ey everybody thank you all so much for the positive reviews! I must say I was slightly surprised at all the good vibes I got from everybody's comments! Please continue to read and review and I'll give you all smores and hugs!

Disclaimer: I still own nothing! Still doing the poor dance

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The Opera Populaire, which was normally busy with a wide variety of activity, was now silent due to the late hour of the night. Even so there would normally be at least one soul or two lingering around doing the odd chores that could only be done in the privacy of the night. However due to the violent activities that had occurred only hours previously the managers and instructors ordered an immediate curfew to everyone who lived within the dormitories of the ballet and chorus houses. They claimed it was only for the safety of their Opera workers and assured everyone within the property limits that everything would be taken care of in the morning and the proper authorities would handle the person or people responsible for the tragedies of the evening. These thoughtless words were an attempt at comfort that they too would not be the Phantom's next victims. The lame speech however did not sooth the nerves of anyone. If nothing else observing the Detectives and guards of the Paris Justice Department taking down the body of the deceased stagehand only increased the tension that loomed silently in the empty hallways.

Christine quietly unlocked the door to her dressing room careful not to disturb or awake anyone else who might be nearby. The only things that greeted her as she entered the room was her own distinct sigh and the powerful smell of a wide variety of flowers that she had received after her performance as Elissa. The only flower that held any of her attention however was the brilliant rose that she still held in her hand, she was still protecting it from any element that might dare distort it.

She sighed dramatically once again and let her knees give out from under her and allowed the rest of her body to follow as she landed on the small sofa, lying down gracefully. Christine rested silently in the dark for several moments before realizing that she neglected to light any lamps or candles after entering her room. She sat up somewhat distorted at the realization. It was odd to her how quickly she had adapted to the absence of light. And more so how easily she had accepted the realm of the night that she had once been known to fear.

Christine made her way from the sofa to a nearby lamp where she eventually allowed some light to be noticed. She did perform this action slowly not knowing that a tall figure was standing behind her watching her every move. But suddenly she felt a shiver run through her spine and although she had her suspicions of whom the potential intruder could be she wasn't sure until she heard a familiar voice whisper in her ear:

"Christine."

She found herself gasping in spite of herself and nearly knocked the lamp of the table in the process of turning around to meet the face of her angel once more. He stood up unemotional and waited for her to regain control of her breath. Yet before she had fully calmed herself he replied: "I'm terribly sorry if I startled you my dear."

The normal composition of this angel who had just murdered a man enraged Christine. How could he dare speak her name and apologies for such a harmless offence after he's just taking the life of another man! She screamed at herself inside her head knowing that it was because her angel lacked many emotions, but remorse seemed to be one more for her weep over.

The though made Christine call out and turn her back on the man she knew as her angel of music. This response seemed to worry him as he placed his hands on each of her shoulders and asked, "What is it my love? What makes you so distressed at this hour?" He instantly felt her body tense and she turned around to greet him with her tear stained face and eyes that seem to hold fury for the deceased stranger.

"How dare you!" The outburst surprised her companion and he stepped back almost immediately.

"Have you no shame? You come in here acting as though you deserve some sort of affection from me after what you did tonight?" Christine found herself shaking as she said these words, for she had never spoken to her angel in such a manner, yet alone raised her voice to him. The act of disrespect seemed to not anger the Phantom but instead only made him more alert to her anger and increased his curiosity of the lovely creature in front of him.

"My God! You…you killed a man tonight! Don't you realize what you've done? Not only have you put yourself in danger put the rest of the staff as well! The police will be here at every show I'm sure…and that man you killed many not have been an innocent one but you had no right to take his life!" She sobbed out these last few words before retreating to her sofa where she buried her face in her hands and cried out the last of her remaining tears and stopped them short with a sob. The Phantom held his head high still and said nothing but instead watched her ever move which was clearly motivated by nothing more than sorrow and nevertheless chose to say nothing.

"So is that it then?" She asked quietly barely looking up at him still. "Will you not even deny it? Or for that matter even say anything to defend yourself?" Several moments passed by in utter silence and Christine was about to give up when she heard him finally reply.

"Even if I claimed to not have killed that loathsome stagehand would you believe me?" Before she could even respond he continued. "Of course not! How could you with your Viscount by your side poisoning your mind with every idiotic idea that comes through his foppish mind!" He bellowed in a gruff and unsteady voice. Christine only replied with a sigh in annoyance and stood up angrily.

"How could you possibly have the nerve to spy on a private conversation? You sir no nothing of what you speak of!" She turned her back on him violently and silently resisted the urge to slap him across the face. But realistically she knew such an act would make her sorry afterward. So she returned to the sofa to rest her weary body for a moment before letting the point continue.

Several moments later Christine arose from her position on the sofa and walked with unsure feet to the dressing mirror before sitting down and attempting to fix the mess of matted hair upon her head. The only sound in the room was that of her brush making it's way through the mass of soft curls around her face. Until Christine finally found the words she so longed to speak.

"You cannot expect me to keep these secrets alive for you my angel. It…it breaks my heart to know that you may never feel any remorse for that man whose life you stole tonight. But perhaps what is worse is knowing that the motivation of his death had to do me with me and I..." She shook slightly due to a sob that escaped her lips and the unsaid sentence finished itself with silence. But the dark figure that stood by her side said nothing of the sort about it.

"Come. You are tired and need your rest. As I do not want others to be banging on your door in the middle of the night looking for you, you shall stay in our home tonight." He gently took her hand and although she was still perturbed she found herself being led through the two-way mirror and escorted through the catacombs of the Opera House to the lair where he resigned. She was simply too fatigued to argue, and in the back of her mind she somehow knew she would rest at least somewhat easier when she knew her angel was there watching her, protecting her.

The journey from the inner tunnels to the lake seemed shorter somehow than the first time Christine had traveled through them. In fact she found herself in more than familiar territory and was reassured by the cool dank home, which her angel referred to as "there's". Christine looked away from the approaching home and closed her eyes shut attempting to will away the headache that was quickly growing in her skull. The pain was sudden and sharp and she discovered that any and all resolve she had left for arguing was gone. It was almost as though her Phantom could read her mind because he responded to her wincing with a quiet and somber remark.

"We shall be there soon my love." His voice was somewhat calming, yet Christine said nothing in response.

After leaving the boat and securing it's place along shore Christine's angel escorted her from the boat to what he had called 'her room' and saw fit to leave her there on her own.

"Sleep well my angel." And with that he disappeared into the shadows leaving her once again alone with her own thoughts to consume her.

Once she knew she was totally and utterly alone Christine threw herself face first on the firm bed that was placed in the corner and cried despite her self. The confusion was simply overwhelming and as deeply as she cared for her angel she knew better than too hope that he would ever change. His temper was something that even she could not control. And the confidence she felt earlier when informing Raoul of her of her decision was completely depleted as a consequence she cried alone in the dark while feeling nothing of the relieve she had hoped for, but instead feeling more isolated than ever before.

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Despite his best efforts the angel Christine Daae cried for could not find the emotion he told himself he should be feeling. As he sat at his organ he found himself frustrated at the lack of music that normally flowed from his fingers when Christine was around. Something was clogging his mind that he couldn't quite explain- something just didn't feel quite right. He knew his beloved was upset and normally he would have killed anyone who had taken the unease out of her as he did but what could he do about it now? She was already aching for him, that much he knew. But no words of reassurance could come to his mind…but perhaps what was worse was that no music would come from his fingers.

A glance at his muse would surly do him some good he decided solemnly. Upon entering the hallway that led to Christine's room the Phantom had an uneasy feeling erupting from his side. Despite his best efforts he continued with caution to his darling's room and the sight that awaited him nearly broke the last of the heart he had left.

The door, which was slightly ajar, opened easily at his efforts. He instantly recognized the shallow breathing of Christine who was lying on the bed he had especially designed for her taste and style. He approached her sleeping form slowly and the beauty that greeted him when he glanced upon her took his breath away. Her eyelids rested firmly closed against her face while her recently brushed curls lay unorganized and frantic amongst the pillow. But the one detail that disturbed him the most was the tears that blemished her delicate face. The obvious look of misery that was planted on her features was nearly enough to rip the Phantom's spirit out and before he knew it a feeling of guilt consumed him almost as powerful as the love he felt for his Christine. Unknowing what to do other than to not wake up his adored inspiration the Phantom moved frantically from the room with his own anguish to his bedroom where he instituted his own fist through a nearby wall before he realized what he was doing. He wept openly into the dark…loathing every sin he had every adopted that would possibly make her unhappy.

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As Christine awoke from her restless sleep she had an instant feeling of foreboding. Something unpleasant was occurring and as a result she rushed out of her bed regardless of her still pounding head. After she had actually exited her room however she felt even more apprehensive. The lair was abnormally silent. Generally music would fill the air or at least there was usually some sign of impending music. The feeling of awaiting despair was unmistakable and evident in her voice as she called out into the darkness.

"Angel? Are you there?"

Her question remained unanswered in the darkness. What if he had left her to go to the surface yet again? The situation seemed unlikely but entirely possible. What if her emotion had made him so uncomfortable that he just allowed her loneliness to come and consume her? She continued to call out as she explored the hollow halls and dark passageways until she finally descended upon the wing of his home that belonged to him and him alone.

"Angel are you here?" Christine let herself into a room, which appeared to be dark, and nothing more than that. A soft sobbing sound coming from the corner however made her change her mind about leaving the room and attempting to search another for her angel.

"Christine?" He asked from her from his realm of misery in the corner. The desperation in his voice made Christine rush to his side immediately. She was beyond words when she finally found him: knees pulled up to his chest, head downward and his entire form shaking beneath his sobs. And as he looked up at her with tears streaked down his own face she nearly began to weep once more.

Her angel now beside himself with grief broke down any last resolve and knelt besides Christine's confused form in the darkness.

"Forgive me Christine forgive me! These awful things I do own no excuse. I can't help it my love…everything I do is for you! Everything! My heart and soul are yours for the rest of time and I only ever thought to further your career! I swear it! You deserve nothing more than the beauty of the stage lights on your glorious face! But I never meant to hurt you as I did…please…Christine…forgive me…"

He continued his pleading by bruising the hem of her dress with his tears and wrapping his arms around her shaking waist. Her hands rested uneasily on his shoulders, unaware of how to respond to this obvious showing of regret and love. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard; silently praying that God would answer her unsaid prayer.

"Oh my angel." She pleaded meeting him at eye level on the ground where he knelt. "Although your intentions were good, I fear for your soul…and mine as well." She paused for a short time allowing a few stubborn tears to make their way down her cheekbones.

"Oh no! Oh please don't cry for this wretched demon that begs only for your happiness! I don't deserve your unshed tears!" He let his head hang in shame once more and covered his burning eyes with his shakings hands. "I love you far too much to watch you weep for a monster such as myself."

"You claim your love for me and yet I know nothing of your life other than the violence you lust for." She almost laughed at this proclamation. "…I don't even know by what name to call you other than that of 'my angel'…"

He sighed in defeat knowing that if he was to gain the love of this woman he must hold himself back no longer.

"Erik." He whispered into the night as he wiped away her tears. A small smile grew on his face as he said the foreign name on his tongue for the first time in several years. "My name is Erik. And you need to know nothing more than that I love you with my whole heart and will do so until the end of time…"

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