A/N: Sorry for the delay. Thanks again to all who reviewed. You rock. This one's a bit longer. Hope you enjoy!

Christine

Before she knew it, it was opening day. Driving to the theater, she began to get really nervous. She'd never sung in front of this many people. The theater would be filled, hopefully, and there couldn't be any slip-ups. Erik had practiced the entire show with her, and praised her. She clung to every bit of confidence he gave her. He'd promised to be here tonight.

Blowing out a shaky breath, she eased into a parking spot. The past few nights they'd done full dress rehearsals so she was prepared for the make-up and wardrobe. She locked her car, and headed in the back entrance. There was even a small dressing room for her. She couldn't believe it.

On the dressing table lay a dark red rose with a bow of fine, black silk tied around it. All of the thorns had been removed, and a small card sat next to it.

Break a leg.

E.G.

A slow smile spread across her face as she brought the flower to her nose. Suddenly, everything was all right. Erik would be there, and everything would be perfect. Her voice would be beautiful. All the comedic lines would be funny. No one would miss a step. The orchestra would match her voice wonderfully, and their show would be a hit.

She smiled warmly as the make-up team member came in to get her ready.

Erik

He'd reserved his normal box for that evening's performance. Of course this time the curtain would be drawn and he wouldn't have to steal small glances. He was confident that she would sing well. The two managers, with the blonde, whom he could only peg as patron due to the fact that he didn't seem to play much a part in the actual play, sat in the box across from him. The group happily sipped champagne. They didn't seem a bit worried. Perhaps that was because, from what he could see, they'd nearly sold every seat.

At once, the houselights dimmed, and the orchestra started the overture. Soon enough the actors were filling the stage. The men's chorus seemed to have it together a bit more than they had just a few days ago. When Christine appeared on the stage, Erik sat up straighter. She looked stunning in her costume. Her long chocolate curls had been pulled back. He pulled the lush chair he was sitting in, up a little bit, and chanced leaning over the wall of the box.

The dancers had still been a bit off, and a few sour notes had been hit, but other than that, the show was excellent. Christine had been perfect. Erik stood to applaud her. He noticed her eyes flicker up to his box, and he gave her the biggest smile the mask would allow. Her own smile grew. As the curtain closed, Erik righted the chair, and grabbed the bunch of roses he'd gotten her. He would offer to take her out to celebrate her triumph, and fingers crossed, she would accept.

As he slipped behind the stage, there was a huge crowd full of people undressing from their costumes, some hugging, others slapping each other on the back. The two fools were congratulating the male lead. Where was Christine? The blonde patron came up to the fools pointing at his program. Andre, the little one, pointed to a hallway. Erik's eyes narrowed, as he made to follow the patron.

The inconsiderate idiot grabbed a bouquet of flowers from some man, and pushed a door open. Erik knew right then that this was Christine's dressing room. How dare this man just simply walk in? After a moment, when the idiot hadn't been rejected from the room, Erik inched closer.

"Ryan, it's been so long!" Ryan complimented her numerous times, handing her the stolen flowers. She had been holding his rose. She brought the stolen flowers up to her nose to sniff them, and then set all of the flowers back on her table.

Christine hugged the idiot then. He had the nerve to kiss her cheek.

"Let me take you to supper Chris." Idiot demanded. Chris…Erik despised that. That's what Giry called her.

"Well, I don't…"

"I'll go get my car. I'll just be a few moments." When Ryan turned to leave the room, Erik made himself scarce. He glared at the back of the idiot's head.

"Ignorant fool." He murmured to himself. Straightening himself from his hiding spot, he walked over to her door. He, at least, had the decency to knock. He saw the knob turning.

"Ryan, I just don't feel like…oh Erik!" She grinned.

"For you, my dear." He held the roses out for her.

"Oh, thank you Erik." After properly sniffing them, she reached up and hugged him. And kissed his cheek. Ha!

"Anytime. You were wonderful, absolutely stunning. Soon you'll be lighting up Broadway. I have no doubt of that." Her face flushed a bit, and she smiled at him. She had apparently finished removing her costume. She was back in jeans and a sweater. The make-up had been removed, for the most part. And her hair was falling from its confines. "Would you let me have the honor of taking you out to celebrate?" Unconsciously he brushed the bit of leftover make-up from her cheek.

When she smiled at him, he brought her hand to his lips.

"I don't know if I'm really fit to go anywhere…"

"You look beautiful." She flushed brighter.

"What a wonderful liar you are. Maybe you should act. Since you put it that way though, how could I refuse?"

"You can't; wouldn't be polite at all." She laughed and grabbed her things. "Shall we?" More curls escaped as she nodded her head.

Her fingers curled around his as he led her to his car.

Ryan (Raoul…yuck…ew…I don't even wanna write it)

Ryan had been unable to attend the rehearsals for the past week. When he sat next to Richard, he flipped open the program. Carly's picture was still there for the lead, but the managers had posted a message outside the theater doors. Christine Daae, the name sound familiar to him. He couldn't place why though. The managers had told him that she'd been a dancer, not from the chorus.

Shrugging he settled down for the long three hours ahead of him. Why did his father have to give this part of his business to run? He hated musical theater. Loathed it. Not only did he have to attend their rehearsals, but now he also had to actually watch the show. From what he saw the last time he'd been there, the show would probably be horrible. Too bad he hadn't thought to bring his Walkman, he could at least hear the score to the game. He gave himself a private laugh.

When Christine Daae took the stage he knew she sort of looked familiar too. Her hair was pulled back, but any fool could tell it was normal a mass of curls. Even him. (Ha, ha.) When she sang, it finally came to him. He believed she had been his neighbor a while ago. He remembered her mother; she was nearly the very image of her. They'd shared milk and cookies after visiting the park. He remembered always having a sort of fondness for the girl, Christine, even though she'd been several years younger than him. Mrs. Daae had been so warm and friendly, where his mother was cold. He remembered wishing he could be Christine's big brother so that could be his mother too.

Maybe that was why he'd been so nice to the little girl. He stood 'bravo'ing her. Then went backstage to find her. The jumble of people made everything confusing. Finally he found the managers and they directed him in the right direction. A man standing with one of the dancers was holding a bouquet. "Ah yes, flowers." He unburdened the man of his flowers. Without thinking, he pushed her dressing room door open. She was pulling a sweater on.

"Is that really you Christine? Is this what happened to that sweet little girl?" She had been picking up a red rose when he started to speak. She turned to face him.

"Ryan, it's been such a long time!" He handed her the borrowed flowers. She sniffed at them. "Thank you."

"You were good, Chris. Really, really good. Let me take you to supper Chris."

"Well, I don't…"

Not hearing her, he continued. "I'll just go get my car. I'll just be a few minutes." With that he left.

Not a few moments, but ten minutes later he arrived back at her room to find the room empty and the girl gone. Extremely miffed, he swore, and headed back into the mess of traffic outside.

Christine

She felt as if she were walking on air. They had gotten a standing ovation, and she noticed Erik clapping wildly. For her. Quickly she rid herself of her make-up, and costume. Reaching for Erik's rose, she heard someone behind her.

"Is that really you Christine? Is this what happened to that sweet little girl?" Ryan stood behind her holding a bunch of flowers.

"Ryan, it's been such a long time!"

"You were good, Chris. Really, really good." So he wasn't eloquent with words. "Let me take you to supper Chris." Actually she'd been hoping Erik would come offer to take her out.

"Well I don't…"

"I'll just go get my car. I'll just be a few minutes." He turned and left before she could even refuse. She gave an aggravated sigh. A moment later a knock sounded on the door.

"Ryan, I just don't feel like…oh Erik!" She smiled happily at him. He held out a bunch of roses.

"For you, my dear." Her heart always sped up when he used that endearment on her.

"Oh, thank you Erik." He could be so sweet. She sniffed at the beautiful, fragrant roses. They made Ryan's flowers look like a bunch of weeds. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his bare cheek.

"Anytime. You were wonderful, absolutely stunning. Soon you'll be lighting up Broadway. I have no doubt of that." Well that certainly beat, 'really really good' didn't it? . "Would you let me have the honor of taking you out to celebrate?" She felt his fingertips at her cheek. She smiled at him, and he kissed her fingertips.

"I don't know if I'm really fit to go anywhere…"

"You look beautiful." Her face got hot.

"What a wonderful liar you are. Maybe you should act. Since you put it that way though, how could I refuse?"

"You can't; wouldn't be polite at all." As she grabbed her things, she chuckled at him. "Shall we?" She nodded and grabbed his hand.

Ryan forgotten, she followed Erik outside.