Disclaimer – I do not own the characters: Christine, Erik, Raoul, Meg, Philippe or any other that has been previously mentioned in any book/movie/musical rendition of Phantom of the opera. I do however own the rights to the characters: Danielle, Michelle, Charlotte, Audric, Bogart, and etc. I highly doubt you want to steal my characters though. They're not as interesting as the originals… yet.

An- I've been gone for awhile, I know. But now I have a planner, and I'll make time to write. BUSY BUSY GIRL I am. Lastly, no one has given me any insight as to whether I should break up the three books in this story, or keep them all as one. I think I'm just going to start taking pretty lines from songs that match titles and doing it that way now. I hate my chapter titles :P

Review reviewers!

Dechagnsluv – Thank you for your insightful review. I'm glad to know that you read my story, however, before you judge, and make claims against it, please read it in its entirety. I never once stated that Erik and Christine live happily ever after, or vise versa. Infact, most who had read this before, know that. Also, one last thing, I am an E/C person, and understand the need for R/C stories, but I thought that for someone who at the beginning hated Raoul with an all blinding fury, I've done well to show Christine is torn between the two. The first ten chapters of this story have been dedicated towards R/C, and only now have I begun to explore the depths of E/C. So, for you to be upset by this when I clearly state the story is both E/C, and R/C is something I cannot do anything about. Not to mention, I couldn't see how my story would grow if the entire thing was of Erik sitting in the background watching Raoul and Christine have an amazing life. That would be pointless, there would be no motivation for the characters. Lastly, I want to explain this isn't an attack against you, I'm just trying to respond to your points.

Mini Nicka – You'll just have to see what the consequences are ;)

Rikku Ree – I love the spin I added to Christine too. I've never read anyone going in depth at how naïve she is, and how she feels for Erik before she finds out he loves her. I didn't like not knowing what happens between the two opera's in the ALW version, so I added.

Chapter Sixteen: I Become Comfortably numb

Yet while he lives,
he will haunt us
till we're dead . . .

"This is where we have to part Christine." Erik said as they looked at her estate from the side of the road with Phantom. She held tightly to his reigns as she turned and faced her teacher one last time.

"Are you sure you do not want to come in for some tea?" She asked desperately, this couldn't be the end. She knew him too well, now that he had been found out she was willing to bet Danielle's inheritance that it wouldn't be soon before he was leaving her one last rose and venturing off into the unknown.

"Christine, you know... that I would be honored to, but..." he trailed off. He couldn't do this; he couldn't watch her look at him with such pleading eyes. Holding her in his arms last night he could smell the faint vanilla on her hair, the rise and fall of her breast against his arm, and although his other arm fell asleep in such an awkward position, he had been terrified to move. If he moved, she may unconsciously move away from him, and the warm weight of her body had drugged him.

"I know," She sighed and wrapped her arms around him and letting herself fall into a trance to the sound of the rhythm of his heart. One last embrace, she told herself, one last touch of my human angel.

"We had this discussion, if any of the servants saw you they might talk and Raoul might find out, then there would be… unnecessary problems," She finished.

"Exactly," He said with a halfhearted smile.

"Well, you really should one day, come visit that is." Christine said searching for reasons not to leave; he could tell she did not want to leave the comfort of his embrace that they were in just yet.

"I do, frequently, but when you least expect it... Now go, Dani has not seen her mother all night and must be truly worried." He said with a bit of playful banter.

She just sighed and turned from him. What else was he to say? Stay Christine, you make my life complete? We could end the rest of our days in each other arms just like this? There weren't any words to describe the peace that he felt within her arms.

"You check up on her don't you?" she asked silently. She already knew the answer, but she wanted to hear his voice.

"You once asked me to check on her, and therefore I did, and always will... I would never put her in harm Christine." He started worried that she did not want him around her child now that she was in a sane state mind.

"I know Erik, you need not worry, I know that you would treat her as your own." She said and looked back to the estate.

Tears welled in his eyes, he did not know if she knew how much that simple statement had meant to him. He wanted to wipe away the tears forming if it weren't for the mask covering half his face.

"Your right, I should go..." She finally said and pulled finally her hand away from his.

He felt his heart break in two as the simple touch was broken and he was left watching from a distance once again. Against his judgment, and before he knew what he was doing he called out to her.

"Yes?" She replied to the desperation in his voice and turned to see him, hoping he would say anything to keep her there.

"I... stay careful." He finally said, Stay careful? He asked himself, where did that come from? He searched her eyes and found only understanding and defeat.

"I will," She smiled weakly then turned once more to take Phantom back to the stables and return to her life.

A life that did not involve mask specters.

( ' ) '
-

Think of all the things
we've shared and seen -
don't think about the things,
which might have been . . .

Stay careful? Thought Christine as she returned Phantom back to his stable.

He must have been trying to say something else, she realized.

Maybe, just maybe he was trying to tell you he still loves you in his own way. That could have been why he was so flustered. It would only make sense since your still in love with him. Oh dear, what will you ever do? Raoul will be home within hours and want to know what you did while he was away, she thought.

It was then it hit Christine. What would she say? What would she tell the servants? Would they back her up or would Raoul find out within hours of his return his wife, a woman of position was out 'gallivanting' all night.

Her hand ached at the thought of what really did happen as she closed the stable door and began her tread towards the house. Erik did a fine job wrapping it up but what was she to tell her husband?

Quickly she raced to the front door and threw it open.

There stood Michelle and Charlotte on the stairs.

"Girls... I have..."

"Been out? Yes, we know. Charlotte? Will you go get Dani to see her mother?" Michelle said sweetly to the other girl who seemed a bit bewildered. Charlotte nodded quickly and left treading up the stairs in a swift fashion.

Christine watched Charlotte ascend and then looked back to the unworried Michelle standing in front of her.

"I see you hurt you hand Christine." Michelle said with the same authority and yet sweetness.

"It was an accident, why..." Christine started then trailed off, why wasn't Michelle worried? Why hadn't they sent for Raoul when she went missing for a night?

"Why what Christine?" Michelle asked.

"Nothing, I guess, where are the other servants?" Christine said as she unclasped her coat and walked into the den. Already tea had been prepared and was sitting by the hearth for her. Tired and grateful, Christine walked over to the armchair and sat down heavily beside the fire that was crackling. Slowly Michelle walked with her and began to pour her mistress some tea.

"I sent them away when they tried to return home, I told them, you were giving them one more night of leave." She said finishing and handing Christine the cup.

"Really?" Christine said looking at Michelle through the corner of her eye and sipping the warm tea.

"Oh yes, in fact, Charlotte was in a hurry herself to send for the Vicomte until I informed her of what you were doing." Michelle said with the same convicting but sly and sweet voice.

"Oh and what was it that I was doing?" Christine asked in wonderment, surely Michelle did not know that a ghost that died a year ago was in fact alive.

"Oh well, you were visiting with an old friend." Michelle said repeating the action of pouring tea once more. Christine stopped her by placing her hand on the hand holding the pot.

"How did you?"

"When you were unconscious in birth with Dani... he..." Michelle said as tears swelled in her eyes.

"Oh Michelle thank you..." Christine sighed and stood to hug her friend as well as servant.

"It was the truth, Charlotte and I wont say a word." Michelle said and laughed putting the pot down so that she could talk with Christine face to face.

"So how was it?" Michelle asked.

"It was amazing, more than that, tremendous, other worldly..."

"Well I can see why when he's a ghost who died a year ago."

"Michelle, do behave." Christine said laughing.

"Did you?" Michelle asked seriously.

"Pardon?" Christine said taken back.

"Did you behave yourself, I'm not trying to be rude or hurtful Madame, I just need to know as your friend and..."

"Here she is Dani, Mommy's home..." Charlotte said from the bottom of the stairs interrupting Michelle and Christine's very private conversation.

"Oh look who it is!" Christine said smiling, as Charlotte walked closer and transferred her beautiful daughter into her arms.

"I think you grew more beautiful overnight my dear Danielle..." She said looking down at the beautiful girl whose eyes were getting increasingly like her fathers everyday in color.

"Come Charlotte, let us leave Christine and her daughter." Michelle said and shooed herself and Charlotte out of the room.

"Michelle?" Christine called out as she sat down in the chair to cradle Danielle.

"Yes?" Michelle said turning back.

"Yes... the answer to your question is yes." She said never raising her gaze from the tiny bundle of wonder in front of her.

"I'm very glad to hear that Mme de Chagny." Michelle said and began to leave.

"That doesn't mean I didn't want to..." She whispered to her daughter who giggled and gurgled in her lap.

( ' ) '
-

Track down this
murderer -
He must be found!

"Dead?" Claude repeated stunned.

"They found him at the bottom of the Cliff mangled among the carriage." Audric told him. "Bogart, oh Bogart why did you have to get mixed up with the de Chagny's?"

"That scum took a father away from two children, two poor children who are now orphaned! What do you think will become of them? Aimee will surely be SOLD! Sell her body to men to survive and Damien will work his whole life trying to remedy that! He destroyed two children that bastard! If he only wasn't so cheap! He should pay." Claude said spiritedly.

Audric looked up, why wouldn't he say it spiritedly. He was right, and drunk. Two things, which were not good together. Claude was Bogart's younger brother, and though they had not worked together, they had been close. When Bogart had come up with the idea to hold the Vicomtess hostage, it had been Claude who told him he'd help him contain her somewhere else than the factory.

"Bogart tried that remember? He thought he had a simple plan, kidnap his precious wife and return her for a hefty ransom securing the lovely little children's future. Now, now we are left to pick up the pieces and tell such young ones there father is gone as well." Audric said.

"That is the problem with you old man, you don't have what it takes to avenge their fathers death, you would rather hide with your tail between your legs and take whatever the Vicomte gives you, well I am not like that! And neither was Bogart... if you cannot do what is right, I will!" Claude said storming out.

"CLAUDE!" Audric called after his son, but it was too late, the drunken man was already gone, and had a mission.