a/n: ignore the chapter title, it's just a random line that I liked that kinda sums up a part of this chapter. Thank you for all that reviewed:

inkie pinkie: Thank you:hug:Roles kinda switch around. just depending on who has the opportune moment to be the role of "male" vs "female".

Kytten: There is this and still more to come:D

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When the masquerade has finally ended, and everyone else is heading for the doors, save Madame Giry who seems to never leave this place, Raoul takes my hand, "Follow me."

He drags me from the room and down the hallways, "Raoul? Slow down!"

He doesn't listen.

He stops when we reach Christine's old room. I put my hand on the wall, as it is the only thing that could keep me standing, and I try to catch my breath.

"Raoul?" I try again.

"C'mon," he opens the door and pulls me in before I can protest.

I close the door behind me and he grins, moving to the other side of the bed.

"What the hell are you thinking, Raoul? We shouldn't be in here! We have no right!" I move closer to him.

He pulls a huge trunk onto the bed from near his feet and his grin grows. I hate it when he seems this childish.

"I thought, if you didn't mind, I could bring some stuff here, and, well, stay with you. Only for a while, just until things about Christine and the opera house fire settle down," his smile grows shyer. It's been a while since the fire, but no one forgets it or the man that caused it, and I know what he means when he says this: let's wait until your bad reputation settles down into a story. Like that will ever happen.

My grin grows wide, "I love you Raoul."

I move to his side and put a hand on his arm, "So, I take it that's a yes?"

I laugh, "Yes, that's a yes."

He smiles, putting a hand around the back of my neck and rubbing there with his thumb. I lean my head down to his neck and kiss him, trailing my tongue over the skin, tasting him. He let's out a slight moan and I can feel him push me closer, push me harder.

I push him until his back is pressed against the wall and I start moving my hands over his arms and sides and thighs. I feel his muscles tense and I pull back.

I turn away blushing, "I'm sorry."

He shakes his head; "It's alright. I'm just not used to this, that's all. I mean, the only other person that has ever been this close to me was, well—" his voice dies.

I tense, but I try not to show it. My suspicions have been confirmed, but it was to be expected, I mean, they were engaged, right?

He frowns, sensing the change in the atmosphere, "I mean, after you told her to leave she told me what happened. After that she felt so uncomfortable for days. She constantly seemed to regret leaving, and while it broke my heart I still could not forgive you for nearly taking my life. Monsieur, she loved you to her dying day."

I force myself to relax and I pull him to me, his head resting on my shoulder. I can feel his shoulders shake and I know that's he's crying.

"I still miss her," he whispers into my shoulder.

I hush him and he continues to sob.

I hold him for a while, my hand tangled in his hair and my other on his back. Neither of us move until I feel his shoulders stop moving and I feel the tears stop flowing.

I can not tell which has pierced my heart more, hearing of how Christine loved me to her death, or holding my angel as he cried.

I thank all the powers that I was able to stay strong for my love.

I pull back, looking into his face and regretting my decision to do so. His eyes are brimmed with redness and they are depthless pools of sadness.

"My angel," I pull him back to me and I kiss his hair.

I want to cry, to tell him that it will be all right but to cry any ways. I want to tell him how much I loved her, but how much more I love him! My emotions are spinning out of control and I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

"Please, Raoul, no more tears. There has been enough sadness in my life," I let go of him and he sits up straight.

His eyes have softened and his gaze is more bearable. He moves his hand to touch my face, but knocks my mask off instead.

Out of my normal reactions I throw my hand up to my face and spin around at him, taking the mask into my hands.

"Erik? My angel?" he tries to get near me, but I spin off.

"Why Raoul? Why did you do this?" my voice is more of a growl.

"Please, it was an accident," he tries to come near me, but I retreat to a corner and place the mask back on my face.

"You're curiosity is too much, my love," my voice is shaking, but there is still anger to be noticed in it.

"Please, forgive me, I didn't mean to. You did not mind last time, need I remind you," he has made a big mistake.

"You took it off me then as well," my voice has stopped shaking, and is now starting to hint at sadness.

"You let me, and I gave it back," he pleads.

"I wasn't thinking," I spit at him.

"I didn't mind!" he counters.

"You weren't thinking either," I turn away.

"Please, Erik. Oh god, please forgive me!" his voice has that sad tone that I hate to hear, and my heart is pierced again.

"How could anyone love me, Raoul? I'm a monster," I point out.

"You're an angel," he answers.

I turn back to him and see his face buried in his hands, in both frustration and sadness. When he lifts his hands he seems to have decided on something.

He swiftly makes his way to me, tears the mask from my face and just stares at me, throwing the mask onto the bed behind him.

I move to grab it, but he doesn't let me move. I know that I'm stronger than he is, but I don't want to injure him further.

"Why Raoul?" I drop to my knees, burying my face in my hands.

I feel his arms wrap around me, "I love you."

I don't know how to respond, so I give in. I cry out the pain of my life, and he just holds me, as patient as I had been when he cried on my shoulder not too long ago.

When I feel my tears cease I whisper into his shoulder, "I love you, too."

I can feel him smile, "I know."

I straighten up and look to the trunk, and then I look to the ground and see a second one.

"Not packing light there, are we?" I laugh.

"Who knows how long I'll be here," he sighs, "Besides, I will be expected to appear every now and then at the opera house. I am the patron."

"My dear Raoul, you will be living under the opera house," I place a hand on the back of his neck.

He stands up, "Erik, show me your life! Let me see this place through your point of view. I want to know what it's like to be the infamous Opera Ghost."

I frown, "Raoul, are you sure? I mean, it's not a life of luxury. I am always having to run and hide, from people that you know and people that you love."

"But that's just it, I realized something at that masquerade: what I really loved about this theatre died with Christine. Everywhere I go I feel that there is part of the place missing, because she isn't here. I only became the patron because my brother, Philippe, pushed me to. If it weren't for him and her, though," his voice softens, "I would have never met you."

I pull him to me and I kiss him. I pull him closer and he pushes me to the ground, settling in my lap. I feel his lips with my tongue and I am delighted when he opens his lips, allowing my tongue entry. I search his mouth, finding the taste strange but delightful. I want to explore him more.

I move my mouth down onto his jaw, my tongue still moving along where my lips go, tasting every inch of him I can.

I finally finds his voice and shocks me in doing so, "Erik, not here."

I pull back and look at him in confusion.

He answers my look, "Not here. Not now. Let's get down into your room again before we do anything more."

I frown, but nod. He's right, someone might actually see us here, if they heard us. If that happened I would be as good as dead, and Raoul would probably get in a whole lot of trouble as well.

I move to the trunks and pick up the one on the floor. It causes me a shock of pain in my stomach, but I try not to show it.

He starts to pick up the other one while I open the entrance in the mirror.

The whole way down walking behind him I yearn for his touch, but I know that if I'm patient I'll be rewarded, it always happens that way for me. Always.

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a/n: please review!