Christine fell on her bed with a big thud. She had just returned from the performance of "IL Muto" and was exhausted. She had to take the place to the ill fated "La Carlotta" who had mysteriously gotten sick right after the "Phantom" spoke to the audience. Christine had a gut feeling that her "Angel" had something to do with this. This probably was due to the fact that Madame Giry was muttering that they never listen to him.

Christine laid up in her bed and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She looked even worse then when she first walked on the stage. Her hair was in tangles and was in a messy bun. Her eyes looked even darker and her face was pale from exhaustion and stress. Christine sighed having second thoughts on visiting her "Angel" tonight. She was mentally and physically tired and wasn't sure if she could think properly if she was face to face again. She wasn't even sure if he wanted to see her again, of course she couldn't blame him if he didn't , but the very thought nearly killed Christine when she thought that she wouldn't be able to ever see her "Angel" again.

"He did lie to you though! All those years pretending to be your angel of music! But……… I guess it was the only way he could communicate with me. It's not like he could waltz in and enter duce himself!"

Christine began to rub her temples when she heard a knock at the door. She moaned and answered " I'm too tired to talk right now, I talk to whomever you are tomorrow"

But whoever was at the door opened anyways and Christine turned around shouting

"I said I'm tir----------- Raoul!" Christine said surprised and ashamed as she looked at her childhood friend.

"I'm sorry Little Lotte, but I couldn't go to sleep tonight without congratulated you on your performance." Raoul applied as he hugged her. " I'm also worried about your disappearance last night, I came back to your room and heard you talking to someone! No one will tell me what happened!"

Christine's emotions went from apologetic to anger as she heard that her must "trusted" friend was eavesdropping on her!

" You were eavesdropping on me! Raoul, whom I talk to is none of your business and you do not have to worry about me I was in no danger what so ever last night!"

Raoul gave her a concerned look as he looked at her figure. "You don't look like nothing's bothering you. I swear Christine if anyone harmed you I'll find them and face them like a man!" Raoul said with a sudden rage.

Christine stepped back at his sudden rage and quickly reassured him that she was fine. "I'm fine Raoul, I'm just really tired from all the stress and………last night I decided to go for a mid-night stroll!" Christine lied.

Raoul gave her a disbelieving look and held his hands in hers. "Christine, you know you can always trust me. I have and always will be your child-hood friend and…….and……never mind." Raoul said blushing.

Christine looked at her hands entwined with his and blushed as well. She knew that Raoul had become a very handsome man and had lots of wealth and success. She knew that he and her were childhood sweethearts when they were younger and that any women would be lucky to have him as a husband. Just the thought alone made her blush.

"Raoul……I know that we have been friends for awhile, but you and I know that we can't go any further with than that because of my new career."

Raoul looked as though his heart were ripped out. "Christine you know dating me would not interfere with your schedule! I would support you 100 of the way!" He again held her in an embrace. "I just want you to be happy."

Christine just closed her eyes at the soft touch of his embrace and felt her heart flutter. How she wished she could date Raoul but she knew the thought was impossible. Raoul deserved much better then her and she knew that if she date Raoul now those "rumors" would probably become a true story in the dirty little ballerina's minds. She held on to Raoul as long as she could before she woke back into reality.

"I'm sorry Raoul, I would love to be your girlfriend…..but I can't possibly to that right now in my current state. Maybe in the future perhaps but not right now." Christine said with a relieving sigh.

Raoul looked hurt of course but understood and hugged her again and placed a kiss on her forehead. " I guess I'll have to wait for awhile then, Little Lotte. Perhaps dinner later this week as friends might cheer you up?" Raoul asked almost begging.

"Perhaps." Christine said with a smile.

Raoul hugged her again before he left her in her room. Christine stood in shock at the new emotions that had stirred in her with Raoul's touch. She almost forgot about visiting her angel that night, but she heard a horrible and grieving moan coming from her mirror. She turned around quickly and faced her mirror smiling and asking "Angel?"

Erik had come to see how Christine was doing that night when he heard that "boys" voice! He was hoping that Christine had denied his offer again until she spoke that she would "love to but couldn't". He wondered if the reason she denied her best friend was because of him but he soon swept away that thought. When he left the room he felt a sob begin to rise in his throat. He tried stopping it but it only made matter worse when it came out. Christine had obviously heard him because she turned around facing the mirror asking "Angel?" The thing that caught Erik off guard was that she was smiling!

"There's no way she had forgiven me yet! I nearly scared her to death and she is smiling at me now!"

Erik first thought he was dreaming, but when she stepped forward asking "Angel, are you there?" he knew he wasn't. He pretended he wasn't there for awhile, waiting to see Christine's reactions. If he saw correctly she looked disappointed that he didn't respond. She turned away and sat on her bed looking as if she was going to cry! Erik quickly put his hand on the handle of the mirror which would open the mirror until she heard Christine crying and speaking.

"Angel, I'm so sorry about pulling off your mask! It was very immature of me and I beg you to please forgive me! I want to stay friends with the person that had guided me for so many long years! Please I beg you to forgive me!"

Erik was appalled that she asked him to forgive her. Here he thought she was tormented in how he frightened her with his face and words but it seemed now it was because she wanted him to forgive her! He was even more shocked when she asked to keep their friendship alive. She considered him a friend? A rush of relief filled Erik as he looked at Christine's figure crying. He also felt guilty for not responding sooner.

"I'm here Christine, I'm always here." Erik calmly said.

Christine looked up from her pillow and quickly said "Angel! Is it really you? Do you forgive me for my foolishness the other night?"

Erik felt his heart being torn apart as she so eagerly asked for forgiveness.

"Yes, I forgive you, but do you forgive me for my rash actions. You know I would never hurt you."

Christine looked up and smiled. "Yes……yes, I forgive you for lying to me and yelling at me. I shouldn't expect less from what I did to you." She got on her feet and walked towards the mirror. "I would like to speak with you Angel."

Erik gulped as he stared at Christine who was standing right in front of the mirror not even noticing that he was inches away from him.

"Why would you want to do that?" he asked

"Because, I want to, I want to go back to your lair tonight and hear your music!"

Erik lowered his head at the innocent girls actions. "Anything for you Christine." He opened the mirror and stared at her figure. She still had tears running down her cheeks and she looked a mess, and yet so beautiful. She smiled up at him and took him in an embrace which made Erik lose his balance for a second as he stood there not knowing what to do.

"I've missed you angel! Did you hear me sing tonight."

Erik looked down at the top of her head slowly and cautiously placing a hand on her back saying "Of course, you know I wouldn't miss it for the world."

A/N: Hey sorry for the misspelling of "IL Muto" hehe!