A/N: Okay, here it is. The ONLY RC fluff ever in this story. Well, kind of fluff. I had to put it in here. And I've worked on this for a long time actually! LOL! Enjoy this RC fluff because it isn't that bad. Raoul isn't SUCH a moron here. Here you are BroadwayGirl257. Raoul is the kind and softy guy. The foolish Fop. Ha! LOL, I tried to make him like that here. ENJOY THIS CHAPTER!

Disclaimer: Okay, the point is. I WOULD love to own the POTO. I could make the movie into my story! Wouldn't that be great! But then again, I don't own in so I'm shutting up now.

Reviewer who reviewed and ROCK THIS WORLD! THANKS SO MUCH!

Twinkle22: Yeah, a cliffhanger is what I do best! Haha! Here's the chapter but this is more on Raoul and Christine. And ofcourse...Erik's decision.

Erik-Meister: Yeah, Raoul came in again didn't he? Oh well, find out what he did in this chapter. THAT RUINED ERIK'S PROPOSAL! I was kinda sad about that because I really wanted that proposal to happen. Oh well...

Blissful Rose: Haha! Well, I will repeat, the Fop won't die. You'll see why in this chapter. He NEARLY did but Erik heard something he wasn't suppsoe to hear. So it changed the whole thing.

phantomdark: Thanks that you like it so much!

inttoxicated by eriks music: Hey there! Hey, want me to tell you something? I'm making Chapter 9 specially for you because of a bit of EM fluff. I can't tell what but you'll know when I post it up!

Childhood Sweethearts

Raoul stood behind the gate that blocked the entrance of the lair.

He was wet, exhausted and clearly very angry when he saw Christine and Erik standing so close.

"OPEN THIS DOOR, MONSTER!" Raoul angrily exclaimed.

Erik clearly himself looked annoyed, "Vicomte…You have arrived. I've been expecting you…"

"Please! Just let me see her!" Raoul frantically reached through the bars.

Christine felt her heart break as she saw Raoul struggling pitifully through the bars. She knew she would be evil to treat her childhood friend this way.

No matter how evil Raoul had become.

But before Christine could open her mouth to tell Erik how she felt, Erik clearly had plans of his own once again.

Erik had felt his Phantom side come around him again. The grip on him was so strong that he didn't even realize what was happening. Erik helplessly gave in…

"Be my guess then…Sir!" Erik hissed and slowly pushed down the lever.

Raoul staggered into the lair and he immediately wadded towards Christine.

But Erik walked towards Raoul and sung in amusement:

Monsieur, I bid you welcome

Did you think that I would harm her?

Why would I when I love her

And you will pay for your SINS!

Erik in a flash threw a rope around Raoul's neck and began to tie him up tightly against the gate that covered over the entrance of the cave.

"Angel!" Christine gasped in horror as she saw her childhood friend helplessly being cornered.

Erik breathe heavily and turned around avoiding eye contact with the horror struck Christine.

He looked around wildly for his rope to tie around Raoul's neck for a gruesome death fate that he would inflict upon his rival, the Vicomte de Chagny.

A/N: I had to change the fact that Erik's rope wasn't to be easily found so that I can make a plot here. I'm going to have to change something else here. This is going to be the ONLY RC fluff in my story! I did say this was my least favourite chapter but RC can look OKAY together sometimes…LOL.

Christine stared at Erik bewildered as she saw him search frantically around for his rope to hang Raoul before her eyes.

"The Phantom is there…" Christine whispered fearfully.

"Christine…" Raoul uttered softly.

Christine whirled around and saw limp Raoul tied against the barrier and his eyes were half closed.

"Raoul…Why did you ever come here…?" Christine sobbed softly.

"Christine…Christine, please..." Raoul repeated silently.

Christine frowned helplessly and then, without thinking, she slowly waded across the lake towards Raoul.

When she reached towards him, she touched his face, "Raoul, why did you look for me? Didn't you know I was with my Angel…! You are going to get killed!"

Erik had finally found his rope and he quickly rushed down the steps until he saw Christine standing near to Raoul in the lake. He stopped and hid behind the corner to hear their conversation. He could partly pick up what they were saying.

"Christine…Do you know what keeps me with hope? What makes me feel that I can carry on and that I won't give up so easily?" Raoul asked.

Christine shrugged, "I don't know…"

"It's you, Christine…The memories of our childhood times together. Before the disaster of your Father's passing, you were my best friend. I have to admit I only began to feel for you once I saw you again in Paris…But that won't change my love for you I feel now…"

"Raoul…I – "

"Christine, I know I have been horrible to you. But I was trying to protect you…I just really didn't want to lose you until I just went to any length to prevent that. I love you Christine. I really do. Whether you choose to believe that or not, it doesn't matter because I'm about to be killed…But my love will never die for you. I want you to remember that. Till finally your own death collects you, I will be in heaven with your Father, waiting for you to return to me…"

Christine was crying, and this time she was crying because she didn't want to see her childhood friend, Raoul die in front of her.

Erik felt his heart ripping apart again.

His hand was gripping the ring he wanted to give Christine but he accidentally let go of the grip and the ring dropped and rolled down into the lake where it floated away.

"Curse this pain!" he muttered painfully.

Christine looked at Raoul for a long time before she finally hugged him, "I won't let you die Raoul…You don't deserve to…"

Erik's heart was ripping even more painfully. But he knew what he had to do.

Curse this pain!

Curse the Phantom!

He had to free Christine to the man she would live peacefully would. She will be safer with the Vicomte and she would be free. Even if she didn't love him, she would still be safe. If she lived with her Angel, she would have not much freedom at all, knowing that she would be living with a murderer.

If he loved Christine, he would give her what she really deserved. He had been selfish of her for far too long. The Phantom in Erik can't do anything now!

But he couldn't kill the moron now. For once, the moron would actually be useful.

Erik purposefully made a noise to let them know that he was there watching them.

Christine froze and turned around to see Erik's grim face at the top of the steps nearby the bedroom.

"Ang—Angel…?" Christine stammered in shock.

Erik thought hard. He must be angry enough to make sure she would be angry at him as well so she would willingly leave with Raoul.

"Christine…I saw, I saw everything! EVERYTHING! He loves you Christine…He can provide you a better home than this. Go away! Go now and marry Raoul! GO! Before I change my mind and kill him!" Erik roared.

Who was he kidding? He didn't sound convincing to himself even.

But Christine took it seriously.

"Angel! No, you don't under – "

Erik ignored her, "Take the boats and swear to me, never to tell of what you know of my lair! Now you know that I'm the Angel in Hell! GO NOW! GO NOW AND LEAVE ME!"

Christine was in deep confusion. But her heart was still ringing with the love Raoul had declared and her Angel was clearly sending her away. He was pushing her out with rage.

"But – "

Erik turned away from her.

"Christine, please untie me!" Raoul called.

Once Christine untied Raoul, he hugged Christine tightly and said, "Come Christine…He set you free!"

Christine's face was filled with hurt and sadness.

"Angel, please, I don't understand…" Christine felt her throat burning.

Erik growled, "Leave...Before I change my mind about hurting the Vicomte…"

Before Christine could open her mouth, her mind raced through thoughts of Raoul and Christine living together in a house for them where she could live in freedom. She would have no fear of being found like she most probably would if she lived with Erik.

But, she wouldn't be living with the man she loved. But she was getting quite annoyed with her Angel pushing her away so aggressively that she felt that was a chance she was willing to take at that moment.

Suddenly, Christine felt a sharp hit on her head and blacked out and succumbed into darkness.

Erik frowned at Raoul angrily, "You didn't have to knock her unconscious!"

Raoul frowned back, "If I didn't, she would have just stood there. And don't tell me what to do, creature!"

"GO NOW! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU HEAR EVER AGAIN! Go! Go away and take Christine to live somewhere where she will be happy…" and Erik without turning back, he disappeared into the bedroom.

But then, Erik couldn't help peeking around the corner and he saw Christine sleeping in the boat as the Vicomte steered the boat away.

Erik felt his ripped heart ripping even further apart.

"Christine…I'll love you for eternity…" Erik whispered painfully.

Erik closed his eyes and felt tears falling from his eyes.

He glanced around his empty and quiet lair. Christine would have been with him now and they would be together in here.

But he had to give her up because he loved her and he wanted her to have the best things.

You alone can make my song take flight

It's over now the music of the night!

Erik grabbed the nearest object he could see.

Then, he went up to the mirrors that were by the wall and he lifted up the coverings and snarled, "Why are you put here! To mock me of my monstrosity!"

Erik, with all his might plunged the object into the every single mirror that the lair had.

Suddenly, Erik heard echoes of voices. His lair could hear if people were coming down into the catacombs easily.

Erik frowned, "Mobs…"

A/N: I know you mgiht not like it for all those who didn't like Raoul THAT much. But I promise that Chapter 9 will not have any of Raoul in it. But the the last 3 chapters will be on Erik and the Giry's the most. REVIEW PPL! PLS PLS PLS PLS PLS! I REALLY WANT 100 REVIEWS! Okay, I didn't mean to demand, but pls do review!