A/N: Ah! Doth mine ears hear the protests of mine audience? Just for you, one more chapter tonight. Sorry, it is an awful cliffhanger, but I want you all back tomorrow! Yes romancebookworm4ever, you have noticed the missing envelope. Will Erik read it in time? Tune in tomorrow to find out. It is gone, but not forgotten by your obedient author. To some of the other reviewers of the day, special thanks to emstress, Pertie, and Taya24. I will update tomorrow AM, I promise!

Ch. 26 – Reunion

The carriage ride seemed to take forever, though it was in fact, not far at all. Although she was breathlessly impatient, she used the time to prepare herself mentally for whatever she might be about to encounter. She reminded herself that Erik would most likely be shocked to see her. And although she had been living daily with the knowledge of her love for him, he himself had no idea of it. In fact, the last time they had met, she had rejected him and humiliated him before all of Paris society.

Her smile faded a bit at the thought. She steeled herself for the fact that instead of being overjoyed to see her as she hoped, he may very well be angered at least initially by her unannounced presence after all this time. At the memory of his anger, she flinched, but she resolved that she would not back down from him. In the past she had been a naive, indecisive little girl. Now, she was a strong woman who had endured more than many women twice her age. She would weather his anger with the knowledge that only on the other side of the inevitable storm would the two find the peace they both had sought for so long.

Serenely now, she awaited her inevitable encounter with him. For better or for worse, at least she would have the chance to see him once more. That knowledge alone was enough to sustain her.

As her carriage arrived at the front gate, she graciously thanked the driver and turned to stare at the immensely grand home before her. It was in fact one of the largest homes she had ever encountered, but it was not the size of the mansion that amazed her, it was its overwhelming beauty. Every detail was stunning, just as she had imagined it would be, and yet even more breathtaking than her imagination was capable of conceiving. She felt a surge of pride and love for the complicated genius that was her Angel. With that very look of pride and love on her face, she entered his home through the great arched doorway, stepping inside through the open doors of the foyer and into the grand ballroom.

She could not stop taking in every detail of the home around her as a servant stepped forward to take her wrap. She relinquished it absently, her eyes still reveling in the utter beauty and perfection surrounding her. She loved it immediately because every detail in it spoke of him. She could feel his very soul in the walls of this building, and the warmth of it engulfed her. Tears formed in her eyes. She had forgotten how much she missed that undeniable aura that always surrounded him and everything he touched.

Meanwhile, Erik stood at the far corner of the ball room with a rather overweight and pompous baron engaged in exactly the type of meaningless, mindless polite conversation that he had been dreading since the night before. His eyes wandered the room. God, he was bored. He longed for a good book or a night at the opera, or anything that could save him from the emptiness of this shallow social hell. Why had he ever bothered to feel left out from these inane social gatherings? He wondered desperately for a moment if anyone would notice if he were to leave. His gaze fell on Helena then, and he sighed. Helena would notice, and she would most definitely not be pleased.

Erik watched her chatting graciously with a small group of overdressed socialites in the corner. He admired the obvious charm and sophistication with which she handled the conversation. She was resplendent tonight in a silk sheathe of deepest blue, her golden curls swept elegantly into a chignon at the back of her head. She met his gaze for a moment smiling a special smile, just for him. He returned it genuinely, although admittedly with a trace of reserve. There was something unsettling him tonight, a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that he had tried to ignore, but it was suddenly becoming overwhelming.

With a slight frown, Erik surveyed the room warily, thinking back to earlier when he had first felt it. It had been that afternoon as he had dressed for the occasion upstairs in his bedroom. No expense had been spared for the evening, and that included in the selection of his evening wear, the crowning touch of which was a fine black satin waistcoat embroidered in delicate silver. After securing a matching cravat carefully around his throat, he slipped on his coat and reached for his gloves as he stepped out onto the balcony for a bit of air to calm his nerves before heading downstairs. As he had stood enjoying the warm, sensuous summer night, he suddenly had an overwhelming sense of Christine's presence. He had whirled around, fully expecting to see her standing right behind him from the acuteness of the feeling, but he saw nothing. Questioning his own sanity, he had turned and headed quickly downstairs.

The event had been brief and his feeling had proven unfounded, and yet he could still feel the same uneasy awareness as he had earlier in the evening, though now it was nearly stifling in its intensity. Through all his years in the Opera House, he had become highly attuned to a certain electricity in the air whenever Christine was nearby, and that awareness had never been wrong before.

Erik raked a hand through his dark hair. Of all the nights to be thinking of her! He impatiently excused himself from the elderly baron and moved to pour himself a glass of champagne. He was angry once again at the weakness of his mind where Christine was concerned. In a few moments, I will be announcing my engagement, for heaven's sake! He thought irritably. He quickly swallowed his first glass and moved to pour a second, but as he brought the glass to his lips, he froze - his worst fear and greatest fantasy both coming to life before his eyes. She was there.

He saw her the moment she entered the room, and he would have recognized those auburn curls anywhere. She stood in the doorway of the ballroom, gazing with undisguised admiration at the room around her. He watched the rapture on her face as she witnessed his creation for the first time. He had meant it for her. Unconsciously, he had designed this entire home as the home he had secretly hoped for them to spend their lives together as husband and wife. He could no longer deny it, even to himself. As he watched her unadulterated joy at the beauty surrounding her that he had created, he felt he would burst with happiness.

He had to speak with her, his entire being cried out to run to her, to bury his head in the mass of those lilac-scented curls, and hold her tiny frame in his arms. As if in a daze, he set his glass on the table and began to move toward her.

But just then, she removed her wrap, and the vision stopped him in his tracks. Staring at her, he literally felt his heart would be ripped from his chest in its haste to return to her. She was so breathtakingly lovely, a vision of glittering silver. He remembered her that first night on the stage, singing in a gown much like the one she wore now, only in white. He had called her his angel of music then, and that title suited her once more, for an angel she surely was in all her splendor.

Helena stood nearby watching him. From Erik's reaction, she had instantly guessed who the lovely brunette in the doorway must be. Watching Erik stare at this elegant creature with such an obvious expression of adoration, she couldn't help but feel a rush of happiness for him, despite the sinking feeling of her own loss that stabbed through her body. She loved Erik deeply, but she knew by the look on his face that this woman for him would forever be the eternal love that outshone all others. Erik would only marry for that love. She knew it with absolute certainty now. Swallowing her pride and fighting back tears, she gathered her courage. She closed her eyes briefly, and then took a deep breath, drawing alongside Erik and taking his arm.

"So this is the one. She is truly an angel, Erik. Just as you said," she kept her tone soft and deliberately light. He didn't seem to hear her at first, then shook himself visibly as if to regain control over his senses. "I'm sorry, Helena, what was it you said?" His eyes still did not move from the figure in the doorway. Helena moved closer to whisper in his ear, "I said she is truly an angel." At this Erik's eyes snapped down to her face. "How did you know..." the question trailed off as he stared at her, the storm raging inside him easy to see.

Helena laughed softly, "It is obvious to everyone in this room that you love that woman with everything in your soul, Erik. You are staring at her as if she was an oasis and you were a man dying of thirst."

Erik dropped his head, beaten. Everything had somehow begun to spin out of control from the moment Christine had entered the room. "I didn't invite her. I swear I had no idea she would be here. I haven't seen or heard from her in three years." He raised his head, looking desperately into her eyes, pleading with her to believe him. "Helena, I swear I didn't mean to let it affect me like this. I thought I had gotten over her. I would never have hurt you intentionally..." his voice trailed off. It sounded like a weak explanation, even to his own ears.

Helena lifted her hand and gently touched his cheek. "Erik, you owe me no explanations. I made my offer knowing full well the risks that it brought. You have always been open about the fact that your heart will forever belong to another. It was just my misfortune that she finally realized its worth and came at last to claim it." At her words, tears formed in Erik's eyes and his voice broke. "I would not make that assumption, Helena. The last time it was given to her, she made it quite clear that it was a most unsatisfactory offering. And I am not certain that I wish to offer it up so easily this time."

His eyes burned as he remembered suddenly his last encounter with Christine, the humiliation and anguish he thought he had forgotten building inside of him. Helena reached up and cupped his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Erik, love like I see in your eyes comes but once in a lifetime. Do not let wounded pride blind you to a gift from God. Here is your second chance. Go. Take it," she whispered. His eyes were so uncertain, like a frightened child. She reached up and kissed him gently, silently lending him her strength.

Forcing a bright smile once again, she resumed the persona of charming hostess as if by magic. Mischief suddenly twinkled in her eyes, as she said firmly, "I will make your excuses. Go and escape, as you have secretly wished to do from the moment you entered the room." Erik opened his mouth to protest, but instead grinned guiltily. She knew him too well. "Thank you, Helena, dear friend for everything." He kissed her hand lightly, and then watched her walk away.

Helena had been so good to him. She had always been honest and forthright, giving her love freely and asking nothing in return. And no matter what she said, he knew that she had been hurt deeply by the obvious display of his feelings for Christine.

His anger began to build inside once more. How dare Christine decide to show up after all this time and entangle herself once again in his life! Did she truly expect him to fall at her feet as he once had?

His eyes hardened to icy steel, and he straightened. A dangerous smile played on his lips as he strode purposefully toward her - a dark predator stalking its prey. He wanted an explanation for the misery she had dealt him and for her uninvited presence here tonight. His heart might be a slave to her, but he would not allow it to rule his head, making him an easy target for her manipulations once more.