A/N: Sorry about the update being so late. I've been occupied with school and other things. I hope that you guys are enjoying the story so far. And without further ado, here is the next chapter.

Chapter 15 – Unmasked Feelings

Don Juan was a complete success. Angelina counted thirteen standing ovations. She had never seen so many roses thrown onto a stage her entire life. The curtains opened and closed and the roar of applause echoed throughout the opera house.

The lights had blinded her and she could not see her parents in Box Five. She hoped against hope that her parents were proud of her. The thought of not making it had crossed her mind several times throughout the performance. But she remembered back to 'Point of No Return' and regained her courage.

Erik had been there and in top form. Angelina had never truly heard him sing before and it was absolutely breathtaking. His voice could not be denied. It wouldn't.

All of the excitement around her was making her dizzy. Gabriella had made sure to stay beside her after all of the patrons had wanted to speak with her. Angelina was overwhelmed, to say the least. Everything was all so new. She had heard several people claim she was the newest star in Paris. It made her smile every time she thought about it.

An arm linked with hers and she turned to see a masked figure standing beside her. She lost all hope of it being Erik once she heard the voice.

"You were brilliant, Angelina. All of Paris is abuzz."

She smiled at Rene as he stepped along side of her. He continued holding her arm. She leaned against him for support, her legs tired and worn.

"And as they should be. Both you and Rene were unbelievably passionate in 'The Point of No Return'."

Angelina looked at Gabriella as Gabriella smiled at her. Before she could speak, another voice was quickly heard behind her.

"Christine, please, slow down!"

"Where is she?"

"We will find her."

"Mother?"

Angelina turned to see Christine pushing through the crowd and toward her. Raoul was not far behind her and Alexander trying to keep up.

"He's gotten to her! Raoul, our daughter…"

Christine quickly stopped her statement as she came upon Angelina and the masked figure. Quickly separating the two, Christine stood in front of the figure with Angelina behind her.

"Mother, what are you doing!"

"I thought I was rid of you. You let me go. You let me and Raoul go."

"Christine, don't!"

"You will not come near my child."

Without warning, and before anyone could stop her, she ripped the mask off of Rene's face. Christine gasped in horror as Raoul hung his head.

"Mother!"

"Madam!"

Christine slowly dropped the mask and began backing away from him. She began shaking her head 'no'. "No, it wasn't you on that stage. It wasn't."

"I assure you, Madam de Chagny, it was."

"I heard his voice. I heard it!"

Raoul moves to her side and embraces her. He notices the look of horror on Angelina's face. His head turned to Alexander standing behind him. "Stay with Angelina while I take your mother outside."

"Of course."

Christine was lost in her own mind. She could hear his voice in her head. I know I wasn't imagining it. I heard him. He was on stage with Angelina. "Raoul, you cannot leave her. He's here. I heard him."

"It'll be alright, my love. Let's go outside and get some fresh air."

Alexander and Angelina watched as their father escorted their mother out of the corridors of the opera house.

"What was she talking about?" Gabriella asked.

Alexander watched as Angelina shook with fear and anger. Their mother had embarrassed her without any explanation or reason. He was sure she had meant well but there was a mystery lying behind what had just happened. Taking her hand, he looked down upon her.

"Maybe you should go lie down."

She could not answer. She was mortified and shocked beyond anything that had ever been done. Has she gone mad? Is there something really wrong with my mother?

"She needs to lie down, Alexander. Take her and I will tell everyone that she is ill."

Rene watched as Alexander and Gabriella both escorted Angelina away from the madness. How could she have known it wasn't me on stage? There is no one who knows about the Phantom. His master had told him that 'Point of No Return' was the only song that he wanted to perform. He now understood why. The passion and sensuality was unparalleled. Rene was amazed at the caliber voice his master had. Every note, every word was filled with passion.

He watched as Angelina had received it well. She complimented his master in both style and passion. Angelina was not like that with him on stage. She had done what she could, but what was seen on stage tonight was not what was done in rehearsals. Vibrant and strong, the audience had seen a side of Angelina that no one had seen before.

His master would be pleased with the results. Angelina had become a star and a diva. With just one night, her entire status had changed. Rene now figured that he would be in Paris longer then planned. The managers had loved him as well. And since he had performed so well along side of Angelina, they had no reason to send him away. He was guaranteed a job and a paycheck – with a bonus on the side for 'services rendered'.

The interaction between him and Madam de Chagny had disturbed him. His master had assured him there would be no backlash. It had seemed as though Madam de Chagny knew what had taken place. He recalled an event, several years earlier, at the Opera Populaire. He had only heard rumors of an opera and the demise of one of the greatest opera stars that could have been.

Could it be her? Could she be the diva that had Paris talking for weeks? He had no time to worry about it. That was no his domain. He was a singer. Rene DuBois would be in the spotlight once again. This was only the beginning.

Angelina stood in the dark of the park, just outside of the opera house. She needed to be alone and in the dark. All of her doubts and fears had come to a head. Her mother had gone completely insane.

Alexander had returned to her in a few moments time and had told her that their father was going to take her to the hotel to rest. The assurance from her brother that everything would be alright had fallen on deaf ears. Not only did she worry about her mother's insanity, she now worried about her own.

What was she talking about? Did she know it was Erik? How could she? There were too many questions with no answers. And the questions kept forming. She could not find a solid answer to give herself some peace.

Everything had been going so smoothly. The performance was wonderful. The after-party was just beginning, with her in the spotlight. Rene and Gabriella were enjoying themselves and her in their company. The event had happened out of the blue. No one had expected it. Not even her poor father. She had noticed the look on her father's face – shame, bewilderment, and fear. Angelina knew how much he loved her mother. There was no peace for him. He had only possessed love for her mother and it continued through the madness that sometimes consumed her.

It had felt like hours since she had left the opera house. The air had grown cold and bitter. The wind from the north was beginning to pick up. A storm was approaching. She had forgotten to bring her cloak in a rush just to be rid of everything surrounding her. Shivers racked her body and her teeth were chattering.

A cloak covered her shoulders, returning the warmth to her body. Her teeth began to chatter less and less as she wrapped the cloak tighter around her.

"You should not be wandering around Paris alone at night."

She slowly looked behind her and saw Jonathan standing there, still dressed in his fine tailored suit. He looked worriedly at her, noticing the tear stained cheeks.

"Alexander said you were not in your room."

"I needed air."

"You're lucky if you don't catch death of cold. If you were out here any longer, you might have froze to death."

He stepped along side of her and brushed her cheek. She looked deep into his chocolate brown eyes. Angelina remembered his touch from so long ago. She thought it would have been the only thing to make her happy. But somehow, when he touched her now, it was different. It did not have the effect it once had on her.

"You were magnificent tonight."

"Thank you."

"I wanted to speak with you before I left for London for a few weeks."

"What about?"

"Us."

She looked at him, bewildered. Was there an 'us'? Would there ever be? The wind blew and Angelina felt a presence but could not place it. Are we alone or is there someone watching?

The darkness was Erik's second home. It was a security blanket and something to keep him safe when he needed to be. Tonight, it would be his shield. It hid him as he hid behind a tree.

He had followed her out of the opera house. Concerned, he watched her pace the park, unsure of herself. Rene had not gotten to him before he needed to leave. There was a reason for Angelina's tears and he did not know it. His heart ached as he watched her cry – alone.

Just as he was about to step into the light, he watched Jonathan gently place a cloak on Angelina's shoulders. He stopped in mid-step and watched, and listened, as the two interacted and spoke.

"I wanted to speak with you before I left for London for a few weeks."

Good, he would be rid of the boy for a few weeks. No sort of interaction between the boy and Angelina would hold Erik in higher regards with her.

"What about?"

"Us."

Erik's blood ran cold. He could not tell Angelina's reaction in the darkness. He could only hear her words.

"Us? Is there an 'us'?"

"There could be. We were once an 'us'. We could be again."

"This is all happening so fast."

Jonathan took her hand in his and watched as Angelina's face expressions changed from bewildered to blank. He had willed up enough courage to do this, by God, he would.

"I want to marry you, Anna."

Angelina's eyes slowly rose from the ground to looking at Jonathan in complete and utter shock. She shook her head, out of instinct.

"You don't want to marry me."

"I've wanted to marry you since the first time we threw snowballs at one another. Since you and I used to run through the woods and swim in the lake. You and I were destined to be together."

Her mouth had become dry and seemed to be full of cotton. No words would come out. Her heart continued like a drum in her chest. Her head was spinning out of control. This is too much in one night.

"I want you in my life, Anna. I need you in it. I love you."

Those three words that only one man could have uttered to her. This was not the man. She had dreamed of someone tall, dark, and handsome. His hand touched her cheek, forcing her to look at him.

"Tell me you love me."

"I…"

Erik stood there, his heart stopping. Would she say it? Would she tell him that she loved him? Would he be heartbroken once again?

He could not bare it. Angelina was his one last hope at happiness, even if it was student/teacher. He enjoyed her company and they were well matched.

Baring it no longer, Erik turned and began to walk away.

"I cannot."

He stopped and quickly looked back.

It was Jonathan's turn to have a look of surprise on his face. His jaw dropped as he looked at Angelina. Her face was so innocent and yet everything he wanted was in it.

"I cannot tell you that I love you."

"Why not?"

"I have no reason. But, Jonathan, please do not be angry."

"I'm not angry. I'm shocked. You loved me."

"I did. We were children then, Jonathan. Now I am apart of the world and I am learning so much more then just running through the woods and swimming in a lake. I am finally free of the confines of my own self. Please, Jonathan, do not take me back."

He looked upon her. Jonathan knew that she had been waiting her entire life to be a dancer and to come to Paris. But he never expected her to fall out of love with him.

"Promise me you'll consider my proposal."

"Jonathan…"

"Promise me."

She looked at him as his eyes begged. She sighed and nodded her head.

"If you wish me to. I promise to consider your proposal."

Taking a ring out of his pocket, he gently places it in her hand, closing her fingers about it.

"This is a mere token of my affections. Take it with you and it will keep you safe."

"Jonathan, I must go."

"Go."

They looked at each other for another moment before she began into the opera house. Without knowing it, Angelina had two men that loved her watch her walk away from them. Jonathan, with love and a promise in his heart. Erik, with love and hope in his.