Disclaimer: I still own nothing, and I'm still not profiting from this.

Summary: This takes place on the rooftop after Carlotta has started croaking. Only this time it's between Christine and Erik. ERIK HAS NOT KILLED ANYONE!

A/N: Thanks to my beta hurlasquirrel2, I love you!

Chapter Three

Christine ran as fast as her feet would carry her away from the commotion of the opera below. She needed to find Erik. She needed to talk to him and find out what had happened, and to warn him that everyone would be looking for him. Above all she just wanted to make sure he was safe, and maybe feeling his arms around her wouldn't be so bad either. She could have smacked Raoul when he pulled her aside by the arm.

"Where are you headed off to in such a hurry?" he asked in what would have been a playful tone if it hadn't been just downright annoying.

"Oh just out to get some fresh air," she said as lightly as she could. Can't you take a hint? I'm already taken, she thought frustratedly.

"Would you like me to accompany you? Who knows what strange things can be lurking in dark corners at this time of night, and it's especially unsafe for lovely young ladies, such as yourself." Oh yes, all those street criminals who hang about on the opera house roof. It's the perfect hide out, really. She could have smacked him.

"I really think I should go alone," she answered as tactfully as she could, "I'm trying to calm my nerves before I have to go on again." Before he could protest she skittered past him and continued her trek to the top of the building.

She saw him standing there immediately. He was hard to miss. A dark, cloaked, solid figure who stood out sharply in contrast to the white powdery snow that coated everything that night. "Erik!" she cried as soon as she saw him, "Erik, you've got to stop this. I don't care if I play the silent role. I don't care if I'm only in the chorus as long as I live. Something could happen to you! What if you're caught and the managers are angry. They're already unhappy enough about paying you your salary as it is. I couldn't bear it if you were hurt and I was the cause."

"Sweet Christine," he said as he stroked her white cheek, "in some ways you are still every bit that little girl I first heard singing in the chapel. Your career is important to me. I want you to progress. You don't have to throw away your dreams just because you have me. You can have both. I'll always be here for you. And you're a hundred times more talented than that wretched Carlotta even when she wasn't past her prime." He cleared his throat nervously. "Now, let us talk of other things. I understand the Vicomte has made his intentions toward you known."

This caused Christine to blush. "I do not share in his affections. He still thinks of me as little Lottie, and I'm hardly a gawky little girl anymore. It's true we were friends and playmates as children, but there's nothing between us now." Erik put his arms around Christine and began to sing softly.

Say you'll share with me one love one lifetime

Lead me, save me from my solitude

Say you'll want me with you now and always

Anywhere you go let me go too

Christine, that's all I ask of you

When she turned to face him he dropped down to one knee, and tears sprang to her eyes. "I would be honored, Christine Daae, if you would become my wife."

She nearly knocked him over with the force with which she threw her arms around him. "Yes! Yes! Yes! And a thousand time more, yes!" she squealed, nothing visible in her eyes, except pure joy. But even that was nothing to compared to the way she looked when he produced a blue diamond, flower shaped ring from his pocket and slipped it onto her finger. The moment was broken when she said, "I must get back. They'll wonder where I am. Will you meet me later?" she asked hopefully. He couldn't help but chuckle at the look of youthful eagerness that dominated her normally calm features.

"You know where to find me," he said, and with a swoosh of his cape he was gone.

A/N: Meghan, the cape bit was just for you. Review! Do it now!