Learn to be Lonely

Author's Note: This is another of my PotO one-shots. It is, once again, E/C. I hope you like it!

Summary: This takes place at the end of the movie, when Christine and Raoul are rowing away on the boat.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything PotO. But I wish I owned Gerard Butler, who is Erik in the movie, because he is HOT! Alas, all I own is the plot.

Christine walked over to Erik solemnly. She felt a pang in her heart as she put the ring in Erik's hand, and her heart felt split in two as Erik realized that she wasn't going to be with him. As she rowed away with Raoul, she could hear the sadness in Erik's voice when he sang,

"You alone can make my song take flight…"

And then she knew.

She turned to Raoul and said, "Raoul, stop the boat. We have to go back. I have to go back." Raoul looked at her, surprised. "Christine, you heard him. We can't let them find us! We can't go back!" "Do it!" Christine cried. "NO!" Raoul said, angrily. "FINE!" Christine said, just as angrily. Raoul looked at her, shocked, as she jumped out of the boat and started swimming away. Was she crazy?

Christine determinedly swam towards the lair. She knew what she had to do.

When she got back, she saw Erik standing in front of a broken mirror, holding a candlestick. When he raised the candlestick to smash the next one, she yelled, "ERIK, NO!" He stopped and looked at her. He scowled at her, saying, "Shouldn't you be with your lover?" Christine, surprised, said, "He's not my lover! I love someone else." Angrily, Erik said, "Really? Then why aren't you with him?"

Christine looked up at him and ran her thumb over his cheek. "I already am." Erik looked shocked. "Do you…I mean…you?" but he never finished his sentence, because Christine suddenly stood up and kissed him. He was surprised at first, but he kissed her back. When they finally stopped, they were both smiling. "Where do we go from here?" Christine asked happily. "Well," Erik said, "for starters, we might want to get out of here. I, for one, really don't want to be caught by those crazy folks out there." Christine laughed. "Good point, but how exactly are we going to get out? The only way is through the lake." Erik smiled. "Not necessarily." He said, pulling back a curtain. There was a tunnel behind it.

Erik took her hand and said, "Right this way." Christine gladly took his hand and followed him. "Erik, I just want you to know that you don't have to wear the mask around me if you don't want to. I really don't care. Do whatever makes you feel most comfortable." Erik smiled and kissed her hand. "I love you, Christine." Christine smiled. "I love you, too, Erik." They kissed again, and then walked off.

1 Year Later…

The next year, at Erik and Christine's wedding, they had for some reason invited Raoul. At the reception, Christine sang a song that she had written. "This is for Erik, Raoul, and any other guy who gets turned down numerous times."

Child of the wilderness
Born into emptiness
Learn to be lonely
Learn to find your way in darkness

Who will be there for you
Comfort and care for you
Learn to be lonely
Learn to be your one companion

Never dreamed out in the world
There are arms to hold you
You've always known your heart was on its own

So laugh in your loneliness
Child of the wilderness
Learn to Be lonely
Learn how to love life that is lived alone

Learn to be lonely
Life can be lived life can be loved alone

They all clapped politely when she was down. She blushed slightly as she took a bow. Then she walked off the stage.

He had never realized it, but that song had made Raoul think that he actually had a chance in this lifetime.

FIN

That's it for now guys! I hope you all liked it! Please R&R! NO FLAMES!

chrispaigelover