Chapter 19

The day Dad left for the hospital arrived. And with it came something very unexpected and something that hurt me badly.

It was about midday. Erik and Dad had gone to the writing room to have another 'little chat'. I supposed they wanted to talk about the holiday and how it had gone, so I went to pack Dad's bags for him. He was a naturally tidy person so his things were all easy to find. I decided to go down and see if Dad wanted to go home first and pick up some more clothes.

The writing room door was open a crack and I stopped as I heard my name. Erik was speaking.

"Mr Daae, I really can't understand why you're saying this. After what you've seen here, Christine and I-"

"What I have seen, Erik, is not something that is going to last. We agreed to talk about this when we spoke before Christmas. I promised Christine to come here for Christmas and I decided not to pass judgement until I had seen what you were like together. And I can't honestly say I'm very happy with it."

I froze. Why was Dad saying that? I just… I couldn't understand. I listened more closely as Dad continued.

"Erik, can you honestly tell me that you think this relationship, if you can even call it that, this… this thing you have with my daughter has a future?"

Erik didn't reply. Dad carried on.

"Christine was in a good relationship with Raoul de Chagny. Their ages are closer, they have more in common and… to be honest I think Christine knows it. I think she feels a responsibility towards you. Because of your mask. At the Masquerade ball, all I could see was you using her as a shield against those people. Now tell me… do you believe that you and Christine could have a future together?"

My heart was racing with anger and fear. I leant forward to listen to Erik's answer. After a moment I heard him speak.

"I don't know, Mr Daae. I don't know. The age difference… my face… I know we couldn't have a normal relationship."

"Then why did you start one with her?" Dad asked.

"…Because I love her. That's all I can offer her."

"And we both know that's not enough."

I felt cold. I was shaking too, but I didn't realise it at first. I held my breath, waiting to hear what would be said next. Dad spoke again.

"I want you to end your relationship with my daughter. I want you to stop giving her music lessons and I don't want her working here anymore. Will you do that? Will you give Christine another chance at a normal life?"

Please don't, I silently begged Erik. He wouldn't agree to this. He couldn't. He loved me, he said it himself, he couldn't possibly…

"I… I'll tell her." Erik said quietly.

I cried out loud, without meaning to. The voices stopped and I threw myself through the door. Dad and Erik stared at me.

"Christine!"

"Were you listening?" Dad said, horrified. I stared at them both, feeling tears well up but not letting them leave my eyes.

"I don't… Dad, how could you do this to me?" I said, a lump in my throat. Dad looked at me, almost guiltily.

"Christine, I'm just looking out for you."

"And you…" I looked at Erik in… I don't know what. Incredulity? Disappointment? I don't know.

He stepped towards me but I moved back.

"You're going along with this?"

"Christine, your father is right. We… we wouldn't have a future. What can I offer you?" He said, looking at me with sad eyes. I didn't see the sadness. I was too angry.

"I don't need you to offer anything! I never wanted anything except you!"

"Christine, try to understand-" Dad moved towards me but I pulled away. I looked back at Erik.

"You promised. When you gave me this promise ring, you said that you loved me and that you'd stay with me."

"I do love you. I do." Erik said quietly. I glared at him, realising with some regret that I was crying again.

"Obviously not that much if you were just going to let me go."

"You don't understand…" Erik began but I had had enough.

"I think I understand perfectly. I'm leaving."

"What? Where are you going?" Dad began. I glared at him.

"Anywhere but here. You two… you're the most important people in my life. But obviously that isn't enough for you."

I ran upstairs and started to stuff clothes into a bag. I heard Erik and Dad shouting downstairs and footsteps. I pushed the photograph of my mother into the bag, put on my leather jacket and grabbed my helmet. Erik came into the room and seized my arm.

"Christine, please-"

"Don't touch me!" I screamed. I pulled away from him and went downstairs. Erik followed me but I wrenched myself from his grasp. Dad was stood at the bottom of the stairs.

"Christine, stop this!"

"Stop what, Dad? Stop being happy? Well, you've managed to sort that out, between you." I spat.

Erik seized my arms and turned me around to face him.

"Christine, I love you!" I merely looked at him. He was breathing harshly. "Christine, I love you…"

"But not enough to not let me go." I whispered. I slipped the promise ring off my right hand and threw it at him. It fell to the floor with a slight clink as it rolled around. I pulled away from Erik and stormed out of the front door. Erik chased after me and Dad hobbled along behind him.

I pulled my helmet on, climbed onto my bike and sped away before Erik could get to me. I reached the gate, punched the code in and rode through. I glanced behind me briefly and saw Erik running down the driveway, Dad standing by the door.

But I didn't turn back.

Meg answered her door a few moments after I rang the doorbell. She looked at me in surprise.

"Christine… what's wrong?" I wiped my cheeks free of tears, clutching my bag to my chest.

"Can I stay here for a while?" I asked, in little more than a whisper. Meg stepped through the doorway and hugged me tightly.

"Of course. Come in."

Half an hour later, equipped with tea, biscuits and several bars of chocolate, Meg and I sat at the table. I had explained what had happened, staring hard at my tea. I didn't want to see the look on Meg's face. She reached it and took my hand.

"I'm so sorry, Christine…"

"Did I overreact? Should… should I go back?"

"No. No, you need some it to cool off first."

"I just… I thought things were going so well. Dad and Erik were getting on, and things seemed so good. How could it all go so wrong so quickly?" I asked, my voice catching slightly. Meg sighed.

"Your Dad is just a little overprotective. You're the only one he's got now. I think he sees Erik as a threat and thinks you'd be happier with someone else."

"Like Raoul? Did he not see what happened at the Masquerade ball?" I said critically.

Meg handed me a piece of chocolate which I ate without thinking.

"Your dad liked Raoul. It's understandable that he'd prefer for you to be together. But I think you need to have some apart time from both of them. When things are better, you can go back and talk to Erik. In the meantime, you just need something to keep you busy."

"Like what?" I asked, sipping my tea. Meg considered.

"Well…school doesn't begin for another two weeks. And music probably isn't a good idea. You can stay here as long as you want, Mum won't mind. But you really should be getting out."

She chewed her lip for a moment and then snapped her fingers.

"Got it! You know that nursery, on Dahlia Street? They want a college student to help out for a couple of weeks. Mum saw the manager yesterday, you know, Mrs Ledge. You'd be perfect!"

"Children? You think so?" I said, not convinced.

"Sure, it'd be great for you. Their only about four year's old, no big deal. It's a volunteer position, it'll keep you busy and you'll have fun."

"I guess I could try…" I said. Meg smiled.

"I'm so good at this! Come on; let's go find a sappy movie and some ice-cream."

"Not that we're reverting to stereotypes or anything." I said, following her out of the kitchen. She grinned back at me.

"Never dream of it."

So I stayed with Meg and Marie. It was nice enough. I went home a couple of times to fetch some things. I had left a lot of stuff at the Manor but there was no way I was going to go back there. I got the job at the nursery and, believe me, it was hard work. Four year olds are no joke. They're absolutely crazy, bouncing off the walls and screaming all the time.

I wanted to go back. I really did. Every morning I would wake up, roll over and expect to see Erik lying beside me. But he never was. Dad was back in hospital, I found a telephone message from him on the home answer phone. But I didn't call him. I was too angry, with both of them. I felt like they'd both betrayed me somehow.

A week passed. Meg suggested that I go back to the Manor and talk to Erik. But I couldn't. Not yet. I was too hurt and too angry. And, although I don't really want to admit this, part of me wanted to make sure that Erik was still hurting for what he did to me. I know that sounds so terrible. But it was how I felt.

One Thursday afternoon I finished work at the nursery and decided to go home to pick up my mail before heading back to Meg's. As I unlocked the door someone called my name. I turned and saw Raoul standing on the street.

"Christine… how are you?" He called. I looked back at him and said,

"Leave me alone, Raoul."

I opened the door and closed it behind me. I saw Raoul look disappointed and move on. I sighed and bent to pick up my mail. Some of it was for Dad and I made a note to send it to the hospital for him. There were four letters for me, and a package. One was a bank statement, one was advertising, one was from a friend in university in Scotland and the last letter was a reminder about library books that were overdue.

I tossed the letters to one side and looked at the package. My heart leapt up into my mouth. The handwriting was Erik's. I would recognise that beautiful script anywhere. I felt the package. It was one of those padded envelope type ones. I hesitated and then slipped it into my bag.

Meg was very excited about the package.

"Open it! I wonder what it is!" She said. I opened it very slowly and reached inside. I frowned and pulled out a CD.

"A CD? Is that it?" Meg said, clearly disappointed. The sleeve was plain white. I turned it over and saw numbered tracks on the back. I gasped.

"It's Erik's music!"

"What?"

"My Christmas present for him… you know, the studio thing. He went and made this."

"There's a letter as well." Meg said, passing an envelope from the package.

I opened it and a slip fell out. It read only two words.

Track 1.

I got up and went to the CD player. I slipped the CD on and pressed play, sitting back on the bed. Meg and I both listened as faint violin strings started to play. My heart jolted as I heard Erik's voice sing.

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 too

Christine

That's all I ask of you…

Meg stared at me as the song faded away. I looked down at the CD. The first track was merely labelled For Christine. The rest were our other songs. The Point of No Return, Angel of Music, The Phantom of the Opera…

"Are you OK?" Meg asked. I nodded. Meg looked at the CD box.

"That was… well…"

"That's all I ask of you." I whispered, thinking about that last line. Meg touched my hand.

"Are you going to go and see him?" she asked.

I licked my lips.

"…Tomorrow. After I finish at the nursery. I'll go tomorrow."

A/N: This idea was kinda sitting in the back of my mind. Someone mentioned that it was all going a bit too easily and it was. It was also a little unrealistic that Charles and Erik would just get along perfectly. This idea that they agreed to see how things went over Christmas seems a little bit more believable, I hope.

I also liked the way that everyone assumed Raoul would be the one to mess thins up! Lol, I have confession to make. I actually quite like Raoul. He just happens to be a convenient pain in the arse for this story. I have written another one-shot called "All You Ever Wanted" which is EC but from Raoul's POV. Feel free to check it out.

Thanks for all the reviews. You guys really know how to make a girl feel appreciated! And now I'm on holiday for two weeks so I'll try and get writing quicker! Please review and I'll update soon.