Ok, I don't have time for reviewers responses tonight, but I'll put them all in the next chappie, i promise! Enjoy this chapie, but i have to go to bed now, Goodnight, peps!

Disclaimer: Don't own PotO


Anna got the tickets, and she almost got sick waiting for the day of the show to come around. While they were waiting, of course, Anna dyed her hair back to its natural brown color, and Erik helped her to wipe the many layers of black nail polish off of her nails (A/N: HaHa she's not goth anymore!).

Finally, it was the day of the show, and Anna spent over two hours getting ready for it. This was to be first actual "date" with Erik, and she wanted everything to go as well as it could, if not perfect.

Her attire was a sleek, navy blue dress with matching blue gloves and a (totally cute!) blue purse. She knew what Erik would be wearing (for it was she, of course, who had shown him how to wield the iron so that he could iron the new black suit she had gotten him), but was glad that she could surprise him. It was a rather nice theater that they were going to, and she was rather nervous about looking like a fool.

She also hoped that no one would recognize Erik. She had thought about it, and prayed that he would pass unnoticed. Three knocks could be heard at last on her door, and she opened the door to reveal Erik, clad in a tuxedo (who woulda guessed?), his cloak, and the rubber mask that could be easily (though mistakenly) recognized as flesh. He presented her with a single crimson rose, a black ribbon tied elegantly around the stem.

"Dearest, if your clock is correct, then now would be the time to leave," he remarked brightly, taking her hand. Anna immediately noticed how much more sure his grip was, and smiled at him. They walked to the front yard, where Anna had even gone to the trouble of renting a limousine (like I said, she wanted everything to go right, and she felt that driving would only allow them half the conversation, so she hired a limousine).

"What is that?" Erik asked, nodding toward the limo (which was a kind of small one, just perfect for two people).

"'That', my dear, is the stagecoach of the 21st century," Anna answered, giggling (A/N: HaHa I love that! "stagecoach of the 21st century" LOL). The driver opened the door with a pleasant smile, and Erik helped Anna to enter the limo. When she was comfortable, he entered after her, and the driver started off.

"So, Erik... are you nervous?" Anna asked him, lifting his arm so that she could lean onto his chest then putting it back down around her.

"I'm not really sure, actually," Erik muttered, drawing his arm more firmly around Anna, "I think I shall most likely know when we get there."

"Remember, if you feel at all uncomfortable or anything, we can leave. It's honestly no trouble, and I really don't need to see the play when I have the main star." Anna kissed Erik lightly on the cheek, and they each spent the rest of the ride in a deep silence (though, don't get me wrong; it was a nice and comfortable one, not an awkward one at all).

At long last, the driver pulled the limo up to the curb. "Mademoiselle, Monsieur, we are here," he spoke through the little window thing(y) that Anna rolled down for him. Anna thanked him, and she and Erik got out of the limo. Erik nodded his head in a sort of bowing way and took Anna's arm. Together they walked toward the theater, though Erik had a much more purposeful and composed stride than Anna, who was still nervous.

Anna squeezed Erik's arm lightly, and he turned and smiled at her. When he looked into her eyes, he suddenly felt... warm, almost shy, though he was determined (as always) to hide his emotions. Erik cleared his throat and handed the doorman their tickets, and the doorman indicated a door on their right which would lead to their seats.

The place was full of people, and Anna and Erik found it a bit difficult to stay together while walking through the huge crowd. Erik saw that they had just about reached their seats when a teenage girl accidentally tripped over the skirts of her dress and collapsed into his arms.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, sir," she muttered, looking at the ground in an embarrassed manner.

"That's quite all right, mademoiselle," Erik replied, a pleasant yet slightly amused smile playing across his features. The girl straightened up and glanced at his eyes and looked away quickly, but her eyes were focused on his again within a second.

Oh god, this is what I feared, Anna thought as she began to make her way toward Erik (for they had become a little separated in the crowd).

"Hey, you know what?" the foolish young teenager asked Erik, her eyes curiously bright. Erik was a bit taken aback by the fact that she had addressed him, but (of course) did not show it.

"I'm afraid not, mademoiselle," Erik answered, turning and smiling at Anna as she appeared by his side.

"You look like you would make a great Phantom," the girl told him, blushing as a boy around her age approached her and took her arm, leading her away after nodding politely to Anna and Erik, who shared comic glances and began to laugh heartily to themselves. Anna and Erik made their way to their seats quickly, and sat down.

"Goodness, if only she knew," Anna giggled once they were seated. Erik nodded and removed his cloak, draping it carefully across the armrest of the seat. Anna leaned over a bit she laid her head on Erik's shoulder, and Erik took her hand gently. Together, they waited patiently for the show to start.

"Sold! Your number sir? Thank you," the man playing the auctioneer exclaimed, starting the show to thunderous applause.

"Lot 665, Ladies and Gentlemen, a papier mache musical box in the shape of a barrel organ. Attached, the figure of a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals. This item discovered on the vaults of the theater, still in working order, ladies and gentlemen."

"Showing here," the theater was filled with the delicate and soft sound of the musical box playing. Anna heard a sharp intake of breath, and looked up to find Erik's eyes wide. She giggled and told him that the music box was a fake and not the real thing, and he relaxed somewhat, but he tensed when he heard that Raoul had his box.

"Did that... really happen?" Erik whispered in Anna's ear softly, "Did that... Vicomte get my music box?" Anna almost giggled, because she knew Erik had tried very hard not to call Raoul something nasty.

"I'm not really sure, actually," Anna murmured back, and Erik leaned back in his seat, attempting to relax, "But we can go if you're at all uncomfortable..." Erik nodded, but told her that he was fine, so leaned against him once more.

"... Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera, a mystery never fully explained. We are told, ladies and gentlemen, that this is the very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster. Our workshops have restored it, and fitted up parts of it with wiring for the new electric light, so that we may get a hint of what it may look like when re-assembled... Perhaps we may frighten away the ghost of so many years ago with a little illumination, gentlemen?"

The chandelier was hoisted up above the crowd, and the play continued, starting with the rehearsals for Hannibal. (A/N: I'm not going to go through the whole play, of course, just the good parts that I think Erik would have some emotion with or something). When "Christine" started singing Think of Me, Erik began to take deep breaths. Anna looked at him and kissed him gently on the cheek, and he calmed down, after kissing her back. Anna was a bit worried about how Erik would react to seeing the rest of the play, but she was confident that he would at least be able to compose himself when she was around.

"We never said our love was evergreen

Or as unchanging as the sea

But please promise me that sometimes

You will think o-of me!" The crowd burst into applause as the actress playing Christine finished her song, and Erik half-heartedly clapped along with everyone else.

Why is this affecting me so? Pull yourself together, Erik. It's just a play, and Anna said you can leave at any time... You'll be alright. Ok, deep breath... Compose yourself... That's better.

Christine was then shown in her dressing room, and Erik somehow knew what was going to happen next. He mouthed the words under his breath.

"Bravi, Bravi, Bravissimi..."

The play went on, and Erik could not help but clench his fists once as Raoul came in. If only things had been different... but did he want them to be anymore? Erik glanced at Anna uneasily. He did not know the answer to that question.

The person playing Erik himself took Christine below to the labyrinth, and Anna could almost feel the tension in the theater. Goodness, how these people get worked up over this story! When she though about it more, though, she realized that she had been the same way when she had first seen it. Maybe, it's because I have Erik... Maybe that's why it doesn't affect me the same way...

Half and hour later (A/N: I just estimated there, just to let you know), the people playing Raoul and Christine emerged on the "rooftop" of the "opera house." Anna glanced at Erik every few seconds. This was what she had been nervous about.

"Why have you brought us here?"

"Don't take me back there!"

"We must return!"

"He'll kill you! His eyes will find us there!"

"Christine, don't say that..."

"Those eyes that burn!"

Erik felt his breath catch in his chest, and struggled to breathe without making it seem like the effort it was. The air seemed thick and heavy around him, and he felt, for a fleeting instant, that an invisible pillow was pressed over his face, suffocating him. Anna immediately noticed this, and touched his face gently, her eyes searching his desperately.

"Erik, are you okay?" she asked. When he did not instantly answer, she kissed him passionately. Erik felt the "pillow" being lifted, and sank back in his seat, his brow damp with beads of sweat. What a relief it was to breathe freely again!

"I am... fine, Anna. I'm fine," he answered, and Anna kissed him again, and once again reminded him of their freedom to leave.

Erik was able to watch the rest of Act I without further emotional breakdowns, even when Christine and Raoul kissed, though he felt that that was only because Anna squeezed his hand gently to remind him that she was there. He stood up for intermission, and Anna stood with him.

"Mon ange... I am fine, though I don't want to seem a burden for you-"

"Erik, it's ok. If you want to go, we can. It won't bother me at all. Know that and remember it, Erik. You're no burden at all, but a blessing, my love." Anna leaned forward slightly, but did not kiss him this time, because of all the people surrounding them.

"Anna, I love you."

"And I love you."

The lights of the theater flashed a few times, signaling the beginning of Act II. Anna and Erik once again resumed their seats, more comfortably now. They each felt that an emotional burden had been lifted from their shoulders at the mention of their love.

xxX And then the show goes on and on, you get the idea... So anyway, skipping to the end of Past the Point of No Return Xxx

(A/N: And when I say the Phantom, I mean the one in the play, and when I say Erik, I obviously mean Erik.)

"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..." Christine and the Phantom sang passionately, a fire of power and love in their voices, and Anna found herself wondering if the two actors had not fallen in love, a question she got from the way they sang and looked at each other. Of course, they could have just been really, really good actors. The Phantom began to sing, and Erik found himself mouthing the words again absentmindedly.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime

Lead me, save me from my solitude

Say you'll want me with you here, beside you...

Anywhere you go, let me go to!

Christine, that's all I ask of you!" Erik suddenly realized that he had not mouthed the exact words, though. While the Phantom had sang "Christine, that's all I ask of you," Erik had sang something in between that and "Anna, that's all I ask of you..."

Christine tore off the Phantom's mask, and his ugliness was displayed to the whole theater. Erik's hand flew instantly to his face, but Anna caught it in time. She did not want any of the theater-goers to get suspicious, so she lowered his hand gently and took it in hers.

xxX Skipping some more to where the Phantom is singing sadly Xxx

" This face which earned

A mother's fear and loathing

A mask, my first

Unfeeling scrap of clothing...

Pity comes too late!

Turn around and face you fate!

An eternity of this

Before your eyes!" Erik was still forming the words breathlessly with his lips. He couldn't help it. Raoul in the play came, and he saw the Phantom, himself, threaten the young Vicomte.

"Order your fine horses now!

Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!

Nothing can save you now,

Except perhaps Christine!" Erik was shocked. What kind of monster had he been? How could he have forced Christine to choose like that? Now wonder he hadn't wanted to repeat that mistake with Anna and Jake. It was hideous behavior! Now Erik understood what Christine had meant when she sang "It's in your soul that the true distortion lies..."

Erik came back to reality just as the play's climax was about to end. Christine was approaching the Phantom, and he, like Anna, could feel the crowd waiting with bated breath.

"Pitiful creature of darkness

What kind of life have you known?

God gave me courage to show you

You are not alone!" she moved forward sharply and caught the Phantom's lips with her own. Erik moved up his left hand and ran and finger lightly over his own lips. He remembered that kiss all too well. How could he have forgotten it?

The actors broke their embrace, and the Phantom took a candle and held it high above Raoul's head. The rope holding him prisoner fell, burned by the flame.

"Take her, forget me, forget all of this

Leave me alone- forget all of this

Go now, don't let them find you

Take the boat; Swear to me never to tell

The secret you know of the Angel in Hell!" The Phantom sang in a despairing voice. Raoul and Christine embraced before him, and walked slowly toward the boat. The Phantom walked to another room and sat before the music box, which started up magically.

"Masquerade

Paper faces on parade

Masquerade

Hide your face so the world will never find you..." Once again, Erik was lip-synching along with the Phantom, unable to stop himself. Christine entered again, and handed the Phantom his ring, and Erik felt a tear come to his eye as the Phantom sang the words that had once before almost caused Erik himself to want to die:

"Christine, I love you..."

Christine and Raoul started off in the boat, and began to sing All I Ask of You as Raoul poled the boat along and Christine held onto him as though for dear life.

"You alone can make my song take flight

It's over now, the Music of the Night!" The Phantom sang before disappearing under his cloak. The lights in the theater illuminated once more, the crowd applauded, though Erik was too... stunned to do anything. Anna almost had to lift him out of his seat before he came to his senses.

"Erik, are you alright?" Anna asked, concerned.

"Yes, my dear," Erik answered as they walked arm-in-arm out of the theater and back to where the limo was waiting (A/N: No, it hadn't been waiting the whole time, just to let you know). They stepped in as the driver opened the door for them.

"So, how was it, all in all?" Anna asked in an attempt to begin a conversation.

"It was... pretty interesting," Erik murmured, and he kissed Anna lovingly, "thank you, my love." He held her close to him, but his thoughts were a medley of different things.

If only things had been different... But... Do I still wish that that things were different between me and Christine? Like, from the bottom of my heart? Erik sighed. He still did not know that answer to that question.

They got home and changed (in separate rooms) into their nightclothes. Anna then took Erik to what had once been her parents bedroom.

"We won't have to sleep on the floor in here," she muttered, and she slid into the bed. Erik slid in beside her (A/N: they still have their clothes on, don't get wrong ideas, people! LOL). He lay flat on his back and Anna removed the rubber mask he had been wearing, then she lay her head on his bare chest (A/N: ok, I didn't say he had a shirt on...). They both lay in quiet thought for a minute or so, then drifted off to sleep.


HaHa I Don't have much to say people just REVIEW! LUV U GUYS! Goodnight again!