Chapter Seventeen – Finding a Replacement

The Paris Opera – Late July 2005

"We'll just have to put André in his place is all," Webber says, sighing. Christine looks across the table at Carla and André as Richard squeezes her hand. "We can't risk another incident like what happened with Elle." Christine shudders and Webber looks over at her.

"Christine, are you afraid to perform?" She shakes her head. "Because I completely understand if you are. We can put Carla…"

"We can't put Carla on!" Richard shouts across the table at Webber. "Don't you see? We haven't been listening to him and he's winning! If we listen to him, maybe he'll let us off easy."

"But Richard," Christine protests, "we don't know what he's capable of. He could be planning to do us in anyway. We need to be prepared for whatever comes." They all nod in approval. As they stand to leave the meeting, Richard takes Christine's arm.

"Armed guards are going to be backstage. You'll be safe, Christine, I promise you." He takes her in his arms tenderly and kisses her forehead. "Now, let's get you to rehearsal." The two walk hand in hand down the hallway to the costume rooms where Richard kisses Christine's lips gently and they part.

Missy and Christine don't speak as they get into costume, but as one of the costumers applies Christine's makeup, Missy breaks her silence. "Christine, do you love him or not?"

"Love who?"

"Erik!" Christine is absolutely speechless. "I mean, really Christine. He clearly loves you. You should have seen the two of you at the ball; you were perfect together!" The lady finishes Christine's makeup and she leaves abruptly, leaving Missy alone and confused.

The orchestra is busy practicing their new score as Christine walks over to Webber, who has beckoned to her. "Christine, are you entirely sure that you're comfortable working with André? I mean, he's at least three times your age."

"It's fine, really. I'll be okay." Webber kisses her hand and runs off to talk with Carla who is busy complaining about the set, among other things. Christine sighs, wishing that Richard could still be the Phantom. They've both worked so long and so hard that it's a huge letdown that they can't perform together.

Everyone is silent for most of rehearsal and as it ends, Christine is all too eager to go and get changed. She hurries to the dressing room and Madame Garnier helps her get out of the wedding gown and into her regular clothes. The other girls are just filing in as Christine leaves. She exits the hallway to the public dressing room and goes to her own private one.

Christine nearly shouts from surprise. Erik is standing in her room, humming absentmindedly. "Erik!" she cries, announcing her arrival.

"Christine," he whispers, taking her in his arms. "How was rehearsal?"

"As good as it's going to get, I'm afraid. Your father's the Phantom now."

"My father? Is he mad? Do they really think he'll fit into Pretty Boy's Red Death costume?"

"It'll serve its purpose, though it doesn't work very well on him. I guess it defeats the purpose of the costume." Being cradled in Erik's arms feels good and welcome to Christine, and she is reluctant to break the embrace. "Are you going to come to opening night?"

"I'll try, mon amour, I promise. Though I don't know how I'll sit through the entire evening without once actually voicing my opinions on my father's poor vocal talent." Christine snorts in laughter. "Oh, I almost forgot! When's your birthday? I want to take you out to dinner." Christine is caught extremely off-guard by this proposal.

"Well, it's September fourteenth, but you'll be at medical school by then." Erik sighs.

"Alas, I will be. We can go out just before I leave. It'll be a Christine's birthday and Erik's medical school dinner. What do you say?" Christine smiles upon the prospect of a dinner alone with Erik, away from the prying eyes of the opera's company and production team.

"I'd love to." Erik bends down and kisses her deeply, though not too emphatically to suggest that he wants more. Christine bends into the kiss, pressing her slight form against his much larger one for moments, then pulls away.

Running his thumb along her cheek, Erik says, "You will shine on that stage, Christine. You'll have the audience in tears. I knew from the moment I saw you on that stage the first day we met. You belong there." He kisses her again.

"Thank you," she murmurs softly into his neck. "I couldn't have done it without you."

"It was my pleasure, mon chéri. You are quite the good student," he jests, lifting her a little off of the ground and swinging her around. "Now, off you go. Wouldn't want to be tired tomorrow, now would we?" Erik presses a soft kiss on her lips and escorts her out the door.

"Wait, how did you get into my room?"

"I have my ways," he smiles slyly. "And my father's the manager. He has keys to everyone's rooms." She nods in agreement as they leave the opera house. Erik flags down a cab for Christine and opens the door for her. "What, no goodbye?"

"Not out here!" Christine retorts, giggling. Erik doesn't heed her wishes and kisses her anyway. "Au revoir!" Erik waves to her as the cab leaves, watching as it disappears into the Paris dusk.

2