I just saw Phantom for the 3rd time and now I have to wait 2 months until I can official own it yeah. I can't wait. It surprised me that even though it was my 3rd seeing it I cried at the end when you see the rose on Christine's tombstone. It was a relief knowing that the Phantom was alive. Sighs. But I'm on a writing spree thanks to all my reviewers so my heart goes out to all of you. Here comes chapter 48.

Chapter 48: Out with the Old

Three days following the destruction of the De Chaney household, Lotte, Pierre, and Jacqueline were granted release from the doctor's care. Christine came to fetch them and brought them back to the Opera House.

"Why didn't Father come along?" Lotte asked holding Jacqueline to her breast.

"He was busy with something and it's not safe for him outside the Opera House once more. His risked quite a bit as of late," Christine explained.

Lotte gave her mother a confused glance then looked across at Pierre, who was smiling sweetly at her. The cut on his head had healed nicely and it almost looked as if he hadn't been hurt after all. Her abdomen had started to go back to its normal size; something she had felt it would never do.

Once inside the familiar walls of the Opera House Lotte felt better and made her way through the darkened halls towards their home. Pierre rowed the 4 of them across and when the boat finally touched shore once again they were all welcomed with open arms by Erik.

Mme. Giry and Meg appeared from Pierre's bedroom. "Jacqueline's bedroom is ready now," Mme. Giry said happily.

"What do you mean?" Lotte asked.

"Go take a look for your self," Erik said ushering her with his hand.

Lotte went up the small set of stairs and went into Pierre's old bedroom. The room was lit by gas lamps and it had everything a baby would need; a crib, a changing table well stocked, a dresser filled with baby clothes, toys for when she was older, and a mobile was hung over the crib; one of her father's creations no doubt.

Pierre came up behind her and a smile came to his face as he looked around. "Lotte this is amazing. We have everything we need to care for our daughter. Not a single item has been missed."

Lotte gave another look around the room and realized that none of the items looked familiar. "What happened to all my baby things? I had asked Mother to get them when they took things from the house," she exclaimed her eyes filling with tears.

From outside the bedroom Erik and Christine looked at each other. They still hadn't shared what happened that day to Lotte and Pierre, and had thought that using some of the money to get new items would make up for the loss of the old ones.

"Erik we need to tell her. As a young girl she would scold me for even thinking about getting rid of the old baby things. She wanted to give them to her own child someday. Not telling her is worse than sharing with her this one piece of information," Christine said moving towards the door.

"She's right," Mme. Giry agreed. "This is a rather important situation."

"Then you tell her Christine. I'm not good with this kind of stuff," Erik said moving towards the organ. The truth was just speaking about that house made him uncomfortable. The last three nights had been restless and there was a strange pain in his chest from that dream. He had checked it time and time again finding no cut or tear in the skin, but at times it felt like the skin was being ripped apart. Now was one of those times. Gritting his teeth he tried to hide it.

Christine had appeared in the bedroom as Lotte moved around the room as if it was unfamiliar and frightening. Maybe they had made a mistake getting the new things, but they were going to need them none the less. "Lotte?" she asked.

Lotte turned to face her; tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't understand. Where are all my old baby things? I had asked you to bring those," she said sadly.

"We were able to bring anything back with us darling. The only thing that got out of the house was a bag of money and us…" Christine told Lotte and Pierre about the dream Erik had had, and about the fire and their escape. "…we wanted to get everything out, but we were chased out by the mob?"

"Who were they?" Pierre asked.

"I don't know. How they found out about Erik is also a mystery. We tried really hard to keep ourselves concealed, but I honestly don't know."

"So everything is gone; the papers in the attic, all our pictures, grandfather's violin?" Lotte asked.

"Yes, everything including the house is gone."

The tears began to fall again down Lotte's cheeks. Christine came over, and being careful of Jacqueline, gave her daughter a hug. For awhile they just stood there when Jacqueline began to cry.

"I guess someone needs to be changed," Lotte said taking Jacqueline over to the changing table and proceeded to change her.

Pierre had gone searching though the dresser and found a bunch of baby clothes all different styles, textures, colors, and sizes; along with a couple of cloths for burping her. He pulled out a cloth and an adorable white night dress.

Lotte looked up and remembered the outfit. "That's one of mine, but you said everything was gone."

"I brought that back the day before it happened. I knew you needed some outfits for her, so I grabbed some of your old ones. Not many though, because there wasn't much room after I put my wedding dress in the suitcase."

Jacqueline was now dressed and Lotte sat down in the armchair in attempt to nurse her. She asked Pierre to hand her a blanket and covered her front with it. The three of them took some time to speak of simpler times.

xxxxx

Erik rested his elbows on the edge of the organ trying to fit back the pain. He had completely forgotten about Meg and Mme. Giry and jumped nearly 5 feet when Mme. Giry placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Erik, are you all right? You look like you're in pain," she said.

"Why should it be any concern of yours?" he growled as the pain grew more unbearable.

"You've been this way ever since you returned from the De Chaney house. I noticed it when Christine was telling us what happened."

"What's your point? Probably something I ate."

"Tell me where the pain is," she insisted.

He sat up straight and pointed to the spot right over his heart. "It feels like my very skin is being ripped apart yet there is never a cut or tear in the skin. I don't understand it. Ever since that dream I had I get the feeling every time that house it mentioned. And to make matters worse I don't even know why that mob was after me. The world is falling apart I tell you."

"My only guess is Raoul has people working for him to seek you out, but I'm not sure. I'll keep a lookout for awhile, but you should be glad the spring season doesn't start for another two weeks; though I'm beginning to run out of excuses for your absence."

Erik chuckled, but regretted the action when his chest began hurting again making him double over in pain. "God, why won't it stop?" he hissed.

Mme. Giry helped him to sit up and face her. Then with his permission opened his shirt and asked him to point out the area that brought him discomfort. "There is no cut or bruise as you said, but the skin is really red. Erik this is serious. Have you told Christine about this?"

"No, I haven't. I didn't want to worry her. Plus I thought it would pass in time, but I was wrong."

Mme. Giry turned to Meg. "Fetch, Christine. She needs to know about this." Meg stood and went to the bedroom. Mme. Giry turned back to Erik. "If the two of you are to be married then secrets are no longer allowed between you."

xxxxx

Meg tapped Christine on the shoulder. Christine turned to face her friend, but the frown on Meg's face made her concerned. "What is it Meg?"

"My mother wishes to speak with you," Meg said hoping not to alarm Lotte and Pierre.

"Will the two of you be all right for a few minutes?" Christine asked them.

"We'll be all right. We need to put Jacqueline down for her nap," Lotte said shifting her daughter in her arms under the blanket. "Can you close the door when you go out Mother?"

Christine nodded and followed Meg out closing the door behind her. Their footsteps along the stone floor were silent till Christine saw Erik double over as the pain surged again. She raced to him and questioned him on what was wrong, but his was trembling and his breathing was heavy.

"My dear Erik is suffering from an unseen force," Mme. Giry spoke up as Christine ran her hands along Erik's face trying to calm him. Mme. Giry went on to explain what Erik had told her.

"Why didn't you tell me darling?" Christine asked him.

Another wave of sharp pain hit Erik's chest forcing him to fall unconscious into Christine's arms.

"Oh my god; Erik wake up. Mme. Giry, help him please!" Christine cried now in hysterics over her fallen love.

"Calm down my dear," Mme. Giry said as she came to kneel beside Christine and pushed some of her hair out of the girl's face. "I'm not sure there is much I can do. My only guess is Erik needs to go to the graveyard and ask forgiveness from Raoul for what he's done. This is his punishment for murdering the Vicomte."

Looking down upon her falling fiancée Christine felt so helpless. Erik was what kept her strong and allowed her to fill the Opera House with the most beautiful echo of her voice. But now he had fallen and not even her sobs made him rise. She held him close to her hoping that would bring him back to her. "Erik? Please wake up. Don't leave me," she whispered.

"FATHER!" an anguished voice cried in the room.

They all looked up to see Lotte standing there, her eyes filled with horror and a hand going up to her mouth. Pierre stood besides her gazing upon the figure lying on the floor cradled in Christine's lap. Lotte rushed over and collapsed alongside her parents.

"What's happened? Why isn't he moving?" she demanded.

Mme. Giry exclaimed the situation for the 2nd time and Lotte fell into the old woman's arms sobbing. "We need to get him to the graveyard. There is still hope," Mme. Giry said pushing Lotte back a bit.

xxxxx

Meg had stayed behind with Jacqueline while Lotte, Pierre, Christine, and Mme. Giry took Erik to the graveyard. Christine had sat in the carriage with Erik's head in her lap. Seeing him like this made the tears flow even harder. But there was one thing that comforted her. Even though he was in pain there was calmness in his features. "There is still hope," she thought.

They were all pleased that Raoul's grave wasn't to far from the gate. Erik would have had no trouble carrying any one of them, but he himself was heavy and it took the four of them a lot of energy to lay him in front of the gravestone.

Christine immediately fell to her knees and began to pray for Erik and that Raoul may forgive him for what Erik had done. Lotte joined her praying to god that her father escape his nightmare and finally be forgiven for his past mistakes. Mme. Giry and Pierre also fell to their knees and hoped for Erik to come back and be the Opera House manager again. No one had been better at that job than him.

Erik could feel the coolness of a summer breeze blow across his face, but he had no idea why he was outside. He didn't dare open his eyes afraid of what he might see. The pain in his chest was gone, but he feared it might return if he was provoked about Raoul or the house. But then the sound of sobbing reached his ears and he distinctly knew who was crying.

"Christine?" he whispered softly his eyes remaining closed.

All of a sudden he felt her weight upon him as she lay across him. "Erik?"

He opened one eye and looked up at her for a second before he opened the other one. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. He reached up and wiped away her tears. "It's all right now. I'm still here," he whispered.

He pushed himself up into a sitting position and both Christine and Lotte fell against him in relief. Erik pulled them both close to him and kissed them. Christine looked up at him and then allowed her lips to fall against him and gave him a passionate kiss. When she pulled back she stroked his cheek. "I knew there was hope. Oh, Erik I hope this is the end of our problems, because all I want is for us to finally live a life of peace and happiness."

"There is one last thing we have to take care of before we can wed and live in happiness," Erik said looking up at Mme. Giry. "We still need to reveal to the cast and crew of the Opera House, who we really are. After what happened I no longer want to hide. I'm sick and tired of living in such solitude. It's time I make use of who I am and finally prove that this face can't hold me back anymore."

"I'm so proud of you Erik," Mme. Giry said placing a hand on his shoulder. "I was beginning to wonder when you would finally see how much of an impact you have already made in this world and would prepare to tackle the rest."

Erik looked down upon his fiancée and his daughter. Both of them were clutching to him as if he was to float away if they were to let go. No longer would they have to live in fear of the world above. Soon they would be free.

Hope I didn't scare anyone with this chapter either. The next chapter is going to be one that allows Lotte to take a stand against one of the Opera Houses employees, but you have to wait and find out who. Also Jacqueline will pull off one of her cutest moments to date.Will all of the family's secrets be revealed or will they be forced to once again hide from the cruelty of society? Stay tuned till next time.