Okay this is in-between the completion of the opera house and the first performance. Okay the next chapter is on its way.

Just to let everyone know I had to go back and change Lotte and Pierre's ages. Lotte, instead of going from 14 to 15 goes from 17 to 18 and Pierre when we first meet him is 19. The story would have been complicated if they remained so young.

Yes, Pierre and Lotte share a special song of the past, but Pierre sings much better than a certain fop.

Chapter 29: My Kingdom for an Opera

Work had been underway for 2 months now and they were only halfway complete. The dormitories had been replaced; a bedroom was added to the manager's office, and all the backstage was restored, much stronger then before. Today they were working on the large wooden doors leading into the Opera House.

Erik paced back and forth on the stage pondering on what opera he would perform first. He definitely didn't want to redo any of the past productions, because Carlotta and her tone deft performances had ruined them for him. And even though he had a heightened desire to finish Don Juan he knew the only way it would work out would be if he was to perform. There was no way he would risk going to jail again.

With his new position it was even harder to go and work on one of his own operas. He just had way to much work to do. He ran a gloved hand through his hair grumbling to himself.

Suddenly Pierre ran up nearly out of breath. Bent over he tried to catch his breath before attempting to speak. "Erik," he whispered. "Raoul's making a surprise visit."

"Well it won't be much of a surprise now will it," Erik said with a smile.

"Not, funny. I just ran down three flights of stairs to warn you. The least you could do is being somewhat grateful that I even bothered," Pierre snapped staring at Erik with a slight glare.

Erik was a bit surprised. "All right Pierre, no need to be upset. I was only having a little fun. You've been working too hard. Why don't you go take a break? You deserve it."

"I guess I should. Forgive me I didn't mean to get angry."

"All is forgotten. Now go ahead."

Pierre slipped into the dressing room and behind the mirror before Raoul arrived with Christine behind him. Erik could have melted right there at how beautiful she looked, but he remained posed and went back to pacing.

"Monsieur Armand, may I have a word?" Raoul asked as he came downstage.

"You already have," Erik said in his old man voice mockingly.

Raoul looked confused, but then remembered what he had come to ask about. "I was wondering if you had chosen an Opera yet."

"No, I haven't Vicomte. Even if I did I have no crew, no cast. I don't even know what Opera will draw in the people, especially with this Opera Ghost you told me about. Still haven't seen him around. You sure he skipped town?"

"Yes, because he took my daughter with him, that vile creature. When I find him I'll see him hang," Raoul said with an angry snarl.

"Over my dead body," Erik thought to himself. "And there is no way in hell that Lotte is your daughter you pompous brat. Thank god she never liked you." He glanced up at the chandelier. A grin spread across his lips.

"Monsieur, about how much more needs to be done around here?"

"We're halfway there. We should be finished soon; patience my good Vicomte. Nothing good came out of rushing things."

"No, I suppose your right. Well come along Christine I think we've bothered Monsieur Armand enough today?"

"I was actually going to stay," Christine said.

"Now Christine," Raoul snapped.

Erik looked ready to strike, but she raised up her hand. He scowled at her, and then hung his head. She waved to him before walking out. Raoul had won again. That man was never going to stop torturing him and his love for Christine. "Just wait Vicomte you will get what's coming to you," he whispered.

xxxxx

Down in the lair Lotte was working on a painting using the art supplies her mother had given her as a late birthday present, when Pierre came through the mirror. He slumped into a chair and rubbed his forehead. Lotte put down her paintbrush and came over to him.

"What's wrong love? You don't look so good," she said getting down on her knees in front of him.

"I'm just tired that's all," he said twirling one of her curls around his finger.

"Then you should go to sleep. You need to even out your work schedule with your sleep schedule. It's not healthy dear."

"You make it sound so easy. You sit down here and can sleep whenever you want," he said a bit harshly.

"No, I can't Pierre. I can't sleep with all these dreams and visions swimming through my head. On top of that I worry about all of you, especially father, exposing himself to Raoul." She stood up and picked up Erik's mask. Clutching it close she looked onto the water and saw another part of the past.

As she stood there she saw her parents' row up in the boat. Erik had the mask back and they looked much younger. He was rowing the boat and she was sitting up front singing a haunting song about the Phantom. He commanded her to sing and she did just as Lotte had the first night her father had brought her to the lair making the candles and the gate rise out of the water. As the boat reached the dock Erik got out continuing the song while Christine just sat there as if in a trance.

Then he came over and offered her his hand, which she soon took. He led her over to the organ and sang a more soothing song while feeling her up. Lotte now understood why this night was so important. This had been the night that she came along. They were really in love. Then she wondered if they would be able to hear her like the people in the audience had heard her when the chandelier was coming down.

"Hello," she said, but neither of them looked up. She was about to try again when she heard Pierre calling out to her.

"Lotte, darling what are you looking at?"

"Huh?" Lotte said snapping back to reality. "Where'd they go?"

"Where'd who go?"

"Mother and Father, they were just here, I think," she said looking down at the mask.

"Are you having visions again?" he asked concerned.

She gazed into his eyes and nodded. Telling him what she saw he realized how serious this was. "Pierre, I don't see what any of these visions mean. It scares me to see such things."

Ignoring how tired he was Pierre embraced her. "Lotte we'll find out what's going on. I'm sure there's a rational explanation for all of this. Hey I have an idea. Do you care to share a nap with me? I'm sure it will help you calm down and relax a bit."

She said nothing, but came as close to him as she could. "I'll take that as a yes, Little Lotte."

He took her into his room and laid her on the bed. He pulled off his boots and jacket, then came and lay besides her. She still had the mask clutched in her hand. He reached over to take and put it aside, but she rolled away. Again he reached over, but this time wrapped his arm around her waist and rolled her back to face him.

"I know you're scared Lotte. I'm scared too. Everyday I worry for you and hope that things will get better."

"Pierre, will you stay with me if anything should happen to father?"

"I will stay with you even while your father is here alive and well. I'll be here with you as long as you want me to."

She looked at the mask, and with a little bit of struggle managed to put it on the table. "No more talk of darkness, forget these wide-eyed fears. I'm here: nothing can harm you-my words will warm and calm you. Let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears," she heard Pierre begin to sing. "I'm here with you, beside you, to guard you and to guide you…"

She wasn't sure how it was he knew the words, but as not to disappoint him, so joined him. "Say you love me every waking moment, turn my head with talk of summertime…Say you need me with you, now and always…Promise me that all you say is true-that's all I ask of you…"

"Let me be your shelter, let me be your light. You're safe: no one will find you-your fears are far behind you."

"All I want is freedom, a world with no more night…and you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me…"

"Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime…let me lead you from your solitude…say you need me with you here, beside you…anywhere you go…let me go too…Lotte, that's all I ask of you…"

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime…say the word and I will follow you…"

They sat up and shared one of the verses. "Share each day with me, each night, each morning…"

"Say you love me…" Lotte continued.

"You know I do…"

Sharing the last verse they stared deeply into each other's eyes. "Love me-That's all I ask of you…Anywhere you go, let me go too…Love me-that's all I ask of you…" Neither of them looked away as they leaned in. Lotte reached up her hand to his face and there they shared the most romantic kiss together. Pierre pulled back, "I will always be besides you Lotte; forever and for always."

xxxxx

Erik came down awhile later and was a bit confused to find no one waiting to greet him, except for Le Noir, who mewed at him softly. He went to retrieve the mask and realized it was missing from the table. Frantically he searched for it. "I'm powerless without that mask," he muttered, as he lifted up a pile of papers. "I know I left it right here."

He searched Lotte's room, his room, and the study. All that left was Pierre's room, but the door was shut. Cautiously Erik turned the doorknob sending a ray of light across the bed. He could make out Pierre and Lotte lying within each other's arms fast asleep. A smile was on Lotte's lips as she nuzzled Pierre's chest.

Erik finally saw what he was looking for and picked it up off the table. He drew up the cover around them and blew out the candle before closing the door. They weren't doing any harm, so he saw no reason to break them apart. Rubbing off the make-up and putting on his mask Erik wondered past Lotte's painting she had left in front of the couch.

It was of the Paris horizon seen from on the roof. The sun was rising in the sky and the warm hues made it look as if the sky was on fire. "Why would she paint this down here in the dark and gloom, when she could go up and paint it from real life?" he wondered. Then he saw something he had missed the first time. Settled on the wall of the roof was something white. With closer inspection he saw his mask and a rose lying beside it.

Written in small letters in the corner of the canvas was these words, "The sun dawns on the Phantom of the Opera."

He wanted to cry. This was truly one of Lotte's best pieces. Then it hit him, he ran to the organ and began trying and scribbling notes down on the parchment. He laughed to himself as the music flowed like a stream beneath his fingertips. A story of love and loss began to develop and the two leads were written for Pierre and Lotte. It would be perfect. He had heard Pierre sing before and thought it was nicely developed for someone his age.

By the time Lotte and Pierre had awoke Erik was already half way finished with the score. "Father, what are you doing?" Lotte asked rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

"My dear I have come up with an Opera," he smiled. "And both of you have the leading roles."

Lotte and Pierre looked at each other, then back at him. "Monsieur I'm not that good at singing. I've done well from time to time, but not in front of a whole bunch of people before."

"Don't worry I can teach you."

"And father what about the whole I'm not allowed upstairs issue. Raoul will come to the shows. He'll see me for sure."

"You'll be in a costume, and for rehearsals you'll also be in one. He'll never recognize you. Oh, this is going to be wonderful."

Lotte gulped. Her father was in a good mood, so to tell her of her vision would have to wait. The last thing she wanted was to worry him.

Sorry for the late update everyone. Homework caught up with me and I had to get it done. But I promise there is more to come. Hope to hear from all of you.