and tear his hand from his sword.

"Christine, don't try and stop me. He's crossed the line. It's his turn to suffer," he looks to the mirror, drawing his sword. "Tell me how to open it!"

"You can't from out here," I answer, knowing that I'm at least not lying.

"Don't protect that bastard! Tell me how to get it open!" I cower away from him.

He pauses a few seconds and drops the sword. His knees buckle and he falls to the ground, burying his face in his hands, and his shoulders start to shake as he sobs.

I walk, nervously, toward him and drop to my knees in front of him.

When I try to reach out to comfort him he draws away.

"Raoul…" my voice is weak, and filled with fear, sadness, and pain all at the same time.

"Oh God, Christine. Forgive me, please, forgive me," he looks me in the eyes.

I smile, weakly, "I already have." He embraces me at my words.

There on the floor we stay, for a good while, until our legs hurt from the hard floor.

I finally watch as he stands, and then he helps me up.

"I guess I'll just have to wait," he whispers.

I smile nervously and then turn quickly to the mirror.

I thought I had heard someone. It sounded like shoes meeting stone, but how can I be sure? I don't see anyone.

"Christine?" Raoul puts a hand on my shoulder, cupping it lightly and massaging my shoulder lightly.

"It's nothing," I turn to him and smile.

He smiles back and I fall in love with him again. After seeing his weakness tonight he seems to have his youth back, and his smile is just as bright now as it was when I first met him.

"It's late, you must be tired," I nod. "Then I'll leave you."

He looks at me, and we kiss quickly before he turns and leaves.

Once I'm sure he won't come back I swiftly move to the mirror and touch it. It's warm, just about where my face is, a little higher up then that, but it swiftly goes cold.

"Don't go," I whisper.

"I only wanted to see that you got back safely and that you were alright," his voice is obviously masking his emotions, it's so bland and cold at the same time.

I look at the mirror, knowing that he sees me and wishing that I could see him.

"Aren't you going to show yourself? I know you're there," I smirk at the second part.

There's silence on the other side.

"You still there?" I call.

"Yes," I hear his voice is more controlled now.

"Well, are you going to magically appear or what?" I sound like a brat, I can tell.

"Will you sing for me?" I look at the mirror confused.

"What!" my voice is louder than I meant it to be.

"You sing for me, and I'll show myself," I shake my head in disbelief.

"A deal for a deal?"

"A deal for a deal," he laughs, lightly as well. I like this laugh.

"Promise? It's awkward enough to talk to a mirror, but to sing to one…" my voice trails and he laughs again.

"I promise," and I know that'll he'll keep it.

I start to sing the way he taught me, "You have brought me to that moment where words run dry, to that moment where speech disappears into silence, silence. I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why. In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining defenseless and silent - and now I am here with you: no second thoughts, I've decided, decided. Past the point of no return - no going back now: our passion-play has now, at last, begun. Past all thought of right or wrong - one final question: how long should we two wait, before we're one? When will the blood begin to race the sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames, at last, consume us?"

I watch the mirror open as I keep singing, and he joins in, "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."

I smile at him and he looks at me.

"I'm here now, what did you want?" he seems a little annoyed, but I know he isn't, he just wants me to think he is.

"I wanted," I kiss him on the lips and we stay like that for a few seconds, "a good night kiss."

He looks at me in shock and when I see he isn't going to say anything I continue, "Thank you. Good night." I turn and start to my clothes ready.

"Good night," I hear him answer.

He doesn't leave though and I turn on him, "What? Aren't you going to be a gentleman and leave like Raoul did."

Though he seemed to twitch at Raoul's name he smirks. "What?" he mocks, "You think I haven't watched you get changed before?"

I get up and slap him across the face, hard, "You perve."

"I'm a ghost," he shrugs, "and what better to use my powers for?"

I slap him harder this time. His mask falls off, but he doesn't move to cover his face.

Instead he grabs me and kisses me, hard, almost painfully. I pull away from his roughness.

"I'm sorry," he picks up his mask quickly, "I wasn't thinking."

"It's not that… you hurt me," I answer softly.

"I apologize for that as well," he turns and quickly leaves.

I get changed and then crawl into bed. There it takes me forever to fall asleep. All I can think about is Raoul and the Phantom.

God, I know this isn't going to turn out good. I just know it.

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a/n: hope you liked it! Please review