All I Ask Of You
She abruptly turned and found Raoul there with a worried face. "Look, what happened to Joseph. I know it's awful."
She let something out that seemed to be between a sob and a gasp.
"No one knew Joseph was depressed, no one thought he would kill himself."
She turned from him. "He didn't," she whispered.
"What?" He began to approach her.
"He didn't kill himself," she said louder so that he would hear. "It's my fault."
Raoul kneeled next to her. "What do you mean?"
She sniffled. "Don't you remember the letter? The one that Madame Giry said was from the Phantom of the Auditorium? It said that if I didn't play lead then something bad would happen." She looked at Raoul with tear filled eyes. "Something did."
"You can't expect this to be your fault," Raoul said.
"It is!"
"No," he said forcefully. "It's André's and the principal's fault. They put Carlotta in ignoring the letter. Not you."
She stood and walked around, trying to wipe her eyes again. "Oh, god, Raoul. My Angel did this, my Angel of Music, he did it. I know now that he's the Phantom. He used me Raoul. He abused my trust. He tricked me." She sniffled. "I don't know what to do. He's so dark and mysterious. He's always talking about the dark and how good it is. But now, I don't know what's true or not. I feel so vulnerable, so alone."
Raoul approached her. "Don't talk that way. There's no need to feel alone, I'm here, and I'll always be here for you. Darkness isn't you, daylight is. I told you from the beginning that I was going to be here to protect you from him, remember?"
She laughed a little. "Yeah, right after you scared the shit out of me."
He chuckled. "But I made you a promise. I intent to keep it."
She looked at his dull but very brilliant brown eyes. "I just want to get out of here. Not live in darkness anymore. I want to forget it all." She sighed. "If I do, will you be there for me?"
He placed his hand on her cheeks and wiped her tear with his thumb. His hand wasn't as cold as Erik's always was. "I'll always be here for you, Little Lotte."
She smiled weakly. "Why is it that you're being so nice to me? Is it because I need it? Is it because of obligation?"
"No, it's because of something that I've been trying to do and tell you for the longest time."
"What's that?" she asked.
"I love you, Christine."
She laughed a little because she knew deep down she felt the same way.
"I want to give it all to you. The world, if you want. I want you to be happy, not to be in dark rooms, or darkness as you have been. I want to lead you from it, Christine. I want to make you happy-"
He was quiet after that because in the next moment, she pressed a finger to his lips. "I have not yet forgotten the little boy who went into the ocean to fetch my red scarf." Smiling, she said: "I feel the same way." Then she frowned. "Why haven't you to-"
He showed her how he felt in a kiss.
She had the vague sensation of falling again, she had never felt that way before. She could tell how much she cared for him, she could also sense how much he cared for her. He loved her. She loved him. For that brief moment while they kissed, everything was all right in the world.
When he pulled away, he took her hand. "I want you to be happy, Christine. That's all I ask of you."
She smiled. "I'm almost there."
He reached into his pocket and fished something out. "I want you to have something. Something that will let the world know that I love you." He showed it to her and her heart seemed to swell.
"It was my mother's," he said to her. "It's her engagement ring. She gave it to me before she died. She said to give it to the girl who I will give my heart to." He placed it on her finger then kissed her hand.
Christine was glad that no one was there to watch their little confession. She was glad that they were the only ones there to listen to each other's declaration. She didn't want anyone to know about their love, she wasn't ready.
He kissed her forehead in a tender way and led her back to the auditorium.
But what they didn't know that in the shadows behind one of the vents someone was listening to them and he secretly loathed them for it.
Here's something short: Coming Soon: Chapter Fifteen A Solemn Vow
For all of those who are curious, this next chapter is the Phantom's point of view of the whole story. So, yes the Phantom will be in it A LOT! Tootles.
