Disclaimer: I do not own Erik, daroga, or other references of Leroux's novel. They belong to the author that created them.

A/N: Okay, well… there is some romance in this chapter! FINALLY! Lol. Well, I do hope you like this chapter. It has a flashback, two envelopes, and revelations! DRAMA! Oh by the way, at the end of this chapter, I will tell you what is to come in chapter ten. I hope you all continue to read and REVIEW –wink-- I love you guys!

A big thank-you to my reviewers!

Chapter Nine- The Date that Ended Badly

When William and I arrived to our room at the Russian Embassy, we stared at the bed both silent. He drew me close, but I pulled away.

"William, we can't… We're divorced now…"

"I never divorced you. You are my wife."

"I know you didn't, but technically we are divorced in heart. I don't want to sin against God."

"Stacy! Listen to yourself! I am your husband. How can we be divorced? I never signed the papers." The way his mouth was set bemused, I began to laugh. I was just messing with him.

Laughing I answered, "I know, honey. You're right. We are still legally married, especially married in our hearts. Our souls are one."

He laughed. How beautiful his laugh was. He held men his arms and for the first time I inhaled his scent. I relished in his love. "I love you dearly, Stacy."

"I'm so lucky to have you, William." He shook his head and put his finger to my lips. "Shh." He led me by the hand to the bed and we sat on the side of the bed. I pulled him down on the bed in an ardent kiss. When we pulled back up to breathe, I smiled, but I felt troubled.

"William, can I see your face? I j-just want to s-see your face. I want to kiss your face and not the mask. Don't you want your skin to touch mine? My lips touch your face?"

From what little I saw of his lips and eyes, I spotted pain. "My love, you don't have to if you do not want to," I whispered, stroking his back. He sighed with immense relief.

"Stacy, I will show you, my love, before we re-wed, but now I want you to sleep in my arms. Tomorrow morning we will search for the children."

"I can't sleep. It's a mother thing. Knowing my babies are out there, captured by terrorists, is almost too much to bear!"

"You need to sleep so you can be at your best and helpful to find our kids, darling. If anything comes up, I will wake you."

"Promise?"

"I promise you. Now sleep."

"Don't leave me, William."

"Never."

I pretended to fall asleep and felt William get out of the bed. With one eye open, I caught sight of him enter the adjacent room. I then hopped out of bed and got my clothes on. I was their mother and I would get my children back!

William was hiding something from me and I felt determined to find out what it was. Bolting to a chair with his cloak on it, I fumbled with it, looking through his pockets until I found two envelopes. Tucking them away in my purse, I grabbed his car keys. I managed to slip out of the house undetected, after seeing William slaving away at a new music composition.

Opening the car door, I sat down in the driver's seat. I opened the first envelope. It was the divorce papers. A horrible feeling washed over me as I saw the papers. No one impersonated William. How then did he get the divorce papers form the impersonator?

The only signature on them was mine, William never signed them. As I perceived this new information, I was utterly confused.

Throwing the papers aside, I tore open the second envelope. It read as follows:

Mr. William Addams/ A.K.A. Phantom of Russia

As you probably guessed, I took your children. If you do not do as I say, your wife, the only woman who ever loved you, will be next. You have not obeyed my instructions, but I am a patient man and will give you one last chance. You will accompany me to Kaliningrad at 12:00 p.m. NO excuses. I have a private jet arranged for you at Moscow's Airport. A-35. You will meet me there. No police or your kids will die. I will not reveal my motives yet. I rather do it face to face, well mask.

Yours truly,

Franz Mikhail Rovanachov/ the General's Son

Throwing the letter on the car floor in disgust, I replayed my options. There was only one solution for a mother: do whatever it takes to get your children back. Stepping on the gas pedal, I sped off. I knew immediately William heard me and probably will find out my planned destination. I just had to be quicker than him. So far I was ahead since he was without a car. My mind chastised my plan as being stupid. In truth, it was, but no matter what, a mother would do anything for her child. No matter how stupid.

----William's Point of View----

William did not recall the tears flowing down off his cheeks onto his written aria. Stacy left him once again for the third time. He wanted to let her go on for good, but his heart refused to let her go. He would not allow that to happen. His mind became foggy as his heart relived a memory.

It was four weeks before he and Stacy were to be married. They walked hand in hand through the park to the restaurant where they ate on their first date in the evening.

"Oh, William, it's so beautiful out."

"You are beautiful," his melodious voice cooed in her ear. Her eyes stared into his fiery passionate ones.

Her face flushed a bright pink. He smiled at her innocence. Stopping near a bench, he sat her down, bringing his fingers to her soft lips. "Stacy, do you know how much I love you."

Her cheeks burned brighter as he chuckled. "Sometimes. I know I love you so much and I realize I have an effect on you." Raising his eyebrows in question beneath his mask, he observed her mischievous grin. Her hand extended forward and her fingers touched his lips. He closed his eyes and thanked the Lord that a beautiful woman could love him, much more actually touch him.

His mind snapped back to reality as he felt her fingers trailed down his neck and throat. What was she doing? Tormenting him. As a man, he already wanted all of her. He wanted her so much. Still her fingers trailed down his chest. His eyes started to roll in the back of his head and his hands gripped the wooden edges of the bench as he tried to fight back his manly needs. "Stacy, stop… you don't know what you're doing to me!" He mustered out.

She came forward and her warm breath flooded over his skin. Her soft lips were only centimeters away from his, but she remained in that position. He moaned deep in his throat as his aching became considerably worse. Splinters cut into his hand as he gripped the wood harder to alleviate his ache.

"Stacy, please stop," he whispered, pleadingly. She smiled and pulled back. She brought his splintered hand into her smaller ones. She stroked his blistered hand.

William was breathing extraneously as his heart pounded against his rib cage. He sat there, taking a moment to composing himself enough to question her. "Why?"

His hand touched her cheek as she responded simply, "That is what my body does ever time you look, touch, or kiss me like that. It scares me even though I know it's natural. I wanted you to know what effect you had on me, and show you how much I love you."

"I want you," his eyes stared unblinkingly at every inch of her. She wore a deep blue form-fitting dress that flowed to pool around her feet. Her warm velvet skin was soft and beautiful. Her chest rose and fell with her breaths. Her coat blew with the wind. Pulling off his engagement ring with a playful glint in her eyes, she then ran off laughing, imploring him to catch her.

William always enjoyed a good chase and he took off after her. Running through the dark, he attempted to capture, but instead his heart stopped. He found her body in the fetal position. Her hands holding a wound that poured out blood.

As the memory faded, William felt he was suffocating. The General had one of his men target Stacy. He vowed never to allow Stacy to suffer again at his hands. Some promise, he thought sarcastically. He needed some air and retrieved his cloak.

However, to his surprise, he found it lighter. Something was missing, the two envelopes were gone! He felt bile rise in his throat at the thought of Stacy facing Franz alone. She left to meet Franz. 'No!' his mind screamed.

He threw on his coat and bolted out the door. He had another car in the garage, luckily. He sped off as he dialed the daroga's number.

"Jacob, are you out of the hospital?"

"I am just leaving. Why, what's wrong?"

"Stacy, she found an envelope wit ha letter Franz sent me to meet him at the airport."

"Wait, Franz contacted you and you neglected to tell me?"

"Jacob that contact is my concern. You need to block off the airport exits and entrances."

"We can't do that. If we do, Franz will kill your kids! William, if it comes down to it, you may have to choose between the kids or Stacy."

"I cannot choose."

"Then I will choose it for you. I choose the kids."
"If Stacy dies, then you do, too!"

William hung up the cell phone and threw it down in disgust. He had to stop Stacy from going to Kaliningrad before she or the children get hurt. His face flushed from the heat the mask caused.

Hot from anxiety he pushed the car as fast as it could go. William thought, gripping the steering wheel tighter, he knew what he had to do. He had to eliminate Franz Mikhail Rovanachov himself. He sighed heavily as he realized he broke another promise.

A/N: Alright, people. In Chapter 10 someone dies. ANYONE who can tell me who will get secrets to the story and an Erik shaped lollipop! LOL. Anyhow I hope you enjoyed this chapter…. PLEASE REVIEW. Oh the unmasking scene will occur in chapter eleven! Trust me, it is worth the wait! Sorry this chapter was rather uneventful and boring. I also apologize for it being short!

Hope to hear from you guys soon

RainsPhantom

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