Welcome one and all. A few notes before we begin...

This story doesn't strictly follow the book, the new movie, or the play. It's not set in any particular time period either. It's more about the core beings of each of the characters: Raoul the normal nice guy, Christine the conflicted/tempted/tormented, and The Phantom...well, you all know what he's like. ;)

And we're off!

Chapter One: Unforgotten

It was dark. It always was.

"Erik?"

Christine called out his name for what seemed like the millionth time. The mist swirling up from the underground river surrounded her, making it hard to see. But she knew he was here.

She could feel him.

"Erik, come out!" she cajoled. "I need to speak with you."

"When you left, I assumed it was because we had nothing more to talk about."

Christine gave a start and turned around. There he was. Tall, pale, his dark hair slicked back, his deep eyes penetrating to her very soul. She couldn't help it, her breathing quickened.

"Did I frighten you, Christine?" he smirked, taking a step forward. "You knew I was here. I know you did."

He took a lock of her hair between his fingertips. She stared into his eyes, not daring to close her own and savor what she had been longing for so long. She was with Erik again. Alone again.

"It's been a long time," she managed at last.

"Mmm," he grunted, still feeling her hair. "You had something you needed to speak with me about... So speak."

"I came to tell you..." she marshaled her words. "I came to tell you that it would never work out between us."

"Ah," he said, letting go of her hair. "I see."

Was that a twinkle of amusement in his eyes?

"Well, surely you must realize that," Christine insisted. "I mean, it would be insane to think that you and I could..."

"Madness." he nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "Utter madness. I agree."

"You...you do?" Christine was taken aback.

"Oh, yes." Erik nodded again, taking the tiniest of steps forward. "It's obvious. It would've never worked out. Not in a million years."

"Y...yes..."

"There was never anything between us, my angel," he sighed. "I was a madman in those days. Driven crazy by your beauty, I imagine. After all, you were one of the first women to ever take an interest in me down here."

"One of the first?" Christine was losing her conviction. "What do you mean?"

"Tut. It doesn't matter now..." Erik made a motion with his hand as if dusting the whole idea away. "You're with Raoul. You are happy."

"Um...yes. Very much so," Christine agreed, almost to convince herself.

"Or...are you?"

Erik raised his eyebrows at her. Christine could feel herself flush beneath his gaze.

"What do you mean, Erik?" she said, rather hotly. "Of course I'm happy."

"Well, maybe it's just because I don't get out very much..." he gestured around the underground lair with a wave of his hand. "But it seems to me that it's not very natural for a woman such as you to return here just to tell me it would've never worked out. Whatever the 'it' you are referring to may be."

"It was important to me," Christine mumbled, raising her chin. "Some of us don't like to have loose ends hanging about."

"It was a long ride back here though, wasn't it?" Erik said smoothly. "Quite a long way to come."

"Like I said..."

"Important. Yes," he nodded solemnly. "Forgive me for saying so, Angel, but to me our business seemed finished. You left...I stayed... What loose ends were you referring to?"

"Well...I..." Christine thought for a few moments. This wasn't going at all how she'd planned. "I just didn't want to leave on such bad terms."

"I didn't think our terms were ever bad," Erik smiled. "I quite liked our 'terms.'"

Again Christine felt her face grow hot. She turned away from him and began walking.

"I've done what I came to," she said. "Goodbye, Erik."

Erik appeared in front of her as if from nowhere. Christine stopped her stride.

"Have you done all that you came to?" he whispered.

"What do you mean?" she questioned, hardly daring to breathe.

Erik moved closer. Christine was a statue. His fingertips ran along her cheek, slowly moving downward to trace her lips. She would not close her eyes. She would not.

But she wouldn't move away either.

His lips were warm against her own. His arms enveloped her, pulled her close, dared her to drop her guard. And she did. Her body relaxed in his grasp and she fell almost limp against his body. He pressed her more closely to him, tempting her to open her mouth for more.

His tongue was slightly peppery. He nudged it against her lips tentatively until she could bear it no longer. He explored the inside of her mouth as she moaned with pleasure. She wanted him. Needed him.

Had never, ever forgotten him.

And then she woke up.

Chapter 2: Breaking The News