A/N: Well... This is it, my grand finale... please, please reviewand tell how you liked it and this story in general or if you hated it. Comments and criticisms are welcome, and I just want to know how everyone felt about the story. There is a short epilogue following this, and I will respond to all my reviewers then... Well on with the show, and oh! Thanks for all the feedback everyone : )

Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera; it belongs to those great masters listed before...( Pity comes too late! tear)

The Way Things Might Have Been

Chapter 7: A Journey, A Triumph, and An End

Erik could feel the headache building up in his head. Rehearsals for Don Juan Triumphant was now at full pace and everything that could go wrong was going wrong. The first showing was to begin on the first of April and continue for two weeks afterwards, but he wasn't sure if they would survive until then. There was only one month left. So far, he had had to have an entiregroup of costumes remade, build half the stageset himself, argue with Madame Giry about the choreography, fight away interfering managers, and fit 'La Carlotta' into a minor role. The latter was made almost impossible due to the size of her ego. Worst was the utter failure Erik had faced in acquiring a proper Don Juan to go along with Christine's Aminta. As his mind focused on Christine, he felt the first strands of calmness since that morning. She was his lifeline at this point, keeping him from drowning in this mess… He had one month, one more month to get everything perfect, or as close to perfection as possible.

Christine could see Erik sitting in the first row of seats rubbing his head. He picked up a steaming cup next to him and gulped down the contents with a grimace. Approaching from the side, she placed a soft hand on his shoulder. "Was that one of your own concoctions for headaches?"

"Yes, I've been taking three cups of it everyday, but the taste never gets any better."

"Erik, you've been working yourself too hard. You should take a break." She began massaging his temples.

"I can't. The premiere is in one month. What if it isn't ready by then, Christine?"

"Don't worry yourself so much. You know that it will be perfect by then even if you have to force us to go without sleep as well. The dancers are starting to maneuver themselves correctly, the orchestra is already improving, and I'll practice night and day if I have to." Christine finished her last statement with a tone of deadly determination.

Erik sighed and took her hands in his, stopping their motions. He gently pulled her down into his lap. "You don't have to, my dear. You are already perfect." He cut her off before she could speak, "I wouldn't say it if it wasn't the truth Christine, and you're right, things are pulling together, slowly, but surely. My main worry however is what we shall do about Don Juan."

Christine leaned back into Erik. "Erik, why don't you play the part? You already know it, and it would be ideal." She turned to stare him in the eye. "You're the only one who can be Don Juan, and the truth is, I'll feel a lot more comfortable with you than anyone else."

Erik opened his mouth but found that he had nothing to say. He could find no argument against what she had just said. Why couldn't he be Don Juan? The character naturally wore a mask as well, solving that problem. He did know the entire part perfectly since it was his composition. A small smile started to appear on his lips, and it was returned by Christine. "I think that we have a Don Juan. However, I hope you won't mind if we keep this between us for now. It'll be a surprise."

Christine giggled and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "Now, about that vacation… you need at least a week off to prove that the entire place would not fall down without you."

"Where would you like to go?"

Christine grew somber as her eyes turned away to stare at nothing.

"Christine?"

"Erik, how would you feel if we were to spend some time in Perros?"

Erik stepped cautiously into the cemetery behind Christine who was dressed in the black garb of mourning. Her tiny hands held a bouquet of wildflowers. They had just arrived that morning and had booked rooms in the village inn before coming here. Erik stared at the gray monuments around him and couldn't help but feel a chill in the air despite the fact that it was a perfectly sunny spring day, even if it was a bit foggy. His attention was drawn back to Christine as he heard her mutter a bit of a story she had told him when he had first arrived at the opera house. Then she started to sing, her ethereal voice drawing him in despite the melancholy that tinged it. It gave the music an unmistakable beauty usually hidden in the deepest depths of the soul. The words seem to flow around him… Wishing you were somehow here again, wishing you were somehow near; sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed, somehow you would be here…

He wished with all his heart that he could comfort his angel now as he saw the tears fall silently down her face. He mutely watched as she kneeled down in front of her father's mausoleum and lay the flowers down on the steps. He didn't know what to do but he couldn't bear to leave herto wallowin her anguish, so he sang… Wandering child so lost… so helpless… yearning for some guidance. Have you forgotten your Angel? Too long you've wandered alone here, far from my comfort and warmth… Don't resist… let the soul obey! And she was there; once again Christine was in his arms, crying into his shirt. He was her pillar of strength right now, and he would willingly walk to the ends of every world for her.

As Christine recovered, she remembered her purpose for coming here. She slowly pulled away from Erik and turned to face her father's tomb once again. "Father, I've just come to tell you that I'm marrying a good man. I love you, and I love him as well." Turning back to Erik, she explained, "I wanted to tell my father, and I also wanted to say goodbye as well… this is the last time I'll return with the name Christine Daae…"

"It is okay Christine; I understand." He pulled her into his embrace. "I understand…"

They walked hand in hand back to the horse that they rode on together, borrowed from the inn's stables.

That night, it was quiet as they sat together in front of the fire in the common room that was very alive in comparison. "Christine, would you mind if we made one more stop before returning home?"

"No, of course not, Erik. Where do you want to go?"

"I want you to meet someone."

They once more lapsed into a silent understanding. Christine had a feeling she knew where he was planning to return to.

The morning two days before returning to Paris found them in Erik's hometown Rienne. Erik led the horse to the cathedral and tethered it on a fence post. Then, he brought her through a little gate at the side that led into the burial grounds. He guided her toa small tombstone where he kneeled down to clear away some of the weeds. Christine instantly recognized the name on the tombstone.

"Mother… it has been a long time since we have last seen each other, ten years… but I have not forgotten. I'm going to be marrying an angel soon, and I know you're still watching so you probably already realize this. I've found love, mother, in a way I never thought I would except in you…" Erik placed a single white rose on the grave, watered by a single drop of water.

"Erik…"

He stood and took her offered hand, and once more, they walked together out ofa cemetery hand in hand. Christine turned around once. 'Madeleine, you must have been an amazing woman… to have raised such an amazing son, and I thank you.'

Erik was glad for the vacation for when he returned, everything became less overwhelming. The costumes were finally all prepared, and Mme. Giry and M. Reyer had worked with everyone to the point where Don Juan Triumphant was passable, even in his eyes. Of course, there was the problem of rehearsing without the two main stars, one of which was still unknown. There was alsostill one scene that Erik had to work on completely however. Don Juan was to fence with Passarino in the moment of his betrayal. However, the person playing Passarino had no clue how to fence and also lacked a proper fencing partner. Therefore, Erik took it upon himself to take the role of teacher as well as a practice partner. (He was to be his adversary anyway in the actual production.) Erik also assured everyone else that he had found a Don Juan, although this mysterious actor would not be rehearsing with everyone else.

It was on one particularly harsh fencing session that Erik finally lost his temper. "No, Pierre! You aren't getting the footwork correctly. We have gone over that movement several times already."

"Monsieur, perhaps if I see what it is we're supposed to be doing on stage, I'll understand."

Erik agreed that allowing him to see it would help, but how?

"Erik, why don't you let me help?" It was Raoul. "I was watching, and I think I get the general idea. Plus, I've been trained with a sword since I was five."

Erik smirked, "A wonderful suggestion, Viscount, but I haven't planned out the entire scene yet. Would you agree to actually duel me in order to offer an example to Pierre?"

Raoul smiled, "Of course."

Pierre sat down next to Christine to watch. Christine had been talking to Charlotte and couldn't help muttering to her, "Uh-oh, here comes trouble. I hope they agree on a draw, or else, we'll have our hands full."

Erik and Raoul drew their swords into a salute and bowed to each other; then it started. Raoul was surprised at Erik's apparent ability, while Erik noted that Raoul was indeed well-trained. As each attack succeeded the next, it became increasingly quicker as well as more powerful. In spite of the fact that they were quite evenly matched when it came to skill, Erik had some advantages in agility and size. To him, the footwork was easy and graceful, as in a dance, and he knew how to carry the advantage of his height. Before a victor could be found however, both men were stopped in their tracks when both Christine and Charlotte cried out. Erik and Raoul rushed over to them after sheathing their swords. A worried Erik asked, "What's wrong?"

Both Christine and Charlotteglanced at each other and started laughing. They quickly apologized when they saw the incredulous stares. "We're sorry, but it was just that we were planning on how to get you to stop your duel when we saw a spider climbing up our skirts and screamed."

"Oh…"

Erik quickly recovered from the embarrassment and turned to Pierre. "I believe that you've seen enough."

A slightly awed Pierre quickly nodded.

April first…

Tonight was it, the opening night of Don Juan Triumphant. Erik had convinced himself that no matter what the reaction was, the past few months had been worth reaching this moment. Erik was already in costume and hiding backstage. He had given the entire cast some last minute encouragement before prepping himself for the task at hand… It was a full house, and he was performing for the first time in front of an audience. The only thing steadying him at this moment was Christine's encouragement. Tonight would seal his fate. He could hear the orchestra starting the overture, and he held his breath as the chorus entered. After this, it was his entrance… Passarino, faithful friend…

He had done it! Now, he had only to wait for his duet with Christine. They would reach Past the Point of No Return and never look back.

Everyone working at the opera house had been shocked when it was Erik who had stepped onto the stage. However, they along with the audience had been swept away into ecstasy at the first sound of his voice, but it was only a prelude to what was to come. The ultimate climax was reached when he had taken the stage again to start his song with Christine. Their eyes burned into one another with an even greater intensity than the pseudo flames which surrounded them. Emotions and passion flooded the stage and the entire chamber. It was tangible to every single person who was listening. A force bound the two members on stage that seemed overpowering to everyone else. Several people even stopped breathing without realizing it while tears found their way down the faces of others. Drowning minds tried unsuccessfully to wholly comprehend the lyrics pouring onto them. Their voices melded perfectly together, forming a sound meant only for heaven or hades, no one was sure. The performance continued with a silent audience too awed to speak. Then at the conclusion, the room literally exploded in a flood of applause. The standing ovation lasted for a full twenty minutes and continued as everybody took their final bow. Erik and Christine took theirs together and were swept away by the sound and flowers. Erik was especially overwhelmed. His work had been a success… more than he could have ever imagined and in the shining lights he thought he saw the faint form of a beautiful woman smiling back at him. Beneath the applause, he heard a soft whisper… "You have done well, my son."

When they were finally off stage, Erik and Christine were once again swept in a whirlwind of congratulations and praise. The managers were especially happy with them. "We're already booked for a full house tomorrow night!"

Erik managed to get through the crowd with Christine into her dressing room and locked the door behind him. Christine's eyes were shining brightly back at him. "Well, I think it went quite well, Erik."

"Yes, very well." He gave her his signature red rose and captured her lips with his. "Very, very well… I love you, Christine, and I don't know what I'll ever do without you." His eyes were suspiciously over-bright.

"Well, let's hope that you'll never have to find out."

May eighteenth…

Christine found that her hands were shaking as the priest read their vows. She was marrying Erik, and soon her name would Christine Liszet. She would no longer be mademoiselle but madam. There were going to be so many changes, but they all seem quite agreeable to her that she did not mind.

Erik was restless as he listened to the vows being read, and he felt a tinge of annoyance. He had already made every single one of those vows the moment he met Christine Daae. He had made those vows as an elder brother, and he had made those vows once again the moment he fell in love with her not long after. He loved Christine, and nothing will ever change that simple fact. Their love was eternal, now and forever.

Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime; let me lead you from your solitude…

"I do."