I hope you guys will like this chappie, its gets a little tension started, and a pleasant event will happen in most likely the next chappie... but then... dun dun DUN! Something not so pleasant will happen. Oh, and more reviewer thank-yous after the story. Oh, yeah, and before I forget... celebrating 60 reviews! OMG I LUV U PEOPLE! I honestly thought no one would read my story in the beginning, and look at me now! LUV U GUYS SO SO MUCH! Keep the reviews coming, LUV getting them!

And sorry again that it took so long to get this particular chappie up... I even had homework OVER THE WEEKEND! Isn't that a crime! Illegal! Something! (Wait... illegal and crimes are the same thing... Oh well, bear with me, people, bear with me) And we went to the mountains and it was cold and I DIDN'T EVEN GET SICK! Which, yes, is a bad thing, because I had to go to school today and I could've gotten this chappie up sooner... But hey, you probably aren't here to hear (or... read, actually) my lame excuses, you just want to hear (or... read, actually) the story, so here goes...


-We interrupt this chappie before it even begins to bring you... my DISCLAIMER!- Ok, I know, I forgot to put a disclaimer in Chapter 14, but that's because I owned PotO for that chappie! No, I'm just kidding, I didn't own it then and guess what... I don't own it now -gasp- No way! Bet you didn't know that! HaHa I'm hyper, sorry bout that...

-We interrupt this chappie again before it even begins to bring you... FOOTBALL!- HaHa, yeah right, I hate football... sorry people, I needed laughs. Tell me in a review if you laughed right then, ok? And if it was lame, tell me too! Ok, now with the REAL story...


Anna awoke the next morning with the sweet smell of soap filling her nose. She wanted nothing more than to stay there forever, wrapped securely in Erik's firm, protective, loving embrace. She looked up, met with the wonderful sight of Erik's peaceful face, still resting gently in the crown of her hair. It was then that Anna really got her first good look at Erik's deformity.

Oh, my dear Erik. Your poor, poor face... But you know what? I don't care what you look like. I love you. Anna wished Erik could hear her thoughts. She really didn't mind Erik's deformity one little bit. She thought about it long and hard and finally realized that, had Erik had a normal face, he may have turned out to be a mean, horrible person, obsessed with himself as most attractive men were. She didn't know, of course; no one could, but she knew that he would have turned out different, and she loved him just the way he was.

Erik's eyes fluttered open noiselessly, and Anna gasped in surprise, scared at Erik's sudden movement. Upon hearing the sound, Erik instinctively covered the right side of his face with his hand and backed away, his eyes now wide in fear and worry.

"Oh no, Erik," Anna breathed, a smile making its way into her beautiful features, "Don't worry, it wasn't your face... it was just... you woke up so silently, it surprised me." Erik sighed in relief and lowered his hand (however reluctantly so). He smiled weakly and shyly, but kept his distance. Anna noticed this, and extended her hand out to Erik.

"Are you alright, Erik? You seem... nervous," Anna murmured softly. Erik looked at her hand for a second, almost as if he was wondering what to do with it, but he did take it at last.

Goodness, how timid you are, my love, Anna thought to herself as she felt how gently and softly Erik was holding her hand.

Oh, my dearest Anna... I am so unworthy of your love... Erik thought as he softened his grip on Anna's fingers (even though he was barely holding her already). He didn't want to hurt her at all, and feared that she would, at any given moment, realize who he was and what he looked like and become terrified, like the rest of the world.

Anna sensed this, and leaned forward and touched the skin of his lips with hers to reassure him that she loved him.

"I love you, Erik."

"Do you? Do you really?" Erik asked her, hoping that she would say yes.

"Erik, of course I do! How could I not? But... are you alright, my love? You're acting so timid, and anxious..." Anna, for the life of her, could not understand why Erik was suddenly acting so weird, and wondered why he seemed like he had forgotten everything about the previous night.

"Yes, my darling... I am fine. It's just, well... I mean, this is... it never really dawned on me before now... I'm loved. You probably would not understand it, Anna, for it is a very complicated and... interesting feeling. I never thought, I mean, I have always felt that I was destined to live my life unloved and unaccepted by the world, and now... I'm being told that I'm loved!" He suddenly laughed (rather nervously, though) and swiftly moved forward and kissed Anna, caressing her head gently in both of his hands.

Anna was a bit taken aback by Erik's sudden action, but that's not to say that she did not enjoy it. She gazed in surprise and love at Erik's scarred cheek, and found herself loving it all the more. True, she did despise it a little, for the fate it had condemned Erik to, what with the cage and the hatred from everyone, but she also loved it for turning Erik into the man before her.

The telephone rang, and Anna cursed it again (in her mind, of course), and hesitantly pulled away from Erik, running down the long hallway. She picked up the phone just before the answering machine got it.

"Hello?" she asked brightly, twirling the cord (because yes, this was a cord phone) around her fingers.

"Anna, what's up? Its Jake. How are you?" Anna froze, staring at the receiver and barely breathing.

"Oh, shizzit," she breathed (A/N: I got that word from Dickie Roberts: Child star. Great movie! Hilarious!), then spoke into the phone, "Oh, hi Jake. Uh, I'm fine, but there is something I have to tell you." Her mind was spinning. How could she have forgotten Jake that easily?

"Ok, what is it?" Jake was so happy, it seemed. Anna swallowed, knowing that his pleasant attitude would diminish quickly when he found out what she was going to tell him.

Oh, God, help me! How do I say this to Jake? Am I supposed to just go "Hey Jake, well... I'm not sure how to say this, but... I'm dumping you. See, it's like this: You may or may not know about the Phantom of the Opera, but I went to see it, and I fell in love with the Phantom. Well, he existed in 1861, but he was cryogenically frozen in his lair, and some scientists brought him back to life about 5 years ago, and he somehow found his way to my house. It was kind of a love-at-first-sight thing, but then he went away for 4 years, and that's when you and I met. So anyway, now he came back, and I've fallen back in love with him, and... I just don't feel the same way about you as I feel about him, so... I guess this is goodbye."

Uh, no, Anna thought, For some strange reason, I don't think that's gonna work out the way I want it to.

Erik came around the corner, and saw Anna standing there, deep in thought and not noticing Jake calling her name through the phone. "Anna, my love, are you alright? Now it is you who seems nervous."

Nervous? Me? No, of course not... Why would I be nervous? I mean, I'm supposed to break up with my boyfriend and tell him that I'm in love with someone who was alive over a hundred years ago but was frozen and brought back to life! Nervous? No, not at all, my friend... (A/N: Don't you just love sarcasm?)

Anna suddenly heard Jake over the phone, and answered him, "Uh, well, Jake... It's kind of a hard thing to say, but... I just don't think that this whole thing is working out between us. I mean, you're a nice guy and all, but I just feel tha-"

"What! Are you breaking up with me!" Jake questioned loudly, and Anna had to hold the phone a foot away from her ear. Erik's eyes widened when he heard the sudden outburst, and he was tempted to yell back at the ignorant boy.

"Jake, calm down! Look, I am breaking up with you, but you'll find other girls. Girls who can give you the treatment you deserve!" Anna was trying desperately to calm Jake's nerves. He was a nice boy, but he had a fearful temper that he sometimes couldn't control, and she was scared of it.

Several loud, deep breaths were heard on the other end, "Ok, Anna, ok. I overreacted. Alright... so, this is goodbye," Jake sounded like he was using all of his strength to not shout again, "So, uh... goodbye."

Anna was actually surprised that Jake was being so reasonable. It was characteristically unlike him, "Yes, Jake... this is goodbye. I'm really sorry. You know that, don't you?"

"Of course, Anna... of course."

"Are you alright, Jake? About this whole thing?"

"I'm fine, Anna. Thank you for... caring. So, goodbye. I expect to see you... around, I suppose."

"What do you mean?" A click and some static was Anna's only answer. She sighed, and turned to Erik. He offered her a feeble smile, though he had little idea of what was going on, and was a bit shaken by the whole outburst. She seemed even shakier, though, and he put his arms around her and kissed her softly on the cheek.

"Are you alright, mon ange?" he asked, and she slowly nodded, but he could tell that something was clearly troubling her. Not wanting to confront her about it, though, he said nothing. He held her tighter (though certainly not enough to cause her any pain) and kissed her again, and she smiled slightly.

"Erik, there's something I've been wanting to ask you," she murmured, and he told her with his eyes to ask him. "Have you been wanting at all to go to the theater? To see a play? A certain play, or, indeed, any play at all?"

"Are you talking about the Phantom of the Opera?" he asked her, a smile creeping across his face. She nodded again.

"Or any play at all, if it would be uncomfortable watching your own life story. I understand that it might be a little... unnerving to watch yourself and Christine, especially with what happened between you and everything."

Erik thought about it. He knew that it would be slightly weird, but he was curious to see how the future represented him. He was so curious, in fact, that he decided to swallow his emotions and go.

"It actually would be rather interesting," he muttered, and Anna smiled. He laughed and they kissed again, passionately yet modestly.

"I can get us tickets for the show in about three months, since the show is coming to California. It's amazing, really. Your show has been around so long, you wouldn't believe, and yet people still love it. It really is the most wonderful story I -anyone- has ever seen, though I'll admit I'm exaggerating, and being rather stereotypical. It's really is a great story, though, and you are not thought of at all as a heartless..." she swallowed and shuddered in disgust, "... Devil's Child, as some thought of you before. In fact, I think you'll find that you have many... fans out there, who love you dearly (A/N: Sound familiar, anyone?). But listen to me, I'm rambling on again. Getting to the point, do you want to go?"

Erik nodded and chuckled to himself, knowing that Anna only rambled on when she was relieved or enlightened, "Thank you, Anna. It would be... marvelous, I feel. So, three months?"

"Yes, three months," Anna answered, and Erik suddenly had the urge to kiss her again, and kiss her he did.


LadyAniviel- Yeah, she will ditch the whole goth thing, don't worry... I don't really care for her being goth, either... :blech:

Countess Vladislaus Dragu- Glad you loved the update, sorry this one took so long, and I still love your username, no worries (hakuna matata!) LOL Lion King... classic!

TheAngel'sMaggie- I'm glad you loved this chappie, it was fun to write! And a shirtless Erik... :drools: Oh, man, don't get me started!

Baby-Vixen- Oh, cute lil kitty! So cute! Oh, and my friend (xXChocaholicXx) told me that you read and reviewed our story (Jack and Rum and Some other Ridiculous Stuff). Thank you so much! We're working on our sequel, and I'll try to let you know when it gets posted.

xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx- Oh, I know... I hate school! It's sop boring, and it keeps me from updating fast!

Madame Opera Ghost- Glad you liked the chappie. I'll update as soon as I can. Love your reviews!

Kim- I'm glad you like this story! Erik is hotter than hot! Aaaahhhh! Man, I would give almost anything to have him hold and kiss me, too!

Just-an-Echo- Thank you, I'm so glad you like it! But man, Erik with his shirt off? Hot? What am I talking about?... He's FLAMIN' HOT! Hotter than that:uncontrollable drooling:

caitspotter- Yep, I love continued-continued endings! And that's another thing we have in common, besides the sugar! YAY HYPERNESS!

Lord Hiro- I'll update as fast as homework will let me -cough- stupid homework, stupid school -cough- I'm glad you like the story, keep reviewing!

PhantomsHeart- Wow! Thank you so much! I'm so so so so glad that you like it! I'm glad I didn't leave it after chappie 13, too!


Oh, so romantic, I love it! But what will happen with Jake and his nasty temper? What will happen when they go to see Phantom of the Opera (probably not much, just to let you know, I just thought it would be nice... with the PotO play, but something exciting will happen with Jake). Once again, thank you to all my great reviewers, and I'll try to get chappies up AOAP (as often as possible).

Oh, yeah, and I was going to write 2 other stories on fanfiction, let me tell you a bit about them...

1: More book-based (Leroux), but kinda a book/movie mix. Erik doesn't die at the end, but lives to make sure Christine keeps her promise. When she does, he decides that death may not be so bad, but then he sets eyes on a young dancer. Will our beloved Phantom find love, or will he die after all?

2: Christine's daughter goes to the opera house and finds herself come upon a strange door, leading to a staircase that seems to go down the dark abyss of hell itself. Regardless, she descends, and finds herself not in hell, but in what could possibly be the heaven of her life, when she meets a certain familiar angel...

So there you go... Do you think I should post the stories, or just toss them? Let me know in a review, beloved reviewers!